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USD POLL : Which of the following is your favorite Aaron Ashmore role?

2022-09-11T12:00:00.004+01:00

Today's User Submitted Daily (USD) Poll was submitted by JJ who was picked randomly from our Poll Submissions (see below). Want to see your Poll posted on the site? Click here to submit your poll.

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USD POLL : Which of the following is your favorite SYFY TV show?

2022-09-05T12:00:00.008+01:00

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USD POLL : Which cancelled Syfy series do you wish had another season?

2019-06-25T11:00:00.000+01:00

Today's User Submitted Daily (USD) Poll was submitted by H2286 who was picked randomly from our Poll Submissions (see below). Want to see your Poll posted on the site? Click here to submit your poll.

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Dragon Con 2018 - Interview with Actress Erica Cerra

2019-02-01T16:15:00.000+00:00

Dragon Con 2018 - Interview with Actress Erica Cerra

I attended my first Dragon Con in 2018. Dragon Con is an "Internationally known pop culture, science fiction, fantasy and gaming convention" located in Atlanta, Georgia. The 2018 Dragon Con was held during August 29 thru September 2, 2018. Cosplayers, Gamers and Pop Culture Enthusiasts attended. As well as more than 400 Actors, Artists, Authors, Creators, and Experts from the worlds of movies, television, comics, literature and other universes gave talks and met their fans.

Note: Information about Dragon Con was provided by Dragon Con's Media Relations.

It was my first time attending a Convention as Press and I want to thank everyone at Dragon Con Media Relations, my fellow SpoilerTV writers who attended with me, but especially Actress Erica Cerra.

My first interview I've ever conducted and I was beyond lucky that it was Erica Cerra. She is best known for playing Deputy Jo Lupo in Eureka, a Syfy series which was broadcast between 2006 and 2012. More recently Erica could be seen in the Syfy series Deadly Class, the CW series Supernatural, the CW series The 100, and the film Power Rangers. Her official Bio provided by Dragon Con is provided below the interview.

Deputy Jo Lupo was one of my favorite characters from Eureka. And then I found out she played roles in TV Shows that I so enjoyed watching such as Dead Like Me, Jake 2.0, The Dead Zone, The 4400, Battlestar Galactica, Sanctuary, Smallville and of course Supernatural. Knowing all this, how could I not take the opportunity granted me and have a conversation with Erica. I hope you enjoy the following interview as much as I had participating in it.

Note: The interview below has been edited for clarity and time.

Interview with Erica Cerra at Dragon Con 2018:

Gina: How was it being a guest star in so many great, like, TV shows that are in Sci-Fi land? In the space of science fiction? Is it something that you intentionally go for science fiction or is it just the roles that come up?

Erica: I think probably both, depending on, I mean I-I do love fantasy, Sci-Fi. Those are the genres that I specifically enjoy doing. I love playing characters.

I like to create, I like to be given an idea for a character and then create something from that, um, versus just playing, you know, the typical ordinary person in a situation. I mean being from Vancouver when I first started acting, that-a lot of Sci-Fi was filmed there, so I probably fell into Sci-Fi and then you sort of become-I feel like when you start Sci-Fi, you become a Sci-Fi actor.

And then you continually get those shows because then you're in the-in the eye of-of the fans, so, you know, they'll continue to hire you for that genre. But I enjoy it, I love what I do, I love-even the aspect of it, I do love the-the cons that you can go to and meeting the fans and because they're so interactive and so passionate about the shows, it's-it makes it-it makes the experience more fun.

Gina: Are you a fan of science fiction, which you kinda answered.

Erica: Yeah, I grew up watching science fiction, my dad [is a] bit [of] a Trekie growing up and he loved comic books and science fiction and all that. So it was kind of like in our household growing up-

So I grew up watching a lot of science fiction and then I am also a fan, I'd probably would say that I'm more of a fan of fantasy, but I don't know, equally science fiction.

Gina: Do you ever [read] books? Or comic books or is it mainly just movies and TV that you really enjoy?

Erica: Oh, I read.

Yeah, no, I used to love reading and I used to love reading everything like different series of books. But I have two children and since I had my daughter six years ago, I have no time for reading (Laughing).

Yeah, the opportunity, like the minute they go to bed it's-you know, the ideal is 'I'm gonna sit down and read,' but you're just too tired. I have a two year old as well so-

Gina: Yeah, you probably fall asleep as soon as you read.

Erica: I would absolutely fall asleep the second I start to read, so (Laughing.)

Gina: Eureka--I enjoyed that show so much-

Erica: Fantastic.

Gina: Jo [in] Eureka was the military one. How was it playing the military person surrounded by a bunch of scientists?

Erica: I mean, Jo is probably one of my favorite characters to play. I mean the way that the show started off and sort of where it ended up when the series ended was like a big change. In the beginning they wanted her to be, you know, just, sort of OCD, very military, very-

Gina: Drill sergeant.

Erica: Drill sergeant, yeah and as the seasons went on, they wanted to bring a warmth to her and, you know, and give her some love and some desires outside of guns.

Gina: Make her more human?

Erica: Yeah, make her a little bit more human, absolutely. But initially it was a bit challenging, I mean I'm not a big fan of guns, I'm not even pro-war, so (laughing), I mean like, the character is not necessarily someone that I, like, an idea that I-but when I first got the-the role I spent a lot of time reading, military books from [a] woman's perspective.

So I read a lot of books about women, -what it was like for them, their experience, how they feel about it, why they do it. And so that gave me the mindset of what it would be like to be a woman [in the military].

Gina: Right.

Erica: Then being around a bunch of scientists, I don't know, I mean, there was so many-like I think Jo was generally annoyed a lot in the beginning because (laughing) everybody was so odd and annoying and, you know, and she wanted things just run really smoothly and there was a lot of chaos and so I think her general temperament (laughs) in the beginning was just being annoyed (laughs) a lot of the time by what was happening.

Gina: Did they give you training so that you had a better sense of-

Erica: A little bit, I mean, if there was a scene where I had to use a gun, or if there were scenes where I had to do any sort of, um, physical-yeah, like I would get training then, but no, not beforehand.

Gina: Oh, really?

Erica: No.

Gina: So it was whatever you were able to do on your side.

Erica: Well, like the pilot I um, I assembled, disassembled, and assembled a gun.

And they taught me how to do that right before I did it and apparently [I did it right]

Gina: That's harder than it looks, let me tell you (laughs).

Erica: What was really cool is my time was like 11 seconds and they were thoroughly impressed cause apparently that's really hard to do.

Gina: [Was] there a favorite episode or a story arc of Eureka that you just either really enjoyed doing or was very challenging?

Erica: This show was just a lot of fun, it was always fun to go to work--so I probably enjoyed every episode that I worked on-

There wasn't any that I didn't enjoy working on, and then story arcs, I mean, they finally brought some romance in with Zane and I think that those were fun because it gotcha to play with the heartstrings a little bit and reach outside of what the character, like what people were used to with the character. I mean, there was an episode where I think it was called 'Rage', where Jo Lupo went a bit crazy and-

Gina: I think I remember that one.

Erica: She was trying to stop herself from killing Carter and I think other people, but yeah, no they was pretty good, they always challenged me a little bit in different episodes, in different ways and-

Gina: Well, thank you so much.

Erica: Thank you very much.

Erica's Official Bio provided by Dragon Con is below:

Between 2001 and 2006, Eric Cerra had guest roles on several popular and critically acclaimed TV shows including Battlestar Galactica, The L Word, and Smallville. Her other roles included parts in The 4400, The Dead Zone, Reaper, Huff, and Dead Like Me, as well as the Canadian police procedural Cold Squad, the monster-hunting action series Special Unit 2, and the supernatural thriller series The Collector. She also appeared in major cinematic movie releases Man About Town with Ben Affleck and Rebecca Romijn, and Blade:Trinity with Wesley Snipes.

In 2006, she was cast as Deputy Jo Lupo in Eureka, a Syfy series which was broadcast between 2006 and 2012. Cerra was one of the stars of the ensemble cast, with her character playing an integral role throughout the series' five seasons.

She has since appeared in various guest roles in series such as Warehouse 13, Sanctuary, Supernatural, and Motive. She had a recurring role in the 2014 USA Network series Rush and appeared in the CW series iZombie in 2015.

Cerra appeared in the second season finale of the CW series The 100 which aired on March 11, 2015, as a mysterious A.I. called A.L.I.E. She played the main antagonist during the third season and reprised the role in an episode of the fourth season. Cerra also played Becca, the creator of A.L.I.E., in a flashback storyline.

Please let me know what you thought of my first interview. Thank you.

2016 Summer Pitch Your Show - Part F (Salem - You're the Worst)

2016-06-19T22:45:00.000+01:00

With this segment, we come to the end of the 2016 Summer Pitch Your Show. I want to thank everyone who nominated the over 100 shows represented here. Your nominations were passionate, interesting, and persuasive. I had great fun reading them and was inspired to add several shows to my to-watch list. Again I wish we could have put all nominations in the articles. If you'd like to read them all, please click on the link to the spreadsheet below. As we end this article until next year, I hope you have found some good new shows to watch. Let me know how your summer TV viewing is going and as always, happy viewing.

Also, don't forget that summertime is when SpoilerTV focuses on all the major contests. We start with the Episode Competition tomorrow so come back daily to vote. Next up will be the Character Cup in July, which I run. It's a little different than the others because each day we have a new TV Talk Topic. I'm looking for topic suggestions so if there is anything you're dying to talk about with the SpoilerTV community, let me know. We'll end the summer with the huge Favorite Show Contest. I have a particular fondness for this one because it is what first brought me to SpoilerTV. So, as you can see, just because the regular season is done that doesn't mean SpoilerTV is taking a hiatus. Until tomorrow, here are the last of the pitches. I hope something grabs your interest today.

Spreadsheet
Part A
Part B
Part C
Part D
Part E

Salem (Netflix, Hulu Plus - season 1):

***Nominated by Gavin Hetherington - If you're looking for a show that delves so richly into the past, then you should definitely try out Salem. While the sound of it automatically has you thinking 'Salem Witch Trials', the show does incorporate that and so much more! It goes above and beyond to deliver an authentic, Gothic, genuinely entertaining piece of television that has, on occasion, made me cry with excitement. It may be about witches, but it includes so much about humanity that we can believe that it could be real - and that's the scariest part!

Schitt's Creek (Amazon Prime):

***Nominated by Folie-lex - Meet the Roses: Johnny (father, entrepreneur, and businessman), Moira (mother, former soap opera actress), David (eldest son, artist... of sorts... nobody really knows what David actually does except that he ran a gallery in Soho at one time), and Alexis (youngest daughter and professional socialite). Here are four people who take their privilege and money for granted... until they lose it all. An embezzlement scandal leaves them with nothing, except for a town Johnny bought under David’s name years ago as a joke. The name of the town alone is a joke: Schitt’s Creek and really the only reason that wasn’t part of the embezzlement was because the town is really worth nothing. So now the Roses, have got to move to the middle-of-nowhere, generic, small town and try to find a way to get back on their feet. They meet and interact with the typical array of quirky small town folk, led by Mayor Roland Schitt and his lovely wife Jocelyn. The show doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. It plays on the “big city/privileged people in a small town / fish out of water / clash of ways of living” set up. However it does so exceptionally because between all the jokes and slapstick and satire and comedy, and despite all their flaws, these feel like actual real people. The main reason for that is due to the very tight writing and the excellent acting. It is truly one of the funniest comedies I’ve seen in a while. With veteran Canadian comedians Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara leading the troops, you just can’t go wrong.

Shades of Blue (Hulu):

***Nominated by Luana - At first, I wasn’t sold on this show. I’m a bit tired of so many procedurals and cop shows but soon I realized: first, that this wasn’t a procedural; and second that it was very, very worth my time. It has many awesome twists and turns. The acting is amazing all around but I can’t be more emphatic about how brilliant Ray Liotta is. It has been renewed for a second season and Jennifer Lopez is the protagonist and the producer so I’m pretty sure it will do just fine.

***Nominated by Preston Pagel - Jennifer Lopez glues this show together along with a great plot and other great stars as well.

Stitchers:

***Nominated by Aimee Hicks - Stitchers was an anomaly when it premiered on ABC Family because it was promoted as a procedural but it ended up being so much more. Led by an extremely gifted cast and blessed with a powerful lead in Emma Istha, this show proved to be driven by the bonds of the characters. The cases of the week are a part of the story but they never overshadow the characters, who are the heart of the show. That’s the way I believe all procedurals should be but sadly most fail to find balance so characters get pushed to the backburner in favor of gruesome cases of the week. Stitchers still gives fans a procedural element while ensuring that they are fully invested in each character's wellbeing by delivering fully realized and relatable characters. It is the love and friendship that flows so strongly throughout this team that keeps these characters together. There are romances within the group too but they never overshadow the series. The show has cast chemistry in spades, which allows every emotional moment to have real pay off. Show runner Jeff Schechter is valiantly fighting for Stitchers' future right along with fans and along with the producers, writers, and actors often engages fans on social media. Stitchers is far more than a procedural and I believe new viewers won't need but a couple moments into the pilot to be hooked. Between the entertaining and engaging stories, the extremely talented cast, and the unique premise of this show, I think everyone should check it out. Stitchers just concluded its second season but has not been renewed yet so by trying it, you’ll not only find yourself part of an incredible fandom but you’ll help it get a much deserved third season.

***Nominated by Crystal - It's a fast paced, exciting murder mystery with a sci-fi twist, making it a different show. The more people watch, the better chance there is for a season 3 renewal. The seasons are only 10 episodes long so it takes no time to get through it. I know some people don't have the time to watch a 24 episode season, so this would be right up their alley.

Suits (Amazon Prime, Hulu - season 5):

***Nominated by Laura Markus - Suits is a legal drama based on the would-be partnership between the best closer in New York, Harvey Specter, and college dropout Mike Ross. The pilot offers everything to determine if you'll enjoy the show or not. The firm Harvey works for only offers jobs to those who went to Harvard, and as someone who got kicked out of Harvard, hiring Mike leads to some crazy shenanigans and stories down the line. All of the best stories and episodes involve his secret minus some in Season 4, but the relationship between Harvey and Mike is what the show is based on and Suits is at its strongest when it remembers this. In addition, we also have a bada** boss lady, played by the impeccable Gina Torres. Jessica Pearson is one of the only female characters they haven't screwed over. Think Annalise Keating without the murders, although I wouldn't put it past her if she did kill someone one day. There's also the insufferable Louis Litt, and although Rick Hoffman has some truly Emmy-worthy scenes, Louis is often tough to watch. However, it is his love of law and for the Pearson Specter Litt firm that gets him through, and that's sweet. There are a slew of romances, involving Rachel Zane, which aren't the best, but Donna Paulsen shines in earlier seasons. The legal cases, courtroom drama, hijinks and humor between all the characters are when the show really hits a high. Each season has great variety and after the setback of Season 4, Season 5 made a surprising comeback. It's definitely worth a try, with the pilot being one of the best episodes of the series. Suits has really quality writing when it tries, and the acting across the board is phenomenal. July 13th starts what looks to be yet another new spin on the show. Hope to see you in the comments for it!

***Nominated by Kingeba - If you're into the whole law thing and you want some drama but not that much action, then this show is the right one for you! It's got an amazing cast and crew working hard to make it great. The stories are amazing! You'll learn to love and hate every single one of the characters and this isn't just a show that focuses on ONE particular person or couple, nope! it focuses on all of the main characters, their battles and struggles and their love/hate relationships. Give it a try!

Supergirl:

***Nominated by Rose - If you enjoy The Flash, then try this superheroine show! Featuring Kara Danvers (aka Supergirl), the show follows her journey as she masters her powers and works with her sister to protect Earth from criminals, human and alien alike, while also living a normal life as a personal assistant. It also showcases women supporting women, has great acting, and is filled with amazing and emotional plot twists. Full of humor, great fight scenes, and even a fan-favorite character from the Justice League, this underrated show is something you definitely don't want to miss.

***Nominated by Ezio - I'll start by saying what I always say to those I recommend Supergirl to: have patience. Like any new show, the initial episodes are very rocky and have a lot of wrinkles to iron out, which it pretty much does by episodes 7-8. Fans of Arrow and The Flash will recognize the same narrative and format in other hero shows by Greg Berlanti. That's not to say Kara is in any way trying to be like those other heroes. In fact what separates Kara is her hero journey. Like Oliver and Barry, Kara understands the pain of loss but it is more severe for her as she had family, friends, a life she was accustomed to that died along with Krypton. Also unlike Oliver, who witnessed countless loved ones die in addition to 5 years of traumatic hell, and Barry, who despite seeing his mother get murdered had a normal upbringing with the West's, Kara is essentially a foreigner in a foreign land and she's not perfect by any means. As she is new to the hero business, she makes her mistakes particularly in episode 2 and most notably in episode 16 where she does something that is a far cry from what you'd expect of her.

Lead star Melissa Benoist is perfect at playing quirky everyday girl Kara Danvers as well as her strong, plucky hero alter ego. Chyler Leigh is equally perfect as both the supportive and somewhat mother-hen adoptive big sister to Kara and it shows in their onscreen chemistry. Calista Flockhart as Kara's boss, Cat Grant, comes off as a sassy control freak, but is an actually well-intentioned woman and becomes a mentor to both Kara and Supergirl. She brings a lot of humor to the show since half of her dialogue is entertaining snark. Jeremy Jordan does a great job as Winn, Kara's confidant and resident tech-geek with a heart of gold. There's also David Harewood, who initially comes off as the jerk boss of the government agency Supergirl works with but who harbors a big secret. After a rocky start, the show picks up story-wise in episode 7 when another famous DC hero is introduced. In summation whether you're a fan of the comics or not, Supergirl is worth giving a look at.

***Nominated by AC - Supergirl is more than a superhero show with a female lead. It also has a different tone than other superhero shows on the air. While the likes of Arrow and Gotham are more on the dark side, Supergirl is full of hope. Kara is a superhero who inspires hope and she is happy and light and fun. Even more than that, Supergirl is also a feminist show. One of the characters even refers to another as a "personification of white male privilege". The show includes strong women in positions of power who also have their weaknesses. Because the characters on this show are well-built, women and men alike, I strongly suggest you catch up with Supergirl before she comes back in the fall.

Supernatural (Netflix):

***Nominated by Andrea - Hands down, this is the best show on TV. This series has been around since 2005, which in itself is quite remarkable. The story line is simple. It's about brothers caring for each other and the rest of us by fighting demons and devils and unspeakable uglies. It only takes about 3 episodes and you will be hooked. The actors are great and very focused on their roles. You begin to forget they are acting. They are also dedicated to their fans; they are one rare crew.

***Nominated by JB - This show is going into its historic twelfth season, where the Winchesters are apparently battling the Men of Letters. In all seriousness, the show's resilience and loyal following are milestones in and of themselves. This is the only show left from the original WB lineup that moved to the CW. It was sent to Fridays, only to come back swinging to the Monday-Thursday lineup. If you are new to the show, I suggest you start from the beginning, either on Netflix or on TNT four hours a day on weekdays.

The Thick of It (Hulu):

***Nominated by Milo BOK - This is essentially The UK version of Veep, only with Peter Capaldi in the lead role and he swears a lot. The show is consistently brilliant and incredibly funny, about on par with Veep in terms of its political humour. The cast is great. With a few short seasons and a movie, this series is probably one of the best things that the BBC has ever done. The Thick of It is a show that not many people outside of the UK have heard of but if you're liking Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor and want to see more of his work, then this is the perfect show to watch.

Those Who Kill:

***Nominated by Luana - This show is so dark and creepy. At first it didn’t convince me, but if you like this kind of show you should give it a shot. It was canceled and it didn’t give many answers in the end, but if this is your type of show you should know it’s out there.

Unforgettable:

***Nominated by Kingeba - This show has been canceled and brought back quite a few times and I've actually not watched the whole thing, but I'd love for it to get a proper finale. If you haven't seen it, you should give it a try. In case you have, then you along with me most likely wish that it got a more proper send-off, right?

UnREAL (Hulu Plus):

***Nominated by JB - This is more than just a show that parodies what happens on a dating show. This is a show that is dark, gritty, edgy, and everything in between. Rachel, played by Shiri Appleby, is a reality television producer pushed by her boss Quinn, played by Constance Zimmer, to swallow her integrity and do whatever it takes to drum up show content that is not only salacious but also scandalous. In this season, the show is not only making history, but the show within the show is also making history. The themes of sexism and racial prejudice are beautifully drawn out in the setup of the second season. It's no wonder critics love this show. I hope more people tune in to see the beauty behind the madness.

***Nominated by Luana - UnREAL shows the backstage of a The Bachelor-esque reality show, and it’s so damn entertaining, but it doesn’t just stay there. It analyzes society and how the entertainment industry feeds off of the audience’s psychology. The acting is amazing and the characters are incredibly complex. Beware it has the potential to be pretty addictive. The second season is about to air and it has already been renewed for a third one.

Veep (Amazon Prime):

***Nominated by Milo BOK - This is probably the best comedy on television at the moment and has earned lead actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus multiple Emmy awards for a reason. It's just too good! Featuring an excellent cast that nails the comedy moments really well, this show is consistently the funniest series around, making use of some great moments. Veep focuses on Dreyfus's fictional Vice President Selina Meyer and her team of staff. It is a US adaption of the equally brilliant UK show, The Thick of It, from the same creator and even has Chris Addison direct multiple episodes. The show uses its HBO cable status to not hold anything back when it comes to jokes, and you'll find yourself laughing multiple times per episode. Really worth checking out if you can, this series is consistently awesome and is extremely hard to beat as even weaker episodes (which are few and far between) are still very good.

***Nominated by Chris - Veep is smart, realistic, and unbelievably funny. Don't just give up on the show because it's about politics. Give it a chance, or maybe two. I started liking it after watching the first season for the second time. What makes this comedy great is the writing and the cast led by the amazing Julia Louis-Dreyfus. She's incredibly good at portraying Selina Meyer. Alongside her is a team of various actors and actresses, whose characters are very likable despite their flaws. Although it's a workspace comedy, don't expect the usual stories from shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation, but, again, the characters are what makes this show great.

Vinyl:

***Nominated by Milo BOK - This show might have fallen under most people's radar around the time of its release, but it's still worth going back and watching if you can. There isn't much catching up required at only ten episodes. The combination of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and legendary director Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas, The Wolf of Wall Street) makes for an interesting match with a great backdrop of 1970's sex, drugs, and rock & roll. Featuring an excellent soundtrack and even using famous figures like David Bowie and Elvis Presley, Vinyl is a must watch for any rock music fan or just anyone looking for a good show about music. It's captivating, raw, and really works, making use of some fascinating characters as the show continues to grow from strength to strength.

Warehouse 13 (Netflix):

***Nominated by Suzana - Warehouse agents are specialized in the retrieval of special artifacts that more often than not have ill side effects. So beware if you find yourself in possession of Gandhi’s sandals, Beatrix Potter’s tea set or Edgar Allan Poe’s notebook. Current Warehouse agents include Myka and Pete, who counterbalance each other perfectly and sometimes get on each other’s nerves. Claudia is as clever as she is witty and the youngest recruit of the Warehouse. There is also Lena, the keeper ,and Mrs. Frederick, the caretaker of the Warehouse. Finally, there is Artie, the senior agent with eyebrows more impressive than Peter Capaldi’s and a fondness for apples. He gives the sentient Warehouse a delicious steampunk touch. Every one of the relationships is well developed and so great. Myka and Pete are like siblings while Claudia and Artie end up having this warm father/daughter relationship. Warehouse 13 is heart and laughter, action and fun, and family and butt kicking.

