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matt_zimmerAlso reviews for the latest episodes of The Flash, Arrow, DC's Legends Of Tomorrow, Gotham, Once Upon A Time, Mickey Mouse, and The Simpsons, the season finale of Transformers: Robots In Disguise, and the latest episodes of Grimm, 12 Monkeys, Bob's Burgers, Family Guy, American Dad, Bordertown, The Last Man On Earth, Bates Motel, The Blacklist, and Blindspot.
Teen Titans Go! "Obinray"
Robin hates secrets? Then why does he wear a mask? What a creep.
I love the idea of doing an episode with Pig Latin and Ubbi Dubbi. I do. But by the end the episode had veered from pleasurably insane into outright stupid. That's pretty much this show's entire problem.
Plus, if we're being honest, this is a Regular Show episode. 0.
The Flash "The Runaway Dinosaur"
Who did Jason Mewes play?
I think Iris' secret superpower is knowing which broken mugs people really liked. That could become a GREAT running gag if they choose to use it. Tonight suggests they might.
I have to say the narrative to the children's book "The Runaway Dinosaur" was terrific. That is pretty much everything a children's book should be. I think the producers should actually release that somehow. It would sell, even if it wasn't promoted as a tie-in to The Flash.
Love the idea that the woman at the end was BOTH Barry's mother and the Speed Force. Such a sweet moment.
Do you know what else is? That Iris and Barry hug at the end. A lesser show would have had them kiss, but the uncertainty facing them now works better if it's a hug. A kiss would be them making a decision. A hug means whatever decision they make, they will do it together.
I'm guessing Jesse got her superpowers, but I'm about 50/50 on Wally. It's the perfect excuse to create Kid Flash, but he should have been showing signs before now.
I love that Cisco loves that it's zombies ("Zombies? Seriously?"). The looks of joy on his face during this episode's various twists and turns makes me realize something very weird. If you had told me a couple of years ago that I would love an incarnation of the z-list hero Vibe as much as the one I currently do, I'd think you were kidding me. But he is just so much fun because he actually enjoys the craziness in a way none of the other characters do. That's very cool and relatable for the audience.
The cliffhanger was dire. Will Caitlin stay? I suspect she will, simply because she has no idea Barry is still alive and has his powers. I don't even blame her for that, or consider her a sell-out. It's simply the safest option and there's nothing else she can do for her friends anyways. Everything seems to be out of her hands at the moment, and I will forgive her if she chooses to stay alive. But that's me.
Great episode. I want a Runaway Dinosaur Golden Book. Now. ****1/2.
Arrow "Monument Point"
Yeah, that didn't suck. After a few weeks of episodes I felt the need to nitpick to death, we finally got an episode where I had no real complaints. Sure, Donna and Quentin's subplot seems ill-timed, but that's about it. Plus we get to see Vinnie Jones kicking @$$ in the name of Vinnie Jones. If they DO do a musical episode of Arrow, Brick should headline it (/Galavant fan).
I wish I felt worse about Alex's death by Anarky than I do. They never built him up as an interesting character in the previous weeks. But that isn't this episode's fault.
Nothing wrong with this week. ****.
DC's Legends Of Tomorrow "Destiny"
Better than usual, but still some things bugged me. Let's talk about the good first: the predestination stuff being b.s. is right in my wheelhouse. I always believe that the future is not written in stone, and I loved the fact that the team defeated the Time Masters because they never planned for the fact that Stein would save Jax's life at the probable expense of his own. Frankly, that's something they should have planned for, and if they WERE as thorough as the episode said, they would have, but I believe prophecy is horsepuckey and always have. I'll let it slide.
The bad: I know it's time travel and can be undone, but they shouldn't have killed off Snart. Yeah, it means a lot to me that he chose to go out a hero (and got a kiss from Sara), but he's the best character. With him gone, the show has lost its biggest selling point. It's about as ill-advised as if Arrow ever killed off Felicity Smoak or The Flash did the same thing to Cisco Ramone. Wentworth Miller is the biggest appeal of the show. And if they don't undo it next week, it's gone for no good reason.
What especially bugs me is that he didn't even need to die for the scene to work. The problem was the failsafe would go out of position if someone let go of it, right? Doesn't Snart have a freeze gun? They had a READY made excuse for how everyone could survive, and it doesn't even occur to anyone to do the obvious. Frankly, that should have been the first thing Snart thought of.
The second thing is Ray being so unconcerned in the climax that he was going to die. That's asinine and Rory had the right idea. If Ray dies, everything the Time Masters set into motion falls into place. If it's Rory (or ultimately Snart) who goes out, all bets are off. Ray dying was the canary in the coalmine to warn them they lost. Ray and the team should have been doing everything in their power to prevent that, including having Ray be more careful when working the gizmo. It astonishes me only Rory is smart enough to figure this out. Rip Hunter is SO dumb. And frankly, so is Ray. You want to change destiny? Try a little harder not to play into it. It's just that simple.
My prediction: They win next week. Hunter saving his family is 50/50, but with the Occulus gone, it's possible. But they are going to defeat (and kill) Savage. No question. Which sets up the Thanagarian Invasion as the mission for season two. Once they said the world needed Savage to stop the Thanagarians, I knew what season two was.
