This Season in Television - 2011-2012 (Part 2)

Before I get to my choices for the best episodes of this past TV season, I'd like to announce a slight format change on this blog. When I first started it up, my intention was to do a write-up of every movie and TV show I was watching for the first time. There was a very small number of things I didn't write about because I just had nothing to say about them, but for the most part I was diligent and got every review posted. As you can see, I haven't posted anything in over a month, and that last post was a month after the previous one. I've still been watching all kinds of movies and shows, but I've decided it's just too time-consuming to write about all of them. It probably takes me at least an hour per post (I'm not a fast thinker, okay?), which means every 2-hour movie takes up 3 hours of my time, and that piles up if I watch a few things in fairly close succession and then don't have the time to write them all up because of work and life getting in the way. To be honest it gets a little tiring forcing myself to write about everything, and it isn't really worth it when there's barely anyone reading. I'm not shutting down the blog, I just won't be posting about every single title anymore, and I will probably gravitate toward posts on more general topics and top 10 lists. I'm not going to do a weekly television post anymore (though it was fun naming a hero and douchebag of the week), but I'll likely still do season wrap-ups like this one, and I will always post about my top 10 movies of the year, even if it comes in June. Apologies to anyone who might be disappointed by this news, but it's still kind of cool to have a complete snapshot of my viewing habits over a three year period. Thanks for reading and now let's talk about some episodes!

Once Upon a Time
This show really surprised me in the later episodes of the season, because I had been mostly lukewarm about it and was expecting to name "Skin Deep" as my favourite. It's still a great episode, and probably makes a close second, but the finale, "A Land Without Magic", was just too epic and exciting not to choose it. It made me want to see the next season, a total reversal of where my opinion was when the series began.

Glee
It's no secret that I find every episode of Glee frustrating for its messy writing and overabundance of unnecessary characters, so when choosing the best episode it's not so much the best episode as the one that annoyed me the least. Tough call this time, as season three was the worst to date, but I guess this season's "least bad" episode goes to "On My Way", one of the few times I didn't feel that their handling of a serious issue was offensive or ineffective.

New Girl
Like Once Upon a Time, the second half of the season was an improvement on the first, although I don't think there was really an episode I loved more than the others. Maybe "Injured" or "Secrets".

Community
This year's pick was surprisingly easy for me. As always, this show continues to do amazingly fun and creative episodes, but "Remedial Chaos Theory" blew them all away as not only one of the series' best episodes, but one of the best episodes I've ever seen of any television show. It was so brilliantly written, so fun, lively, hilarious, and strategic with the characters, that it was really the perfect half-hour of entertainment. I mean, I can't not choose an episode at which I was grinning the entire time and repeating "This is so awesome!" to myself.

30 Rock
I think it's a tie between "Idiots Are People Three!", which had Devon Banks and Kelsey Grammer, and "Kidnapped By Danger", which had Weird Al Yankovic, and Billy Baldwin playing Jack Donaghy in a TV Movie. Excellent use of guest stars.

The Office
This season had its ups and downs, but never managed to be as hilarious as it was with Michael Scott around. Still, it had some laughs and sweetness left in it. I'd say top marks go to "Special Project", because I really liked the idea of Dwight getting stuck with the "dud" characters for his Tallahassee team but then finding them to be more capable than he thought.

Parks and Recreation
"Citizen Knope", the Christmas episode that very much highlighted what makes this show's cast of characters so awesome and lovable, each in their own completely unique ways.

Up All Night
This show was disappointing in that it was a lot less hilarious than it should have been, but the finale, "The Proposals", was more or less enjoyable after a mediocre first season.

Awake
In my opinion, every episode of this tragically cancelled series was fantastic except for one, which is not a bad track record at all. But my favourite was the series finale, "Turtles All the Way Down", because it wrapped things up in a way that was actually 100% satisfying, which doesn't happen that often in finales. Maybe because shows that go on longer than one season have built up an audience expectation that they can't completely fulfill.

Fringe
Fringe doesn't normally have stand-out episodes to me, but they did something unique this season in "Letters of Transit" when they spent an episode in the future. It was a crazy and risky move by the writers, but a very riveting episode that apparently served as a sneak peek for season five. Plus Desmond from Lost was in it.

On a final note, there is no new show this fall that looks good or interesting to me, but I will probably at least watch The Mindy Project. I hope mid-season will be better.

Continuum - Season One

I didn't want to extend my weekly television post through the summer just for one show, but I've been watching the first season of this new Canadian sci-fi series on Showcase, and in general I enjoyed it.

