![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matt_zimmerAlso reviews for the latest episodes of Teen Titans Go!, DC Super Hero Girls, Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow, DC's Legends Of Tomorrow, Gotham, Lucifer, The Powerpuff Girls, Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D., Star Wars Rebels, Once Upon A Time, Disney's Descendants: Wicked World, The Lion Guard, Girl Meets World, Transformers: Robots In Disguise, The Simpsons, Son Of Zorn, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Last Man On Earth, Family Guy, American Dad!, Van Helsing, and Scream Queens.
Upcoming reviews include Doctor Who: Series 9, The X-Files: Season 10, Avengers: Age Of Ultron (Blu-Ray), Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Season 2, Marvel's Agent Carter: Season 1, Ant-Man (Blu-Ray), Captain America: Civil War (Blu-Ray), Daredevil: Season 1, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Blu-Ray), X-Men: Days Of Future Past: The Rogue Cut, Deadpool, X-Men: Apocalypse (Blu-Ray), The Lion Guard: Return Of The Roar (DVD), Zootopia, Inside Out (Blu-Ray), The Good Dinosaur (Blu-Ray), Finding Dory (Blu-Ray), Once Upon A Time: Season 5, The BFG, Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Blu-Ray), Star Wars Rebels: Season 2, Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales, Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures: Season One, Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow (DVD), Batman Unlimited: Mechs Vs. Mutants, Justice League Vs. Teen Titans, Batman: The Killing Joke, Batman: Return Of The Caped Crusaders, Suicide Squad (Blu-Ray), The Flash: Season 2, Arrow: Season 4, DC's Legends Of Tomorrow: Season 1, Supergirl: Season 1, Constantine: The Complete Series, Gotham: Season 2, iZombie: Season 1, iZombie: Season 2, Lucifer: Season 1, Be Cool Scooby Doo!: Spooky Kooky Fun!, Wabbit: A Looney Tunes Prod.: Hare-Raising Tales, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Extended Edition, The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug: Extended Edition, The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies: Extended Edition, Star Trek Beyond (Blu-Ray), Airplane! / Airplane II: The Sequel: Double Feature, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Beyond The Known Universe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Earth's Last Stand, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Half-Shell Heroes: Blast To The Past, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows, Power Rangers: Zeo: Volume 1, Power Rangers: Zeo: Volume 2, Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, Power Rangers Turbo: Volume 1, Power Rangers: Turbo: Volume 2, Power Rangers In Space Volume 1, Power Rangers In Space: Volume 2, Power Rangers Samurai: The Complete Season, Powr Rangers: Megaforce: The Complete Season, Power Rangers: Super Megaforce: The Complete Season, Transformers: Robots In Disguise: Season 1, Heroes Reborn: The Complete Series, Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 1: Water, Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 2: Earth, Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 3: Fire, The Legend Of Korra: The Complete Series, Haven: Season 5 - Vol. 1, Haven: The Final Season, Under The Dome: Season 3, Sleepy Hollow: Season 2, Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 2, Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 3, The Jurassic Park Trilogy, Jurassic World, Back To The Future: The Complete Animated Series, Tremor 5: Bloodlines, Shaun The Sheep Movie (Blu-Ray), Shaun The Sheep: The Farmer's Llamas, 12 Monkeys: Season 1, Grimm: Season 4, Grimm: Season 5, The Wonder Years: Season 4, The Wonder Years: Season 5, The Peanuts Movie, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part 2, Ghostbusters: Answer: The Call, Community: Season 6, Red Dwarf XI, Hannibal: Season 1, Hannibal: Season 2, Hannibal: Season 3, Preacher: Season One, Degrassi Junior High: The Complete Series, Game Of Thrones: Season 5, and Game of Thrones: Season 6.
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
I mostly liked it. I liked that it not only filled in the backstory of Newt Scamander, but also gave us a look in time at when Grindelwald was terrorizing the Wizarding Community. He was never as bad a cat as Voldemort, but he was as bad a cat as Wizards had ever known up to that point. And he sounds like Captain Jack Sparrow.
I really liked Eddie Redmayne as Scamander and he reminded me of an introverted version of Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor. So much so, I wondering why they didn't just cast Smith. He was still great.
I love that we got actual perspective from a Muggle, (or Non-mag in American terms) and Kowalski was a very likable one at that. I hate that he was oblivated at the end, but the last scene hints that all might not be as it seems if there is a sequel. If there is, I definitely want him to be a part of it.
I like that this is the first Potterverse project to see things from an adult perspective, and the persecution from that horrible Non-Mag Salem woman was able to be more fully explored, since the main characters weren't actually kids. There IS child abuse hinted at, which is something Harry and the Dursleys never actually touched. It was frightening.
I liked all of the Beasts, particularly the Niffler (which looks like a platypus), the Bowtruckle, and the beautiful Deminguise. Watching Kowalski's eyes bug out was infectious. He was like a kid in a candy store and so was I.
Ron Perlman was great as the Goblin. Fun Fact: He's the first DC Animated Universe voice actor to be cast in a Potterverse project.
I like the idea that this movie is both canon to the books AND the movies, even though it clearly has a different relationship to each. Very clever that nothing in the movie contradicted either. J.K. Rowling knew what she was doing with this screenplay.
One of the better movies I've seen this year. ****1/2.
Teen Titans Go! "Teen Titans Save Christmas!"
You know, if the show isn't actually allowed to say Santa doesn't exist, it still gets props for trying to get kids to despise him. That's the next best thing.
Sticky Joe is a better Santa than Robin. I love that he's called a filthy bohemian rather than a bum, and that his sleigh is a dumpster driven by possums.
I love the old Christmas Shablammo and that Santa's magic is actually a crowbar.
I also love that the Titans were excited to get coal and finally excited to get beans. There is a plus to throwing parties over every little thing. It will make a Christmas where you get SOMETHING a million times better than one where you get NOTHING. What the actual present is is besides the point.
What a great episode. ****1/2.
Teen Titans Go! "BBSFBDAY!"
There was nothing about this episode that wasn't predictable. Also, I'm not sure the logic of Starfire not having a birthday because Tamaran's calendar is so different holds up. At all. **.
DC Super Hero Girls "Ultimately Accessory"
Frost is kind of a witch, isn't she? **1/2.
DC Super Hero Girls "Hero Of The Month: Star Sapphire"
The Carol is this continuity is portrayed as vapid, conceited, materialistic, and selfish. I imagine Green Lantern fans are not happy. *1/2.
DC Super Hero Girls "Riddle Of The Heart"
This is simply put, the worst, most astonishingly bad version of the Riddler ever put to screen, live-action or animated. I am actually embarrassed. 0.
DC Super Hero Girls "Heroes Of The Month: Cyborg And Starfire"
I love that they have the Teen Titans voices from the TV show voice the characters here and in the Batman Unlimited and LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes projects. ***1/2.
Supergirl "Medusa"
I should have seen Lena's triple-cross coming. There was literally no reason for her to join her mother, and me believing she did was me believing the show was worse than it actually is. I really need to stop being so cynical about the Arrowverse.
But boy, J'onn's White Martian plot sure fizzled, didn't it? I'm a little surprised they didn't actually go anywhere with it.
Mon-El continues to be adorable. I understand why Kara confuses his attraction towards her as actually towards her mother. Helen Slater is flippin' hot!
I'm a little bit furious at Maggie for all of the pain she put Alex through when Alex was right all along. I'm glad Alex finally can explore that part of herself with someone she likes, but I ultimately think Maggie is probably the kind of person who likes putting unnecessary drama into her personal relationships to stave off boredom, and who doesn't really care how many people that winds up hurting.
I loved Alex's first kiss though, because Chyler Leigh played it as someone feeling out whether they actually liked it, and as someone who was appreciating that that was a particular moment of their life changing forever. It's one thing to admit you are gay. It is an entirely different thing to do something about it, and Leigh played that moment as if Alex realizes the significance of the die being cast. There is no going back, and it feels weird and good and exciting and frightening. I got all of those emotions from Leigh's response to that kiss.
I have to agree that Hank Henshaw hasn't earned the right to call himself Cyborg Superman. I know that's his identity in the comics, but I have seen nothing about Henshaw that would make me understand for a second why he would not only take up that mantle, but WANT to take it up. I think the show should have had the name thing be a process, and not started off with him calling himself that. Maybe he defeats Superman in battle and names himself that as a way to state his superiority to the alien he just punked. Because there's no reason he should be calling himself that NOW.
Very cool that Cisco corrects Barry about being friends. Oftentimes in crossovers, the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing about the current storylines on the other shows. The Arrowverse has always been the exception.
I looked forward to the rest of the week because of this. I knew this was going to be a treat. ****.
The Flash "Invasion"
Terrific on every level.
I love that Oliver immediately puts Barry in charge, but Barry defers to him about everything anyways. You know we can hear you, right? I also appreciate that Oliver was the only person Barry allowed to hear Stein and Jax's message. He trusts him more than anyone else. And I love that Oliver and Supergirl are the two people who don't begrudge Barry for what he did in the slightest. And Oliver's right. Everyone would take that chance. I get why Cisco's upset, but it's not like he wouldn't do the same for Dante if given the chance.