Here's hoping both that they retcon Snart's death week, and that the ultimate finale doesn't suck. I'll be pleased if only one of those things happen, but I would really like it if they did both. ****.
Gotham "Rise Of The Villains: Unleashed"
Okay, I admit it. That was awesome. I an not going to turn up my nose at Butch and Penguin in slowmo with a rocket launcher while rock music plays. I'm not a snob. I am not too good to be ashamed to admit I enjoyed that moment. The only way it could have been better is if Galavan said "What's that do?"
I loved Butch at Tabitha's bedside. Drew Powell, man. Cannot get enough of him. Done brung it. Loved him and Penguin negotiating for Tabitha's life. I think perhaps Penguin is being overly generous considering what she did, but I could never say no to Butch either. I don't expect Penguin to go back on it either. Because he resisted giving his word at first, and he wouldn't do that unless it meant something to him. The fact that he didn't want to give his word means that he is going to keep it.
Next week looks crazygood. For such a sucky season, it looks to be going out with a bang. *****.
The Powerpuff Girls "Blue Ribbon Blues"
Bubbles is a cute bee. ***1/2.
Once Upon A Time "Last Rites"
It's not just that Robin's death was unnecessary that annoys me. It's the way he died. He didn't deserve that. And neither did Regina.
I will say one good thing: I was moved that Regina and Zelina comforted each other in the moments they lost the loves of their life. That was very meaningful to me, even if the rest of the episode sucked.
How awful is Maurice? To keep his pregnant daughter in a coma because he doesn't like her boyfriend. Jebus.
Interesting that they may be trying to redeem Arthur. We haven't seen him since the break (Merida either) and it's a really interesting idea to give him a noble quest after he died and screwed up all of his living ones. We probably won't see him (or the Underworld) again, but I feel better than just having Cruella in charge.
Hopefully Hook means there is somehow a way out for Robin too. But I'm not getting my hopes up.
I just did not like this episode. **.
Mickey Mouse "Sock Burglar"
I won't lie. I love this episode. I cannot deny that. But after giving us cameos from the Beagle Boys, the Phantom Blot, The Evil Queen from Snow White, and Zeke Wolf, Peg-Leg Pete being the culprit was wholly inadequate. On the plus side at least they've finally embraced the Peg-Leg again. Black Pete and Big Bad Pete just do not have the same rings to them. ****1/2.
Mickey Mouse "Ku'u Lei Melody"
I kind of like that when Goofy is speaking all of those Hawaiian words at the end, the show (and Mickey and Donald) sort of treat him as if he's speaking nonsense. And he isn't. I love the Hawaiian language. It sounds great to the ear. The ending was cute too. I like that they played ukulele music over the end titles. ***.
Mickey Mouse "Entombed"
I laughed at Mickey's tongue being turned into a hand. ***.
The Simpsons "To Courier With Love"
So cool to see the French baddies from season 1 again. Their designs looks REALLY off-model in the modern era.
Do you know what they should have done? Returned to the idea that Bart is fluent in French. You have no idea how disappointed I was they ignored it. It is probably Bart Simpson's only real virtue as a person, and I am always SO mad they've dropped it since the season 1 episode. I am REALLY mad they brought back the wine tamperers but not Bart's fluency in French.
I love that it was a snake in the briefcase, but they shouldn't have made it endangered, and something Homer was smuggling to get killed later. Aside from the fact that if they were going to kill it, it making more sense to do it BEFORE putting it inside the case, I think making it poisonous would have been juicier. Homer could have been hired to unwittingly assassinate someone and couldn't go through with once he realized what was going on. It could have been a juicy pickle.
I loved the stuff with the 2-D French models. Family Guy did a similar joke with Kate Moss, but those five shapes curling and twisting into patterns was much funnier than Moss slipping through a crack in the floor or floating out an open window.
I loved Marge listing off their terrible trips. That underground city of jockeys was horrid, wasn't it? I also like that the show actually allowed them to have a good trip for once. That was nice.
Do you know what else? Modern cars ARE far superior to classic cars, and I love that the show had it be Jay Leno who stated this. Old cars look great but they got lousy mileage, couldn't do anything, and were unsafe as h*ll. I'm take compact cars any day of the week.
Pretty good. ***1/2.
Transformers: Robots In Disguise "Decepticon Island, Part Two"
I love that Optimus and Bumblebee talk out the problems like adults. A Marvel or DC show would have had them get into a fight (a verbal one at least) but that's never been what Optimus Prime has been about. Bumblebee treats Optimus respectfully and reasons him into coming over into his viewpoint. I love that moment.
I also love that Drift seems to be mad at Grimlock at the end, but just doesn't have the heart to hurt him, so he acquiesces to his insane teamies idea. Drift doesn't step outside of his comfort zone very often, and I like seeing it whenever it happens.
I like that they returned to the Transformers Prime gag of Ratchet yelling "I needed that!" whenever somebody broke something important.
Steeljaw's petulance at the end told me something: as shrewd, and cucumber cool, an calculating as Steeljaw likes to project himself as, deep down, when he loses his filter, he's super pathetic. And that's pretty much true for all Type A buttholes, and I'm glad the series pointed that out for the first time.