Continuum follows Kiera (Rachel Nichols), a cop from the year 2077 who is transported back in time to present day when a group of terrorists she helped to imprison coordinates a time-jumping escape, taking her with them. Stuck without a way back to her time, she joins the local police force and uses their help to try and stop the terrorists from wreaking havoc on the past.

For a Canadian show, it was better than I expected. The special effects actually looked great, and while not quite up to the quality of American acting, the performances were adequate. I do have to say that it suffers from a problem The Cape used to have: Kiera's family back in the future is boring and without chemistry. Kiera herself is likable, and so for her sake I'd like to see her get home because it's what she wants, but I think the show wants me to care about her family and I don't because they're underdeveloped - though at least her son isn't nearly as annoying as The Cape's, and we don't spend 30% of the episode following her estranged family for no reason. Actually, I found the terrorists to be uninteresting villains as well. They're not really scary, despicable, or awesome, they're just...in Kiera's way. But I do enjoy Kellog, the one who defected from the terrorists, because he is like the Gaius Baltar of this show: a morally ambiguous ladies man who occasionally provides comic relief and acts mostly in his own interest.

I've said numerous times on here that I'm a big fan of time travel stories, but a protagonist coming to present day from the future isn't done as often as other scenarios. In a way, it's not that different from a past dweller coming to the present - they still have to deal with unfamiliar technology and societies - but Kiera has brought some futuristic technology with her, embedded in her head and suit, so she has to keep that secret in addition to her anachronistic origin. It made for an interesting dynamic between her and her partner at the precinct, but even more interesting is her arrangement with Alec, a young tech geek with whom Kiera found herself in contact on arrival because he was on the same frequency as the one she used to communicate with HQ in the future...or something like that. He serves as almost a deus ex machina, always there to hack into things and retrieve information for her (I don't recall him not being able to do something), but it's also funny watching his nerd fanboy reactions to the fully realized fantasy of an ass-kicking femme fatale who actually needs his help. The show is not perfect, but it's entertaining and has a few likable characters, as well as an intriguing conspiracy running in the background that we'll probably get more of if there's a second season. Also, well done on the casting of older and younger versions of certain characters; actor resemblances are something I'm always paying attention to if two characters are supposed to be related, or the same person at different ages, and in more than one case here, it was believable.

Best Episode: Most of the episodes were fun, including an amusing one where Kiera and the terrorists attempt to gain leverage over each other by threatening the lives of each other's parents/grandparents, though there was one episode involving a virtual reality game that was a little on the ridiculous side. I think "Family Time" was probably the most entertaining, but "End Times", the season finale, was the best in terms of quality.

The Amazing Spider-Man (In Glorious 3D!)

Impressions before seeing it
I liked the first two movies in Sam Raimi's trilogy (the third was a mess), and at first I was opposed to this because it wasn't a franchise that needed a reboot. I imagine it came to be when the studios said "We want to make a Spider-Man 4 because we love money, but nobody wants to come back for it. Let's just restart the whole thing." But after seeing the trailers, I liked that it seemed to be a little darker this time, a version that took itself more seriously.

How was it?
As I said, I was satisfied with Raimi's version, but after seeing this one and reflecting back, it makes the previous incarnation look bad. I had that peculiar feeling of cinematic déjà vu that one only gets when watching remakes and reboots, as there were certain events that happened in both films, but in different ways; ultimately, they are two very different versions of Spider-Man.

Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker was a total dweeb; perhaps too dweeby to be relatable. Andrew Garfield plays him as more of an awkward, angsty, rebellious teen. He's still unpopular at school, but not for being the painfully uncool nerd that Maguire was. This time around, he's closer to being a regular kid, and that's a significant difference. I think this one may have had a slower pace because it spent a lot of time on character development and Peter's relationship with Gwen (Emma Stone). It felt like a really long time before he was finally wearing the full Spider-Man suit, but it was time well spent because I was able to care about the characters so that the climactic battle would be more meaningful. Raimi's romance subplot was too one-sided, with Peter admiring MJ from afar and always being the one who loved her more than she loved him, even after they got together; not the case this time.

One thing I will say is that The Lizard wasn't really an interesting villain, but like Batman Begins, this is only a set-up movie and there is less time for an awesome villain. The sequel, assuming there is one, could have the potential to do some cool things now that Spider-Man's origin story is out of the way. I also have to mention that the 3D was somewhat intermittent; at some places almost non-existent, even, but when it was there - mostly when Spidey was fighting or swinging on webs - it looked great. And speaking of web-swinging, I notice they made a point of actually showing that the webs attach to things as he swings through the city, rather than hang mysteriously from open sky. Bonus!

