Posts tagged recaps
Television, pop culture and a healthy dose of snark
‘Mad Men’ Recap: Unattainable Beauty
This week on Mad Men, Joan sells herself for Jaguar, Peggy leaves SCDP for a rival agency and Don is the moral voice of reason in almost every situation. Let that sink in for a second. Don Draper, voice of reason. You know a situation is really out of control when it grosses out Don Draper.
When Mad Men first began, the show’s sexism was blatant and in-your-face. As Mad Men continued, the female characters became more empowered, at least within their own narrow worlds. Peggy moved up to copywriter, Joan garnered more respect, Betty got out of her damaging marriage with Don. This season, even secretary-turned-wife Megan turned out to have more to her than met the eye.
It got easier to ignore the sexism and inherent inequality of the universe in which Mad Men exists. This episode ripped the curtain off, exposing just how far the female characters have actually come. Peggy finally realizes that she’ll never be respected in the way she wants to be at SCDP, especially by Don. Joan becomes partner, but at a terrible price. Meanwhile, Megan and Don continue to have the same fight about her career, especially when it turns out a new part might take her away to Boston for three months.
The pitch to Jaguar really sums it up: Women are objects to be bought and sold. They can be unattainable and they can be won, but at the end of the day they’re just objects to men. This is a show about advertising, after all. Everything is for sale.
“If they weren’t pretty, if they weren’t temperamental, would we still love them like we do?” Don asks in this pitch, equating women to Jaguars. “What price would we pay? What behavior would we forgive?” he asks. This week, there’s a lot of behavior to forgive and the price seems much too steep.
Revenge: The Explosive Truth
The season finale of Revenge pulls out all the stops with violence, revelations, drug use, surprise pregnancies and scheming for one heck of an explosive closer.
Mommy Dearest?
What a season it’s been on Revenge! Emily (Emily VanCamp) started the season taking down enemies one-by-one in her quest to undo the Graysons. Those take downs now seem like small potatoes. The finale saw the possible undoing of the whole family, while Emily hovered on the brink of murder. She pulled herself back from the edge with the white haired man, but the Graysons and the shadowy organizations behind them didn’t prove to be so merciful. It also appears Emily’s long-dead mother might not be resting so peacefully after all. Where is the missing Clarke and what is her connection to the larger conspiracy?
Triangle No More
The finale tied up some loose ends only to untie them again. A case in point was the love triangle central to the show since its pilot. Would Emily end up with misunderstood Grayson son Daniel (Joshua Bowman) or childhood friend Jack (Nick Wechsler)? Emily finally made her choice after seeing Daniel slowly turning into the worst thing he possibly could: all Grayson. Emily broke off her engagement and planned to tell Jack everything. The only problem? Fauxmanda (Margarita Levieva) came back pregnant. Talk about timing!
Charlotte’s Web
Meanwhile, Charlotte (Christa B. Allen) got more screen time this episode than she has almost all season. She embraced her Grayson roots when she took down Declan’s (Connor Paolo) new girl, but then felt guilty about it. I guess that’s what she gets from the Clarke side of the family. After seeing the news about her mother’s plane explosion, she ODs on pills. Conrad (Henry Czerny) helpfully rocks her back and forth without calling any kind of medical services. Father of the year award forthcoming!
Seven Devils
Of course, the biggest moment of the show came towards the end. Victoria (Madeleine Stowe) is dead set on testifying now that the feds have the evidence. As she walks toward the small plane bound to carry her to DC, Florence and the Machine’s “Seven Devils” begins playing and you know things are about to get real. If only Victoria could have heard the soundtrack! Alas apparently she perished in the plane explosion, although we all know better. What is Revenge without Victoria Grayson’s cold shoulders and hatred-fueled hugs?
— Read the full recap including best lines at RoadRunner.com HERE!!
‘Mad Men’ Recap: Drowning in Champagne
This week on Mad Men, Paul Kinsey returns as a Hare Krishna, Lane has money issues and Don and Joan bond over fast cars and failed marriages.
The combination of Don and Joan is one the show hasn’t played with much in its five year run. After tonight’s episode, it’s hard to see why. The scenes between the two this episode were fantastic and the chemistry between the actors spot on. It’s fair to say that I would watch an hour of Don and Joan driving around in Jaguars and wingman-ing each other.
