Review: Arrow 2x04 "Crucible"

Original Air date: Oct. 30, 2013

Well that had a twist ending I actually didn't see coming.

Oliver wants to stop the crazy amount of guns coming into the city.  We’re talking like really deadly military grade weaponry that are being supplied by some guy calling himself The Mayor.  You see since the quake all these new aspiring crime lords have been coming out of the woodwork.  Oliver hosts a Cash for Guns event to try and clean up the Glades as Oliver Queen.  Which turns bad as the Mayor shows up and demonstrates his personal inventory of hardware.

Review: Misfits 5x02

Original air date: Oct. 30, 2013

This was a very Rudy centric episode and I can’t say I’m complaining.  If you are a Rudy x Jess shipper than this was definitely your episode.  Kind of gave me whiplash since just last week she was still getting over feelings for Alex but cool whateves.  I guess last season there was some precursor flirting.  I dunno, it could be cute.  I could be down. 

Getting back to Rudy, he discovers that his dad is cheating on his mom and is also an abusive asshole.  Well that’s what he thinks he’s discovered.  In fact, like himself, his dad has split into two after the storm.  I guess it runs in the family.  Also thinking that with what Rudy Too said last week about a split personality disorder might have been something Rudy (and possibly his father) dealt with before the storm (his mother was afraid he'd "gone mental again").  I thought the Rudy Too thing had come from being deeply insecure and covering it up by being a jerk.  Perhaps, that is not the case though.  Oh and Jess and Rudy team up.

Review: Supernatural 9x04 "Slumber Party"

Original Air date: Oct. 29, 2013

It’s the Winchesters of Oz.  I had fun, did y’all have fun? Charlie Bradbury episodes continue to be my favorite. I adored Felicia Day before Supernatural and now I just want Charlie every week.

The episode opens up in 1935 with the inaugural case at the brand new Men of Letters’ bunker. Dorothy, yup the one you’re thinking of, shows up with the Wicked Witch as her prisoner.  She needs a way to kill her and hopes that the “glorified librarians” can give her a hand. When the witch gets free Dorothy bravely casts a spell binding her and the witch forever and trapping them in a jar of goo.  A jar of goo that Dean accidentally knocks over as he and Sam are trying to hot-wire the Men of Letters’ supercomputer to track angels.  Charlie is there because neither of the boys actually know how to hot-wire the supercomputer to track the angels.

Review: Ripper Street 2x01 "Pure as the Driven"

Original Air date: Oct. 28, 2013

And we’re back.  It’s 1890 and we’re back on the streets of Whitechapel.  Detective Inspector Reid has taken to living in his office (I don’t think anyone is surprised).  The division is swamped and riots have become common morning occurrence.  Over in Chinatown Sgt. Maurice Linklater is thrown out a window and impales his leg on a fence.  Reid and his department set out to not only find the culprit but also why he would have been in that part of town.

Along the way they discover corruption in the K division.  Detective Inspector Jebedian Shine has started an illegal drug trade with his wife from Hong Kong.  A woman who goes by Blush Pang.  Together they plan on setting loose a new drug onto the streets, Heroine.  At the same time Blush’s brother has come from China to take her home.  He is a skilled fighter and able to punch a man clean off of his feet.  Destruction is left in his wake and he is the one behind Linklater’s fall.  After being confronted by Reid, Shine goes to visit Linklater and kills him so he is unable to witness against him.  He then places the guilt of the Sergeant’s death on Reid.

This was a good solid episode.  A few of the earlier episodes of season one, I confess, didn't always have my attention.  So far, I’m really happy to report that was not the case with this episode.  I'd like to also say I am not just saying that because Damien Molony joins the cast next week. 

Favorite bits from the episode:

• The beginning scene.  Drake so calmly asking Reid to join him downstairs.  Reid politely asking for his billy club before they both join the brawl downstairs.
• Jackson yelling “Reid again?” and just being generally annoyed.
• Just Jackson and Reid and Drake.  I just really enjoy their chemistry.  
• Sergeant Bennet Drake finding himself a wife who loves him.  He made me so sad last season, he was so lonely and was just looking for someone to love him.  I'm glad he found Bella. 