Loved the episode. ****1/2.
Grimm "Bad Night"
I liked it, but I wish they did more with the Healing Stick. I love the fact that the show admitted it opens up theological discussions. Does God exist? Is it a piece of the Cross? TBD...
I don't have much to say in my review other than it was favorable. The stuff with Zuri and Tony looks like it will get interesting next week.
Diana REALLY does not like Renard's girlfriend. I suspect she is going to kill her on camera with the world watching, and Wesen will be outed. I was right about Zuri using her brother as an excuse, but I erred in thinking that she was an unwilling accomplice. She, like Renard, has definitely drunk the Kool-Aid.
Could you imagine if they had successfully recruited Nick? The good guys wouldn't have a prayer. Were I Nick, I might not have turned Renard down. It's a hostage situation, and Nick being able to keep his principles anyways is very admirable (if unrealistic).
NBC teases they can't show anything from the last hour. That's b.s.. The truth is they don't NEED to. We're gonna watch it, no matter what. This has not been the trainwreck last year was. Not at all. ****1/2.
12 Monkeys "Emergence"
Jim Morrison was a Primary? Genius! As is the idea that the Pallid Man is a Messenger's kid. Great writing there.
Do you know what else was? Cole saying "I'm Honey, she's Babycakes." That such a fabulous and fantastically funny line made funnier by the fact I don't think I've ever really heard a good quip on this show. This season seems to be trying out new things with the characters (like Cole loving 1944) and it is all the better for it.
I was seriously worried the Messenger's kid was Michael Hogan. Because that would have screwed them all.
Do you know why I think the G-Man believe Cole? Because he wanted to. Because the truth was awesome, and meant life was cooler than that guy ever suspected. I do not think the fact that he was a fan of Wells was a coincidence. Geeks wrap their heads around concepts like that better than anyone.
I found it interesting when Ramse tells Cassie that Cole is undyingly loyal, and often to a fault. On some level, he's pleading Cole's case with her, and asking her to forgive the guy. But on another very real level the subtext is that Cole is too good for her and she doesn't deserve that loyalty. But he knows she already has it. Ramse isn't just offering Cassie advice. He's telling her off.
Great episode. ****1/2.
Bob's Burgers "Bye Bye Boo Boo"
Boo Boo is a disgusting, beautiful, garbage angel. I love that he remembers that Louise hit him. And that he liked it. "How you doin', girl?"
Bob buys military grade deodorant. And he buys it off the Dark Web. I laughed at that.
Jimmy Pesto is what historians call a douchebag.
Mike the mailman is not secretly rich. But he's rich in mail.
Funny episode. ****.
Family Guy "The New Adventures Of Old Tom"
"I don't care that I was diarrheaed on. I care that I was lied to," pretty much shows how stupid all "Brian in love" episodes are. Stewie cares about that. Also, I love that Stewie is a bit outraged at how Brian, a supposed liberal talks about women. And his walkback was equally horrific.
I love when Stewie tells Chris he loves him, and repeats that he is loved. At first glance, it seems like the show taking a shot at Chris' gullibility, but it's really just an awesome moment for Stewie. I love those two.
Mike Douglas' Munch-Out is all about making women happy, and then getting throat cancer.
I loved the shots at the train company followed by the actual accidents while "The Locomotion" is playing.
Family Guy does the best animation slow motion in the business.
The joke with Bonnie's index and middle fingers was disgusting. Mort's new hairstyle is similarly gross.
Did Sandra Bullock really marry a Neo-Nazi? You learn something new every day. And Doritos tacos are for a limited time only? Oh no!
Poor Billy Zane. He will never work again.
I actually do NOT know what restaurant they are talking about. The scenarios fits BOTH Denny's and Arby's. They'll have to be a little more specific.
What happened to Joyce Kinney? I hope the show didn't have a falling out with Christine Lakin.
I enjoyed this week. ****.
American Dad "Daesong Heavy Industries"
I cannot picture this episode airing even ten years ago. They just demolished the Bible. Even if every single point it made was true, you'd never used to be able to get away with that for fear of offending conservatives. This tells me that despite the Janet Jackson thing, conservatives have a LOT less cache in pop culture than they used to. Yeah, you can't show a butt on NYPD Blue reruns anymore. But I think something like this is the far bigger deal.
Do you know why Stan is crazy? It's not the Noah thing, it's the fact that he think Steve keeps posters of Cheryl Tiegs in his room.
And Francine's nuts too if she thinks you need to put on lipstick to eat Pepperidge Farm cookies.
We haven't had a two-parter in awhile. We were long overdue. ****1/2.
Bordertown "La Fiesta Noche Show"
I've never read a book but I still think J.C. is a phony.
I constantly feel bad for Bud's wife especially since she's made it clear many times she regrets marrying him.
Of course Bud objects to the beautiful topless sunbather. Does she have to be here?
Don't knock the mirror belt buckle. It has benefits.
Liked Bud with live-action hair.
Bud confusing O.J. Simpson for Obama is one of the most detestable things he's ever done.
