Doctor Who - 6.11: "The God Complex" Review

The Doctor takes Rory and Amy on another visit where they end up in the wrong place again. a hotel which hides your worst dreams in your room. The Doctor realizes it's time to let Rory and Amy go.

Muzak plays in an empty hotel lobby, where a policewoman looks through all the rooms.   There's always a clown about somewhere, only this one is sad.   The police woman, Lucy (Sarah Quintrell) writes her observations in a notebook.  "You don't know what will be in your room until you see it and you realize it could never have been anything else...Praise him."  she writes over and over, before being taken by some monster.

Amy (Karen Gillan) remarks they're not where they're meant to be.   The Doctor (Matt Smith) calls Rory (Arthur Darvill) 'Beaky' this time round and not his usual 'Pointy Nose'.   The Doctor's excited about the hotel as it's not on Earth but made to look like it.   There are photos of the Vics on the walls.   Rory points out Commander Halke - Sontaran.   Wouldn't think a Sontaran would give in to his worst fears.   Which must have been 'defeat' as it's written under his photo.   Lucy was attacked by a gorilla .  The Doctor rings for service.   Two people and one alien appear and the Doctor claims he's never been hit with a chair leg before.   He lies (!) He has.   He thinks Rita's (Amara Karan) good.  

Doctor: "Amy with regret you're fired."  (Who was Amy all this time, The Apprentice?! ha.) He's joking.   Not by the end of the episode he's not.  Amy asks Rory if he just said "we're nice." Rita explains everything in the hotel moves and rooms vanish.   The Doctor checks the door and finds a wall behind it.   They're not doors but walls, or "Dwalls."  The Doctor loves things.   Rita tells them the rooms contain bad dreams.   People are snatched and dropped into a hotel.   the TARDIS has vanished from its spot.

They are taken to Joe  who is tied up and surrounded by ventriloquist dummies, laughing.   He'll feast on Joe soon.   Joe tells the Doctor they're not ready, they're still raw.   Then says everyone has a room, even the Doctor, has he found his yet?  The Doctor takes Joe with them.   Also warning not to go into the rooms.   Joe speaks another rhyme; "here comes a candle to light you to bed, here comes a chopper to chop off your head."  Howie (Dimitri Leonidas) is into conspiracies and thinks this is a secret CIA facility.   Rory is amazed Howie's theory is "more insane than what's actually happening."  A PE teacher (Dafydd Emyr) comes out of a room and tells the Doctor he's forgotten his PE kit and will have to do it in his pants.   Girls in another room laugh at Howie and make fun of his stammer.   Amy finds Lucy's notes on the floor.   So much for rooms vanishing, they seem to have found where Lucy disappeared.  

Rory stops to tie his laces and for a second you think he's going to get lost too, but he doesn't thankfully, that would have been too coincidental.   They all hide in a room.   Rita sees her father (Rashad Karapiet) reprimanding her for only getting a 'B' in Maths.   The Doctor enters into the room with the others and walks into the Weeping Angels.   Amy: "Don't blink."  The Doctor can put his hand through them and tells her they're not real.   It's easy to see why Amy would fear them after turning into stone, practically, but apparently they're for Gibbis (David Walliams).   He was a right old weasel!  Thus my name for him.   The Doctor must see what's outside and calls the creature ( Spencer Wilding) 'beautiful,'  as usual.   Joe's restraints come undone and he's devoured, as the Doctor loses him in a maze of corridors, which keep changing.

Rita makes tea.   Amy tells Gibbis she's met the Weeping Angels and thought the room was for her, which would have been easier than what she'll have to go through.   The Doctor's never let her down before, even when she was little, he came back for her.   This gives a clue as to what Amy's room will hold.   Rory comments "when the Doctor gets pally, he has an urge to notify their next of kin," and he's not far wrong.   The Doctor has a degree in cheesemaking.   (Didn't know you had those ha.)  The Doctor realizes he's got tea, she's a Brit.   She thinks this place is "Jahannam."  That's her theory.   Doctor; "You're a Muslim."  Rita: "Don't be frightened."  She thinks it's hell.   The Doctor likes Rita, she's a "clever clogs." She's tried to live a good life and that keeps her sane.

Amy recalls the notes she found.  Lucy was terrified of a gorilla from a book she read when she was little, as the Doctor reads her notes out aloud.   Howie says "Praise him." It's coming for him.   The Doctor promises he'll be fine - again and insists they stay together.   He has a go at Gibbis - the weasel- he knows what he's really like, his civilization is the greatest - his cowardliness is aggressive.   Doctor: "No one else dies today."  That's what he always says and it always happens.   Howie must answer the Doctor's questions next time he's possessed.   Spoken like a true Doctor.   He asks why they've not been got at.   The Doctor believes it feeds on fear.   Everything was there to frighten them and he tells them "not to give in to the fear."  They're going to catch a monster, which they do.   Rory with another mop!  he only just had one in 6.9 Night Terrors.

The Doctor talks to the Minotaur who tells him this is a prison.   Howie talks weasel, er, I mean Gibbis, into letting him go.   He can tell them he was overpowered - with tied hands.   The Minotaur makes them ready, "you have lived so long, even your name is lost."  The Minotaur wants this to end.   Take it that line refers to the Doctor.   Doctor: "Pond bring the fish." - Pond, ha.   Rory asks if Amy hit him, when the Minotaur escapes to get Howie.   Amy relies on the Doctor as she normally does and takes a look inside Room number 7.   The Doctor's clearly disgusted with Gibbis and his cowardly behavior.   He asks Rory if he's found his room.   Rory's not scared of anything, "what's there left to be scared of?"  After all the time he's spent in the TARDIS.   The Doctor says he used the past tense and said scared, but Rory denies this.   Rory: "Not all victories are about saving the universe."  This strikes a cord with the Doctor, as we'll see at the end.  

Rita asks why the Doctor should be the one to save them and comments he's got a 'God complex.'  He replies, "offer someone all of time and space and they'll take that too."  He'll show Rita all of time and space when they get out.   he notices the video surveillance camera and now it's Rita's turn to say "Praise him." Was that line another reference to the Doctor when he "borrowed" the TARDIS to go exploring.

The Doctor finds his room, number 11, for obvious reasons, him being the eleventh Doctor (and this being the eleventh episode of the season.)  So what or who was actually in there when he says, "Of course, who else."  He finds the monitors and sees Rita enter a room.   He attempts to talk her out of it but she doesn't come back to them.   He loses his temper when she dies.