In conclusion: It’s good to be back and I'm looking forward to next week. 

Review: Hart of Dixie 3x04" Help Me Make It Through the Night"

Original Air date: Oct. 28, 2013

It’s Halloween in Bluebell.  Lemon finds herself blacklisted from the Halloween Masquerade Ball, the top social event this week, in response to her anti-Belle antics last week.  In order to secure herself an invitation she is forced to call in Grandmother Betty Breeland “[she is] like the President but with power.”  Zoe disapproves of Joel’s new found friendship with Wade and tries steer him towards Lavon instead.  All while Wade is trying to hide from a very large very angry mountain named Randall. 

New Look at Veronica Mars Movie

Where are my Marshmallows at?

Entertainment Weekly has a new sneak peek for the upcoming Veronica Mars movie.  In the 4 minute clip the stars we all know and love talk a little about the film.

Ten years later and we still love hearing the cast weigh in on the age old question.  Piz? or Logan? Who is the love of Veronica's life?

The video contains some mild spoilers and we get a glimpse of a few new clips not previously seen in other sneak peeks.

(psst the pic is the video again.)

We learn at the start of the film that Veronica is still with Piz and living in New York. Logan is still a brooding bad boy but now he's accused of murder (*gasp* NO!). Logan gives his old friend Veronica a call, he needs help.  Setting Veronica off on a trip down memory lane.  

If you've been living under a rock perhaps you haven't heard of the upcoming Veronica Mars movie.  The adaptation/sequel to the popular and well loved TV show by the same name.  Kristen Bell starring as the title character plays the daughter a private investigator who is very talented in solving crimes when she's not in high school.  If you've never seen it then you should get on that. You won't regret it, I promise you.

Veronica Mars is set to hit theaters in Spring of 2014.

Review: Once Upon a Time 3x05 "Good Form"

Original Air date: Oct. 27, 2013

If y’all thought last week’s recap/review was a mess of shipper feelings ye be ware.  I have no idea how I’m going to get my thoughts organized and in order. If you continue to read beyond this point… well whatever happens that’s on you because this is your only warning.  I’m kidding there are no capslock and keyboard smashing (though I wanted to).  I have had like 6 cookies tonight though so I’m kind of hopped up on sugar which I give as excuse as to why I’m being such a goof right now.

The promo for this episode and even the sneak peek released did not prepare me for what was going to go down in tonight’s episode.  Immediately after I finished watching (which took longer than normal because I kept rewinding to watch scenes multiple times) I texted my friend in all caps and exclamation marks.  I was a mess of feelings. 

Review: By Any Means 1x06

Original Air date Oct. 27, 2013

That. Was. An Intense. Finale.

Earlier this week I’d read an interview with Elliot Knight about this week’s episode. He said it was intense and darker than the rest of the season, but I didn't believe him.  I mean how intense could it be, really?  Oh I was but a sweet summer child.  Afterward the episode I had to get up, walk around, make some tea and just sit for a second.  I tried to write, couldn't.  I tried to start a different show. Couldn't.  Now I think I can finally get on with it (melodramatic much? amirite?!)

5 Reasons Why I Love Season 2 of Revolution

I decided to write this because I know a lot people stopped watching Revolution half way through last season.  It had its plot holes and the story just wasn't the best and those damn muskets were ridiculous.  This season I have found it much improved.  Instead of writing a single review of a single episode I figured I’d compile all my favorite things so far.  

There will be spoilers for all aired episodes beyond this point! This is your spoiler warning! spoiler.

ETA: After events of 2x06: Dead Man Walking near half of this list is pending.  It may soon need be relabeled as "5 things I loved about the first 5 episodes of Revolution"

5) It's dirty. They finally threw some dirt at our actors.  I don’t know about you, but it was refreshing that they stopped pretending that in a world without electricity and running water our leads could still have perfectly styled hair.  I have both electricity and running water and I can tell you I've never had such beautiful flowing locks as Charlie had season 1. So there’s that.  For once I can fully buy into this dystopian future.  It may seem like a small and petty thing to get caught up on, but no really this was important to me.