***Nominated by Dahne - Warehouse 13 is a quirky little show that revolves around retrieving magic artifacts going haywire. All of the artifacts are connected to some famous person, which is one of my favorite things about the show. You learn about these people, often crazy stuff you never learned in school, but still based in fact. If you love history, you'll love this aspect. The whole show has a fun steampunk feel to it as well. Plus the pacing of the show is fantastic since they usually split up to neutralize 2 objects per episode. Fair warning though - skip most of the final season. It's awful, comes out of nowhere, ruins the series, and is not worth your time. If you end on episode 5.01, all cliffhangers are resolved and there's no need to finish the final 5 episodes.

You Me Her:

***Nominated by Jamie Coudeville - So little people know about this show. SpoilerTV doesn't even cover it. It's about a married couple who enters into a polyamorous relationship. It's basically a rom-com but with three people instead of two. Jarod Joseph from The 100 has a recurring role. It just finished its first season so it's very easy to catch up on.

You're the Worst (Hulu Plus - season 1):

***Nominated by Luana - I know I already pitched this one last time but given the changes it made lately I felt I had to do it again. It’s about two people who hate everything but each other. The acting and writing are absolutely brilliant. The second season really surprised me; it was nothing like the first. It took such a dark turn that I couldn’t even consider it a comedy anymore, but the way they handled it all, especially by the end of the story arc, I was convinced this deserves to be watched no matter what, not boxed as a comedy or as a drama. It has been renewed for a third season.

***Nominated by Milo BOK - I normally hate romantic comedies but like with unREAL, shows that put a twist on the genre really work. That's the case here with You're the Worst, which puts two people who aren't too keen on relationships together and the end result is absolutely hilarious. With great chemistry between the lead cast, this show is well worth a look if you can.

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she recaps, reviews, and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, The 100, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, live tweets a multitude of shows each week, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Currently she writes a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

Recent Reviews (All Reviews)

Last Week in TV - Week of April 3 - Reviews and Episode Awards

2016-04-11T23:45:00.000+01:00

Hello and welcome back to Last Week in TV. I'm feeling remarkably caught up this week since I only have the remainder of Recovery Road to finish before I consider myself caught up for the final stretch. Whew, that feels good. Here's hoping the somewhat light week helped your TV schedule too. This week the nominated episode was the Warehouse 13 pilot, which was a blast from the past. This week I'll be reaching back even farther to the first season of The X-Files, the show that was my first real TV obsession. It's sure to bring back a lot of nostalgia. If you'd like to nominate an episode, just fill in the short 2-question form below. I use a random number generator to select which episode will be chosen each week so get yours in now. Until next week, happy TV viewing and don't forget to leave your own awards in the comments below.

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Episode of the Week

The Blacklist (3.15-3.17)

Note - the episode of the week is only 3.17 but I took notes together for the last 3 episodes so they are part of the episode awards and quotes

This show is awesome. It really is. The pacing problems from seasons 1 and 2 are mostly worked out, the characters still surprise me at times, and the cases are generally compelling. I love the idea of a secret keeper, even if I agree with Harold that some secrets are better left dead and buried - literally in this case. The idea that someone could be watching me through a webcam without my knowledge terrifies me. However it is the last episode that holds the most action and promise. What is it with TV shows and weddings these days? Game of Thrones massacres everyone and suddenly everybody and their uncle wants to interrupt the happy day with bullets. Granted, this is one wedding that ought to be interrupted. I love Tom. Don't get me wrong, but there's been too much water under that bridge. This relationship is toxic. I think after you torture your partner or lie to them for your entire relationship in order to betray them, you really do need to call it quits and move on. Possibly to some intense psychotherapy. Other than that, this episode rocked because it included a whole score of action and had the entire team in on it. Aram's not in the bunker while everyone else is in the field. I also love the scene where Liz goes to get the ammo. It was well done from the acting to the visuals and actually increased tension even though I knew nothing was going to happen to her. It's the first time that slowing down a moment in a huge action scene made sense. (Time to take notes, Teen Wolf writers and your instance on slow-mo for no reason at all.) The only thing that could spoil this episode for me is if we still do not get the answers that Reddington promised Liz in it. That's a secret that should come out quickly.

Grade: B+ (overall) / A- for 3.17

Best Reason to Watch - bullet hole action / the promise that we will finally, finally know the whole story about Red's connection to Liz…or I'm going to be fuming next week
Best Scene / Best Action - wedding standoff
Best Action (no guns) - Tom vs. Gina
Best Plan - Liz goes to get the bag of ammo because she's the only one they will not shoot
Best Hurdler - Ressler, who jumps over people in a single bound on the way to apprehending the suspect
Best (Mostly) New Addition - Cynthia Panabaker
Best Dichotomy - Liz and Tom race out of the church in their Just Married car with guns blazing everywhere to the music of Safe and Sound by Electric President
Best Delivery Service - Safe Stop Pharmacy will deliver your Percocet and your Glock right to your door
Worst Hostage Situation - Aram won't tell Ressler which bomb wire to cut until he apologizes to Navabi
Biggest Pet Peeve - I swear this show makes zero sense sometimes. If they know someone is trying to kidnap Liz, why doesn't someone call the local police first? They are closer. In fact, they could have arrived before Red did to be honest. They do everything the hard way even when it is completely counterintuitive. Argh!
Biggest Matchmaker - Reddington, who counsels Harold to forgive his wife
Biggest Laugh - the suspect stops to smirk at Ressler while Navabi comes up behind and clocks him
Biggest Threat - Software that allows people to turn on your webcam without you knowing it. Hence why I bought a computer specifically without a webcam.
Biggest Ewww - cutting open a corpse and stuffing secrets into it and then unburying it and cutting the secrets out later
Biggest Twist - Liz's ex is working for Reddington
Best Twist - the kidnapped girl is actually the kidnapper to get revenge on her "father" who kidnapped her as a child
Most Common Sense - Navabi, who shows Liz the benefit to her hiding
Most Convenient / Saddest Commentary on Our Society - you can get a marriage license in 10 minutes online
Most Kick Butt - Gina, who could take down a normal mortal with a sweater
Most Wishy Washy - Liz , who can never decide whether she's pro-Red or anti-Red
Most Dedicated - Dembe digging up a dead body to retrieve Red's secrets
Least Surprising - Liz changes her mind about the baby, which can only mean that the baby will die / the letter the dying guy gave Liz is about her mom
The "Not You Again" Award - Why can't we get rid of Solomon? Seriously, he has outstayed his welcome. Like half a season ago. / Tom's sucky brainwash daddy, the Major, is back too? Say it isn't so. At least he's not likely to resurrect from a head shot.
The "Welcome Back" Award - Deirdre Lovejoy from The Wire and Bones / Leslie Hendrix from the Law & Order franchise

Best Quotes -
1. Reddington: "People say youth is wasted on the young. I disagree. I believe wisdom is wasted on the old. All you can do is part with it but very few will take it. Least of all the people closest to you. They want no part of it. No matter how often I warn you about Tom, you seem intent on discovering those perils for yourself."
2. Red: "It’s curious. I thought you were the cabal's most loyal soldier and yet here you are under the patronage of a new benefactor." Solomon: "I was loyal to the cabal, right up until they tried to kill me. I'm totally violating my non-compete agreement but what the hell."
3. Gina: "They say 2 things will survive a nuclear holocaust: cockroaches and Twinkies. You're a little of both."
4. Red: "Yes, they can help find your truck. The question is why on earth they would want to." Harold: "Because it's their patriotic duty." Red: "They're Mexicans."
5. Red: "You can answer me or I can turn that wall behind you into a Jackson Pollack."

Nominated Episode

Warehouse 13 - 1.01/1.02 - Pilot

Like most pilots, this one is heavy on exposition, world building, and character introduction. Unlike many pilots, this world is instantly fun. There's nothing like a treasure trove of quasi-magical, quasi-scientific artifacts to play with to create an endless supply of story. After the horror that is the final season of this series, it is great to go back to the beginning. While both Myka and Pete took awhile to grow on me, they do have a likeable if bickering partnership. Still it's named Warehouse 13 for a reason, as the warehouse that is the main and most interesting character. Artie's relationship with the warehouse, also contentious at times, provides for the foundation of the premise. It also provides for some awesome steampunk inventions like the Farnsworth. In short, this is everything The Librarians wants to be and never quite gets to. I love The Librarians, but the history behind the artifacts and the awesome back story they provide are what make Warehouse 13 better. Yes, the special effects can be laughable and it is largely procedural, but if you like sci-fi or just arcane knowledge, I highly suggest you check this show out. This blast from the past has me wanting to do a rewatch this summer - just not the last season. Avoid that like a cursed cougar comb.

Grade: B+
Ranking: already seen every episode
Audience - those who like sci-fi adventures with a procedural bent and anyone who likes arcane trivia and cool history facts

Best Reason to Watch - the artifacts and the cool history behind them (series overall)
Best Scene - Pete tells Myka she's NOT crazy
Best Back Story - Pete's dad / Myka's boyfriend
Best Visual - when Pete and Myka first see the warehouse and then they pan out to show how vast it is
Best Vocabulary - Mrs. Frederic who uses the word "bailiwick"
Most Likely to Make You Sound Nuts - Artie's list of questions
Most Kick Butt - Myka
Most Creepy Non-Frederic Entrance - Lena
Most Fun - Artie's zip lining through the warehouse
Most Needed - some kind of detection device for when warehouse objects leave the warehouse
Most Enthusiastic - Pete
Biggest Buzz Kill - Myka
Biggest Eye Roll - Myka must have failed at first aid because you never move a person in an accident like that until first making sure they have no neck or other injuries
Easiest Sell - Pete is in at the mention of cookies
Most Missed - Claudia
The "Good to See You" Award - I've missed Artie and Mrs. Frederic the most outside of Claudia
The "Welcome Back" Award - Michael Boatman from China Beach and Spin City

Best Quotes -
1. Myka: "You got some ID?" Artie: "No, we take the secret part seriously around here."
2. Pete: "Look I'm trained to take a bullet if necessary but I'm not sure how to stop a dead Italian cougar."
3. Pete: "So we're all converged here but I still have no idea what I'm supposed to do." Artie: "What you're supposed to do is hunt down whatever is threatening to ruin the world's day and neutralize it and bring it here. You're gonna snag it and bag it and tag it."
4. Myka: "From Denver to DC to a warehouse security guard in 6 months. That's is a career trajectory."
5. Myka: "You're gonna put me on a psych eval, aren't you?" Pete: "Why would I do that?" Myka: "Because you need to be able to depend on your partner." Pete: "Alright well then, you're just gonna have to depend on me to know that you're okay. We're gonna finish this case and we're gonna get out of here. We will."

Guest Reviews

Agents of SHIELD - 3.15 - Spacetime
BY Swanpride

Everything related to time is always difficult to handle well in movies and TV shows. This in mind, I was always a little bit fearful of the day the MCU would actually go there. I knew they had to, because of the time stone looming in the distance, but I wasn't necessarily keen on it. But now I feel way more comfortable with the notion, because the show just laid down some ground rules I approve of. Because if the events aren't changeable, than the show sidesteps a lot of possible problems, while still allowing the characters to make their own choices, because it's their choices which will shape said unchangeable future. There is naturally still the paradox that if the guy hadn't touched Charles, he would have never gotten the attention of Hydra and hadn't died as a result, but if we go at this from the angle that he was always meant to touch Charles and see the vision, it kind of makes sense. And it shows that not-knowing is sometimes a blessing. Overall the set-up made for an unusual tense episode, full of important revelations. And yet, it was also satisfying in a sense. As tragic as it was, it's nice that May and Andrew had one last moment with each other (though it felt a little bit of a drag at one point because they kept rehashing the same old discussions), that Daisy was finally forced to acknowledge her own vulnerability (not that I am necessarily happy that she got punched in the face multiple times), and that Malick got some sort of unintentional come-uppance for his actions.

Grade: B+

Best Reason to Watch - You ever wanted to hurt your brain, trying to grasp the concept of time?
Best Scene - Fitz explaining the fourth dimension. I especially loved how he called out for Jemma to help him translate.
Best Character - Daisy really shines in this episode.
Best Team-up - Coulson and Skye, sorry, Daisy
Most Missed - Mack, who has no business being laid up when Daisy runs into danger.
Best Prop - The robin. Such a nice, heart-breaking symbol.
Best Effects - Let's just give it to the director in general. This was a beautifully shot episode, nearly cinematic.
Best Action - May not trying to kick Simmons in the face.
Most Random Observation - So, Hydra can now just turn up and kidnap people wherever they want? Where are the Avengers when you need them....
Not So Random Observation - Hive might not actually be Ward, but having his memories, he seems to hold a grudge against Coulson. Does that mean he will also have feelings for Daisy? The very notion is extra creepy....
My Prediction of the Week - Malick saw either his own death, or something which happens to his daughter.

Best Quote:
1. Fitz: "There is no time! She glimpsed the fourth dimension. Time is an illusion, it's how we perceive the fourth dimension."
2. Lincoln: "I never saw the original Terminator." Coulson: "You are off the team."
3. Coulson: "Well, at least this day can't get any weirder." (later) "Day just got weirder."

Nashville - 4.14 - What I Cannot Change
BY Jessica VanWinkle

Welcome back, Juliette! This episode was so much better than the previous two, and I definitely think it was because Juliette returned. She just makes the show better. She’s still struggling to return to the real world, but I think she made the right decision to stay home and not do the movie. I loved the scene at the end when Avery brought Cadence to her. You can tell how much Juliette loves her daughter, and she’s trying to make things right. I know this has been hard on Avery, too, but I’m glad he’s making an effort with Juliette. The other good thing that happened this week was Luke and his son reconciling. I was getting tired of Luke and Cole fighting, and I’m happy that Luke listened and let Cole join the army. I also loved that Luke is going to work with Will again. I hope that this business decision will help both of their careers. This episode wasn’t all happiness, however, with Frankie drinking after 15 years of sobriety. I think Nashville has done a good job over the years of showing how difficult alcoholism is and that it really is a disease. This episode was no different. Frankie did take responsibility for his actions, and he didn’t blame Deacon for his drinking. It seems like he and Deacon are working on his issues, and Frankie is back to being sober. The other character I felt sorry for was Layla. This girl just can’t catch a break! She was so excited to work with Autumn Chase, and Autumn picked Gunnar and Scarlet over her. I am excited to see Gunnar and Scarlett on tour together (I love listening to them sing!), but I hope something good happens for Layla soon.

Grade: B

Best Reason to Watch: Juliette is back!
Best Scene: The ending when Avery drops Cadence off at Juliette’s and tells her he is going to let her spend more time with their daughter.
Welcome Back: Hayden Panettiere
Character I Didn’t Miss: Maddie
Best Decision: Luke allows Cole join the army which stops the friction between the two of them
Best Friendship: Frankie and Deacon. They discussed their problems and Deacon supported Frankie at an AA meeting.
Worst Luck: Layla. Seriously, has anything good ever happened to her?

Best Quotes -
1. Will: “The only real success I’ve had is writing with somebody else.” Gunnar: “If only you knew more people to write songs with.” Scarlett: “I know, right? Like his CMA award winning friend who is also his roommate?” Gunnar: “Or an incredibly talented poet who just finished co-writing her own record?”
2. Autumn: “You’re not the only Harvard girl at this table.” Layla: “No way.” Autumn: “Harvard Elementary. Houston, Texas. Oh, and my first boyfriend also turned out to be gay.” Layla: “No. It’s like we’re the same person!”
3. Frankie: “I got one day sober, and after 15 years, that’s kind of humbling to say. A good buddy of mine reminded me that this is a daily battle, and thanks to him, my daughter, and my Lord, I’m winning today.”

Weekly Shows

The 100 - 3.10 - Fallen

Oh The 100, how you do frustrate me. I'd count the ways but we'd be here all month. Even the cathartic beat down Octavia gave Bellamy did nothing to assuage my need to eye roll through you. I think it's because Bellamy was practically giving Octavia permission like he was the noble martyr instead of the complete douchehat he's been all season long. And no, he's not absolved of his idiocy and betrayal just because he finally walked Pike over the line. I'm with Kane. The reason he did it matters but since I no longer care one jot for his character, he can go float himself while trying to figure it out. That would improve the death toll, which this episode stands at some douchey redshirt Pike goons. Given the way this season has turned out, it is highly likely that Pike will slither out of his current predicament and continue to be one big no vote for humanity. On a brighter note…nope, I've got nothing. Abby is now a pod person, Alie is on the rise, Clarke continues to think that her super special snowflake issues are the most important on the planet, Kane's walking into probable death, Bellamy and Monty are going to be redeemed way too soon, Ontari's still crazy, Murphy still needs to die (but he doesn't need to be raped), Lincoln and Lexa are still dead, Pike and Hannah and Arkadia in general are still alive, and Jasper should still not be in charge of anything more complicated than tying his shoes. And this is NOT close to the worst episode of the season. I've just hit the frustration saturation point. (Hmm, that would be a good TBBT episode title.) Oh how the mighty have fallen. At least this one had forward plot movement, which had better go somewhere fast.

Grade: C

Best Reason to Watch - um, we may finally be seeing the end of Pike in the next couple of episodes…if we're lucky…which we haven't been all season
Best Scene - Octavia beats up Bellamy
Best Moment - Jasper tells Clarke to shut up
Best Cameo - Finn, even if it is from prior episodes
Best Acting - Lindsey Morgan, who channeled her inner torture victim and her inner robot
Biggest Threat - Alie, just like we predicted all along
Biggest Eye Roll - Could Pike please die already? This is getting beyond frustrating.
Biggest Ewww - You'd think it would be Ontari poking out an ambassador's eyes with her thumbs, but it's really the slave and master sex fantasy thing Ontari has going on. There's not enough brain bleach in the world for this show sometimes.
Least Surprising - Is anyone at all surprised that Hannah sold out Monty to Pike? Anyone? Yeah, didn't think so. She needs to die too. Now!
The "You Had One Job" Award - Of course Jasper couldn't get the wristbands. Why did Abby even send him after them? He sucks up every plan.
The "Oh, I Don't Think So" Award - Nope, Bellamy gets ZERO credit for this. He still sucks as a human.

Best Quotes -
1. Alie: "With everything I can do for you, why would you do this?" Raven: "Because you stole my memories, you crazy b**."
2. Octavia (to Bellamy): "You're dead to me."
3. Murphy: "We talked about restraint." Ontari: "You told me not to kill him." Murphy: "Next time I'll be more specific."
4. Jasper: "Shut up! I don't care, okay? You really are the Angel of Death, aren't you?"
5. Octavia: "To stop me, you're gonna have to kill me." Bellamy: "She hopes it's a trap." Octavia: "He's coming too. We'll need a hostage to trade for Monty." Kane: "It's a good plan. He stays chained. Gag him." Miller: "With all due respect…" Kane: "He's the enemy. Do what I said."

TBBT - 9.20 - The Big Bear Precipitation

While neither of the subplots in this episode had me cheering, they did not make me want to fast forward either. These days, that's actually a win. I still find Raj and Howard annoying but Sheldon and Amy make up for that. Talk about two people who should never play Never Have I Ever. I'm pretty sure you have to experience life to do that. I was pleasantly surprised that Penny did not use a science-based item but I'm not so sure about using it at her expense. Same thing with her crack about Leonard's hat. Is it just me or are these guys getting meaner to each other every season? Time to dial it back.

Grade: C

Best Reason to Watch - character interaction
Best Moment - Bernadette is swaddled in the huge teddy bear Raj brought
Best Plan - having an emergency account, especially if you have a spend-happy spouse
Worst Game of Never Have I Ever - Amy and Sheldon
Most Likely to Kill a Game - Sheldon
The "I Agree" Award - Howard needs to step up in this marriage or shut up about Raj doing it. I also agree that Raj is ultracreepy with this.

Best Quotes -
1. Sheldon: "Well cell service is down to one bar so if anyone needs medical attention or to tell a stranger their political views are stupid, now's the time."
2. Bernadette: "You saw him carrying that." Howard: "Astronauts saw him carrying it."
3. Leonard: "Whatcha you doing?" Sheldon: "I was enjoying some virtual reality until you ruined it with your actual face."

The Catch - 1.02/1.03 - The Real Killer/The Trial

I really love the vibe this show has. It isn't a straight up procedural but it doesn't drag out the mytharc either. It makes for a great mix that keeps the pace moving swiftly. It also helps that I find both Alice and Ben/Christopher compelling characters. Alice isn't whining and putting life on hold because she trusted him and Ben often displays sorrow for his role in Alice's betrayal. I'm not buying the "really in love" bit. He might think he's in love but it's highly possible that he's conning himself. He's not going the way of Leverage anytime soon. My favorite character by far though is Reggie. He's a "tell it like it is" man and he never pulls punches. It makes me laugh. They better not keep him off the show for too long while he tours Mexico. If not for my sake, then for Ben's. He screws up the minute Reggie is away.

Grade: B

Best Reason to Watch - they are doing a great job of combining the mytharc with the procedural
Best Scene - Reggie tells Ben not to tell Margot about Alice
Best Bait - Alice puts the perfect obituary in the paper to entice Ben to use it
Best Character Interaction - Ben and Reggie
Best Plan - Dao bugs Alice's home
Worst Plan - going undercover as part of a drug trial, especially when you are given the experimental drug
Biggest Hmm - How is it possible that the killer didn't have paparazzi following his every waking moment, making it impossible for him to sneak off and plant evidence?
Least Surprising - the guy who was on trial is the killer
Most Poetic Justice - Miss Gullible takes out the killer
The "Well That Was Quick" Award - Sophie found that forger in no time. I expected it to take at least until next week.
The "Smarter Than He Looks" Award - Danny asks a scientific question to keep the doctor lecturing long enough for Sophie to hack his computer
The "Welcome Back" Award - Alan Ruck from Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Spin City / Amanda Foreman from Felicity and Alias

Best Quotes -
1. Reggie: "You are getting on that plane if I have to fold you down to travel side and check you in as baggage." Ben: "I'm going. I'm leaving right now." Reggie: "When? Right after you run across the street and apologize to her for ruining her life? You think she's gonna forgive you? Ben, she's gonna stab you in the chest with a car key."
2. Reggie: "Love is a drug, brother. You're on drugs. I'm gonna be your sponsor. I'm gonna keep you sober and I'm gonna keep Alice alive cause if you tell Margot, I promise you. There'll be no Alice Vaughan."
3. Reggie: "You're kidding me. I leave you two alone for 2 minutes. Now we have an international incident."
4. Dao: "I come in peace." Alice: "I'm glad. Now please go in peace."
5. Alice: "That's just what I need. A 10 am meeting with a murderer."

Crowded - 1.05 - Amongst the Waves

One of the advantages of being an adult is that you no longer have to worry about being cool. You can actually choose to be yourself and do the things you like. Therefore every single thing about Mike and Martina drove me nuts in this episode. They came off looking much younger than their children, who were both incredibly dumb in this episode as well. The only saving grace was Bob and Alice.

Grade: C

Best Reason to Watch - the snark
Best Scene - Bob keeps his old partner from arresting Ethan and the girls
Best Character Interaction - Bob and Alice
Best Reference - Saved by the Bell
Biggest Children - Martina and Mike pretend to take drugs and hot tub naked to feel cool. What are they? In high school?
Smartest Guy in the Room - Ethan
Dumbest One in the Room - Stella, who needs to be good at something or stop wasting space

Best Quotes -
1. Martina: "I'll get you a tissue." Anne: "Thank you, Martina, and could that tissue be made of glass and filled with vodka."
2. Bob: "Alice, I don't know why a gorgeous woman like you puts up with a guy like me, but how about you and I go eat something fancy at someplace stupid past our bedtime?"
3. Martina: "What do we do? Bail? Would that be rude?" Mike: "Are you suggesting we screw them just to be polite?"
4. Alice: "I work in a prison. Food on a tray is not a novelty to me." Bob: "Well I envy that. You know where you stand when you're holding a tray." Alice: "And you know where you lie when you get clocked with one in a prison brawl."
5. Martina: "What Mike means is we love you all…" Mike: "But sometimes we don't."

