by Lee Padrick, October 30, 2013
The Blacklist - S1E6
WARNING: This review contains spoilers.
After a strong episode last week, The Blacklist delivers "Gina Zanetakos," an episode as hard to follow as the title is to pronounce. A lot of stuff happens within the show's 44 minutes and a fair amount of it does not make much sense.
As I've said previously, for me to enjoy The Blacklist, I have to suspend logic and just come along for the entertainment of Spader's acting and the big-budget action scenes. But this week requires more than a suspension of logic. It requires thought. And thought during The Blacklist can make the show much less enjoyable, because most of the plot of The Blacklist does not make sense.
by Lee Padrick, October 29, 2013
Masters of Sex - S1E4
WARNING: This review contains spoilers.
Remind me not to invite Masters over for dinner.
This fourth episode of Masters of Sex was a strong showing. The main characters are coming more in focus, as we see what tends to shape them into who they are. This episode also reminds us that this is the mid-1950's and things that we take for granted are quite shocking, when disclosed, 60 years ago.
by Lee Padrick, October 28, 2013
Walking Dead, S4E3
WARNING: This review contains spoilers.
Carol is the new Carl.
The one character that has never been given a compelling story arc is Carol (Melissa McBride). In Season Four, Carol has not only been developed further as a character, but she has exhibited some good old-fashioned badassery. Last episode, she was teaching children how to use knives and having two young girls help her put their flu-ridden father down before he turned, even remarking that the inability to put people down after death, in order to prevent expanding the zombie population, is a sign of weakness.
by Lee Padrick, October 24, 2013
Masters of Sex, S1E3
WARNING: This review contains spoilers.
Bill Masters is interested in sex research because he does not understand it. The flashback with Masters and Scully gave us insight into how and why he is driven to research a taboo subject in the 1950's.
Lots of stuff happening, leading to a scattered episode. We see an idealistic Bill Masters in the flashbacks, excited about his work and future research opportunities, contrasted with the present-day Masters, who is cynical, burned-out, and frumpy. The opening scene where a young bride-to-be comes into the office for some discrete advice about birth control reminds us that the 1950's was a stuffy place. This young woman is embarrassed talking about sex with her betrothed, and the look on her face when Masters shows her to apply a condom is priceless. Masters explains her alternatives, including a cervical cap, and the young woman asks, "Where's my cervix?" That's good stuff.
by Lee Padrick, October 23, 2013
The Blacklist - S1E5
WARNING: This review contains spoilers.
Ford F-150 versus Jeep Cherokee!
The strength of The Blacklist is size of the budget. Every week, the show continues to up the ante on its action scenes.
There is a new unknown international badass ghost that is known as the Courier. The Courier specializes in moving things, often across international borders, for his clients. His service is expensive, and if the buyer or seller does anything untoward, he executes them both. And, he happens to be on Reddington's (James Spader) blacklist.
by Lee Padrick, October 23, 2013
The Blacklist - S1E4
WARNING: This review contains spoilers.
OK, by the fourth episode of a new network show, its fate has usually been sealed. Future episodes are ordered, or the ones already in the can will likely be burned off at 8 PM on fall Saturday nights.
The fourth episode of The Blacklist worked for me, as it moved back to the promise offered by the pilot. Not coincidentally, this episode (along with the pilot) was directed by Joe Carnahan, and it showed. Carnahan may not be able to do much about the writing, but he put the "creep" in "creepy" as our latest Villian of the Week was an odd bird indeed.