I love and appreciated that Diggle was mad that Barry cost him a daughter. I wouldn't personally look at it like that. Because he also gained him a son. But I love that he didn't see it that way.
Sara tries to throw in Barry's face that she's not allowed to bring Laurel back. Yeah, but that's not due to lack of trying. Her superiority on this matter has more to do with failure than actual conviction.
I forgot Iris didn't know Oliver was Green Arrow. And it almost brushed by everyone until Iris says it makes Oliver even hotter. And it does. Weird that she no longer wrote the future article. Does that mean she and Barry never married? Or that she never became a reporter? Or did she, gulp, DIE?! I'm looking forward to and dreading 2024.
I loved Felicity squealing "Best team-up ever!" after seeing Supergirl in action. Pretty much. There is a reason CW used that funny moment for trailers.
What the chips are down, Rory calls her Supergirl. Because of course he does.
Loved Ray's moment with Barry where he reveals Snart died a hero. That was sad.
Speedy back in action! Yay! I'd come out of retirement for aliens too. How neat is that?
I love that Felicity is concerned that Caitlin has superpowers. Because she should be.
I love that for the main action of the episode, it was Barry and Oliver versus everyone else. And it should have been. The TV universe pretty much started with those two, and it was a very nice idea to get back to that, and have them try to fend off the heroes of the newer shows. That felt right.
This week is awesome. *****.
Arrow "Invasion"
A disappointment on every level.
The episode tried to do two things, and it could not do them both, and it had to. This is the 100th episode of Arrow. It seems odd that the CW didn't bill it that way, seeing as cast members Katie Cassidy, Susanna Thompson, and John Barrowman returned for it, but it was too focused on promoting the fact that this is a part of the Invasion four part crossover event with all of the other Arrowverse shows. Therefore, they neglected much of the drama a 100th episode is supposed to stir, and they equally gave short shrift to the mythology of the crossover. The Flash's Invasion threw everything at us, and Legends of Tomorrow wrapped things up. But this completely feels like a total detour, and an unnecessary one at that.
I rolled my eyes at Wilddog talking down super powered people. And this is why Arrow is worse than it needs to be. It tends to create a Brainy Smurf-type Complainer character whose defining characteristic is always being wrong. Thea filled that role in season one, and Laurel made an especially loathsome version in season two, but the only reason Wilddog seems to be put on this show is so the other characters can constantly prove how much he sucks. And shows don't need that and never did. The Complainer character was absent in seasons three and four and we got along fine without it. I don't know why Arrow is returning to the worst trope from the first two seasons. It's unnecessary on shows with good writing.
I am appalled they actually used Deathstroke without getting back Manu Bennett. REALLY appalled. At least they gave a cute reason for Tommy being absent (a doctor in Chicago, heh) but Bennett IS Deathstroke. And if they aren't going to embargo the character for the 100th episode, I think we were at least entitled to see him portrayed properly.
The worst of the crossovers. This is Perchance To Dream from BTAS done wrong. Say what you will about that corny Batman cartoon, part of the reason it was effective is that you didn't know the trick ending ahead of time. The Mad Hatter resolution isn't particularly satisfying (it could have easily been Riddler, Scarecrow or Dr. Strange and nothing would have changed) but it's at least still surprising because it wasn't set up at all. We know the answer to this riddle amd it feels less like Bruce putting things together along with the audience, and more like watching the Arrow characters play catch-up with us. Part of why Perchance to Dream worked is we didn't understand what was happening. This is the exact same tired concept, minus the only interesting thing about it. And that is why it doesn't work. **.
DC's Legends Of Tomorrow "Invasion"
Mixed feelings.
It was a good old fashioned gee-whiz, special effects slugfest, with superheroes and aliens, but I kind of think the episode focused on the wrong things.
Barry and Oliver at the end was a mistake. Full-stop. Maybe they could have done that scene as the second to last for this episode, but this is the Legends' show, and they were practically guest characters during the entire thing. It was all about Oliver distrusting Kara, and Felicity trying to get Cisco to forgive Barry. The only major emotional beat featuring a Legend was Stein and his daughter, but that was literally the only thing.
Speaking of Stein and his daughter, I love the idea. I love that he was worried his wife was going to be jealous he loved another woman, and it turns out she's his daughter. How great is that? I don't think of her as an aberration though, and if the rest of the Legends saw it that way, they're nuts. You time travel with any regularity, stuff is gonna get changed, and that includes stuff you never planned. I think Jay Garrick telling Barry earlier in the season that fixing time travel mistakes is like trying to put an egg back together is exactly right. Lily is not a problem that needs to be fixed, and it concerns me that the show has Stein hiding her as if she is.
Speaking of time travel nonsense, I did not buy the reason Cisco ultimately forgave Barry. Barry's sin was so egregious, because he not only did something no-one else had ever done, he did something that no-one else would be capable of doing. I think it is beyond unlikely that Cisco forgives him by making the same mistake. Flashpoint is NOT a mistake that Barry's friends are going to repeat. That is what's horrible about it. And I kind of feel like the show is trying to get Cisco to relate to and understand something that he never should. I don't object to Cisco eventually forgiving Barry. I object to him doing so by the show implausibly having him repeat his bonkers sin.
Also I'm not sure the logic of the idea that the aliens planned the invasion due to Cisco freeing one of them holds up to scrutiny. Because that cannot be true. Because it makes no sense.
Oliver was too mean to Supergirl. I get why. Oliver's a control freak, and Kara is an unknown variable, but it struck me as the show generating a conflict because the rest of the episode's plot was getting kind of thin. And it's not like they couldn't have done other things. Oliver doesn't have questions for Vixen? Seriously?
"See you later, Dominator," was bad enough. But they actually gave us a "We all did it," at the end with a straight face without being aware of WHY that sucks so much. They have characters referencing The Princess Bride and Darmok and Jilad at Tanagra, and they don't have a character genre savvy to recognize a Wesley Crusher level of suck when they hear it? The fact that the show doesn't even seem to KNOW why that line is so despised in fandom tells me they don't actually know the first thing about.
Cisco was right however that that was a Spielberg film. Unfortunately, it was Saving Private Ryan.
Love them connecting Supergirl so tightly to the Arrowverse at the end. This will make crossovers much easier. I love that Kara doesn't have a secret identity on our Earth. She doesn't actually NEED one, but I have to think if an Arrowverse version of Kara and Clark ever pop up, the damage is already done.
Personally? I would have let Barry sacrifice himself were it up to me. By fighting the aliens off in such a brutal and unforgiving fashion, all the Legends and heroes were doing is proving the Dominators' point. I kind of don't like the idea that the alien invaders actually had the high ground. Because surrendering Barry WAS a reasonable demand considering what happened.
The episode seemed to have a great deal in common with Torchwood: Children Of Earth, except there Jack makes the horrific sacrifice, and here Barry's friends don't let him. I will confess the ending to this is much less powerful than that, but it also isn't a huge bummer, which is good.
And yes, Rory is a hero. Deal with it.
I wish the conclusion on Legends had actually focused on the Legends. ***.
Gotham "Beware The Green-Eyed Monster"
Let me just state for the record that Jim Gordon is one of the worst and most despicable people who ever lived. He's a Donald Trump level of suck. I'm not joking.
Where do we begin? First off, all throughout the episode, it appears to be dawning on him that he's playing right into Mario's hands, and he keeps on doing it while he is realizing it. He confession to Lee was the cruelest, most selfish thing I have ever seen anyone on this show do, and this show is pretty much non-stop horrid behavior. And the fact that he actually expected her to call off her wedding because of it makes me realize Jim Gordon believes everything is about him.
When he shot the two goons to force Falcone to tell him where Mario was, I knew that Jim's promise not to kill Mario was bogus. Because Jim is the biggest liar on the show. I knew the episode was going to end with Mario dead once he gave Carmine is word. Because Jim Gordon's word is worth cr*p.
Do you know what Jim COULD have done instead of killing Lee's new husband in front of her? "Hey, Lee, watch out!" How does this not occur to him? Cops are supposed to use lethal force as a last resort, and it never occurs to him to even shout a warning to her? Jim isn't just a bad person. He's a total idiot.
Interesting that Nygma is now invested in destroying Penguin. I have to say, Nygma is a much worse person than I would be in that exact circumstance. Maybe it's because I'm not a supervillain, but part of me would be flattered, and after everything we've been through tried to rationalize a way to work past it. But I have to think Barb's idea to tell him in the first place was dumb. Do you know what she SHOULD have done? Blackmailed Penguin into giving her power. Because even with Nygma's help, Barbara has no shot of winning the Gotham Game of Thrones. Even Butch is better positioned than she is.
I want Victor Zsasz in every episode from now on. Anthony Corrigan, or however you spell his last name, needs to be made a series regular.
I liked Harvey sarcastically asking Lucius if he was the culprit because it shows an essential part of Harvey's character. He wants to avoid the work if can help it. Jim is also another level of suck for bossing him around, but at least at this point Harvey seems to understand exactly how fudged up their relationship is. But I'd think a LOT more of Harvey if he actually called Jim on it.
