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matt_zimmerAlso reviews for the season finales of The Flash, Arrow, and Gotham, the latest episode of The Powerpuff Girls, the season finale of The Simpsons, the latest episode of 12 Monkeys, the season finales of Bob's Burgers and Family Guy, the latest episode of American Dad!, the series finale of Bordertown, the season premiere of Wayward Pines, the season finale of Blindspot, as well as another Volume in the Donald Duck Carl Barks Library.
More DVD reviews are forthcoming. It's just taking me longer to get through my box sets because it was TV seasons. I should have a load of new DVD and Blu-Ray reviews in the summer.
Teen Titans Go! "Rad Dudes With Bad Tudes"
I'll tell you the worst thing about kids in the 1990's. For some insane reason, they actually thought they were less ridiculous than kids in the 1970's and 1980's. The 70's and 80's were pretty much a cautionary tale and how-to manual for how NOT to do music, pop culture, and fashion. And while it is certainly true that a certain segment of the population started dressing normally in the 1990's, that did not extend to the "cool" people of that era. I love the 1990's because I dressed then exactly as I do now, and I never felt weird about it (which I most certainly did in the 80's). But the pop-culture and fashion was exactly as ugly and obnoxious as those earlier decades for the so-called trendy people.
Can you believe Wayne's World used to be considered funny? It boggles the mind. It was legitimately considered good comedy back then, and the literally high point of SNL in the early 90's. And it is just awful. Mike Myers is terrible and unfunny, and looks horrible. And now there is a Wayne's World reference in Aladdin. For posterity. Just to remind us all of how lame we were back then.
So yeah, I got nuthin' against an episode bashing 90's mallspeak and trends... except, this is a total Regular Show episode so it gets an automatic zero anyways. Bummer, dude. 0.
The Flash "The Race Of His Life"
John Wesley Shipp is the Flash again! I love it, and it's so freaking obvious that we should have all seen it coming. Garrick being Henry's mother's maiden name told me a version of him was probably Jay Garrick, but I didn't realize he was the Man in the Iron Mask until very late in the game.
What I love about the ending (besides obviously setting up a version of Flashpoint) is that even if things DO go as badly as they could possibly go, (and they will), when everything is reset there is a major chance they can retcon Henry's death. That's why Barry ultimately did it anyways. He had accepted Nora's death, but figured if he saved her, Henry would be all right too. I would really like it if the universe was gracious enough to somehow make that work. Pretty please?
My one grumbling complaint is the idea of a race between a hero and a supervillain. That's strictly kiddie Laff-A-Lympics stuff, and is a little too goofy for the Arrowverse.
Speaking of The Arrowverse, if there IS a version of Flashpoint next year, how will that effect Arrow, which is running concurrently? Will that just stay on its own course and they'll just say Flash is existing in a different timeline? Or will it be a true Flashpoint event with Arrow, DC's Legends Of Tomorrow, and maybe even Supergirl effected? Something tells me I would love that. Could you imagine a four night miniseries of that? Holy cow.
Could you imagine Flashpoint bringing back Canary and Snart in whatever rebooted timeline we get? The possibilities are endless.
This did not exactly make me okay with Henry's death last week, except that it kind of says, on THIS show, NOBODY'S really dead. Which makes me a LITTLE more okay with it than I should be. *****.
Arrow "Schism"
Anybody else notice Darhk's fatal mistake? The second he made it, I knew he was a dead man. He confused Oliver sparing Slade Wilson's life with a moment of weakness. As an example that he lacked the conviction to do what was necessary. That wasn't it at all. Wilson gave him a choice. He allowed himself to be taken in alive. Darhk never would have stopped, and couldn't be contained. As Oliver noted, Darhk gave him no other option.
Loved the stuff between Quentin and Oliver this episode, just because it is so clear how much respect he gained for the guy. Quentin was completely 100% supportive of Oliver's actions, and let him know how grateful he was for everything he did for Laurel. That's cool.
Thea threatening to kill a little girl tells me she was right to step back. Even if it WAS the only move available to her, the fact that she made it anyways tells me she should not be in this particular line of work. She was right that that was something Malcolm would have done.
Here's a question: what happens to Dahrk's daughter now that both of her parents are dead? That's a loose end.
Do you know what I realized? I would have given anything to be one of those people in the street watching Green Arrow kick Darhk's @$$. Better than any prize fight in history. The city's champion fighting for them as they cheered on was an unbelievably empowering moment for everyone who was there. I loved the final confrontation between Harry Potter and Voldemort in Deathly Hallows for the exact same reason. Kicking bad guy butt is one thing. But doing it in front of an audience who truly appreciates how awesome you are? That's fantastic.
Not as good as the first two season finales, but better than the third. ****1/2.
Gotham "Wrath Of The Villains: Transference"
Before the last scene, I would have called the episode passable, but seeing that Bruce clone (and perhaps Bane)? Now the finale is great. I cannot wait for season two.
I love that Fish's first reaction to seeing Butch again is to wink at him. And he's pretty much horrified. I cannot wait to see their dynamic in season three (assuming Pinkett-Smith returns) and how Tabitha will cope with that.
How is it that it's Barbara who is the first and only person not to get that it isn't Gordon? Fauxrdon (Fraudon?) was acting like such a nut. Ben MacKenzie can do broad comedy. I'll give him that.
They never explained why the gas that Riddler used wasn't actually lethal. And I kind of think that's the biggest thing they SHOULD have explained.