The Doctor believes there's some connection between them.   Then finally realizes it's not fear but faith which is their downfall.   Joe gambled and believed in luck.   The Doctor told them to find what keeps them brave and in the process made them expose their faith.   It didn't want Rory that's why he was shown the way out, he's not religious or superstitious, but he wanted Amy cos of her faith in the Doctor.   Doctor: "faith is an energy the creature needs to live."  Amy says "Praise him."

She sees herself as Amelia (Caitlin Blackwood) in her room, sitting on her suitcase in front of the window, waiting for the Doctor to return.   He tries to convince Amy to stop believing in him.   He stole her childhood - led her to her death, he knew this would happen.  "This always happens."   Just like he keeps saying 'no one dies today' and they do.   She should forget her faith in him.   He took her with him cos he was vain.   "The girl who waited for me.   I'm not a hero.   I really am a mad man in a box."  The Minotaur gets weaker.   The Doctor calls her Amy Williams, "it's time to stop waiting."

No matter what the episode is like, good or mediocre, Matt always turns it around, all that emotion he exudes in his performance is so believable.   The Doctor sacrificed their faith in him allowing the Minotaur to die.   The hotel vanishes.   The Minotaur was a distant cousin of the Nimon, they set themselves up on planets to be worshipped.   Amy tells the Doctor it didn't just want her and asks him what Time Lords believe in, which he cleverly doesn't answer.   The Doctor translates what the Minotaur tells him; his dying words about "an ancient creature drenched in the blood of the innocent, drifting in space though an endless, shifting maze.   For such a creature, death would be a gift."  Knew he was talking about the Doctor, it's always subtly disguised when it's about him.   The Doctor tells the Minotaur to accept it.  "I wasn't talking about myself."  Even the Minotaur knew about the Doctor's bad dream.   What was in his room?

The Doctor gives Amy a house and Rory the car he always wanted.   He's leaving but they haven't seen the last of him.  "Bad Penny is my middle name." Yeah as the saying goes, he keeps coming back like  bad penny.   He's leaving now cos Rory and Amy are still alive.   He tells her the alternative would be his standing on her grave, or Rory's.   Amy wants him to tell her mother, River Song, (Alex Kingston) if he comes across her, to contact her mother.   Amy tells Rory, "he's saving us." The Doctor is left alone in the TARDIS.

Is the Doctor really saving them from their fate, which is not an eventuality for them or is he saving them so they don't see his destiny fulfilled.   Whatever he saw in his room, could not have been River could it, or was it death itself, or was it himself.   Oh hate these endings cos there's so much there to set me thinking.

The idea for this episode was meant to have seen fruition  in season 5, but Toby Whithouse wrote the Vampires of Venice instead.   Thus the God Complex was moved to season 6, where I think it fits in better with everything that is happening with the Doctor and his future date with destiny (and River, ha.)  Have Amy and Rory really gone as companions - no they are great - don't want to see the old codger, lodger, Craig, back next episode.   Also if the Doctor forced them out of the TARDIS to live their own lives and not be his companions anymore as he doesn't want to see them die, how can it be okay to get Craig involved and be placed in danger.   Besides Amy and Rory have to return for the finale as it features River and Amy's mentioned her now too.   Karen and Arthur have signed a season 7 contract so...let's hope they appear full time.

Also new companions don't really work with the Doctor all the time, remember after we watched Rose (Billy Piper) for so long, Martha (Freema Agyeman) didn't go down too well as the Tenth Doctor's (David Tennant's) companion and neither did Donna (Catherine Tate.)  He always feels sorry for his companions eventually and having them around means he always has to let them go in some poignant manner, especially with Donna and Martha and most especially his beloved Sarah Jane (Elisabeth Sladen) as he said in 6.7 Let's Kill Hitler, he saw them as his guilt.   Maybe now with Rory and Amy he couldn't live with that guilt if anything happened to them, which could not be reversed, so he let them go.  A hint at what his past companions have had to endure.   Yet still he took on more.

The title again alluding to the Doctor and Rita spells out the Doctor has a "God complex" - the inalienable (no pun) need to save and to help everyone he comes across.   Also he just can't help interfering.   As for Rita being Muslim, couldn't she have a proper Muslim name, which Rita ain't!  A bit topical when she asks the Doctor if he's afraid of her cos she is a Muslim.

Amy's room was number 7 indicating Amelia was 7 when she waited around for the Doctor to return in 5.1 The Eleventh Doctor.   Some inconsistencies - such as why is Amy's fear that the Doctor wouldn't come back for her.   She knows he does return for her - he always does.   Maybe it was more of a way to compound  that faith she has in him, making her realize she should believe in someone more like Rory, or not at all.    Thereby removing her faith in him, but also reinforcing she still has faith , but that she doesn't see him as a God or a hero, to be reveered.

Also weasel Gibbis saw the Weeping Angels but the Minotaur didn't come after him, opting for Amy, who opened her door after Gibbis had already seen the Angels.   (Well no episode with an allusion to God would have been complete without angels!) Suppose like Rory, he didn't have any faith in anyone or anything, as we recall his civilization was all about cowardly giving in to any one who came to conquer.   Not that Rory is a coward or sly, far from it.

Amy being fearful of the Doctor not coming back - maybe she was fearful of him not coming for her now - of being left behind, or more rather I have this niggling feeling it's cos he never existed (5.13) until she brought him back.   Afraid he'll be wiped from existence, this time with his death; which none of them talk about anymore.   Amy was she was older in 6.10, lost faith in the Doctor and when he shut the TARDIS door on her to keep her out, the look on his face as if he didn't want to know that bitter, older version.   Perhaps here he was hoping that moment never arrives for him.   Amy even said she hated the Doctor and maybe that was too much to bare from the "girl who always waited" for her "raggedy Doctor."

The TARDIS' cloister bell was last heard in the episode Logopolis with Tom Baker, signifying death/regeneration.  The Doctor with another Rubik's cube, where'd he get that from then, 6.9.   He doesn't like apples either as in 5.1.   Hey is the Doctor actually the Doctor or perhaps his ganger has reappeared somehow.   Oh that'd be too, too confusing or far fetched.   As I said in my review of 6.6 The Almost People, is the Doctor's ganger going to be killed in place of him, as this is what the bell tolls for.  

Another clown as he mentioned those in 6.9.   This ending was a bit of a letdown, as in 6.9 as far as the Minotaur goes, as the boy was an alien who latched onto the parents' need for a child.   Here the Minotaur was of a race of Nimons who do much the same thing.   Nimons were seen as an enemy in The Horns of Nimon.