Jerome is coming back? Good. Killing him off was one of the biggest mistakes the show ever did. Right up there with getting rid of Don Moroni and Clare Foley. It wasn't quite as bad as killing Moroni, because David Zayas had become an essential part of the show's fabric and appeal in season one, and as good as Cameron Monaghan was as Jerome, he was still only a guest star. But I think Jerome SHOULD actually be the Joker. Monaghan's amazing performance demanded it. He is literally the best live-action Joker we have ever gotten. I lamented that we probably wouldn't ever see him take a legit shot at the character. Now we might. He might someday wind up becoming a better Joker than Mark Hamill. That's a long ways off, but Monaghan has the potential to be this generation's Number #1 interpretation of the character in the way Hamill was for kids in the 90's. Because Lord knows, that honor will NOT fall to Jared Leto.
I love Cat's mom because it hints that Selina's b.s. story to Bruce in season one about her mother being a spy on a secret mission might actually be true. I had thought she was jiving Bruce for both of their amusements, and Bruce was dutifully playing along, but if Selina was actually serious, I'll love the show for it.
Good Talon died, because it means this isn't the version from the comics Batman goes up against. Because it is was, he'd be far too old to be a threat in the distant future. His death hints that Talon isn't just a codename, but an inherited identity.
God, I hate Jim Gordon with the white hot burning passion of a thousand suns. He should run for President. **1/2.
Lucifer "Quid Pro Ho"
Okay, the Chloe being a blessed miracle thing explains why Lucifer is vulnerable to her. But it doesn't explain why God would do that. Because he's been bugging the cr*p out of Amendiel to bring Lucifer home, and he's right where he's supposed to be. Where is the actual conflict? Amendiel is right that he is a pawn. But he's being manipulated into a situation that actually could play out the exact same way if he weren't a part of it. And just based on what the show has shown us so far, I don't think they'll be able to come up with a satisfactory answer as to why God wants Lucifer on Earth and yet told Amendiel to bring him back at the same time. Because both of those things do not need to be true for that particular plan to work.
I loved Lucifer punching Dan for sleeping with his mother, rather than destroying Chloe's case. Because that's a dude's mom! He's upset for the right reasons.
I loved how alarmed Dan kept getting at the Chinese mafia headquarters as Lucifer repeatedly and confoundedly did everything exactly right. His magnificent performance on the stand should be another clear hint that there is something divine going on with this guy.
Love Linda rubbing Amendiel's face into the fact that he betrayed her too. He should never have to be able to live that down, even if he and Linda can finally be honest with each other for the first time ever. You'll notice that was Linda's first meeting with Amendiel after learning the truth. Were I the writer of the episode, I would have pointed out what a significant moment that actually was.
And Chloe refusing to betray Lucifer shows exactly why Charlotte is out of her depth on this matter. It's amazing that she set things up in such a way is that all Chloe did was prove Lucifer right. That might be humbling for a smarter deity than Charlotte. But she still doesn't get it.
I love that the thing that Lucifer most prides himself about is his honesty and honor. And just based upon the Bible, even if he's the Devil, that could totally be true. Satan never lied to Job, or screwed him over the way God did. Lucifer being completely honest and genuine about everything is not actually out of character with the Satan in the Bible. So, yeah, I get why fundies are p*ssed at this show. I disagree, but I understand why the message that not everyone interprets the Bible the same way would frighten them. Critical thinking skills are a no-no to fundies, and this show is so thought-provoking, it practically demands Million Moms boycotts.
Am I supposed to think what Dan did at the end of the episode was cold-blooded? Because I don't. It's not what I would have done, but if I personally knew and was a friend of Dan, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it either.
Very interesting episode, but I think it also means that the overall logic of the mythology of the show will not ultimately hold up. I hope I'm wrong. But I don't see a way that I'm not. ***1/2.
The Powerpuff Girls "Electric Buttercup"
Lame. And Him has always disturbed me. I don't know if it's the voice, the high heeled boots, or the mink stole, but he always struck me as far weirder and more frightening than the situation actually calls for. *.
The Powerpuff Girls "Professor Proofed"
"Pigtails O'Shaunessy is pretty much the randomest nickname ever. But I was bored with the rest of the episode. **1/2.
The Powerpuff Girls "Poorbucks"
This is nothing about Princess Morebucks that does not suck, and that includes episodes she appears in. Only really funny thing is Buttercup laughing derisively that it turns out the girls are her best friends. I like that moment because a nicer character than Buttercup would find that sad and pitiable. But Buttercup finds it pathetic. Buttercup's reaction is the correct one. *.
The Powerpuff Girls "Snow Month"
Two things:
1. The "How many fingers?" thing on this show isn't actually funny if they don't point out that it's a joke. Treating it seriously almost makes me think the writers lack self-awareness.
2. The animation on this show is SUCH a step down from the original series. And that should NOT be true. Animation techniques have gotten along fifteen years further since the show has been off the air, and it is super surprising that this franchise has actually gotten worse. I understand that the original show actually had a decent budget and this does not, but Teen Titans Go! has a miniscule budget too, and still cranks out decent animation for the action sequences. There is no excuse. None. *1/2.
The Powerpuff Girls "Somewhere Over The Swingset"
Loved the joke of Buttercup waiting a few hours to finish her sentence so she's not actually lying. I should have thought of that as a kid.
Allegro is the first recurring new villain from the relaunch. And he makes me realize how wholly inadequate the new villains are. Mojo Jojo, Fuzzy Lumpkins, and Him aren't great villains in their own right, but they've good villains for the show, and fit in with the sensibility. Allegro is just weird and off-putting. He's sort of like Princess Morebucks in that regards, but Morebucks is SUPPOSED to suck as much as she does. I get the feeling that Allegro's suckiness is unintentional, and the writers are actually dumb enough to think he's the second creepy coming of Him.
Off-topic. I was looking around a Toys R Us the other day, and noticed the merchandise from this show in the girls aisle! Is this show actually targeted to girls? Because if it is, that is awesome! Bronies love Friendship is Magic, and swear up and down guys can love it, but it's about rainbow ponies with adorable names. It's a girls show whether Bronies can admit it or not. Outside of the sugar and spice premise (and the cute designs and names) The Powerpuff Girls is not really specifically geared towards girls. And that's actually really cool. Boys can enjoy it equally. That's the idea behind something like Phineas and Ferb, right? Except the toys for THAT are always in the boys aisle. I have heard of a LOT of shows that are marketed towards boys also being enjoyed by girls. I think it is really cool that this is the first girls show I can think of that can be enjoyed guilt free by boys. The sensibility is such that the show never seems gender specific, or targeting one group over the other. And I kind of think that's what the best kids shows should be able to do.
This is NOT a great kids show. But it has the makings of that, and I will not dismiss that, even when the show itself sucked. They actually accomplished SOMETHING. They created a show for girls that boys will enjoy so much they'll never even realize it's for girls. ***1/2.
Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. "Deals With Our Devils"
This was a lot like the Next Gen episode "The Next Phase". I thought it was brilliant to use Ada to read the book and suddenly realize why she was put on the show in the first place.
No tie-in to Doctor Strange. Good. I think it's a bad idea to have the structure of the show dictated by the movies. It's why seasons 1 and 3 sucked.
I like that when Mack becomes Ghost Rider, he has the motorcycle. Very cool.
I loved the episode. *****.
Star Wars Rebels "Iron Squadron"
Iron Squadron reminds me greatly of Red Squad from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Only this had a MUCH happier ending. The ending makes this episode much easier to watch. But it also makes it far less powerful too. ***.
Star Wars Rebels "The Wynkahthu Job"
Love me some Hondo. I love him talking up his buddy's "fragrance", and declaring victory at the end, with friendship supposedly being the greatest treasure of all. A lesser villain would have been mad. But Hondo is just chillaxed enough, and just egomaniacal enough, to not only not take it personally, but say "I meant to do that!" upon hitting the ground. Which is why I love him. ****.
Once Upon A Time "Wish You Were Here"
I expected to hate it but I like it a lot due to the last two scenes. Let's talk about the rest first.
I absolutely love that Regina's reaction to seeing the statue is amusement. Which is compounding by hearing Emma sing. That sounded that Jennifer Morrison's actual voice. Not bad.
I thought Charming wish "To get what she deserved" was ludicrous and one of those wishes that seems destined to backfire. Even if Aladdin is a benevolent genie, never EVER make a wish that vague. Has Charming never seen any movies? But upon closer inspection is works. I don't think the Evil Queen deserves to be an asp. She deserves far worse. But what does Regina deserve? Robin Hood! And the show figured out a perfect way to bring him back. So the price built into David's evil wish was actually a good thing. We should wish for bad stuff more often.
Gideon being the person under the hood is both great and terrible. Great because I'm glad it's not Regina and even if they were teasing her going dark, I'm glad they're backtracking now. Bad because there is no way in h*ll Emma would EVER kill Belle's son, no matter the circumstance. If he wants to kill Emma, she is going to be fighting for her life with one hand tied behind her back. I'm convinced that's why she died in the vision.
When Rumple threatened to kill the Evil Queen I wanted to bop him on the head. He should have been with the heroes the entire time and was simply too dumb to realize they pretty much had the same goals. He cared too much about power to realize he has more in common with Emma than he doesn't.
