I promised it in an earlier post, so here it is: my picks for the best episodes of all of the TV show seasons I've watched on DVD so far. It's something I'm adding to future posts on TV DVDs and I didn't want previous posts to miss out.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force - Volume One
I don't know if I have a favourite on this one... Maybe "Revenge of the Mooninites", because I enjoyed Carl's expression of his love for 80's rock band Foreigner, which of course culminated in his head becoming a Connect Four board. Bonus: I didn't review the Volume Two DVD because I didn't really know what I could say about it that I didn't say about the first one, but my pick for best episode on that one is "Super Trivia", because watching the characters sit around a bar playing trivia turned out to be a lot of fun and really funny.
The IT Crowd - Season One
I almost chose "Calamity Jen" because of the hilarious fire brigade commercial, but I'll go with "Fifty-Fifty" because I loved the storyline about Roy wanting to prove that women love bastards. That is an age old debate that may never be settled.
The IT Crowd - Season Two
"Moss and the German", which may be one of my favourite IT Crowd episodes ever, because everything about it is classic - the anti-piracy ad, the weird cannibalism story (which, even weirder, was based on a true story), Roy desperately trying to avoid movie spoilers, and Jen's smoking habit evoking depressing Russian visuals. Definitely one of the most memorable episodes.
The IT Crowd - Season Three
I said in the post for this one that it was the strongest season, and really I could choose any of the six and be fine with that decision, but on a personal level I'd have to go with "Are We Not Men?". As someone who has no interest in sports, I found the conversation bluffing idea to be funny and probably true, though I've never tried it because even in that context I still wouldn't want to discuss sports with anyone.
Chappelle's Show: The Lost Episodes
I don't think the episodes have titles, but my favourite on this set was the second of the three lost episodes, in which Dave plays "Black Howard Dean" and security guard Gary Coleman, and puts George Castanza's "sex trifecta" to use. It's also the one with the controversial "stereotype pixies", but I don't care so much about that one. If only the Tupac sketch were in this episode instead. And as a bonus, Wikipedia says this episode originally aired on my birthday!
Dexter - Season One
I already mentioned in the post (although not as officially as I'll be doing in the future) that the best episode here was "Return to Sender", because it brought the tension and excitement from about a 4 to an 11, and solidified my enjoyment of the series. I would later be pleasantly surprised to find out that the entire second season is like that one first season episode.
The 4400 - Season One
The 1.5 hour pilot is what sold me on buying the complete series, but I think I'll have to go with "White Light", the season finale, because it had some cool stuff and really showed us where the show was going. Plus, you know, the trees were bending.
Breaking Bad - Season One
I said the first three episodes were the best, so that narrows it down, but I think my favourite is episode three, "...And the Bag's in the River", because the whole Krazy 8 situation was handled amazingly, and the moment where Walt puts the yellow plate back together is one of my favourite parts of the entire series so far.
Showing posts with label it crowd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label it crowd. Show all posts
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
This Week in Television - July 26-30, 2010
The IT Crowd
I like that this one was a Douglas heavy episode because I felt he was somewhat underused this season. It also allowed for some zanier humour that otherwise may not have worked without Douglas since he is the most random character on the show. I think the scene with Victoria sleeping behind a large pair of sunglasses was a reference to an episode in an earlier season where Douglas thought Jen was sleeping because she was wearing the same ones. For that reason I was able to see it coming, but at the same time I appreciated the callback. It might have been nice for Roy and/or Moss to have had a subplot in this episode because on a personal level I just like when there's more going on, but then it would've taken time away from Douglas and, again, he deserved this episode because he's only had a small amount to do this season. Also I have never heard the phrase "wet squib", but I did know that it was "pedestal" and not "peddle stool".
That's it for this season of The IT Crowd, and for "This Week in Television" until the new TV season begins in September. The Hero/Douchebag of the Week awards will probably return in the third week of September because there will be plenty of premieres that week. See you then!
I like that this one was a Douglas heavy episode because I felt he was somewhat underused this season. It also allowed for some zanier humour that otherwise may not have worked without Douglas since he is the most random character on the show. I think the scene with Victoria sleeping behind a large pair of sunglasses was a reference to an episode in an earlier season where Douglas thought Jen was sleeping because she was wearing the same ones. For that reason I was able to see it coming, but at the same time I appreciated the callback. It might have been nice for Roy and/or Moss to have had a subplot in this episode because on a personal level I just like when there's more going on, but then it would've taken time away from Douglas and, again, he deserved this episode because he's only had a small amount to do this season. Also I have never heard the phrase "wet squib", but I did know that it was "pedestal" and not "peddle stool".
