Spoilers! (I can’t type/say this without thinking River Song)

Dear Shonda Rhimes and Staff,

When you pointed a gun at Doctor Bailey’s head, my cries could be heard on the entire street. This was the first moment in my television watching history where I was as involved in the story as I would have been if it were happening to the people I loved in front of my own eyes. The moments in the penultimate episode of Grey’s Anatomy were brutal, shocking, unexpected. Up until Mr. Clark shot Reed, it appeared to be the same as any other episode that we are used to seeing every Thursday.

I remember crying when Izzy lost Denny, feeling how gut wrenching that moment was, would be for anybody. But when Mr. Clark stood over Miranda Bailey after pulling her from under the bed, I started screaming like a madwoman. I had to stop the video and run to the bathroom, screaming in relief when he walked away. I know that the lie will haunt Bailey for the rest of her life.

For that, Shonda Rhimes and staff, I hate you.

I won’t stop watching because of it. I hate that this was really the best finale I’ve seen yet, maybe ever. I remember the Izzy finale. Izzy dressed up for Hospital Prom, Denny dying upstairs, Izzy going to find him, Izzy crying on the bathroom floor… (well, it’s not a perfect memory – it’s been a while). I thought that was the most heart wrenching this show would get.

For all the shocking events in Sanctuary, it was those very moments that make the human moments of Death and All His Friends that much more touching, more chaotic, more personal. In a lot of ways, this show deals with fears that many people have, the fear of hospitals, the fear of being on the barrel end of a gun, the fear of dying. The chaotic state of not knowing what to do, the stress of operating with a gun to their heads, this was well written in so many ways and full of the little details that make it resonate with an audience.

In a lot of ways, I understand why people stopped watching Grey’s Anatomy. Too much of the same thing, too soap opera-y at times, but the 1-2 punch of Sandra Oh as Christina and Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey kept me watching and I have to say, the patience paid off. I kind of feel sorry for the people who didn’t get to feel this episode.

Of course, I have this conversation with one of my friends all the time. He doesn’t watch tv for the emotional impact. He watches for the stories. He nitpicks (in my opinion) the little hard to believe things. He has valid points at times, but overall, as far as the emotional connection (which I like) his points can seem very petty.  Does fretting over the fact that the lever should have gone the other way in the season 2 finale of Doctor Who where the Doctor loses Rose lessen the fact that the Doctor LOST Rose? I didn’t think so. But to him, it does. It is an interesting conversation and I wish I could watch a show that has a good emotional connection but poor ability to suspend disbelief the way  my friend does. I think watching that way would be very interesting.

The only thing disappointing about the finale is that there is no cliff-hanger. I mean, we can wonder about the repercussions, how people will heal, what this moment will do to the rest of their lives, but we don’t wonder who’s going to live or die and we have no edge of our seat moments like the Chuck finale. It only bothers me because such a great finale deserves great anticipation and my anticipation leans more towards other shows than this one.

So, what did you think? Have you been a longtime Grey’s Anatomy fan and loved this episode, hadn’t watched it in a while and caught the finale, or had never seen it and wanted to know what the fuss was about? (Especially if you’re the later) Talk about it in the comments!

Lost. You either loved it or hated it. I hardly know anyone who tolerated it to get to the end. Good or bad episodes, I truly enjoyed my Lost experience. From the early days when I scoured the internet looking for answers/speculations for the mysteries to the later years when I just watched for the characters (mainly Locke), I loved the show. I remember watching Season 1 on DVD while knitting a baby blanket, simultaneously wishing I’d caught this show during the season and feeling glad I could watch them all in one sitting. Like Sepinwall says, I fall somewhere in the middle of loving the characters and wanting to know the answer to the mysteries, so there are a few interesting takes from this past Sunday’s Lost finale.

1. I am very happy with the storytelling. Sometimes the storytelling can get bogged down with cleverness or learning answers or uniting the couple of the series, or killing off characters. This storyline was well told and the moments of renewed memories were really fantastic. I hope, however, if I wake to find myself in limbo knowing I’m dead and waiting for other characters to get with the program, I hope I don’t look as smug as the Losties did.

2. Terry O’Quinn is an amazing actor. I don’t know if he tried to do this, but within the the familiar face, the face we’ve come to know as John Locke, I could see the subtle and not so subtle nuances of the Man in Black. Yet when we see him in the sideways world, there is nary a trace of that pure evil and, as my husband can attest, that pleased me to no end.