As an episode, this week felt more like setup with some awesome team-ups and nostalgia thrown in to distract viewers from all the parts moving into place. Lane’s financial troubles are surely going to come home to roost for SCDP in some way before the end of the season is out.
Meanwhile, Don finally seems to be plugged back into advertising after being checked out of the business for much of the season. In his conference room pep talk, Don says that soon the world will know who they are. Before the season is out, we’ll know if he’s right. Will SCDP take a great leap forward and drown in champagne? Or will they be known for a much less pleasant reason?
‘Gossip Girl’ Finale Recap: High Stakes Betting
This week on Gossip Girl, Blair finally makes her 20th romantic choice this season, Serena breaks free of all the bonds of sanity she had left, Nate is mostly useless, Dan’s hair has finally taken on intelligent life and Bart Bass smiles, terrifying us all to our very cores.
It was a giant spectacle of an episode, with multiple callbacks to the pilot. By the time they finally get to the series finale next year, will they have any pilot callbacks left they haven’t already done? The season 3 finale was also chock full of pilot callbacks, as was the 100th episode. It’s only one episode! There really are only so many things you can redo! Pace yourselves, writers!
I feel like I don’t even have feelings, I’m so overwhelmed with the amount of stuff that happened in this episode. It’s a great, solid episode to cap off a so-so season (to put it mildly) of the show. The episode showed all the hallmarks of the show we’ve grown to know and love. Multiple characters interacting, dozens of storylines being juggled in the air and schemes and counter-schemes for miles. It was like watching a Gossip Girl greatest hits album.
As the dust settles, we’ve have one major relationship on the mend and another suffering possible irreparable damage. We all know that Serena and Blair will weather this storm, even if the seas are a bit choppier than usual. Besties always do. Even ones that drunkenly bang multiple boyfriends and push each other into fountains.
‘Mad Men’ Recap: All’s Fair in Love and Advertising
This week on Mad Men, everyone is trying desperately not to be replaced by a younger and better model. Betty fights her feeling of inferiority against Megan by dropping the Anna Draper bomb on poor unsuspecting Sally and her color pencil family tree. Don fights the million idea machine that is new hire Ginsberg and his own fears he might be irrelevant. Roger continues his fight against Pete with Jane as collateral damage. Meanwhile, Pete’s coup de grace with the Sunday New York Times fails him.
As Pete’s friend on the train says, the grass is always greener on the other side. All the characters are fighting this week, not against each other, but against the passing of time. As each character moves on, they realize there is someone else ready in wait to take their place.
Betty sees this literally in Megan, who seemingly has it all. The penthouse, Don’s affections, a good relationship with her kids and the youthful body Betty used to define herself by. So she of course tries to poke holes in the idyllic life she imagines Megan and Don live. But Betty’s not alone in her vindictiveness. Megan too takes a shot at her friend’s soap opera audition and later seems less than happy with her friend’s success.
As the episode opens, Betty weighs her food while Roger talks about the joys of fishing — the weighing and measuring for the right moment. Our favorite Madison Avenue denizens are busy this week taking the measure of those nipping their heels. Don and Peggy are threatened by Ginsberg’s talent and brazen disregard for hierarchy. Roger is threatened by Pete and by the fact that Jane might move on, leaving him behind.
But it’s Betty who is the most threatened, as she’s always been, by the happiness of everyone else. For Betty, happiness has always been elusive, a feeling she thought she’d gain by playing by the rules society set out for her. She’s never really had it, and always resented it in others. As she succinctly put it at Thanksgiving dinner, “I’m thankful that I have everything I want and no one else has anything better.”
Revenge: Happy Old Year
It’s a tale of three New Year’s Eves as Revenge flashes back and then even further back to show how Amanda Clarke transformed into stone cold vengeance-obsessed Emily Thorne.
Flashbacks Within Flashbacks
Tonight’s episode of Revenge was like watching a greatest hits collection for the show. Oh look, there’s those people the show killed! (Anyone remember that Jack (Nick Wechsler) and Declan (Connor Paolo) even had a father at this point?) It was also a trip down memory lane of Emily’s best take-downs. We got to see all the people Emily’s destroyed since the show started in one room, none realizing they were headed for a collision course with vigilante justice.