It is so weird to see Strange's over-the-top reactions to Fish escaping. He encapsulates the five stages of grief very well, with his bargaining stage being so pathetic that it bordered on magnificent. B.D. Wong was extraordinary this episode, and even more than usual. His scene with Gordon and the "honesty serum" was riveting.
Bummed we didn't actually get to see Lee in the episode. Morena Baccarin was probably taking a sabbatical because of the baby. Hope she's back next year.
Is it possible Donal Logue will get a haircut next year? Because that is one actor who absolutely refuses to look anything but scruffy and unprofessional. Would he get a shave and a haircut for a project if it called for it? And would he have actually signed on for Gotham if he knew they could possibly make him do that?
I really enjoyed this finale. ****1/2.
The Powerpuff Girls "Once Upon A Townsville"
I kind of admire the girls teaching a Princess she doesn't need to be defined by a man (and the princess similarly begging off their violent tendencies). Except this is the Powerpuff Girls. They are made from sugar and spice and their names are Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup. Any feminists ideals the old show preached were done purely ironically. This is NOT the best franchise ever to empower young girls to be themselves. At all.
The dragon reminded me of Scooby Doo. I wonder if that's what they were going for.
I absolutely adored the moment after Buttercup receives the passionate kiss from the Princess. Five years ago, the joke would be Buttercup was appalled she was kissed a girl. Now she's appalled because she was kissed by a zombie. I love how far society has come in just a couple of years.
Bad things? The rap was atrocious. The writers of this show are very, VERY white.
But the rest of the episode was interesting. ***.
The Simpsons "Orange Is The New Yellow"
Thin excuse for a premise and not at all credible. But it yielded some funny jokes.
Was the opening shot at the power plant missing the iconic crow caw? I think it was.
It's a good thing Homer is only a secret drunk in his imagination. The Season 6 tag disturbed me.
Lou finally laughs! Chief won't let him forget it.
Arnie Pie hating Kent Brockman will never get old.
Homer hired the GOOD lawyer! Since he forgot to fill out the paperwork for Bart's birth certificate, technically Marge isn't his mother. That's good lawyering, right?
Decent. ****.
12 Monkeys "Immortal"
Okay, this episode helped things. The show's biggest problem is that the Witness' plan made no sense. Now it does. It's still crazy and evil, but there's a logic to it, as self-centered and destructive as it is.
I love that Cole changed the future for the better again. It's important that the series keeps doing that.
I love the idea that the serial killer was getting his wires crossed and mistaking one of the Messengers for the actual Witness. I love that idea because it hints all of the people he was killing weren't actually primaries. And his story made sense as he told it. But once we realize how much of it he got fundamentally wrong, there is a chance NONE of it holds up. But yeah, if he was right, he would pretty much be the first justified serial killer in history. I just don't think he was actually right.
Loved making the main title light hearted and rock and roll. This show is NOT the movie. It is not going to be as unendingly grim as that was. And that's why I like it better.
I think my favorite moment of the episode was Ramse's son telling him he shouldn't doom the human race just to save him. Not only was that something Ramse needed to hear from someone he cared about, but that's exactly what he specifically needed to hear from him.
I'm guessing the injection that the time travelers and Jones have taken will mean that by the series finale, whatever the world's ultimate fate is, Cole, Ramse, and Jones won't just disappear. They will be aware of how things have changed, as will Cassie. That's my gut. Because I don't really accept the idea of the Total Reset Button built into the premise now.
Super cool episode. ****.
Bob's Burgers "Secret Admiral-irer"
I love Bob thanking Teddy after Teddy says he'll take care of Linda and the kids for him. What a hilarious moment.
Bosco was funny too. I like that he hits people with his pad for wasting his time. Gary Cole is amazing.
Funny episode. ****.
Bob's Burgers "Glued Where's My Bob"
H. Jon Benjamin has really improved as a singer. He used to be comically terrible but now he's passable. Singing is something anyone can do with practice. Even people with lousy voices can sound all right if the piece isn't too challenging. Well, maybe not William Hung. But everyone else.
I love that Teddy at first doesn't want to help because he's in a therapy session, but no! Bob needs him! And he's off!
I loved the magazine review and how that passes for a happy ending on this show. I liked this episode. ****.
Family Guy "Road To India"
I pretty much decided at the outset that if this Brian and Stewie Road episode didn't have a Bollywood musical number at the end, that it would be a bad week. I wish they had went all out and put the effort into it they did to the musical numbers from the first two Road episodes, but at least they got it.
Peter is the worst friend ever, but I kind of think the fact that Lois practically had Joe apologizing to her about his disability inconveniencing her means she's not much better. And Peter totally sucks.
I love that Brian failing on Millionaire is the thing that gets Padme to realize he's not The One. That was pretty bad and I loved Stewie rubbing in how much money they wasted for nothing but failure. But why was the Indian version of Millionaire in English? This episode, and all TV episodes set in foreign countries where everyone speaks English, does not hold up to scrutiny.
Here is something interesting: I believe this is the first Road episode where the Journey is predicated by finding something Brian wants. Usually it's Stewie questing for something, but it was nice they switched it up for once.
Pretty good. ***.
American Dad! "Criss-Cross Applesauce: The Ballard Of Billy Jesusworth"
Wait, Shaq and Yao Ming were too proud to voice themselves? That's crazy. It's not even like the portrayals are even unflattering. This is the biggest Sethverse disappointment since Miley Cyrus not voicing herself in Hannah Banana.
