Matt Zimmer (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
matt_zimmer) wrote2008-04-14 08:53 am
matt_zimmer) wrote2008-04-14 08:53 am
TV Reviews! (Spoilers)
Reviews for the latest episodes of The Simpsons, Battlestar Galactica, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, last week's King of the Hill, The premiere of The Sarah Jane Adventures, and the last six episodes of Doctor Who season three.
The Simpsons "Papa Don't Leech"
I liked some things about this episode and I disliked some things about the episode. I LOVED the first act and thought all of the Mayor Quimby tax stuff was great (as was the opening scene of Homer fantasizing about killing Grandpa who we haven't seen in a while). And I was super pleased to see an update on Lurleen Lumpkin. One of the few good things about the Al Jean years is that they aren't afraid to bring back characters from the show's golden years.
I wasn't too crazy about where the story went once Lurleen moved in with The Simpsons though. There were two major problems that I could see. The first was that they've already done this exact same story with Nelson in Sleeping With the Enemy. The second thing that bugged me was that the Dixie Chicks role was WAAAYY too self-deprecating. The episode implied that they were unpatriotic and that they had to do a lot of butt-kissing to remain successful which is a load of bunk. I like that the Chicks were able to make fun of themselves but they really shouldn't have had to have been portrayed as sell-outs to guest star on The Simpsons.
So the episode was a mixed bag. I'm still waiting for a horrible episode which is the staple of this show in the later episodes of this season. Delivering solid episode after solid episode is SO weird that I'm having trouble getting used to this season. On the other hand this episode was so average that I think it's safe to say this season broke it's winning streak even if it isn't outright horrible. ***.
Battlestar Galactica "Six of One"
This was better than last week's probably because it answered more questions.
I love that Baltar can see Head Baltar now. I want to know where they are going with Head Baltar and Six. I REALLY hope they have a master plan for this.
Adama and Kara's confrontation was brutal but I love how he helped her out after all. I'm sure there will be fall-out later with Laura for doing that.
The stuff on the Cylon base ship was great. I love Cavil trying to lobotimize the Raiders only to have the new Six upgrade the Centurions! Great twist.
I liked the episode. ****.
The Spectacular Spider-Man "The Invisible Hand"
Tombstone! How great of a surprise was that? Awesome! I'm only bummed that he was voiced by Kevin Micheal Richardson this week instead of Keith David. I hope Keith returns as I thought it was great he was voicing the Big Man.
Rhino was cool and I liked the way Spidey defeated him. It made a lot of sense and it was cool to learn what Rhino's weakness was since they glossed over his origin on the old show.
Peter meeting Mary Jane was only passable. They were SO interested in paying tribute to the comic book meeting that they kind of made it predictable. But I hardly care since the rest of the episode was so awesome. ****1/2.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "Fathers and Sons"
Those little Turtles were SO cute. I liked this episode a lot and thought it was pretty good for a flashback episode (even though this makes TWO in one season.) I was also REALLY heart-broken at the Turtles crying when Splinter and the Ancient one were being attacked by the demon and was reminded of Stephen King's It when they started throwing rocks at it. I liked the episode a lot. ****.
King of the Hill "Six Characters in Search of a House"
This was okay. I loved Hank being so leery of actors being in his house and I liked the resolution of the inspector being SO impressed with Hank for wrecking his solid house. Still, it there a bigger tool than Peggy? ***1/2.
The Sarah Jane Adventures "Invasion of the Bane"
Excellent Premiere. I love the idea of a Doctor Who related program for kids. Sarah Jane is a cool character and I like Maria and Luke too. My only huge problem with the program is the annoying Kelsey who I SERIOUSLY hope is a one-time character and not a regular. K-9's cameo was awesome and I was saddened that this is likely going to be his only appearance on the series. The aliens and soda plot was pretty funny too. I liked this a lot. ****.
Doctor Who "Human Nature"
I loved the idea of The Doctor becoming human and the episode was smart enough to drop you in the thick of the action without explaining things and then helping the audience along the way. The Doctor falling in love was neat as was the cliffhanger. ****.