Fresh Off the Boat - 2.19 - Jessica Place

Nostalgia works best when you actually miss what you're reminiscing about. That's why The Goldbergs' ode to The Goonies resonated more with me than the one for Ferris Bueller's Day Off. In the same way, I would have found this stronger if it had been playing off Beverly Hills 90210 than Melrose Place. Of course then it would have focused more on Eddie than Jessica…so maybe just a totally different crazy universe. I did like the spoof on the convoluted twists and back stabbing that came with both shows. Mostly though I love that it ended up centering upon Jessica and Honey's friendship and how important it is to both of them. Score one for continuity as well since the whole Melrose thing started in season 1. I could have done without tarnishing Emery's character though. He's my favorite of the kid characters.

Grade: B-

Best Reason to Watch - nostalgia if you watched Melrose Place in the 90's
Best Scene - Jessica reassures Honey that they will always be friends
Best Guest Star - Courtney Thorne-Smith from of course, Melrose Place
Best Puppy Eyes - Evan
Worst Reference - Melrose Place and Honey's jogging shorts
Biggest Say What? - Emery is actually the least well-adjusted of the Huang kids? Say it isn't so.
Most Likely to Get a Job as a PI - Honey
Most Spot On - the Melrose-type music
The "Take It While You've Got It" Award - In a world of 16 episodes and fewer per season for many shows, 32 seems oversized. Jessica's going to flip in the future when she learns about that series of TV movies posing as a show called Sherlock.

Best Quotes -
1. Honey: "I've seen what those women have to say when I'm in the room and I can't imagine what they say when I'm not. I didn't want them to turn you against me. This neighborhood was unbearable for me before you got here and I don't want to lose you." Jessica: "Honey, I promise you that will never happen. I got your back, girl."
2. Jessica: "This whole time I thought I was the queen, controlling the chessboard. Turns out I was just a pawn in your little game." Honey: "I am so sorry, Jessica." Jessica: "For what? This was amazing. It was like real-life Melrose Place but even better because I was in it. Jessica Place."
3. Louise: "Son, I'm gonna level with you. This is strange, like 'I don't want to tell your mother' strange. Let's find come up with a better way to channel your energies, a way we're okay with other people knowing about."
4. Deirdre: "You know, I get why you did what you did to me - out of loyalty to your friend. The same reason why I'm so b** to you, for Sarah." Honey: "Who is Sarah?" Deirdre: "Marvin's ex-wife, my best friend."
5. Deirdre: "I'm surprised you showed up, Honey. I didn't think you liked this show." Honey: "I don't but I'm always happy to spend time at Jessica's house where I feel welcome - unlike your house, Deirdre."

The Goldbergs - 3.20 - Dungeons and Dragons, Anyone?

Grade: B
Best Reason to Watch - gym revolution
Best Reference - Back to School
Best Surprise - the jocks aren't made to look too awful
Biggest Miracle - When did gym class become the leader of democracy? Got to love fiction.
Biggest Huh? - How did Beverly get on board that quickly to Erica leaving home?
Biggest Middle School Betrayal - Adam, because in middle school your friends are where you live
Most Innovative - Mellor agrees to substitute D & D for basketball in order to make a point
The "Nope, Just Nope" Award - homeschooling should never be a college choice

Best Quotes -
1. Taz: "We're trying our best. We're just not good at it like you. Do you have any idea how it feels to suck so bad?" Adam: "Actually I do. When I play basketball."
2. Beverly: "Look I wanted to apologize for your dad. Some people just don't understand the boundary between parent and child." Erica: "Are you high on nail polish?"
3. Erica: "This is my dream." Murray: "And it's my dream is to have one less moron living in this house. I'll help you."
4. Beverly: "Murray, I'm usually the irrational one who keeps our children from enjoying their lives, not you."
5. Murray: "We can't fire him. He's got tenure, but the point is you are going to Goldberg U."

Heartbeat - 1.04 - 100,000 Heartbeats

This is my least favorite episode so far, largely because the pathos of the case has covered up the series' flaws in the first three. Yeah, you can't get more ready to tug at the heartstrings than terminal patients unless its sick kids. The problem is that this episode felt like they were trying too hard. It was angst outdoing angst caused by Pantierre acting like an idiot and then expecting everyone else to solve the situation she created. I like Pantierre but I don't like her that much. She annoyed me here. Add to it the love triangle coming back full force and I can see this show toppling over like a tree in a tornado. It's going to live and die by the case of the week for me and this one did not cut it.

Grade: C-

Best Reason to Watch - my politically correct self says the terminal patients fighting for their right to live one more day but really it's all about the eye candy in this one
Best Eye Candy of the Season - Gorham in a wifebeater welding
Biggest Laugh - Pantierre falls asleep in the middle of kissing Harrison
Biggest Say What? - Pantierre and Max are still married technically? Say what? And they had their kids after they split up?
Most…Um, Interesting Approach - Pantierre puts the trial study on Craig's list
Most Obnoxious - Pantierre in this episode, given she has no basic understanding of office politics at all
The "It's Baaaack!!" Award - that freaking, ugly love triangle
The "Well That Was Quick" Award - the cliffhanger patient fevers lasted all of 3.7 seconds before they a magically cured and life goes on
The "Welcome Back" Award - Christopher Gorham from Covert Affairs

Best Quotes -
1. Pantierre: "How are you?" Evan: "Still terminal but I should be over it in a few weeks."
2. Callahan: "How can I upgrade your work experience?" Ji-Sung: "Remove yourself from it."
3. Callahan: "Hey, that's radioactive. What are you doing?" Pantierre: "Chill, Silkwood. It's just a demo."
4. Ji-Sung: "I bet you found out I minored in art history so you took a crash course in Wikipedia, right?"
5. Pantierre: "So let's get a divorce…I can't help feeling like I'm losing you all over again." Max: "We have always defied convention. Now we're just gonna riff on that."

iZombie - 2.17 - Reflections of the Way Liv Used to Be

After a very slow start, iZombie is back to season 1 level. While I am still iffy on Major becoming a zombie again, having him arrested puts our core group in real jeopardy. They are going to have to tell Clive the truth, which makes more sense out of this sudden need to show Clive as a lone wolf who always goes by the book. They really hit that theme hard in this episode. That and Lou bringing up zombies makes me 95% sure that Clive will know the truth by the end of the season and probably sooner. For the record, I'm good with that. I'm also good with Lou sticking around awhile more. Here's hoping that he is just a little shady and not an outright bad cop. As for Liv, I wouldn't mind a little type A brain sometime. It certainly allows Liv to get things done. She might want to keep a some of that on stock. It's not as much fun as leftover happy brain Major was jonesing on, but it's powerful in its own right. I'm not near as crazy about Blaine's amnesia (one cardinal rule of TV - nothing gets better with amnesia), but the actor has to love getting to switch things up.

Grade - B

Best Reason to Watch - all the plot lines are coming together nicely
Best Scene - the ending when Major is arrested because it makes for a great cliffhanger
Best Manipulator - Lou, who says everything that Type A Brain Liv wants to hear
Best Reference - the musical Oklahoma / Memento / Pinocchio
Best (Non) Reaction - Mr. Boss' secretary to Liv taking down the muscle
Best Transformation - Gilda's zombie look
Worst Transformation - Major's zombie look
Biggest Hmmm - I'm not sure if I agree with Clive or Lou in this case
Biggest Laugh - Major's Oklahoma kick
Biggest Self-Promotion - now that Blaine has no memory Don E is taking over the illicit drug trade
The "Welcome Back" Award - Detective Lou / Brody, the frat douche

Best Quotes -
1. Dale: "Well if it isn't Blaine John DeBeers McDonough Doe Jingleheimer Schmidt. Are you here to confess?" Blaine: "Uh, I was just looking for the morgue." Clive: "Picking up or dropping off?"
2. Ravi: "I don't see any post-concussion red flags but if your memory loss persists, you should get a MRI or a CT scan. Maybe a PET scan. Anything with an acronym really…just as long as it tests brain function."
3. Ravi: "Yeah um…remember how I was telling you about that guy whose life you ruined. You know how you turned his fiancé into a zombie, then cost him his job, killed a bunch of kids that were close to him, kidnapped him, locked him in a freezer, and tortured him before finally stabbing him to death. Yeah, this is him." Major: "Hey."
4. Ravi: "You're the Chaos Killer." Major: "Technically I'm the Chaos Kidnapper. No one is dead. They're frozen." Ravi: "In preparation for their long-haul interstellar journey?"
5. Ravi: "Alright there are some ethical hurdles I need to get my head around." Major: "He's planning on killing Liv and me as soon as I'm done with that zombie list." Ravi: "Okay, ethical hurdle cleared. I'll go prepare a syringe."

Motive (2.10-3.02)

Note - When I started marathoning this, I thought I would be caught up at this point. Imagine my surprise when I learned Canada is already on season 4. (Ruh roh.) So I'm going to take this show on the American schedule and treat it like a weekly show now instead of trying to catch up to Canada.

I first heard about Motive when I got a chance to e-mail interview Brendan Penny who plays Lucas. To be honest, I thought the concept was bizarre and anti-climactic. I mean half the fun of a crime procedural is to see how much faster you can figure out the killer than the detectives. After a zillion procedurals watched, I was pretty good at it. Then I watched the first episode of Motive and I was hooked. It is so much harder to figure out the motive. Some I get it fairly quickly but there are others that leave me completely stumped. Therefore, I recommend even those who normally do not like procedurals to try this one out. It might still be a dude for you, but that twist may make all the difference. Basically they introduce the killer and the victim in the cold open. They even tell you which is which. Here's a hint - the one that seems shady is always the victim while the killer is most likely to be portrayed as in the running for sainthood. From there it is up to partners Angie and Vega to investigate the crime while the audience tries to suss out the motive. Oh, and for the record, I do not think there will ever be anything romantic between Angie and Vega even though they are partners of the opposite gender. Score one right there!

Best Reason to Watch - the twist of knowing the killer but guessing the motive
Best Character Interaction - Angie and Vega
Best Justice - the killer accidentally poisons himself too
Best Buds - Angie and Betty
Best Puns - Vega and Angie
Best Impersonation of a Dominatrix - Angie
Most Tight Knit Family - the Kovach family kills together for their family's honor
Most Sympathetic - the woman who killed her ex's mom so her kid would have a better chance
Most Evil - the woman who keeps her nanny's passport so she cannot go home to see her sick mother
Most Surprising Motive - it ended up being fraud instead of the sex trade or psycho mom competition
Biggest Twist - the victim is the killer's husband
Biggest Hmm - Why would a prominent business man NOT look into the guy who is engaged to his daughter? I would think it would be standard fare for the rich to check out anyone new and that close for frauds.
The "Welcome Back" Award (character) - Vega's dad
The "Welcome Back" Award (actor) - Victor Garber from Alias, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow / Bonnie Somerville from Code Black / Ally Sheedy from my childhood

Best Quotes -
1. Lucas: "I don't like this guy getting a deal." Betty: "I don't like waiting this long for a drink."
2. Donnie: "Who died and made you mother?" Brent: "Mom."
3. Lucas: "Would you like a receipt for your illegal guns?"
4. Angie: "This was clean, right?" Betty: "The alcohol should kill just about anything."
5. Mark:" "Where's the suit?" Angie: "I spilled coffee on it." Mark: "A little vinegar and water will take that out." Angie: "Yeah, so will the dry cleaner."

Rush Hour - 1.02 - Two Days or the Number of Hours within That Time Frame

I didn't laugh as much in this episode but I still adore the bromance. I'm a big fan of them building bedrock and gelling as partners. In some ways this reminds me of Almost Human, without the fancy machines that make whatever you want without having to go to the store. Gerald did get annoying about halfway through though so he might be better in small doses. Plus seeing him makes me miss Backstrom, the ultimate cranky detective. Like last time, the action remained topnotch and a whole lot of fun.

Grade: B-

Best Reason to Watch - the bedrock
Best Scene - warehouse fight
Best Action - Lee and Gerald handcuffed together taking out the bad guys
Best (If Predictable) Back Story - Gerald took the blame as kids and kept Carter out of trouble
Best Reference - 48 Hrs
Worst Plan - running into a steel reinforced door / cop prison break
Biggest Life of the Party - Lee, who literally swings from the chandelier
Most Unobservant - the guy who does not see the masked men standing in his kitchen
Sweetest Gesture - the kid gives Gerald his ice cream cone
The "Beginning of a Bad Joke" Award - How many guys does it take to take down a petty thief? Apparently 3 and 2 of them are cops.

Best Quotes -
1. Lee: "In China it's one strike and out. Not commit one crime, get 2 crimes free."
2. Lee: "Sleight of hand and misdirection, the tools of a pickpocket." Jay: "I prefer morally flexible freelance master of the impossible."
3. Carter: "You're like the world's worst action figure. Detective Nerd. Pull his cord and hear him say something corny."
4. Carter: "I just want you to know this is going in my Yelp review. The manager tried to kill me. 3 stars out of 5."
5. Carter: "You didn't want him to know? You didn't even want a thank you?" Lee: "Would it have involved a hug?" Carter: "Definitely." Lee: "Well then I'm content with my decision."

Stitchers - 2.03 - The One that Got Away
~The case was transparent, Camille was emoangsty, and there was way, way, way, way, way too much time devoted to the suckage that is Kirsten and Cameron shipping. Ugh, ugh, and triple ugh!

Grade: D+

Best Reason to Watch - Linus
Best Scene - Fisher and Danny kind of reconcile at the end
Best Reference - Agatha Christie
Best Plan - Maggie benches Cameron, who is still channeling his inner idiot
Dumbest Plan - leaving the criminal alone in your house after telling him that you're kicking him out
Biggest Blech - everything Kirsten and Cameron
Most Emoangsty - Camille's relationship with her brother
Most Insulting - Cameron thinks that tall and blonde are Kirsten's biggest strengths
Most in Need of a Trip to Lowe's - Kirsten, who needs Stiles' crime board instead of doing math on the walls
Most Gargantuan Eye Roll in the History of TV - the killer is a Kirsten and Cameron shipper
Most Easily Manipulated - Linus by Theo
Least Sensical - How can Kirsten see something in a memory that the person had their back to? Hrmm.
Least Surprising - the psychologist did it / Theo stole all Linus' stuff
The "It Doesn't Suit" Award - Camille really doesn't seem like a Millie at all

Best Quotes -
1. Danny: "NSA recruits out of high school?" Cameron: "LAPD recruits out of Betty Ford?" Danny: "Punk." Cameron: "Drunk."
2. Kirsten: "He is your brother." Theo: "See, this one's got a heart." Camille: "Yeah, that's a recent development. Not sure I like it."
3. Cameron: "I'm gonna go see a psychologist." Camille: "About time." Cameron: "Heard that, Millie."
4. Joe: "I was a major stoner back then…more major than now."
5. Blake: "No, I..I am the giver of peace." Cameron: "To everyone but yourself." Blake: "That's why when I'm done with you, I'm going to give myself a peace that I have never known." Cameron: "I've seen what's on the other side, Dr. Blake, and I promise someone like you will never find peace there."

Supernatural - 11.18 - Hell's Angels

Well that was heavenly…in the Supernatural sense - annoying, boring, drawn out, and ultimately anticlimactic. Yep, pretty much sums up SPN angels AND this episode. Unless Amara takes out Lucifer and Cas, there will be no point to having Lucifer on again at all. If Chuck comes back as God and not a prophet, this storyline will officially get an F from me. I am so sick and tired of angels and Supernatural's ugly version of God. Still the real problem is that once again we're coming towards the end of the season and it's nothing more than a bunch of bait and switch. Of course the weapon didn't work. Did anyone think it would? It's all ho hum. I'd rather take these last few episodes and do monsters of the week. It's not like Dean and Sam had anything to do this episode except emoangst and exposit. Ugh!

Grade: D

Best Reason to Watch - Amara
Best Reason to Fast Forward - everything that takes place in heaven
Best Scene - Sam tells Dean to let Cas do what he wants
Best Return - Crowley to being evil instead of a slave or human
Best Shout Out - Supernatural goes to my town again
Biggest Hmmm - Rowena was dead. She should have stayed dead. What's up with people still coming back from the dead on this show? Enough is enough.
Biggest Ewww - sticky cobwebs
Most Manipulative - actually Rowena out manipulates even Lucifer here
The "Not You Again" Award - Mark Pellegrino needs to find a new role. I'm thoroughly sick of Lucifer.

Best Quotes -
1. Sam: "Dean, this is exactly how we screw ourselves. We make the heart choice instead of the smart choice." Dean: "Oh okay, thank you Dr. Phil. Cas is family." Sam: "Yes and his choice deserves to be respected." Dean: "Even if it kills him?" Crowley: "It's killing me. I would rather stick white-hot skewers in my eyes than listen to you two b** bicker."
2. Dean: "Nice digs. The Crypt Keeper out of town?"
3. Jofiel: "It's so perfect. Castiel, one of heaven's most wanted, possessed by heaven's most hated."
4. Crowley: "Honestly, your cynicism is depressing."
5. Crowley: "First impressions can be deceiving, Moose. For instance, I once thought of you as dull and plodding. Oh never mind, bad analogy."

Wynonna Earp - 1.02 - Keep the Home Fires Burning

This show reminds me a bit of The Walking Dead. There are moments of intense action interspersed with a whole lot of nothing. Still the pacing is better than TWD and they've handled a good chunk of the exposition in the first two episodes so hopefully things will even out. Wynonna is your modern hero in that she really wants nothing to do with the whole savior business but her attachment to her younger sister and her destiny lock her in the small town of Purgatory. Relation to Wyatt Earp, her family is cursed to hunt revenants (demons) of the outlaws Wyatt killed. Why? We haven't gotten that far yet. It has something to do with the fact that Doc Holliday is still around and kicking. For some reason this has made him bitter towards the entire Earp family so he's helping the revenants. Meanwhile Wynonna is stuck with the most dour man alive, Deputy Dolls. It's a silly name so you know this whole thing is based off of a comic. Dolls has zero sense of humor which actually makes his character extremely off-putting. The man needs a personality stat.

Grade: B-

Best Reason to Watch - action
Best Scene - Wynonna takes out the revenants that kidnapped Waverly
MVP - the music
Best Character Interaction - Wynonna and Waverly
Best Upgrade - instead of horses, it's motorcycles
Best Twist - Wynonna accidentally shot her father
Best Sam Winchester Impression - Waverly and her massive research
Biggest Douche - Dolls and his lack of any kind of humor at all
Most in Need of Target Practice - Wynonna
Most Aptly Named - the town of Purgatory
Most Interesting Back Story - the spirits of old gunslingers haunt the Earp family as revenants
Most Snarky - Wynonna
Most Disgusting - ripping out someone's tongue and stabbing someone in the eyeball
Most Kick Butt - Wynonna
Strangest Twist - Doc Holiday is alive too
The "What a Difference a Demon Attack Makes" Award - Gus certainly changes her tune about Wynonna after demons attack her and take Waverly
The "Welcome Back" Award - Melanie Scrofano from Damien

Best Quotes -
1. Revenant: "Hey, this ain't Wyatt's gun." Wynonna: "Ugly and dumb. You sure we haven't dated?"
2. Levi: "You're just a girl." Wynonna: "I am THE girl with the big a** gun and one by one I am going to blow you all to hell."
3. Doc: "Are you implying Wyatt Earp was a hypocrite?" Wynonna: "I'm saying crazy runs in the family."
4. Revenant: "He can only be activated by a blood sacrifice." Doc: "You outlaws sure have gotten dramatic since you were human."
5. Wynonna: "Have a little faith. We've survived hotdog stuffed crust pizza so I think we've got this."

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she recaps, reviews, and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, The 100, Grimm, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, live tweets a multitude of shows each week, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted", Sleepy Hollow "Headless" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Currently she writes a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

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Warehouse 13 - Season 5 - Gag Reel

2014-06-25T12:30:00.000+01:00

Cheers to DylanJames18 for the heads up.

Warehouse 13 - Endless - Recap / Review

2014-05-26T18:17:00.002+01:00

Note - I really dislike this series finale. In fact, every time I watch it I like it less. It's not that long-running shows don't get to have a clip show, although a bizarre one. It's that this is the last thing the audience will remember about Warehouse 13. Having been through 60+ shows, this audience deserved better. It actually deserved better all season. For me, Warehouse 13 should have ended with the season 5 premiere tacked on to the end of season 4.

Previously - Everything was wrapped up in a decent series finale….oops, penultimate episode.

In 1889 London, Jack the Ripper is on the loose. He chases a blond prostitute to a dead end…maybe. The blonde is actually HG Wells, disguised by the glasses and thimble of previous episodes. She knocks a lantern out of his hand and mocks him when he starts to flee. It works. He returns and she blasts him. It's only her first month as an agent and it's already her defining moment (more on that to come). In fact she's doing so well, she's making the other agents jealous. HG: "Mr. Kipling has taken to writing rude verses on the walls." Ha! I love that other famous writers are warehouse agents as well. Caturanga congratulates her on her assimilation into the warehouse. HG: "I've finally found a place where my other talents can be used for the good of the empire." Caturanga: "No, not just the empire, the entire world." They chat about warehouse history and HG is shocked to find that the warehouse moves to different countries but after last week, we already knew that. Still more HG is always a good thing. Well not when it's about her love life, which currently has her hooked up with some random woman named Giselle. After the screen fades, we see the flashback was a memory recorded in Arthur's Round Table, keeper of warehouse memories. Mrs. Frederic explains that their job today is to contribute their defining moment as well. Artie protests that it's too soon but Mrs. Frederic believes Warehouse 13 is about done for. Pete vigorously protests after Myka reminds Steve that they will be unemployed, since the host country chooses their own agents. Pete: "Okay I've got an idea. How about instead of sitting around the mystical table of kumbaya, we do something crazy like, I don't know, stop it from moving, right?" Oh Pete, never change. Mrs. Frederic cites the natural order of things. Pete: "We're talking about losing our home…" Claudia interrupts the escalating argument by volunteering to go first.

She places her hand on the stone and the artifact flashes through several episodes of Claudia highlights before choosing a mission we've never seen. See it's a clip show but we've only seen some of the clips a la Community. In a bizarre twist, Claudia's memory starts with Myka and Pete tap dancing with hundreds of 42nd Street dancers. Claudia herself is nowhere to be seen. Apparently Pete pushed a warehouse button, violating rule #1, and now the warehouse is overrun by deadly dancers as everyone taps their way to death. It reminds me of the Buffy musical but far more intentionally funny, especially when Steve taps onto the scene. Steve: "I don't know what I did in a past life to deserve this." Ha! He's trapped between 2 dancing mobs and zaps everyone to no effect. No wonder he hates musicals. If I had to hear the 42nd Street theme song over and over by manically grinning headdresses, I wouldn't be a fan either. Finally Claudia joins her own memory as she and Artie look for a way to counteract the artifact. It's a little hard when they keep breaking out in spontaneous jazz hands. Claudia: "Easy Tommy Tune." Ha! (Side note - I was privileged to see Tommy Tune in 2 different musicals. Literally show stopping work.) The agents meet together to make a plan. Pete: "So we led our girls to the Escher vault and locked them in. Also, I think we're going to need a new Escher Vault." Oops! Artie's plan involves Busby Berkeley's flask and Goodman Beggar's tin pan. When combined and thrown at the 42nd Street marquis, it will stop the dancing. Not sure why they can't just spray goo on it, but it gives Claudia a chance to shine. The marquis needs a spectacular dance finale to recharge enough to neutralize it and they all do the jazz hands version of Not It to elect Claudia, who thinks she's too B team for the job. Artie: "Claudia, listen to me. You're our only hope. You may be going out there B team but you're coming back A team. You can do it kiddo. Only not in that outfit."