Review: Dracula 1x01 "The Blood is the Life"

Original Air date: Oct. 25,2013

It’s London 1896 and a dormant Dracula (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) has just been awoken.  What does he do first you say? He throws a party and invites all the coolest people, duh.  Posing as an American entrepreneur, Alexander Grayson, he attempts to sniff out the contemporary high council members of The Order of the Dragon.  An corrupt and evil organization that once murdered his true love many centuries before and who are now intent on controlling the city.  At the party he sees Mina Murray (Jessica De Gouw) a medical student and also the reincarnation of his long lost love, he's a bit smitten you could say.  Grayson also meets Mina’s boyfriend, Jonathan Harker (Oliver Jackson Cohen) a struggling journalist.

The tone of the show is kind of dark playful with more than a bit of camp in there.  We've moved back from the fluffy romcom vampire and back into the dark sexual fantasy Dracula. Come on. Its Jonathan Rhys Meyers would you expect anything differently?  That could be fun if the show doesn't take itself too seriously this season.  They almost lost me though with the slow motion fight scene on the roof.  That was… uncalled for and the show didn't need it.  I have a feeling we’re going to get at least one of those over the top scenes at least once an episode and I could do without but I’m willing to give it a try.

Review: Once Upon a Time in Wonderland 1x03 "Forget Me Not"

Original air date: Oct. 24, 2013

So first things first I guess.  Alice and Knave go in search of a magic rope called the “forget me not”.  Or is it knot?  Anyway.  They track the knot down to the Caterpillar who is the Jabba the Hutt of Wonderland/Underland.   Knave has a bounty on his head (wait, does this make him Han Solo?), but is able to make a deal with him.  Since the Caterpillar no longer has the knot, Knave will get it back for him and then his debt will be paid.  Easy peasy, right? Right?! No. The monster Grendel has the knot and so there go Alice and Knave off to fight a monster.  PS. Underland looks very much like a steam punk convention. 

Knave’s past is revealed through their journey.  He’s actually Will Scarlett of Robin Hood’s Merry Men.  Which has me wondering… Robin Hood has become a reoccurring character within OUAT, so are we setting up a crossover soon? Or do they just really like Sean Maguire? Things to ponder on.  In the flashback we see Will’s induction into the Merry Men, his betrayal of the Merry Man as he tricks them into stealing from Maleficent so he and his true love Anastasia can leave the Enchanted Forest. 

Review: The Crazy Ones 1x05 "She's So European"

Original Air date: Oct. 24, 2013

Sydney is anxious to impress a client for a new senior dating website, Helena.  Likewise both Simon and Zach vie for Helena’s affections and both end up receiving them.  Sydney tries to come to terms with not only realizing her father has a sex life, but also with the new shared information of his and Zach’s personal faces and preferences from her new best friend Helena.  Not to mention discovering that all her secrets shared with Helena have now found the ears of both Simon and Zach.

At the same time Andrew takes lead on recording a voice over with Fred Melamed for the first time.  After a few struggles he stands up for himself and finally gains the respect from Melamed. 

It was a pretty strong episode.  It was funny and an entertaining watch.  I enjoyed this episode more than last week's but I think "Bad Dad" has been my favorite episode so far. 

Favorite bits of the episode?

• James Wolk and Robin Williams playing with each other in southern accents.
• Andrew screaming “erase my browser history” when he thought he was going to die.
• The entire scene with the mayonnaise jar.  The faces, the grunting, and Sydney screaming about the children or something.
• Fred Melamed picking Helena up by using a rom-com movie trailer voice.

In Conclusion: I think I’ll never be able to make a sandwich with mayo again without laughing.  I wouldn't say no to more Zach and Sydney scenes because I want to ship them, if only because I’m projecting because I really like James Wolk.  I admit it, I’m shallow. Don’t judge. 