3. I feel like the people who felt the most responsible for others (Hurley, Desmond, even Ben) were the ones trying to bring the other Losties to peace. If they somehow got trapped in their dream world as well, that can’t be helped.

4. I loved the renewed memory scenes. Each one brought fresh tears to my eyes. My favourite scene involved Claire, Kate and Charlie. Dominic Monaghan did such a great job of conveying the emotions he felt as he finally found the love of his life. I guess, in contrast to the great sadness I felt when he died, it was cathartic for me to see him happy once again.

The show wasn’t about the mysteries, the adventures, the power struggles for control of the island. The show was about the people, people who crash landed on an island and became a family. The writers of Lost, for all of their sci-fi adventures and Others, gave us a character written drama that took care of the characters at the end.

Don’t get me wrong, I feel like Team Cuse/Lindelof answered well less questions than their “not every question will be answered” allowed for, but they told a story that brought tears to my eyes every time. Each renewed memory was so well acted by the principals that I realized just how special of a cast this had been. I started a Locke fan and came away from the finale a Locke fan. There was such a vital difference between how he acted as himself and how he acted as the Man in Black – I could tell the difference. To me, his performance was inspired, enlightened and satisfying.

I was a little put out that the sideways world was just a limbo created by all the people to wait for each other. It felt like they knew where they were going, but they used the mysteries to put us off of the scent. It’s not a pleasant thing to feel tricked and despite how good the show was, how much I truly liked the ending, I felt tricked by the other elements that rounded out the show. Even though the show did not rise and fall on the mysteries, the mysteries were a diversion that did not pay off. In a way, it makes me angry because I spent a lot of time on what amounts to a diversion, a non-essential part of the story. I feel duped and I’m just not sure if I can let it go, even with the amazing ending we just watched.

Sometimes the road was arduous. Sometimes, it was joyful. It was a road I willingly traversed and for better or for worse the ride was mighty fine.

Spoilers, though, really, do I need to say it?

I know this review/opinion piece comes late, but if Across the Sea had been a better episode, I wouldn’t be here today.

Still reeling from the death of the Kwons and (now heroic) Zombie Sayid (and possibly Lapidus), I expected Across the Sea to be some kind of wonderful. But as we near the finale, a few of my favourite shows stumbled over the storytelling before the end (I’m looking at you, Supernatural!). So I will go back to the Candidate so that I can finally end my grieving.

I’m at the acceptance stage right now. The Island Kwons, the ones we’ve grown to know and love, are gone. If the show were to continue, our good feeling for the Island Kwons would carry over to the Sideways Kwons. But worse than knowing that the Kwons would die was seeing the other Losties grieving on the shore.

As far as the writing, as far as the new direction Jack has to take, as well as the fact that we are coming up on the end of the series, the show has taken great strides, especially in the last 6 episodes, to give us what we loved about the first 2 season and select episodes from season 3 – great stories and acting with great emotional heft. Never mind how attached I’ve grown to the characters, their reactions spurred mine.

The first half of the season was a bit of a letdown in the way it was presented, but the interesting fact is that the setup that we are given gives the latter half of the season greater impact. Even this past Tuesday’s episode, Across the Sea, may have greater significance as we speed, much too fast, to the season finale. Even with the hit or miss episodes or, as some say, whole half of seasons, the show overall has been a slam dunk – well, for those of us who kept watching.

There is a part of me that understands those who feel as if they were wasting their time watching this season after giving up on lost after season 2 or 3. They are only connected to a part of the show. The mysteries, the relationships, and the people can be very confusing, even for those of us who followed along, much less for those who skipped a few seasons. But those of us who kept going, who struggled through the first half of season 3, who wondered why no one ever called Locke by his real name until the end of season 4, who couldn’t fathom how the Losties got split in time, but who kept going, what questions that do get answered will be our reward. I feel as if I am privy to some of the best writing that Lost has given us, especially in this latter half of the show, and I know it’s better because I’ve been there for it all. If the finale is half as good as I suspect, I will finish the series with tears in my eye and an appreciation for the vision that was this show.

And just like that, Lost got good!

It all started with the Desmond centric episode, Happily Ever After, where Desmond goes from happy go lucky, rich guy in a fabulous working relationship with Charles Widmore to the guy who’s got the answers to the meaning of the flash sideways, the dual lives going on at the same time between our Losties. It was really nice to see Charlie alive (though crazy eyes makes him slightly unattractive), but do I like this Charlie or the memory of who Charlie became.