As for not using a wish to break the sleeping curse, I would have done it and their logic was not sound. Yeah, that stuff comes with a price, but could it possibly be worse than the price they are paying? And Robin's reemergence and hints in the previews that he'll eventually get him memory back show that the price won't always be bad if wished by somebody outside of the situation. I would have asked Jasmine to use a wish for that and then have David give her the last one of his remaining wishes in return to balance things. I kind of feel with all at stake, everybody should have just hunkered down for a few hours and brainstormed. Agrabah isn't going anywhere. Oh, well. It's not like this is the best written show on the air. Considering how happy everything else made me, I'll let it slide.
You can't undo wishes? That seems like a flaw in the system. That is unlike every other genie interpretation I've ever seen.
Will Regina die before the final confrontation? Or simply stay in the fantasy with Robin? Is that why she wasn't in the vision? And if Snow AND David are in the vision does that mean the curse will be broken soon? Did they not need that wish after all? I look forward to March. ****1/2.
Disney's Descendants: Wicked World "Talking Heads"
This sucked. That is all. 0.
The Lion Guard "The Lost Gorillas"
Wow, John Rhys-Davies is slumming. First The Shanarra Chronicles, now this. That dude's career is REALLY on a downswing. **.
Girl Meets World "Girl Meets A Christmas Maya"
Parts of this were really good and parts of this were really bad. But the parts that were really good were really really good and the parts that were really bad were really really bad.
The bad first:
Riley's scene at the beginning was the behavior of a loon. And when she throws glitter my first thought is "Who is actually going to have to clean that up?" Other people cleaning up Riley's messes describes that girl in a nutshell.
And I'm sorry, if I saw the skit Topanga and Riley performed about me and my mother I would be super p*ssed. I would feel embarrassed and humiliated and as if my friend didn't take my pain seriously. The show is trying to say that Riley and Maya are so cool with each other that they can do stuff like that and not be offended. But they're teenage girls. They SHOULD get offended with each other over SOME stuff.
Speaking of taking offense, I love that Farkle is offended by the menorah. That is NOT a Disney Channel scenario, and I love that the show has him thinking it's presumptuous. And he'd be right had Riley told him anything other than what she did. Similarly, an etiquette book is the very worst gift you can give an Aspie. But a personally annotated one? That's pretty much the best.
Unfortunately, as great as those gifts are, they were far too insightful for kids their ages to be giving each other, at least for the reasons they stated they did. Those were reasons that sparked the imagination of touching sitcom writers, not an observation about any real-world teenager anywhere. Teenagers are not deep and meaningful. They are dumb. No, you know what the problem is? Most PEOPLE are not deep and meaningful and are dumb, so it really seems out of place that these kids are not. Nobody really gives anybody a gift for as thoughtful and personal a reason as those kids did, and that's why I don't buy it. It's not only that they are more selfless than real kids that bothers me. It's that they're more selfless than real adults.
Another good thing and bad thing: The show says Gift of the Magi has holes in it. And it does. But I'm a little appalled that this show doesn't poke its biggest hole, and in fact this is not a hole I've seen poked at ANYWHERE. And it is VERY strange nobody has ever brought up something I thought was b.s. since the first time I heard the story.
The guy gives up his pocket-watch for the combs, and the girl gives up her hair for the watchband. That isn't a tale of equal self-sacrifice at all. The dude actually got hosed. Why?
Because the woman's hair will grow back in a year or two, and she'll be able to enjoy the combs. That dude is so poor, he ain't NEVER gettin' another watch. I get that both of them sacrificed something to get the other a present, but the truth is the woman's sacrifice was temporary, while the man's was permanent. And it amazes me that I've never, EVER heard anyone point that out before. I noticed that the very first time I heard the story, and cannot believe nobody else seems to have.
Really really good and really really bad. ***.
Transformers: Robots In Disguise "Worthy"
Could those old friends Optimus referred to hint at a Transformers Prime reunion? Is Megatron in our future too? If so, will he still be a bad guy? I look forward to what comes next. The episode itself was pretty good too. ***1/2.
The Simpsons "The Last Traction Hero"
This was the closest the show ever came to an F bomb.
Smithers has to chew Mr. Burns' tea. Somehow that's a bit TOO big of a stretch.
I laughed at the idea that Homer loved it when Marge said "Smithers" but I hated it at the same time. Because even if it didn't hurt Homer due to his stupidity, it was still thoughtless and horrible on Marge's end.
Otto's music sucks.
I didn't much like this episode. **1/2.
Son Of Zorn "Return Of The Drinking Buddy"
Was I the only one whose favorite plot was Craig and Edie calling up that jerk from camp? When Craig delightedly said "I think we need to settle this NOW!" I realized he's actually a funny character in his own right. That was endearing.
I also laughed upon learning how Head-Butt Man lost his eye. It was perfect.
Funny episode. ****.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine "Skyfire Cycle"
I love Holt's reaction at the beginning after the elevator opened. Purely unexpected joy. Love it.
I loved him coming in the day later with the problem solved and how horrified Amy was by that. I especially love that because he was SO mad at Rosa for suggesting it, but she was right all along.
What Gina won is known as a pyrrhic victory. She is so screwed.
The one bad thing is that I figured out immediately that the Author didn't write the note. The show usually isn't that predictable with its twists.
But this was still a funny episode. ****.
The Last Man On Earth "Whitney Houston, We Have A Problem"
Do you know the most amazing thing about Todd's rant to Carol? It didn't matter that she was right and he was wrong, the rant itself was righteous. She was acting like such a complete jackass. There is a reason she and Tandy gravitated towards each other.
Relieved Melissa is okay and I am especially happy to see how well Todd looks out for her. Worried about Gail still but hopefully that will be fixed next week. Melissa's mental problems however seem to be more of a long-term problem.
Good episode. ****.
Family Guy "Carter And Tricia"
Stewie's changing the channel. He likes both Gyllenhal and Leto.
Jesus sarcastically reading the Bible to his son was golden.
Like that Brian sees gray lights.
They invented that medication for Cosby.
Good to see Joyce Kinney is still on the show. I was worried about that.
Mostly funny. ***1/2.
American Dad! "Portrait Of Francine's Genitals"
Genitals are like genies. They should only come out when they're rubbed. It's funny because it's true.
Jeff took the Smith name? Makes sense. As he said, he's the wife. I love the name Jeff Smith for obvious reasons.
The people at the aquarium store think it's weird that Lewis is a principle.
I love that Scott Grimes got to use his actual voice for Steve for the first time ever.
Jasper's wife talking about tactile sensation was funny enough. But when she said the mug was a caste of her own butthole I lost it.
I love how they managed to make a painting of something X-rated acceptable for a TV-14 show. I'm betting even Fox would have allowed that. It was very clever in how simple it was and it made the idea that people were wowed by supposedly great art even funnier.
A good one. ****.
American Dad! "Bahama Mama"
I want Reginald back more than anything. And I think the show knows this and is deliberately screwing with me. Love the idea of Hayley having an alien baby. Will Jeff with superpowers come up next week? Maybe!
Klaus was great. "Listen to your fish." I loved him on cocaine and I love that when he threatened the activities director, the dude didn't flinch, but Klaus acted as if he rattled him anyways. That was funny.
Baywatch was and continues to be an American embarrassment. I really want to see that finale for Caroline In The City too. It had to be more memorable than the rest of the show.
I love that Roger kills the lifeguard to take his place. Roger is always far more evil than he actually needs to be to achieve his mundane goals.
I love that the actor's murder weapon was plastic soda holders. SO dumb.
Really great episode. I can't say that about too many of these in the TBS era. *****.
Van Helsing "He's Coming"
It's a bit early to declare, but it's not too early to see the potential. Sam has the potential to be one of the best villains of the 2016 TV season. I'm not saying he will be. But he has that potential.
Vanessa seems very picky which vampires she chooses to turn back. That's crazy. If I had that power I'd be turning every single one I could. It strikes me as senseless to be fighting these creatures to the death when there is a far easier and less risky way to win. And you won't constantly get knocked unconscious if you do it.
Sam broke my heart in the last episode. Mohammed did in this one. Unlike Sam, he can potentially be redeemed, but I'm not so sure I even want that. All of Vanessa's friends except for Axel turn out to secretly suck.
Glad Flesh is back on the show. Can't wait to see what happens with happens with him.
Vanessa's mother? Are we finally going to be delving a bit into the Dracula mythology next week? It seems long overdue on a vampire show called Van Helsing. ***1/2.
Scream Queens "The Hand"
Theory: Munsch is the second Green Meanie. They hinted Hoffel was the Meanie who attacked Intestine Girl, but Munsch had the better motive to do it. What I don't know is if it is her, what her motive for attacking anyone else is. But we do know she is already a murderer. She is now my prime suspect.
That scene in the operating room was bizarre, gross, touching, hilarious, and empowering, and unlike any other scene the show has ever had. And I think the show is better for having had this scene.
The dude who was poisoning himself was not only a jerk, but a coward. If he had just nut up and told his girlfriend the truth a long time ago, her could have spared them BOTH a lot of suffering. I hated him, and wish the Meanie had gotten him.
By the way, Holt is nuts. Serial killer hand is not real. He's just crazy. I don't think a new hand will help.
