HYGOTS No. 59
November 27th, 2009
With the imminent release (um, finally) of ‘The Road,’ based on the acclaimed Cormac McCarthy book, now’s a great time to revisit post-apocalyptic material. Earlier columns covered my experiences with Stephen King’s ‘The Stand.’ Next month I’ll be covering Oni’s excellent comic ‘Wasteland’ as part of my annual QB50 awards. This week, it’s probably appropriate to talk about a film that many believe is a real turkey – ‘Waterworld.’
Smallville 9×9 – “Pandora”
November 26th, 2009
It’s nightmare time on Smallville, as Lois wakes up in a dark future where everything looks pretty bad for all of our favorite characters. Clark is powerless and alone, Chloe is ruthless, Oliver is broken, and the Earth is under the control of hundreds of super-powered Kandorians. And since this finally explains one of the season eight finale cliffhangers, you have to wonder if this is the writers’ way of apologizing for what happened last May.
V 1×04 – “It’s Only The Beginning”
November 26th, 2009
“It’s Only The Beginning” is an odd title because this episode is actually the end of the 2009 run of the V reboot. And, in it, we get to see the human resistance’s first strike against the Visitors. But, by the end of the episode, things really don’t look quite as bright. It’s a solid episode, but this hiatus might not be ABC’s brightest idea. Hopefully, when the show returns in March 2010, the audience will be there waiting.
Heroes 4×10 “Thanksgiving” review
November 25th, 2009
The following contains spoilers through the episode “Thanksgiving,” originally broadcast 11/23/09.
Back during the first half of ‘Lost’s’ second season, even Terry O’Quinn was getting antsy. He didn’t understand why Locke had reverted to the angry individual flashbacks showed him as being in the past, but in the present, at least until recently, he’d long since overcome. The actor’s vocal frustrations closely mirrored the reactions of fans who had grown accustomed to thinking of the series as one of the most innovative, thrilling, and constantly rewarding experiences on television, but had found this perhaps to no longer be the case after the first year. I offer the anecdote not as proof, now that we’re approaching that show’s final year with everyone happy once again, that things were never as grim as they appeared, but that there is always time for reflection, no matter what the results are, and Thanksgiving is a perfect time. ‘Heroes’ spent this week’s episode doing exactly that, and it was certainly an appropriate gesture.
HYGOTS No. 58
November 20th, 2009
The recent release of ‘The Fourth Kind’ was a box office failure, and it might have been as much about the film itself as the fact that it seemed to casually reference another movie from thirty years earlier, Steven Spielberg’s second big hit, ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind.’
Fringe reminder
November 19th, 2009
I won’t be able to review tonight’s episode, “August,” but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth checking out. In fact, other than finally learning about Olivia Dunham’s conversation with William Bell (Leonard Nimoy) and the final fate of Charlie Francis, this is easily the most important episode of the season so far. Why? The Observer’s back in the spotlight.
Heroes 4×9 “Brother’s Keeper” review
November 19th, 2009
The following contains spoilers through the episode “Brother’s Keeper,” originally broadcast 11/16/09.
Whether you love it or haven’t been convinced, the ‘Redemption’ arc reached a high point this week. At this point, the season is no longer accepting new viewers, or even those curious if it’s gotten back to first year goodness, but rather is now firmly back in the cumulative effect a serialized show ought to work best in, counting on awareness of developments from last season and hoping you care enough about Samuel Sullivan as a foil to register that “Brother’s Keeper” just spelled out his threat once and for all.
Smallville 9×8 – “Idol”
November 18th, 2009
Another Smallville, another DC crossover. This time, it’s the Wonder Twins that show up to meet Clark. But just like what happened with Speedy a couple of episodes, it’s the Lois and Clark show that takes over. And, in the end, that might just be what this show has become.
HYGOTS No. 57
November 13th, 2009
There’s another anniversary to celebrate before 2009 is through. This one’s a little more obscure, unless you happen to have been a fan. ‘Dark Angel,’ which ran from 2000-2002, was one of those classic Fox genre series cancelled too soon, was set in the future…which happened to be 2009. It was one of my favorite series at the time, and remains a cherished experience.
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