Stay Cool Daddy-O
Nolan Ross (Gabriel Mann) as per usual was a standout. Not only is he one of the most loyal schemers around, but he’s continually getting punched in the face for his trouble. After Jack’s girlfriend kisses him on New Year’s for seemingly no reason, Jack lays him out with a punch. And thus a beautiful friendship was born. Also before sporting multiple popped collars, Nolan liked to dress like a 1950s greaser.
Emily Thorne Rises
Meanwhile, poor Nolan has to deal with Emily (Emily VanCamp), still going by Amanda, and getting into bar fights. When she finally reads her father’s journal, she grabs the first opportunity to cater the Grayson’s New Year’s Eve party and see the wicked family for herself. Once there she bumps into Roger, an old friend of her father’s willing to help her uncover the truth. But before you can say Grayson, Roger is murdered and Emily’s anger spills over. If anything, this episode was like watching a super hero origin story for the cold Emily Thorne we know and fear.
Shame
The Graysons have their own fires to put out in 2002 when they receive a note that just says “Shame” with David Clarke’s name attached. So they invite all their cover-up collaborators to their annual New Year’s Eve party. Nothing says “starting fresh” like ringing in the new year with people who helped you frame an innocent man! While Victoria (Madeleine Stowe) flashes back to meeting David, Frank (Max Martini) takes out the perceived threat. Except Roger was innocent, and it was Treadwell who sent in the card.
—Read the full recap including best lines at RoadRunner.com HERE!
New Girl: Nick Miller, King of the Desert
Nick contemplates moving out, and the roommates unwillingly stage a desert intervention where relationships are discussed and fears are faced.
Goodbye, Hello
Freshmen New Girl’s season finale wasn’t the show’s funniest episode. That’s fine, because the show had a lot of emotional ground to cover with it’s main trio. At its heart, New Girl is about the sort of families you form by accident. When the show started, Jess (Zooey Deschanel) didn’t know any of these guys. Now she’s fighting for Nick (Jake M. Johnson) to stay a member of their little clan. She’ll even face down coyotes. Now that’s love!
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Everyone had to face their fears and decide what it is they really want for themselves. Schmidt (Max Greenfield) faces his fear that he’s not good enough for Cece (Hannah Simone) after seeing her suggestive missile photoshoot. Poor Cece realizes she might have given her heart to someone who doesn’t trust her after Schmidt tries to White Fang her. Meanwhile, Winston (Lamorne Morris) faces his fear of the dark by spending a night in the desert peeing on things and making out with dunes.
Who’s That Girl?
The finale also included a lot of nice call-backs to the pilot, including the roommates screening for a Nick replacement. The show has grown so much since it’s inception that it feels confident enough to make fun of pilot Jess. The new roommate they screen is like a weirder male version of Jess: he’s just been through a divorce and he likes to sing everything. Not even Jess has time for the guy’s shenanigans, showing how far the show has taken her character from its quirky-on-steroids roots.
Meep Meep!
Do you think Schmidt and Cece are over for good? Do you want to see Nick and Jess get together? Let us know!
—Read the full recap including hilarious best lines on RoadRunner.com HERE!!
‘Castle’ Finale Recap: A Rain Soaked Kiss
This week on the season finale of Castle, the conspiracy around Beckett’s mother reopens, damaging friendships and forcing revelations to the surface. If there’s one thing that can be said about Castle, it’s that the show really knows how to do heart-stopping episodes.
From the opening of Beckett’s near-death experience to the closing shot of Kate’s mysterious benefactor being threatened, this was an episode you couldn’t take your eyes off. Not only was it full of nonstop action, but it was also full of nonstop emotions. The emotions just never stopped! There were hurts feelings, love declarations and shocking resignations.
Let’s be real, though, we’re all pretty excited that Castle and Beckett finally got their feelings out into the open. Much more than that, they finally got with all of the kissing! There was no fake-out; they weren’t pretending as part of a mission. It was just full-out Castle and Beckett sexy times. In an episode that saw Caskett shippers clutching their hearts, this was a moment that was truly swoon-worthy.
On a personal note, I’ve never bought into the Moonlighting curse when it comes to pairing characters together. Since the show’s inception, it was no mystery that Richard Castle and Kate Beckett were on a collision course to love. It didn’t exactly come as a shock that the two would develop feelings for each other. Many a show has floundered under the need to put increasingly ridiculous roadblocks in our favorite couples’ paths to happiness long past when it makes sense.