Convincing Amy not to believe in him was also done in The Curse of Fenric, where the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy)) has to coerce Ace to do the same.   Oh, oh, in 6.7 A Good Man Goes To War episode, one of the soldiers comments  they were being paid to fight him, not praise him.   Here there were praises galore, were they meant for the Doctor and his God complex.   Or perhaps we're not meant to recall that as being of any significance.   Who knows...Have to say Matt Smith just gets better and better in portraying the Doctor, I thought David Tennant was great in his performance, but I have to say Matt has surpassed all expectations for me!  Not that I don't still like David as the Doctor.

Lie To Me - 2.6: "Lack of Candor" Review

Ben's past as an FBI agent undercover comes back to haunt him and Cal has no alternative but to help him as we get some insights into his character.

Ben (Mekhi Phifer) and some men celebrate the new year at a club where they also beat up a man.

11 months later  The beaten man, Mark (Roy Werner) wants to make a deal with assistant US Attorney, Denning, (Brian Howe) in exchange for his testimony on mobster Elliot Greene (Michael Harney).   Mark also wants his mistress in protective custody with him.   Outside the safehouse, Mark is shot and killed by a sniper. Cal (Tim Roth) walks into Gillian's (Kelli Williams) office and closes the blinds. He informs her and Ben of what's happened.  Cal knows everything about Ben, just like Ben knows everything about Cal.   Cal explains how Ben spent two years of his life undercover to bring down Greene.  Here we were led to believe that Ben was bad.

Ben is now the next witness on the list and will be placed in protective custody.   Denning arrives and is led to Ben in their interrogation room which has bullet proof glass.   Cal is holding him hostage and wants to make a deal.   Cal and Gillian question the US Marshalls assigned to the case to discover which one gave Mark up to Greene.   One of them, Johnson, (Matt Gerald) shows signs of double fear and he's questioned further.   He didn't want Mark dead even if he didn't like him.   Cal tells Ria (Monica Raymund) to watch out for Johnson.   Cal must speak with Greene.

He examines Greene as a doctor and adds Ben is a friend.   Greene is certain he will be cleared at trial and suggests Cal should asks Ben about Scotty, whom Cal mentions to Ben.   He rushes in to look through Denning's file but doesn't find what he's looking for.   He refuses to testify.   Ria wants to question Johnson but Eli (Brendan Hines) thinks they're being tested.   They ask him everything about that day and he let Mark use his mobile phone, so Johnson messed up.

Ben calls Sheila (Alicia Coppolla) his handler at the FBI when he was undercover.   Gillian asks Sheila why Ben doesn't want to testify.   She and Ben have a bond, like she shares with her other agents and Gillian says she keeps commending Ben but there's more.   Ben had been sanctioned to commit crimes undercover if necessary and he took drugs to get in with Greene.  Something which would come out at trial, but that's not all.  

Cal accuses Ben of being a 'cokehead,' but Ben was doing his job.   Cal talks to him in his office without cameras - that'd be a first for Cal, since when has Cal not used a camera especially since he was spying on the place even on holiday.   Ben knows what Cal did in Northern Ireland.   Ben used to work with Scotty who was one of Greene's men.   He found out about Ben when his wire malfunctioned.   Ben tried to explain but he didn't listen, so he had to shoot him in self defence and planted his wire on Scotty, gaining Greene's trust.   He told sheila but there was no record of this in the file.   The truth will get out at trial if he testifies and Greene will walk free.   Cal plays back their conversation and then erases it, showing he's now in the same boat as Ben, since Cal could go to prison for what he did.

Cal catches Ria and Eli watching the Internet, where Kimi (Arlene Tur) is an exotic dancer.   Eli explains if they could see she's embarrassed by what she does then they could bring her in and use it against her.   Why would she be embarrassed by that? If she was she wouldn't dance to begin with.   Cal just tells them to question her and Mark's wife, Mary (Kari Coleman) together.   Cal gives Ben a gun and Gillian chats with Sheila about Ben's drug use and also Scotty.   Sheila denies knowing anything about him.   Ben goes in with a gun and she does the same with him.   Ben is adamant he told her about Scotty and wrote a report.   She blames the drugs.   Denning has Ben arrested for murder.   Both Kimi and Mary deny wanting him dead.   Mary was divorcing him cos he lied about who he was and Kimi admits the phone was hers.   She gave it to him and he used it for work calls too, so Greene would have his number and explains Eli, anyone with the number could track the location of the safehouse.

They watch Sheila's tape and Ria knows she's lying.   Cal buys Sheila drinks at a bar and she comments on his accent.   Cal: "Gotta use what you've got."  He thinks he knows her and tells her he works for Greene .   Cal is going to kill Ben and she pulls a gun on him.   She doesn't want him harmed cos he will discredit himself at the trial.   She doesn't care what she has to do even if it's outside the realms of justice.   She tells him to talk with Greene's lawyer.   She finally confesses for failing to report Ben's actions over Scotty and he'll be seen as a rogue agent.   Cal plays this back to Denning and Ben.   Sheila wants credit still for bringing down Greene cos without her it wouldn't have happened.

At the courthouse, Ben can't wait to get out of protective custody.   Cal doesn't want Ben's thanks cos he's family and after what he did for his friend Terry, Cal owes him.   He tells Ben about the woman who is there for him and don't think Ben quite cottoned on to this being Gillian.   Also Cal trying to read her when he should be reading Sheila.   We get some insight into Ben's work as an agent and find that life at the FBI was very different for him than just some cushy job at the office or conducting investigations.   He had to do whatever was necessary whilst undercover no matter what it involved.   So now that leaves us wanting to know what Cal did in Northern Ireland.

Don't think Cal was that surprised at Ria and Eli using their own initiative - he was expecting it, but isn't it time he stopped testing them.   Ria: "I'm going in."
Eli: "Lightman will be furious that you interfered."
Ria: "I'm gonna go find out what he wants."
Eli: "Then he'll be angry we didn't take the initiative sooner." Eli and Ria congratulating themselves for doing their job.   More flirty goings on between Gillian and Cal especially when he asks her how she feels about Ben and drugs after everything with her ex husband.   Then he proceeds to read her.   Great scene.

NCIS - 7.15: "Jack Knife" Photos

Werth returns, much to Tony's chagrin, to help the team investigate the death of his friend, a fellow truck driver. Tony thinks Werth and Ziva have a thing for each other.

Werth (Paul Telfer) wakes to find his friend's DB in the trash.   McGee (Sean Murray) drives Gibbs (Mark Harmon) home and notices his house is tidier, it's "homey."  McGee's pleased to drive Gibbs.   He has a new lock on the front door which Gibbs says is "to keep out unwanted guests." Viz Allison Hart.   Didn't know Gibbs had goldfish.   Werth ate his steak  Only Gibbs' friends are welcome, he's paranoid.   They worked for the Szwed trucking company and his friend was doing questionable work, he carried him out of the desert and told him about his last job, they shared a few beers.  