Mexicans have weird money. Normal money should be pyramids with eyeballs on top.
Um, writers? SNL has actually been around for 50 years, not 40. Although Seth Meyers DOES have a horse face.
Not terrible. ***.
The Last Man On Earth "Smart And Stupid"
I predicted Mike would get the virus. Is it possible it mutated and now everyone is at risk? Because that's the only explanation I can think of for why the cow died. I loved Tandy's full-throated defense of Mike and I am alarmed and a bit outraged it didn't actually move the group. It angers me, actually, because I think the only reason it didn't is because everyone hates Phil. I think if Todd, Melissa, or Carol had given that exact same speech, people would have listened to them. I truly regret that Tandy is such a terrible person. He did not deserve that and it wouldn't have happened if he had banked some earlier goodwill and credit with the group.
I love the idea that Erica was a bank robber and lived in the U.S. under a false name. As Mike points out that just makes her the single most interesting person alive. I actually think Mike himself is more interesting because he's an astronaut, but the "most interesting person on Earth" label will not stay with him long. I love Mike. And I'm positive it's virus. I know it.
I still want to know the story behind the drone.
I think Todd was acting quite deranged during the first half of the episode. Granted, I would have been upset at Phil too after the stunt he pulled at the "wedding" but he really picked a bad time to turn against him. Phil could have used his support tonight. Again, I really regret that Tandy is usually a despicable person. Even he did not deserve what happened tonight.
This show is still amazing and with both the drone and the possibility that the virus might come back, the show might have bought itself another interesting half-season. But I still cannot see how it can sustain itself in the long-term. I'll enjoy the ride while it lasts. *****.
Bates Motel "Forever"
That was an interesting episode.
Okay, as far as I'm concerned, this MIGHT mean Romero does not die in the finale. He still might, but the series had been dotting all of it's i's and crossing all of it's t' to make us think it was happening, and they bought back more than a few of the clues in this episode.
First, Romero is NOT going to be indicted. Were Norman to kill him, he doesn't have a ready made excuse for Norman as to why he'd actually want to take off.
Secondly, it looks like Norma broke up with him. Even if she lives (and considering Carlton Cuse came down from the mountain to co-write this episode she might actually be dead) I don't think she'd change her mind about that. That's how crazy Norma is. Nothing will get through to her, even Norman trying to kill her. She can rationalize everything. And if she and Romero are on the outs, Norman won't feel threatened by him and more and feel the NEED to kill him. Norman's still nuts though, and Romero WAS sleeping with the woman HE wants to, but Romero is no longer the obstacle he once was.
I felt so bad for Dylan. Do you know what line killed me? When he acknowledged Norma tried. That's something only someone genuinely concerned with another person would point out. And it's still not enough. I think the thing that hit home to me about how bad of a mother Norma is, is that after all that, she begs Dylan to give her the earring. That tells me on some level she knows her son is murdering people, and she's trying to cover it up. To be honest, that kind of veers from bad mother territory, to bad person territory but if Norma DOES secretly think Norman does these things, he refusing to commit him shows that on some very real level she is as big of a monster as he is. And that bothers me.
I love Romero saw the wire coming. Why else would she still be there? Why else would she so brazenly bring up the topics she did out of the blue? That's not restaurant talk. She might have well have asked him to talk directly into her chest (which he wound up doing). Since Romero is probably off the hook, that another reason the show doesn't need to kill him off in the finale.
I'm about 50/50 on Norma surviving. I think this would be a perfect death, especially because it happened over a season before we were expecting. And Cuse DID co-write the episode. On the other hand, the show cannot function without her. Norma is the person covering for Norman, and without that, and with pretty clear signs he killed his mother, there is no real reason she should still be a free man at the beginning of Psycho, much less running the motel with his mother's dead body in the rocking chair. The Psycho canon tells us Norman should probably be the only person who is aware Norma is dead by the series finale. I cannot picture how Norman can possibly get to where he needs to get to kill Janet Leigh unless Norma survives this particular ordeal. We'll find out more next week, and the solution to the entire mystery at the end of next season. ****1/2.
The Blacklist "Alexander Kirk"
I love when the show remembers it can be an Alias superspy spyjinx series. It is ALWAYS better when it does that instead of the police procedural.
I loved that Tom killed Solomon and I love that he killed him when he did. The suddenness leads me to believe he was planning it all along, and was looking for the right moment. And Solomon saying that atrocious thing qualified.
The revelation that Hargrave is Tom's mother is going to make next season very interesting. Would it be too much to ask for Famke Janssen as a series regular? I loved how moved Tom was with her story about her lost son. She's REALLY getting under his skin... until she starts to mack on him. That was fabulous and I realized what a total pleasurable mess this is going to be.
I realized for the first time that even if they DO keep Liz dead for the season finale Hargrave means the show is still going to be interesting next year. And I didn't necessarily think that before tonight. ****.
Blindspot "Of Whose Uneasy Route"
I think the worst part about Weitz wrongfully accusing Mayfair of murder is that he's right about some of it. Not all, or even most of it (great framejob by Oscar there) but the pieces are totally there and connect. If the viewer didn't already know the solution to the mystery, she would be a plausible red herring. In fact, the prime suspect.