One stunning dress change later and she lights up the stage, confronted by the world's creepiest dancers. Claudia: "Okay, that's a scary smile." Meanwhile the others distract the showgirls and grab the 2 artifacts needed. Basically this scene is designed to show off Allison Scagliotti's dancing talent. It works well. As she closes the number, Pete throws the pan to smash all the marquis lights. Mission accomplished and they all hunch over in leg pain. Pete: "Talk about one singular sensation." Glitter explodes everywhere to cries of, "Best job ever!" It's bittersweet to see how much they love their job, knowing it's the last time we'll see them do it. Claudia looks bittersweet too and Mrs. Frederic calls her on it. Frederic: "I would imagine that that was the moment you realized you didn't want to be caretaker after all." Say what? I call foul right now. Steve looks perplexed by this realization and mentions how often Claudia said she wanted the job. Since he's a human lie detector and the two are mutually exclusive, flag on that play. That's one major character overhaul to throw in to the finale. It would have been fine with some character development leading up to it and if Steve already knew. Now it's just a plot device for Pete and Artie. It precipitates another Pete freak out, who says Claudia doesn't have to be sorry about not being caretaker because they have the best job as agents. So much so that he's upset the others aren't trying to keep the warehouse from moving. Pete: "The question is why is no one else freaking out about losing it?" Myka: "We are. It's just some of us are a little quieter about it than others." Pete: "Oh well I'm sorry. Then someone needs to be loud about it. Look, we're not losing the warehouse. I'm going to make sure of it." He storms off and Myka follows.

Still at the Round Table, Claudia apologizes for wanting to stay an agent but both Artie and Steve say it's unnecessary. Claudia thinks it's natural to have doubts. "Right Mrs. Frederic? You must have had your doubts." Frederic: "No, I was always resolute." Ha! Claudia: "Thank you again. It doesn't matter anyway. I know my responsibility." Steve says no one is forcing Claudia to do anything, but she keeps arguing. Artie: "The hell with everybody else. You need to do what's right for you or you're going to be miserable for…" He stops mid-speech to ask if he can show them a specific memory, but Mrs. Frederic warns that it might backfire on him. Artie: "No, I'm absolutely certain that it will." Ha! That's foreboding. Again we see a best of Artie montage before segueing to an unknown young agent, Scott Moore, who smells fudge. Here be artifacts. Artie and Scott show up at the exact moment the empty lot turns into a WWII officers' club. Scott: "Wow, we're in the past." Artie: "More like the past is here." Scott: "Well that makes perfect sense when you put it that way." Bwah! I like this guy. Artie exposits that the club is trapped in a time bubble by an artifact and he only has 25 minutes a year to solve, bag, and tag it. He brought Scott along for new perspective and it works. They narrow it down to one couple as the artifact hunt begins. Artie takes the husband while Scott talks to the wife, whose champagne glass keeps draining although she never drinks it. Bingo. It's Thomas Wedgwood's champagne glass. The wife is pregnant and desperate to keep her spouse from leaving for combat. At the last second, Artie dumps the glass in the goo bag and Scott informs the husband about the pregnancy. As 1941 disappears, Artie says he's proud of Scott, who in return reveals that Artie is his FATHER! Whoa! Never saw that coming.

Neither did Claudia, who does her own freak out. Artie explains that Scott's mother was pregnant while he was in jail and never told him about Scott. He only found out years later. It all segues into the fact that Artie fought for agents to have their own The One, like with regents. I like this. Artie: "I had to fight for my happiness just as you have to." Aww, but Claudia's on information overload right now. She storms away from the table as Mrs. Frederic stares at Artie with "I told you so" face. Since one good freak out deserves another, Pete steps up to the bat again. Myka shows Pete the manual ROOM. Yes, room. That's one huge manual. No wonder no one ever knows what's in it. Pete is gung ho to find a loophole but Myka says she doesn't think there is one. Their only job is the round table right now. Pete goes on the warpath, accusing Myka of not caring. Pete: "I'm sorry I took you away from your Warehouse 13 exit interview. Just go ahead. Go play with your time capsule. I'll save the day." Ouch! Myka retaliates and storms off as well before Pete realizes that he's got a lot of reading to do. Emoangsting is the theme for everyone tonight except Mrs. Frederic and Steve, who enjoy the round table movie selection on their own. I wish I were with them. No fair that they see all the good stuff while we're stuck with forced upon shipping. Steve even gets to see Mr. Frederic. I would pay good money for that Omnimax experience.

Luckily we segue to the second best scene in the episode, where Artie and Claudia talk. Claudia: "Look Artie, I get it. I kind of think of you as a father-like person, but you're my boss so whatever you choose to share or not share is really your prerogative. But you have a son that you take on snag and bags." Artie says they haven't gone on a mission in years. They do go to Comic-Con together. Ha! My only concern about this is Scott never showed up any of the times when Artie was dying. That's blatant retconning. Still Artie is happy with the best of both worlds and explains that he never told Claudia because she would push Scott into being an agent, defeating the whole purpose of having a One. The One keeps agents sane and therefore need to live in the "real world" instead, which makes sense. Artie: "In order to stay sane, you sometimes have to be a little selfish." Claudia understands that Artie wants her to follow her heart, but then he calls her out on hiding her feelings. Um, what? Big old hypocrite. Artie: "Yes, do as I say not as I do. The prerogative of a father-like person. Look if you had just talked to me, I might have been able to help you understand that you Miss Donovan do not have to commit to the rest of your life today. It's not a crime to change your mind. You just have to stay true to yourself." Claudia: "Even if it means being a little selfish." Artie: "By God, she's been listening. I just want you to be happy." Aww! Sniff. Artie-Claudia scenes are my favorite interactions on this show. Always have been. Then they take it up a notch further. Artie: "Yeah I have a great son, who's helped me be a better father to you and I have the warehouse. Life is perfect." No, that scene was perfect and a shining example of what they should have done with these last 6 episodes.

Meanwhile, at the Round Table, Steve and Mrs. Frederic enjoy another adventure via Arthur-Vision when Myka storms in, muttering about Pete. She jumps at the chance to share her defining moment, post Myka montage and mid-memory speech. Positing what she knows about each desperate housewife sitting in front of her, she spills their dirty little secrets before accusing one of being a kitsune artifact-induced ninja cat burglar. Say that one 3 times fast. Surprise! The ladies have all put aside their differences and ninja burgle together. Suddenly it's suburban Myka and Pete vs. a whole room of ninja housewives. Best action all episode. Only action all episode, but who's quibbling. It's freaking cool! It's all kung fu fighting with everyday household items and great teamwork on Pete and Myka's part, especially when they fight back-to-back. I wish the fight had gone on longer. Instead it segues into Steve telling Myka that she loves Pete. She hems and haws and then agrees. (Eye roll, sigh, combination of both. Whatever.) She rushes to Pete, who tries to destroy the compass while talking over her and apologizing. He's scared as the warehouse gives him purpose, stability, a place to shine, and he can't bear the idea of losing it or the people he works with. Pete: "Here in the warehouse I'm the best version of myself." They talk at cross purposes until Myka kisses him. I imagine it's a lot like watching first cousins kiss, extremely uncomfortable. Terrible idea! And not one worthy of recapping. Suffice it to say Pete thinks she's possessed by an artifact or feverish. I think the writers were. Myka assures him that he won't lose her and says she loves him. He loves her too. They kiss again.

I sigh, relieved that Artie's monologue rescues me. As he goes through the warehouse fixing things, he grows increasingly upset that he's given his life to the warehouse and in the end, it's leaving him. Artie: "You know what difference does it make. It's over. And this is how it ends, just over. And what am I supposed to do? Just go sort of…I supposed to walk away? Walk away. Uh, you know you give your whole life to something every day without complaining. Well, no serious complaints. I'm here every day. Every day I'm right here for you and your damn pings. Your pings - ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping. I'm like a slave at your beck and call. You know I have lost…I have lost friends, family, people I loved have died in my arms, but I stayed faithful and gave you everything. And now that there's nothing left for you to take, well you…you're just going to just leave. Whore. That's what you are, you know. Yeah, you're just selling out to the highest bidder. Fine, you want to go, go! That's what you want to do, go. If you don't want me, I sure as hell don't want you. And enjoy your new home. You think you're going to find somebody like me? Somebody who cares about you like I do? Ha! Ha! Good luck with that! Good luck finding somebody who's devoted, somebody who would give their whole life…without a thank you, without even a piddling, little miniscule acknowledgment that they're appreciated. That they even matter to you at all." Instantly a rush of wind refreshes Artie and a perfect apple rolls down the aisle to his feet. See, the warehouse does appreciate him. Awwww! Best comforting by an inanimate object ever. Artie: "Okay then, you're welcome." That is possibly the best scene of the entire show, and it was only one character. Huge kudos to Saul Rubinek for his acting. Brilliant!

With only 2 people left to contribute memories, it's Steve's turn but he's hesitant. Steve: "What if I don't have a defining warehouse moment?" Claudia: "Of course you do, pooky. We all do." Bwah! These two crack me up. Steve calls himself the Marilyn of the warehouse and then proves he's thought way too much about this by naming which Munsters character everyone else is, stopping before he names Mrs. Frederic since he's smart and wants to keep his job. He reluctantly puts his hand on the stone and again, montage before HG Wells appears once more. I'm not sure why. They should have just written an episode with her earlier in place of the hideous second episode or Ren Faire. Apparently HG invented a shrink ray, which would have been useful in other episodes, but oh well. Somehow Artie has a clock artifact inside his body so Claudia and Steve insert themselves inner-Artie and Steve spends time in his heart, blasting the artifact away. Hmm. Wouldn't that leave clock shrapnel in Artie's heart? Not a great idea. Logic aside, Steve is struck by the peace of the moment and leaves his memory blubbering like the rest of them. Steve: "I was inside a beating human heart. I'd forgotten about that moment. It was indescribable. I saw it. I was there. It was like…" Frederic: "Nirvana." Steve: "When I came to the warehouse, I didn't think that I'd ever find peace. It's just…so much chaos you know but…" Claudia: "You found it." Steve: "No, no it was given to me. The warehouse showed it to me. That's what today is about isn't it? I mean this time capsule, it's not just for the warehouse." Frederic: "No, this ritual is also the warehouse's gift to you." It's supposed to be the writers' gift to us as well, but it fails miserably. How can they all have defining moment they forgot about or we haven't seen? Better to have left the season with taking down Valda and moving this to an earlier episode.

At least it's better than the Pete and Myka saga that never should have happened at all. It does however get Pete back to the round table at Myka's request. She says she's going to boss him around a lot now and he better get used to it. So nothing different there. Luckily all he's concerned about is when they are going "to get naked," so Myka brings up the body swapping episode before punching Pete. He says it's a turn on, she says she knows, and I throw up a little in my mouth. Please make it end. Mercifully they take pity on me and it does, in favor of a glimpse of Leena's first day at the warehouse. What a great surprise! She tells Mrs. Frederic that she will die at the warehouse and that it's okay. Best little moment of them all and Steve agrees, since he's crying again. Pete interrupts, ready to participate but instead of a new adventure, his is straight up montage. Why? Because his defining moment is everyone and everything. Or they ran out of budget for the season. Your pick. A teary Pete apologizes for his earlier fit. "I was scared that if I…if I lost this, I'd go back to being the person I was before, and…but this is who am I now. Warehouse and…and all of you have made me a better man. If it ends tomorrow or if it goes on forever, nothing…nothing will ever change that." Wow it's getting deep and emoangsty here. Enter Steve: "Or maybe you broke the table." Bwah! Even Mrs. Frederic laughs at that. Artie: "I have never heard you laugh before." But it is good to finally see and especially in an episode of so many tears. Claudia asks to see more of the table's delights but they're stopped by the ping. I'll miss the ping.

Before he joins the others to start another investigation, Pete stops to ask Mrs. Frederic one last question. Pete: "So is it really over?' Frederic: "I believe I've mentioned this more than once. This particular wonder is endless." Pete: "Really? Just this once I can't get a straight answer out of you." He kisses her on the cheek and calls her Irene, and it seems really, truly over…with 2 minutes left to spare. Huh? Pete joins the crew to talk about a fire breather in Poughkeepsie, NY. Steve is less than thrilled while Claudia and Myka want more details. Pete wants to grab Myka's hips. Claudia: "Okay this is just going to be gross." Steve: "She is not lying." Preach it! They banter and fade away with Claudia determined to research Artie's son over his strenuous objections. Suddenly there's a time skip to several decades later, where a grumpy guy scans Paracelsus-like monitors while a man and woman stand behind him arguing about whether they want to be agents or not. Claudia pops in, looking not a day older and dressed far less comfortably. Welcome to the future. Oh and Claudia is the caretaker, which means the majority of this episode was null and void. In a terrible finale, this is the moldy icing on the cake. Why make Claudia out of character and then renege in the last 2 minutes? Bah! A pox on this episode. Caretaker Claudia tells them they can change their minds about the warehouse and Faux Artie brings up the warehouse possibly moving. Yeah right! Claudia stops mid-speech, recognizing that this trio is remarkably like the pilot trio just in case that anvil missed anyone's head. They get back to tracking down Obama's basketball (bwah!) as Claudia vanishes. It's no less creepy than when Mrs. Frederic does it. She zaps to the round table and the phrase "endless wonder" is repeated by many over and over again until we pan out of the warehouse and up to the sky. The end.

The more I watch this episode, the more disappointed I am. This may be the worst series finale, when the writers knew it was ending, I've ever seen. I dropped LOST and never watched The Sopranos, Newhart, or St. Elsewhere so I realize there is stiff competition to the title. Still there's no excuse for this paltry season as a whole, which damaged my overall feelings toward the show. The plot contained everything the writers wanted as a pet project but didn't get to do in previous seasons, causing the entire season to feel rushed, illogical, and overly packed. I get that they only had 6 episodes, probably more than the writers did. That's why they should have simplified instead of made this season a tribute to writer fan fic. It was like someone said, "Hey you all get to do that 1 episode you really wanted to tell and you have 15 minutes in which to do it." That's not a successful plan and not worthy of the Warehouse 13 legacy. Far better to keep Paracelsus as the Big Bad (even as much as I adore Mark Sheppard) and let it carry through all 6 episodes, culminating with his defeat. Better yet, have Paracelsus and Valda work together so we get both Anthony Stewart Head and Mark Sheppard. Win-win all the way around. It would help story cohesiveness and could incorporate the Claire saga left hanging last season. Instead we got Paracelsus is defeated in one episode so he didn't feel threatening at all, a second episode that completely sucked out loud, wacky Ren Faire and telenovela shenanigans, Valda rising to power and defeated in the same episode in the most contrived manner, and an emoangsty clip show. Sadly, I wish Warehouse 13 had ended at season 4 when it could still go out on top.

Grade: D (and that's generous)

Best Scene - Artie breaks down while talking to the warehouse and it refreshes him and gives
him an apple

Best Awww Scene / Best Character Interaction - Artie tells Claudia that it's okay to be a little selfish and be your own self

Best Quote - Pete: "Okay I've got an idea. How about instead of sitting around the mystical table of kumbaya, we do something crazy like, I don't know, stop it from moving, right?"

Best Reason to Watch - It's the finale. If you need a reason, it's not worth watching.

Most Surprising Cameo - Lena

Best Tagline - Endless Wonder

Best Action - Ninja cat burglar kung fu fighting

Most Way Out There - Steve's heart epiphany

Biggest Shock - Artie has a son

Funniest Scene - the entire cast tap dancing to 42nd Street

The "I Wish I Were You" Award - Steve, who gets to see a lot of great warehouse moments we don't get to see. Not fair! He even got to see Mr. Frederic.

Bittersweet Moment - all of them shouting, "Best job ever."

The "You've Thought Too Much on This" Award - Steve knows exactly which one of the Munsters each of them are

Best Surprise - Kipling was a Warehouse agent as well

Biggest Hypocrite - Artie

The "What the Heck?" Award - the flash forward at the end that pretty much negates much of what happens in the episode

The "Say What?" Award - With all the times that Claudia has said that she wants to be caretaker, how did Steve not call her out for lying if she really did not want to be one? He seems as surprised as everyone else. This makes very little sense and in light of the flash forward, it serves no purpose except to get Artie to reveal his son. Foul on that play.

Screencaps by Crimson Tear, Sci Fi Empire, SyFy, Crazy HD Source, Seriable, Backlot, Derek Moore, Seat 42F, BA in English, and Wiedzma na Orbicie.

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she recaps, reviews, and creates polls for Sleepy Hollow, Arrow, White Collar, Grimm, Teen Wolf, and others. She's addicted to Twitter, live tweets a multitude of shows each week, and co-hosts the Warehouse 13 "Endless Wonder", Sleepy Hollow "Headless," and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Currently she writes a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

Quote of the Week - Week of May 18

2014-05-26T03:02:00.000+01:00

A weekly feature highlighting the best quotes on TV as picked by the Spoiler TV team this past week. We'd love to hear your picks too so please sound off below the article.

The 100:

1. Octavia: "Hey, big brother." Bellamy: "I'm scared, O." Octavia: "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise." Bellamy: "That's what I said to you the day you were born." Octavia: "I know. You've told me that like a thousand times." Bellamy: "I'm glad you're here." (Dahne) - I like this quote in particular because Octavia and Bellamy have had real problems with each other lately, but in a crisis, they are family. They are there for each other.

2. Monty: "No, I think you're cool. Only no one had to die for me to see it." (Dahne) - Sometimes best friends are there to tell you the harsh truth, especially when you are being a douche. Monty is a better friend than Jasper deserves.

The Americans:

1. Philip: "If she said one more thing about nonviolent resistance, I was going to punch her in the face.” (Sharon Seymour)

2. Philip: "It would destroy her." Elizabeth: "To be like us?" (Sharon Seymour)

Fargo:

1. Molly to Gus: "Heck of a lot of bullets for a fender bender." (Sharon Seymour)

2. Chaz to Lester: "Chaz: You've been a burden my whole life. I'm done. There's something wrong with you, Lester. There's something missing. You're not right in the world." (Sharon Seymour)

Game of Thrones:

1. Arya: "Nothing isn't better or worse than anything. Nothing is just nothing." (Darth Locke)

2. Petyr Bealish: "Given the opportunity what do we do to those who've hurt the ones we love?" (Darth Locke)

3. Tyrion: “I suppose I’ll have to kill the Mountain myself. Won’t that make for a great song?” (Sandi wich)

4. Oberyn: “It’s rare to meet a Lannister who shares my enthusiasm for dead Lannisters." (Sandi wich)

5. Baelish: "Given the opportunity what do we do to those who've hurt the ones we love?" (Justyna Kubica)

6. Oberyn: “That's no monster. That's just a baby." (Justyna Kubica)

Hannibal:

1. Hannibal: "I gave you a rare gift, and you didn't want it. You would deny me my life." Will: "Not your life." Hannibal: "My freedom then, you would take that from me. Confine me to a prison cell. Did you believe you could change me the way I've changed you?" Will: "I already did." (Sharon Seymour and Darth Locke)

2. Hannibal: "I'm dismantling who I was and moving it brick by brick." (Sharon Seymour)

3. Hannibal: "Fate and circumstance have returned us to this moment, when the teacup shatters. I forgive you, Will. Will you forgive me?" (Darth Locke)

In the Flesh:

1. Amy: “Morning Walker’s! Jem’s warming up to me, nice welcoming brush past on her way out." (Sandi wich)

2. Gary: "I'd get a move on if I were you, today’s been one of those days with me and Rotter’s, anything’s liable to happen.” (Sandi wich)

The Mentalist:

Jane: "The idea of letting anyone close to me is terrifying, for obvious reasons. But the truth, Teresa, is that I can't imagine waking up knowing that I won't see you. The truth is, I love you." (Virginia Fontana)

Orphan Black:

Sarah to Helena: "You've got an iron gut, haven't you." (Jimmy Ryan)

Playing House:

1. Maggie: "Okay I know my rights, man. I get my phone call and I get my pizza. I want my pizza and I want my popcorn." Cop: "Pizza is not a right. No part of your taxes goes to pizza money." (Dahne) - This whole scene made me laugh. Out-of-control Maggie is hilarious.

2. Emma: "Listen you do not make it to this very young age we're at without having made some major league mistakes. And guess what? You would not be the interesting, amazing women that you are without having made those mistakes." (Dahne) - This was a great awww moment and a good reminder for all of us.

Revolution:

1. Miles Matheson: "Run you idiots!" (Jimmy Ryan)

2. "Yeah, you're a real Meryl Streep." (Darth Locke)

Supernatural:

Dean: "I'm proud of us." (Justyna Kubica)

Warehouse 13:

1. Pete: "Okay I've got an idea. How about instead of sitting around the mystical table of kumbaya, we do something crazy like, I don't know, stop it from moving, right?" (Dahne) - I might have hated the Warehouse 13 finale, but this was a great line. I was with Pete here.

2. Artie: "I just want you to be happy." (Dahne) - The best part of Warehouse 13 has always been the relationship between Artie and Claudia. His whole speech about sometimes being selfish and being a father figure to her was fantastic. This was the pinnacle of that speech.

About the Author - Dahne

Final Adjusted TV Ratings for Monday 19th May 2014

2014-05-20T22:45:00.000+01:00

Remember you can view ALL Ratings and Charts for all shows/seasons in our Interactive TV Ratings Database.

The missing ratings are due to the fact that their ratings are out of the Top 100. They will be entered into the Ratings Database when they get released by the Networks later.

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Warehouse 13 - Saying goodbye to a series of endless wonders

2014-05-20T13:17:00.000+01:00

Crazy history classes with a mix of sci-fi and goofy characters are over. Warehouse 13 has come to an end. A bittersweet one; only 6 episodes to say goodbye to these group of beloved characters, and a seasonal arc a little over the top.

Episode after episode we welcomed to our screens the warehouse agents and whatever adventure the artifact of the week might bring them. With every artifact the audience received real history facts mixed with, obvious, made up stories. And this was one of the strong points of this series, and what made it so interesting, specially during their first seasons. It was the perfect show for history enthusiasts.

The archetypes of each character were also one of the most interesting things of this show; the nerd, the geek, the grumpy but lovable boss, the psych, the goofy partner, the evil mastermind. The public learned where these characters were coming from, and fell in love with them. Besides the artifacts, and how well these series managed the sci-fi genre, the dynamics between the group was what made the audience tune in every season.

It was a show of endless wonders and selfless acts. Partly this is, for me, why the last season was bittersweet, not only because it brought new characters in (like Claudia’s sister) but because it lost some of the dynamics, HG’s mentor figure to Claudia, or her friendship with Myka. It seemed that a simple comment stating that HG was now living with a woman, was an intent of fan-service to the gay percentage of the audience, and a superfluous one. Her short appearance on the finale didn't help the case either.

The (new) flashbacks for each character, and what did they remember from the warehouse seemed like the writers didn't know what they have written for them, because half of those made up ones could have had the same subtext that plots that happened seasons ago.

In the end Claudia and Pete seemed to be the character’s that got their arc properly closed, specially when we see Claudia as caretaker. With that ending I wonder, could that mean that somehow SyFy left the doors opens for a mini-series, movie or something with a new generation of warehouse agents? Who knows.

Overall we say goodbye to a show filled with gratifying episodes and (at the time) character’s arc that seemed to have been thought thoroughly and known by their writers. Other episodes were ridiculous, but even then it was always a fun show to watch, a light sci-fi/ dramedy that knew where its virtues and faults lay. We still have the dvd’s to rewatch our favorites episodes and get lost in a world of endless wonder.

