Category Archives: TV Time

TV Time: Castle 5.03

Posted on by
9

Title Secret’s Safe with Me

Two-Sentence Summary The murder of a young woman sends Castle and Beckett to a storage unit, which holds the answer to not only her murder but the deaths of her brother and parents as well. While working on the case and still keeping his relationship with Beckett under wraps at the precinct, Castle also deals with moving Alexis out of the loft and into her college dorm.

Favorite Line “Even on the worst days, there’s a possibility for joy.” (Beckett)

My Thoughts I’m running out of superlatives at this point when it comes to Castle. This season started out on an amazingly high note, and yet the show seems to be getting even stronger with each successive episode. Finally allowing Castle and Beckett to be in a happy relationship with each other seems to have given both the actors and the writers a renewed energy. If these first few episodes are any indication, I think Season 5 has the potential to be the show’s strongest season yet.

My favorite Castle cases allow for moments of both humor and heart, and this one did exactly that. The parallels about “stuff” and what our physical belongings mean to us on an emotional level were done with enough care and finesse that they didn’t seem as heavy-handed as the running theme about “secret relationships” last week. I loved the fact that there was no way to predict how the case would turn out until the very end (even if it was frustratingly obvious that the doll had something to do with it). And in an episode that featured deep moments of love between Castle and his family, the idea that an entire family could be killed by one man was especially affecting and heartbreaking.

There were so many hilarious moments in this episode. It had been quite a while since an episode of Castle made me laugh this hard. Some of my personal favorite comedic moments included:
• Everything with Captain Gates. I loved seeing such a different side to her character, and I loved seeing everyone’s reactions to it. Penny Johnson Jerald was surprisingly funny, and that element of surprise is what made her scenes really work for me. I’m starting to like Gates more and more every week, which is something I really needed because I felt like her character fell flat for me last season.
• “Need I remind you; I’ve already seen your stuff.” And, “That’s not the owing I mean.” – The sexy banter between Castle and Beckett will never get old because Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic pull it off so well.
• Castle’s theories about Beckett’s doll were priceless. I was especially fond of the one about the old gypsy lady giving her a talisman.
• “Take your hands off your tool…Shut up.” – I can’t decide which was better—Katic’s delivery or the reactions from Jon Huertas and Seamus Dever.

Continue reading →

TV Time: Parks and Recreation 5.03

Posted on by
2

Title How a Bill Becomes a Law

Two-Sentence Summary As Leslie works to pass a bill to help a Pawnee youth swim team, Chris creates a 311 system to deal with queries from citizens, which leads Ron to a single mother and possible new love interest. In Washington, April and Ben’s spur-of-the-moment trip to Pawnee is derailed when a presidential motorcade leaves them stuck in a parking garage.

Favorite Line “Ron and Diane, sittin’ in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i. Did you hear that bird?” (Andy)

My Thoughts This episode helped me see that Parks and Rec is back on the right track after a slow start to the season. Though it still felt a little disjointed at times (I just really need Ben back in Pawnee with Leslie), it was the funniest episode of the season so far—and the one that felt most like the Parks and Rec that I love.

I have such a strange soft spot for Tom (he’s probably my favorite character besides Leslie and Ben), so I can never get enough of seeing him interact with Leslie. Their A-plot was well-executed and found a nice balance between celebrating Leslie’s idealism and showing the challenges that idealism faces in her new role in the government. I love when we get to see Tom’s good heart, so it made me smile to see him defend Leslie the way he did in the end.

There were some details I loved in Leslie’s storyline and some that I wasn’t so crazy about. I adored her photos of inspirational women in her office, but what I adored even more was that she included herself (you inspire me too, Leslie Knope). I laughed out loud at Councilman Milton originally running on a platform to de-integrate baseball. And Leslie’s porpoise sounds cracked me up (anytime Leslie interacts with kids I find myself thoroughly enjoying it). However, I didn’t care for the overused bathroom humor (just not my style). And I thought the half-perm sight gag was trying a little too hard to be funny.

