How To Make It In America - Season 2

The second season of the youth's guideline to success is as promising and positive as it's characters' hopes and dreams. Besides endless optimism and ambition, the show supplies a sufficient stream of drama, comedy and underground feel that makes it stand out from the crowd.

A lot of the show's power comes from the idea that this is New York like no one knows it. For those of us that only see it from our tube it's a completely fresh take on the capital of dreams and it feels edgy, raw and exciting.

How I Met Your Mother S07E09 - Disaster Averted

How ridiculous can it get? No, I'm not going to complain about how How I Met Your Mother is past its prime because this episode had just enough ridicule. I love crazy, as long as it's so crazy that we can all laugh about it. And with bears attacking out of nowhere, you're doing just fine in my book.
This was actually one of the best episodes of the so-so season for How I Met Your Mother. Kevin remained in the background where he belonged and we were actually locked up with the gang, the way it should be.

Gossip Girl S05E06 - I Am Number Nine

What a marvelous episode! It really had everything that makes this show so much fun to watch, including some very stupid mistakes. With a lot of characters acting like spoiled children it's a relief that there are two who make it all worth it. Chuck & Blair are, even when separated, icons of modern day television.
But let's get all the clutter out of the way first. Because there certainly was a lot of during the hour.

Pan Am S01E07 - Romance Languages

One of the best hours of TV of the season. It's impossible to believe a show like Pan Am would have anything to offer but pretty faces and a lot of drama. How mistaken those are that can't see past those factors.  Because behind the pretty faces lie incredible acting chops and an engaging way of storytelling that hasn't been opted since a show had a different kind of airline at the centre.

The Walking Dead S02E04 - Cherokee Rose

While the predictability of the show keeps growing the entertainment value remains constant. The Walking Dead is one of those shows where the slow pace feels right.
Another episode that has some good twists but is just as crazy as it feels real. Throw an Asian in a well to a get a fat zombie out? Sure, we're up for it. Or investigate an empty house by yourself to find a girl? Very smart.

Allen Gregory S01E02 - 1 Night In Gottlieb

The second episode gives us exactly what you expect; more of the same, but in the case of Allen Gregory that's not necessarily a good thing.
One of the reasons I didn't feel like reviewing the first episode was because it was too focused on settling the characters. That's not a bad thing to do for a pilot but it left little room for interpretation of what the show would be about. The teaser suggested it was about this rich kid trying to fit into public school, a premise that held up so well it brought me back for a second episode. Now that the show had time to try on some new stories I'm not sure if Allen Gregory is that kind of show I hoped it would be.

How I Met Your Mother S07E08 - The Slutty Pumpkin Returns

How I Met Your Mother is quickly becoming that show I love but can't get rid of while it shamelessly waltzes over my heart. Every. Week.

I don't know why I even bother to get invested in any of the stories this show puts in front of me. It's certainly not for the laughs that, these days, rarely occur, and not for the characters, who start to feel like they come from a Hannah Barbara show. So why hope that a descent guest star and the revisitation of an old, familiar and slightly nostalgic story would straighten things out?

Pan Am S1E06 - The Genuine Article

Christina Ricci's Maggie gets her own episode, which was needed. Because sustaining her peppy hip swings for any longer would be inhuman.
Luckily 'The Genuine Article' is genuinely a character-driven episode. It reveals the moral compass that many of the characters have been lacking so far. But for once, the Pan Am crew makes the wise decisions, stick up for each other and touch upon real emotions.

How To Make It In America S02E05 - Mofongo

How To Make It In America comes with a refreshing episode that proves the show still has what it takes.
A unique look inside New York's scene, a twenty-something drama packed inside a clean look, a story about real people in a hipster world. This episode had all of that balanced out and it resulted in a very good half-hour of TV.

