Week in Recap 10/10/10-10/16/10

Following in the trend of Lisa's recaps since tv = too many episodes to watch and time = short, here's a blurb about the shows I've watched this week:

How I Met Your Mother: 

This week was all about the gang competing to show how much of a new yorker they each are. Things I thought were hilarious (in no particular order):

1. Barney hailing an ambulance to beat everyone in the race.

2. Maury. 'Nuff Said.

3. Lily understanding conductor speak. 

What the hell do those conductors talk into to distort their voice so much?!?!

Hawaii 5-0: 

To be honest, I completely zoned out into my computer the entire episode. I just remember some people getting arrested in the end .... I think. For some reason, this show is really not doing it for me. I blame McGarrett... and the story lines... and the lack of real drama. 

Modern Family: 

Main plotlines of this episode were ...

1. The "Strangers on a Train" plot between Mitchell and Claire was cute but the best was ...

2. Alex and her attempt to be a mean girl. 

Phone conversation with Mackenzie hilarious. "Love you .... AHH!! AHH!! AHH!!!"

But so sad for her at the end. I relate, Alex! I relate!

3. The "mistaken father-daughter/engagement party dance" was just disturbing.

Hellcats: (Yes, I actually watch this show) 

Cute filler episode where the cheerleaders get challenged to flag-football by the volleyball players and they kick the volleyball player's ass! That game set-up was way hard-core with coaches, scoreboards, and matching team ensembles. Only on a TV show, right?

Vampire Diaries & Nikita: (Not on this week.)

I miss you.

30 Rock:

Liiiiivvvveeee from New York. It's 30 Rocccckkkkkkkkk!

Watched both the East Coast and the West Coast versions and I have to say the East Coast version was funnier, not sure if it's because I saw it first or because I noticed more mistakes in the West Coast version. This episode revolved around how everyone forgot Liz's 40th birthday. 

The guest stars were all awesome and there were so many of them. Good deal.

Supernatural:

Directed by Dean aka Jensen Ackles, this was a hilarious exploration of Bobby's life. Though the boys were only in a small part of the episode, I didn't really miss them because all the secondary characters really shined. So many good things to say: 

Loved the soundtrack. 

Loved all the "Balls!" ;-p 

Loved Bobby telling that dude to call the FBI ... and then that guy called Bobby on his fake FBI line (seriously, how is that moron not dead?!) 

Loved the Sheriff-Bobby interactions and the Luthor/Rufus-Bobby interaction. 

TV Shows 10/4-9

So not much updating happened last week. To try to keep things current, I'm going to put in a few lines about the various shows I watched last week.

Chuck (S4 Ep3): Past guest stars return! Nicole Richie and Steve Austin return to reprise their roles, this time Nicole Richie being a bitch who ends up teaming up with Team Bartowski for survival. Not the world's best episode of Chuck, but a solid showing from one of the most under-appreciated comedy spy series (Veronica Mars being the winner of that category).

Castle (S3 Ep3): A treasure map! A murder! An old crush! A priest! (not the same person as the old crush) This episode was awesome. I love this show so much, sometimes it's embarassing. Favorite moment of the episode: Beckett seemingly pours her heart out to her old crush on the phone, hangs up the phone, turns to Ryan and Esposito, and asks, "Did I keep him on long enough?" to which Ryan eloquently responds, "uhhhh..." in that perfect, awkward tone combined with a stunned expression with what he just overheard. Seriously, comedy gold.

Hawaii 5-O (S1 Ep3): I'm still trying hard to like this show. It has its high moments, but some of the dialogue is just so hard to get over. This episode tackled the ever serious topic of a gang war happening on the happy island, with a gambling mob twist. I'll probably keep watching it out of sheer hope and loyalty to my Asian race (I've never seen so many Asians cast as just plain, ol' side characters), but it's getting harder to stomach, mainly because of Steve McGarrett's holier-than-thou character. I need my characters flawed!

Undercovers (S1 Ep3): Speaking of needing flawed characters, this gorgeous couple is too perfect, both in looks, and in their marriage. Sure, they have the little squabble here and there during each episode, but it gets resolved so neatly, it's hard to believe. The episode revolved around technology, and the need to recover a device that is able to break the code to the CIA's database. This series is starting to be more fluff than serious spy business, but hey, at least they're pretty.

Nikita (S1 Ep5): See previous post for general review. This episode has guest star Devon Sawa (who is surprisingly hot...I didn't recognize him) playing Owen Elliot, who will apparently be back next week (yummy). One of Percy's infamous black box also makes an appearance, and I rather enjoyed Michael's reaction when Percy says to Nikita over the phone that he has her boyfriend (referring to Owen). Alex and Thom also have a moment that just makes Thom even more adorable than he already is.

Supernatural (S6 Ep3): Castiel is back! The strongest episode of the season so far, probably because of the return of said angel. No revisit of old baddies, and pretty much a standalone episode, this episode harkens back to the good old days of the first few seasons. Reasons to watch this episode: Sam, half naked, working out (Sssssss, I think the screen is burning up a little from the hotness); Castiel's line "[to Sam] Dean and I do share a more profound bond...[to Dean] I wasn't gonna mention it..."; the return of Metallicar and the destruction of Sam's poser car. Really, I hope the series continues in this vein, because this is the first episode I've enjoyed in a while.

So that's the summary of a few of last week's tv. Comment away, if you so choose...

Hawaii Five-O, Season 1 Episode 2

I am on a roll! My third, and final, Monday night series is a new one: Hawaii Five-O.

First, a disclaimer: I never saw the original, so all judgments will be made based off the series as an original.

Now, since I failed to post about the series premiere, let me just say that I knew I'd be mildly annoyed by the series when the lead character gets a "blanket immunity" from the governer. I don't expect my tv shows to be based THAT much in realism (hey, I watch Supernatural and Chuck), but if you're trying to go for realism, then something as stupid as "blanket immunity" before even really getting to know a person is just dumb. Even for someone who got elected as Mayor of Hawaii.

Fast forward to episode 2, and yes, Alex O'Loughlin still is annoying as the main character. I don't blame him as an actor (he is quite pretty), but more the way the writers portray him. He seems like a reckless, half-cocked character, that is able to explain his actions with ridiculous things like "nothing but the threat of death" would work on a suspect (to justify him dangling the guy off a roof). I think they were going for a badass Jack Bauer type (I don't watch 24, but I'm pretty sure it's an accurate statement), but what they get is an annoying person who thinks he's above the rules. Much more likeable is Scott Caan's character, Danny. He's divorced, has a kid, and is also sarcastically snarky. Sensitive w/a little bite, a perfect combination. Daniel Dae Kim (of Lost fame) and Grace Park (of Battlestar Galactica fame) also co-star in this series, though definitely more in the supporting character role.

In this episode, the plot is not unique, with a tech genius who discovers a weakness in the government's database, is going to show it to the government (he's a patriot), but is kidnapped. Conveniently, he has a son who also stands a good chance of being kidnapped too. There are Serbs, there's money, there's roof dangling, and there's Max from Gilmore Girls, and young Sam from Supernatural. So really, not too bad of an episode given the familiar faces, but please refer to above paragraph regarding my overall grievances with the episode.

I'll probably keep watching it, since Scott Caan is pretty funny, plus maybe after a few episodes, the characters will fall into place, and things will flow easier ::Fingers crossed::