Review: Elementary 2x05 "Ancient History"

Original Airdate: Oct. 24, 2013

I’m a fan of this week’s episode.  It was fun having a backwards and at one point an even sideways case.  Sherlock is bored.  He hasn't had an interesting case for awhile now and his search through old cold case files has come up empty.  So of course he goes to the morgue and looks through the corpses hoping to find something that the medical examiner might have overlooked. 

There he finds the body of a man killed in a motorcycle accident, but things are not as they seem.  Upon analysis of the body Sherlock is able to determine that the man, Leo Banin aka Vitaly, is a retired hitman and had in fact murdered someone prior to his death.  Captain Gregson can’t categorize it as a murder till they find a victim so the detective duo set out in search of a dead body.  Inciting such amazing quotes from Sherlock such as “Travis, you’re alive; how unfortunate.” as well as “Alive, again. Why can’t anyone be dead today?”  In the end they discover that it was Banin’s wife who had hired a few of his old colleagues to murder him and when that failed she caused his motorcycle accident.

Review: Arrow 2x03 "Broken Dolls"

Original Air Date: Oct. 23, 2013

If you watched last week (and I hope you did) it'd be hard to forget the cliff hanger the episode ended on.  How will Oliver get out of this one?! He’s surrounded by an entire police force with guns and he can only shoot one arrow at a time!  

Spoiler alert: The newest vigilante in town shows up and saves his ass.  She’s awesome, she’s badass, and she knows how to make a dramatic entrance.  I. Love. Her.

On this week’s episode of Arrow, Officer Lance comes face to face with a man he worked so hard to put in prison once before.  After the loss of his daughter, Sara, the first case that Lance worked on was Barton Mathis aka Dollmaker.  A sadistic murderer who kidnaps women and kills them by making them into life size dolls.  It was a case that took Lance to a very dark place and became his obsession.  

Review: Misfits 5x01

Original Air Date: Oct. 23, 2013

I was not all that thrilled about season four of Misfits but I was determined not to be one of those viewers who bailed on the show after a cast change.  I mean just look at Being Human, I loved the second cast almost as much as the first.  So… I was determined (determined I tell ya!) to watch this episode with an open mind.  I mean I just have to get to know this new cast, right?

Right off the bat, I realized how much I missed the show as soon as that familiar theme started playing.  All the working parts of what made me love the show are there, the tone, the humor, even the way the show is shot.  It’s obviously made by people who care.  There are fun camera angels, the use selective focus is beautiful and,  I mean even the coloring of the show is great.  All in all, I forgot just how physically pretty this show was.  Plus, there's something about hearing that score again, that brings back nostalgia for the first few seasons. 

Eager to see the Tam siblings reunited on TV again?

According to The Hollywood Reporter Sean Maher will be joining the cast of The CW's Arrow for the 10th episode.

pic courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter

Maher is set to play the villainous Shrapnel.  Maher joins Summer Glau as the second actor from the Joss Whedon cult hit show Firefly.  Glau has a reoccurring guest spot playing Isabel Rochev, a woman very much interested in Queen Consolidated.

The duo previously played fugitive siblings River and Simon Tam in the short lived Sci-fi western, Firefly.  No word yet if the two will have any scenes together on Arrow, however.


To read more about Maher's part and the history behind Shrapnel be sure to read the full Hollywood Reporter article here.

The newest episode of Arrow airs tonight on the CW.  Don't miss it!

Review: Supernatural 9x03 "I'm No Angel"

Original Air Date: Oct. 22, 2013

The spoilers for this episode were kind of like the spoilers heard around the world.  The spoilers that launched a thousand internet arguments. The spoilers that… well let’s just say they caused quite a stir.  All that before the episode and I have an incredibly strong feeling quite a few things that occurred in this episode (and a few afterwards) are going to be topics of discussion for a very long time. 

There’s a strong desire to just keyboard smash and call it a day.  I like can’t even think right now.