That lawyer on the elevator is so annoying. But she was interesting, so I was surprised the series didn't kill her off.
I didn't much like this, but it looks like I'm gonna like next week BECAUSE of this. And that's probably more important. ***.
Teen Titans Go! "Obinray"
Robin hates secrets? Then why does he wear a mask? What a creep.
I love the idea of doing an episode with Pig Latin and Ubbi Dubbi. I do. But by the end the episode had veered from pleasurably insane into outright stupid. That's pretty much this show's entire problem.
Plus, if we're being honest, this is a Regular Show episode. 0.
The Flash "The Runaway Dinosaur"
Who did Jason Mewes play?
I think Iris' secret superpower is knowing which broken mugs people really liked. That could become a GREAT running gag if they choose to use it. Tonight suggests they might.
I have to say the narrative to the children's book "The Runaway Dinosaur" was terrific. That is pretty much everything a children's book should be. I think the producers should actually release that somehow. It would sell, even if it wasn't promoted as a tie-in to The Flash.
Love the idea that the woman at the end was BOTH Barry's mother and the Speed Force. Such a sweet moment.
Do you know what else is? That Iris and Barry hug at the end. A lesser show would have had them kiss, but the uncertainty facing them now works better if it's a hug. A kiss would be them making a decision. A hug means whatever decision they make, they will do it together.
I'm guessing Jesse got her superpowers, but I'm about 50/50 on Wally. It's the perfect excuse to create Kid Flash, but he should have been showing signs before now.
I love that Cisco loves that it's zombies ("Zombies? Seriously?"). The looks of joy on his face during this episode's various twists and turns makes me realize something very weird. If you had told me a couple of years ago that I would love an incarnation of the z-list hero Vibe as much as the one I currently do, I'd think you were kidding me. But he is just so much fun because he actually enjoys the craziness in a way none of the other characters do. That's very cool and relatable for the audience.
The cliffhanger was dire. Will Caitlin stay? I suspect she will, simply because she has no idea Barry is still alive and has his powers. I don't even blame her for that, or consider her a sell-out. It's simply the safest option and there's nothing else she can do for her friends anyways. Everything seems to be out of her hands at the moment, and I will forgive her if she chooses to stay alive. But that's me.
Great episode. I want a Runaway Dinosaur Golden Book. Now. ****1/2.
Arrow "Monument Point"
Yeah, that didn't suck. After a few weeks of episodes I felt the need to nitpick to death, we finally got an episode where I had no real complaints. Sure, Donna and Quentin's subplot seems ill-timed, but that's about it. Plus we get to see Vinnie Jones kicking @$$ in the name of Vinnie Jones. If they DO do a musical episode of Arrow, Brick should headline it (/Galavant fan).
I wish I felt worse about Alex's death by Anarky than I do. They never built him up as an interesting character in the previous weeks. But that isn't this episode's fault.
Nothing wrong with this week. ****.
DC's Legends Of Tomorrow "Destiny"
Better than usual, but still some things bugged me. Let's talk about the good first: the predestination stuff being b.s. is right in my wheelhouse. I always believe that the future is not written in stone, and I loved the fact that the team defeated the Time Masters because they never planned for the fact that Stein would save Jax's life at the probable expense of his own. Frankly, that's something they should have planned for, and if they WERE as thorough as the episode said, they would have, but I believe prophecy is horsepuckey and always have. I'll let it slide.
The bad: I know it's time travel and can be undone, but they shouldn't have killed off Snart. Yeah, it means a lot to me that he chose to go out a hero (and got a kiss from Sara), but he's the best character. With him gone, the show has lost its biggest selling point. It's about as ill-advised as if Arrow ever killed off Felicity Smoak or The Flash did the same thing to Cisco Ramone. Wentworth Miller is the biggest appeal of the show. And if they don't undo it next week, it's gone for no good reason.
What especially bugs me is that he didn't even need to die for the scene to work. The problem was the failsafe would go out of position if someone let go of it, right? Doesn't Snart have a freeze gun? They had a READY made excuse for how everyone could survive, and it doesn't even occur to anyone to do the obvious. Frankly, that should have been the first thing Snart thought of.
The second thing is Ray being so unconcerned in the climax that he was going to die. That's asinine and Rory had the right idea. If Ray dies, everything the Time Masters set into motion falls into place. If it's Rory (or ultimately Snart) who goes out, all bets are off. Ray dying was the canary in the coalmine to warn them they lost. Ray and the team should have been doing everything in their power to prevent that, including having Ray be more careful when working the gizmo. It astonishes me only Rory is smart enough to figure this out. Rip Hunter is SO dumb. And frankly, so is Ray. You want to change destiny? Try a little harder not to play into it. It's just that simple.
My prediction: They win next week. Hunter saving his family is 50/50, but with the Occulus gone, it's possible. But they are going to defeat (and kill) Savage. No question. Which sets up the Thanagarian Invasion as the mission for season two. Once they said the world needed Savage to stop the Thanagarians, I knew what season two was.
Here's hoping both that they retcon Snart's death week, and that the ultimate finale doesn't suck. I'll be pleased if only one of those things happen, but I would really like it if they did both. ****.