Last Week in TV - Week of May 11 - Reviews and Episode Awards

2014-05-20T03:20:00.000+01:00

Welcome to Last Week in TV and the unofficial end of the 2013-2014 TV season. I hope you have found new shows to enjoy and stayed excited about some older ones. TV has been quite a switch for me this year. Generally I am a sci fi/drama aficionado, but this year was all about the comedies for me. Sure Sleepy Hollow rocked my world and left my jaw hanging open. Teen Wolf came into its own this year too. But by far, the best new shows for me were ½ hour sitcoms. The Goldbergs, Enlisted, and Surviving Jack were 3 of the best shows I saw this season. Sadly only 2 of my 4 favorite newbies are returning but that's par for the course these days. As we switch into summer viewing, Last Week in TV will change slightly. First off, I will be taking a short 2-3 week break after next week's column. When I get back I will be reviewing my summer shows of course - woo hoo for Teen Wolf coming back so soon! I will also be marathoning various shows to review them too. So if you have any great marathon shows, please nominate them in the short form below. I hope to get through ALL nominations this summer so that I can start fresh when fall TV inevitably gets here. Until next week, happy TV viewing!

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Overall Awards:

Best Action - SHIELD - May vs. Ward

It was the fight I had been waiting for since the pilot of SHIELD: Agent May's kick butt ninja skills versus Ward's well-trained soldier combat prowess. Originally I just wanted to see them train in an all-out bragging rights fight. Ever since Ward was revealed as Hydra, I dreamed of something even bigger. I was not disappointed. This is my vote for best action scene of the season. Complete with enough inherent baggage between them to make the fight personal, Ward and May pummeled each other through drywall and even took up power tools to make their case. I love how in the beginning they were evenly matched. It would not have made sense for the fight to be one-sided to me. They each got in a few good licks and each were winning at one time. Then Ward made the fatal mistake. He opened his mouth, and much in the same way a villain monologue always trips them up, he antagonized May further. From that point on, it was over even if he gave as good as he got for several minutes more. In the end a well placed nail gun to the foot crippled Ward and May had the last word as always. See what getting cocky does to you, Ward. Just saying. By the close of the fight, my heart was pumping and I was tempted to shout, "Again!" at my TV. That was one epic battle and most definitely worth the wait. Please say there will be a part 2. Only this time, grab some swords.

Best Episode - Grimm - 3.22 - Blond Ambition (season finale)

With the exception of continually bringing up the love spell from last season, I thoroughly enjoyed the season finale of Grimm…mostly because it ensures that Teen Grimm will still be around for at least the beginning of season 4. I like how she is now needed in Portland, while Nick can choose whether to try to get his Grimm powers back again or not. I hope it's a decision that takes a little time because the longer it takes for him to be re-Grimmed, the longer Teen Grimm will remain. I only hope that she doesn't die to force Nick to become a Grimm again. Another big highlight of this episode was Wu finally getting confirmation that he wasn't crazy. I hope he smacks all of the Grimm Gang for making him believe he was. Then of course there were the two main events. Monroe and Rosalee's wedding was beautiful (kudos on the better dress) right up until Teen Grimm shows up and reveals that Nick is un-Grimmed. I like both of these events. It should be interesting to play in the aftermath of the wedding though. Finally, we had Renard shot and bleeding out, the one cliffhanger I don't care for. Hopefully he will live and also get an actual plot line next season. At least get him out of the hospital, precinct and his apartment on a more regular basis please.

TV Trend of the Week - Character Math - The 100 (Grounder Queen), Grimm (Teen Grimm), Playing House (Gwen), SHIELD (Nick Fury, Ward, and Fitz), TURN (Abigail and Jordan), The Blacklist (Tom and Malik), Elementary (Mycroft)

Additions: Finale week always comes with big twists and cliffhangers, so it comes as little surprise that characters get added and subtracted to create drama. Sometimes these are a hit; sometimes I wonder where the show runner's head was. The biggest highlight in character math this week was by far the Grounder Queen in The 100. She didn't get much screen time but she packed a punch. I love how she opened Clarke's eyes to how the grounders see things. The 100 are enemy invaders who have killed their own and Jasper shooting first confirmed their suspicions. Clarke came in thinking she had the moral high ground but promptly had the wind removed from her blustering sails. I certainly hope that Grounder Queen comes looking for and gets payback. Another show revitalized by the addition of a young female who can kick butt was Grimm. To be honest, my patience with and attention to Grimm had been ebbing, but now I cannot wait to see how Teen Grimm adjusts to life in Portland. One thing is for sure. She's already a better Grimm than Nick is and this allows Nick to pursue a mentoring role instead. Similarly, adding Abigail and Jordan to TURN allows us to see another dimension to the war. A slave's perspective is often missing in American Revolution tales, so it is refreshing to see how they have been integrated into the bigger plot as well. On the comedy side, I love that Jane Kaczmarek has joined Playing House as Emma's mother. Their relationship cracks me up and Kaczmarek is in her element as a repressed mother, who is trying to spread her wings and unsure of where her daughter fits into her new life. Final kudos goes to Nick Fury on SHIELD as the best cameo of the year. He's so super cool nothing fazes him.

Subtractions: Sadly, we also say goodbye to many characters too, some of whose fates are currently up in the air. For instance, how much will Ward from SHIELD be featured next year? Is he a subtle subtraction we don't know to mourn yet? Same with Fitz, whose condition will likely be magically healed like Skye, but who knows if budget cuts are in order. Then we had Mycroft of Elementary, who may not have died for real but for all intents and purposes is unlikely to appear anytime soon. When a mob thinks you're dead, it's best not to show up on the radar. This is a real shame because the last few episodes that focused on Mycroft have been some of the best of the series. I hope they can keep up the momentum without the twists that revolved around him. Still the biggest loss of the TV season comes from The Blacklist. Taking Malik, one of the handful of kick butt women on TV, was a huge blow. Her character was intriguing and there was so much more to explore about her. I would have rather had Ressler die and kill off the annoying shipping they are likely to start there. Then, on top of taking out the most fearless female, they took out the most fascinating character, Tom. I really feel that by killing him so early, the show runners have shot themselves in the foot. Tom played nicely off of both lead characters and added instant drama to a scene. Without him, my interest in The Blacklist is already waning.

Nominated Show: Mad Men - 7.02 - A Day's Work

Note - There is no new show this week because the only ones I saw listed were Penny Dreadful, which I had to turn off in the first 2 minutes when the spider crawled up the praying woman's arm, and Rosemary's Baby, which was a mini-series.

I have never seen a second of Mad Men, so I hesitate jumping in to an episode that starts with a previously. Usually that means I have to have more background knowledge than I am coming with. Still, this is the episode that was nominated so I assume this one stands out…just not to someone who doesn't know the characters. I have no idea if I should be rooting for Joan or Don or Sally. I don't have a stake in the coming war between Roger and Jim. Mostly though, I found it hard to like the characters with the exception of Joan, Shirley, and the realtor. That's generally a deal breaker for me. Based on this episode, I wouldn't watch Mad Men again but I feel like my lack of background knowledge has done a great disservice, so I will try to watch the pilot over the summer and see if I get sucked in more.

Grade: C-
Ranking: 1

Best Scene - Joan gets tired of people playing secretary roulette and has had it, only to get a promotion.

Best Quote - Hobart: "Well what are you trying to do, Don? Are you taking lunches now?" Don: "No, I'm just looking for love." Hobart: "Well on behalf of myself and all the millionaires at McCann-Erikson, we'd love a chance to tell you how handsome you are."

Best Reason to Watch - office politics, maybe. I assume it's a big deal that Joan got promoted, but I'm not sure.

Biggst Aww Moment - Sally tells her father she loves him and he's flabbergasted

Best Nostalgia - The 60's were before my time, but seeing classic TV outside of Nick at Night was fun.

Worst Nostalgia - The micro mini skirts

The "This is What You Call Bonding?" Award - Don teaches his daughter to dine and dash. They seem to have a completely dysfunctional relationship.

Most Cavalier - Sally Draper and friends about someone who died

Biggest Douches - Lou and Peggy

Weirdest Delivery - Sally, who pauses a lot when she speaks

Weekly Shows:

TURN - 1.06 - Mr. Culpepper

TURN continues to fascinate me with its old world spying and political machinations. Adding Washington and Sackett is a bonus. Mostly though this was Ben's episode and it worked well because of it…and because the love triangle made nary a peep. I like how Ben was not afraid to give his honest opinion even to as high up as Washington and I look forward to seeing him work with Sackett in the future. I am sure they are going to butt heads a lot but adding more spies to the roster excites me, with all its complications. I like the idea of broadening the scope a bit. To that end, I was disappointed that Terrence died so quickly, but it does bear out Ben's theory that using a spy's natural background works better than complicated aliases. I am fascinated as well by where this episode took Abigail and Jordan. I never expected Jordan to fall into Rogers' militia and I keep thinking Andre is going to be evil to Abigail, but so far he has been generous. It actually unnerves me. Simcoe is easy to read, as is Hewlett. Andre is far more difficult and it makes each reaction on screen a bit of a surprise.

Grade: B+

Best Scene - Ben tells Washington that without trust no network of spies can be built and gets promoted for his honesty and out-of-the-box thinking

Best Character Interaction - Ben and Washington

The "Mmm Hmm" Award - Generally eye candy does little for me, but my heart skipped a beat at the sight of the naked torso of Aldis Hodge before Jordan pummeled a loud mouthed jerk in the ring. Awesome fighting as well.

Worst Spy Move Ever - Abraham tells the man holding him hostage that he is a spy because that guy tells him he is a continental soldier. Really? He's a known thief and you are trusting his word. Michael Westen would be rolling his eyes at you Abraham. Loose lips and all.

The "You Should Have Killed Him While You Had the Chance" Award - Simcoe is the bane of most of the characters, so not killing him was a huge mistake

Most Nerve-Wracking - Abraham is to receive judgment for his insubordination right after watching Washington hang a man for theft. That cannot be comforting.

Creepiest Moment - Andre teaches Abigail how to set a place setting. I kept thinking he was going to do something evil to her when he smiled so creepily. You could tell she thought so too.

The "Blink and You Missed Him" Award - Lieutenant Terrence, who was intriguing in as much as he was a new spy added in the ring. Sadly, his intrigue ended with a knife to the neck and we're still only one half-spy in the mix.

The "Huh?" Award - Sackett writing out spy scenarios. I have no idea what the point of that was. I mean no one actually believed that Abraham was going to die in the 6th episode, right? That was just odd.

Best History Add-in: Ben was best friends at Yale with Nathan Hale, Washington's most well-known spy / Abraham Woodhull becomes Mr. Culpepper

24: Live Another Day - 9.03 - (1-2 pm)

I still have no idea what's going on, but the action is still crisp and the plot races forward. That's enough for now. I'm not sure how the POTUS expects to win hearts over on the very day 4 people are murdered. There is something to be said for timing. I'm also still pretty sure that dear old son-in-law is planning his own coup, if not an official one. As for Chloe, I didn't know she had a son, much less a murdered one, so I feel for her. At the same time, I wanted to smack Jack for making her pain all about his mission. Take it down a notch and give her a minute. You have 1,440 of them. However the scene stealer tonight was Mama Terrorist. She looks all motherly but she is dead inside except when it comes to the mission. I'm almost hesitant to see what she does next.

Grade: B

Best Quote - Adrian: "Has anybody ever mentioned your rather rude habit of asking for favors accompanied by threat of a gun?"

Biggest Wuss - For all his blustering, the big bad drug broker tells them what he knows when they pull into a bad neighborhood.

Scariest Moment - Momma Terrorist makes veiled threats to her son-in-law, who can't get over the fact that she sent his wife to sleep with the programmer in order to steal the device. She doesn't do anything but you know she's one small spark away from gutting him like a fish if he doesn't cooperate.

Biggest Aww Moment - Chloe tells Jack that her ex-husband and son are dead. An attack was sent to kill her but she had to work late so it killed them instead.

The "I Think that Might be Treason" award - I don't know my treasonable offenses very well, but I think forging the President of the United States' signature without telling him might be one of them.

The "Go with Your Instincts" Award - Navid, you should trust yourself. You are likely to die anyway, so go out with a good conscience.

Instant Flash Mob - Nothing like shooting some people to spur a mob and sneak into the embassy.

Biggest Double Cross - Adrian sinks Jack and I have a hard time blaming him considering all Jack has done. Still paying someone back for being rude should not equal allowing terrorists to murder hundreds.

Most Controlling - Yes, Audrey has a point about Mark being ultra controlling but he has nothing on Momma Terrorist, who watches her daughter and her husband in bed. Blech!

Star-Crossed - 1.13 - Passion Lends Them Powers (series finale)

And thus ends Star-Crossed, a fabulous socipolitical thriller bogged down by hopeless love triangles and romantic nonsense. I blame the CW marketing department mostly but the show runner shares some responsibility for trying to cater to 2 very different types of fans and ultimately pleasing none. If they had dropped the star-crossed lovers bit from the beginning, I believe this show might have made it to season 2. It had all the components needed to succeed (besides a good timeslot) even as a full season bid. Now it is stuck in the "what could have been" pile of other previously great TV concepts that died in execution. Sigh. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted and maybe someone in the future will stumble over Star-Crossed's bones, resurrect it, fix the problems, and give it the justice it deserved. While I'm concocting a plausible and fulfilling ending in my head, I'll dream of a Star-Crossed that didn't rely so heavily on the star-crossed.

Grade: B

Best Scene - They all work together to stop the bomb from going off

Best Quote - Taylor: "What's going to happen…I start showing. Not to mention, I suddenly have Wonder Woman strength."

Best Reason to Watch - You can't come this far and not know if the bomb is going to go off or not.

Best Reason to Fast Forward - one last time say it with me ----Roman and Emery time. This time I actually DID fast forward. The rest of the love stuff just interrupted the "stop the bomb" plan.

Worst Part of a Cancelled Sci-Fi Show - Having to make up the ending on your own. What am I supposed to do with that ending?

The "Awww, They're Working Together" Award - Teri and Emery save Roman together with Cyper

The "Back Off" Award - Gloria, you of all people ought to know how hard having a human-Atrian hybrid baby is.

Best Plan - Lukas sets Mardi Gras on fire

The "Hey, There's an App for That" Award - Lukas downloads a Geiger counter app just in case one ever needs to know how radioactive something is. Isn't the future grand?

The "Say What?" Award - Atrians have an herb that makes you see your dead? That's just cruel.

Biggest Aww Moment - Roman meets his half brother

The "Way to Go" Award - Instead of playing the victim, Taylor gets herself free. Love that Atrian pregnancy strength hormone.

Biggest Surprise - Gloria calls in the Special Forces to round up Vega and the Trags after Teri tips her off.

Least Surprising - Roman uses the Trag mask and Emery to get up to Zoe

Blacklist - 1.22 - Berlin: Conclusion (season finale)

I've enjoyed The Blacklist this season, just not as a weekly show. I feel this is best served in big portions with ample time to digest afterwards. Let's just call it the Thanksgiving turkey of TV. Watching week by week rarely leaves me satisfied and I'm often frustrated by the lack of answers. In this, the season finale was the same. No answers, although we do see who Berlin is. Worst, they killed the 2 most interesting characters outside of Red. Killing off secondary characters to created instant tension rarely works in the long-term and I'm afraid that killing Tom Keen was a huge mistake. Turning him into the enemy was brilliant and they should have let that brew a bit longer. Slightly less annoying was killing off Malik. There aren't enough kick butt females on TV as it were and Elizabeth is no substitute for her.

Grade: B

Most Powerful Scene - Red talks about killing Sam

Best Quote - Red: "Tell me your story. I'm not leaving here without a story."

Best Reason to Watch - The mystery of Berlin gets bigger and Elizabeth finally stops pretending that she's going anywhere without Red

Most Impressive Skills - If this master criminal thing doesn't work out, Red can hide out in the circus as a knife thrower.

The "Well Hello" Award - Hi, Matt Lauer. Fancy meeting you here. Nice of you to join, The Blacklist.

Best Moment - Cooper completely ignores his stuffed shirt new boss to concentrate on the case

Best Twist - Stuffed Shirt helps Red escape

The "Say What?" Award - Malik is NOT an acceptable sacrifice. She's one of the few characters that I really like.

The "He's NOT Fooling Around" Award - Red just shoots everyone on his way to get to Berlin

Biggest Mistake - Killing off Tom. There goes one of my few reasons to watch this live next season. This one's headed for the marathon on hiatus pile.

Warehouse 13 - 5.05 - Cangku Shisi

This was one fun ride of an episode, my favorite of season 5. It had action galore and a fun nod to artifacts past. It took on the season's Big Bad and tied up all major loose ends. Mostly though, I really enjoyed learning more about the warehouse itself in this episode. I always wondered how they got everything from one place to another without losing any artifacts in the move. That question was abundantly answered. I also like the tidbit about Mrs. Frederic's sister. It feels like the two biggest mysteries of Warehouse 13, Mrs. Frederic and the warehouse itself, were given their due a bit here. The still remain mysterious but that's what future TV movies (hopefully) and good fan fiction are for. Take out the last 5 minutes and Pete's relationship nonsense and this would have been everything I could have wanted from the finale. Sadly, they placed it one episode too soon. I've seen the actual finale and for me, the series ends with this one. And so from that perspective, I say adieu Warehouse 13. You were great entertainment while you lasted. I'm only sorry that you were a bit tarnished this season by adding unnecessary plot twists and cramming far too much in for such a short season. I wish the show runner and writers had let you breathe a bit more in these last 6 episodes instead of applying the "everything and the kitchen sink" approach. It made you a bit less than you were before. Still, I will think of you fondly when I do my seasons 1-4 rewatch.

Grade: B+

Best Scene - Green Dragon tavern / defeating Valda even if it was too easy

Best Return - Mark Sheppard

Best Reason to Watch - lots of information on how the warehouse works, and a new part of the warehouse

Best Reason to Fast Forward - shipping nonsense

Least Surprising - Claudia connects with Claire through their Garbage song

Smartest - Pete and his great plan

Best Physical Reaction - Pete to spiders / Artie once he gets thawed

Biggest Businessman - Valda, who wants to militarize the artifacts

Biggest Aww Moment - Claire cries as she is forced to almost crush Claudia

The "Oh Yeah Right" Award - Any show where a secret passageway from the Revolution or even the Civil War still works gets an automatic eye roll

Biggest Surprise - Claire can become the caretaker if Claudia dies just like Mrs. Frederic took over for her sister. Yeah, she had a sister. Who knew?

The "Oh Uh" Award - Artie: "No, there's no plan D."

Best Hug - Artie and Steve congratulating themselves on saving the warehouse when it was really Pete, Myka, and Claire.

Playing House - 1.03 / 1.04 - Unfinished Business / Totes Kewl

Playing House is growing on me because of its heart. I don't laugh as much as I did in the midseason comedies, but I certainly awww in this show. What works is the relationship between Emma and Maggie. I completely buy them as best friends and childhood pals. Theirs is an easy bond that draws the viewer in, something not easy to fake. I look forward to seeing where this show is going. If this is USA Network's comedy plan, I wholeheartedly embrace it. Goodness knows they are screwing up the dramas.

Grade: B / B+

Best Scene - Mark and Maggie talk while on a stakeout

Biggest Aww Scene - Maggie and Bruce at the park / Maggie and Emma make up

Best Quote - Emma: "I don't want to live in a well. I don't want to live in a well."

Best Reason to Watch - the friendship of Maggie and Emma. They have a lot of chemistry on screen.

Best Addition - Jane Kaczmarek, so nice to see her back on my TV

Best Comeback - Gary puts Emma in her place when she questions his credentials

Biggest Meta - Zach actually says, "Characters welcome," in his poetry reading, which is the tagline for the USA Network

The "Say What?" Award - I have no idea why Maggie is grilling Candy like she's in a cop show. It wasn't funny and it made zero sense. In fact, I was wondering if she had a mental condition.

Foul on that Play - Sorry Maggie, but I'm siding with Emma here. Just because you are best friends doesn't mean you get to drag her into something she really, really does not want to do. / Maggie, you can't hold Emma responsible if you don't tell her the truth about how you feel

Funniest - Emma's mom is lusting over the same cop that Maggie and Emma were to their chagrin

Best Prank - Bruce, who comes up behind them in a hockey mask while they are watching Silence of the Lambs

The "Grow Up" Award - Emma first tries to hide from her mom and then tries to pick a fight with her. Make up your mind.

Most oblivious - Emma really doesn’t read social cues well, even with her best friend, whom she should be able to read in most situations

Most Uncomfortable - the sexual innuendo when a cop installs a baby seat

Most Awkward - Gwen gives Emma syrup from her purse and invites her to go get more

The "Exactly How Old Are You?" Award - No one over the age of 14 should ever say, "totes kewl." Ever! That goes double for "feels" as a noun.

SHIELD - 1.22 - Beginning of the End (season finale)

The Agents of SHIELD season finale could best be described as an honest to goodness Disney fairy tale. The good guys won. The bad guys lost. Nick Fury was their own personal fairy godmother. It's not a stretch to say that if this were it, they'd live happily ever after. Well except Fitz and Ward. Thing is that most of it felt like a series finale instead of a season one. It's almost like the writers were the only people on earth unsure of whether SHIELD would get a season 2. Therefore they wrapped most of the show up neatly before closing credits. There's no real cliffhanger I expect from sci fi shows. Sure Skye's Pops has an advanced case of hematidrosis and Coulson inherited Garrett's strange tic for etching, but neither seem sci-fi finale big. Yeah Fitz's condition is up in the air, but no one is weeping by his bedside begging him to hold on just a bit longer for a miracle cure. It all ended a bit flat. Perhaps rebuilding SHIELD is the big kicker, but if it ended here I would have been satisfied.

Grade: B+ (with bonus points for the epic action)

Best Scene / Best Action - May vs. Ward fight

Best Quote - Coulson: "So what do you say? You ready to change the world?" May: "No, I'm ready to kick some a**." Coulson: "That works too."

Best Reason to Watch - the good guys won and Coulson got promoted

Best Twist - I was in the middle of tweeting about how no one is really dead in a sci fi show unless they get beheaded so of course Garrett would come back. Then he did in the finale and I sighed, right until Coulson blew him into tiny bits. Woo hoo! Didn't see that coming and it takes a lot to shock me that much. Kudos all around!

Best Return - Fury, who found them through the SHIELD signal Fitz rigged up

Biggest Surprise Return - Keonig, well his twin brother Billy. He's installed in the new super secret hideout base and still as obsessed with lanyards as the original. I'm beginning to think there's a Koenig at every secret base SHIELD owns.

Most Nuts - Garrett, who is a cross between high and crazy, with huge, creepy eyes

The "If You weren't a Greedy, Evil Douche, I'd Actually Feel Sorry for You" Award - Oh Quinn, it's hard to be a salesman when your boss keeps killing your clients. Perhaps you should find another line of work.

Worst Cliffhanger - everything Skye

Best Surprise - Mike blasts Garrett after Skye proves she has his son

Least Surprising - Garrett was not dead after Mike pulverized him, even if they thought he was

The "Oh Yeah, There's Nothing Wrong with You at All" award - Garrett actually says, "Now the truth is written on the back of my eyes." Yeah, there's the guy you want to lead you into battle.

Biggest Awww Moment - Fitz gives Simmons the only oxygen tank

Best Sign that Things Really have Changed - Coulson includes May in his meeting with Fury, which signals to me that their relationship is completely restored again

Biggest Mystery - While I'd love to say it was the etchings Garrett and Coulson made, in all honesty, it's what Ward's role will be in season 2. I hope he's still in it. There's a lot still left to mine in his character.

