Category Archives: TV-G[eek]

What If…? S2 E2

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“What If… Peter Quill Fought Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.”

Episode two is a bit of a step back from the excellent first episode of season two. 

Peter Quill gets taken by Yondu and given to Ego. They go about on the Expanse and Peter comes back to earth, leading Peggy Carter to bring together the best heroes the earth could muster at the time.

It was sort of a different style Avengers formation, including Bill Foster, King T’Chaka, The Winter Soldier, Hank Pym, and Dr. Wendy Lawson (Mar-Vell). Things picked up when Thor arrived too.

As with all of the What If…? episodes, one of the cool things is that the most actors who played these characters in the MCU films reprise their roles on the animated show. That led to an astounding cast for an animated show including Chris Hemsworth, Michael Douglas, Laurence Fishburne, Kurt Russell, John Slattery, Sebastian Stan and Hayley Atwell all on the call list for episode two. 

There were some good things that happened in the episode. It is not as if I hated this one. It just felt too rushed in some places. I did not love some of the character choices and a lot of what could have made the episode stronger was left out.

The animation continues to be a highlight of the show so far. Everything looked awesome and feels like a step up from season one. 

Running Order:

Definitely…

E1  “What If… Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?”

E2  “What If… Peter Quill Fought Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?”

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters S1 E7

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“Will the Real May Stand Up?”

Answers about the past of May came in this episode. 

Honestly, I was not that interested.

I have had a difficult time getting involved with the 2015 characters, outside of Kurt Russell. I am much more invested with the 1954 version of the show, but that was not on this episode.

Most interest part of the episode was that Tim did not die in that helicopter that Godzilla crashed last week. I guess Shaw didn’t notice him when he said no one survived the crash. Tim is showing some feelings toward the three 2015 kids and is willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

No Godzilla this week though he was all over the show last week. Only one quick glance of a Titan this week and it got blown the hell by Shaw.

Monarch continues to be up and down every week. 

What If…? S2 E1

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“What If… Nebula Joined the Nova Corps”

Marvel Studios kicked off the second season of What If…? in style today with a flashy episode that had a definite Blade Runner/noir vibe to it including a cast of characters that you wouldn’t expect together.

Marvel began their special release formula with the first of nine consecutive episodes released daily, from December 22 to December 29th on Disney +. Ever since I heard about the idea, I have been excited for it. It felt like a special Christmas gift to fans and I was down for it.

The first episode featured Nebula, once again voiced by the awesome Karen Gillian, investigating the murder of Yondu in an alleyway on the planet Xandar. One wonders where an idea like this comes from because it does not seem to make much sense. However, once it started, you could tell this was a solid episode.

We got a weird crew too. Howard the Duck, a casino owner, voiced by Seth Green. Korg, voiced by Taika Waititi, returned again. Groot was here too, though I do not know if it was Vin Diesel doing the “I am Groot.” Jude Law was here as Yon-Rogg, his character he played in Captain Marvel. Peter Serafinowicz resumed his role as Garthan Saal, that he brought to life first in Guardians of the Galaxy. The fact that the show brings all of these familiar voices back for this animated program is amazing and it really commits to the feel of an overarching universe.

Jeffrey Wright is back again as The Watcher, the narrator of the What If series, although Nebula took over the narration of this series in the noir style. 

The animation is beautiful throughout, with some imagery that could be art. 

The only drawback I have for the episode was that it felt too short. This could have easily been an hour and a half episode and have plenty to fill. 

A strong start to our nine day marathon. 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians S1 E1 & E2

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“I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher”

“I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom”

The new Percy Jackson series dropped its first two episodes on Disney + today and I watched them tonight.

What did I think?

It was okay.

Lots of exposition at the start. The introduction of the characters have been decent. The key to the series will be the casting of Percy especially. Walker Scobell, the young star of the Ryan Reynolds film The Adam Project, is playing Percy Jackson. How did he do? Okay, I guess. He seems to be trying hard. He definitely has potential and some charisma. I have liked what he has done before so I have hope.