Gotham "Rise Of The Villains: Unleashed"
Okay, I admit it. That was awesome. I an not going to turn up my nose at Butch and Penguin in slowmo with a rocket launcher while rock music plays. I'm not a snob. I am not too good to be ashamed to admit I enjoyed that moment. The only way it could have been better is if Galavan said "What's that do?"
I loved Butch at Tabitha's bedside. Drew Powell, man. Cannot get enough of him. Done brung it. Loved him and Penguin negotiating for Tabitha's life. I think perhaps Penguin is being overly generous considering what she did, but I could never say no to Butch either. I don't expect Penguin to go back on it either. Because he resisted giving his word at first, and he wouldn't do that unless it meant something to him. The fact that he didn't want to give his word means that he is going to keep it.
Next week looks crazygood. For such a sucky season, it looks to be going out with a bang. *****.
The Powerpuff Girls "Blue Ribbon Blues"
Bubbles is a cute bee. ***1/2.
Once Upon A Time "Last Rites"
It's not just that Robin's death was unnecessary that annoys me. It's the way he died. He didn't deserve that. And neither did Regina.
I will say one good thing: I was moved that Regina and Zelina comforted each other in the moments they lost the loves of their life. That was very meaningful to me, even if the rest of the episode sucked.
How awful is Maurice? To keep his pregnant daughter in a coma because he doesn't like her boyfriend. Jebus.
Interesting that they may be trying to redeem Arthur. We haven't seen him since the break (Merida either) and it's a really interesting idea to give him a noble quest after he died and screwed up all of his living ones. We probably won't see him (or the Underworld) again, but I feel better than just having Cruella in charge.
Hopefully Hook means there is somehow a way out for Robin too. But I'm not getting my hopes up.
I just did not like this episode. **.
Mickey Mouse "Sock Burglar"
I won't lie. I love this episode. I cannot deny that. But after giving us cameos from the Beagle Boys, the Phantom Blot, The Evil Queen from Snow White, and Zeke Wolf, Peg-Leg Pete being the culprit was wholly inadequate. On the plus side at least they've finally embraced the Peg-Leg again. Black Pete and Big Bad Pete just do not have the same rings to them. ****1/2.
Mickey Mouse "Ku'u Lei Melody"
I kind of like that when Goofy is speaking all of those Hawaiian words at the end, the show (and Mickey and Donald) sort of treat him as if he's speaking nonsense. And he isn't. I love the Hawaiian language. It sounds great to the ear. The ending was cute too. I like that they played ukulele music over the end titles. ***.
Mickey Mouse "Entombed"
I laughed at Mickey's tongue being turned into a hand. ***.
The Simpsons "To Courier With Love"
So cool to see the French baddies from season 1 again. Their designs looks REALLY off-model in the modern era.
Do you know what they should have done? Returned to the idea that Bart is fluent in French. You have no idea how disappointed I was they ignored it. It is probably Bart Simpson's only real virtue as a person, and I am always SO mad they've dropped it since the season 1 episode. I am REALLY mad they brought back the wine tamperers but not Bart's fluency in French.
I love that it was a snake in the briefcase, but they shouldn't have made it endangered, and something Homer was smuggling to get killed later. Aside from the fact that if they were going to kill it, it making more sense to do it BEFORE putting it inside the case, I think making it poisonous would have been juicier. Homer could have been hired to unwittingly assassinate someone and couldn't go through with once he realized what was going on. It could have been a juicy pickle.
I loved the stuff with the 2-D French models. Family Guy did a similar joke with Kate Moss, but those five shapes curling and twisting into patterns was much funnier than Moss slipping through a crack in the floor or floating out an open window.
I loved Marge listing off their terrible trips. That underground city of jockeys was horrid, wasn't it? I also like that the show actually allowed them to have a good trip for once. That was nice.
Do you know what else? Modern cars ARE far superior to classic cars, and I love that the show had it be Jay Leno who stated this. Old cars look great but they got lousy mileage, couldn't do anything, and were unsafe as h*ll. I'm take compact cars any day of the week.
Pretty good. ***1/2.
Transformers: Robots In Disguise "Decepticon Island, Part Two"
I love that Optimus and Bumblebee talk out the problems like adults. A Marvel or DC show would have had them get into a fight (a verbal one at least) but that's never been what Optimus Prime has been about. Bumblebee treats Optimus respectfully and reasons him into coming over into his viewpoint. I love that moment.
I also love that Drift seems to be mad at Grimlock at the end, but just doesn't have the heart to hurt him, so he acquiesces to his insane teamies idea. Drift doesn't step outside of his comfort zone very often, and I like seeing it whenever it happens.
I like that they returned to the Transformers Prime gag of Ratchet yelling "I needed that!" whenever somebody broke something important.
Steeljaw's petulance at the end told me something: as shrewd, and cucumber cool, an calculating as Steeljaw likes to project himself as, deep down, when he loses his filter, he's super pathetic. And that's pretty much true for all Type A buttholes, and I'm glad the series pointed that out for the first time.
Loved the episode. ****1/2.