Doctor Who "The Family of Blood"
David Tennant gives a GREAT and heart-breaking performance as the human Doctor who must give up the woman he cares about in order to save the universe. I didn't know the guy had it in him but it was a REALLY great bit of acting. Excellent. ****1/2.
Doctor Who "Blink"
This was one of the episodes which focused on humans we've just met where the Doctor was barely on screen but whose presence is felt thoughout the episode. I loved Miss Sparrow meeting the guy who had a crush on her in the hospital as he lay dying and the way the Doctor defeated the angels without even being there. Those statues were freaky. ****.
Doctor Who "Utopia"
I KNEW Mr. Saxon was the Master! AWESOME episode.
It was great seeing Captain Jack again and him flirting with everybody was hilarious as was the Doctor's admonishments of him. I really need to watch my Torchwood tapes. That's next on the docket I think.
I loved how the old guy was steadily getting more crazy and the fact that as a human the Master was a good person. Martha telling him to open the watch was something that had me pulling out my hair. Excellent episode. ****1/2.
Doctor Who "The Sound of Drums"
Fantastic. GREAT cliffhanger and the Master at his absolute worst. It was great seeing the Doctor try to redeem him and Saxon shoving the olive branch back into his face. I love how dire everything got. I was left wondering how the next episode could possibly pull off a satisfying ending but they did. *****.
Doctor Who "Last of the Time Lords"
Whoa! What a finale! I LOVED the Doctor forgiving the Master and was SO suprised when he begged him to regenerate considering what we knew about the Master's evil regeneration process from the old show.
I was also surprised at the fate of humanity and I loved Captain Jack helping out. I also love the fact that the entire idea of Martha pretending she was going to kill the Master was nothing more than a ruse and a trap. I'm going to miss her but I understood exactly why she chose to leave.
All in all a fabulous way to end the season. I can't wait for season four which will begin airing this Friday. *****
The Simpsons "Papa Don't Leech"
I liked some things about this episode and I disliked some things about the episode. I LOVED the first act and thought all of the Mayor Quimby tax stuff was great (as was the opening scene of Homer fantasizing about killing Grandpa who we haven't seen in a while). And I was super pleased to see an update on Lurleen Lumpkin. One of the few good things about the Al Jean years is that they aren't afraid to bring back characters from the show's golden years.
I wasn't too crazy about where the story went once Lurleen moved in with The Simpsons though. There were two major problems that I could see. The first was that they've already done this exact same story with Nelson in Sleeping With the Enemy. The second thing that bugged me was that the Dixie Chicks role was WAAAYY too self-deprecating. The episode implied that they were unpatriotic and that they had to do a lot of butt-kissing to remain successful which is a load of bunk. I like that the Chicks were able to make fun of themselves but they really shouldn't have had to have been portrayed as sell-outs to guest star on The Simpsons.
So the episode was a mixed bag. I'm still waiting for a horrible episode which is the staple of this show in the later episodes of this season. Delivering solid episode after solid episode is SO weird that I'm having trouble getting used to this season. On the other hand this episode was so average that I think it's safe to say this season broke it's winning streak even if it isn't outright horrible. ***.
Battlestar Galactica "Six of One"
This was better than last week's probably because it answered more questions.
I love that Baltar can see Head Baltar now. I want to know where they are going with Head Baltar and Six. I REALLY hope they have a master plan for this.
Adama and Kara's confrontation was brutal but I love how he helped her out after all. I'm sure there will be fall-out later with Laura for doing that.
The stuff on the Cylon base ship was great. I love Cavil trying to lobotimize the Raiders only to have the new Six upgrade the Centurions! Great twist.
I liked the episode. ****.
The Spectacular Spider-Man "The Invisible Hand"
Tombstone! How great of a surprise was that? Awesome! I'm only bummed that he was voiced by Kevin Micheal Richardson this week instead of Keith David. I hope Keith returns as I thought it was great he was voicing the Big Man.
