Television

24 – Day 8: 11:00 A.M to 12:00 A.M

I still remember the day I watched the Season 1 finale of “24.”  I was curled up on my couch with a blanket draped around my shoulders, a bowl of popcorn to my left, and my hair disheveled from a long day of trudging through school and working for six hours.  As the minutes counted down, I could feel the tension building inside of my chest, the kind of tension that sits heavy on your lungs and makes each breath feel troubled.  It’s the feeling of adrenaline and the weight of suspense.  When Nina Meyers made the phone call to Jack Bauer and informed him that they found his wife’s body in the harbor, the coldness that Kiefer Sutherland portrayed as he doled out his vengeance upon the terrorists still chills me to this day.  I remember thinking to myself, “I’ve never seen such rage and madness in a character’s eyes.”  Over the course of seven seasons, Jack has been in this type of situation again and again, yet nothing had ever come close to that Season 1 episode, where Jack’s world seemed to be coming down around his head.  However, last night’s episode of “24” nearly surpassed that level.  Episode 20 of Season 8 continued Jack’s vendetta against the Russians, and with Dana Walsh’s death, Jack’s character has taken yet another turn.  Killing somebody in cold blood as a means to revenge is something he’s never taken lately and has rarely done, but tonight, he seemed to be caught in the midst of a fury storm, which is something that will likely last for the rest of the season.

Chuck: Chuck vs. the Role Models

Another enjoyable installment in the saga of our favourite geeky superspy, with the added bonus of some really famous guest stars. Add in some romance, some heartwarming buddy-bonding, and a nice little cliffhanger then you’ve got it just about right.

This is the second of the six “bonus” episodes that the network tacked on after what was supposed to be the season – possibly series – finale, and it continues in the vein of the previous episode by fleshing out the “happily ever after” that we have been presented with.
This is the first episode after Chuck and Sarah got together that actually takes place in Burbank. From the opening, with poor half-asleep Morgan coming face to face with a scantily clad Sarah in the kitchen, to the major clean-up job in Ellie and Devon’s apartment. It is apparent that the team is back on familiar stomping grounds and they’re exploring how their new relationship will affect their daily lives and long-term plans.

Flashforward – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road injects a much needed dose of background information and subsequently delivers a slew of satisfying ‘oh, I see’ moments, that although overdue, are excellently explained and most importantly, quite believable.

Justified – Blind Spot

The opening sequence alone is worth the price of admission in this episode.  An Assassin bursting into Ava’s bedroom with a sawed off shotgun blazing away in the night.  Raylan and Ava diving for cover.  Raylan then jumping up and wrestling the attacker out the window.  He drops to the floor grabs his firearm and fires out the window hitting the perpetrator as he runs away.  Bam!  This episode is on!!!

The Bridge – Show Review

The last time CBS and CTV teamed up, the result was Flashpoint; a highly successful mix of action and emotion, following the exploits of an emergency task force, set in Toronto. The latest collaborative effort, The Bridge, follows a newly elected Police Union Chief, who after growing impatient with the manipulative influence of politics and bureaucracy on policing, aims to shake up city hall and put an end to corruption.

The Office – Body Language

Michael Gary Scott is the epitome of awkwardness. He symbolizes every awkward moment of our lives, and every friend we have that embarrasses us with the foolish decisions they make, the ones we would never make. Watching Michael Scott in action is painful, because he lacks awareness. He doesn’t realize when he’s being an idiot, which means we’re forced to suffer the embarrassment. I’ll admit it: there’s never been a fictional being that has made me as uncomfortable as Michael Scott does at times. But that’s what I love him for. He elicits a strong emotional response from the audience, whether for good or bad, and in last night’s episode, “Body Language,” Michael Scott was at his most awkward, leading to many frustrated groans, laughs, and a surprisingly touching end scene.

Stargate Universe – Lost

While Scott, Chloe, Eli, and Greer are trapped below ground on the planet they were stranded on, Rush, Young, and the Destiny now in FTL are trying to figure a way to recover their lost crew members.  Rush and his team think they’ve figured out that Destiny is reaching the outer part of the Galaxy they are currently in meaning if they don’t recover the crew soon they never will.  Tamara is trying to decide how to tell Young that she is pregnant with his child.