Castiel is human.  That was the main theme of tonight’s episode.  Castiel wanders as he figures out how to be human and all that entails.  He was afraid to trust anyone and so he took the name Clarence, the name Meg had given him.  (Oh, and by the way Dean? No one is buying that you have never seen It’s a Wonderful Life. No one).  Then even when he knew that angels were ruthlessly looking for him and even when he knows that there are no more angels in heaven, Cas is still drawn to churches.  Oh, Castiel you broke my heart this episode.  I just wanted to pick you up, take you home and wrap you up in a blanket.  Which is in fact what April did end up doing (PS. Shannon Lucio, damn girl I just saw you die twice last night. On two different shows). 

Review: Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 1x05 "Girl in the Flower Dress"

Original Air Date: Oct. 22, 2013

This was a good episode.  I enjoyed this episode.  Despite the fuzzy Skyeward clip that opens up the show this is not an episode in which leaves you with warm fuzzy “aww they’re a family” kind feelings. 

The show opens up with a street magician in Hong Kong (as played by Louis Ozawa Chanchien), who is more than he seems.  All seems fine when he is approached by a girl in a flower dress, Raina.  Raina promises Chan Ho Yin he’ll be famous, he’ll be known all over the world as "Scorch" and he’ll be a hero.  In the end it turns out that Raina works for Centipede and needs Chan’s platelets in order to stabilize Extremis.  This was nice return to the storyline started in the pilot episode (which also connects the series to the Marvel verse movies).  Especially if that means that Ruth Negga will be an occurring guest star on the show as Raina.  I’ve been hearing the internet buzz for Ruth Negga joining the cast for a while now and I have to say I’m not disappointed.  I loved her in Misfits and she’s already shaping up as an excellent foe to Coulson’s team.

Back on the bus, the team is able to trace the leaked information on Chan to a hacker from the Rising Tide.  The source of the information turning out to be an extremely old friend/boyfriend of Skye’s, Miles.  She makes an error in judgment as she attempts to warn him before he’s found, only to be found with him by her own team.  In the end the team is too late to save Scorch from himself and are forced to neutralize him.  Skye is offered a last chance to come clean about everything, which she takes, but it’s obvious that they no longer trust her.

New Clip for Arrow 2x03: Broken Dolls

Arrow just got dark.  I almost feel the need to give a friendly warning to all before you hit the play button on the video below.  Brand new clip from Wednesday's all new episode of Arrow "Broken Dolls". 

In the clip a distressed Hood and Detective Lance try to prevent a murder while Felicity races to trace a phone call that's essential in saving a woman's life.  Don't forget to watch the episode on The CW tomorrow night 8/7c.

Fox delays premiere for Almost Human

If you're like me, you were already counting down the days till FOX's new series Almost Human's premiere date. Well it looks like we are all going to have to wait just a little bit longer. Instead of airing on November 4th it seems scheduling has now given us a two-night premiere for November 17 and 18th.  You can read more about the reasons behind the push back here.  

Almost Human stars Karl Urban and Michael Ealy as unlikely partners in the year 2048. A time when all human cops are required to have an android partner.  Be sure to check out the promo above and remember to mark both November 17 and the 18th down on your calendars. 

Review: Hart of Dixie 3x03 "Take this Job and Shove It"

Original Air Date: Oct. 21, 2013

When I first began watching this show back in season one the only thing that kept me watching every week was Zoe and Wade.  So it’s a little of a surprise for me to be sitting here typing this review/recap and wanting to type that I am so glad that Zoe and Wade have been put on the back-burner, at least for now.

Tonight’s episode centers around Zoe trying to find a way back into her practice with Brick.  She resorts to hanging around town giving people random medical examinations while they eat their supper.  Zoe has a two pronged approach to trick Brick into inviting her back into the practice. That’s the southern-Bluebell way she claims.  Everything backfires however as Joel, not used to Bluebell’s shenanigans, ends up preventing Zoe's plan but also from practicing medicine in Bluebell again.  George finds himself tutoring Lavon’s cousin who is a little over the top and winds up getting his hand zipped up in her dress… it’s a long ridiculous story.  Lavon is trying to pimp out Brick so he can get a minor league baseball team in Bluebell.  Lemon tries to regain her social standing with the Belles, first with a rebellion and then with cleaning gum off the sidewalks. 

