Tuesday, August 07, 2007 Rant Archive
Kyle (Matt Dallas) is confronted with his complicated past, while on a camping trip with Lori (April Matson), Jessi (Jaimie Alexander), Declan (Chris Olivero), Josh (Jean-Luc Bilodeau) and Amanda (Kirsten Prout.) What was supposed to be a carefree getaway for these five friends, turns into a series of mishaps and confusion; And, to top it all off, they happen to have picked the spot where the ruins of Zzyzx lie. This leaves Kyle troubled, while Jessi is just confused. Thanks to the reprogramming Mada Corp has done on her, Jessi has no real memories of the building where she germinated, but that doesn’t mean she can’t feel the evil that emanates from its remains.
A summer camping trip is supposed to be fun and full of adventure, but nothing is ever that easy for a couple of clones. And, when you add teenage love into the mix, it can become a recipe for disaster. On top of all the mystery and intrigue that stumbling upon Kyle and Jessi’s birthplace brings, there is the heartbreak of lost love to deal with. I’m not sure how Lori is able to handle camping out with her ex and his new squeeze. If it were me, I would short sheet her sleeping bag, or leave an open bag of jerky in front of her tent for the local Grizzly Bears to find. But, that’s not Lori’s style. Besides, she has another agenda for this trip.
When Tom Foss (Nicholas Leah) returns, Kyle confronts him about Lori’s attack. It isn’t just the ominous note left for Declan that has Kyle suspicious. Once Kyle decodes Adam Baylin’s (J. Eddie Peck) encrypted message, he discovers that he had some doubts about Foss’s loyalty as well. But, how many twists and turns can this show throw at us? I mean, first Kyle is told to put his life in Foss’s hands, only to turn around and leave him a dire warning about whether or not he is to be trusted. I’m more than a little confused at this point. That being said, we do get a little bit more of the back-story behind Kyle’s existence. Whatever plans Adam originally had he was betrayed by some people inside the company he founded.
Crusty last chance angel, Earl (Leon Rippy), may finally be cracking Grace’s (Holly Hunter) tough exterior. Well, at least she’s beginning to accept his presence in her life, and that’s a huge step for this jaded detective. Thanks to the forensic tests Grace has had Rhetta (Laura San Giacomo) do on Earl’s leftover specimens, she is closer to believing that he may be more than just an alcohol-induced nightmare. Besides, after watching her boss get shot and then die in her arms, Grace is a bit more vulnerable than usual. That being said, Earl has even more to answer for than before, as far as Grace is concerned.
The loss of her chief is just one in a line of horrific tragedies that Grace has had to endure. Maybe that’s why GOD felt compelled to offer her this last chance to begin with. From childhood abuse to losing her sister in a terrorist attack, Grace has been through it all, (or at least more than most.) Given all that she has suffered, it’s no wonder Grace turned away from religion, and in such a big way.
It’s almost as if she went through the list of the Ten Commandments and specifically set out to break each one. However, without all that pain and anguish, Grace wouldn’t be the complex and multi-layered character that we are all beginning to clamor for on TV.
Even for a close-knit, generally light-hearted group like the priority homicide division under Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick), not every day can be a good one. This week starts grim for our elite squad of detectives with the discovery of a deputy district attorney’s wife washed up dead on a beach, with bruises and wounds of a highly … disturbing nature.
The presence of certain brands (and yes, I do mean brands, as in the kind you get from a cattle iron) leads the squad to the conclusion that a serial killer from the late 90s is back in action. But this time, suspicions about the possible involvement of law enforcement and manpower shortages are stretching resources to the breaking point, and with a deadline before the nutjob kills again, Johnson and the squad are feeling the pressure.
Just to keep things interesting, Johnson’s personal life goes into a tizzy. Despite her efforts, her working relationship with Sgt. Gabriel (Corey Reynolds) still isn’t back to where it was. Her doctor (guest star S. Epatha Merkerson) tells her she’s entering menopause early, which could be a family thing or could be something more; either way, the news doesn’t help matters. Things aren’t all bad, however, as Fritz (Jon Tenney) makes a certain suggestion to her, the kind you seal with a diamond ring …
Six weeks ago I started predicting the ouster of Bonnie. Instead of packing her knives and heading back to the purgatory of Personal Chef/Nanny-dom, she has come on strong and proven herself worthy of being one of the two finalists. Her palate has always been excellent, but lately she has gained a composure and clear mindedness that has helped her rise above the competition. She has earned my respect and it looks like Chef Gordon Ramsay’s as well.