Grimm "Bad Night"
I liked it, but I wish they did more with the Healing Stick. I love the fact that the show admitted it opens up theological discussions. Does God exist? Is it a piece of the Cross? TBD...
I don't have much to say in my review other than it was favorable. The stuff with Zuri and Tony looks like it will get interesting next week.
Diana REALLY does not like Renard's girlfriend. I suspect she is going to kill her on camera with the world watching, and Wesen will be outed. I was right about Zuri using her brother as an excuse, but I erred in thinking that she was an unwilling accomplice. She, like Renard, has definitely drunk the Kool-Aid.
Could you imagine if they had successfully recruited Nick? The good guys wouldn't have a prayer. Were I Nick, I might not have turned Renard down. It's a hostage situation, and Nick being able to keep his principles anyways is very admirable (if unrealistic).
NBC teases they can't show anything from the last hour. That's b.s.. The truth is they don't NEED to. We're gonna watch it, no matter what. This has not been the trainwreck last year was. Not at all. ****1/2.
12 Monkeys "Emergence"
Jim Morrison was a Primary? Genius! As is the idea that the Pallid Man is a Messenger's kid. Great writing there.
Do you know what else was? Cole saying "I'm Honey, she's Babycakes." That such a fabulous and fantastically funny line made funnier by the fact I don't think I've ever really heard a good quip on this show. This season seems to be trying out new things with the characters (like Cole loving 1944) and it is all the better for it.
I was seriously worried the Messenger's kid was Michael Hogan. Because that would have screwed them all.
Do you know why I think the G-Man believe Cole? Because he wanted to. Because the truth was awesome, and meant life was cooler than that guy ever suspected. I do not think the fact that he was a fan of Wells was a coincidence. Geeks wrap their heads around concepts like that better than anyone.
I found it interesting when Ramse tells Cassie that Cole is undyingly loyal, and often to a fault. On some level, he's pleading Cole's case with her, and asking her to forgive the guy. But on another very real level the subtext is that Cole is too good for her and she doesn't deserve that loyalty. But he knows she already has it. Ramse isn't just offering Cassie advice. He's telling her off.
Great episode. ****1/2.
Bob's Burgers "Bye Bye Boo Boo"
Boo Boo is a disgusting, beautiful, garbage angel. I love that he remembers that Louise hit him. And that he liked it. "How you doin', girl?"
Bob buys military grade deodorant. And he buys it off the Dark Web. I laughed at that.
Jimmy Pesto is what historians call a douchebag.
Mike the mailman is not secretly rich. But he's rich in mail.
Funny episode. ****.
Family Guy "The New Adventures Of Old Tom"
"I don't care that I was diarrheaed on. I care that I was lied to," pretty much shows how stupid all "Brian in love" episodes are. Stewie cares about that. Also, I love that Stewie is a bit outraged at how Brian, a supposed liberal talks about women. And his walkback was equally horrific.
I love when Stewie tells Chris he loves him, and repeats that he is loved. At first glance, it seems like the show taking a shot at Chris' gullibility, but it's really just an awesome moment for Stewie. I love those two.
Mike Douglas' Munch-Out is all about making women happy, and then getting throat cancer.
I loved the shots at the train company followed by the actual accidents while "The Locomotion" is playing.
Family Guy does the best animation slow motion in the business.
The joke with Bonnie's index and middle fingers was disgusting. Mort's new hairstyle is similarly gross.
Did Sandra Bullock really marry a Neo-Nazi? You learn something new every day. And Doritos tacos are for a limited time only? Oh no!
Poor Billy Zane. He will never work again.
I actually do NOT know what restaurant they are talking about. The scenarios fits BOTH Denny's and Arby's. They'll have to be a little more specific.
What happened to Joyce Kinney? I hope the show didn't have a falling out with Christine Lakin.
I enjoyed this week. ****.
American Dad "Daesong Heavy Industries"
I cannot picture this episode airing even ten years ago. They just demolished the Bible. Even if every single point it made was true, you'd never used to be able to get away with that for fear of offending conservatives. This tells me that despite the Janet Jackson thing, conservatives have a LOT less cache in pop culture than they used to. Yeah, you can't show a butt on NYPD Blue reruns anymore. But I think something like this is the far bigger deal.
Do you know why Stan is crazy? It's not the Noah thing, it's the fact that he think Steve keeps posters of Cheryl Tiegs in his room.
And Francine's nuts too if she thinks you need to put on lipstick to eat Pepperidge Farm cookies.
We haven't had a two-parter in awhile. We were long overdue. ****1/2.
Bordertown "La Fiesta Noche Show"
I've never read a book but I still think J.C. is a phony.
I constantly feel bad for Bud's wife especially since she's made it clear many times she regrets marrying him.
Of course Bud objects to the beautiful topless sunbather. Does she have to be here?
Don't knock the mirror belt buckle. It has benefits.
Liked Bud with live-action hair.
Bud confusing O.J. Simpson for Obama is one of the most detestable things he's ever done.
Mexicans have weird money. Normal money should be pyramids with eyeballs on top.
Um, writers? SNL has actually been around for 50 years, not 40. Although Seth Meyers DOES have a horse face.
Not terrible. ***.