Recommendation
I think it could perhaps be summed up like this: Sam Raimi made a movie about Spider-Man; Marc Webb made a movie about Peter Parker. This one is a little more down to earth - as much as it can be given the science fiction aspects - and a little less corny in its sense of humor, but it's a lot better. In fact it kind of ruins the other trilogy. Well, Spider-Man 3 ruins the other trilogy, but you know what I mean.

Moonrise Kingdom

Impressions before seeing it
It didn't really matter what this movie was about; I've never seen a Wes Anderson film I didn't like, so I was excited for this.

How was it?
If you've seen his previous work, you know what to expect from Anderson by now: stylized settings and character looks; undertones of sadness in spite of the colourful visuals; a sense of humour that is sometimes dry, sometimes verging on cartoonish, but fits into the surreal world of the movie; and a lot of head-on tracking shots touring the lavish sets. This is Wes Anderson's style, and its uniqueness (even within his own body of work, I see no diminishing returns) is why I love his movies.

However, one thing I will say is that Anderson's characters, at least to me, sometimes have a certain methodical stiffness to them that keeps me from getting emotionally invested in them. This is not to say they're not likable; I just don't feel much warmth or chemistry in their interactions with each other. For Moonrise Kingdom in particular, the movie hinges on these two kids, Sam and Suzy, being in love, but I didn't see it. They felt more like friends to me, and I felt like I was being told they were in love rather than shown it. But then again, they're 12 years old, which is a very different understanding of love than someone who is, say, 42. There is a potentially controversial scene where the two engage in some mild sexual experimentation, which also feels awkward and emotionally empty, but is accurate because, again, 12 is that age at the horizon of puberty so how could it not be awkward? But I was rooting for the two of them throughout the movie on the grounds that they were doing what they wanted to do, not because of their relationship. I don't think this hindered my experience at all, but I suppose you could say it didn't reach maximum potential because you have to be charmed by a romance for the romance element to work. If it weren't for the cinematic treat that is everything that goes into a Wes Anderson film, I might have liked this movie less because of it.

Anyway, the telling of an uncomplicated story in a rich way made it quite an experience to watch. There are some very well coordinated shots, particularly the long tracking shots and certain shots where the narrator speaks to the camera while vehicles enter the background at the perfect time during or after his monologues. I think only true movie geeks appreciate those cinematic proficiencies. Not to mention the entire cast was excellent and there are some good laughs to be had.

Recommendation
The Life Aquatic is still my favourite Wes Anderson film, but his record remains untarnished. Moonrise Kingdom is a cinematic experience of pure escapism, thanks to a director who practically creates a parallel world in every one of his films.

The Ides of March

Impressions before seeing it
It wasn't on my list of movies I wanted to see last year, but I found it in a bargain bin and recalled the trailer marketing it as a political thriller. I'm not into politics, but political thrillers can be fun, and this one does have a good cast.

How was it?
The Ides of March explains perfectly my personal choice to abstain from voting and politics; I refuse to vote for the lesser of two evils - because it's always two evils. Governor Morris (Clooney), a presidential candidate, is seemingly a good guy, charismatic and with worthy platforms for the masses, and is even trying to play his campaign straight, refusing to make shady deals for victories. All of that soon goes out the window when his junior campaign manager Stephen (Gosling) discovers a shameful secret of his, and the entire campaign becomes messy and dirty because of it, but only behind the scenes. To the public, Morris is still as wholesome as ever, and that's what's wrong with politics. Even if you intend to do it right, you won't, because you can't. Politics is too dirty a game to win cleanly, and sometimes we don't even see the dirt, but it's always there.

The story is not told from Morris' point of view, but Stephen's, because he's the behind the scenes guy at the center of the scandal. The film's poster is an apt one: it implies that Morris is a composite of a media image and the guy behind that image. Morris himself isn't even on the poster, because Governor Morris the human being is irrelevant in the campaign for president. If the movie were told from Morris' point of view, we would be getting more of his public image and less of what was really going on, and that would be too much like real life politics and we wouldn't get the expositional piece that is The Ides of March. It kept me interested because of this, because of all the plot twists it threw out and the very strong cast delivering the material without fault. I think this is the kind of movie I was looking for (and didn't find) when I watched Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The writing had just enough subtlety not to be too confusing or too obvious, and I was engaged in the material. Even though I don't care about politics.

