Goodbye, For Now

Hello fellow TV fans,

As you may have noticed, AngrodTV is no longer in production. I am leaving this blog, again, to invest my time in other projects, again. History has shown I can't leave forever so by all means this is not the end of AngrodTV. In fact, I still actively live-tweet through all my shows at https://twitter.com/#!/angrodtv Follow me there to read about and discuss your favorite shows.

I have not given up on traditional reviewing either. You can find me every Monday and Friday on PlayerAffinity.com. A "geek" culture website that is branching out its Television department. I'll be reviewing 30 Rock, Shameless, Community and The Vampire Diaries for them. So if you like any of these, be sure to check my reviews on Monday/Friday.
So hopefully, you'll still enjoy reading my opinions on different websites. Because for the foreseeable future, AngrodTV won't be continueing. I do cherish this blog and hope that one day I can free up my time to cover all your shows for you again. Until then, so long and keep your eyes inside the box!

Kind regards,
Manju Reijmer (creator of AngrodTV)

The Walking Dead - Season 2

Starting off the season the group of survivors from the Season 1 explosion find themselves stuck on the highway. When one of them is lost they decide to reside on a farm in the neighborhood so they can continue looking. 

There you have it, that's the premise of Season 2 and it hardly gets any better than that. As far as zombie apocalypses go The Walking Dead is unique in slowing down the story so much it hardly even leaves a place. Whereas Season 1 was a road trip through zombie nation encountering several diverse groups of people trying to survive, Season 2 is about a farm with a barn and how no one should have kids ever in case zombies take over the world. 

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.

The 5 Best New Ships You Need To Board

In this day and age, a TV show simply doesn't matter if it's not tweeted, tumbled, facebooked (you get the picture) about. And about 90% of all that talk consists of fans fighting about which couple is the best. Some shows are even based around the mere possibility of fans arguing over who the protagonist belongs with (I'm looking at you TVD fans). So with the big slew of new shows settled in, which couples are the ones that make my heart beat faster? I'll reveal all in this list.
Let me say that I really didn't want to care about ships anymore. Writers seem too aware of their abilities and often leave fans hanging for the sake of hanging rather than the sake of romance. Yet, somehow, these news ships looked pretty enough to start caring for and several episodes later I find myself with banners and matching T-shirts watching these shows, cheering whenever these couples share a scene. I present to you: the best new couples of the fall and why you should ship them too:

Grey's Anatomy S08E09 - Dark Was The Night

Grey's Anatomy is here again. After more than a year of healing we are here again, in that moment where everything can go wrong, where no character is safe from pain or destruction and viewers are doomed to do nothing else but sit and watch. The show is at its best in those moments. But for our emotional well being, it's probably best those moments don't come around every week.
The episode starts off pretty dark with the news that Zola won't be completing Meredith's happy family. It all happens through brief conversations so the impact is minimal, but Meredith's attitude for the remainder of the hour sticks. She did put herself out there for a child and now she's lost it. This woman knows pain.
But she isn't alone. Soon enough another woman will know pain too. Henry is going into surgery and Teddy is fixing mistakes Callie and Jackson made, so Cristina is unknowingly doing the procedure. It makes up for excellent drama as Cristina is being her indifferent self and carelessly witnesses how Henry is slipping away. The tension built there and the horror that arises when Cristina finds out is powerful. It's drama from such a strong level that it's easy to forget how often Shonda Rhimes and her team have put her characters through this. Denny DuQuette has a new buddy.
Another melo-dramatic plot expands as Alex and Meredith are sitting in an ambulance slash timebomb in the middle of the road with a dying newborn while Derek and Arizona are listening on the phone. You prepare for the worst but even that's not good enough. Of course Rhimes went there of course I find myself wondering if there really is a possibility that Alex will meet his end or that the ambulance is going to exploid. This show presents a case, prepares you for what could go wrong, gives you hope and pulls the rug right under you. You do not stand a chance.
And so another moving episode comes to a close, where characters found new issues or faced familiar ones that aren't any easier. And with winter break at our front door, viewers are just left picking up the pieces, of their TV loving self.

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.

Grimm S01E01 - Pilot

The show starts with a wonderfully recognizable scene that ends quite shockingly. It sets the tone for the show perfectly. It's fantastical and full of references but it's mainly grim.
The introduction of the show's detective couple works rather against me. I hate to think in stereotypes but I can't help it. The black cop is, unfortuntely, characterless. He cracks some jokes but falls short of helping our protagonist or even believing in him. Not to say our lead is interesting. He wants to propose to his girl and has a good eye but through out the rest of the episode he remains functional opposed to actually likable.
The story these characters serve, however, is good enough. Starting with the famous Red Riding Hood tale, Grimm seems to want to tackle every story the brothers wrote and put it in a contemporary setting. And though it was very easy to choose for a child/molestor setting, it worked. But more importantly, it gave us the episode's best character. The werewolf wasn't introduced very naturally (he first attacked and later invited our lead in for a drink) but his flaws, his intention to do good and his fear of being compromised made him very interesting. I actually want to see more of him than anything else.
The main problem of Grimm is that it tried to serve the audience more than anything else. Instead of focusing on characters or explaining the plot, the show went out of its way to have fight scenes, scary faces or shocking shots in it. Most of which weren't necessary for anything. Much of why the Grimm descendants should die isn't explained, for example.
I'm not extremely interested in how the show pans out but even with a bad execution, Grimm still has one of the best concepts of any crime show out there. So I might turn back in, this week. How about you?

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.

Revenge S01E05 - Guilt

In the best episode yet Revenge steps up its game. As the story unfolds, the web of lies gets some much needed clarity.
The episode opens with a shocking twist. Unfortunately it's also the episode's biggest twist which begs the question why the writers insist on giving everything away from the start. Not that it really stops the episode from being extremely addictive. For the first time, Revenge is the powerful drama it always promised to be. Besides the usual lies and infidelity, the show added murder, passion, hatred and guilt.
The episode was all about stories being exposed. Trevor's (aka the sneaky best friend of Daniel) sabotage came to light but only paired with him stirring the pot some more. Daniel realized his father's mistakes which led to him fixing some of them. His relationship with Emily also broke new ground, adding layers to how far Amanda Clarke actually is willing to go.
Somehow most of the characters acted surprisingly sincere, which carried the episode. Whether it is Victoria begging her daughter for forgiveness, or Emily looking at Jack or Lydia wanting her life back, it was all real and heartfelt. It offered some much needed insight in what these characters truly wanted, adding new dimensions to them and creating sympathy with the viewers.
I also loved how the story moved. We were given some background to the flight crash in '94, where Victoria stood in all of her relationships but more importantly, the element of installing a spy-cam in Emily's house offered some great developments. Everything worked extremely well en kept the engagement of the viewer. Add an event, power struggles and uncovered secrets to the mix and you have a new kind of Dallas. Only this one is more serialized, with deeper integrated mysteries and a very diverse set of players. I can't help but wonder where this show will go, but I'm hoping it's going go be good.

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.

Morning Madness (10/12)

Just because Tuesdays don't offer a whole lot of TV (unless you're a parent, twin or Southern girl) doesn't mean nothing new-related happens. Quite the opposite, it's a morning madness per usual. But with so many news channels covering what goes down in the hills, you got to have someone to filter out the noise. Enter AngrodTV. Find all of TV's current headlines all in one place. Now you never have to miss anything ever again. Enjoy!