We just met Annabeth in episode 2, played by Leah Jeffries. Percy, Annabeth and Grover, played here by Aryan Simhadri, and their chemistry is absolutely the key to this series. 

I have to say that the first two episodes were decent enough that I am ready to continue to watch this weekly. It did not blow me away, but I do think there is a lot of potential for this series.

It did look pretty decent. The shot of the Minotaur in episode one was awesome. 

I have not read the Percy Jackson books and I only know this franchise because of the movies, which I know were not great (the first was …okay). I am curious to see where this goes. I have heard that this series is closer to the books by Rick Riordan so we’ll see.

Picket Fences S4 E7

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“Down the Tubes”

John Littleton finally returns to the show after getting shot earlier in the season only to head out the door. Don Cheadle was always too big for the show. He is an excellent actor and he wound up leaving Picket Fences for bigger things in the world of cinema.

Meanwhile, Jill is scheduled for a tubal ligation, which has been driving her crazy. It was leading to some feelings that did not make a ton of sense. 

Then, Jimmy was dancing the polka with Laurie Bay for charity. 

Then, lots of weird things happen from out of nowhere.

  • Jimmy seemed to start having feelings for Laurie.
  • Laurie, by the way, is five months pregnant. 
  • Jimmy sucks at basketball
  • Littleton started laughing during a court case.
  • Littleton had a dream that led him back to Chicago, and his way out of Rome.
  • Jill and Joanna try on wigs.

Things just happened this episode that did not seem to come form anywhere. It felt rushed and chaotic, much like most of season four has felt. 

The X-Files S2 E7

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“3”

Scully is still missing, as Mulder places her file squarely in the X-Files, now reopened. Solo Mulder heads to LA to investigate a murder that had connections to a series of cases in the X-Files. Cases that have a connection to vampirism.

I did not like this episode very much. The biggest problem with it for me was the relationship that was forced for Mulder and the woman Kristen. I did not buy that for a second and it felt so out of character for Mulder, especially with Scully missing.

David Duchovny was solid but the absence of Gillian Anderson was absolutely felt. Bringing in vampires for this episode was not a good choice. Unlike later in the series where we had a more comedic episode with vampires, this one just never seemed to really work. It played with some of the vampire tropes, but was more of a mess than anything else.

Scully’s absence needed to be played up more than it was. Thankfully, I believe she returns very soon.

Picket Fences S4 E6

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“Heart of Saturday Night”

Saturday night in Rome.

What does everybody do when there is nothing to do?

They sit around bored? Like me.

This was not my favorite episode of the series. There was not much to it. It felt very forced in a lot of moments. Jimmy gets his penis stuck in his zipper. Maxine is thinking about buying a vibrator. Matthew spends about the first twenty minutes with his friends driving around chanting “party” in the most annoying way possible. One of Judge Bone’s friends dies at their poker game. Wambaugh wins the pot. 

It just felt very muddled.

There were some sweet moments in there too, so it is not the worst of the episodes, but there just is nothing of note.

Season four has been a real downer so far.

Moonlighting S3 E4

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“Symphony in Knocked Flat”

Another one of my favorite episodes when I was watching in the late 1980s, Symphony in Knocked Flat has a lot of classic Moonlighting tropes and still plays very well. 

There was a ton of slapstick involved in this episode, especially in the third act inside the arena and boxing ring. You can tell the influences of The Three Stooges and Charlie Chaplin in this episode, as well as some nods to Rocky IV.

There was also a really fun scene at the Blue Moon offices with two sets of FBI agents and a repetitive scene that both Maddie and David repeated lines within. A fourth wall break added in as David quipped that the writer’s just Xeroxed the other scene.

“No, it was par for the course.“

That scene was one of my favorites and I remembered it immediately as soon as Maddie said that line the first time. 