The Goldbergs - 1.23 - Livin' on a Prayer (season finale)

No show does the end of episode song montage better than The Goldbergs. It's one of my favorite parts because generally that's right where the heart comes. Just a simple thing like watching the Goldbergs have fun playing basketball together warms my spirits. Add in the best 80's song ever, Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi, and it's all good. I even like the voice overs in this show, which hasn't happened since Burn Notice. As for this episode, I adored it. Mostly because it starred my two favorite Goldbergs, Murray and Barry. I love how their high school lives were so different but they connect here. I like that Barry is allowed a win even more. It happens so rarely. All in all, I laughed throughout the show but I also felt for the characters more than ever. So much so that I cheered along when Barry proclaimed it his best night ever. Thanks cast and crew for creating a comedy in which I genuinely care about the characters. That almost never happens. Bring on season 2!

Grade: A-

Best Scene - Barry pleads his case to Murray, who gives him 10 minutes before he breaks up the party

Best Quote - Adam: "Move over Aunt Rose's 50th. This is the hottest party this dining room's ever seen."

Best Reason to Watch - learning more about Murray's background / Barry finally feeling like a winner

Best Aww Scene - Lainey pep talks Barry

The "Yeah, You Know You Sang Along Too" Award - Bon Jovi was basically the anthem of my high school years. It is an 80's imperative that if it comes on, you turn it up and sing along. I refuse to be embarrassed for it. You know you were singing along too.

Most Persistent - Barry, who can do something badly 100 times and still get excited about the 1 time he accidentally gets it right

Cutest High School Chant - "Let's go beavers, chop, chop, chop" complete with hand gestures like people talking.

Biggest Shock - Lainey kisses Barry to make Lexy jealous

The "Oh Do I Feel for You" Award - Murray, when he air balls a free throw using the granny shot. That's just embarrassing.

Trend Starter - Beverly, whose wardrobe made the first ever Ugly Sweater party. Christmas office parties will forever be in your debt.

Best Continuity - The same frat guy who Beverly cleaned for to get back Murray's chair shows up at the party and negotiate his return of her sweater.

Best 80's Reference (non-music) - Barry does the Karate Kid crane kick as one of his dance moves

Trophy Wife - 1.22 - Mother's Day (series finale)

And thus ends Trophy Wife, a TV show that was saddled with an unfortunate name and a tendency to go overboard on the wacky, but still far better than the majority of new shows this season. I will be sorry to see this clan go. Diane was always my personal favorite but anytime the 3 wives were together, it was bound to be a great scene.

Grade: B

Best Scene - The entire family hanging out in the hotel room together

Best Quote - Jackie: "Get off of my meal ticket."

Best Reason to Watch - This family may not be your typical family, but they have twice as much heart even in their wackiness

Biggest Manipulator - Bert makes Sad Steve tell him where Jackie is at

Biggest Laugh - Meg pretends to be Pete's wife as he wakes up

The "Beware Ex-Wives Bearing Compliments" Award - Kate is super excited about Diane and Jackie leaving the kids with her on Mother's Day. I'm suspicious of how Jackie wants to jet away before Kate can even fawn over them for it.

Snarkiest - Pete's doctor and his cartoon broccoli pamphlet

The "Yeah Right" Award - Jackie, even if you got Diane as smashed as the Christmas fiasco, there's no way she's having a threesome with you. No way.

The "I Can't Believe You Just Did That" Award - Diane cuts the phone cord at the receptionist desk at the hospital. Security! Actually I can't believe a receptionist's desk would still have a corded phone so maybe it's a good thing.

The 100 - 1.09 - Unity Day

I find it fascinating that when this show started I wanted to fast forward through the Ark scenes and rush back to those on Earth. Now it's the direct opposite. For the last few episodes, the Ark has gotten really interesting while the earth scenes were mostly mired down in the typical CW fare. However I have great hope that the show's newest addition, Grounder Queen, can shake that up a bit. Just like the insert of Teen Grimm, she could be the warrior leader we need now that Bellamy and Clarke have done a mind meld outside common sense. I am certainly more interested in the grounders than anything else right now. Well that and of course the Ark. I'm not sure how dire the circumstances are and if there is another ship. Surely there is because that didn't look like it would hold 700+ people and all their supplies to me. Still, if there is another ship it makes Diana's actions even more rash and make less sense. Here's hoping she tells us when she makes it to the ground and we find out it was a piece of the Ark that hit the earth instead. I mean surely they wouldn't introduce a Big Bad and kill her off within 3 episodes, right? Oh well, either way it is win-win. Either she's dead and I don't have to be disappointed by her idiocy or she's alive and she gives Clarke and Bellamy a reason to be on opposite sides again, which was far more captivating.

Grade: B

Best Scene - Grounder Queen and Clarke meet

Best Quote - Finn: "You really want a war because at this rate, that's what's coming. Look I know it's a long shot, but this is our world now. I think we can do better than the first time around. I trust him."

Best Reason to Watch - the Ark issues and the Grounder Queen

Stupidest Move Yet - Bellamy brings an armed Jasper to a meeting with the grounders. In what universe would that at all be a wise move.

Most Improved / Biggest Idealist - Finn, who when given something to do outside the scope of a love triangle, becomes an intriguing character again. I hope that Finn continues to play a bigger role, especially since he is now the voice of reason to a leadership that has lost all common sense.

Biggest Disappointment - Diana, who I thought was going to be a great, manipulative foe. Instead she jumps the gun too soon so that it makes little to no sense.

Pretty Nifty Trick - the title card explodes a little too after the Ark does

The "Did You Learn Nothing" Award - After everyone was hopped up on toxic berries in the last episode, I'm not sure having the whole camp get drunk on moonshine is a great plan.

The "Isn't It Romantic" Award - Lincoln, the grounder, leaves a path of flowers for Octavia to follow and she comes at him with a knife to practice her ambush tactics

Best New Addition - Grounder Queen. I hope she comes back and I hope she kicks major butt.

Elementary - 2.24 - The Grand Experiment (season finale)

For the last several weeks, Elementary has reasserted itself as Must Watch TV for me. A large part of that has been the reveal that Mycroft was working for MI-6 and the character reactions to that. So, it is with mixed emotions that I approach this finale. I loved that Sherlock finally knew the truth about why his brother joined MI-6 again. It was a crucial character development and led to one of the most beautiful proclamations Sherlock has ever given. I truly believe that he plans to make things up to Mycroft even now. Until I am proven wrong, I refuse to believe that Sherlock taking the heroin out and going to MI-6 is the act of a desperate man and is instead the act of a most clever man about to make taking down Milieu his mission so that his brother can return to his life. I may be completely wrong but I hope not. I also love Sherlock's speech to Watson about how he can now change. I hope so because character growth in Sherlock is one of the reasons while I am still watching Elementary. It should be interesting to see how they function in different spaces and even more so, how much he plans to tell her about MI-6. Partners keeping secrets never end well. Sadly though, it feels like we are saying adieu to Mycroft far too soon. I had hoped that he would continue on with MI-6 and that their paths would cross on cases on occasion. Oh well, there's still Moriarty.

Grade: A-

Best Scene By Far - Sherlock tells Mycroft her knows about why he's in MI-6

Best Quote - Sherlock: "Our collaboration works, Watson. Even when things are less than ideal between us, it works. When I look back on the last 18 months, I often categorize it as a kind of grand experiment. The results of which have demonstrated to me, much to my surprise, that I am capable of change. So I will…change, for you, for the sake of our partnership, for the sake of our…our work. Stay."

Best Reason to Watch - Mycroft and everyone's reaction to his stunning revelations

Least Expected - Mycroft's car blows up

Biggest Awww Moment - Mycroft has to disappear, probably forever. I am saddened. He has more patience than I could ever have. Case in point, he hugs Sherlock and says he love him while Sherlock is insulting him. I would have punched him.

The "It's About Time Someone Shut You Up" Award - Watson tells Sherlock the only reason Mycroft is involved with MI-6 is because of him

Most Petulant - Sherlock, who refuses Joan's help in figuring out what the tattoos mean

Stoniest Glare - Captain Gregson. Seriously the man could out freeze ice in his disapproval.

Biggest Ouch - Mycroft repeats what Sherlock said to their father about him at 15. It cut him so deeply that it still effects him today.

The "It Shouldn't Surprise Me But…" Award - Sherlock breaks into a car to do surveillance. Isn't that a bit risky if the owner comes back out?

Worst Revelations - Sherlock picks up the pack of heroin and is employed by MI-6

The "Duh, It's Not that Hard" Award - I have no idea why it took so long to name Sharington as the mole. It had to be him way sooner than they stopped hemming and hawing.

Best Plan - Watson dials in Everyone before starting her conversation with Sharington. They have been quite useful this season, now protecting Watson

Best Reaction - Sherlock's shocked face when Watson calls him out on his sulking

Worst Way to Die - stoned to death

Worst Decorating - Sherlock, you are going to have one ticked realtor on your hands. It's going to be hard enough finding a buyer in a murder victim's place, much less one that likes blood spatter décor.

Worst Scavenger Hunt / Best Morning - Sherlock leaves tattoo clues in the hall for Joan to follow down to him in the living room. At least he didn't wake her up by standing over her like usual. That's a definite improvement.

The "What the Heck?" Award - While I adore Joan for getting Everyone in on her plan against Sharington, I am shocked that a group of cyber hackers, who are likely in hiding from a lot of governments, would show their faces like that. I expected them to at least be wearing disguises or something.

The "Well Played" Award - Sharington threatens to burn Mycroft with Milieu unless he allows Sharington to murder him as a traitor

Best Twist - Mycroft goes to the NSA to take care of his Sharington problem with their own Milieu contacts and exchanges information for them faking his death

TBBT - 7.23 / 7.24 - The Gorilla Dissolution / The Status Quo Combustion (season finale)

I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by TBBT's finale. I love the idea of Sheldon going off on his own and maybe growing up a bit. Over the years, TBBT has grown a little stale, mostly because the characters are rarely allowed to develop and change except in very slow increments. Sheldon hasn't changed much at all. By having him face life on his own, they have a golden opportunity to stretch the character and refresh the show. I only hope that we don't miss out on all of his adventures. I would love to see what he experienced. I am also good with Stewart getting more tied into the characters' lives and the addition of Emily.

Grade: B+

Best Scene - Leonard proposes to Penny / Penny convinces Leonard to let Sheldon leave on his own

Best Quote - Bernadette: "You were right." Howard: "Welcome to Team Putz." / Bernadette: "Sweetie, I love you and as your wife, your mother is every bit my problem as she is yours, so…I want a divorce."

Best Reason to Watch - Raj and Emily are fast becoming my favorites / Stewart happy as a nurse / Sheldon travels alone

Biggest Aww - Both Leonard and Wil defend Penny from the douchey director

Biggest Surprise - Sheldon actually gives Raj good advice, despite himself / Stewart becomes Howard's mom's nurse

The "Take a Hint" Award - How is it that no one on TBBT can take a hint? Amy, if a couple starts talking about alone time, it is past time to go.

Most Bizarre Proposal Ever - Penny and Leonard kind of fall into an engagement with each other, and even they think it's anticlimactic. Luckily Leonard has had a ring ready for a couple of years and they do it right a couple of minutes later.

The "Poor Baby" Award - Leonard, whose mother is just as impossible as his roommate / Stewart, whose comic book shop burns down

Biggest Anticipation - Sheldon traveling on his own is bound to provide some desperately needed character growth. I only hope we get to see part of it and it doesn't just time jump past his adventures.

Grimm - 3.22 - Blond Ambition (season finale)

Grade: A-

Best Scene - Nick realizes he's not a Grimm

Best Quote - Teen Grimm: "Better being a Grimm than being crazy…I think." / Monroe: "You're not a Grimm anymore."

Best Reason to Fast Forward - any hint of the love spell problem

Most Improved - Monroe's dad, who comes to the rescue twice

Most Fun - DeEtta, the boozy sister

Best Wesen - the Abath, which is apparently a unicorn Wesen. Can't wait to learn more about that one.

Stupidest - Impossible to pick because no one but Adalind was exactly using their brains in Portland. How is it possible that Adalind could have tricked them so thoroughly? Does no one else have sunglasses in the entire wedding party?

Best Rescue - Drunk Sister, who ruined the hideous wedding dress to allow Rosalee to actually look beautiful on her wedding day.

The "Get in Line, Sister" Award - Juliette is ticked off at the possibility of Renard and her in a love spell plot again. Join the club. I'm ticked they even mentioned it. Foul on that play. It is best if we all develop amnesia about that one.

Worst Timing - a bloody Teen Grimm interrupts the wedding and everyone panics

Biggest Aww Moment - Monroe's dad buys Rosalee a much better wedding dress, while their moms push the dress shop attendant to open the door to them

Funniest Moment - everyone at the wedding rehearsal makes excuses for why Nick must wear his sunglasses

The "This Can't End Well" award - Nick sleeps with Adalind disguised as Juliette. No long-term consequences from that one I bet and I'm not talking about Nick's inability to see Wesen. Oh the melodrama.

The "Thank Goodness" Award - I was seriously questioning Rosalee's sanity when she chose that hideous dress to be married in. Thanks Monroe for setting the record straight. No one should feel obliged to wear someone else's dress on their special day.

Best Reaction - Monroe and Rosalee to the wedding dress being ruined / Monroe's mom smiling when the dress shop attendant opens the door / Nick realizes he's not a Grimm anymore

Best Toast - Monroe's dad apologizes to Monroe, Rosalee, and Nick, plus gives a tribute to his wife

Most in Need of Basic Emergency Lessons - Teen Grimm, who fans the flames coming out of the stove instead of smothers them

The "Yeah, This is Never Going to Work" award - Unless you have Teen Grimm living in the trailer, this parking it in the woods will backfire on you. It's called a paper trail, Nick. You use them all the time in your job.

Most Wicked - the 3 bladed knife

The "Say What?" Award - Why do spells/clues written in foreign languages always rhyme in English? It's the Goonies Quandary.

Biggest Plot Device - Nick's phone. It keeps ringing with important information, which he never gets because it's never on him.

Screencaps by Screenrant, The Escapist, Grimm NBC, Idiotbox, Tumblr, Zap2It, EW, Digital Spy, Critic Wire, Liberty Voice, YouTube, The Trades, Sky, USA Network, Variety, and TV.com.

About the Author - Dahne

POLL : What did you think of Warehouse 13 - Endless?

2014-05-20T03:00:00.000+01:00

Warehouse 13 - Episode 5.06 - Endless (Series Finale) - Promotional Photos

2014-05-19T20:26:00.003+01:00

POLL : What are you watching Tonight? - 19th May 2014

2014-05-19T10:00:00.000+01:00

Warehouse 13 - 5.05 - Cangku Shisi - Recap / Review

2014-05-19T05:21:00.004+01:00

Previously - Valda portal jumped to the original timeline, while Claire was put in a coma and then kidnapped by Valda.

Slamming into Claire's previous B & B, Claudia freaks that maybe she did something that made Claire worse. Artie reassures her and given that the record player is missing, he's right. Claudia: "Nice security in this place." Artie: "Well, you might have noticed that when you broke in." Ha, so true. They use the Durational Spectrometer to find Valda is back. In some random motel, he adds a wicked steam punk lens to Claire's eye which allows him to control her powers and sends her some mental telepathy. When she refuses to obey his commands, it causes a painful feedback to run through her brain. She tries again to brain him with a lamp, but it misses. He's thought of everything. Me, I'm just excited Mark Sheppard is finally back. The Warehouse Crew, not so much. Artie and Claudia fill them in on portal jumping, as Pete turns the ship's wheel in the office. Big mistake. Everyone gets tilted until it is set to rights. Pete: "What? I never knew it did that." Me either buddy. Myka: "Stop touching things." Ha! Always a good plan in the warehouse. Isn't that basically rule #1? Claudia figures out Valda has been living in his room in the Dead Agent's Vault, which is still the creepiest thing around but probably makes the best hangout. Myka tells Pete to come with her and he hems and haws because the PTB are dead set on ruining this show. None of it is worth recapping. At least Myka isn't ruined yet. Myka: "Bring your favorite teddy bear and a night light. Come on." Bwah! Pete has Steve come hold his hand and they search Valda's things. He finds a file on Claire and Claudia. Pete: "What if he was going to use her to create an army of telekinetic rage monsters to conquer the world?" Makes sense to me but Myka finds a key to the Regent's Vault missing so they start there.

In the Lakeshore Valu-Mart / Regent's Vault, they find Keeler murdered by Valda. Sadly, when Artie flips him over, it reveals another artifact - Sir William Perry's inuksuk. Artie barely has time to yell trap before he becomes a purple popsicle. Luckily, Myka and Pete are blasted away so they are not affected. Once the artifact ices over they re-enter but for reasons I do not understand at all, they cannot put an artifact covered in ice in the goo bag. Shouldn't the goo go through the ice? If not, couldn't they place it in the bag and then pound on the artifact instead of doing it outside the bag? Hmmm. Myka deduces that Artie is being cryogenically frozen and after an hour, it will be irreversible. Pete: "Right. There it is. I knew there was some bad news in there somewhere." Such goes a warehouse job. Luckily Pete also remembers Alfred Butz's glasses, which should warm Artie right up. They go to call Steve but it is frigid in the vault. Pete: "Let's call him up there." Ha! Good plan. Steve gets the all-call but is hesitant to leave an irate Claudia. Steve: "Are you okay here on your own?" Claudia: "I'm following Artie's sage advice - channeling my anger." She takes a hammer to Valda's picture. Steve: "I don't think that's what he meant, but if it makes you feel better…" Claudia agrees it does and sends Steve on his way. Claudia: "Artie too. You keep giving me reasons to kick your a** Mr. V." Well Claudia, you better hurry because Valda is about to take down an entire park of people with Claire's help. A mysterious buyer pulls up, Valda tells him to put in earplugs, and Claire starts the record player. Instantly everyone collapses. Valda says in 30 minutes the people will start convulsing, a convincing show of the strength of the artifacts as weapons. He offers to militarize the warehouse for his buyer and create an empire. Then he gives Claire a mason's square to give to the buyer so their plan can begin. Duhn, duhn, duhn.

While Valda threatens to take over the world, the Warehouse Crew thaws out Artie and uses Brigadier General Laverlong's elephant walking stick to create an earthquake in order to knock ice off the inuksuk. Pete smashes, Steve bags, and Artie wakes up irate and uncoordinated. Pete: "Good, he's grumpy. He'll be okay." Ha! Suddenly they are pinged to Rapid City. Pete again tries to avoid working with Myka and Steve calls him on it. I call the writers out on trying to force this plot in 6 episodes. Bah! Myka and Pete get to Rapid City and find the record player just as people start to convulse. Pete goes for the record only to be blasted away. Luckily Claudia has the answer since she finds Chuck Yeager's record among Valda's things. Well the album cover since the record is on player. She hightails it over to bring them Charles Atlas' workout trunks. Myka shimmies them on and succeeds in destroying the record, awakening the people just in time. Of course the trunks create a sinkhole so Pete pantses her just in time, catching her as she swoons. Then he promptly drops her after she thanks him. Whatever. Back to a storyline I can get behind. In the regent's vault, Artie listens to vibrations to determine which item was stolen. What he finds is the worst case scenario. Artie: "Benedict Valda's going to steal the warehouse." Huh? Claudia, Pete, and Myka are similarly confused. Basically he needs 3 tools from Hiram Abiff, the builder of Solomon's first temple - his setting maul, mason square, and compass. When all 3 are used together, it signals the transfer to the next warehouse by turning the artifacts to energy and sending that energy to the new warehouse. Pete and I: "Say what?" Claudia: "It's like the transporter from Star Trek minus the dilithium crystals." Oh, thanks Claudia. So basically, "Beam me up, Scotty" for objects. Artie sends them to get the hammer part of the setting maul before Valda gets it so it's off to Boston and the Green Dragon Tavern.

As for Artie and Steve, they're off to secure the compass in the Aisle of the Widow's Son section of the warehouse. Steve asks why it's called that for all of us and Artie launches into a big spiel about Freemasons before thinking better of it. Artie: "Don't you have access to Wikipedia? Look it up." BWAAHHH!!! Best line of the night. Artie says they store the compass there because it is one of the most secure parts of the warehouse, which of course means…it's gone. Steve: "So when you say safe…" Artie: "Don't start with me." Ha! I love these two together. Valda hid the compass somewhere in the warehouse, and quite frankly, I'm surprised they don't have an artifact that could clue them in to where. But I guess that would be too easy. Fair enough. While our warehouse duo lick their wounds, the Boston trio are not doing much better. They find the Green Dragon Tavern but unfortunately Valda gets there first. Smart Pete comes out to play and figures out Valda used the park disaster as a demonstration of power for the future warehouse owner. I like Smart Pete. Sadly Smart Pete gets stymied by Powered Up Claire, who forces Claudia to hold up a huge slab of rock. One tear rolls down her face as she does. Aww Claire, you keep getting screwed over by artifacts. Pete: "You really think we're going to let you steal the warehouse." Valda: "You really think you have a choice." Good point. It's hard to save the warehouse when your co-worker's sister seals you in a hidden room. Valda assembles the setting maul, activating the compass. Objects start to disappear from the warehouse, moving to their new home. Time to follow the great beacon of light. Artie says it's under the warehouse, which makes zero sense to me. Steve and I: "There's an under the warehouse?" Who knew?

Meanwhile Pete and Myka try to push the huge slab out of the way so they can escape. Myka: "Put your back into it, Lattimer." Pete: "If I put my back any more into it, my kidneys are going to explode." Bwah! This is not the most useful plan. Time to use your heads. And quickly, because Claudia's spider senses are all tingly. Something beyond just moving the warehouse is happening. They figure the colonists would have an escape hatch in case the Redcoats attacked, so they search for a secondary way out and again it's Smart Pete to the rescue. Pete: "One if by land. Two if by sea. Three if by secret passageway. Zoiks, Velma, Daphne, let's go." Ha! Still I call foul on every TV show/movie that uses these shenanigans. No way in 300 years these secret passageways haven't collapsed, been boarded up, or had their mechanisms rusted so badly they don't work. It bugs me every time. It's the literal bugs that get to Pete though. Don't blame you, buddy. I hate spiders too. Claudia tracks Valda to a diplomatic car from the Chinese embassy. Pete: "Outsourcing, huh? This guy gets more evil by the minute." Bwah! Pete gets all the good lines tonight. They call Artie, who confirms that Valda's on a flight to China as they speak. Pete: "Man, I don't want to work in China. It's probably impossible to find a good burrito." Not to mention, I don't think they will let American agents anywhere near the place. You are getting outsourced, Pete. As they head back to the portal, Artie and Steve find the activated compass and plan to goo it. Steve questions if it will work. Artie: "I stopped being sure of things in 1983, but if we don't do something then everything in the warehouse will disappear within a day." Steve: "So no pressure." Sorry buddy. Comes with the job. Naturally goo doesn't work so it's Plan B - sticky string. Woo hoo! I loved that episode. It works for a hot minute but then the compass strikes back, plucking the strings off one strand at a time. I say stick with that plan until you run out of sticky string, myself. Slowing it down is better than nothing at this point.

With the race to get to China on, the Boston trio rush back to the warehouse only to see another set of artifacts disappear. Myka: "I'm not ready for the warehouse to move." Claudia: "This can't be the end." Pete: "This isn't the end. We won't let it be." Pep talk re-invigorating them, they meet up with Artie and Steve. Claudia questions why Valda hasn't killed Claire even though he has everything he needs and Artie thinks he knows why. Claudia: "What? That's a bad tone. What?" Artie explains that when the first caretaker of Warehouse 13 died, her sister, Mrs. Frederic, took over. Pete: "Mrs. Frederic had a sister? So what…Mrs. Frederic of the East?" I'm shocked too. Didn't see that coming. Artie reminds them that Claire is not only powerful but controlled by Valda. Claudia and Myka protest that Claire is still in there but Artie warns them not to lower their guard. Artie: "Don't let your feelings for her be your blind spot." He opens the portal and tells them the new warehouse will be located at Beijing National Olympic Stadium. Artie: "If he finds the cornerstone and strikes it with the setting maul, then the new warehouse will be consecrated, the artifacts will start to phase into their new home, and Warehouse 13 will officially come to an end." Dramatic music swells as they all react to losing the warehouse for good. Pete: "Okay, right. Let's go to China and stop Valda from ordering take-out." Ha! Pete has a unique turn of phrase. They disappear into the portal right as the compass breaks free from the last sticky string. Steve: "Tell me that you have a Plan C." Artie: "We have no choice. We're going to have to destroy the compass." Steve: "What happens if we destroy it?" Artie: "Happily accepting guesses on that." Yep, times are that dire.