Gibbs asks if he only recalls the couple of beers he had.   McGee comments the "day's not over."  Werth was still lying there even in the day.   McGee thinks the case is Metro's jurisdiction, but Gibbs insists they have a cooperative witness.  Gibbs: "Get Ziva (Cote de Pablo) and DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) out of bed."  McGee thinks they're together and then remarks, "get them out of individual beds."  In a continuation from the Jetlag episode, where Tony and Ziva shared a hotel room together and lied about who took the couch, leading us and McGee to think they're actually together with each other right now.

Gibbs notices McGee's bags under his eyes and he replies "it's a look I'm going for."  Heatherton recruited Werth for the next run of driving the truck.   Szwed (Jason Spisak) told him he can drive but it's a two man job.   Gibbs objects to Werth getting involved, he's a witness and "not a very good one."  Gibbs needs Fornell (Joe Spano) and wakes him up.   Gibbs: "What happened to your face?" as he now sports one of Gibbs' old looks from season 4, ie.  his beard.   Fornell: "What happened to your arm?" Fornell then adds "try not to look so chipper" to Gibbs, yeah why is he so chipper, not cos of Allison is it.   Gibbs is taking Fornell's CS.   McGee is tense as he's had no sleep.   Werth tells him you had to get sleep wherever you could in the Marine Corps, he can still manage to fall asleep again.   McGee's brain keeps spinning, "never know what's gonna happen next right."  Cue lullaby music for McGee as he falls asleep.  He wakes to find Fornell and Gibbs in the car.  

Tony, Ziva and Ducky (David McCallum) are already at the CS.   Tony's got knots cos he sleeps in the chair.   Ziva tells him a massage chair that gives him knots isn't healthy.   Ducky suggests he should give up the chair and Tony wants everyone to stop saying '(k)not.'  Ducky finds the DB's throat was slit with a serrated blade.   Ducky: "Odds he did not - would've been quick."  Szwed is into trafficking.   One driver is always armed.   Lucas (David St Louis) is head of security.   Gibbs says they don't know what Szwed is up to yet.   He tells Werth to eat, drink and then give a urine sample.  

Gibbs tells Fornell Werth's a marine who saved lives and other people too.   Gibbs says he's a "Marine who broke the rules."  Again as in the Jetlag episode where Gibbs told Ducky the hitman wasn't a marine but a hitman posing as a marine.   Gibbs gave him a medal.   Fornell asks if he's going steady with Gibbs since he's not wearing his pin.   Ducky mentions being responsible for a man after saving his life in Eastern cultures.   The mutual saving of  a life is a bond just like Fornell and Gibbs have, Fornell having saved Gibbs.   They love sharing the misery.   Gibbs comments Fornell calls when he needs grief.   Ducky discovered fractures of the metacarpals very recently on the DB, the bones were crushed.

More sleepy lullaby music for McGee.   Tony and Ziva find McGee asleep.   McGee asks if they did something to him like put his hand in water.   Tony says he wanted to strip him naked, put a tag on his toe and drag him down to autopsy.  Ziva objected and thought it was "in poor taste."  Tony: "A lot of people would like to see you naked." That's so juvenile and he calls McGee "Sleeping Beauty."  That's disgusting Tony coming up with that, does that include Tony wanting to see him naked too.   Cos they already were naked in the showers in season 2's SWAK episode, ha.   Tony won't tell him what Ziva did to him.   Gibbs needs to put someone on the truck with Werth.   Tony: "Let Johnny Rambo go First Blood (1982) again."

Abby (Pauley Perrette) wakes up McGee by putting a headphone in his ear.   She asks if he was bitten by a Tsetse fly when he was in Africa.   (Cos they cause sleeping sickness.)  He's just tired and realizes how hard Gibbs works.   He wonders what Gibbs has running through his veins and Gibbs replies "coffee."   Abby tells McGee Gibbs enjoys having a valet.   She discovers Werth was roofied.   Gibbs adds if anything else is needed McGee will do it.   Tony tells them the last one who used the van needs to clean it out and says it wasn't him.   It smells of felafels.   Ziva says a few strings were being triggered to make her a citizen/agent.   Tony: "pulled, you pull strings."
Ziva: "The heart has strings."
Werth: "According to poets."
Tony: "Don't confuse the girl, it took a lot of marionetting to get her this far."
Werth: "Who's the puppet master?"  Why Tony of course.

 Fornell is only observing and Ziva is selected to accompany Werth.   Rule 27 is mentioned: "First way they never notice you.   Second way they only notice you."  McGee drinks lots of coffee and Tony notices it's with plenty of sugar.   Tony calls Werth "pretty boy," adding he dislocated McGee's shoulder, broke Tony's nose and he only has one nose.   McGee has two shoulders.  McGee tells Tony he can hold a grudge.

Tony  talks about how he keeps coming back, should live his own life.   Robin Hood Prince of Thieves v The World's Greatest Athlete.  (1973)  McGee watched that film.   Tony tells him the blond guy was a young Jan Michael Vincent and he should know, being up on his Airwolf trivia.  See he adds how he loved him on Airwolf.   Tony: "Stringfellow Hawke may be the best character name ever." There are two schools of thought on life saving or responsibility issue.   In Prince of Thieves, (1991) Robin's life was saved.   McGee says Werth served his country.

Lucas takes Ziva and Werth's phones, they can use the CB radio.   Fornell asks if Gibbs hired a cleaning woman as his house looks different.   Gibbs is letting Fornell drive his car which is a big deal for him.   Gibbs: "Whatever you already slept with my wife." The truck has melons inside and Ziva and Werth are going to empty it.   They need fuel.   Uses the CB radio talk which Ziva wouldn't understand anyway.   Tony thinks they're having trouble driving the truck.   Tony tells McGee to stop tapping his fingers, but it's Morse code.   "Fu - el."  He's out of coffee.   Of course they had to take Gibbs' car to make themselves conspicuous cos it's all about cars.   Gibbs and Fornell pretend to fight and Fornell talks cars with Werth.

Gibbs tells him Werth used to be on steroids and gives Ziva earwigs so they can tall.    Tony swerves the van when McGee gets out of his seat on purpose.   Werth is uptight.   Heatherton was hit when driving a leading convoy.   Ziva talks about trauma intensifying memory.   McGee gives them the garage address of Devoisier (Peter Woodward) - a stuck up Brit guy (who obviously had to be the killer.  He was too smarmy and shifty.) He had a wager with Szwed, who lost.   They were driving in a cross country race and even says  it's dangerous.  Fornell: "speed limits aren't just suggestions."  That's what Vartann (Alex Carter) said to Catherine (Marg Helgenberger) in the season 11.9 Wild Life CSI episode.   Devoisier feigns shock when he hears about Heatherton being dead.   Devoisier had speeding tickets so Gibbs suggest they look for accidents.