That's it for this season of The IT Crowd, and for "This Week in Television" until the new TV season begins in September. The Hero/Douchebag of the Week awards will probably return in the third week of September because there will be plenty of premieres that week. See you then!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
This Week in Television - July 19-23, 2010
The IT Crowd
Aaaaaand they topped last week's episode! I loved the idea of an episode about Roy and Moss playing hooky on the day that their boss finally shows them some recognition (sort of), and seeing George Lucas saddened at not meeting them. Also a nice throwback to an episode in the previous season when Moss tries to kiss Roy to get them out of trouble again. And it had been a while since we got jokes about Jen knowing nothing about computers, so that was cool to see again too. No complaints at all, this was probably one of the best IT Crowd episodes ever.
Aaaaaand they topped last week's episode! I loved the idea of an episode about Roy and Moss playing hooky on the day that their boss finally shows them some recognition (sort of), and seeing George Lucas saddened at not meeting them. Also a nice throwback to an episode in the previous season when Moss tries to kiss Roy to get them out of trouble again. And it had been a while since we got jokes about Jen knowing nothing about computers, so that was cool to see again too. No complaints at all, this was probably one of the best IT Crowd episodes ever.
Monday, July 19, 2010
This Week in Television - July 12-16, 2010
The IT Crowd
When I heard what this week's episode was about, I have to admit it didn't sound that great at first. However I was pleasantly surprised when it ended up being the funniest episode of the season so far. This was mostly due to Roy's story about his girlfriend's parents dying under weirdly inexplicable circumstances and his frustration at not knowing the details, at one point involving a classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind reference that worked better than it should have because it was so unexpected. It was predictable that Moss's cell phone was going to fall out of his shirt pocket, but I enjoyed his predicament inside the claw game, as well as his reactions to Roy and Jen in this episode. Jen's storyline was the weakest, as the clueless translator gag has been done before, but Douglas helped make those scenes a bit better than they could have been, and the saving grace was the moment when the "virtual marathon" woman, bumped from the spotlight by Jen, is looking around helplessly as she mimes riding a bicycle.
When I heard what this week's episode was about, I have to admit it didn't sound that great at first. However I was pleasantly surprised when it ended up being the funniest episode of the season so far. This was mostly due to Roy's story about his girlfriend's parents dying under weirdly inexplicable circumstances and his frustration at not knowing the details, at one point involving a classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind reference that worked better than it should have because it was so unexpected. It was predictable that Moss's cell phone was going to fall out of his shirt pocket, but I enjoyed his predicament inside the claw game, as well as his reactions to Roy and Jen in this episode. Jen's storyline was the weakest, as the clueless translator gag has been done before, but Douglas helped make those scenes a bit better than they could have been, and the saving grace was the moment when the "virtual marathon" woman, bumped from the spotlight by Jen, is looking around helplessly as she mimes riding a bicycle.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
This Week in Television - July 5-9, 2010
Happy Town
Wow, I was not expecting all those reveals. Nor was I expecting them to tell us the Magic Man's identity, but seeing as how the series is over I'm glad there was at least that much closure. I'm also glad to say my predictions were wrong. Happy Town has been somewhat average up until now, but this episode had all the makings of a good finale: action and suspense, some questions answered while new ones opened up, and M.C. Gainey busting into a room with two automatic machine guns raised in the air. I may not have said this before watching this episode, but I'll miss you, Happy Town.
The IT Crowd
Well, we started the season with a sub-par episode, then moved on to an awesome one, and this week's episode I'd say is middle of the road. I'm not against ridiculing Scientology - it is the most ridiculous religion in existence - but my problem with the Spaceology storyline in this episode is just that it came much too late. People have been making fun of Scientology ever since Tom Cruise put it in the spotlight, but that was years ago and the topic has cooled off by now. However, I will say that Douglas is just the kind of self-indulgent moron who would buy into a bogus religion created by someone named Beth Gaga Shaggy (another cameo from creator/writer/director Graham Linehan), so it worked in that sense. Jen's storyline was amusing, dating the nerdiest and most boring guy in a band (he basically has just one dull facial expression), as was Roy's sexual harassment trial against the masseur who kissed him on the ass, but unlike some of the better episodes, none of the arcs tied together.