R Kelly is not a musician. He just randomly sings a story off-key to a beat. Saying words that do not rhyme does not take talent at all.
Not as bad as the past few weeks have been. ***.
Bordertown "Viva Coyote"
This show deserved its cancelation.
I laughed at the fact that Ernesto and Bud's extended runner with the taco trap ended with a hawk taking it. All that for nothing.
The Mexican waitress was the first non-ugly character design the show ever gave us.
Glad they stepped back from the idea that Ernesto and Coyote are the same guy.
This show will not be missed. **.
Wayward Pines "Enemy Lines"
I think the thing that bugs me most about the town of Wayward Pines is that is doesn't need to suck as much as it does (or at all) to achieve its stated goals. It simply chooses to. It drives me a little nuts, to be honest.
Very unhappy Charlie Tahan is no longer a series regular because that probably means they are going to kill him off soon. If anything, he should have become the focal point of the second season (as the cliffhanger hinted).
I'm calling it: Jason Patric had a worse first day than Matt Dillon. At least with Burke, the town crazies tried to concoct plausible explanations why things are the way they are. The first thing the doctor sees upon exiting his quarters is a bloody wall riddled with bullet shell casings. Matt Dillon had a few episodes to settle in and figure things out. Patric is dumped over the Abby fence in his first hour.
I am probably going to enjoy the second season of this show more than I did the first. And I already enjoyed the heck out of the first. ****1/2.
Blindspot "Why Await Life's End"
You know what? Weller is right to be as furious as he is. What I love about his rage is that his father is NOT forgiven after all. He doesn't grant him latitude because he's dead and he finally told him the truth. He regrets having him back in his life. And the fact that Jane (who we go back to not having a clue about her real name and identity) pretended to remember these things has got to be freaking maddening. I don't even think Oscar or Evil Jane ever thought through the repercussions of what would happen if it turned out it was found out that she WASN'T Taylor. They had no Plan B.
And frankly, the ultimate plan as described by Oscar sounds outright evil. Burning down the government? Jeez. I said last week that Jane was the villain of the season, but it's possible she's the villain of the series. Until we figure out who Shepard is.
I will give Jane credit for going after Oscar and trying to bring him into the authorities, but Mayfair would NOT be dead if Jane was not an accomplice (unwitting at the time or not) for framing her for murder. In my mind she is exactly as responsible. She drove the getaway car.
Will Jane escape custody at the beginning of season two and have the first part of the season be a chase a la The Blacklist Season 3? Or will the premiere simply be an awesome hour of Weller and Jane locked in an interrogation room until he gets the truth? I'm not ruling out the former, but I hope it's the latter.
My favorite part of the episode was Patterson being SO hurt to be kept out of the loop. What an adorable woman. And she's right. She didn't ultimately need protection. And if she knew what was going on she could have helped.
Now that we know the tattoos were mostly there to gain Weller power, will they still follow them next season? Because they're still probably useful. But knowing the reason they exist is largely a con should give everyone pause. How much of her horrible actions will Jane admit? Unless she comes 100% clean I won't ever forgive her. And maybe not even then.
I think the worst part of Weller trusting Jane, is that the audience did too. And maybe we shouldn't have. But a naked woman being left in a bag in the middle of Times Square is immediately going to engender a certain degree of sympathy from the audience. Learning that Jane is probably sinister makes me realize that the high-concept of the first episode is probably more layered and interesting than I initially gave it credit for. ****1/2.
Walt Disney's Donald Duck: Trail Of The Unicorn by Carl Barks
This collection is a mixed bag. While Trail Of The Unicorn, New Toys, Luck Of The North, Letter To Santa, and Super Snooper are classics, those are the only five stories that are. And that's unusual for a Barks volume to have that low of a batting average. The worst stories are the dumb "Dowsing Ducks", the stupid "The Goldilocks Gambit", the lame "Donald's Love Letters", and the racist "Land Of The Totem Poles". Shockingly low overall grade: ***.
Trail Of The Unicorn:
I never read this story but I really liked it. I think the unicorn's color is horrible though. It's a muddy brown. I realize that's the color the story was originally printed with, but when Rosa brought back the unicorn he was white, so I assume they fixed his color for all of the other reprints. I laughed at the idea that what Gladstone took from his lack of success is that cheating is a form of work, and that is beneath him. Just the fact that Barks had the character state something like that tells me as much as Barks hated Gladstone, he truly understood the psychology of the character and how to use him best. Granted, Don Rosa's Gladstone stories are an improvement. But possibly Bark came to detest Gladstone so much because he wound up doing his job as villain TOO well. And as a great storyteller, Barks has no-one to blame but himself. Another refreshing thing about the story for me is that the ducks take a trip to India and there is no racism in the story whatsoever. Whenever Floyd Gottfredson had Mickey travel somewhere else, he'd make fun of the culture, often in an inept stereotypical way that reflected his biases and ignorance. Barks always seems to think journeying to other culture and viewing the sights is, well, COOL, and allows us and the Ducks to enjoy the voyage with slamming the people there as nitwits who speak broken English. Barks DOES have a few racist stories in his canon. He is not immune to the bigotry of the era. But those stories are few and far between. They are the exception, not the norm. ****1/2.
Fractious Fun: This Donald guy knows exactly how to handle a high-maintenance girlfriend like Daisy. What I love about the solution here is that it doesn't mean Donald has to let Daisy win. It's just now that when Daisy throws a fit due to being a poor sport, Donald won't get hurt. I like that Donald refuses to be a gentleman just to avoid abuse. And I think he's right to do that. ****.