And that’s the trouble with the flash sideways. It’s not all roses for our favourites. For example: Locke still in a wheelchair – sad. Locke still alive – awesome. Ben Linus actually being a good guy – awesome. Ben being a wuss – sad. Kate on the run – sad. Kate without Aaron – even sadder. I wonder if Kate’s fate on the island is better than in the multi-world.

It was interesting watching Desmond find out the truth. When he was with Charlie and saw the original end of Charlie, when we first saw the hyper-coloured scenes flashing before our own eyes, when we realized that finding out the truth in the simulalternate verse just might affect the islanders, that’s when I knew that this show might still have a few good surprises for the fans.

I thought that the show got off to a very slow start. What I realize now is that the writers wanted to give us a chance to get to know Jacob and “Esau”. The smoke monster is a bad-mutha-shut-your-mouth-I’m-just-talking-’bout-Esau. While watching Everybody Loves Hugo, I begin to realize just how good Terry O’Quinn, the actor playing Locke/”Esau”, is. This is where it pays to get to know the two mysterious beings fighting over the island.

The actor playing the smoke monster, Titus Welliver, has given his character a variety of facial expressions that Terry O’Quinn has learned to pull off perfectly. While I was watching Locke talking to Desmond at the well, there was a pause and I wanted to pause the player and say to somebody, anybody, “Look – it’s almost the EXACT SAME LOOK Welliver uses! See? Can’t you see it?” But no one around me cares. *le sigh*

As we get closer to the end of the season, Lost is doing what it’s always promised but never really lived up to… being good and making delicious, mysterious sense.

Continuing my countdown of shows that were the best this season, shows who are past their first season (or with the way shows run now, who had a significant enough break that you feel as if it is in a new season) and having their best written shows of any season, I give you 6-4.

6. 30 Rock – Dealing with all the news that is going on with NBC and Universal, 30 Rock has been outrageously funny lampooning the crazy decisions the company has made in the last season. And what do people who are angry at a company like to do? Laugh at them. 30 Rock has stepped up admirably while still carrying on their normal storyline. Of the comedies that are past their first season, this is one of the best written comedies this season.

5. Ugly Betty – The writing this season has been fantastic. Laugh out loud funny moments, crazy over the top moments, tender and sweet moments, crazy vaudevillian villain moments – it is everything you would expect in a spanish-style telanovella. I’m glad last season was not the last season of Ugly Betty. Not only would nothing have been solved, but we would have been left with a non liberated, braces coated wannabe who never learns to stand up for herself and make her own way as a sophisticated woman of the world. The first season gets you hooked on the telenovella, but this last season  helps you say goodbye to characters you’ve grown to love.

Losing Marc and Amanda will be hard. I’m glad he finally stood up for himself with Wilhelmina. And after all her scheming, when she gives up, she gets it all. I’m sure there’s a Christian sermon somewhere in there. Plus, I like happy endings. Good job writers!

Looks weird out of blue, doesn't he?

4. Friday Night Lights (April 30) – While this season will be starting in a few days on NBC, those of us who caught the first run on Stars know what the rest of you are in for. The stories were heartbreaking and uplifting. We lose some of our favourite people, we gain some new people, we see a Remember the Titans style coming together, as realistic as you can get on tv and we see the agony of defeat and the triumph of retribution as Coach Taylor starts the year off at a new school with a new team. There were several episodes that made me just break down because, growing up in a small, southern town is just like that, like what you see in Dylan. I don’t want to spoil the coming season for those of you who haven’t caught it yet, but this is the best season of Friday Night Lights thus far. You’re in for a treat!

So, how do these show stack up? Are they out of order, not supposed to be on the list, what do you think? Tomorrow, I’ll have my top three shows and I know you’ll agree with all of them!

There are plenty of people who don’t watch television because they don’t think there is anything good on television. They don’t like procedurals because they are tired of cop shows and they don’t like the dramas because you have to watch them from week to week; the storyline is so intertwined with each episode. When they do watch comedies, they watch The Big Bang Theory or Two and a Half Men, both of which are horrendous, but what they don’t know is that some shows are having their best season ever, or they are rebounding from a horrible previous season.

I’ve got nine shows that are worth watching this season, a few that have become a waste of DVR space, and a couple that are on the cusp of good and bad with some really good storylines and some really Titanic ones all in the same season. Today, we’ll look at 4 shows that have been or were amazingly good this season.