Review: How I Met Your Mother 9x06 "Knight Vision"

Original Air Date: Oct. 21, 2013

This used to be my favorite sitcom.   I thought it was unique, smart, and creative.   There were times where I would rave about how stories unfolded and how intricate the storylines could get.  This season I am not feeling the same way about this show.  This series has lost something along the way and now just feels like any other sitcom on television.  It feels like it's given up.  It's the last season and now it feels like the writers are sitting back and phoning it in (Marshall is literally phoning it in with the rest of the group this season).

Before I get to the recap of this episode can someone tell me something… Is this entire season taking place in real time or something? Are we going to get a full twenty-four episode season that all takes place in the span of a single weekend?  Six episodes and its still 50-something odd hours until the wedding.

Anyway, this week features Ted trying to find his wedding weekend hook up. Ted can’t decide if he should be an insensitive jerk or a decent human being.  The ghostly knight from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade shows up and condemns his every choice for being 'wrong'.  Robin and Barney steal Marshall and Lily’s “how we met” story in order to ensure the minister will marry them.  Spoiler Alert: He finds out the truth and it literally kills him.  Marshall is still on his buddy roadtrip on his way to Farhampton.  He attempts to figure out the best way to tell Lily that he's already accepted the judgeship.

Honestly, the show just doesn't feel the same without Marshall interacting with the rest of the group. Even the interactions between the rest of the group just doesn't feel the same.  I have literally nothing else to say about this episode except... "What the damn hell?!" is this season?

From the promo for next week it looks like we’re getting a goofy silly Halloween episode on crack. So there’s that?

Conclusion: This show feels like it’s given up and that breaks my heart.  Sorry, I wish I could be more positive on this show but there's nothing I can say.  I don't think I laughed once.  I'm seriously drawing a blank.

New Clip Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Just in case you haven't seen it yet.  A brand new sneak peak from Tuesday's episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

(psst. click the pic to take you to the video. Couldn't embed)

The short clip offers a relaxed Agent Ward and Skye taking a break from training and having a little bit of fun.  It's always nice to see Agent Ward not the robot-super-spy all the time, wouldn't you say?

Plus, I don't know about y'all, but I do enjoy the SkyeWard they've been serving up recently on MAoS.  They're no FitzSimmons but they are cute.

Don't miss this week's all new episode of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. tomorrow night on abc.

Review: Once Upon A Time 3x04 "Nasty Habits"

Original Air Date: Oct. 20, 2013

Wow. Okay, I’m not even sure where to start.  On one hand I want to talk about this week’s episode on the other hand… I just saw the promo for next week.  For starters: I confess. I AM A GIANT CAPTAIN SWAN CRAZY SHIPPER! AND I AM FREAKING OUT ABOUT NEXT WEEK!  There, you happy? Okay. Now that that’s out of the way let’s see if I can get my words out.

This show just recently came back into my life.  I started watching it with season 1, but when it went on winter hiatus I just never picked it back up.  That is until a week and a half ago.  Friends were still really into it and I won’t deny the gifsets of Killian Jones/Captain Hook (as played by Colin O’ Donoghue) played a small part in me deciding to do a 24 hour catch up marathon.  Once I caught up I chastised myself for ever falling behind in the first place. 

Ripper Street Series 2 Promo

I can't be the only one watching the new Series 2 Ripper Street promo on repeat, can I?

The BBC One drama series airs its second season on Monday October 28th.  Which only gives you a little over a week to do any season one catching up if need be (*whispers* I know I do). 

This season not only do we get the return of incredible performances by Matthew Mcfayden but Damien Molony is also joining the cast.  You can catch a glimpse of him in the trailer (with his natural Irish accent I might add).  I was over the moon when I first discovered that my favorite OCD vampire was soon to be joining a show with such a talented cast.  Here's hoping that this is just the beginning of a long successful television career for Damien. 

Anyone else as excited as I am? 