King-Sized Cone: What I love about this joke is that the solution is the kid thing to do. As outlandish as those many scoops are towering off of those ice cream cones, if you let a kid eat ice cream before everyone else, they will find a way to give themselves the biggest serving. I recognized my childhood in that joke. ***1/2.
Super Snooper:
This is good, but it seems as if Barks doesn't really have as accurate a feel for superhero comics as Rosa does. Plus, the sequel is better because Rosa has a point about how much superhero comics suck. In the original, Donald is the actual bad guy. Good things? The artwork during the action sequences is gorgeous. There is a reason he's called "The Good Duck Artist". ****.
The Great Duckburg Frog-Jumping Contest:
Hilarious. I love the end joke of Donald refusing to eat the frog's leg and trying to order a plate of bumblebees for his new friend. What, do you think they're cannibals? What a hilarious ending. All that being said, the initial jumping-off point (sorry) for the story is a bad one. Donald tries to catch his own frogs because Restaurant Frog's legs are expensive? The reason they are expensive, isn't because they're rare, it's because it takes a top chef to prepare them right. Donald can catch and kill as many frogs as he likes, he's not actually ever going to get the same experience without paying three dollars for it. But once the story turns to the frog-jumping contest it totally redeems itself. ***1/2.
Letter To Santa:
I love all of the little bits of the story, if not the story as a whole. First off, this story attaches a couple of plausible explanations to the Santa Claus. First, he gets down the chimney by shrinking. That makes sense. Secondly, the story states that Santa doesn't get present for every kid, and sometimes lets the parents handle it. That works as an explanation for any kid who "caught" their parents doing that. I love that Scrooge is so dumb and unaware that he doesn't even realize it's Christmas. And if you think it is out of character for Scrooge McDuck to throw an extra million dollars at a judge for no real reason, that's precisely why it is funny. He wouldn't do that. Which shows how bonkers the story is. I am a little bit amazed that neither Scrooge nor Donald actually realizes the kids meant a toy steam shovel in the first place. What a couple of dopes. The last panel of Uncle Scrooge asking Santa for books used to be the subscription advertisement at the back of Gladstone Comics in the 1980's. It's still funny. ****.
Toasty Toys: Wow, when Donald runs out of firewood he burns the kids' toys? He is often a terrible parent. **.
No Noise Is Good Noise: Not particularly funny. *.
Dowsing Ducks:
The nephews are too dumb in this story and Donald is too cruel. And Barks doesn't seem to understand what "water on the knee" is. *.
The Goldilocks Gambit:
Insanely stupid story. I'm frankly a little bit shocked at how bad this is. If Gottfredson had come up with a story this dumb it would be par for the course, but I hold Barks (and Rosa) to a higher standard. Good things? The comic timing IS great. I just wish all of the gags weren't so dumb. *.
New Toys:
This story states something startling about Christmas that most kiddie Christmas specials will not touch with a ten foot pole. Many poor kids do NOT get toys for Christmas and Santa doesn't bail them out. As selfish and despicable as the nephews are behaving earlier in the story, they accept the poor kids' story and decide to help them. That's admirable. Granted, Barks cannot actually state that the real Santa ignored them, but this Christmas story deals with a reality and truth for many families in a way most Christmas stories refuse to. I admire that. *****.
No Place To Hide: I don't think the logic of Donald thinking he has to buy the kids new, different Christmas presents because they found and unwrapped the old ones holds up to scrutiny. *.
Tied-Down Tools: Did not get this joke. *.
Luck Of The North:
Wow, a lot of psychological stuff going on. First, Gladstone is a dirtbag. If he finds a wallet, he keeps it. That should tell us exactly what kind of person he is. And Donald saying that Gladstone's luck made him feel helpless is exactly right. And yet, Donald still has enough of a conscience to try and rescue his cousin when he believes he's in danger. I love Donald begging Gladstone to rescue the nephews, and the nephews refusing to leave without Donald. Those four are a loyal family in the way Gladstone will never understand. Funnily enough, I learned a few years ago that the term "gypped" is racist against Romani. Very jarring to see it in a Disney Comic repeatedly after learning that. ****.
Noise Nullifiers: Explain to me why the nephews would choose to be quiet in a library if that won't with Donald. This gag makes no sense. *.
Matinee Madness: Exhibit A on the nephew's public behavior being no better than their private behavior. **.
Donald's Love Letters:
I pretty much detest both Daisy and Gladstone by the end of this, and even if I'm not mad at Donald, I still think he's an idiot. Who doesn't remember writing something like that? Not credible. Also Gladstone seems to be the type of person to borrow books and never return them, and use marked cards and phony theater tickets. Gladstone claimed in another story in this volume that cheating is too much like work, but we see by this story that he's a hard worker anyways. How is Daisy reprehensible? First off, she gives Donald back love letters he didn't even write. Jerk move. But what's even worse is that she kept them even while she was dating Donald. There are some people who think that it's a perfectly fine thing for a man or woman to keep love letters from an ex-lover while they have a different current spouse or significant other. I am not one of those people. Ann Landers is nuts. Random Question: Is Donald's fake persona as Salesman Fooler Brushman a precursor to DuckTales' Filler Brushmore? Maybe, maybe. **.
Rip Van Donald:
The world of 1990. I'm tickled that Barks actually lived to see it (plus another decade). ***.
Land Of The Totem Poles:
The bad: The story is racist against Indians. Ugly stuff. The good: the artwork is phenomenal. Barks drew the best nature vistas in the business. **.