Very good episode. ****1/2.
Upcoming reviews include Doctor Who: Series 9, The X-Files: Season 10, Avengers: Age Of Ultron (Blu-Ray), Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Season 2, Marvel's Agent Carter: Season 1, Ant-Man (Blu-Ray), Captain America: Civil War (Blu-Ray), Daredevil: Season 1, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Blu-Ray), X-Men: Days Of Future Past: The Rogue Cut, Deadpool, X-Men: Apocalypse (Blu-Ray), The Lion Guard: Return Of The Roar (DVD), Zootopia, Inside Out (Blu-Ray), The Good Dinosaur (Blu-Ray), Finding Dory (Blu-Ray), Once Upon A Time: Season 5, The BFG, Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Blu-Ray), Star Wars Rebels: Season 2, Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales, Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures: Season One, Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow (DVD), Batman Unlimited: Mechs Vs. Mutants, Justice League Vs. Teen Titans, Batman: The Killing Joke, Batman: Return Of The Caped Crusaders, Suicide Squad (Blu-Ray), The Flash: Season 2, Arrow: Season 4, DC's Legends Of Tomorrow: Season 1, Supergirl: Season 1, Constantine: The Complete Series, Gotham: Season 2, iZombie: Season 1, iZombie: Season 2, Lucifer: Season 1, Be Cool Scooby Doo!: Spooky Kooky Fun!, Wabbit: A Looney Tunes Prod.: Hare-Raising Tales, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Extended Edition, The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug: Extended Edition, The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies: Extended Edition, Star Trek Beyond (Blu-Ray), Airplane! / Airplane II: The Sequel: Double Feature, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Beyond The Known Universe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Earth's Last Stand, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Half-Shell Heroes: Blast To The Past, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows, Power Rangers: Zeo: Volume 1, Power Rangers: Zeo: Volume 2, Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, Power Rangers Turbo: Volume 1, Power Rangers: Turbo: Volume 2, Power Rangers In Space Volume 1, Power Rangers In Space: Volume 2, Power Rangers Samurai: The Complete Season, Powr Rangers: Megaforce: The Complete Season, Power Rangers: Super Megaforce: The Complete Season, Transformers: Robots In Disguise: Season 1, Heroes Reborn: The Complete Series, Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 1: Water, Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 2: Earth, Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 3: Fire, The Legend Of Korra: The Complete Series, Haven: Season 5 - Vol. 1, Haven: The Final Season, Under The Dome: Season 3, Sleepy Hollow: Season 2, Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 2, Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 3, The Jurassic Park Trilogy, Jurassic World, Back To The Future: The Complete Animated Series, Tremor 5: Bloodlines, Shaun The Sheep Movie (Blu-Ray), Shaun The Sheep: The Farmer's Llamas, 12 Monkeys: Season 1, Grimm: Season 4, Grimm: Season 5, The Wonder Years: Season 4, The Wonder Years: Season 5, The Peanuts Movie, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part 2, Ghostbusters: Answer: The Call, Community: Season 6, Red Dwarf XI, Hannibal: Season 1, Hannibal: Season 2, Hannibal: Season 3, Preacher: Season One, Degrassi Junior High: The Complete Series, Game Of Thrones: Season 5, and Game of Thrones: Season 6.
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
I mostly liked it. I liked that it not only filled in the backstory of Newt Scamander, but also gave us a look in time at when Grindelwald was terrorizing the Wizarding Community. He was never as bad a cat as Voldemort, but he was as bad a cat as Wizards had ever known up to that point. And he sounds like Captain Jack Sparrow.
I really liked Eddie Redmayne as Scamander and he reminded me of an introverted version of Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor. So much so, I wondering why they didn't just cast Smith. He was still great.
I love that we got actual perspective from a Muggle, (or Non-mag in American terms) and Kowalski was a very likable one at that. I hate that he was oblivated at the end, but the last scene hints that all might not be as it seems if there is a sequel. If there is, I definitely want him to be a part of it.
I like that this is the first Potterverse project to see things from an adult perspective, and the persecution from that horrible Non-Mag Salem woman was able to be more fully explored, since the main characters weren't actually kids. There IS child abuse hinted at, which is something Harry and the Dursleys never actually touched. It was frightening.
I liked all of the Beasts, particularly the Niffler (which looks like a platypus), the Bowtruckle, and the beautiful Deminguise. Watching Kowalski's eyes bug out was infectious. He was like a kid in a candy store and so was I.
Ron Perlman was great as the Goblin. Fun Fact: He's the first DC Animated Universe voice actor to be cast in a Potterverse project.
I like the idea that this movie is both canon to the books AND the movies, even though it clearly has a different relationship to each. Very clever that nothing in the movie contradicted either. J.K. Rowling knew what she was doing with this screenplay.
One of the better movies I've seen this year. ****1/2.
Teen Titans Go! "Teen Titans Save Christmas!"
You know, if the show isn't actually allowed to say Santa doesn't exist, it still gets props for trying to get kids to despise him. That's the next best thing.
Sticky Joe is a better Santa than Robin. I love that he's called a filthy bohemian rather than a bum, and that his sleigh is a dumpster driven by possums.
I love the old Christmas Shablammo and that Santa's magic is actually a crowbar.
I also love that the Titans were excited to get coal and finally excited to get beans. There is a plus to throwing parties over every little thing. It will make a Christmas where you get SOMETHING a million times better than one where you get NOTHING. What the actual present is is besides the point.
What a great episode. ****1/2.
Teen Titans Go! "BBSFBDAY!"
There was nothing about this episode that wasn't predictable. Also, I'm not sure the logic of Starfire not having a birthday because Tamaran's calendar is so different holds up. At all. **.
DC Super Hero Girls "Ultimately Accessory"
Frost is kind of a witch, isn't she? **1/2.
DC Super Hero Girls "Hero Of The Month: Star Sapphire"
The Carol is this continuity is portrayed as vapid, conceited, materialistic, and selfish. I imagine Green Lantern fans are not happy. *1/2.
DC Super Hero Girls "Riddle Of The Heart"
This is simply put, the worst, most astonishingly bad version of the Riddler ever put to screen, live-action or animated. I am actually embarrassed. 0.
DC Super Hero Girls "Heroes Of The Month: Cyborg And Starfire"
I love that they have the Teen Titans voices from the TV show voice the characters here and in the Batman Unlimited and LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes projects. ***1/2.
Supergirl "Medusa"
I should have seen Lena's triple-cross coming. There was literally no reason for her to join her mother, and me believing she did was me believing the show was worse than it actually is. I really need to stop being so cynical about the Arrowverse.
But boy, J'onn's White Martian plot sure fizzled, didn't it? I'm a little surprised they didn't actually go anywhere with it.
Mon-El continues to be adorable. I understand why Kara confuses his attraction towards her as actually towards her mother. Helen Slater is flippin' hot!
I'm a little bit furious at Maggie for all of the pain she put Alex through when Alex was right all along. I'm glad Alex finally can explore that part of herself with someone she likes, but I ultimately think Maggie is probably the kind of person who likes putting unnecessary drama into her personal relationships to stave off boredom, and who doesn't really care how many people that winds up hurting.
I loved Alex's first kiss though, because Chyler Leigh played it as someone feeling out whether they actually liked it, and as someone who was appreciating that that was a particular moment of their life changing forever. It's one thing to admit you are gay. It is an entirely different thing to do something about it, and Leigh played that moment as if Alex realizes the significance of the die being cast. There is no going back, and it feels weird and good and exciting and frightening. I got all of those emotions from Leigh's response to that kiss.
I have to agree that Hank Henshaw hasn't earned the right to call himself Cyborg Superman. I know that's his identity in the comics, but I have seen nothing about Henshaw that would make me understand for a second why he would not only take up that mantle, but WANT to take it up. I think the show should have had the name thing be a process, and not started off with him calling himself that. Maybe he defeats Superman in battle and names himself that as a way to state his superiority to the alien he just punked. Because there's no reason he should be calling himself that NOW.
Very cool that Cisco corrects Barry about being friends. Oftentimes in crossovers, the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing about the current storylines on the other shows. The Arrowverse has always been the exception.
I looked forward to the rest of the week because of this. I knew this was going to be a treat. ****.
The Flash "Invasion"
Terrific on every level.
I love that Oliver immediately puts Barry in charge, but Barry defers to him about everything anyways. You know we can hear you, right? I also appreciate that Oliver was the only person Barry allowed to hear Stein and Jax's message. He trusts him more than anyone else. And I love that Oliver and Supergirl are the two people who don't begrudge Barry for what he did in the slightest. And Oliver's right. Everyone would take that chance. I get why Cisco's upset, but it's not like he wouldn't do the same for Dante if given the chance.
I love and appreciated that Diggle was mad that Barry cost him a daughter. I wouldn't personally look at it like that. Because he also gained him a son. But I love that he didn't see it that way.
Sara tries to throw in Barry's face that she's not allowed to bring Laurel back. Yeah, but that's not due to lack of trying. Her superiority on this matter has more to do with failure than actual conviction.
I forgot Iris didn't know Oliver was Green Arrow. And it almost brushed by everyone until Iris says it makes Oliver even hotter. And it does. Weird that she no longer wrote the future article. Does that mean she and Barry never married? Or that she never became a reporter? Or did she, gulp, DIE?! I'm looking forward to and dreading 2024.