Review: By Any Means 1x05

Original Air Date: Oct. 20, 2013

So, I've tried to sit down and write about this show before but each time I fall into a trap about how much I loved Tom Tom (Andrew Lee Potts) and Charlie (Elliot Knight).  So with only one episode left let’s see if I can be any more articulate.

If you've never watched By Any Means, it’s vaguely reminiscent of  Leverage in my opinion.  Not to say it has anywhere as near perfect characters as Leverage but it has similarities in the way the story unfolds.  By Any Means centers around a team of four who operate in that grey area.  When someone commits a major crime but for whatever reason the police are unable to convict said person that’s when Jack Quinn, as played by Warren Brown, and his team are called in.  Their mission: to by any means necessary get their man (like I worked the title of the show in there).  What reminds me of Leverage is in each episode their mission seems to be going horribly wrong but in the end its all revealed in quick flashbacks, that had previously been kept from the audience, that everything had happened exactly as planned. 

This week’s episode begins with a man named Ahmed (played by Ashraf Barhom) who shoots and kills a man in the woods whose only crime is being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Ahmed is able to get out of his arrest by promising MI-5 important information on suspected terrorists cells working within the country.  Helen Barlow (played by Gina McKee), the team's contact, feels that while the information is important Ahmed’s previous human trafficking and murderous exploits should not go unpunished, so she calls in Jack Quinn.  Jack and the team set out to break his former accomplice, Mehmet (played by Stewart Scudamore), out of prison in order to frighten Ahmed into a murder confession.

Andrew Lee Potts tweets

As I sit here waiting for the newest episode of By Any Means I was happy to discover this photo Andrew Lee Potts tweeted sometime this morning.

 It's a first look of him in the new show Dracula which airs on NBC on October 25, 2013.

Dracula stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers as the title character who arrives in London pretending to be an American entrepreanuer, but actually has other motivations for his arrival.  I admittedly have not heard much about this particular series except that the cast also includes a very blonde Katie McGrath.

I will admit that this photo and the trailer do have me intrigued, however.  For some sneak peaks and a series trailer head over to NBC's Dracula Page.

Perhaps this could be a show to an addition to my Friday nights.  We shall see, so far the only thing on my Friday night schedule is The Legend of Korra.  It could be time to add one more show.

Review: Elementary 2x04 "Poison Pen"

Original air date: Oct. 17, 2013

So. Let’s talk about this episode. On this week’s episode of Elementary a man is found dead, poisoned by nitroglycerin. As the truth unfolds we discover a nanny with a hidden past, an abused teenager, and a wife whose alibi was that she was too busy planning the same murder to commit said murder. This was not a man who was going to be missed.

Now, the cases in Elementary are usually interesting, but honestly they are not what keep me watching each week. I’ve watched more than my share of crime procedurals and it’s the characters that always makes this show so much different than others. There isn’t a character on this show that I don’t love. In those respects, this episode did not disappoint and I’m not just talking about shirtless Johnny Lee Millar opening boxing scene either.

One of the major things that I think what sets Elementary apart from other modern adaptations of Sherlock Holmes is that this version isn’t all about Holmes; it’s an ensemble. In fact, Sherlock Holmes’ name isn’t even in the title of the show. I think that speaks volumes for what this show wants to be. Which was obvious in this episode as Joan was the one problem solving, coming up with ideas, and ultimately finding the key piece of evidence.

Review: Once Upon a Time in Wonderland 1x02 "Trust Me"

Original Air date: Oct. 17, 2013

As much as I want to like this show, I think it still has a few kinks to iron out before I can truly love it.

In this second episode Alice and Knave set out to retrieve Cyrus’ bottle from where Alice and Cyrus buried it long ago. Alice tells everyone they meet exactly where they are headed knowing that in Wonderland word of their destination is sure to find the ears of whomever is holding Cyrus hostage.