Serum To Codfish Cove:
Forgettable story, although I like the FBI type guy. **1/2.
A Fetching Price: Cute gag. **1/2.
More DVD reviews are forthcoming. It's just taking me longer to get through my box sets because it was TV seasons. I should have a load of new DVD and Blu-Ray reviews in the summer.
Teen Titans Go! "Rad Dudes With Bad Tudes"
I'll tell you the worst thing about kids in the 1990's. For some insane reason, they actually thought they were less ridiculous than kids in the 1970's and 1980's. The 70's and 80's were pretty much a cautionary tale and how-to manual for how NOT to do music, pop culture, and fashion. And while it is certainly true that a certain segment of the population started dressing normally in the 1990's, that did not extend to the "cool" people of that era. I love the 1990's because I dressed then exactly as I do now, and I never felt weird about it (which I most certainly did in the 80's). But the pop-culture and fashion was exactly as ugly and obnoxious as those earlier decades for the so-called trendy people.
Can you believe Wayne's World used to be considered funny? It boggles the mind. It was legitimately considered good comedy back then, and the literally high point of SNL in the early 90's. And it is just awful. Mike Myers is terrible and unfunny, and looks horrible. And now there is a Wayne's World reference in Aladdin. For posterity. Just to remind us all of how lame we were back then.
So yeah, I got nuthin' against an episode bashing 90's mallspeak and trends... except, this is a total Regular Show episode so it gets an automatic zero anyways. Bummer, dude. 0.
The Flash "The Race Of His Life"
John Wesley Shipp is the Flash again! I love it, and it's so freaking obvious that we should have all seen it coming. Garrick being Henry's mother's maiden name told me a version of him was probably Jay Garrick, but I didn't realize he was the Man in the Iron Mask until very late in the game.
What I love about the ending (besides obviously setting up a version of Flashpoint) is that even if things DO go as badly as they could possibly go, (and they will), when everything is reset there is a major chance they can retcon Henry's death. That's why Barry ultimately did it anyways. He had accepted Nora's death, but figured if he saved her, Henry would be all right too. I would really like it if the universe was gracious enough to somehow make that work. Pretty please?
My one grumbling complaint is the idea of a race between a hero and a supervillain. That's strictly kiddie Laff-A-Lympics stuff, and is a little too goofy for the Arrowverse.
Speaking of The Arrowverse, if there IS a version of Flashpoint next year, how will that effect Arrow, which is running concurrently? Will that just stay on its own course and they'll just say Flash is existing in a different timeline? Or will it be a true Flashpoint event with Arrow, DC's Legends Of Tomorrow, and maybe even Supergirl effected? Something tells me I would love that. Could you imagine a four night miniseries of that? Holy cow.
Could you imagine Flashpoint bringing back Canary and Snart in whatever rebooted timeline we get? The possibilities are endless.
This did not exactly make me okay with Henry's death last week, except that it kind of says, on THIS show, NOBODY'S really dead. Which makes me a LITTLE more okay with it than I should be. *****.
Arrow "Schism"
Anybody else notice Darhk's fatal mistake? The second he made it, I knew he was a dead man. He confused Oliver sparing Slade Wilson's life with a moment of weakness. As an example that he lacked the conviction to do what was necessary. That wasn't it at all. Wilson gave him a choice. He allowed himself to be taken in alive. Darhk never would have stopped, and couldn't be contained. As Oliver noted, Darhk gave him no other option.
Loved the stuff between Quentin and Oliver this episode, just because it is so clear how much respect he gained for the guy. Quentin was completely 100% supportive of Oliver's actions, and let him know how grateful he was for everything he did for Laurel. That's cool.
Thea threatening to kill a little girl tells me she was right to step back. Even if it WAS the only move available to her, the fact that she made it anyways tells me she should not be in this particular line of work. She was right that that was something Malcolm would have done.
Here's a question: what happens to Dahrk's daughter now that both of her parents are dead? That's a loose end.
Do you know what I realized? I would have given anything to be one of those people in the street watching Green Arrow kick Darhk's @$$. Better than any prize fight in history. The city's champion fighting for them as they cheered on was an unbelievably empowering moment for everyone who was there. I loved the final confrontation between Harry Potter and Voldemort in Deathly Hallows for the exact same reason. Kicking bad guy butt is one thing. But doing it in front of an audience who truly appreciates how awesome you are? That's fantastic.
Not as good as the first two season finales, but better than the third. ****1/2.
Gotham "Wrath Of The Villains: Transference"
Before the last scene, I would have called the episode passable, but seeing that Bruce clone (and perhaps Bane)? Now the finale is great. I cannot wait for season two.
I love that Fish's first reaction to seeing Butch again is to wink at him. And he's pretty much horrified. I cannot wait to see their dynamic in season three (assuming Pinkett-Smith returns) and how Tabitha will cope with that.
How is it that it's Barbara who is the first and only person not to get that it isn't Gordon? Fauxrdon (Fraudon?) was acting like such a nut. Ben MacKenzie can do broad comedy. I'll give him that.
They never explained why the gas that Riddler used wasn't actually lethal. And I kind of think that's the biggest thing they SHOULD have explained.
It is so weird to see Strange's over-the-top reactions to Fish escaping. He encapsulates the five stages of grief very well, with his bargaining stage being so pathetic that it bordered on magnificent. B.D. Wong was extraordinary this episode, and even more than usual. His scene with Gordon and the "honesty serum" was riveting.