I loved Felicity squealing "Best team-up ever!" after seeing Supergirl in action. Pretty much. There is a reason CW used that funny moment for trailers.
What the chips are down, Rory calls her Supergirl. Because of course he does.
Loved Ray's moment with Barry where he reveals Snart died a hero. That was sad.
Speedy back in action! Yay! I'd come out of retirement for aliens too. How neat is that?
I love that Felicity is concerned that Caitlin has superpowers. Because she should be.
I love that for the main action of the episode, it was Barry and Oliver versus everyone else. And it should have been. The TV universe pretty much started with those two, and it was a very nice idea to get back to that, and have them try to fend off the heroes of the newer shows. That felt right.
This week is awesome. *****.
Arrow "Invasion"
A disappointment on every level.
The episode tried to do two things, and it could not do them both, and it had to. This is the 100th episode of Arrow. It seems odd that the CW didn't bill it that way, seeing as cast members Katie Cassidy, Susanna Thompson, and John Barrowman returned for it, but it was too focused on promoting the fact that this is a part of the Invasion four part crossover event with all of the other Arrowverse shows. Therefore, they neglected much of the drama a 100th episode is supposed to stir, and they equally gave short shrift to the mythology of the crossover. The Flash's Invasion threw everything at us, and Legends of Tomorrow wrapped things up. But this completely feels like a total detour, and an unnecessary one at that.
I rolled my eyes at Wilddog talking down super powered people. And this is why Arrow is worse than it needs to be. It tends to create a Brainy Smurf-type Complainer character whose defining characteristic is always being wrong. Thea filled that role in season one, and Laurel made an especially loathsome version in season two, but the only reason Wilddog seems to be put on this show is so the other characters can constantly prove how much he sucks. And shows don't need that and never did. The Complainer character was absent in seasons three and four and we got along fine without it. I don't know why Arrow is returning to the worst trope from the first two seasons. It's unnecessary on shows with good writing.
I am appalled they actually used Deathstroke without getting back Manu Bennett. REALLY appalled. At least they gave a cute reason for Tommy being absent (a doctor in Chicago, heh) but Bennett IS Deathstroke. And if they aren't going to embargo the character for the 100th episode, I think we were at least entitled to see him portrayed properly.
The worst of the crossovers. This is Perchance To Dream from BTAS done wrong. Say what you will about that corny Batman cartoon, part of the reason it was effective is that you didn't know the trick ending ahead of time. The Mad Hatter resolution isn't particularly satisfying (it could have easily been Riddler, Scarecrow or Dr. Strange and nothing would have changed) but it's at least still surprising because it wasn't set up at all. We know the answer to this riddle amd it feels less like Bruce putting things together along with the audience, and more like watching the Arrow characters play catch-up with us. Part of why Perchance to Dream worked is we didn't understand what was happening. This is the exact same tired concept, minus the only interesting thing about it. And that is why it doesn't work. **.
DC's Legends Of Tomorrow "Invasion"
Mixed feelings.
It was a good old fashioned gee-whiz, special effects slugfest, with superheroes and aliens, but I kind of think the episode focused on the wrong things.
Barry and Oliver at the end was a mistake. Full-stop. Maybe they could have done that scene as the second to last for this episode, but this is the Legends' show, and they were practically guest characters during the entire thing. It was all about Oliver distrusting Kara, and Felicity trying to get Cisco to forgive Barry. The only major emotional beat featuring a Legend was Stein and his daughter, but that was literally the only thing.
Speaking of Stein and his daughter, I love the idea. I love that he was worried his wife was going to be jealous he loved another woman, and it turns out she's his daughter. How great is that? I don't think of her as an aberration though, and if the rest of the Legends saw it that way, they're nuts. You time travel with any regularity, stuff is gonna get changed, and that includes stuff you never planned. I think Jay Garrick telling Barry earlier in the season that fixing time travel mistakes is like trying to put an egg back together is exactly right. Lily is not a problem that needs to be fixed, and it concerns me that the show has Stein hiding her as if she is.
Speaking of time travel nonsense, I did not buy the reason Cisco ultimately forgave Barry. Barry's sin was so egregious, because he not only did something no-one else had ever done, he did something that no-one else would be capable of doing. I think it is beyond unlikely that Cisco forgives him by making the same mistake. Flashpoint is NOT a mistake that Barry's friends are going to repeat. That is what's horrible about it. And I kind of feel like the show is trying to get Cisco to relate to and understand something that he never should. I don't object to Cisco eventually forgiving Barry. I object to him doing so by the show implausibly having him repeat his bonkers sin.
Also I'm not sure the logic of the idea that the aliens planned the invasion due to Cisco freeing one of them holds up to scrutiny. Because that cannot be true. Because it makes no sense.
Oliver was too mean to Supergirl. I get why. Oliver's a control freak, and Kara is an unknown variable, but it struck me as the show generating a conflict because the rest of the episode's plot was getting kind of thin. And it's not like they couldn't have done other things. Oliver doesn't have questions for Vixen? Seriously?
"See you later, Dominator," was bad enough. But they actually gave us a "We all did it," at the end with a straight face without being aware of WHY that sucks so much. They have characters referencing The Princess Bride and Darmok and Jilad at Tanagra, and they don't have a character genre savvy to recognize a Wesley Crusher level of suck when they hear it? The fact that the show doesn't even seem to KNOW why that line is so despised in fandom tells me they don't actually know the first thing about.
Cisco was right however that that was a Spielberg film. Unfortunately, it was Saving Private Ryan.
Love them connecting Supergirl so tightly to the Arrowverse at the end. This will make crossovers much easier. I love that Kara doesn't have a secret identity on our Earth. She doesn't actually NEED one, but I have to think if an Arrowverse version of Kara and Clark ever pop up, the damage is already done.
Personally? I would have let Barry sacrifice himself were it up to me. By fighting the aliens off in such a brutal and unforgiving fashion, all the Legends and heroes were doing is proving the Dominators' point. I kind of don't like the idea that the alien invaders actually had the high ground. Because surrendering Barry WAS a reasonable demand considering what happened.
The episode seemed to have a great deal in common with Torchwood: Children Of Earth, except there Jack makes the horrific sacrifice, and here Barry's friends don't let him. I will confess the ending to this is much less powerful than that, but it also isn't a huge bummer, which is good.
And yes, Rory is a hero. Deal with it.
I wish the conclusion on Legends had actually focused on the Legends. ***.
Gotham "Beware The Green-Eyed Monster"
Let me just state for the record that Jim Gordon is one of the worst and most despicable people who ever lived. He's a Donald Trump level of suck. I'm not joking.
Where do we begin? First off, all throughout the episode, it appears to be dawning on him that he's playing right into Mario's hands, and he keeps on doing it while he is realizing it. He confession to Lee was the cruelest, most selfish thing I have ever seen anyone on this show do, and this show is pretty much non-stop horrid behavior. And the fact that he actually expected her to call off her wedding because of it makes me realize Jim Gordon believes everything is about him.
When he shot the two goons to force Falcone to tell him where Mario was, I knew that Jim's promise not to kill Mario was bogus. Because Jim is the biggest liar on the show. I knew the episode was going to end with Mario dead once he gave Carmine is word. Because Jim Gordon's word is worth cr*p.
Do you know what Jim COULD have done instead of killing Lee's new husband in front of her? "Hey, Lee, watch out!" How does this not occur to him? Cops are supposed to use lethal force as a last resort, and it never occurs to him to even shout a warning to her? Jim isn't just a bad person. He's a total idiot.
Interesting that Nygma is now invested in destroying Penguin. I have to say, Nygma is a much worse person than I would be in that exact circumstance. Maybe it's because I'm not a supervillain, but part of me would be flattered, and after everything we've been through tried to rationalize a way to work past it. But I have to think Barb's idea to tell him in the first place was dumb. Do you know what she SHOULD have done? Blackmailed Penguin into giving her power. Because even with Nygma's help, Barbara has no shot of winning the Gotham Game of Thrones. Even Butch is better positioned than she is.
I want Victor Zsasz in every episode from now on. Anthony Corrigan, or however you spell his last name, needs to be made a series regular.
I liked Harvey sarcastically asking Lucius if he was the culprit because it shows an essential part of Harvey's character. He wants to avoid the work if can help it. Jim is also another level of suck for bossing him around, but at least at this point Harvey seems to understand exactly how fudged up their relationship is. But I'd think a LOT more of Harvey if he actually called Jim on it.
Jerome is coming back? Good. Killing him off was one of the biggest mistakes the show ever did. Right up there with getting rid of Don Moroni and Clare Foley. It wasn't quite as bad as killing Moroni, because David Zayas had become an essential part of the show's fabric and appeal in season one, and as good as Cameron Monaghan was as Jerome, he was still only a guest star. But I think Jerome SHOULD actually be the Joker. Monaghan's amazing performance demanded it. He is literally the best live-action Joker we have ever gotten. I lamented that we probably wouldn't ever see him take a legit shot at the character. Now we might. He might someday wind up becoming a better Joker than Mark Hamill. That's a long ways off, but Monaghan has the potential to be this generation's Number #1 interpretation of the character in the way Hamill was for kids in the 90's. Because Lord knows, that honor will NOT fall to Jared Leto.