While on their trek Alice thinks back on when she and Cyrus first fell in love, his gift of three wishes, her learning to swordfight and their first kiss. We also get a brief glimpse at Knave’s sordid past (he gets the bejesus slapped out of him by a very angry fairy). This is where I’m going to try to keep my overactive shipper heart at bay… I find the AlicexCyrus love story while sweet not enough to carry an entire show. Which is kind of how this show is set up. Alice loves him so much that she is willing to tear Wonderland apart to get to him – that’s a story I should love, but I don’t. I find Cyrus a little boring. I want to hear about Knave and Anastasia. I want to see how he and Alice met and what else he’s gotten up to that there’s a bounty on his head (which full disclosure: I’m a fan of Michael Socha’s after Being Human UK. So there’s that).

Review: The Crazy Ones 1x04 "Breakfast Burrito Club"

Original air date: Oct. 17, 2013

I’m a little behind this morning so bear with me as I settle in with my mug of tea.

While this show has some great actors such as Robin Williams, Sarah Michelle Gellar, James Wolk, Hamish Linklater, and Amanda Setton… this sitcom just feels flat.

In this week’s episode Sydney (Gellar) is being forced to go on a much needed but much dreaded vacation by her father and business partner Simon (Williams).  Sydney is a work-aholic.  She never leaves the office and her wildest fantasy includes beach blazers and giving the pitch of her life.  As she’s about to leave, the advertising firm finds out last minute that a meeting scheduled for next week for breakfast burritos has been push to the morning.

Sydney quickly puts her travel plans on hold as she feels she needs to be there to supervise the group and more importantly her father.  Which ends up being a task akin to herding cats.  While attempting (and failing) to come up with ideas they share stories about their love lives, read some odd poetry, and at one moment of crazy insanity burn a cardigan in the trash bin.

Review: Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D 1x01: Pilot

Original Air Date: Sept. 24, 2013

So first let me put a disclaimer here: I thoroughly enjoy all the Marvel movies (some more the others), but I have not read ANY of the comics.  Therefore I only know movie verse and now TV verse I guess you could say.  Which I don’t think affects my feelings on this new series but I figured I’d make that short disclaimer. I know a lot of y'all do read the comics.

Anyway, moving on.  The tone of the show, especially in the beginning wasn’t what I was expecting.  Did anyone else not realize it was going to be so superhero campy?  It really caught me off guard in the beginning and it just seemed like a revamp of Heroes (which, okay only watched s1 and bits of s2&3 out of the corner of my eye).  After finishing the episode I’m not completely convinced that it’s not.  Which is not a problem considering I always thought Heroes had so much potential that was squandered.  I guess I had not expected the big sweeping heroic music right off the bat.  That said, I laughed like an idiot when Coulson walked around that dark corner and acknowledged how dramatic that entrance was.

“Sorry. The corner was really dark and I couldn’t help myself. I think there’s a bulb out.” 

Which actually brings me to my next point.  This seems like an early draft of a Joss Whedon script.  I could plainly see Whedon’s humor and influence but it all just seemed so… big. I mean the “little poop with knives” it was funny but also felt a little forced.  Which just means that I think in their attempts to get this show on television as quickly as possible in order to capitalize on the novelty of the Avengers’ movie is really apparent.

Review: Sleepy Hollow 1x01 Pilot

Original Air Date: Sept. 16, 2013

Honestly, I hadn't intended on writing anything after watching Sleepy Hollow either, but there I was in the middle of the episode pressing pause so I could run and grab a notebook.

In the beginning I wasn't sure if I was going to be watching this show at all.  A friend was excited, but the promos didn't catch my attention I mean.  It sounded like something I'd come up with as I was falling asleep "no wait guys! What if my next story was present day Sleepy Hollow and like they came from the past?!?!? That would be the greatest story evar!" Then tumblr flipped for it today and I went ahead and sat down to watch what I'd recorded yesterday.

It took me exactly 5 minutes for me to fall in love.  (Sidenote: I loved that they opened and closed the show with Rolling Stone "Sympathy for the Devil").
In the beginning it was the relationship with the Sheriff and Mills which pulled me into the show.  In just a few minutes sitting at a table in a dinner and I was already caring for this characters and I was invested.