This season, Castle has been almost straight up with its mission statement: this is the season our crime fighters are getting together. You’re on a road and at the end of the road is Caskett having post-rain sex and what you’re seeing is the journey to that point. On all points, the show delivered this season. Instead of keeping the characters in static banter mode, the show opened up and allowed the characters to grow and to acknowledge their feelings. It’s been a powerful season (my personal favorite) because the show committed to “going there” and kept its promise.
I can’t wait to see what next season holds. For all the fans worried that the chemistry will be off or the show will be different, take a piece of advice from Alexis about change. So strap on your seatbelts, because the Caskett train is leaving the station.
—Read the full recap of the season finale including all of the Caskett makeouts on BuddTV.com HERE!
‘Gossip Girl’ Recap: Bart Bass Rises
This week on Gossip Girl, we find out the incredibly sketchy story behind Bart Bass’ apparent death while the Non-Judging Breakfast Club reunites for another scheme. Everyone says things are life and death a whole bunch, in a super serious soap opera voice and it is wonderful.
Also after an entire season of nary a scene between the two former besties, Serena and Blair shockingly exist in the same space at the same time. I was beginning to think this would undo the laws of physics or that Serena and Blair were secretly the same person, like Superman and Clark Kent. But of course Serena and Blair had to reconnect, because next week they’re going to be in the mother of all fights from the looks of things. It would have had a sum total of zero impact if they hadn’t at least spoken once in the last five episodes. I’m sorry, that probably sounds bitter. I have many feelings on this subject.
Elsewhere in non-rant land, Dan relents and accepts the offer to Rome if he can take Blair with him. Blair helps Chuck concoct an elaborate plan involving strippers. If anyone actually went to college anymore on this show I’m pretty sure “Plots Involving Strippers” would be all of their majors. Serena has no idea what’s happening for 99% of the episode, as usual, and then wears a headband. Nate can’t decide if he’s really irrationally mad at Diana, or secretly wants to bone her again. Lola ruins everything like usual and everyone thinks Ivy’s still a blonde, even though she looks like the Little Mermaid tripping on uppers.
It wasn’t exactly the slam dunk last episode was, but it gained points in my book for having the characters interact and scheme together.
—Read the full recap including the scheme with hookers and how Lily is a polygamist at BuddyTV HERE!
Game of Thrones: Missing Dragons
Things get complicated for all the Starks as Winterfell is taken and riots break out in King’s Landing. Across the sea, Dany begins putting up posters: “Have you seen my missing dragons?”
Winterfell Falls
Theon (Alfie Allen) finally embraces his Greyjoy roots when he takes his former home in Winterfell. Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) is shocked, especially when Theon kills a loyal servant. Former wildling Osha (Natalia Tena) looks to be switching to Theon’s side to win her freedom. Instead she seduces him in order to help Bran and his brother escape from Winterfell. Was there a way to do that without nudity? Probably, but this is Game of Thrones.
Far Beyond the Wall
Out beyond the wall, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) finally gets to prove his mettle as a ranger of the night’s watch. Only problem? The wildling he captures is a woman and he’s unable to kill her, no matter how much he understands he should. While the rest of the ranger party moves on without him, he finally takes Ygritte (Rose Leslie) hostage. Out in the cold they huddle together for warmth and Ygritte seems to be hoping for a more intimate cuddle. Between Osha and Ygritte, this episode is pretty much an all wildling lady appreciation fest.
A Vicious Idiot King
Unlike Jon, Joffrey (Jack Gleeson ) has no problem with killing. Unfortunately this lack of morality gets him into trouble. When an angry villager throws a cow pat in the petulant king’s face, he brings down death and destruction on all the villagers, turning a moment of anger into a full-out riot. People are killed and poor Sansa (Sophie Turner) is nearly raped. Inside the castle, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) embodies the audience fantasy by slapping Joffrey silly.
Missing Fire Breathers
Across the sea in Qarth, Dany (Emilia Clarke) is still trying to get her ships to return and retake the iron throne. Having turned down the proposal of Xaro Xhoan Daxos (Nonso Anozie) the richest man in Qarth, Dany still needs a plan to get back to Westeros. As she talks to the different kings, it looks like none are very interested in helping. But she has bigger problems on the horizon. As the episode ends, she returns to find her people killed and her dragons stolen. Missing: baby dragons. Really cute, breathe fire, answer to “Dany’s dragons.”
—Read the full recap including best lines at RoadRunner.com HERE!!