I love Cat's mom because it hints that Selina's b.s. story to Bruce in season one about her mother being a spy on a secret mission might actually be true. I had thought she was jiving Bruce for both of their amusements, and Bruce was dutifully playing along, but if Selina was actually serious, I'll love the show for it.
Good Talon died, because it means this isn't the version from the comics Batman goes up against. Because it is was, he'd be far too old to be a threat in the distant future. His death hints that Talon isn't just a codename, but an inherited identity.
God, I hate Jim Gordon with the white hot burning passion of a thousand suns. He should run for President. **1/2.
Lucifer "Quid Pro Ho"
Okay, the Chloe being a blessed miracle thing explains why Lucifer is vulnerable to her. But it doesn't explain why God would do that. Because he's been bugging the cr*p out of Amendiel to bring Lucifer home, and he's right where he's supposed to be. Where is the actual conflict? Amendiel is right that he is a pawn. But he's being manipulated into a situation that actually could play out the exact same way if he weren't a part of it. And just based on what the show has shown us so far, I don't think they'll be able to come up with a satisfactory answer as to why God wants Lucifer on Earth and yet told Amendiel to bring him back at the same time. Because both of those things do not need to be true for that particular plan to work.
I loved Lucifer punching Dan for sleeping with his mother, rather than destroying Chloe's case. Because that's a dude's mom! He's upset for the right reasons.
I loved how alarmed Dan kept getting at the Chinese mafia headquarters as Lucifer repeatedly and confoundedly did everything exactly right. His magnificent performance on the stand should be another clear hint that there is something divine going on with this guy.
Love Linda rubbing Amendiel's face into the fact that he betrayed her too. He should never have to be able to live that down, even if he and Linda can finally be honest with each other for the first time ever. You'll notice that was Linda's first meeting with Amendiel after learning the truth. Were I the writer of the episode, I would have pointed out what a significant moment that actually was.
And Chloe refusing to betray Lucifer shows exactly why Charlotte is out of her depth on this matter. It's amazing that she set things up in such a way is that all Chloe did was prove Lucifer right. That might be humbling for a smarter deity than Charlotte. But she still doesn't get it.
I love that the thing that Lucifer most prides himself about is his honesty and honor. And just based upon the Bible, even if he's the Devil, that could totally be true. Satan never lied to Job, or screwed him over the way God did. Lucifer being completely honest and genuine about everything is not actually out of character with the Satan in the Bible. So, yeah, I get why fundies are p*ssed at this show. I disagree, but I understand why the message that not everyone interprets the Bible the same way would frighten them. Critical thinking skills are a no-no to fundies, and this show is so thought-provoking, it practically demands Million Moms boycotts.
Am I supposed to think what Dan did at the end of the episode was cold-blooded? Because I don't. It's not what I would have done, but if I personally knew and was a friend of Dan, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it either.
Very interesting episode, but I think it also means that the overall logic of the mythology of the show will not ultimately hold up. I hope I'm wrong. But I don't see a way that I'm not. ***1/2.
The Powerpuff Girls "Electric Buttercup"
Lame. And Him has always disturbed me. I don't know if it's the voice, the high heeled boots, or the mink stole, but he always struck me as far weirder and more frightening than the situation actually calls for. *.
The Powerpuff Girls "Professor Proofed"
"Pigtails O'Shaunessy is pretty much the randomest nickname ever. But I was bored with the rest of the episode. **1/2.
The Powerpuff Girls "Poorbucks"
This is nothing about Princess Morebucks that does not suck, and that includes episodes she appears in. Only really funny thing is Buttercup laughing derisively that it turns out the girls are her best friends. I like that moment because a nicer character than Buttercup would find that sad and pitiable. But Buttercup finds it pathetic. Buttercup's reaction is the correct one. *.
The Powerpuff Girls "Snow Month"
Two things:
1. The "How many fingers?" thing on this show isn't actually funny if they don't point out that it's a joke. Treating it seriously almost makes me think the writers lack self-awareness.
2. The animation on this show is SUCH a step down from the original series. And that should NOT be true. Animation techniques have gotten along fifteen years further since the show has been off the air, and it is super surprising that this franchise has actually gotten worse. I understand that the original show actually had a decent budget and this does not, but Teen Titans Go! has a miniscule budget too, and still cranks out decent animation for the action sequences. There is no excuse. None. *1/2.
The Powerpuff Girls "Somewhere Over The Swingset"
Loved the joke of Buttercup waiting a few hours to finish her sentence so she's not actually lying. I should have thought of that as a kid.
Allegro is the first recurring new villain from the relaunch. And he makes me realize how wholly inadequate the new villains are. Mojo Jojo, Fuzzy Lumpkins, and Him aren't great villains in their own right, but they've good villains for the show, and fit in with the sensibility. Allegro is just weird and off-putting. He's sort of like Princess Morebucks in that regards, but Morebucks is SUPPOSED to suck as much as she does. I get the feeling that Allegro's suckiness is unintentional, and the writers are actually dumb enough to think he's the second creepy coming of Him.
Off-topic. I was looking around a Toys R Us the other day, and noticed the merchandise from this show in the girls aisle! Is this show actually targeted to girls? Because if it is, that is awesome! Bronies love Friendship is Magic, and swear up and down guys can love it, but it's about rainbow ponies with adorable names. It's a girls show whether Bronies can admit it or not. Outside of the sugar and spice premise (and the cute designs and names) The Powerpuff Girls is not really specifically geared towards girls. And that's actually really cool. Boys can enjoy it equally. That's the idea behind something like Phineas and Ferb, right? Except the toys for THAT are always in the boys aisle. I have heard of a LOT of shows that are marketed towards boys also being enjoyed by girls. I think it is really cool that this is the first girls show I can think of that can be enjoyed guilt free by boys. The sensibility is such that the show never seems gender specific, or targeting one group over the other. And I kind of think that's what the best kids shows should be able to do.
This is NOT a great kids show. But it has the makings of that, and I will not dismiss that, even when the show itself sucked. They actually accomplished SOMETHING. They created a show for girls that boys will enjoy so much they'll never even realize it's for girls. ***1/2.
Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. "Deals With Our Devils"
This was a lot like the Next Gen episode "The Next Phase". I thought it was brilliant to use Ada to read the book and suddenly realize why she was put on the show in the first place.
No tie-in to Doctor Strange. Good. I think it's a bad idea to have the structure of the show dictated by the movies. It's why seasons 1 and 3 sucked.
I like that when Mack becomes Ghost Rider, he has the motorcycle. Very cool.
I loved the episode. *****.
Star Wars Rebels "Iron Squadron"
Iron Squadron reminds me greatly of Red Squad from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Only this had a MUCH happier ending. The ending makes this episode much easier to watch. But it also makes it far less powerful too. ***.
Star Wars Rebels "The Wynkahthu Job"
Love me some Hondo. I love him talking up his buddy's "fragrance", and declaring victory at the end, with friendship supposedly being the greatest treasure of all. A lesser villain would have been mad. But Hondo is just chillaxed enough, and just egomaniacal enough, to not only not take it personally, but say "I meant to do that!" upon hitting the ground. Which is why I love him. ****.
Once Upon A Time "Wish You Were Here"
I expected to hate it but I like it a lot due to the last two scenes. Let's talk about the rest first.
I absolutely love that Regina's reaction to seeing the statue is amusement. Which is compounding by hearing Emma sing. That sounded that Jennifer Morrison's actual voice. Not bad.
I thought Charming wish "To get what she deserved" was ludicrous and one of those wishes that seems destined to backfire. Even if Aladdin is a benevolent genie, never EVER make a wish that vague. Has Charming never seen any movies? But upon closer inspection is works. I don't think the Evil Queen deserves to be an asp. She deserves far worse. But what does Regina deserve? Robin Hood! And the show figured out a perfect way to bring him back. So the price built into David's evil wish was actually a good thing. We should wish for bad stuff more often.
Gideon being the person under the hood is both great and terrible. Great because I'm glad it's not Regina and even if they were teasing her going dark, I'm glad they're backtracking now. Bad because there is no way in h*ll Emma would EVER kill Belle's son, no matter the circumstance. If he wants to kill Emma, she is going to be fighting for her life with one hand tied behind her back. I'm convinced that's why she died in the vision.
When Rumple threatened to kill the Evil Queen I wanted to bop him on the head. He should have been with the heroes the entire time and was simply too dumb to realize they pretty much had the same goals. He cared too much about power to realize he has more in common with Emma than he doesn't.
As for not using a wish to break the sleeping curse, I would have done it and their logic was not sound. Yeah, that stuff comes with a price, but could it possibly be worse than the price they are paying? And Robin's reemergence and hints in the previews that he'll eventually get him memory back show that the price won't always be bad if wished by somebody outside of the situation. I would have asked Jasmine to use a wish for that and then have David give her the last one of his remaining wishes in return to balance things. I kind of feel with all at stake, everybody should have just hunkered down for a few hours and brainstormed. Agrabah isn't going anywhere. Oh, well. It's not like this is the best written show on the air. Considering how happy everything else made me, I'll let it slide.