The Last Man On Earth "Smart And Stupid"
I predicted Mike would get the virus. Is it possible it mutated and now everyone is at risk? Because that's the only explanation I can think of for why the cow died. I loved Tandy's full-throated defense of Mike and I am alarmed and a bit outraged it didn't actually move the group. It angers me, actually, because I think the only reason it didn't is because everyone hates Phil. I think if Todd, Melissa, or Carol had given that exact same speech, people would have listened to them. I truly regret that Tandy is such a terrible person. He did not deserve that and it wouldn't have happened if he had banked some earlier goodwill and credit with the group.
I love the idea that Erica was a bank robber and lived in the U.S. under a false name. As Mike points out that just makes her the single most interesting person alive. I actually think Mike himself is more interesting because he's an astronaut, but the "most interesting person on Earth" label will not stay with him long. I love Mike. And I'm positive it's virus. I know it.
I still want to know the story behind the drone.
I think Todd was acting quite deranged during the first half of the episode. Granted, I would have been upset at Phil too after the stunt he pulled at the "wedding" but he really picked a bad time to turn against him. Phil could have used his support tonight. Again, I really regret that Tandy is usually a despicable person. Even he did not deserve what happened tonight.
This show is still amazing and with both the drone and the possibility that the virus might come back, the show might have bought itself another interesting half-season. But I still cannot see how it can sustain itself in the long-term. I'll enjoy the ride while it lasts. *****.
Bates Motel "Forever"
That was an interesting episode.
Okay, as far as I'm concerned, this MIGHT mean Romero does not die in the finale. He still might, but the series had been dotting all of it's i's and crossing all of it's t' to make us think it was happening, and they bought back more than a few of the clues in this episode.
First, Romero is NOT going to be indicted. Were Norman to kill him, he doesn't have a ready made excuse for Norman as to why he'd actually want to take off.
Secondly, it looks like Norma broke up with him. Even if she lives (and considering Carlton Cuse came down from the mountain to co-write this episode she might actually be dead) I don't think she'd change her mind about that. That's how crazy Norma is. Nothing will get through to her, even Norman trying to kill her. She can rationalize everything. And if she and Romero are on the outs, Norman won't feel threatened by him and more and feel the NEED to kill him. Norman's still nuts though, and Romero WAS sleeping with the woman HE wants to, but Romero is no longer the obstacle he once was.
I felt so bad for Dylan. Do you know what line killed me? When he acknowledged Norma tried. That's something only someone genuinely concerned with another person would point out. And it's still not enough. I think the thing that hit home to me about how bad of a mother Norma is, is that after all that, she begs Dylan to give her the earring. That tells me on some level she knows her son is murdering people, and she's trying to cover it up. To be honest, that kind of veers from bad mother territory, to bad person territory but if Norma DOES secretly think Norman does these things, he refusing to commit him shows that on some very real level she is as big of a monster as he is. And that bothers me.
I love Romero saw the wire coming. Why else would she still be there? Why else would she so brazenly bring up the topics she did out of the blue? That's not restaurant talk. She might have well have asked him to talk directly into her chest (which he wound up doing). Since Romero is probably off the hook, that another reason the show doesn't need to kill him off in the finale.
I'm about 50/50 on Norma surviving. I think this would be a perfect death, especially because it happened over a season before we were expecting. And Cuse DID co-write the episode. On the other hand, the show cannot function without her. Norma is the person covering for Norman, and without that, and with pretty clear signs he killed his mother, there is no real reason she should still be a free man at the beginning of Psycho, much less running the motel with his mother's dead body in the rocking chair. The Psycho canon tells us Norman should probably be the only person who is aware Norma is dead by the series finale. I cannot picture how Norman can possibly get to where he needs to get to kill Janet Leigh unless Norma survives this particular ordeal. We'll find out more next week, and the solution to the entire mystery at the end of next season. ****1/2.
The Blacklist "Alexander Kirk"
I love when the show remembers it can be an Alias superspy spyjinx series. It is ALWAYS better when it does that instead of the police procedural.
I loved that Tom killed Solomon and I love that he killed him when he did. The suddenness leads me to believe he was planning it all along, and was looking for the right moment. And Solomon saying that atrocious thing qualified.
The revelation that Hargrave is Tom's mother is going to make next season very interesting. Would it be too much to ask for Famke Janssen as a series regular? I loved how moved Tom was with her story about her lost son. She's REALLY getting under his skin... until she starts to mack on him. That was fabulous and I realized what a total pleasurable mess this is going to be.
I realized for the first time that even if they DO keep Liz dead for the season finale Hargrave means the show is still going to be interesting next year. And I didn't necessarily think that before tonight. ****.
Blindspot "Of Whose Uneasy Route"
I think the worst part about Weitz wrongfully accusing Mayfair of murder is that he's right about some of it. Not all, or even most of it (great framejob by Oscar there) but the pieces are totally there and connect. If the viewer didn't already know the solution to the mystery, she would be a plausible red herring. In fact, the prime suspect.
That lawyer on the elevator is so annoying. But she was interesting, so I was surprised the series didn't kill her off.
I didn't much like this, but it looks like I'm gonna like next week BECAUSE of this. And that's probably more important. ***.
