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Parenthood “Vegas” Review (6×01)

25 Sep

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Final seasons simultaneously bring closure and look toward the future, and that’s exactly what we see throughout “Vegas”, the final premiere of this wonderful little show. The episode is largely framed around Zeek, who collapses while he’s in Vegas for his birthday, and we’re reminded of the mortality that is inherent in life, of the fact that the idea of parenthood is ever evolving through the generations. Simply put, people die. Parents die. We saw Kristina battle cancer in season four–with a near perfect performance by Monica Potter–but here, we’re seeing someone come close to the end by natural means.

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The Bridge “Quetzalcoatl” Review (2×12)

24 Sep

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“No man can run from his past.”

There’s a sad irony inherent in Linder’s ultimate fate, in the fact that he winds up being shot in the chest by the very man he sets out to kill. In hindsight, we realize that Linder’s the one who can’t run from his past, who can’t break free of the world he lives in, and he’s essentially running toward his past when he breaks into a literal run in that alley. It’s a bit premature to say that he’s a hundred percent dead, but it certainly seems like the writers have reached their ending point with his storyline.

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Person of Interest “Panopticon” Review (4×01)

23 Sep

105131_WB_0066bc“It’s not just about the numbers, Harold. It’s about survival.”

Oh, how I’ve missed you, Person of Interest. The end of season three brought with it a shift in the status quo, a shakeup that not only forced our beloved characters to obtain new identities, but also scattered them throughout the city and prevented them from moving forward as a team. As we open the fourth season, they’re all in stifling positions, trapped by the need to survive but still hungry to save lives, and “Panopticon” illustrates a group of people who truly only function when they’re working with each other.

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Sleepy Hollow “This Is War” Review (2×01)

22 Sep

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The greatest thing about Sleepy Hollow is the fact that while in every episode, it can let loose and embrace the insanity, it never loses sight of the heart of the show: the central Abbie-Ichabod dynamic. Within the first 5 minutes of “This Is War”, we get a very poignant conversation between the two in which they acknowledge their history, acknowledge what they’ve meant to each other since they’ve met, and acknowledge their future together. Of course, this is all happening while the writers are screwing with us. Continue reading

The Bridge “Beholder” Review (2×11)

18 Sep

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“To be free.”

This is the answer that Eleanor Nacht provides when asked why she does what she does, and it’s fitting because this is, in essence, a show in which every single character is attempting to break free from his or her past. Whether it’s through violence or physical distance or a rigid moral code, the desire to move forward and start a new life is what connects them, and we begin to see links between their various histories as a result.

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New Girl “The Last Wedding” Review (4×01)

16 Sep

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The ensemble’s always been the greatest strength of New Girl. These actors play off each other so well week to week, and when you put them all in a room together, it’s almost guaranteed that they’ll make you laugh. This is exactly what the season 4 premiere does, and what results is a hilarious half hour that kicks off the season in fine form.

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Boardwalk Empire “The Good Listener” Review (5×02)

14 Sep

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“Live long enough to cash out.”

Nucky Thompson, like Johnny Torrio, is nearing the end of his run, and he’s reminded of that fact at every turn. However, Nucky being the person he is, he won’t get out without finding some way to satisfy the burning greed that resides within his heart, the craving for power that drives people in this environment to kill and retaliate and kill some more. He realizes that if he dies, he’ll open up routes for others to build their own empires, and he’s not having any of that because his legacy needs to be under his own control, not under the mercy of the young up-and-comers.

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The Bridge “Eidolon” Review (2×10)

11 Sep

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The world is chaotic at times. It’s messy, full of conflicting ideas and clashing goals, and these multiple sides simply can’t function in tandem when everyone has his or her agenda. So, you can either acquiesce or remain steadfast on achieving your goals before anyone else does; whichever decision you choose has its own set of consequences, its own set of moral dilemmas awash with uncertainty.

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Sons of Anarchy “Black Widower” Review (7×01)

10 Sep

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“I already lost the woman I love. I’m not going to lose my club.”

Going into the final season of the show, Jax Teller is no longer attempting a reinvention of any kind, no longer moving toward legitimacy or structuring a future around his wife or distancing himself from JT’s and Clay’s ideals. It’s all about vengeance now, and Charlie Hunnam portrays Jax as a hollowed-out individual, a perpetual blank stare in his eyes as he does anything from listen to a business deal go down to torture and kill one of Lin’s men.

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