Grey's Anatomy S08E07 - Put Me In, Coach

How awesomely character-driven was this episode, huh? I thought it was just stand-out. The fast-pace with numerous story lines kept the episode fresh while every single character had something going on. A tough concept but it worked.
Grey's Anatomy has grown a lot over the years and now it feels even more soapy than it did all those years ago. But somehow I like this version of the show. It's comfortable, cozy and most of all enjoyable. This episode had some drama but it was packed in such an enjoyable, social package that it hardly stood out. Yet it was that same underlying tone of drama that made the episode so good.

The Vampire Diaries - S03E06 Smells Like Teen Spirit

The show takes a step back in pace after last week's finale-like extravaganza. Not that there aren't enough twists this week to change to the story drastically...
It does kind of amaze me how Caroline tries to keep things positive every week. "Sure we lost some folk last week and one of us turned into yet another supernatural being, but all is cool 'cause we in high school" or whatever. The episode doesn't give her and her friends much time to breathe though. Stefan is coming back to school to keep an eye on Elena and Rebbekah is joining him. Looks like we're going go spend a lot of time in school this year.. Oh who am I kidding, even the teachers are seen more off campus.
About that: Alaric is trying to teach Elena some fighting skills, which, after a dead aunt, numerous attacks and a relationship with a predator, seems kind of late. But the intentions are good. Now, Elena didn't get her kung fu on but she did get some self esteem. I love it when characters have to convince themselves they are strong. But in Elena's case it kind of worked. Her message is basically that she continues to believe in the human side of Stefan. No matter how many innocent girls he forces to play Twister.
Much pressing matters arrived in the form of Tyler, who has a mysterious and rather dangerous loyalty to Klaus. Lots of story potential there. But instead we spend much of the episode in the ghost world, as Vicky tried to get back to our side. I don't know how it all worked but the end result was that even people who are on out side concerning Klaus form a threat to Elena and Matt is a wiccan now.
I didn't really care for the ghost story though it offered up some nice twists and insight to Matt. But even better was the ending with Jeremy and Anna. Bonnie who? And for the first time I'm deeply concerned for Katherine, even though she doesn't have to worry about contract negotiations or anything.
Yes, this week was all about wrapping some stuff up. But more importantly, it set some things up that we'll likely see develop in the next couple of weeks. If anything, it got me stoked for the next big episode ofThe Vampire Diaries which can't be too far away.

Gossip Girl S5E04 - Memoirs Of An Invisible Dan

No one likes to see one of the Gossip Girl leads completely destroyed more than I do and this episode delivered in every way.
I didn't think Dan's book could be this engaging but it led to some amazing revelations. Not only through some classic throwndowns but also through the eyes of the book that made a lot of fans a whole lot happier.

How I Met Your Mother S07E06 - Mystery vs. History

In what is destined to be a season-long love/hate relationship with the show, this episode provided one of the best moments yet combined with some of the more cartoonistic ones. The concept worked fantastically with Ted's dating life put in the spotlight while the rest of the gang plus therapist Kevin were painting the babyroom. This time the problems were the desocialization of dating as well as the analyzation of the group dynamic. That said, bowel movement and Canada-puns were present too.

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The very best part of the episode was when Kevin finally snapped how the gang dealt with one another. Seeing all of the problems was extremely hilarious, but the real LOL came when Kevin adressed the lack of physical misbehavior and we were presented with an awesome montage of several moments of physical abuse. It was How I Met Your Mother at its best. Quick, simple, funny and with an underlining sense of nostalgy. The rest of the episode was so-so. Amber Stevens was her awesome self which fits well with the show but it does kind of suck to have to see Ted screw up yet another date just because he couldn't keep his cool. It didn't fit as well with the character as it did with the story, which points out my problem of the show forcing stories for comedy's sake. Don't even get me started on Ted's dick move of running away from a girl who used to be fat. What does THAT have to do with anything? Anyway, putting some emphasis on how mobile influenced life is nice but certainly not refreshing. It's a minor flaw of the episode considering how great the ending was that saw Marshall and Lily finding out the baby's sex through a note on a foot. Once again I'm torn whether to hate this show for filling so much time between its mysteries or to love it for making up so much fun history in the meantime. Either way, I kind of love the show regardless.

