Breaking Bad - Sunset, 3.6

• The axe hit coinciding with the apple crunch - SO. GOOD. Ugh. I have expressed my love for this pair of villains before, and they just keep getting better.
• The return of Jesse's gang. We saw a little of them last episode (along with the now deceased Combo) and it made me realize how much I missed the good ol' drug moving/meth-making-in-the-RV days. "If that bitch was any bigger, it'd be a Jolly RANCHER!"
• Speaking of last episode, which I didn't write about, I thought Hank and Marie did fantastic jobs. Especially that bathroom scene, and Hank's partner's send-off party. Good showcase for fine actors that largely take the backseat.
• "I am the man that I am, son." I wonder how much of that is Walt truly being introspective about his villianry (can that please be a word?) and how much of it is just surface-level bullshit.
• Okay. "Why the hell are we making meth?" reaction to Gale's coffee, and the all too pleasant learning-to-make-meth montage complete with sophisticated jazzy piano music (and drinking wine at the end!) contrasted with Jesse's first time in the RV. First: I think Walt, in some strange way, doesn't want out. Didn't he even refuse last episode? He is a certified genius, and even though good-guy Gale shows him perfect coffee, he continues cooking meth. It is extremely evident what he is becoming/has become. Second: LOVE the editing of this sequence (Walt and Gale, BFFs).
• Lawn chairs and Funyuns make me miss old school BB. :(
• Walt feeding Jesse lines and Jesse adding "Bitch!" made me lol. Good scene.
  
• When Hank took off the tape, the sun shone through (and landed on Walt's chest, good effect) but now he is in shadow. Continuity
• THIS SCENE! This! Perfection! Quick, harried cuts, muted background sounds, no voice, then out of nowhere Hank's annoying ringtone heard earlier in the episode. Amazing.
• TWIST! Okay, best episode of the season so far, I'm calling it. Poor Hank!
• Oh, and beautiful work as usual, but even more so in this episode with sunlight effects
• Hey, just found out this was both written and directed by John Shiban! Crazy! Good for him. I didn't care for any of his X Files episodes, written or directed. Hah.

Doctor Who - Series 1 (the Ninth Doctor)

I watched the whole 13 (I think) episodes in a day, because that's how good it is.

I don't know why it took me so long to start this series (well, yes I do - I was watching too much else) but I'm glad I finally did. I decided to start with the Ninth Doctor instead of with Tennant, because I figured it was just a few episodes. And I'm so glad I did. I knew everyone fawned over Tennant so I didn't have high hopes for Eccleston, but I was so impressed. I adore him. Granted, he's my first "Doctor" experience, so I don't know how well he fits in the lineup, but I love all his quirks and mannerisms. Plus, he's totally good looking.

It's just overall a fun, solid sci-fi/fantasy series that can manage laughs as well as tears ("The Parting of the Ways," anyone?). And, most significantly, it contains the type of adventure (through time and space with an attractive companion, what's better?) that is compelling for anybody. While watching I didn't keep an eye out for any overarching message, and nothing was preached outright, which I appreciated, there was some inevitable, understated "take care of your planet" talk. However, I chose to take to heart the more specific and wild, "make sure your planet's satellite station is not actually controlled by an alien with many teeth" lesson.

As far as villain originality/awesomeness is concerned, Daleks rank near the middle. Okay, they're mutant-like entities created to only feel hate. I do think it's cool they are concealed by the metal shell, and that they're all gooey and stuff; the contradicting physicalities idea is intriguing. However, the "we can't feel emotion, because it makes us weak" thing is tired because it's always always always effective for fashioning a villain.

I miss Eccleston already, but I look forward to the Tenth Doctor, which I'll start next week.

TiMER

I want to see this movie! It's making its rounds of a ton of festivals right now, so hopefully it'll get a wider release soon. I originally wanted to see it because of Emma Caulfield (BtVS), but it looks cute in its own right. I'm not into romcoms unless they're well done (a Duh statement?) or unintentionally ridiculous, so I'm glad TiMER looks unique and smart.

Skins - Everyone & Cook, 3.1-2

I watched the first two series of this show, wary of its very young cast and writers, with low expectations. After the first episode, I was left wondering why this motley crew were even friends - they were so different. After the second episode, I began to warm up to the characters, and appreciated the now evident structure the first series would take (story arch, while exploring each character individually). After the first series, I was completely and totally in love with everything and everyone. The musical-inspired Wild World at the end of the episode sealed the deal.