Wow, I was not expecting all those reveals. Nor was I expecting them to tell us the Magic Man's identity, but seeing as how the series is over I'm glad there was at least that much closure. I'm also glad to say my predictions were wrong. Happy Town has been somewhat average up until now, but this episode had all the makings of a good finale: action and suspense, some questions answered while new ones opened up, and M.C. Gainey busting into a room with two automatic machine guns raised in the air. I may not have said this before watching this episode, but I'll miss you, Happy Town.
The IT Crowd
Well, we started the season with a sub-par episode, then moved on to an awesome one, and this week's episode I'd say is middle of the road. I'm not against ridiculing Scientology - it is the most ridiculous religion in existence - but my problem with the Spaceology storyline in this episode is just that it came much too late. People have been making fun of Scientology ever since Tom Cruise put it in the spotlight, but that was years ago and the topic has cooled off by now. However, I will say that Douglas is just the kind of self-indulgent moron who would buy into a bogus religion created by someone named Beth Gaga Shaggy (another cameo from creator/writer/director Graham Linehan), so it worked in that sense. Jen's storyline was amusing, dating the nerdiest and most boring guy in a band (he basically has just one dull facial expression), as was Roy's sexual harassment trial against the masseur who kissed him on the ass, but unlike some of the better episodes, none of the arcs tied together.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
This Week in Television - June 28-July 2, 2010
Happy Town
Dan Farmer isn't the magic man, but clearly he knows more than he lets on. Otherwise I don't see why he would so easily believe Big Dave's unconfirmed story about the pit with the seven cages. Or maybe he simply believed it because no one else did, and that's the kind of risk taker he is. And I think that Peggy Haplin having murdered TC's mother suggests a connection to the magic man through Henley. It's suspicious that she knows what Peggy did, and that Sheriff Griffin mentions her alias/real name (Chloe) when tranced, which I still believe was somehow induced by the magic man. Bonus points for including "Magic Man" by Heart in the soundtrack for this episode, the second song so far (unless I missed more) to have "magic man" in the lyrics.
The IT Crowd
Definitely a vast improvement over last week. This felt like a proper episode again, with all of our characters getting in some good moments, except for maybe Douglas, who actually sort of played it straight for a change. I especially loved Moss's storyline with the game show and then the secret society thing that sort of turned into a Fight Club parody. The Asian guy did a hilarious job of strengthening those scenes by overly dramatizing everything. I am both relieved and satisfied, because for a moment I was worried the whole season might turn out like the premiere.
Dan Farmer isn't the magic man, but clearly he knows more than he lets on. Otherwise I don't see why he would so easily believe Big Dave's unconfirmed story about the pit with the seven cages. Or maybe he simply believed it because no one else did, and that's the kind of risk taker he is. And I think that Peggy Haplin having murdered TC's mother suggests a connection to the magic man through Henley. It's suspicious that she knows what Peggy did, and that Sheriff Griffin mentions her alias/real name (Chloe) when tranced, which I still believe was somehow induced by the magic man. Bonus points for including "Magic Man" by Heart in the soundtrack for this episode, the second song so far (unless I missed more) to have "magic man" in the lyrics.
The IT Crowd
Definitely a vast improvement over last week. This felt like a proper episode again, with all of our characters getting in some good moments, except for maybe Douglas, who actually sort of played it straight for a change. I especially loved Moss's storyline with the game show and then the secret society thing that sort of turned into a Fight Club parody. The Asian guy did a hilarious job of strengthening those scenes by overly dramatizing everything. I am both relieved and satisfied, because for a moment I was worried the whole season might turn out like the premiere.
Monday, July 5, 2010
This Week in Television - June 21-25, 2010
Obviously it's July now, but I'm posting this to talk about two things. First, Happy Town has been canceled. ABC released the last two episodes online on July 1st, so I'll include them in the next two TV posts. This post is here, secondly, because the fourth season of The IT Crowd premiered in the UK on June 25th. I'll be watching it online each week since it's not airing here yet.
The IT Crowd
After my praising of the first three seasons, I have to say I was disappointed in the fourth season opener. It didn't even feel like an IT Crowd episode because the plot was bland (like the dinner party episode in season 2, another of my least favourites) and none of the jokes were anywhere near as wacky as what drew me to the show in the first place. The roleplaying game scene had potential, but then it just sort of took an emotional left turn, which again is unlike The IT Crowd to do. Hopefully it's just a misstep and future episodes will still be great.
The IT Crowd
After my praising of the first three seasons, I have to say I was disappointed in the fourth season opener. It didn't even feel like an IT Crowd episode because the plot was bland (like the dinner party episode in season 2, another of my least favourites) and none of the jokes were anywhere near as wacky as what drew me to the show in the first place. The roleplaying game scene had potential, but then it just sort of took an emotional left turn, which again is unlike The IT Crowd to do. Hopefully it's just a misstep and future episodes will still be great.
