Archive | February, 2014

House of Cards “Chapter 14” Review (2×01)

14 Feb

kate-mara-house-of-cards-season-2Well, we’re back for another season of political intrigue and backstabbing. It’s House of Cards season 2.

I’ll be honest: I’d be the first person to express my dislike for much of season 1, as I thought it was tedious, a bit pretentious, and full of extraneous characters and plots I just had no interest in. “Chapter 14”, though, seems to hit the ground (literally) running, delivering a more tightly-plotted episode that, even considering the show still has its problems, is genuinely entertaining.

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Justified “Kill the Messenger” Review (5×06)

12 Feb

jst_506_messenger_0015Justified knows how to deliver its cold opens.

“Kill the Messenger” starts off with a wonderful teaser, one which effectively sets up the episode and is brilliantly acted by both Timothy Olyphant and Nick Searcy. The punch is a long time coming, and we can see the inner and external conflicts bubbling at the surface, just ready to boil over once morals trump respect.

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The Walking Dead “After” Review (4×09)

10 Feb

the-walking-dead-afterWell, we’re back.

Last year left us with a dead Governor, a decapitated Hershel, and a split group, and The Walking Dead‘s midseason premiere is a toned down, contemplative look at three characters: Michonne, Rick, and Carl.

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Shameless “There’s The Rub” Review (4×05)

10 Feb

408_4_3386684_01_444x250Absolutely devastating.

There’s really no other way to describe this episode, which is the culmination of a group of storylines that portray the dark roads the Gallaghers are going down. It’s hard to watch what was once a happy, carefree family struggling like this, but as I’ve said before, it’s a necessary step for the show.

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True Detective “Who Goes There” Review (1×04)

9 Feb

True-Detective-Who-Goes-ThereThis right here is the best show on television right now.

My goodness, where to start? The way this episode manages not only to be a transition into the second half of the season, but also an hour of pure, unbridled intensity, is a sight to see. It’s ripe with interesting character development, humor, and one of the best television sequences I have ever seen.

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Friday Night Lights “I Think We Should Have Sex” Review (1×17)

9 Feb

Friday Night Lights“You and I have the exact same amount of experience being parents.”
-Tami Taylor, Piece of Wisdom #12,532

A nuanced and compelling take on sex isn’t something you see everyday on television, but FNL delivers just that with “I Think We Should Have Sex”. The great thing about this episode is that it not only explores the experiences of Matt and Julie, but also the relationship between Julie and her parents. It perfectly encapsulates the awkwardness, the hilarity, the fear…everything that leads up to and results from a first-time high school sexual experience.

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Banshee “The Truth About Unicorns” Review (2×05)

8 Feb

56c42f8361bd4ca9cc4832b20ae7f552Well, that was different.

Season 2 of Banshee seems to be intent on toning things down a bit, and “The Truth About Unicorns” is an intriguing, ambitious hour of television that serves as the “calm before the storm”. Not everything here works, and while it’ll most likely go down as the most divisive episode of the series thus far, I have to say that I very much enjoyed it.

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The Vampire Diaries “Total Eclipse of the Heart” Review (5×13)

7 Feb

Total Eclipse of the HeartAfter two legitimately fantastic episodes, The Vampire Diaries delivers a more by-the-numbers installment this week. It’s extremely entertaining, but there are some questionable character choices that I hope can be resolved after the Olympic break.

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Friday Night Lights Season 1, Episodes 11-16 Review

6 Feb

Nevermind

EPISODE 11, “Nevermind”

Matt Saracen: Here’s a kid with a father who, by physically distancing himself from his family, emotionally distances himself from their problems. It’s something I’ve seen before, and I understand the situation Matt’s in. He’s shouldering all these responsibilities, having to be the man of the house when in reality, he’s missing an essential part of childhood…having a father. He’s also smart enough to see what’s going on here, and although a small part ofhim will always want to forgive his dad–this ties in interestingly with Jason’s feelings about Lyla in this episode–he’s been pushed to the edge.

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Friday Night Lights Season 1, Episodes 8-10 Review

6 Feb

ht_friday_night_lights_jef_121012_mn

EPISODE 8, CROSSING THE LINE

The episode does a nice job of bringing Billy and Tim’s relationship to the forefront, shading in some more backstory and giving us a brawl at the end. What this is is a relationship that’s been simultaneously torn apart and strengthened by their parents, and Tim has been able to avoid coping with the reality of his parents leaving; it’s really emblematic of his character, the guy who avoids his problems and isn’t exactly appreciative of everything he does have. The entire episode consists of Billy and Tim trying to convince themselves that they have a beef with the other person, and it’s tough to watch the brawl. However, we also get a nice moment at the end, showing us that even amidst all the problems and the conflict, the two will be there for each other.

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