Apparently portals take you directly where you want to go because Myka, Pete, and Claudia don't worry about security around the building. I want a portal that helps me skip long plane rides, customs, baggage claims, and taxi rides to the hotel too. Let's release that artifact, stat. No? Darn! Myka, who of course reads Chinese, notices the sign says Warehouse 14 to everyone's chagrin. Things look abandoned as they walk right in, but artifacts pulse in and out. Valda has not struck the cornerstone yet. Pete is mid-sentence about setting a trap, when Claire sticks them to the wall like bugs. It all goes swimmingly for Valda until he starts to villain monologue. Bad move…always! Valda: "Welcome to Cangku Shisi, Warehouse 14. My warehouse. Thank you for providing the means to come to this reality. You've given me something in this world I could never have had in mine. Complete control. Kill them slowly. I want them to see it all arrive before they die." He's basically Paracelsus minus the scientific experimentation. Same overconfidence though. He leaves Claire alone with them. To no one's surprise, Claudia connects with her sister through Garbage's When I Grow Up, the same song they sang at the coffeehouse. As Claire sings too, she lets them down. It's all touching but time to stop Valda. Meanwhile, Artie tries to blow up the compass with Julius Wilbrand's lab coat buttons. He invented TNT. Um dynamite, not the cable network. Steve: "Well Artie, if we destroy the compass, what happens when it's actually time to move the warehouse?" Artie: "Eh, let them use Fed Ex." BWAAAAHHH!!!!! I love that line. Sadly, even dynamite buttons can't stop the compass and there's no Plan D. A frustrated Artie grabs a rope. Artie: "Valda, you SoB. This is my home and I will never, never let you take it away. Do you hear me? Never, Never." Steve: "Is this rope an artifact?" Nope! If Artie can't find something to stop the compass from turning, then he'll do it himself. Steve grabs the other end and they strain to keep the warehouse from disappearing, one artifact at a time.

As they struggle, Claudia suggests transferring Claire's energy into Valda, but Myka reminds her that Valda would be far too powerful. Smart Pete disagrees. He has a plan. They race to Valda and he and Pete fight. Myka picks up the setting maul as Claudia takes out Claire's eyepiece and puts it in backward. That's all it takes to transfer energy? What? I guess so because Valda's eyes glow white. He forces the setting maul from Myka's hand, but Pete has the last laugh. In the brawl, he removed the Versailles fork from Valda's pocket. You know, the one that allowed him to transfer to this timeline. Pete drops it into a goo bag and Valda flashes away in a burst of light. I have no idea why it works. I have less of an idea why this wasn't a better developed 2-part episode. Everything here screams season finale and it would've been a dynamite ending if it were. With his death, the eye piece pops off of Claire and she's magically cured as well. The music box energy died with Valda. How convenient. But it's Myka disassembling the setting maul that sends the artifacts back to Warehouse 13. Myka: "How many times do we have to save the world?" Pete: "We should get a raise." Agreed. As the artifacts reappear the compass stops and Steve and Artie believe they stopped Valda's plan. As they hug and dance in celebration, I laugh. Their joy is infectious. With everything back to normal the Boston trio return home, where Claudia reassures Claire that she's indeed cured. Claudia: "Simple physics really, with a freaky warehouse twist." She also gives Claire her guitar back, while Claire in turn inspires Claudia by saying destiny can be overcome. It's a tender sister moment, ruined by Pete's feelings for Myka again. Basically Steve the human lie detector confirms his love. Blech! Bah! Whatever! Moving on. Myka and Artie return the compass, but it starts glowing again. Uh oh! Even Mrs. Frederic doesn't know if she can stop what Valda set into place. That can't be good.

This was one fun ride of an episode, my favorite of season 5. It had action galore and a fun nod to artifacts past. It took on the season's Big Bad and tied up all major loose ends. Mostly though, I really enjoyed learning more about the warehouse itself. I always wondered how they got everything from one place to another without losing artifacts in the move. That question was abundantly answered. I also liked the tidbit about Mrs. Frederic's sister. It feels like the two biggest mysteries of Warehouse 13, Mrs. Frederic and the warehouse itself, were given a bit of their due. They still remain mysterious but that's what future TV movies (hopefully) and good fan fiction are for. Take out the last 5 minutes and Pete's relationship issues and this would have been everything I could have wanted from the finale. Sadly, they placed it one episode too soon. I've seen the actual finale and for me, the series ends with this one. So from that perspective, I say adieu Warehouse 13. You were great entertainment while you lasted. I'm only sorry you were a bit tarnished this season by adding unnecessary plot twists and cramming far too much in for such a short season. I wish the show runner and writers had let you breathe a bit more in these last 6 episodes instead of applying the "everything and the kitchen sink" approach. It made you a bit less than you were before. Still, I will think of you fondly when I do my seasons 1-4 rewatch.

Grade: B+

Best Scene - Green Dragon tavern / defeating Valda even if it was too easy

Best Return - Mark Sheppard

Best Reason to Watch - lots of information on how the warehouse works

Best Reason to Fast Forward - shipping nonsense

Least Surprising - Claudia connects with Claire through their Garbage song

Smartest - Pete's great plan

Best Physical Reaction - Pete to spiders / Artie once he gets thawed

Best Businessman - Valda, who wants to militarize the artifacts

Biggest Aww Moment - Claire cries as she is forced to almost crush Claudia

The "Oh Yeah Right" Award - Any show where a secret passageway from the Revolution or even the Civil War still works gets an automatic eye roll from me

Biggest Surprise - Claire can become the caretaker if Claudia dies just like Mrs. Frederic took over for her sister. Yeah, she had a sister. Who knew?

The "Oh Uh" Award - Artie: "No, there's no plan D."

Best Hug - Artie and Steve congratulating themselves on saving the warehouse when it was really Pete, Myka, and Claire.

Screencaps by Sled Uju, The Backlot, The Trades,

About the Author - Dahne

Warehouse 13 - 5.06 - Endless - Preview

2014-05-19T02:55:00.000+01:00

Warehouse 13 airs Monday at 9/8C on SyFy.

For better or worse, shows often become synonymous with their finales. Some elevate a series beyond what it was. Hello, The Fugitive. Some leave people angry and disappointed, like The Sopranos or evidently How I Met Your Mother. Some will forever be debated. Looking at you LOST and Seinfeld. So what is Warehouse 13's finale legacy? To be honest, I'm not sure. It's a weird little clip show montage that is high on character catharsis but low on action or even fun. My guess is that how you judge the finale will depend in part on why you watch the show. If the characters are the most important part and you just want to spend a little more time with them, then this should be an exceptional finale for you. If you are more interested in the action, plot, artifacts, or mysteries, then chances are you will prefer the previous episode as a finale.

The saga begins with Mrs. Frederic saying the warehouse is ending and demanding that they all contribute their defining moments at Warehouse 13 to the time capsule. They do this by placing their hand on Arthur's Round Table so the warehouse can sift through their memories and choose the pinnacle for them. Obviously Pete rejects this assignment, feeling like they are giving up the warehouse without a fight. The warehouse means too much for him to just walk away and he sees the other's acceptance of their fate as a personal affront. He storms off but one by one, they do as they are told. For each character, we get a clip show of their greatest hits and then a defining moment that was not previously aired. Some are funny like Claudia's, although the ramifications of hers makes little sense as far as her characterization goes, especially with having Steve as a best friend. Artie's is shocking, a huge twist to the character that I never expected. Steve's is full of wonder and Myka's, revelation. They each get to say goodbye to the warehouse in their own way, a cathartic release of emotion we as the audience take with them. While I would have preferred to make last week's episode a two-parter and devote more time and depth to stopping Valda, many fans will find this a satisfying way to say goodbye to the characters they have come to love.

Grade: B-

Best Scene - Artie breaks down while talking to the warehouse

Best Awww Scene / Best Character Interaction - Artie tells Claudia it's okay to be a little selfish and be your own self

Best Quote - "Okay I've got an idea. How about instead of sitting around the mystical table of kumbaya, we do something crazy like, I don't know, stop it from moving, right?" / "I just want you to be happy."

Best Reason to Watch - It's the finale. If you need a reason, it's not worth watching.

Best Cameo - H G Wells

Most Surprising Cameo - *****

Best Action - Ninja cat burglar kung fu fighting

Most Way Out There - Steve's moment

Biggest Shock - Artie's moment. It is definitely a "What the what?!?" time.

Funniest Scene - Claudia's defining moment

The "I Wish I Were You" Award - Steve, who gets to see a lot of great warehouse moments we don't get to see. Not fair! He even got to see Mr. Frederic.

Bittersweet Moment - all of them shouting, "Best job ever."

The "You've Thought Too Much on This" Award - Steve knows exactly which one of the Munsters each of them are

Biggest Hypocrite - Artie

The "What the Heck?" Award - the flash forward at the end pretty much negates much of what happens in the episode

Screencaps by Nerdly, SyFy, The Trades, and The Examiner.

About the Author - Dahne

Warehouse 13 - Episode 5.06 - Endless (Series Finale) - Promo & Sneak Peek

2014-05-13T23:30:00.000+01:00

Final Adjusted TV Ratings for Monday 12th May 2014

2014-05-13T23:16:00.001+01:00

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Last Week in TV - Week of May 4 - Episode Awards and Reviews

2014-05-13T03:17:00.003+01:00

The end of the official 2013-2014 TV season is upon us and last week we got confirmation about whether our favorite TV shows would be returning or not. It's always a time of mixed glee and sadness. Sometimes it evokes anger that good shows die while trashy, poorly written ones continue. Let's face it, everyone rails at Nielsen viewers for their sometimes crummy taste. Here's my TV score card. Don't forget to share yours in the comments below. Also as always, if you have a show to nominate feel free. I will be doing special summer marathon watches to buff up my summer viewing so I'm looking for shows to stream.

TV Score Card:

Show I Will Miss Most - Enlisted, Surviving Jack, Star-Crossed, Almost Human,

Shows I Will Miss - The Crazy Ones, Community, Growing Up Fisher, Welcome to the Family, Warehouse 13, Trophy Wife

Shows I'm Excited are Coming Back - Sleepy Hollow, Teen Wolf, The Goldbergs, The 100, White Collar

Shows I am Glad are coming Back - Agents of SHIELD, Resurrection, Elementary, Grimm, The Blacklist

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Overall Awards -

Most Missed - Enlisted and Surviving Jack

Generally at the end of renewals/cancellations, I am mourning at least one drama. I rarely have much feeling about the comedies at all. This season changed all that with the rise of many family oriented comedies in a raunchy adults-only comedy world. So it is with great sadness that I say goodbye to two of my favorite shows this season: Enlisted and Surviving Jack. Both knew how to deliver great laughs from the gut as well as add those moments of genuine heart that made me care about the characters. I found myself connecting with those characters on a deeper level than most of the new dramas, which is hard to do in half the time. So thanks cast and crew of Enlisted and Surviving Jack for giving me something to look forward to each week. I knew that when I watched my mood would be lightened and I would come away from the show feeling better as a person. I'm sorry that the Nielsen viewers didn't realize what gems you were because you deserved a long life of making people laugh. I'll miss you both.

Best Episode - Surviving Jack - 1.07 -
Parents Just Don't Understand (series finale)

One of the things I am going to miss most about Surviving Jack is seeing two strong people committed to each other in marriage. It's a rare gift on TV to actually feel like the spouses treasure each other and to laugh not at each other's expense but with each other and at life. The moment where Jack holds Joanne while she questions if she has done enough for her children is touching even if it is brief. It's a universal mom worry and he handles it amazingly well. This episode about conflicting parenting styles could have gone off the rails quickly, but in the end it gave us more clarity into the characters while poking fun at extremes. Nothing made me laugh harder than how each of them reacted to the stoners. I will also miss Jack's ability to tell it like it is. He sugarcoats nothing and has a refreshingly cavalier attitude towards his kids. I envy him that ability. Who doesn't want to be perfectly blunt with kids at times? He made me laugh harder than all the characters on The Big Bang Theory put together. Add in a perfect 16 Candles reference and Frankie's declaration at the end and this episode is about as perfect a comedy as you can ask for. This show might be cancelled but that doesn't mean you shouldn't check it out. You won't be sorry you did.

Best New Show - 24: Live Another Day

Confession time - I left the original 24 sometime in the season when the cougar did NOT eat Kim. I have never regretted that decision. Therefore I start this new version almost like a newbie. I don't know who most of the characters are nor their complicated back story. Mostly I remember that it was hard to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys since they all acted the same way and there was more melodrama than any one action thriller should have. I mean his lover ended up trying to kill his wife, every sane audience member wanted to kill his daughter, and there's no way one man could go through all of that in 24 hours. Much less several times. Therefore I was shocked by how much I enjoyed the pilot despite not having one iota of a clue as to what was going on. I don't know any of these people except Jack and Chloe and I have no idea what they have been up to, but man do I want to know who took over the drone and what that has to do with Jack. It's likely my fervor will cool as the plot gets more farfetched and Jack gets douchier, as is par for the series, but right now I'm glad there's a cool new action show on TV. There's nothing like a fast paced plot filled with gunfire and explosions that also has a 90% chance of actually going somewhere to whet my TV appetite. The second episode wasn't quite as good as the first for me but it still filled the Burn Notice-shaped hole in my TV schedule, even if I don't like the characters as much.

Most Improved Character - Elementary - Mycroft

Like Tom Keen on The Blacklist before him, I often overlooked Mycroft as a somewhat interesting piece of fluff floating around the peripheral of the real story. I never hated him for sleeping with Joan like a lot of fans, but I didn't really get excited when I learned he was coming back. He was simply there. Oh how have the last few episodes changed everything. From wanting him to leave to stop the hinted at love triangle to begging for him to stay because he's currently the most interesting character on the show, my feeling for Mycroft have run the gamut. I love that he has been revealed as working with MI-6. I love even more that Sherlock didn't have a clue and that Mycroft is calling him on being an arrogant prick. Mostly though he intrigues me because I have no idea what side of him is the truth. Did he really re-join British Intelligence to keep Sherlock from prison? Could the twist be that he really is the mole and is running both Sherlock and Watson a merry game? I have no idea and that rarely happens in TV. I love it. Now sure, both of the Holmes brothers need to grow up and I often have a desire to knock their heads together, but I cannot wait to see how this finale pans out because Mycroft is the greatest mystery of this crime show.

Nominated/New Shows -

Nominated Shows: Blue Bloods - 1.01 - Pilot

I have watched a lot of police procedurals and oft times they run together. Over the years I have dropped most because there doesn't seem like a lot of urgency in them. In many ways Blue Bloods is the same. You've got your hothead detective that doesn't play by the rules but gets results. There's the wise old patriarch, although this time there's two of them. Also included is a hotshot young DA who is often at counter purposes to the police and a young recruit determined to live up to the family name. The only big difference is that these guys are all related, which makes family dinner tense. It is also has a core mystery surrounding a dead loved one that drives one of the cops. As clichéd as that sounds, it is tempered by the fact that his family might be part of the organization that killed him. That increases the urgency enough to be intriguing. I'm not sure I have time to add another police procedural to my plate this summer, but I was left wanting more from the pilot and that's always a good thing.

Grade: B-
Ranking: 3

Best Scene - extraditing the criminal to Florida because they screwed up the bust in NYC

Best Quote - Frank: "No strangling on Sunday, okay sunshine?"

Best Reason to Watch - While it seems like a typical police procedural, asking a new recruit to spy on his powerful cop family to find out about a secret society working within the force is an intriguing twist

Best Juxtaposition - Commissioner welcoming new NYPD recruits to the force while a little girl is kidnapped

Best Reason to Not Go into Blogging or Journalism as a Career - the doll reviewer's posh living quarters with the rats

Least Surprising - The kidnapped girl also has a medical condition that makes it even more imperative to find her right away / the Mayor is a political douche / the head detective is a bigger douche who gets the job done breaking one law at a time

Most Surprising - the newest cop in the family is a Harvard grad lawyer. That's quite some job transition.

The "Are You Sure It's Not Thanksgiving" Award - Sunday dinners at the Reagans are brutal. I have no idea why they all shows up.

Best Instant Suspect Pool Reduction - What kidnapper uses a prototype doll that is only in limited sale while committing the crime? New York's Dumbest?

Best Twist - the fallen cop brother was undercover in a sting to take down a corrupt cop secret society. Say what? It's all da Vinci code meets police procedural.

New Show - 24: Live Another Day -
(11:06 am - noon) / (noon - 1)

Grade: A-
Rank: 5 (for now)

Best Scene - Jack breaks Chloe out of the cell with a little help from his ~~friend~~ colleague?

Best Quote - Adrian: "You can thank me by leaving and never coming back." / Belcheck: "I thought you said she was a friend." Jack: "I don't have any friends. Let's go."

Best Reason to Watch - The action is awesome and nothing in the story dragged.

Biggest Brat - Ritter, whose jealousy and whining makes me think he's not competent for any job much less his big promotion

The "Ho Hum" Award - The president has Alzheimer's or something similar, giving control to his shady son-in-law. This subplot is a snoozer as it's been done over and over again.

The "Hey, It's That Guy" Award - Gbenga Akinnagbe is playing Erik Ritter, but I know him best as bad guy Bello on Graceland. Even better Benjamin Bratt is back on my screen. How are you doing, Detective Curtis? Better still my beloved Walter from Arrow has a role that will hopefully appreciate him more. Wait, is that Lady Macbeth Neville from Revolution I see. I love that snake in the grass. And speaking of snakes, there's Keller from White Collar, my second favorite villain on the show. Oh and there's the lady from Chuck, but since I only saw season 1 of Chuck that means much less to me than many shows.

Best Reason to Not Mind Growing Older - Jack Bauer can still kick major butt, even those who are half his age

Best Reaction - Tanner when he watches his drone get taken over and target Sheppard

The Nepotism Award - When your father-in-law is the President of the United States, it's not at all suspicious when you are the chief of staff.

The Explosion Countdown - It took until 34:55 for the first explosion. I'm guessing it'll take less time as the day unfolds.

The "Way to Betray a Friend" award - I know Jack said he has no friends, but what he did to Chloe was beneath the belt

Least/Biggest Surprise - No surprise that Hooker Girlfriend is actually after the hacking device, but I wasn't prepared for her to be the buyer's daughter. Nothing like pimping out your kid.

Weekly Shows -

The Big Bang Theory - I didn't have time to watch this week, so I will review both next week. Sorry.

TURN - 1.04 - Eternity How Long / 1.05 - Epiphany

Since I wasn't able to get to TURN last week, today I am reviewing both of these together. I found that I liked 1.04 much better than 1.05, mostly because the latter had the ultra annoying tryst between Abraham and Anna. Plus I thought that Eternity How Long was better paced and overall more interesting. I especially liked the father and son scenes. Their relationship is complicated but always fascinating. As for the second episode, I was delighted to see Aldis Hodge back on my screen. I had no idea he was in this show and I hope to see a lot more of him. I can't wait until my annual rewatch of Leverage this summer so it's nice to see him before that to whet my appetite. I also thought it was a brilliant ploy to give Ben and Caleb a reason to miss the battle (and thus the budget expense of shooting it) and their burgeoning friendship has been one of my favorites. They always bring the humor if not always the common sense. Another bright spot was Abraham's knowledge really helping and the introduction of George Washington to the show. I am very much enjoying this show, except for the insistence on adultery. If we could skip that, TURN would be one of my favorite new shows.

Grade - B+ / C

Best Scene - Abe watches as his father removes his brother's headstone

Best Quote - Caleb: "Yeah well, insubordination's your best quality." / Abigail: "Protect my boy in Setauket and I'll do your laundry in New York."

Best Reason to Watch - Abe and his father working together on a problem instead of at loggerheads / Caleb and Ben's camaraderie

Best Reason to Fast Forward - Abraham and Anna

Best Surprise - Aldis Hodge. I am so glad to see him again even if he is kind of douchey in this one.

Best Addition - Abigail, who I am glad is going to tie the Major Andre story line together

Best Character Interaction - Abraham and his father / Caleb and Ben

Most Gullible - Mary Woodhull allows herself to be tricked into telling the Judge's secret, therefore tarnishing her character even more in favor of Anna. Bah!

Worst Bait and Switch - saying the slaves will be free but then commandeering their services so that they are slaves still

Best Show of Loyalty - Abraham stands up against the crowd for his father who is in a difficult situation

Biggest Aww Scene - The Woodhull family gathers around the tombstone of Thomas

Best Acting - Philomena, who sounds like she is being tortured as she wins a hand in cards

Least Politically Correct - Hewlett decides to use tombstones to shield his canons over Judge Woodhull's protestations

Most Crafty (British) - Andre plays Conroy like a pro

Most Crafty (Patriots) - Caleb and Ben get Abe's info to Washington despite Scott's protests

Best Cameo - General George Washington

Least Surprising - Judge Woodhull digs up his son's grave to lead by example

The "My Have You Grown Bold" Award - Abraham rifles through the officer's things to write his own ticket into New York

Best Interruption - The British soldier stops Abraham and Anna from screwing and I am more grateful to him than any other character on TV this week.

Most Fun - the decoy party

Resurrection - 1.07 - Schemes of the Devil / 1.08 - Torn Apart (Season Finale)

While we end Resurrection season 1 with still no answers, it has picked up the pace with the inclusion of the government and of course, quarantine. I have no idea why they needed to make Sheriff insane though. I liked him as a good guy and quite frankly Arcadia is way over the normal quota for crazy anyway. They don't need any more nut jobs. Overall this series has kept my attention and I'm not as frustrated by a lack of answers as I am in some shows. I'll definitely be picking it back up in season 2.

Grade - B- / B+

Best Silent Scene - Sheriff and Maggie break down over the fact that his wife did not return to them when everyone else seems to be

Best Quote - Sheriff: "So breakfast with my big brother. What'd I do wrong this time?"

Best Reason to Watch - The government is now involved and it's going to get science experiment-y from now.

Biggest Douche - Pick a character, any character. Chances are they were a douche in one of these two episodes. Elaine, Henry, and Lu are notable exceptions.

The "Are You Insane?" Award - Tom seriously takes his mistress to where his wife is staying and asks her to help? Are you kidding me?

The "It's about Time" Award - Finally news about the returned gets out. It wasn't realistic that in the internet age this wouldn't have leaked out in the first 24 hours much less a whole week.

Best Job in Arcadia - Motel owner. There's a lot of people who need beds these days.

The "Say What?" Award - The resurrected's blood can cure cancer? Really?

Best Twist - Bellamy is the returned's son, Robert

Pet Peeve - Why, oh why is Rachel back? We finally got rid of her tired plot line. It's bad enough when sci fi/fantasy shows raise people from the dead a few seasons later because they realized they made a mistake. It's much worse when they cannot die period. There are no stakes in the drama if people keep popping up. Now I know the whole premise of the show is resurrection, hence the title. However, I have no reason to get concerned about any of these resurrected if they can be shot and be back 30 seconds later. Not unless one of them gets beheaded. This show could be fun with a little Sleepy Hollow or Nearly Headless Nick action.

The "Oh No, They Didn't" Award - They went and made the sheriff crazy. I was hoping he would be the glue that held everything together.