You can't undo wishes? That seems like a flaw in the system. That is unlike every other genie interpretation I've ever seen.
Will Regina die before the final confrontation? Or simply stay in the fantasy with Robin? Is that why she wasn't in the vision? And if Snow AND David are in the vision does that mean the curse will be broken soon? Did they not need that wish after all? I look forward to March. ****1/2.
Disney's Descendants: Wicked World "Talking Heads"
This sucked. That is all. 0.
The Lion Guard "The Lost Gorillas"
Wow, John Rhys-Davies is slumming. First The Shanarra Chronicles, now this. That dude's career is REALLY on a downswing. **.
Girl Meets World "Girl Meets A Christmas Maya"
Parts of this were really good and parts of this were really bad. But the parts that were really good were really really good and the parts that were really bad were really really bad.
The bad first:
Riley's scene at the beginning was the behavior of a loon. And when she throws glitter my first thought is "Who is actually going to have to clean that up?" Other people cleaning up Riley's messes describes that girl in a nutshell.
And I'm sorry, if I saw the skit Topanga and Riley performed about me and my mother I would be super p*ssed. I would feel embarrassed and humiliated and as if my friend didn't take my pain seriously. The show is trying to say that Riley and Maya are so cool with each other that they can do stuff like that and not be offended. But they're teenage girls. They SHOULD get offended with each other over SOME stuff.
Speaking of taking offense, I love that Farkle is offended by the menorah. That is NOT a Disney Channel scenario, and I love that the show has him thinking it's presumptuous. And he'd be right had Riley told him anything other than what she did. Similarly, an etiquette book is the very worst gift you can give an Aspie. But a personally annotated one? That's pretty much the best.
Unfortunately, as great as those gifts are, they were far too insightful for kids their ages to be giving each other, at least for the reasons they stated they did. Those were reasons that sparked the imagination of touching sitcom writers, not an observation about any real-world teenager anywhere. Teenagers are not deep and meaningful. They are dumb. No, you know what the problem is? Most PEOPLE are not deep and meaningful and are dumb, so it really seems out of place that these kids are not. Nobody really gives anybody a gift for as thoughtful and personal a reason as those kids did, and that's why I don't buy it. It's not only that they are more selfless than real kids that bothers me. It's that they're more selfless than real adults.
Another good thing and bad thing: The show says Gift of the Magi has holes in it. And it does. But I'm a little appalled that this show doesn't poke its biggest hole, and in fact this is not a hole I've seen poked at ANYWHERE. And it is VERY strange nobody has ever brought up something I thought was b.s. since the first time I heard the story.
The guy gives up his pocket-watch for the combs, and the girl gives up her hair for the watchband. That isn't a tale of equal self-sacrifice at all. The dude actually got hosed. Why?
Because the woman's hair will grow back in a year or two, and she'll be able to enjoy the combs. That dude is so poor, he ain't NEVER gettin' another watch. I get that both of them sacrificed something to get the other a present, but the truth is the woman's sacrifice was temporary, while the man's was permanent. And it amazes me that I've never, EVER heard anyone point that out before. I noticed that the very first time I heard the story, and cannot believe nobody else seems to have.
Really really good and really really bad. ***.
Transformers: Robots In Disguise "Worthy"
Could those old friends Optimus referred to hint at a Transformers Prime reunion? Is Megatron in our future too? If so, will he still be a bad guy? I look forward to what comes next. The episode itself was pretty good too. ***1/2.
The Simpsons "The Last Traction Hero"
This was the closest the show ever came to an F bomb.
Smithers has to chew Mr. Burns' tea. Somehow that's a bit TOO big of a stretch.
I laughed at the idea that Homer loved it when Marge said "Smithers" but I hated it at the same time. Because even if it didn't hurt Homer due to his stupidity, it was still thoughtless and horrible on Marge's end.
Otto's music sucks.
I didn't much like this episode. **1/2.
Son Of Zorn "Return Of The Drinking Buddy"
Was I the only one whose favorite plot was Craig and Edie calling up that jerk from camp? When Craig delightedly said "I think we need to settle this NOW!" I realized he's actually a funny character in his own right. That was endearing.
I also laughed upon learning how Head-Butt Man lost his eye. It was perfect.
Funny episode. ****.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine "Skyfire Cycle"
I love Holt's reaction at the beginning after the elevator opened. Purely unexpected joy. Love it.
I loved him coming in the day later with the problem solved and how horrified Amy was by that. I especially love that because he was SO mad at Rosa for suggesting it, but she was right all along.
What Gina won is known as a pyrrhic victory. She is so screwed.
The one bad thing is that I figured out immediately that the Author didn't write the note. The show usually isn't that predictable with its twists.
But this was still a funny episode. ****.
The Last Man On Earth "Whitney Houston, We Have A Problem"
Do you know the most amazing thing about Todd's rant to Carol? It didn't matter that she was right and he was wrong, the rant itself was righteous. She was acting like such a complete jackass. There is a reason she and Tandy gravitated towards each other.
Relieved Melissa is okay and I am especially happy to see how well Todd looks out for her. Worried about Gail still but hopefully that will be fixed next week. Melissa's mental problems however seem to be more of a long-term problem.
Good episode. ****.
Family Guy "Carter And Tricia"
Stewie's changing the channel. He likes both Gyllenhal and Leto.
Jesus sarcastically reading the Bible to his son was golden.
Like that Brian sees gray lights.
They invented that medication for Cosby.
Good to see Joyce Kinney is still on the show. I was worried about that.
Mostly funny. ***1/2.
American Dad! "Portrait Of Francine's Genitals"
Genitals are like genies. They should only come out when they're rubbed. It's funny because it's true.
Jeff took the Smith name? Makes sense. As he said, he's the wife. I love the name Jeff Smith for obvious reasons.
The people at the aquarium store think it's weird that Lewis is a principle.
I love that Scott Grimes got to use his actual voice for Steve for the first time ever.
Jasper's wife talking about tactile sensation was funny enough. But when she said the mug was a caste of her own butthole I lost it.
I love how they managed to make a painting of something X-rated acceptable for a TV-14 show. I'm betting even Fox would have allowed that. It was very clever in how simple it was and it made the idea that people were wowed by supposedly great art even funnier.
A good one. ****.
American Dad! "Bahama Mama"
I want Reginald back more than anything. And I think the show knows this and is deliberately screwing with me. Love the idea of Hayley having an alien baby. Will Jeff with superpowers come up next week? Maybe!
Klaus was great. "Listen to your fish." I loved him on cocaine and I love that when he threatened the activities director, the dude didn't flinch, but Klaus acted as if he rattled him anyways. That was funny.
Baywatch was and continues to be an American embarrassment. I really want to see that finale for Caroline In The City too. It had to be more memorable than the rest of the show.
I love that Roger kills the lifeguard to take his place. Roger is always far more evil than he actually needs to be to achieve his mundane goals.
I love that the actor's murder weapon was plastic soda holders. SO dumb.
Really great episode. I can't say that about too many of these in the TBS era. *****.
Van Helsing "He's Coming"
It's a bit early to declare, but it's not too early to see the potential. Sam has the potential to be one of the best villains of the 2016 TV season. I'm not saying he will be. But he has that potential.
Vanessa seems very picky which vampires she chooses to turn back. That's crazy. If I had that power I'd be turning every single one I could. It strikes me as senseless to be fighting these creatures to the death when there is a far easier and less risky way to win. And you won't constantly get knocked unconscious if you do it.
Sam broke my heart in the last episode. Mohammed did in this one. Unlike Sam, he can potentially be redeemed, but I'm not so sure I even want that. All of Vanessa's friends except for Axel turn out to secretly suck.
Glad Flesh is back on the show. Can't wait to see what happens with happens with him.
Vanessa's mother? Are we finally going to be delving a bit into the Dracula mythology next week? It seems long overdue on a vampire show called Van Helsing. ***1/2.
Scream Queens "The Hand"
Theory: Munsch is the second Green Meanie. They hinted Hoffel was the Meanie who attacked Intestine Girl, but Munsch had the better motive to do it. What I don't know is if it is her, what her motive for attacking anyone else is. But we do know she is already a murderer. She is now my prime suspect.
That scene in the operating room was bizarre, gross, touching, hilarious, and empowering, and unlike any other scene the show has ever had. And I think the show is better for having had this scene.
The dude who was poisoning himself was not only a jerk, but a coward. If he had just nut up and told his girlfriend the truth a long time ago, her could have spared them BOTH a lot of suffering. I hated him, and wish the Meanie had gotten him.
By the way, Holt is nuts. Serial killer hand is not real. He's just crazy. I don't think a new hand will help.
Very good episode. ****1/2.
Tags:
- american dad,
- arrow,
- brooklyn nine-nine,
- dc super hero girls,
- dcs legends of tomorrow,
- family guy,
- gotham,
- harry potter,
- lucifer,
- marvels agents of shield,
- movie reviews,
- once upon a time,
- star wars rebels,
- supergirl (tv series),
- teen titans go!,
- the flash,
- the lion guard,
- the powerpuff girls (2016),
- the simpsons,
- transformers,
- tv reviews