9. Castle – I’m not going to deny that I love Nathan Fillion. To do so would be egregious and seriously wrong. Ever since Firefly, I’ve been a big fan and I think that he walks that line of silly and serious with the stride of a genius. Although I didn’t take to Stana Katic  immediately, the writers and directors have done great things to make her character appear softer, more comedic, as well as large and in charge. Detective Beckett is a role model. Also, despite how unlikely it is that this character could actually exist as a real teenager, Castle’s daughter is one of the best parts of the show. She is so refreshing and I love seeing her on-screen. Don’t get me started on the dynamic duo that is Detectives Ryan and Esposito. While they started out as shallow characters, the writers are doing more to flesh out the type of cops they are. Their partner chemistry works really well together and as a duo, make excellent straight men. Castle’s mom, with tiny hints to who she was versus who she wants to be now, is a welcome relief on the show. I enjoy seeing her trying to conquer aging like she’s conquered every other thing in her life. Her character feels real and for that, I appreciate the way she’s written and the way Susan Sullivan acts her. Last but not least, my favourite Medical Examiner (other than Cam on Bones) on television is Lanie. Tamala Jones’ no nonsense approach to Lanie’s character helps me enjoy every visit to the dead body because it usually means visiting her. The sly way she flirts with Castle and the very open way she communicates with Detective Beckett makes me appreciate the dialogue written for her and does a better job of explaining the character than even a description could. In other words, this season of Castle rocks!

8. Leverage – Even without Sophie (and I missed the constant presence of Gina Bellman), the cons were grander, the jokes were funnier, the connecting moments were nearly flawless and I think I fell a little bit more in love with this cast. Watching Nathan disintegrate, going back to drinking, but still be frakkin awesome. It was also great to watch the team looking out for him while being the exceptional thieves they are. This show is VERY unrealistic and I love that about the show. It’s a weird thing to say, I know, but I love the hacker who can do anything with electronics and has tried to. I love the strong man who can control himself. I love the self conscious, daredevil, risk-taking thief with a heart of gold. I love the grifter, both of them, who can sell any unbelievable story. And I love the head guy, who comes up with the cons and makes them all work. The crew works unbelievably well together and the moments of comedy are laugh out loud funny. I love the hints of romance between Hardison and Parker, I love watching Eliot beat the shit out of someone, I love when you think the con has gone wrong only to find out they were prepared for it all along. I even like the perennial bad guy, Mark Sheppard as Sterling, Nathan’s arch nemesis. That’s right, if you do a show about getting even, you gotta have an arch nemesis. I love it. The writers who came up with this idea, the team that picked the cast, the direction the cast takes their characters in – it blows me away, it’s so fun! Thank you, creators and writers of Leverage!

7. Psych – I thoroughly enjoyed this season of Psych. The writers have finally found the right balance between the characters. While Shawn Spencer’s character is still over the top, James Roday plays him with a subtlety that is decidedly sweet. Also, making more use of Dule Hill’s Burton Guster was a wise decision. Dule imbues the role with just enough skepticism to make his character believable and just enough silliness to make him the perfect match for Shawn. The fallibility of Shawn’s deductions have been heartening. More things for him to try to get out of, more ways for him to be wrong and let the others around him help, mainly his father and the police. Also, the frequent mention of The Mentalist made me laugh, mainly because they realized that they were doing the same show in different ways. The writers definitely don’t take themselves too seriously and the actors followed suit, making this the best season yet.

The list continues tomorrow, but I want to know what have been your favourite shows this season that, based on the writing, are shows that should not be missed?

I, too, want an iPad.

I know a tech geek like Phil Dunphy. The guy who is willing to stand in line for an iPad, that will get up at early o’clock to buy the newest tech toys. Yes, I have met this guy and Phil’s reaction to his wife sleeping through the line is perfect.

The funniest moments were Phil’s this episode. At the pitching mound, at “little Phil’s” party, then coming home in an emotionless snit. Until he saw the actual iPad, I knew his life was ruined and that is how a too-serious-tech-geek would be. Loved it!

Mitchell learning to fight was funny as well. After hearing a voice in his daughter’s room, he wakes Cam and then freezes while Cam jumps to action. Fearing that he will not be able to take up for his daughter the next time, he goes to his father for further lessons. Not only does he not learn how to fight, but he uses his non-fighting skills while standing in line with his sister Claire, Phil’s wife, as she tries to get an iPad for him, getting both he and his sister kicked out of the line.

Cam is also having an adventure. The voice the couple heard in their daughter’s room belonged to another couple’s monitor. The couple on that monitor are about to break up if the husband “works late” again. When Cam realizes that “working late” for the husband is taking Italian lesson to surprise his wife, not philandering, he runs to help keep the family together. Realizing they don’t know who he was, they jump to the conclusion that he’s some crazy stalker. A fitting end to the show.