Bummed we didn't actually get to see Lee in the episode. Morena Baccarin was probably taking a sabbatical because of the baby. Hope she's back next year.
Is it possible Donal Logue will get a haircut next year? Because that is one actor who absolutely refuses to look anything but scruffy and unprofessional. Would he get a shave and a haircut for a project if it called for it? And would he have actually signed on for Gotham if he knew they could possibly make him do that?
I really enjoyed this finale. ****1/2.
The Powerpuff Girls "Once Upon A Townsville"
I kind of admire the girls teaching a Princess she doesn't need to be defined by a man (and the princess similarly begging off their violent tendencies). Except this is the Powerpuff Girls. They are made from sugar and spice and their names are Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup. Any feminists ideals the old show preached were done purely ironically. This is NOT the best franchise ever to empower young girls to be themselves. At all.
The dragon reminded me of Scooby Doo. I wonder if that's what they were going for.
I absolutely adored the moment after Buttercup receives the passionate kiss from the Princess. Five years ago, the joke would be Buttercup was appalled she was kissed a girl. Now she's appalled because she was kissed by a zombie. I love how far society has come in just a couple of years.
Bad things? The rap was atrocious. The writers of this show are very, VERY white.
But the rest of the episode was interesting. ***.
The Simpsons "Orange Is The New Yellow"
Thin excuse for a premise and not at all credible. But it yielded some funny jokes.
Was the opening shot at the power plant missing the iconic crow caw? I think it was.
It's a good thing Homer is only a secret drunk in his imagination. The Season 6 tag disturbed me.
Lou finally laughs! Chief won't let him forget it.
Arnie Pie hating Kent Brockman will never get old.
Homer hired the GOOD lawyer! Since he forgot to fill out the paperwork for Bart's birth certificate, technically Marge isn't his mother. That's good lawyering, right?
Decent. ****.
12 Monkeys "Immortal"
Okay, this episode helped things. The show's biggest problem is that the Witness' plan made no sense. Now it does. It's still crazy and evil, but there's a logic to it, as self-centered and destructive as it is.
I love that Cole changed the future for the better again. It's important that the series keeps doing that.
I love the idea that the serial killer was getting his wires crossed and mistaking one of the Messengers for the actual Witness. I love that idea because it hints all of the people he was killing weren't actually primaries. And his story made sense as he told it. But once we realize how much of it he got fundamentally wrong, there is a chance NONE of it holds up. But yeah, if he was right, he would pretty much be the first justified serial killer in history. I just don't think he was actually right.
Loved making the main title light hearted and rock and roll. This show is NOT the movie. It is not going to be as unendingly grim as that was. And that's why I like it better.
I think my favorite moment of the episode was Ramse's son telling him he shouldn't doom the human race just to save him. Not only was that something Ramse needed to hear from someone he cared about, but that's exactly what he specifically needed to hear from him.
I'm guessing the injection that the time travelers and Jones have taken will mean that by the series finale, whatever the world's ultimate fate is, Cole, Ramse, and Jones won't just disappear. They will be aware of how things have changed, as will Cassie. That's my gut. Because I don't really accept the idea of the Total Reset Button built into the premise now.
Super cool episode. ****.
Bob's Burgers "Secret Admiral-irer"
I love Bob thanking Teddy after Teddy says he'll take care of Linda and the kids for him. What a hilarious moment.
Bosco was funny too. I like that he hits people with his pad for wasting his time. Gary Cole is amazing.
Funny episode. ****.
Bob's Burgers "Glued Where's My Bob"
H. Jon Benjamin has really improved as a singer. He used to be comically terrible but now he's passable. Singing is something anyone can do with practice. Even people with lousy voices can sound all right if the piece isn't too challenging. Well, maybe not William Hung. But everyone else.
I love that Teddy at first doesn't want to help because he's in a therapy session, but no! Bob needs him! And he's off!
I loved the magazine review and how that passes for a happy ending on this show. I liked this episode. ****.
Family Guy "Road To India"
I pretty much decided at the outset that if this Brian and Stewie Road episode didn't have a Bollywood musical number at the end, that it would be a bad week. I wish they had went all out and put the effort into it they did to the musical numbers from the first two Road episodes, but at least they got it.
Peter is the worst friend ever, but I kind of think the fact that Lois practically had Joe apologizing to her about his disability inconveniencing her means she's not much better. And Peter totally sucks.
I love that Brian failing on Millionaire is the thing that gets Padme to realize he's not The One. That was pretty bad and I loved Stewie rubbing in how much money they wasted for nothing but failure. But why was the Indian version of Millionaire in English? This episode, and all TV episodes set in foreign countries where everyone speaks English, does not hold up to scrutiny.
Here is something interesting: I believe this is the first Road episode where the Journey is predicated by finding something Brian wants. Usually it's Stewie questing for something, but it was nice they switched it up for once.
Pretty good. ***.
American Dad! "Criss-Cross Applesauce: The Ballard Of Billy Jesusworth"
Wait, Shaq and Yao Ming were too proud to voice themselves? That's crazy. It's not even like the portrayals are even unflattering. This is the biggest Sethverse disappointment since Miley Cyrus not voicing herself in Hannah Banana.
R Kelly is not a musician. He just randomly sings a story off-key to a beat. Saying words that do not rhyme does not take talent at all.
Not as bad as the past few weeks have been. ***.
Bordertown "Viva Coyote"
This show deserved its cancelation.