Gossip Girl S05E03 - Jewel Of Denial

The season heats up as story lines are picking up pace and characters actually become likable.

By the end of the episode I found myself respecting each and every main character at the same time, which, I don't think, has happened before. Serena showed the nice girl she always pretends to be in fixing "Charlie" up with the fairy tale dress as well as making her feel right at home. Dan actually steered both Chuck and Blair in the right direction while Nate stood up for himself. Look how these kids are growing..

2 Broke Girls S01E04 - And The Rich People Problems

The one where they became friends.

After three episodes of pointing out exactly how different from each other and how poor Max and Caroline are, the two find common ground as Max reveals to be quite the diva too, if she gets the tools.

How I Met Your Mother S07E05 - Field Trip

Perhaps it's because it's early and my head just isn't there yet but a lot of this week's stories didn't appear to reach their full potential.

The main story of the week revolved around Ted trying to inspire a group of fresh college students. It saw him taking twenty-something interchangable figurants to various places, including the bar and to various settings, including letting them decide on various disagreements between Ted and Barney.

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A fun concept that begged for some adventures that never came. Why not let them get lost in the city? Or meet up with some old characters? Or buildings that Ted wanted to make or actually made? It just felt like the group represented the audience, going various place without really wanting to be there.

An even worse executed story is that of Marshall trying to save the world. Literally. The story was about saving the planet and the prospect of everything dying anyway. I didn't understand half of what was being said but in the very basics, Marshall probably did the right thing. Without cursing.

A different story sees Robin and her therapist getting closer. I'm all for giving Robin some distraction from that guy that left for Japan or, even worse, Barney, but there was zero chemistry here. Of course the How I Met Your Mother creators know how to pitch a couple. So you're definitely charmed when Robin and the therapist meet up for seven days to have casual breakfast. But on a show that thrives on telling long lasting stories (is Barney ever getting married?) we're not really in for one-episode pairings, regardless of how awkward and fun they might be.

The tone of the season is definitely not about progression. Instead it feels like we're filling up time where a whole lot of nothing happens. Some of the stories are still fun but the matters that are waiting to come out are pressing on the comedy side of things. Meanwhile, every character is just waiting for his or hers story to come full circle. In the least attractive manner thinkable (let's not get started on Barney actually doubting his feelings because of a 'Star Wars' formula). 

Desperate Housewives S08E03 - Watch While I Revise The World

After all those years, you have to wonder...how did this not happen before?

Carlos and Susan have been around since day one and in the very basics, they aren't a wrong TV couple, so it was only a matter of time before that storyline reached the surface. And now it has, I'm thoroughly enjoying it. 

Pan Am S01E03 - Ich Binn Ein Berliner

The series' first installment that is both moving, captivating and nicely shot. Pan Am's trip to Berlin takes the show to new heights.
For any period piece it's very easy to rely on historical events that carry some weight of the story. Kennedy's famous soundbite doesn't contain much nostalgia but it certainly has its own voice. The show doesn't focus as much on that sentence as it could have, though it does heavily takes place around it, but never to the point where it becomes irrational.

South Park S15E08 - Ass Burgers

I know I'm, like, a bazillion years to late with this but I just saw the South Park premiere and am genuinely moved. The show produces a lot of shit but it's also very self-aware. The previous episode stated a lot of things, mostly because it insinuated that the writers were done with the show (which they weren't). This episode carries a similar underlaying theme for those who want to find it.

The Vampire Diaries S03E04 - Disturbing Behavior

Never has the show been so aware of its ridiculous twists, its unbelievably stupid characters and yet mind blowing storytelling.

The Vampire Diaries is delicious in every way. I love that most of the time it's unpredictable and fresh while respecting the characters. But it can also be over-the-top, fast-paced and will make you go like "whut ?!" at least five times an episode. This week we were treated to a new approach: self-awareness.