Continue reading →

TV Time: Castle 5.02

Posted on by
4

Title Cloudy with a Chance of Murder

Two-Sentence Summary The murder of a local TV news personality provides the backdrop for Castle and Beckett’s first case together after her suspension is over. Their plan to pretend to be single (because of the NYPD’s rules about partners dating) backfires when a flirtatious talk show host sets her sights on Castle.

Favorite Line “Excuse me, it was you that was trying to sleep with me…Don’t tell me you dress like that for Esposito.” (Castle)

My Thoughts I think I summed up my thoughts on last night’s episode of Castle in the most succinct way I could on Facebook after it aired: “Another Monday night, another perfect episode of Castle.” There really is nothing else that needs to be said. I know this season is only two episodes old, but I really feel like the writers and the actors are operating on another level right now. Not only are they working to disprove the “Moonlighting Curse” and the belief that a show’s quality deteriorates once you get your will they/won’t they couple together; they’re working to prove that the opposite is true: If put in the right hands, a show can actually improve once the unresolved tension becomes blissfully resolved.

Continue reading →

TV Time: Once Upon a Time 2.01

Posted on by
5

Title Broken

Two-Sentence Summary With the curse broken and all kinds of emotional reunions experienced, the citizens of Storybrooke face a new threat when Rumplestiltskin unleashes a powerful wraith meant to suck out Regina’s soul as punishment for what she did to Belle. In a portion of Fairytale Land untouched by the curse, a wraith is also responsible for the (possible) demise of Prince Phillip, leaving Sleeping Beauty and her new companion Mulan alone to travel to a “safe haven”—until they discover Snow White and Emma, who fell through the Mad Hatter’s hat in their attempts to lure the wraith back to Fairytale Land.

Favorite Lines
Snow: We talked about things we probably shouldn’t have even talked about…One-night stands and the like.
Charming: One-night stands?
Snow: Whale.
Charming: Whale?
Snow: We were cursed!

My Thoughts I have a serious case of mixed emotions about this premiere. I’m torn between liking it more than my sense of logic says I should, and not liking it as much as my sentimental heart wants me to like it. Overall, I loved the performances we got out of the actors in this episode, but I thought the plot was pretty weak.

In my opinion, a season premiere should set up the upcoming season in a fairly clear way, answering more questions than it asks. The time for asking questions is the finale; I like my season premieres to have a sense of clarity of purpose about them. I thought the pilot episode of Once Upon a Time did just that, but this premiere threw me off balance from the start and never quite righted itself.

Continue reading →

TV Time: Parks and Recreation 5.02

Posted on by
4

Episode Title Soda Tax

Two-Sentence Summary As Leslie struggles with whether or not to vote for a tax on soda in Pawnee, she leans on Ann for support, and Ron motivates her with some surprising information about his impression of her during her first year working for him. Ben has struggles of his own with his interns in Washington, and helping Andy train for the police academy brings back feelings of loneliness for Chris.

Favorite Line: “I’m never gonna be a cop. I’m gonna have to be a robber.” (Andy)

My Thoughts Though it was funnier than last week’s premiere, this episode showed me that Parks and Rec still has some growing pains to work through before it reaches the near-perfect levels of television comedy it was consistently producing for the last two seasons. The show still feels too fractured, too segmented. I love Parks and Rec the most when all of the characters have the opportunity to interact with each other, and that’s still missing right now. I especially miss the warmth and humor between Leslie and Ben. The wonderful chemistry (both comedic and romantic) between Amy Poehler and Adam Scott was one of the things that really got me hooked on the show, and I missed getting to see that in any capacity this week.