Rhino was cool and I liked the way Spidey defeated him. It made a lot of sense and it was cool to learn what Rhino's weakness was since they glossed over his origin on the old show.
Peter meeting Mary Jane was only passable. They were SO interested in paying tribute to the comic book meeting that they kind of made it predictable. But I hardly care since the rest of the episode was so awesome. ****1/2.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "Fathers and Sons"
Those little Turtles were SO cute. I liked this episode a lot and thought it was pretty good for a flashback episode (even though this makes TWO in one season.) I was also REALLY heart-broken at the Turtles crying when Splinter and the Ancient one were being attacked by the demon and was reminded of Stephen King's It when they started throwing rocks at it. I liked the episode a lot. ****.
King of the Hill "Six Characters in Search of a House"
This was okay. I loved Hank being so leery of actors being in his house and I liked the resolution of the inspector being SO impressed with Hank for wrecking his solid house. Still, it there a bigger tool than Peggy? ***1/2.
The Sarah Jane Adventures "Invasion of the Bane"
Excellent Premiere. I love the idea of a Doctor Who related program for kids. Sarah Jane is a cool character and I like Maria and Luke too. My only huge problem with the program is the annoying Kelsey who I SERIOUSLY hope is a one-time character and not a regular. K-9's cameo was awesome and I was saddened that this is likely going to be his only appearance on the series. The aliens and soda plot was pretty funny too. I liked this a lot. ****.
Doctor Who "Human Nature"
I loved the idea of The Doctor becoming human and the episode was smart enough to drop you in the thick of the action without explaining things and then helping the audience along the way. The Doctor falling in love was neat as was the cliffhanger. ****.
Doctor Who "The Family of Blood"
David Tennant gives a GREAT and heart-breaking performance as the human Doctor who must give up the woman he cares about in order to save the universe. I didn't know the guy had it in him but it was a REALLY great bit of acting. Excellent. ****1/2.
Doctor Who "Blink"
This was one of the episodes which focused on humans we've just met where the Doctor was barely on screen but whose presence is felt thoughout the episode. I loved Miss Sparrow meeting the guy who had a crush on her in the hospital as he lay dying and the way the Doctor defeated the angels without even being there. Those statues were freaky. ****.
Doctor Who "Utopia"
I KNEW Mr. Saxon was the Master! AWESOME episode.
It was great seeing Captain Jack again and him flirting with everybody was hilarious as was the Doctor's admonishments of him. I really need to watch my Torchwood tapes. That's next on the docket I think.
I loved how the old guy was steadily getting more crazy and the fact that as a human the Master was a good person. Martha telling him to open the watch was something that had me pulling out my hair. Excellent episode. ****1/2.
Doctor Who "The Sound of Drums"
Fantastic. GREAT cliffhanger and the Master at his absolute worst. It was great seeing the Doctor try to redeem him and Saxon shoving the olive branch back into his face. I love how dire everything got. I was left wondering how the next episode could possibly pull off a satisfying ending but they did. *****.
Doctor Who "Last of the Time Lords"
Whoa! What a finale! I LOVED the Doctor forgiving the Master and was SO suprised when he begged him to regenerate considering what we knew about the Master's evil regeneration process from the old show.
I was also surprised at the fate of humanity and I loved Captain Jack helping out. I also love the fact that the entire idea of Martha pretending she was going to kill the Master was nothing more than a ruse and a trap. I'm going to miss her but I understood exactly why she chose to leave.
All in all a fabulous way to end the season. I can't wait for season four which will begin airing this Friday. *****
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Say, did the sci-fi channel keep the Master's dance at the start of Last of the Time Lords? I heard they cut it out for time reasons, which would've been a shame. It was one of the best bits.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pQdOhUOZzU
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But that bit with the woman's hand taking the ring out of the fire at the end of the episode was done so that the next producer can.
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(for the record, RTD was #1, and John "Captain Jack" Barrowman was #17)
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