The cars are in the back of the truck.   Tony can thinks of a few cars worth killing for, like Gibbs' Barracuda.   They use a trailer to block the road.   Tony gets a blow out.    The truck is stopped and Fornell and Gibbs are in the back.   Lucas and Szwed deny killing Heatherton, so by a process of elimination, it could only be Brit guy.   Abby talks about boys and cars, she's a Hot Rod girl herself.   Devoisier paid $1.2 million for the car.   Fornell advises you should take a magnet when you look at old cars.   The magnet sticks to the metal.   There was a hit and run in Oklahoma, Heatherton took the girl to hospital and so he killed his only witness.   Abby will find traces of blood and hair when she takes the car apart.

McGee's asleep and more lullaby music plays.   Ziva tells Werth she'll see him later and Tony asks what she means by that.   Tony can get him a job in Cleveland, so he'll be miles away from Ziva.   They say goodbye and Tony questions whether she means goodbye or "hey I'm gonna see you at a later date."  Ziva doesn't answer.

Tony being overly concerned with who Ziva's date is going to be and who she sees.   Getting McGee to drink coffee was already done with Tony when he was boss in the end of season 3.23/24 and early season 4, with everyone saying he's not Gibbs.   Gibbs and the locks on his doors, to keep her out or make sure no one enters unannounced when she's around.   He also needs some curtains.

Tony should display some Airwolf memorabilia on his desk or keep some in his drawer.   He had a lonely childhood, no wonder he watched so much TV, being left alone and forgotten by Senior in a hotel room.     Gibbs and Fornell like an  old married couple and the stealing wife jokes.   Gibbs and Fornell's argument over fuel was demonstrating Rule 27.   Ducky wears an ordinary tie in this episode which no one notices yet.   How does Ziva know Tony sleeps on a chair, besides the one at work, unless it was a topic of hot office gossip we weren't a party to.   The photo shown by McGee with Zwed's distribution operation was a photo of the Valencia studios where NCIS is filmed.

Tony glaring at McGee when he says "Fu..." That'd be a first McGee telling Tony where to go!  But our Timmy's not like that.   Tony had a hamster when he was little named "Ferrari" named for Magnum's Ferrari no doubt.   Did he have any friends whilst growing up.   Mind you he hasn't got many now aside from college and his time at Baltimore PD.

Some asides, we haven't seen how Gibbs got his boat out (sounds rude) did he take it apart and then put it back together, as Abby did when she was analyzing it in the Inlaws and Outlaws episode.

Smallville - 10.20: "Prophecy" Review

Lois is given Clark's powers by Jor-El when he takes her to the Fortress for his blessing for their wedding. Oliver comes across Kara in his search for the Bow of Orion.

Lois (Erica Durance) is running around doing a million things before the big day, working on a story and wedding planning and she believes there's a conspiracy behind her new story. "Go jump in the river" she tells Clark (Tom Welling.)  Well it's her story and he's standing on the river she's got mapped out on the floor of her office.   Their catering company has gone under and has been bought out like other businesses in the area, by Marionette Ventures, really the name in itself provides a big clue as to who is behind this!  All the owners have left town.

Clark says he told her father about the wedding but he hasn't told his and they head for the Fortress.   The Head of the House of El approves all unions and he stresses his "desire to start a lifebond with this woman."  Jor-El (Terence Stamp) talks about their lives being joined, so they have to understand,  ice falls onto top of Lois.   Lois gets Clark's powers and he loses his.   She relishes this, it's right up her street.   Or should I say lane!  Lois: "I'm super."

Oliver (Justin Hartley) finds Kara (Laura Vandervoort) trapped in caves.   Fancy that, no one missed her, so much for keeping tabs on each other and the League.   The symbols on the walls aren't Celtic.   Kara refers to them as Apokolyptian.   Oliver notices the Bow symbol and they both have their reasons for being in search of the Bow.   Kara needs it to protect Clark and she asks him who he's here to save.   That'll be himself.   She reads the prophecy written by Orion depicting the end of the world and the "balance must exist between light and darkness."  Oliver thinks they need to add to the scales on one side in order to release her from her trap.

Lois finds it so easy to get a million things done now and thinks Jor-El might have good intentions for giving her powers, maybe she needs to feel what it's like to be Clark.   Anyway his powers will return to him at sunset which Clark says is 6.48pm.   Lois discovers what the businesses have in common, water rights come with the building rights.   There's one business left to buy out.  Lois and Clark stake this out and she returns from a few rescue missions she couldn't help getting involved in, with a burn on her collar.  The business left is Theron Layne.   Clark needs her to focus her hearing and that he must ignore certain problems and pleas for help as the Blur.   Clark doesn't call it ignoring, but prioritizing.   Lois realizes he has to do this all the time.   Lois hones her hearing skills, which took Clarkie ages to perfect.   She hears the owner being attacked inside the store.   Throwing off her attacker, she discovers it's Courtney, aka Stargirl (Britt Irvin).   There's red flashing from her ear.  

Oliver thinks the Bow is his for the taking and "medium is the message."   He must wield the Bow as he's trying to change his fate.   Orion turned away from the darkness and is revealed as Darkseid's son.   They get to the Bow but need to use two shots of Oliver's bow in balancing light and darkness.   Lucky he brought two then.   Oliver says Clark trusts Kara so that's enough for him.   They shoot the arrows simultaneously and the door is opened.   Kara is called away by Jor-El, conveniently leaving Oliver on his own.   She's trusting him to take the Bow to Clark.

At the Fortress, Jor-El tells her that Kal-El's destiny is the Bow and the battle with Darkseid is his alone to fight.   She has the choice of two paths, either leave Earth now and let him embrace his destiny or stay here and destroy Earth.   Her destiny is in another place and time.   That was kind of cruel, dragging her away from the only family she has.   Kal-El was too weak back then and was almost destroyed by the darkness.   He must fight now.  "This is his time...the greatest sacrifice is to give up something they hold dear."

Tess (Cassidy Freeman) believes the diode made Courtney open to suggestions.   Courtney explains she and John Jones looked into the company's shareholders - which Lois didn't think to do and these include, Roulette, Dark Archer, Mettallo, Manta.   Scan of the diode reveals the initials WS, i.e Winslow Schott, the Toyman (Chris Gauthier).   Lois is off in a flash to see him in prison, where he's allowed privileges, in a max security prison!  He's got his phone and calls her a "mild mannered reporter."  Lois tells him about the diode on one of their own and he notices her engagement ring.   She says her lovelife has nothing to do with the Blur, a bit defensive.  