Not only was the acting spectacular, the writing, too, was outstanding. It was an exploration of character rather than intense plot (though that happened also) and that's what made it so compelling. It was also interesting to see what UK culture was like. A specific, stylized facet of it, at least.

It had all the clever twists and coincidences to keep it interesting, and the strong characters to keep you invested. The second series was just as spot-on, if not better. Now that we knew the characters, the second series was free to explore them further and examine their relationships. It truly solidified the group, and convinced me they really would be friends.

I started the third series today, which features a different set of actors (the show's "second generation"). So far this is what I think:

• I don't like Effy, never did. I miss Tony and Michelle and Sid and Jal and CHRIS and Maxxie and Anwar and Cassie and not Sketch. :(
• The twins look promising. The cute skateboarder guy interested in Effy does, too. And JJ. Cook seems like a more unlikable version of Chris. Not feeling the not-lesbian, either.
• At the beginning of the first series when I thought the group didn't fit well together, I was proved wrong quickly. They were already friends, and it just took a few episodes for their dynamic to show through. However, this series, only a few of them are already friends and everyone else just hates each other. I'm not getting the sense of community, at least, that I did before, and I'm wondering if this different dynamic will be detrimental to the first series.
• I really like the drone-y music under Cook and Freddie's conversation. Effective and unique.

Flashforward - Forking Paths, 1.17

GAIUS BALTAR!

Also, nice suspense-building concerning Building 6. It took, like, half the episode, but was done pretty well. Thank the Lord John Cho lives!

No Jack Davenport this episode, which I'm okay with, but not seeing Simon involved makes me unhappy. I love that character, and I wish he'd interact with Janis more because they have good chemistry (lol'd so much at Janis popping up everywhere, stoic, when he tried to get away that one episode) and he's the only one that knows she's the mole. I get that they didn't have time to address it this episode, but it was a very distracting loose end, especially when Wedeck was urging her to work faster at locating Mark - you didn't know if she was sabotaging it on purpose. Maybe that was the point, but it was frustrating.

Finally - Union Station! It was only a matter of time before the LA-based crew used it. It's seen a lot of action lately, from Chuck to Monk to something else I'm forgetting...

Party Down - Jackal Onassis Backstage Party, 2.1

• YEAH! Starz put the first two episodes of season 2 on their website. They also put their eps up on Netflix the day after - definitely not something you'd find a company like NBC Universal/Comcast/Whatever they are doing
• Jimmi Simpson is to offbeat comedy what Mark Sheppard is to sci-fi. I mean, I think that's him. Too lazy to check imdb right now
• Oh hahahahhah yes it is!!! "I want to be called Dennis." "Oh fuck."
• Love that Henry's still going out with Uda
• I miss Constance so much :(
• Even though he got tasered, the episode still ends with a happy Ron

Steve Guttenberg's Birthday, 2.2

• THIS EPISODE IS AMAZING. Steve Guttenberg for the fucking win.
• This chick does an incredible robot voice. Wow.
• "Hey, do you have any smart shit I could say?" - Kyle
• WHY IS THIS EPISODE SO GOOD. REALLY. "You saved the galaxy...". The look on Roman's face. Ughhhhh. So good. So good.

Fringe - The Man From the Other Side, 2.19

• And it begins with two teenagers in a car. I couldn't tell you how many procedural sci-fi teasers begin with two teenagers in a car. Or an abandoned warehouse, which is where this guy is headed.
• Musical episode next week!! SO pumped! I expect the musical numbers will be more ornamental rather than instrumental (ha) in driving the plot (the latter a la Once More With Feeling, or Glee anything)
• "Every living thing dies." - Walter. Having just finished the first series of Doctor Who (the ninth Doctor) this is cool to hear. Also, the X-Files.
• MURRAY! The commercials are kind of awesome tonight.
• I'm getting Agent Pendrell vibes from this Massive Dynamic labcoat guy.
• Astrid's such a cutie pie. More screen time please
• Isn't Peter supposed to be a genius with an IQ of 190? It's like, figure it out already.
• It would be INCREDIBLE to be a prop or makeup/prosthetic person on this show. Love it so much!
• Watching this hospital scene makes me want to watch Triangle. ("I love you." "Oh, brother.")
• "I am not your son." :'(
• Bad Robot, Bad Horse, Bad Wolf.
• Everything will be okay - next week's a MUSICAL!

BRIDGE