I like the dysfunction of this show, a humour-filled reminder of my own family – even if they’re not quite so funny.

Lost is ending. I say it’s about time. Not that I necessarily need to know everything or have every question answered, but it’s about motherfrakkin’ time.

Episode 7, Dr. Linus, shows us the simulalternate stream of Ben Linus. We see him off the island completely, having been there and left, his father alive though not very well. Dr. Linus is basically a lapdog, a teacher with an advanced degree who is forced to proctor detention instead of his advanced students. We see that Alex is again someone near and dear to him as he gives up his quest for power for her, a way to undo what was done on the island when his love for the island killed her. He also got his own personal redemption when Ilana, the new leader of the the 2nd degree Losties. After it was discovered by Miles that Ben killed Jacob, Ilana sets Ben to the task of digging his own grave. When “Esau” as Locke comes to him with a plan for escape, Ben takes it. Ilana gives chase and ends up at the end of Ben’s gun. Instead of shooting her as “Locke” suggested, he gives his side of the story. Ilana not only lets him go free, she gives him permission to rejoin the group, Ben’s simultaneous redemption.

I grew warm and fuzzy with this episode. Whether it is simulLocke finally being with the woman he wants and getting used to being in the chair instead of fighting it or simulJack getting along with SurpriseSon, this last season has offered us more than enough redemptive moments to make us warm fuzzy people happy.

As February comes to an end and I have nothing to say about the Olympics, I must revisit some of my own thoughts of love as the light of sitcoms shine into my heart.

Ahhh, love. All I have to say to that is BLERGHHH! No, I’m not some spinster living in an upstairs apartment with two cats and a pint of homemade triple fudge brownie ice cream in the freezer. I’m a married woman living in an upstairs apartment with two cats and a pint of homemade triple fudge brownie ice cream in the freezer. I’m not put off by love. I love my hubby. But I frustrate him every year with my vitriol against the Hallmark sponsored day of red and pink. He wants to do nice things for me, but I completely rebuff every flower, every chocolate and ever traditional valentiney thing that he would try to do. This year, though, the lead up to Valentine’s Day was paved with comedic gold with Valentine themed or tinged episodes of my favourite comedies. Will the lessons learned soothe the heart of this savage anti-valentiner?

Parks & Recreation – Galentine’s Day

Galentine’s Day… I used to do Anti-Valentine’s Day myself, parties full of garlic and broken heart cookies and movies about love that has gone wrong… oh so wrong. I didn’t have beef with love, but I could punch Valentine’s Day in the face. Easily.

I could do Galentine’s Day though. I LOVE that concept. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a holiday and more. Women sitting around telling love stories, and eating good food. Okay, so maybe it’s the eating with friends. ANYway… This episode was great. Ron Swanson is the best character ever!

After Leslie’s mom, Marlene, tells the tale of falling in love with a lifeguard before her parents broke it off, Leslie takes the tale to Justin, who wants to try to get them back together. Justin successfully tracks down Frank finding him in Illinois. Justin and Leslie drive down to meet him, but as the day progresses, with John Larroquette doing a great turn as the aged lifeguard Frank, Leslie realizes that Frank is crazy and will not make her mom happy. Marlene is at first astonished to see Frank, but the more he talks, the more she knows that she wants nothing to do with him. Frank offers to give Marlene another chance, but she turns him down. He takes the stage and “shows” Marlene what she’s missing out on. Leslie doesn’t know why she is disappointed with Justin’s attitude until Ron Swanson points out that Justin is just a tourist who vacations in people’s lives, looking for the story before leaving. This leads Leslie to break up with Justin on the most perfect day of love (gag).

Lesson for this Anti-Valentiner: Do NOT track down old flames after more than 40 years. Also, beware of men who care a lot more about your story than you.

Poor Tom wants to tell his ex-wife that he likes her, but she tells him that they can only be friend. So he tries to blackmail her into getting to fall in love with him. Somehow, even though he tried that, she still ends up forgiving him at the end.

Lesson for this Anti-Valentiner: Cute counts for something. What? I don’t know, but something.

April realizes that Ann may still have feelings for Andy (there’s a whole bunch of “A” names in this sentence). Ann may be growing tired of her nice, normal relationship with Mark.

Lesson for this Anti-Valentiner: Ladies know how to bring the drama! (Psych! I already knew that!)