Toyman proceeds to enlighten her about Lana Lang, Clark's first love, who sacrificed everything for him.   That's the line Jor-El said earlier.   Clarkie really hasn't said much about Lana to Lois.   She tries to deny Clark is connected to the Blur.   To protect this secret he orders her to wear a diode too.   He calls his group "minions" just like Darkseid's minions.   He wants her to kill the Blur.   One moot point really, was there no way for her to overcome the effects of the diode with her powers.   She succumbed a bit easily.

Oliver is about to grab the Bow after reading the inscription on it, "The only true power comes from within."  But he's foiled by Granny Goodness (Christine Willes) who turns up in the nick to grab the Bow and destroy it.   It was selfish of Oliver to want the Bow to remove the stain from his soul.   Claiming the Bow was "one power Darkseid could not defeat."  Oliver's been serving him from the moment he gave in to his darkside and he's got potential.   He won't recall their conversation.   Suppose it will end with a showdown between Clark being light and Oliver being the dark, mentioned with Kara at the beginning.

Toyman on conference with his minions gives them info on their targets, i.e.  Justice League members.   He underestimated Clark.   Lois turns up and fights Clark.   Tess tells him to hold on until sunset and he has to ask how long it is when he already knows.   He tells her to fight it and "I love you" doesn't seen to work on her, for long that is.   Looked like this made her even stronger for a second.   Anyway, cue sunset, his powers return and Lois in another fainting pose just like when she was defeated as Isis.  hey why didn't Tess use Kryptonite on her, or would this not have worked with the diode, but she did still have her powers, even under its influence.

This time it's Clark's turn to visit Toyman who thinks Lois has done the deed and returned.   Clark is flattered at being called his "pretty little play thing."  He threatens to expose his identity as the Blur and Clark says if he wanted to do that, he'd have done it by now, but then he wouldn't be able to play.   Clark will always be there to stop him.   Clark then returns to the Fortress realizing Jor-El's removing his power wasn't a gift but a trial, all about control.   His "trials are stepping stones on a long path," replies Jor-El and Clark understands it's up to him to take control of his destiny.   When he's no longer a son of Jor-El or Jonathan Kent, that's when he can help the world.   The time is now.   Which is what Jor-El told Kara.   He can no longer guide him and Clark pulls the plug on Jor-El and we see that 'suit' in the ice, just beckoning!

Oliver digs for the gold Kryptonite that will rid Clark of his powers and finds it.   Leaving Clark with another dilemma from Lois and no finale would be complete without the wedding being called off.   She tells him what he does is never over for him.   It's up to him to tip the scale of good and evil and she knew he had  a big heart but she didn't realize how "strong it was."  Kara floats outside Watchtower and uses the League ring to disappear to the future.   Look she'll even miss his wedding too.   Kara chooses her destiny, just as Clark did.   Lois was weak and she let Toyman control her, hey I said that.   Lois: "you are my greatest weakness."  Clark begs to differ calling her his strength.   Jor-El is his past and his destiny is with Lois.   He could be out saving people every moment she has him to herself.   She can't marry him.   No but she can hug him instead!

Cue all the showdown for the series finale, which we will get in two parts and not one, darn!  Toyman's minions are known as the Legion of Doom and not all of them were named. Solomon Grundy and Captain Cold were left out.   The diode is star shaped as it's akin to a miniature starfish utilized by Starro in the comics.

CSI: Miami - 8.18: "Dishonor" Review

Horatio's son, Kyle returns to Miami and has to help out one of his friends,when he's accused of murdering his girlfriend's father. As CSI:Miami delves briefly into honour killings and arranged marriages.

Horatio (David Caruso) has breakfast with his son, Kyle (Evan Ellington) and thinks the waitress likes him.   Horatio says it's the uniform she likes.   Actually Kyle thinks it's the man wearing the uniform.   He's going to be transferred and deployed in 14 days.   He has a dangerous job; which Kyle likens to being just as dangerous as Horatio's job.   His friend Brian Nassir (Ethan Rains) appears to be missing and he inherited the lot from his father.   Someone's on fire inside and Kyle believes it's Brian.   ME Tom (Christian Clemenson) warns the others to be careful as the limbs may fall off the DB.   To Horatio, the killing resembles an execution and reminds ME Tom of the gang wars in the 1990's.The DB is encased in rubber.  Natalia (Eva Larue) finds an antique torch.   Horatio tells her the gas can may have prints.

The Range Rover parked outside doesn't belong to Brian.   The torch is from the Vietnam War and belongs to the neighbour.  Kyle loses his temper with him.   The neighbour, Glenn (Jeff Kober) says Brian was a Muslim and he won't apologize for the fact this is his country.   He thinks he's an extremist, since things go on there at night, he has to be vigilant.   Tripp (Rex Linn) calls Glenn a piece of work and they'll be watching him.   Kyle explains he and Brian were at Boot Camp together and Glen's just mistaking racism for patriotism.   As does most everyone these days.   ME Tom checks dental records to find that the Vic isn't Brian.   Tripp finds the car belongs to Rahim Farooq (Navid Negahban) and the dental records are a match to him.   How could they already know the dental records match Rahim, if Tripp has only just found out the car belongs to him.    That makes Brian a suspect.

Rahim's wife, Salumeh (Necar Zadegan) tells Calleigh (Emily Procter) and Jesse (Eddie Cibrian) that her husband found it hard here.   She feigns grief.   Like Tony (Michael Weatherly) in NCIS, I too went for the wife as the obvious suspect.   At any rate it's a wonder the CSIs didn't suspect her, since in such cases, the spouse is always considered a primary suspect.   Jesse looks at the photos.  Maya (Inbar Lavi) is her daughter.   Jesse scans the mother's prints so she can be eliminated as a suspect, but they match the gas can.   She claims Rahim always left it in the car.   Calleigh asks her if she's ever been to the garage.   Horatio alongside, ME Tom, finds a piece of charred paper, which he's sending to QD (Questionable Documents.)  Brian calls Kyle, who has Horatio turn up and Tripp arrests them both for murder.  Kyle doesn't feel he did the right thing in telling Horatio.