Recommendation
Whether you're into politics or not, everyone should be aware of the deception and corruption that comes with running for office. This one is a handy little edutainment package on that front. Also see Wag the Dog, or even that Family Guy episode where Lois briefly becomes Mayor of Quahog.

Breaking Bad - Season Four

A year is a long time to wait for the next season of a television series, but when that series is Breaking Bad, it's always worth it. I don't know how many times I can say this show is flawless and grippingly addictive, but I will say that season four has so far been my favourite season. Tension was just ramped up across the board as Walt and Gus made moves to get rid of each other, Walt and Jesse turned on each other, Skylar became a badass and had her own struggles in helping keep Walt clean, Hank got uncomfortably close to catching "Heisenberg", and even Saul freaked and went into hiding. Additionally, every character got an awesome monologue moment. For Walt, it was his "I am the one who knocks!" speech to Skylar, which was one of the greatest things I've heard in a long time; Jesse had his outburst in therapy where he reveals what a horrible person he is, stunning the counselor; for Skylar, it was her sales pitch to the car wash owner where she tells him exactly how much his business is worth and what its profits are; and Hank had a couple of moments in his investigation highlighting what a shrewd detective he is in spite of acting like a tool a lot of the time. Seriously, does anyone not like this show?

In all honesty, Walt has gone from a good guy to someone who is mostly a dick, but I've never hated him because his actions are usually justifiable in some way, albeit often extreme, and he's just so damned good at "the game", as it's referred to on The Wire. Conversely, Jesse was kind of a scumbag punk at the beginning of the series but has developed some better qualities over time. Still very much a flawed person, but a more likable one. Part of what makes this show so entertaining is how Walt and Jesse have completely opposite personalities, and putting two opposites together always makes for the best scenes.

Next season is supposed to be the last, but I have no idea what's in store because the ending resolved the season and didn't leave a cliffhanger. But I'm thinking there could be an epic Walt vs. Jesse showdown, because if Jesse ever finds out that Walt let his girlfriend die and poisoned that kid, he'll be feeling murderous. I don't know how he could, though, as neither incident had any witnesses. There's also the possibility that Hank will finally catch his brother in-law, so maybe it will be a Walt vs. Hank showdown. Or both. Hopefully the DVD will be out sooner this time, as there will be no new season causing a delay for purposes of promotional proximity.

Best Episode: I think I liked "Cornered" best, in which Walt delivers his aforementioned badass monologue, buys his son an unnecessarily expensive car, and pays the laundry ladies to clean the lab for him, while Jesse impresses Gus and Mike by recovering their stolen meth, a scene which includes a very cool shot from a shovel's point of view.

Manic

Impressions before seeing it
Their on-screen relationship seemed to be celebrated by fans in (500) Days of Summer, but I thought it would be interesting to take a look back at the first time Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel worked together. People generally liked this movie as well, and I was curious as to why when I knew it was about young people in an asylum.

How was it?
We usually think of asylums as being for the insane, but these kids aren't. At least not in the strait jacketed dementia sort of way. Mostly they've been institutionalized because troubled home lives have made them excessively violent and emotionally unstable. Dr. Monroe (Don Cheadle, playing it calm and soft-spoken like a good counselor should) subjects them to group therapy sessions in an attempt to rehabilitate them.

Director Jordan Melamed applies a gung-ho documentary style that is highly effective here, as it makes the characters and events feel very real. I don't even think the actors were wearing makeup, which is very rare, but then this is an indie movie and not a Hollywood blockbuster. Watching these characters, it was sometimes hard to like them because they're so damaged, but it was also hard to hate them because it's not their fault they turned out that way. This puts you in a neutral territory that pushes you toward rooting for Dr. Monroe, because he genuinely wants to help these kids but is starting to doubt himself. I like how he would ease into the group therapy, my favourite example being one where he started off with everyone discussing whether Batman could defeat Wolverine, and then when one kid complained that it was a stupid argument because they're both fictional, he transitioned into having them talk about real fights they've been in. Smooth, Doc.

Recommendation
Ultimately, what Manic reminds me of is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, but for Generation X. There's even a quiet Native American kid and some basketball scenes. I enjoy movies like this that take an intimate look at something I'm not personally familiar with, like asylums, so I found it to be fascinating and sometimes even funny. It has a certain charm to it in spite of a cast of characters I wouldn't necessarily want to be in the same room with. For a low budget movie that is 11 years old (actually, it feels older), it holds up well.