I laughed at the fact that Ernesto and Bud's extended runner with the taco trap ended with a hawk taking it. All that for nothing.
The Mexican waitress was the first non-ugly character design the show ever gave us.
Glad they stepped back from the idea that Ernesto and Coyote are the same guy.
This show will not be missed. **.
Wayward Pines "Enemy Lines"
I think the thing that bugs me most about the town of Wayward Pines is that is doesn't need to suck as much as it does (or at all) to achieve its stated goals. It simply chooses to. It drives me a little nuts, to be honest.
Very unhappy Charlie Tahan is no longer a series regular because that probably means they are going to kill him off soon. If anything, he should have become the focal point of the second season (as the cliffhanger hinted).
I'm calling it: Jason Patric had a worse first day than Matt Dillon. At least with Burke, the town crazies tried to concoct plausible explanations why things are the way they are. The first thing the doctor sees upon exiting his quarters is a bloody wall riddled with bullet shell casings. Matt Dillon had a few episodes to settle in and figure things out. Patric is dumped over the Abby fence in his first hour.
I am probably going to enjoy the second season of this show more than I did the first. And I already enjoyed the heck out of the first. ****1/2.
Blindspot "Why Await Life's End"
You know what? Weller is right to be as furious as he is. What I love about his rage is that his father is NOT forgiven after all. He doesn't grant him latitude because he's dead and he finally told him the truth. He regrets having him back in his life. And the fact that Jane (who we go back to not having a clue about her real name and identity) pretended to remember these things has got to be freaking maddening. I don't even think Oscar or Evil Jane ever thought through the repercussions of what would happen if it turned out it was found out that she WASN'T Taylor. They had no Plan B.
And frankly, the ultimate plan as described by Oscar sounds outright evil. Burning down the government? Jeez. I said last week that Jane was the villain of the season, but it's possible she's the villain of the series. Until we figure out who Shepard is.
I will give Jane credit for going after Oscar and trying to bring him into the authorities, but Mayfair would NOT be dead if Jane was not an accomplice (unwitting at the time or not) for framing her for murder. In my mind she is exactly as responsible. She drove the getaway car.
Will Jane escape custody at the beginning of season two and have the first part of the season be a chase a la The Blacklist Season 3? Or will the premiere simply be an awesome hour of Weller and Jane locked in an interrogation room until he gets the truth? I'm not ruling out the former, but I hope it's the latter.
My favorite part of the episode was Patterson being SO hurt to be kept out of the loop. What an adorable woman. And she's right. She didn't ultimately need protection. And if she knew what was going on she could have helped.
Now that we know the tattoos were mostly there to gain Weller power, will they still follow them next season? Because they're still probably useful. But knowing the reason they exist is largely a con should give everyone pause. How much of her horrible actions will Jane admit? Unless she comes 100% clean I won't ever forgive her. And maybe not even then.
I think the worst part of Weller trusting Jane, is that the audience did too. And maybe we shouldn't have. But a naked woman being left in a bag in the middle of Times Square is immediately going to engender a certain degree of sympathy from the audience. Learning that Jane is probably sinister makes me realize that the high-concept of the first episode is probably more layered and interesting than I initially gave it credit for. ****1/2.
Walt Disney's Donald Duck: Trail Of The Unicorn by Carl Barks
This collection is a mixed bag. While Trail Of The Unicorn, New Toys, Luck Of The North, Letter To Santa, and Super Snooper are classics, those are the only five stories that are. And that's unusual for a Barks volume to have that low of a batting average. The worst stories are the dumb "Dowsing Ducks", the stupid "The Goldilocks Gambit", the lame "Donald's Love Letters", and the racist "Land Of The Totem Poles". Shockingly low overall grade: ***.
Trail Of The Unicorn:
I never read this story but I really liked it. I think the unicorn's color is horrible though. It's a muddy brown. I realize that's the color the story was originally printed with, but when Rosa brought back the unicorn he was white, so I assume they fixed his color for all of the other reprints. I laughed at the idea that what Gladstone took from his lack of success is that cheating is a form of work, and that is beneath him. Just the fact that Barks had the character state something like that tells me as much as Barks hated Gladstone, he truly understood the psychology of the character and how to use him best. Granted, Don Rosa's Gladstone stories are an improvement. But possibly Bark came to detest Gladstone so much because he wound up doing his job as villain TOO well. And as a great storyteller, Barks has no-one to blame but himself. Another refreshing thing about the story for me is that the ducks take a trip to India and there is no racism in the story whatsoever. Whenever Floyd Gottfredson had Mickey travel somewhere else, he'd make fun of the culture, often in an inept stereotypical way that reflected his biases and ignorance. Barks always seems to think journeying to other culture and viewing the sights is, well, COOL, and allows us and the Ducks to enjoy the voyage with slamming the people there as nitwits who speak broken English. Barks DOES have a few racist stories in his canon. He is not immune to the bigotry of the era. But those stories are few and far between. They are the exception, not the norm. ****1/2.
Fractious Fun: This Donald guy knows exactly how to handle a high-maintenance girlfriend like Daisy. What I love about the solution here is that it doesn't mean Donald has to let Daisy win. It's just now that when Daisy throws a fit due to being a poor sport, Donald won't get hurt. I like that Donald refuses to be a gentleman just to avoid abuse. And I think he's right to do that. ****.
King-Sized Cone: What I love about this joke is that the solution is the kid thing to do. As outlandish as those many scoops are towering off of those ice cream cones, if you let a kid eat ice cream before everyone else, they will find a way to give themselves the biggest serving. I recognized my childhood in that joke. ***1/2.