Ryan (Jonathan Togo) processes Brian and Calleigh checks the contents of Maya's purse, coming across a bus ticket to St Petersburg.   Ryan uses a portable gas chromotographer to read the signals of any compounds Brian's touched and tests positive for gasoline.   But he's been at the garage, he's bound to have gas there.   Maya also tests positive for gasoline on her arms and hands.   She admits the gas was meant for her as her father had a violent temper and was angry at her.   Calleigh asks if he was trying to kill her.   Maya was promised to another man in an arranged marriage but she met Brian.

Her mother says Rahim is a proud man and wouldn't agree to the marriage being called off.   Horatio says he and Brian share the same faiths, but it wouldn't matter to her father.   They left him alive.  Walter (Omar Miller) calls it an honour killing.   Horatio doesn't believe Rahim's death was self-defence.   Walter gets defensive when it's said he's accusing Brian of murder, but Walter isn't doing that.   Kyle lets Horatio know Brian saved his life from an IAD, why's he only telling him this now.

Walter finds the Vic's jacket protected the paper but not enough.   Horatio advises to view it under the infra red filter as ink dyes show up better.   Horatio recognizes the writing as Farsi, how did he know? and he's got a translator in Kyle.   He must have been an expert in the language already, so how'd he learn it so fast.   Kyle calls it a contract and the signature reads 'A Saleem'.  Ryan questions Ahmad (Assaf Cohen) and asks what his motive is.  Walter tells him a witness (Glen) saw him outside the garage.   He admits he's been there and followed Maya.   He saw them together and they just had to kiss outside.   He called off the marriage.   But Rahim said she brought dishonour on both families and shamed him.   Ahmad thought if she found someone then she deserves to be happy.   He didn't tell Rahim where he saw them.

Calleigh examines the call history of Maya's phone and finds a voicemail she left for her father, saying they need to meet at the garage.   Jesse concludes that her phrase "put an end to this, doesn't ooze confidence." That Maya probably had access to the family gas can too.   Maya just wanted to tell Rahim the truth and introduce Brain to him.   Calleigh warns her only Brian can corroborate her story.   Jesse refers to them as Romeo and Juliet and that they left before the fire was set, but they need more than circumstantial evidence to prove it.   He and Natalia grid search the garage.   Natalia finds two holes made from a heel.   The heel was dug into the silt.   Ryan thinks it could be Maya's, but it doesn't match hers as it's too chunky.   Just because Maya was their main suspect they automatically suspect her and she had to be wearing heels too.   But they didn't think of her mother until now.   She also happened to be wearing the same shoes from the garage still!  Wouldn't they have smelt of gasoline and also her clothes as well, viz, her trousers.

She didn't want Maya to go through this and Rahim was angry at her for supporting her daughter.   She wanted to warn Maya.   Horatio tells her she stood over her husband whilst he burned.  She says there was no honour in what he was doing and she didn't corrupt her daughter.   Oh and why was Rahim carrying the contract around with him anyway.   Brian isn't going back with Kyle just yet.   Horatio wants Kyle to come home alive.   Horatio was really concerned for Kyle and him leaving for dangerous lands and it was good to see him portray such emotion towards his own son, which is usually reserved for others children.   The relationship between father and son has developed with Kyle displaying a more mature character and now that he's leaving again, real emotions are revealed.

A bit judgemental in its portrayal of arranged marriages, as if the daughter has no option but to go through with it, it is the case with many Feudal, or traditional families, but not with everyone.  A mother would do anything for her child and here, Salumeh demonstrates just that.  An episode which delves into the life of this family and their relationships, whilst also focusing on that of Horatio and his son.   Salumeh killed her husband to keep Maya safe and alive, Horatio wanting Kyle back home safely and alive too, where he'll always be waiting for him.   Also showing the extreme contrasts in his feelings for Kyle and Rahim's for Maya.

The neighbour's threats, or suspicions don't pan out into anything this time, but shows that bigotry and racism, are truly alive and kicking, lashing out at Muslims, albeit American Muslims and how they will always be viewed with suspicion and contempt.

CSI 12.13 "Tressed To Kill" Review

A girl in the mall gets her hair cut whilst in the lift and later a woman at the station reports the same thing happening to her.  Paula (Brianna Brown)was at the cinema and DB (Ted Danson) asks her if she was watching Matt Damon?  It was Daniel Craig.  The girl from the mall, Eva (Sasha Jackson) is found dead and has been dressed and given blonde hair.  Her eyes have been removed.  Brass (Paul Guilfoyle) asks "why?"  DB: "hell with why, I wanna know who?"  Something which was synonymous with Gil and how he'd want to know the who rather than the why and vice versa.  What this show is all about.  The Vic was given a make-over and David (David Berman) can't find the COD as there are no wounds or trauma.  Sara (Jorga Fox) comments on how she was blinded and finds a braid of hair in her mouth.  DB thinks it could be the killer's calling card.

Greg (Eric Szmanda) looks at Catherine's empty desk and is interrupted by Nick (George Eads).  They've both spoken to Catherine and she showed them all "how to fly straight."  Well that was Catherine's first bit of name dropping and the next part comes at the end from DB and Sara doesn't mention her by name when she talks about someone who used to work here who used to keep DNA of her child. A bottle of blood in the fridge.

The sheriff (Barbara Eve Harris) refers to the killer as a homicidal maniac.  DB informs her eleven women came forward and the press have to be told, but she finds the need for them to solve it.  Brass: "I think she was looking at you when she said that."  Morgan (Elisabeth Harnois) and Sara process the CS and Morgan says she opened the door to the killer, her tooth was knocked out by the force.  Sara can't find any products or packaging and Sara tells Morgan she should watch herself since the killer dyed her hair blonde.  Morgan comments Sara should too.

Eva's sister Bridget (Rose McIver) is angry that they should have been told about the killer, especially since Greg tells the sheriff that they knew about him three weeks ago.  Nick says he would bring back her sister if he could.  She was dressed in retro dress and sunglasses and Bridget claims she hated that style.  Doc Robbins (Robert David Hall) finds the injuries weren't caused peri mortum.  COD was morphine overdose and the killer added hair extensions to repair the cut hair but he didn't find the right colour.

Hodges (Wallace Langham) sorts through the hair samples and processes each one and finds 26 samples.  He asks Sara if she's seen the Japanese movie The Ring, where the girl vomits hair.  Sara thought the only Japanese culture he was into was octopus porn, from 12.1 73 Seconds.  The hair could refer to a list of future Vics.  They need to follow up on the list of women.  Paula watches DB  and one Vic didn't show up, Joyce (Brittany Beaudette Dunn). Brass finds her DB and she's dressed in retro clothes.  Sara comments he sued ammonia to blind her and DB says she was alive when he did this.  Paralytic pills were found in her which made it easy for him to make them over.  Thus pointing to a doctor or to someone with such knowledge.  This makes him harder to catch and he's more confident.