It’s unfortunate she isn’t going to win.
That is the inevitable outcome if the first two seasons are any indication. Both had experienced, strong and uninspiring chefs pitted against wild cards, unlikely finalists. Both times the chef walked away the winner. I don’t believe Chef Ramsay wants a wild card. I believe he wants a loyal sergeant who will follow orders and make the troops do the same. In other words, he wants Rock. Not Bonnie’s palate.
Tonight was the first part of the season finale. Rock and Bonnie had to conceptualize their half of the set/dining room in a style to match their personality and finale menu. Crafty editing showed a clear vision from Bonnie of a European funky bistro with mismatched china and hardwood floors. She seemed to know immediately what she wanted. Rock came off as overwhelmed, confused and misguided- especially when he suggested to Jean-Phillipe that the waitstaff wear jeans. JP curdled his cream at the very notion. Rock’s vision is a boring black and white china pattern and above all else uniformity. This is a set up to make us think Bonnie has the momentum and a real shot at winning.
It’s another good day to be Rusty. Our favorite Kappat Tau pledge not only saves the Kappa house’s epic “Vesuvius” party, but he also meets a hot (well, reasonably hot) Zeta pledge and even gets a little hot make-out action in the end.
Unfortunately, it’s a bad day to be Casey. Rusty’s big sis gets booted from the big dinner honoring beau Evan’s parents – and for that conniving bitch Rebecca Logan, no less! – and then suffers the ultimate embarrassment after getting drunk and crashing the party in a coconut bikini. That’s so not classy.
But perhaps the biggest embarrassment is that she’s even with that jerk at all. They of course make up in the end, but you know he’s got that scumbag look. You can see it in his eyes. I’ve seen it in the eyes of others. Hell, I’ve even had the look myself. And let me tell you, he’s got that look.
We’re building up to the eventual confrontation of Casey’s real feelings for Cappie, the Kappa president and her “first time” as a freshman. But she continues to let her social climbing get in the way. It’s not that Evan is too good for her. It’s just that he’s, well, a snob.
After the dramatic ending of last week’s episode of BIG LOVE, it appears that the Greenes aren’t going to slip away quietly. With the horrific and brazen shooting of Roman (Harry Dean Stanton), Bill (Bill Paxton) isn’t as safe as he thought he was, and this fact is beginning to take a toll. That being said, Bill is still dead set on completing his video-gaming deal, but tonight, he realizes that he may need to lean on his wives more than he thought. Meanwhile, Bill’s mother Lois (Grace Zabriskie) decides to take matters into her own hands with Frank (Bruce Dern.) Lois’ failed attempt at getting help from her son, Bill, causes her to plot her own revenge on her conniving estranged-husband.
Apparently, having so many wives to care for and look after him has given Roman enough fortitude to survive three gun shot wounds to the chest. But, this act of violence sends Juniper Creek into a panic. And, with their fearless, (and decrepit), leader convalescing, one of his many sons, Alby (Matt Ross), had to infiltrate the UEB to protect his father’s interests. We all know what a slimy little character Alby is, but he all but deflated under Bill’s intimidation. Meanwhile, Nikki had to sneak onto the compound in order to grieve with her family, after being disowned by her mother a few weeks ago. Of course, family is a relative term on this show, especially when we see Alby use his father’s dire predicament to his advantage.
Honestly, I don’t know whether to cheer or cry over Roman’s brutal attack. I mean his character is diabolical, but he does provide much of the grit, drama and humor in the show. I guess having him linger near death for a while is a good compromise. But come on, how realistic is it for a 70-something year old man to survive something like that? A better scenario might have been to have his wannabe assassins just push him over the curb and have him break a hip. Ok, not daring or provocative enough for HBO. Still, I can’t see Bill taking over the compound, so really their only other option – should Roman die – is to have that weasly son of his take over the sect.