Friday, October 23, 2009
The IT Crowd - Season 3
Impressions before seeing it
Very much enjoyed the first two seasons. I bought the season 3 DVD without having seen it.
How was it?
As I said the last two times, brilliant DVD menus. I also like how the video games they parody get more advanced with each season: they started with Commodore/Coleco type games on the season 1 disc, then it was Super Nintendo games, and for this one they used internet games. If they do another season they might have to move into 3D stuff. It's amazing how some of them even kind of act out entire episodes if you sit and watch them.
But how is the show itself holding up after three seasons? Well, I think I would have to say that season 3 is my favourite season. All 6 episodes were very solid and had some top notch storylines, weaved together in an almost Seinfeld-like way so that they collide and affect each other by the end of the episode. I love that Denholm was able to make a cameo by appearing in Hell, deceitfully looking like Heaven except for the fact that Hitler is present. I also related to the episode where Moss and Roy use a website that teaches nerds to pretend they know what they're talking about when conversing about sports so as to look good in front of the "manly" guys. I would be in the same boat as them, no clue. And I believe that if the internet could be manifested into a physical object, it would look like a little black box with a blinking red light on top. But the best moment by far: Moss getting knocked out and then playing the Windows startup sound when he opens his eyes. Genius.
Recommendation
Still one of the best nerd shows out there, and if you liked the first two seasons you gotta keep going, it gets better.
Friday, August 28, 2009
The IT Crowd - Season 2
Impressions before seeing it
I very much enjoyed season one and had gotten a peek at season two when I saw the third episode (Moss and the German) a while back on TV. Recently I bought season two on DVD.
How was it?
Once again the DVD menus are awesome. Seriously, they're worth buying just for the menus alone. I love how the episode selection screen is a Mortal Kombat type character select screen, and if you wait patiently you can watch the characters fight each other, and each fight cleverly parallels moments from the show.
As for the show itself, I think I liked season one better. Don't get me wrong, season two is still very solid, but I feel that the first season is stronger overall. The introduction of Douglas as the new boss is actually a welcome addition, as I like his wackiness, especially later in the season, but I look back on episode two as being the weakest (I didn't like it as much as the others for some reason) and I feel that season one has no weak links. But I loved episodes one and three (the latter I discovered is a parody of a disturbing yet true story of a German man who posted an ad on the internet for someone to let him eat them, and even more disturbing is that someone answered and followed through). Maybe it is a good thing after all for this show to have six episodes per season, as it allows the episodes to be written by the same writer and to remain fresh without being drawn out and tired. I'm looking forward to season three, and the Christmas special at the end of the year!
Recommendation
A satisfying follow-up for anyone who enjoyed season one.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The IT Crowd - Season One
Impressions before seeing it
I've already seen season one. This was a DVD rewatch.
How was it?
Why does this show only do 6 episodes a season? It's too brilliant to be short.
It's a sitcom about nerds and for nerds so I have to take a moment to say that this show came out before The Big Bang Theory and in my humble opinion is far superior. There are similarities, especially in the three main characters (the exceedingly nerdy one; the calm, almost-cool-but-still-a-loser one; and the cute girl who enters their territory and changes their everyday routine), but when directly compared I think The Big Bang Theory has been watered down in order to be more accessible to the general public. I think it takes a really big nerd to truly appreciate The IT Crowd. I mean if you just look at the DVD, it has menus parodying old Atari/Commodore games, and even more brilliantly it contains L33T subtitles! Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the nerdiest reference Bang makes is showing the characters playing Halo.
Anyway, back to the show itself. The IT Crowd was created and written by Graham Linehan, who also created Father Ted (which I'm also a big fan of), and the resulting zany British humour is why I am able to forgive the laughtrack (which I am not a big fan of). I love the running gag about most I.T. problems being solved by restarting computers, and how the technicians are such slackers they intentionally wait a while before heading up to fix a problem. I also like that the female gets to be funny instead of just stand there looking good. She kind of reminds me of Elaine from Seinfeld. And then there's the ridiculousness of things like testing stress machines on oneself, mysterious doors that no one is allowed to look behind, getting pictures printed on the bottoms of mugs, and whistling happily after learning of someone's tragic death. I think I actually had more fun watching this the second time than the first. I even had fun watching those awesome DVD menus.
Recommendation
If you're reading this, you're probably a nerd and thus will love this show.
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