Continue reading →

TV Time: Castle 5.01

Posted on by
10

Episode Title After the Storm

Two-Sentence Summary As Castle and Beckett begin a romantic relationship four years in the making, they have bigger things to deal with than just keeping the change in their partnership a secret. The estranged duo of Ryan and Esposito help them finally track down the man who orchestrated the murders of Beckett’s mother, Captain Montgomery, and many others, but when Beckett finally confronts this senator with presidential aspirations, she chooses to seek justice instead of vengeance, deciding to take back control over her own life and shifting the balance of power in her favor.

Favorite Line To represent the expert blending of comedy and drama in this episode, I have two favorites.

Comedic: “Just act normal – if that’s even possible for you.” (Beckett)

Dramatic: “I’m done being afraid. It’s your turn now.” (Beckett)

My Thoughts In the last few years of my media-consuming life, I’ve tried really hard to keep from labeling things I’ve just watched/read/experienced my “favorite.” With that being said, this was my favorite episode of Castle to date. I’ve been religiously watching this show (and re-watching it during hiatuses) since the pilot episode in 2009, and I can honestly say that I don’t think there has ever been a better example of what Castle is as a show when it’s firing on all cylinders than “After the Storm.”

When Castle is at its best, it mixes comedy, drama, and romance in a way that no other show on TV can do as successfully. The best Castle episodes are the ones that make you laugh out loud one minute and wipe away a tear the next minute. This episode did all of those things, and it added an element of suspense that rivaled anything I used to see during my days of watching Alias and other action-driven TV shows.

The major question people had going into this season was: Could Castle break the dreaded (and ridiculous, if you ask me) Moonlighting Curse? I think by the first commercial break that question was answered with a definitive yes. Those opening scenes took everything that makes Castle and Beckett such a dynamic pairing (their smart banter, their humor, and the indescribably potent chemistry between Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic) and turned it up to 11.

The dynamic between Castle and Beckett at the start of this episode was filled with the sparks and sharp dialogue that made the show so enjoyable in its first two seasons. But as the episode went on, we got to see that there is now another layer to their relationship that we finally get to explore. We’ve seen the spark, we saw the heat, and now we get to see the warmth.

Continue reading →

TV Time: Parks and Recreation 5.01

Posted on by
2

Episode Title Ms. Knope Goes to Washington

Two-Sentence Summary Leslie experiences “small fish-big pond” syndrome when she and Andy visit Ben and April in Washington, but a pep talk from a surprising source reminds her that, despite the condescension she was treated with during her visit, she’s “Kick-Ass Leslie,” and she’s an important person who works tirelessly for the town she loves. Back in Pawnee, the annual Parks Department barbeque goes awry when Ron takes the reins, and Tom and Ann try to hide the fact that their relationship ended in order to win a bet with Donna.

Favorite Line “Could we just real quick stop at the nearest place that has free pants?” (Andy)

My Thoughts Though this wasn’t my favorite episode of Parks and Rec, it did what needed to be done in order to set up major story lines and conflicts for the beginning of this season: the challenges Leslie is going to face in her new role as city councilwoman and in her long-distance relationship with Ben (especially with Ben in such a high-profile line of work); the new responsibilities Ron is going to have to deal with now that Leslie has taken on her new role; and the adjustment period everyone is going to go through after the big events of last season’s finale.

It broke my heart to see how Leslie was treated in Washington, and so much of that came from Amy Poehler’s typically brilliant performance. This is an actress who can put tears in my eyes from both emotion and laughter within the same scene—and maybe even within the same line of dialogue. In the moment where the woman in the Secretary of the Interior’s office names the list of different states that have cities named Pawnee you could almost see Leslie lose a little of that light that makes her such a beautiful, admirable character. Leslie and Pawnee are so intricately linked on this show, and to see the city be treated as nothing special only added to the pain of seeing Leslie treated as nothing special. But Leslie’s feelings of inferiority also brought about two of my favorite comedic moments in the episode: petite Leslie unleashing her jealousy about all of the tall women Ben is surrounded by (mainly because I have felt that same height envy often) and Leslie’s breakdown in a closet being interrupted by a perfect cameo from John McCain.

Continue reading →