Moonlighting could handle these over-the-top, silly episodes better than any show I can remember and still have the credibility with the characters and the story that they are telling.

It kicked off with a fun cold open with David and Maddie and the Temptations. 

Oh, and by the way, Cybill Shepherd absolutely killed that dress she wore to the symphony. She looked unbelievable!

Fargo S5 E5

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“The Tiger”

There was this weird voice over going on through this episode with a voice talking about the tiger, specifically how dangerous one could be. In particular, the female of the species.

Of course, I understood the metaphor. It wasn’t subtle, but I found the voice over annoying and unneccesary.

However, that was the only drawback that I could see from this episode.

We continued to see the amazing abilities of Dorothy, as she had people coming after her from all sides and was desperately doing everything she could.

These scene between John Hamm and Jennifer Jason Leigh was exceptional. They both have a great grasp on their characters and you could see how they each were cautiously moving around each other verbally.

Meanwhile, Dorothy was steps away from being caught by several different people. Of course, she was a tiger and was most dangerous when cornered. I heard that somewhere.

It was clearly that the show is moving quickly toward a major confrontation between Dorothy and Roy, and I am here for it.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters S1 E6

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“Terrifying Miracles”

I’m not 100% sure how he is getting around, or if he is supposed to be the same Titan or if he is a different one, but Godzilla was making the rounds in this episode.

The Godzilla of 1954 came back up out of the water after supposedly being blown up a couple of episodes ago. In 2015, Godzilla was in an African desert, coming up from beneath the sands. Was this the same Godzilla who rampaged through San Francisco during G-Day? I am just not sure.

I love seeing him though. He looks great. The special effects on Godzilla are amazing. 

We get quite a bit of switching between 1954 Shaw and 2015 Shaw. It is always fun to see both Russells on screen. 

Some of the 2015 Monarch people learned that the helicopter vs. Godzilla, not a good idea. There was a surprising death there as well.

Picket Fences S4 E5

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“Dog Eats Dog”

Jack Black guest starred in this episode, playing a man in a giant bratwurst costume. He got in a confrontation with Maxine and she ends up shooting him in the shoulder. He ends up suing her and the city for excessive brutality.

I have to say that this episode was not very good. Once again, the show tried to to take the situation and make it a character piece, but I wasn’t buying it. They tried to undermine Max’s confidence in her choice, but that seemed outside of the character. 

I kept waiting for Wambaugh to bring up all the great things that Max has done in her time as a Rome Deputy, the Green Bay Chopper, Cupid, etc. but he never did. It feels as if the show has been trying to tear this character apart for awhile, and I have not liked it.

At this point in season four, I have not seen that same spark from the first three seasons, with just a few exceptions. 

The X-Files S2 E6

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“Ascension”

Part two with Duane Barry and the kidnapping of Agent Scully. 

Very active episode of the show including a very tense snow lift ride. Show included:

  • The capture of Duane Barry
  • The death of Duane Barry
  • Alex Krycek disappears when Mulder figures him out.
  • Skinner reinstated the X-Files in the FBI
  • Scully is taken and ‘tested’ on; still missing by episode’s end.

It was meant to look like Mulder had killed Duane Barry, but the show did not build on it. It was funny. One of the people at the meeting suggested that Mulder was behind it, Mulder said he did not do it, and everything just went on as normal. Bizarre.

Everything was done because Gillian Anderson was pregnant, and this gave her the time off she required. These two episodes are exceptional examples of what this series could be.

The X-Files S2 E5

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“Duane Barry”

Ooh, a really great episode of The X-Files. 

Series creator Chris Carter was the first time director for this episode and he did a fantastic job. It was tense, suspenseful and simple in the construction.

Duane Barry was a former FBI agent who claimed to have been abducted by aliens and had taken hostages. Because of the alien abduction claim, Mulder was summoned to help with the negotiations. The steps of the negotiations did not feel right to Mulder.