Super Snooper:
This is good, but it seems as if Barks doesn't really have as accurate a feel for superhero comics as Rosa does. Plus, the sequel is better because Rosa has a point about how much superhero comics suck. In the original, Donald is the actual bad guy. Good things? The artwork during the action sequences is gorgeous. There is a reason he's called "The Good Duck Artist". ****.
The Great Duckburg Frog-Jumping Contest:
Hilarious. I love the end joke of Donald refusing to eat the frog's leg and trying to order a plate of bumblebees for his new friend. What, do you think they're cannibals? What a hilarious ending. All that being said, the initial jumping-off point (sorry) for the story is a bad one. Donald tries to catch his own frogs because Restaurant Frog's legs are expensive? The reason they are expensive, isn't because they're rare, it's because it takes a top chef to prepare them right. Donald can catch and kill as many frogs as he likes, he's not actually ever going to get the same experience without paying three dollars for it. But once the story turns to the frog-jumping contest it totally redeems itself. ***1/2.
Letter To Santa:
I love all of the little bits of the story, if not the story as a whole. First off, this story attaches a couple of plausible explanations to the Santa Claus. First, he gets down the chimney by shrinking. That makes sense. Secondly, the story states that Santa doesn't get present for every kid, and sometimes lets the parents handle it. That works as an explanation for any kid who "caught" their parents doing that. I love that Scrooge is so dumb and unaware that he doesn't even realize it's Christmas. And if you think it is out of character for Scrooge McDuck to throw an extra million dollars at a judge for no real reason, that's precisely why it is funny. He wouldn't do that. Which shows how bonkers the story is. I am a little bit amazed that neither Scrooge nor Donald actually realizes the kids meant a toy steam shovel in the first place. What a couple of dopes. The last panel of Uncle Scrooge asking Santa for books used to be the subscription advertisement at the back of Gladstone Comics in the 1980's. It's still funny. ****.
Toasty Toys: Wow, when Donald runs out of firewood he burns the kids' toys? He is often a terrible parent. **.
No Noise Is Good Noise: Not particularly funny. *.
Dowsing Ducks:
The nephews are too dumb in this story and Donald is too cruel. And Barks doesn't seem to understand what "water on the knee" is. *.
The Goldilocks Gambit:
Insanely stupid story. I'm frankly a little bit shocked at how bad this is. If Gottfredson had come up with a story this dumb it would be par for the course, but I hold Barks (and Rosa) to a higher standard. Good things? The comic timing IS great. I just wish all of the gags weren't so dumb. *.
New Toys:
This story states something startling about Christmas that most kiddie Christmas specials will not touch with a ten foot pole. Many poor kids do NOT get toys for Christmas and Santa doesn't bail them out. As selfish and despicable as the nephews are behaving earlier in the story, they accept the poor kids' story and decide to help them. That's admirable. Granted, Barks cannot actually state that the real Santa ignored them, but this Christmas story deals with a reality and truth for many families in a way most Christmas stories refuse to. I admire that. *****.
No Place To Hide: I don't think the logic of Donald thinking he has to buy the kids new, different Christmas presents because they found and unwrapped the old ones holds up to scrutiny. *.
Tied-Down Tools: Did not get this joke. *.
Luck Of The North:
Wow, a lot of psychological stuff going on. First, Gladstone is a dirtbag. If he finds a wallet, he keeps it. That should tell us exactly what kind of person he is. And Donald saying that Gladstone's luck made him feel helpless is exactly right. And yet, Donald still has enough of a conscience to try and rescue his cousin when he believes he's in danger. I love Donald begging Gladstone to rescue the nephews, and the nephews refusing to leave without Donald. Those four are a loyal family in the way Gladstone will never understand. Funnily enough, I learned a few years ago that the term "gypped" is racist against Romani. Very jarring to see it in a Disney Comic repeatedly after learning that. ****.
Noise Nullifiers: Explain to me why the nephews would choose to be quiet in a library if that won't with Donald. This gag makes no sense. *.
Matinee Madness: Exhibit A on the nephew's public behavior being no better than their private behavior. **.
Donald's Love Letters:
I pretty much detest both Daisy and Gladstone by the end of this, and even if I'm not mad at Donald, I still think he's an idiot. Who doesn't remember writing something like that? Not credible. Also Gladstone seems to be the type of person to borrow books and never return them, and use marked cards and phony theater tickets. Gladstone claimed in another story in this volume that cheating is too much like work, but we see by this story that he's a hard worker anyways. How is Daisy reprehensible? First off, she gives Donald back love letters he didn't even write. Jerk move. But what's even worse is that she kept them even while she was dating Donald. There are some people who think that it's a perfectly fine thing for a man or woman to keep love letters from an ex-lover while they have a different current spouse or significant other. I am not one of those people. Ann Landers is nuts. Random Question: Is Donald's fake persona as Salesman Fooler Brushman a precursor to DuckTales' Filler Brushmore? Maybe, maybe. **.
Rip Van Donald:
The world of 1990. I'm tickled that Barks actually lived to see it (plus another decade). ***.
Land Of The Totem Poles:
The bad: The story is racist against Indians. Ugly stuff. The good: the artwork is phenomenal. Barks drew the best nature vistas in the business. **.
Serum To Codfish Cove:
Forgettable story, although I like the FBI type guy. **1/2.
A Fetching Price: Cute gag. **1/2.