Star-Crossed - 1.12 - This Trick May Chance to Scathe You

It's all about girl power tonight. Teri takes out Castor through treachery and a poisoned knife. Emery takes down the Trag with pepper spray. Sophia is the linchpin for getting the Trags to move the bomb. Woo hoo all the way around. The only downside to this female awesomeness is the return of Zoe. Seriously, can no one stay dead on this show? Other than that and a few moments of blah, this was one rocking episode. There are no words for how sad it is that this show that was better than it ever deserved to be never found an audience while other drek keeps getting renewed. I'll miss you after next week Star-Crossed but you have been one exhilarating ride.

Grade - A-

Best Scene - The group working together to defeat the Trags and get the bomb out

Best Quote - Grayson: "Well nothing says unity like trying to dismantle an Atrian terrorist plot together."

Best Reason to Watch - Things are getting intense around here and the stakes are high. The fast-paced plot is the best thing about this particular episode.

Best Reason to Fast Forward - Surprise, it's not Roman and Emery's tortured romance this week. It ran a close second to the complete ick of Teri and Castor flirting with each other. He could be her dad. Gross!

Biggest Aww Scene - Saroya asks Drake to stay for just a little while before she leaves him again.

The "You Go Girl" Award - Emery finally takes care of herself by pepper spraying the Trag. I've never liked her better than this moment.

Least Stealthy - Roman and Drake who are jumping down on catwalks right above the totally deaf Trags

Least Likely Alliance - Drake tells Grayson about the Trag bomb

Most Unlikely - Mardi Gras to the rescue. I've heard of Mardi Gras causing quite a few problems, but never it preventing a war. Pink Atrian elephant floats make a nice cover.

The "Are You Brain Dead?" Award - Emery, you and Roman broke up to help consolidate support for him in the Sector. Do you really think that traipsing around by his side is going to help that goal? / Roman and Grayson, when tailing someone you should probably not be talking about terrorist acts in the middle of a crowded market. Seriously people. Go watch Burn Notice and then attempt to do surveillance.

Least Surprising - Drake's mom takes him out in order to protect him but then Drake talks her into letting him go by appealing to her sense of honor and motherhood.

Biggest Understatement - Emery: "That's not our only problem." Nope, the Sector is just full of them. I count 3 likely ways you all die: Trag, Castor, or bomb.

Blacklist - 1.21 - Berlin

In all honesty, I will probably drop this show in season 2 and wait until hiatus to marathon it. The "stockpiling questions and never revealing answers" type of storytelling is beyond frustrating for me. Generally it means the writers have no clue where they are going. However, I intend to enjoy the ride to finale. This episode was interesting. I never thought of using biological weapons as blackmail but it makes a twisted sort of sense. Plus, this is the first time I've seen it used in a police procedural, so it has a sense of novelty as a plot twist as well. In addition, we got a Tom scene, which is always a plus these days - just maybe hold back on the flaying people, okay?

Grade - B+

Best Scene - mental institution

Best Quote - Tom: "Are you a killer, Jesse? I sure hope you are a killer because I don't think you have a future in surveillance."

Best Reason to Watch - While there are zero answers on the most pressing questions, we may get answers on who Berlin is and why he/she wants Red dead

Biggest Idiot - the EMT who tells everyone that the man is infected without taking precautions for people panicking first. Have you not been trained in this kind of thing? Argh!

Best Addition - Dr. Sanders. I hope he comes back. He's kooky fun and obviously devoted to virology.

The "Shut Up" Award - I know where you are coming from but please for the love of my entertainment, SHUT UP, Keen! It's no fun listening to you harp every 30 seconds and badgering a poor guy in a mental hospital just makes me want to smack you.

Most Well Played - Elizabeth uses the same tactic on the doctor as he used on his victims

Biggest Forward Movement - Keen tells the FBI about her husband / Berlin has come to town

Least Surprising - Keen's proclamation to never speak to Red again lasts approximately 13.4 seconds and at the end she reluctantly agrees to continue working with him to find answers. (Good luck with that. I don't think the writers have any for you.)

Warehouse 13 - 5.04 - Savage Seduction

I might have come into this episode with too high expectations. The cast raved about how it was the funniest thing they have ever done, and it probably was for most fans. I however tend to not like the high melodramas even when done for comedic effect. I found the overacting absurd even if it was intentional and I missed time with the characters I know and love. With only 6 episodes this season, I want to spend as much time with them, as possible. Not with alternative realities of them.

Grade: C+

Best Scene - Artie tells Claudia that Claire is missing

Best Quote - Artie: "Sometimes people fill a void with an obsessive attachment to a TV show." Pete: "Hey, I watch Breaking Amish because I like it. Hey, I can quit any time."

Best Reason to Watch - I now know for sure that telenovellas are not for me. Way too much melodrama up in there.

Best Reason to Count to 9 - Confirm that you could not possibly have knocked someone up, especially if you haven't seen them for 2 years.

Best Reason to Fast Forward - the end. I liked it better when they ended with telenovella mom saying Myka and Pete were brother and sister because before this mess of a season they were.

Best Moment - Steve comes running in because Artie sounds like it's an emergency but it's only another job / Claudia punches out the frat boy

Best Meta - talking about the passion fans have for a canceled show when WH13 is almost canceled itself

Biggest Surprise - Steve was in a fraternity. My shock is tempered by their book and a cappella clubs

The "It's So Sad It's Now Funny" Award - the blatant Prius commercials written into the character's dialogue used to be annoying but now they just make me laugh and shake my head

Biggest Laugh - Pete channeling his inner Zelda Rubinstein via Poltergeist

The "This Episode is Brought to You by Pantene" Award - With all the hair blowing, I'm surprised they didn't pan in on a shampoo in this episode.

The "Ouch" Award - It only took 1 day for Kelly's grandma to forget the canceled show and find a new favorite

Growing Up Fisher - 1.11 - Secret Lives of Fishers

Another heartwarming comedy cancelled in favor of the raunchy. I weep for America. While I won't miss Growing Up Fisher as much as say Enlisted, I have enjoyed watching the story unfold. Joyce is far more watchable than at first and it's always good to see Mel struggle a little. Still I'll miss Katie and Henry the most. They remind me of times with my younger brother.

Grade - B-

Best Scene - Joyce plays tub-side therapist to an stressed out Mel

Best Quote - Joyce: "Anyway, I've got 3 hours to kill. What should I see?" Owen: "A therapist."

Best Reason to Watch - we've all been in the same situation so watching it on screen is kind of therapeutic, even without Joyce's tub-side advice

The "Hmm" Award - I didn't know anyone whose parents said they couldn't get a job in high school. Most parents I knew wanted them to have part-time job to teach responsibility…and to pay for their own junk.

The "Oh Poor Baby" Award - Owen, the movie ticket guy who has to listen to Joyce's midlife crisis

The "What Kind of College Kids are These?" Award - Who doesn't know what grade they are getting in college before the grades are posted. Can these people not do the math? That's sad.

The "You're Totally Screwed" Award - when your little brother has this much good dirt on you, you really have no chance. Pay now and get in trouble later.

The "Better Rule of Thumb" Award - No working with your significant other, especially if you are a teen. Unless you want the relationship to end badly. Then by all means.

The "Revolving Door of Lies" Award / The "Hey I Could be a Voice Over" Award - to all the Fishers. Everyone's so caught up on hiding their own stuff that they don't see how transparent everyone else's lies are. Apparently the voice over also thought this because as soon as I typed it, the voice over said it.

The "Way to Go Mom" Award - Joyce does a great job of making herself unattractive to get the 8th graders to back off Henry. I think she had an orange in her teeth.

SHIELD - 1.21 - Ragtag

Agents of SHIELD continues to get better as we march to the season finale. I love how we got back story on both Ward and Garrett although I would like to know more about Ward than we got. I'm also looking forward to Garrett getting his butt kicked but good next episode. It better happen. Mostly though I like having SHIELD as the underdog, working with ancient tools and having to rely on their own wits and each other. Going low-tech is actually more fun than I thought it would be. The only thing I hope for is a redemption arc for Ward, because I would miss him next season if he doesn't get one. Have no idea how they could realistically do that though. It's not like he can rejoin the team. Perhaps he will have to take over for Garrett as the main bad guy instead.

Grade - A-

Best Scene - Ward ejects Fitz and Simmons from the plane because caring for them is a weakness

Best Quote - Coulson: "I don't know if I've said it enough, but I'm glad you're back."

Best Reason to Watch - Ward and Garrett back story

Best Moves in a Hallway - May, who does gymnastics down it before knocking the guy out

The "Hmm" Award - For some reason I thought Grant Ward was an alias. Not sure why. I never saw him as a pyro either.

Biggest Answers - Garrett is the first Deathlocke and his equipment is malfunctioning

Most Impressive - Fitz and Simmons can lift the file cabinet that Coulson threw out the window as a file transfer like its nothing. To quote Dean, "Maybe you have a little more upper body strength than I gave you credit for."

Biggest Kids - Coulson and Trip geeking out over the old time spy gear

It's Our Annual Dose of How Awesome Skye Is - Coulson tells Skye that she isn't weak but that her heart is filled with compassion, which shows the true moral fiber of her character and proves how strong she is.

Biggest Woo Hoo - Coulson is no longer being a douche to May / Fitz is no longer being a douche to Trip

The "I ALMOST Feel Sorry for You" Award - Ward has a ticked off May on his butt. Not at all the position I'd want to be in.

Most Chutzpah - Fitz who demands the return of the plane and fries up Garrett a bit

Biggest Laugh - Fitz sets the curtains on fire with said spy gear

Biggest Ouch - The CyberTek people pretty much called Fitz and Simmons' inventions outdated and uncreative.

The "Hey, I'm Right There with You Buddy" award - You keep dreaming that Ward is not a bad guy, Fitz. I'll believe with you too. Maybe if we clap our hands we can get him back.

Biggest Douche / Most in Need of Dying - I knew you were going to make Ward kill his dog, Garrett, from the second you left it with him and I still want to kick your butt for it. You big douche!

The Goldbergs - 1.22 - A Wrestler Named Goldberg

Only one of my favorite comedies this year made it to a season 2 and it was this one. Since it is also my favorite comedy it mitigates the sting. The Goldbergs is a great combo of laughs and heart and this was a great example. Whether it was Murray talking down Beverly or Adam and Erica enjoying the new Star Wars movie, there is something in this episode for everyone. It's a relief that a good family comedy can make it in the sewer of raunchy comedies these days.

Grade - A-

Best Moment - Coach stops a overly excited Barry from taking a chair to a kid's head

Best Quote - Barry: "Who are these people? Tragedy befalls all of them and I have no idea who they are."

Best Aww Scene - Erica dresses up like Princess Leia and takes Adam to the movie

Worst Parenting - Beverly embarrasses Barry in front of the whole school. Some conversations you have in private. Some conversations you only have in your own mind.

Biggest Nostalgia - I remember all the hype over Return of the Jedi. It was an amazing movie when I was a kid. Still a pretty good one now. Hey, I like the Ewoks.

Worst Nostalgia - Wrestling mania. I had to live through that once. Never again.

Best Return - Coach of the Presidential Fitness Award episode. I love this guy. He cracks me up with his communism invasion fear.

The "Say What?" Award - We already had a big episode in which Barry is a noted hockey star. Now Beverly is saying no to hockey, which Barry and Murray bond over. I think someone forgot their own canon in order to create this episode. Sigh.

Biggest Manipulator - Nope, not Beverly. This episode belongs to Adam for manipulating Erica into camping out for Star Wars tickets. Although Murray gets bonus points for saying Barry can't do the play to make Beverly all for it.

The "Time Served: Award - Barry gets caught lying to Beverly but he's already served his time by having to run Annie songs with his mom.

Best Music - Final Countdown

Trophy Wife - 1.21 - Back to School

While I could have done without both the reunion and the babysitting storylines, each did bring something to the show. The reunion gave me my new phrase, "Just clear your crazy with me first next time, okay?" Bwah! Awesome! It also had a great scene in which Kate reaffirms Jackie. The babysitting had…yeah, it really didn't have anything I'm excited about but if you're into burping, this is the episode for you. Mostly I enjoyed the college road trip. I have no idea why Warren is completely stupid these days and I don't buy for one minute that Diane would let her son slack in his grades, but it contained much of the heart. I also like that Hillary was knocked down a peg or two. Sometimes we all have to be reminded that we aren't the smartest cookie in the batch.

Grade - B

Best Scene - Warren cheers up Hillary at college

Best Quote - Kate: "Just clear your crazy with me first next time, okay?"

Best Reason to Watch - Everyone helping each other see that it's okay to be themselves because they are pretty great on their own

The "Say What?" Award - I could have sworn that Warren was super smart in the first few episodes. What happened?

Best Plan - Putting Burt in charge of Meg and Tevin, who often act younger than he does

Biggest Ouch - Hillary finds out that she's not the smartest person in the room for the first time

Favorite Moment - Warren covers Hillary's eyes during the rough pars of the movie

The 100 - 1.08 - Day Trip

What happens when an entire camp of teenagers get high from toxic berries? Love triangles blossom into quartets, people die, star-crossed lovers are parted, and Monty and Jasper become comic relief again. Only one of those things is positive. I do love comedy in my dramas. Other than that, the stakes are raised by bringing guns into the mix and I expect it to complicate things for the worst instead of making anything better. I'm with Finn on this one but it does make for more compelling situations with long-reaching ramifications. Speaking of Finn, of all the characters being undermined by love shenanigans, he's been shafted the most. Talk about taking a formerly interesting character whom people took seriously and then flushing him down the shipping abyss. Finn is about as interesting as toilet paper these days and far less useful. Raven is a close second, which is a great shame because her character had the most potential. I would also argue that Clarke and Bellamy have become less interesting too. Their conflict used to be the best thing about The 100. Now they are agreeing more often and turning schmoopier. The Ark has been far more interesting in the last few episodes so I can't wait until they descend on earth and relegate all this to the "D" storyline with just as little time as possible.

Grade - B-

Best Scene - Jaha pardons Bellamy. That storyline is no longer hanging over our head so we can stop pretending that Bellamy is going anywhere.

Best Quote - Monty: "I'd like to give earth a giant hug."

Best Reason to Watch - upping the stakes by finding the guns. This is going to go badly fast.

Best Reason to Fast Forward - always shipping. Always!

Best Moment - Clarke flat out tells Jaha that they sent the 100 to earth to die and effectively turns the tables on him. She'll make a great politician someday.

Best Buddies - Monty and Jasper, who make me laugh at the simple things

The "Somehow I Don't Think That's What She Meant" Award - Pretty sure when Clarke said that Finn should stay in bed to rest, she didn't mean Raven should crawl on top of him and start making out

Biggest Miss - I thought we were going to see Clarke finally talk to Abby but it was not meant to be this week. I blame all the freaking shipper scenes. Here's to next week.

Best Hallucination (Seen) - Bellamy surrounded by the 320 people who sacrificed themselves for the Ark

Best Hallucination (Not Seen) - Whatever Monty was seeing because he was the happiest of them all

Elementary - 2.23 - Art in the Blood

I have to say that Mycroft is rapidly becoming the most interesting character on Elementary, Moriarty aside of course. He's the primary reason why this episode was such a high point for me. Sherlock, on the other hand, was a low point. Here's hoping that changes in the finale. This last series of episodes has done a great job of invigorating the show, taking it away from the typical case of the week procedural that sometimes gets Elementary lost in the shuffle. I'd love to see them do more multi-episode cases in the future.

Grade - B+

Best Scene - Joan tells Sherlock she's moving out / Mycroft explains why he returned to MI-6

Best Quote - Sherlock: "But we are what we do." Watson: "No, you are what you do. You have to be to be happy. I don't."

Best Reason to Watch - Mycroft has gotten more and more interesting every episode and it's all building to crescendo now

Biggest Aww - Sherlock offers to talk about Moriarty's betrayal if it will help Watson with Mycroft

The "Shut Up" Award - Sherlock, who comes off as a smug douche. I'm glad Mycroft stopped his ranting and told him what's what. Then later on Marion calls him on his double standard. Good!

Biggest Leap - Invisible tattoos instead of something like biometrics

Best Brother…Maybe - Mycroft took up a job he hated again to save Sherlock. If it is true, he is the best of all brothers. If it is not, he's the most manipulative assassin around.

Least Surprising - MI-6 offers Sherlock a job. I'm quite frankly surprised they didn't do so long before this.

Biggest Surprise - Sherlock thinks Mycroft is being framed instead of immediately thinking the worst of him

The "Grow Up" Award - both Holmes brothers, who are babyish and trying to one up each other the entire episode. Quite annoying indeed.

Best Meta - Mycroft lives in Apartment 12B

Surviving Jack - 1.07 - Parents Just Don't Understand (series finale)

Grade - A

Best Scene - Jack reassures Joanne about her parenting and then Frankie tells his parents he loves them

Best Quote - Jack: "I don't want to be around our kids 24 hours a day. I'd rather wait until I die to go to hell."

Best Reason to Watch - the conflicting parenting styles of Joanne and Jack

Best Reference Ever - Drunk George falls out of the tree like Long Duk Dong in 16 Candles

Funniest Moment - Jack and the stoners and then Joanne and the stoners

Biggest Awww Moment - George hugs Mikey after he tells them that his dad has left for good

The "Say What?" Award - Jack says they have to trust their kids while Joanne says to protect them from themselves. It seems like they are each on the wrong end of this argument given their personalities.

Dumbest Plan Ever - Practice drinking for your first alcoholic party

Best Physical Comedy - George dancing

Most Outwitted - Joanne, who gets sacked by Rachel into agreeing to let her on the pill

Most Unique Way to Keep Kids from Alcohol - hit them with balls from a pitching machine

Best Music - Stand by REM / What's Up by Four Non Blondes

Worst Music - Funky Cold Medina by Tone Loc, which got old after 2 months of continual airplay. However, I admit that it was a great choice for song-to-scene.

Grimm - 3.21 - The Inheritance

Grimm continues to fascinate here at the end, thanks to Teen Grimm. She's outsmarting and outfighting everyone else on the show put together. I know I say this a lot but they really need a spin-off with her and Mama Grimm. They would rock together - a Grimm version of Ellen and Jo from Supernatural. I was sorry to see Old Man Grimm bite it so fast and even more so when he didn't manage to spit out where the key was. Dying people really need to start prioritizing their final speeches. It's irksome. However getting back to the original key conspiracy is all worth it. Looks like the end of this season is going to go out with quite a punch!

Grade - A-

Best Scene - Hospital parking lot fight

Best Quote - Josh: "Well at least I know my dad wasn't crazy…unless all of you are."

Best Reason to Watch - Teen Grimm. Always Teen Grimm.

Best Reaction - The Grimm Gang to Josh wondering if they are all crazy

Fight Winner - Once again Teen Grimm takes the prize in the hospital parking lot fight. The girl has skills.

Most Depressing Dinner Conversation - Teen Grimm's life was a fairy tale. You know that first part where everything is hell and you're waiting for the fairy godmother. Instead she got Grimm-ed. Your story sucks, Teen Grimm. I'd demand a rewrite.

Biggest Congrats - Juliette has stepped up from Research Woman to wedding planner. Yea, job promotion.

Biggest Slam - Renard: "If I didn't know you better, I'd be in love with you."

Most Pragmatic - Teen Grimm turns down a shopping trip with Juliette because she doesn't want to get used to this life. I still think Mama Grimm's Home for Wayward Infants could use a little Teen Grimm.

Biggest Idiot - Why is Adalind scheming about Juliette when Renard is there? She's not even going to get to the villain monologue if she keeps being so inept. / Renard for sleeping with the enemy

Plot Device #1 - Nick conveniently leaves his phone at his desk right when Teen Grimm calls him about Old Man Grimm

Plot Device #2 - And most annoying of all, Old Man Grimm dies before he can tell Nick where the key is. ARGHHHHHH!!!!!

Screencaps by Justin Halpern, In the Fame, Zap 2 It, Wall St Cheat Sheet, MTV, SpoilerTV, TV.com, DVD Release Dates, LA Times, TV Fanatic, CinemaBlend, TV by the Numbers, AOL, and TV Guide.

About the Author - Dahne

POLL : What did you think of Warehouse 13 - Cangku Shisi?

2014-05-13T02:59:00.000+01:00

POLL : What are you watching Tonight? - 12th May 2014

2014-05-12T10:00:00.000+01:00

Warehouse 13 - 5.05 - Cangku Shisi - Preview

2014-05-12T01:49:00.001+01:00

Warehouse 13 airs Monday on SyFy at 9/8C.

When we left off Claire had been snatched by time portal jumping Benedict Valda, whose nefarious plans were yet to unfold. As this episode picks up, Claudia and Artie race to where Claire had been held but there is no trace of her. They use the durational spectrometer to find out Valda's still around to their dismay and realize that Valda has been staying in his room in the dead agent's vault. There's something vaguely creepy about that place to begin with. As the team tries to find Valda and stop him, Valda uses Claire as his own personal weapon to broker a deal and become master of the universe. This episode has all the requisite hallmarks of a stellar Warehouse 13 episode - humor, heart, brains, and a lot of action. In fact cut out the last 10 minutes and it would have made a close to perfect series finale, which had me confused since there is 1 more episode to go. They must have one doozy of a finale prepared if it is going to top this one.

Highlights:

Mark Sheppard's return as Valda - He makes an awesome villain in any circumstance but he's especially clever here. I admit I am thoroughly prejudiced towards Mark Sheppard, but he does a stellar job in this episode. I'm glad they've made him the last warehouse enemy.

All the action - There is barely time for the audience to breathe, much less the characters, as they race from one place to another trying to save the world…again. The plot is mostly tight with only a few shipping slowdowns thrown in to stop the forward momentum.

Warehouse (and Mrs. Frederic) back story - I think I learned more about the warehouse in this episode than in an entire season combined. I've always been fascinated by the underpinnings of the warehouse and this left several questions answered. Plus we get to a part of the warehouse never discussed before, as far as I can remember.

Smart Pete for the Win - I always enjoy when Pete gets to use his brains and he does so in a huge way here. In fact, you could say that Pete's smarts save the day.

Other notable events: Pete pantses Myka, agent down, the return of MANY artifacts, steampunk eyewear, and a twist I didn't see coming.

Episode Awards:

Grade: B+ (with a full letter grade demerit for the shipping. Without it, this would have been one of my favorite episodes of Warehouse 13.)

Best Scene - working towards the twist

Best Return - Mark Sheppard

Best Reason to Watch - lots of information on how the warehouse works and a new part of the warehouse

Best Reason to Fast Forward - shipping nonsense

Least Surprising - Claudia's plan

Smartest - Pete's great plan

Best Physical Reaction - Pete to spiders

Biggest Aww Moment - **** cries

Best Character Interaction / Best Hug - Artie and Steve

Best National Treasure - the bar

Artifacts (Used or Mentioned): There are 15 artifacts in all

Brigadier General Laverlong's elephant walking stick
Chuck Yeager's record
Donner party jar
Durational Spectrometer
Hiram Abiff's setting maul
Julius Wilbrand's lab coat buttons
Ship's wheel
Sir William Perry's inuksuk
Spine of Saracen
Sticky string

Best Quotes:

Fed Ex and takeout
"Bring your favorite teddy bear and a night light. Come on."
"Don't let your feelings for her be your blind spot."
"Don't you have access to Wikipedia? Look it up."
"If I put my back any more into it, my kidneys are going to explode."
"No, there's no plan D."
"Outsourcing, huh? This guy gets more evil by the minute."
"Right. There it is. I knew there was some bad news in there somewhere."
"Velma, Daphne, let's go."
"What happens if we destroy it?" "Happily accepting guesses on that."

Screencap by SpoilerTV

About the Author - Dahne

Warehouse 13 - Episode 5.06 - Endless (Series Finale) - Synopsis

2014-05-09T17:00:00.000+01:00

The team struggles with the news that Warehouse 13 will be moving to a new host country.

Source:

SpoilerTV