Mulder winds up going into the situation when one of the hostages gets shot, and Mulder begins to connect with Barry. 

The imagery of Duane Barry’s abduction from out of his memory were truly frightening. Of course, as in all things X-Files, you are never sure if this is true or just inside the mind of a mentally disabled psychopath.

Barry talked about the implants in his cheek, sinuses and abdomen. This would be important later as they eventually remove the one in the gut and Scully tries to identify it.

After being shot, Barry goes to the hospital. He is in critical condition, but wakes up and escapes. This was the weakest part of the episode because I had a hard time thinking that he would not have been secured better than he was and his escape seemed too simple.

He winds up grabbing Scully at the end of the episode before it flashes the “To Be Continued.”

There were great performances across the board.

The cliffhanger was scary with Scully begging for help from Mulder over the phone.

When I saw the episode, I did not remember much about it, but I knew this was the one where Scully would be kidnapped. I do not think I saw this before, but I did see the conclusion of it. This is a sensational episode and I am excited to see the next chapter.

Moonlighting S3 E2

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“The Man Who Cried Wife”

This was a really strong episode because it moved the relationship between David and Maddie along. Some of the scenes between Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd were very strong when they were fighting over spontaneity. 

Mr. Bower, in a fit of passion, killed his cheating wife. Panicking, he took her into the forest and buried her. The next day, he received a phone call from her. Of course, he was shocked. It led him to hiring Dave and Maddie.

Dave and Maddie did a decent job on this case, which is something that you cannot say every time. They discovered about the affair, they traced the phone call and they figured out that what had actually happened.

I also loved the conclusion to the episode, because typically when the reveal comes about, it leads to a chase scene, but this felt much more mature than some of those. Not that I want to put down those chase scenes because they are always fun, but it was a nice change of pace.

They toned down the fourth wall breaking too, with one, very subtle, reference the ‘home viewers.’ It worked very well.

We also get the first appearance of Jack Blessing as MacGilludy, one of the office workers who would be a recurring character. 

Picket Fences S4 E3, E4

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“Pal Joey”

“Bloodbrothers”

It was weird today as I watched episodes three and four of the fourth season, but on Amazon Prime, The episode three was entitled “Pal Joey” and episode four was titled “Bloodbrothers” but the truth was that those titles were backwards. The episode I saw in the morning was “Bloodbrothers” and the one I watched tonight was “Pal Joey.”

Bloodbrothers was one of the better episodes of the fourth season. It was a self-contained episode focusing on John Littleton whose brother, Dale, escaped from prison and showed up on his doorstep looking for money.

This, obviously put John in a bad situation, being the Rome District Attorney. However, it got worse as the other prisoner who escaped along with Dale, showed up with a gun in hand. This led to John getting shot and Dale being killed.

I have to say that the only drawback I had of this episode was the score did not feel as it fit the story that it was telling and was a distraction of the episode.

In Pal Joey, we are introduced to Dr. Joey, played by Amy Aquino. A talk show/doctor who shows up and tries to strong arm Jill into selling her practice. It turned into a partnership between Jill and Dr. Joey. 

There was further advancement of the marital strife between Douglas and nuMyriam. I have really not liked this story arc because it turns Douglas Wambaugh into a real jerk. Wambaugh has always been a shyster lawyer who would do anything, but he had a heart of gold and was a good man deep down. This whole episode made Douglas look terrible. There may be more coming with this, but this does not feel like the character that we have seen over the last three years.

It was weird considering I only intended on watching one Picket Fences today, but with the strange mix up on the episode order, I had to watch “Pal Joey” in order to stay in the right stretch. It was much like the Twilight Zone during this past summer’s Daily Zone as there were several episodes that were out of order according to the list of Twilight Zones episodes. Not sure why this happens on Amazon Prime, but I have it straightened out as of now. I am going to have to keep my eye on these last season episodes to make sure they are in the correct order.