DB convinces the sheriff to alert the press cos all these women are in danger and they could save one, unfortunately this wasn't the case and not especially the one DB was concerned about, no wonder she was the only one who got his card, so she could call him twice when in trouble.  Hodges stands behind the dress as he talks to Nick who can't help but laugh.  He spoke with his mother (for future ref as she's making an appearance soon.)  she's an expert and "still has the figure for it."  Yes cos she's Jaclyn Smith and I can't wait to see her.  The 1978 reference must be an allusion to her when she was younger and on TV in Charlie's Angels.  The dresses were stored in mothballs.  Nick thinks it must be someone he was trying to turn those women into.

DB tells Sara they can garner a picture of his obsession from the dresses and he goes to his "psycho place" when serial killers are around.  Putting them to sleep  re the morphine he thinks is an act of kindness.  Sara goes to her "Ted Bundy" place and thinks it wasn't kindness, he "gauged" out their eyes.  Morgan analyzed the hair and it came from one person.  She ran an isotope ratio and the woman has been to Japan, Germany and Las Vegas, the hair had cancer meds.  Leading her and Sara to the hospital and the Dr Bill Ryan (William Ragsdale).  SO obviously it was him, the way he was looking at that nurse when she touched her hair and also he was so helpful in leaving the file out for them.  (As suspects in CSI:Miami always are helpful.)  The woman is Ided as Lucinda Kemp (Jill Larson).

DB calls her the "killer's muse" and Brass Brass adds, "your muse is a dead ringer."  Paula panics when a delivery man knocks at her door, that was a false alarm.  They get night deliveries.  Delivery men over here aren't so persistent, they knock once and run off, leaving the parcel outside.  Brass: "Hoping Norma Desmond can ID our killer."  Norma Desmond was the character played by Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard, an aging actress who refused to accept her mortality and growing old.  Lucinda doesn't recognize the girls and is accompanied by her son Adam (David Gallagher).  But Jeffrey makes her wigs.  Adam was a bit uptight so we'd cast suspicion over him.  How come no one could tell she was wearing a wig.

Sara tells Jeffrey (Roger Bart) to "stop looking at my hair."  Greg finds the dresses at his place and Morgan finds a bottle of morphine, which was an obvious plant.  He would have Lucinda's hair if he made her wig.  DB tells Sara they need a DNA match on the hair.  Paula calls for help when she's being attacked but it's too late  DB says the killer panicked and killed her good.  He wants Nick and Greg to thoroughly process the CS.  Brass: "their best suspect was in custody."  Nick comments on the hair not matching the Vics so it wasn't Jeffrey, so Greg posits it could be Adam.  Nick finds some short, brown hair in the blood and Greg spots the corner of a photo in the mirror and finds the photo.  Another dead ringer for Lucinda, so they think it's her.  Oh why would the doctor need a photo if that was his mother in the photo?  Surely he'd know from memory as he's made up three Vics we know about so far.

Nick spots a fingerprint on the photo and matches it to the Doctor.  It was his mother in the photo and DB watches Paula's DB.  He tells Sara of a serial killer in Seattle and he thought of his daughter.  He keeps the plasters of his children in the fridge for DNA references.  Sara tells him of a woman who used to work here who did the same.  Greg finds the DNA on the hair doesn't match Adam.  The doctor actually tries to run which may have been a first especially when it's apparent he's cornered.  Sara tells him he dressed them up like his mother was coming back.  They found all the products, make-up in his house.  He was everything to Lucinda and DB calls him a "mama's boy."  He killed his mother by giving her a  morphine overdose and DB can't sit in the same room as him.

DB calls Catherine as there are some things he doesn't take home to his wife.  He lost one and he feels he "could have done something more."  This ep was personal for him and mentions his daughter this ep just to show the effect the job has on him and how personal it can get, as all the other CSIs have shown in the past.

Dressing up Vics has been done before in CSI and in the Pilot episode with serial killer Paul Millander, he became a suspect when his fingerprint was found on the tape recorder used for one of his Vic's.  In 7.18 Empty Eyes, Sara holds the hand of a Vic who dies and she comments how they show up too late to meet the Vic.  Nick asking her if she's okay.  Here DB showed up too late to save the Vic and had already met her. Nick again showing his caring side too as he comforts Bridget.

Roger Bart you may recall always plays the killer role, as in Desperate Housewives and in CSI:Miami season 8, hey he killed Jesse (Eddie Cibrian.)

Without A Trace 3.2 "Thou Shalt Not" Review

A nurse cleans a burn victim and promises to return the next day.  She disappears by a roadside in the rain whilst changing her car tyre.

6 Hours Missing
Sam (Poppy Montgomery) thinks maybe someone stopped to help and Danny (Enrique Murciano) adds maybe they didn’t stop to help.  She didn’t have a mobile phone.  The police called it in when they found the car at 1am.  Sam says she’d be afraid too on a road like this alone.

12 Hours Missing
The Chicago office called wondering where Jack (Anthony LaPaglia) is.  He was going to call them.  He has personal issues and the transfer won’t work out.  Olczyk (Bill Smitrovich) says he asked for the transfer.  Jack tells him Maria’s left and if he wants custody he has to remain in New York.  He’ll take anything available but not his old job.  Martin (Eric Close) asks Viv (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) if Jack’s around.  Viv doesn’t tell him anything.  Yeah rub it in Martin after last episode.

13 Hours Missing
There was a West Virginia toll receipt found in Maureen’s (Claire Carey) car.  She was meant to attend a medical conference.  Her husband, Nathan (Max Martini) assumed she was working late. Sam says it’s their experience that people usually go missing because of something in their lives.  He saw her at a coffee shop with another man.

The nurse at work tells Martin that Maureen is religious.  The Burns Unit is the toughest there is.  Maureen had to deal with an abuse case of a 6 year old and she cried recently.  It took 8 years to wear her down.  Maureen said she was crying over something else and gave notice the next day.

Jack picks up the phone, he’s waiting for an important call.  Viv tells him to go home.  They too of Natalie Genjingian, (Suzanne Santo) her name’s special.  Sam calls and is surprised Jack’s there.  She canvassed the area around the coffee shop, no one remembers Maureen or the man.

17 Hours Missing
Natalie has been seeing Luke, (Jesse Head) Maureen’s son, for 11 months.  She went to her birthday party.  Maureen had been drinking and told her to call her Lilly; her middle name.  Jack finds a Lillian Dillard on a computer search.  Lillian is on the FBI Wanted List for bombing an abortion clinic 15 years ago.  Danny refuses a coffee refill from her husband and then asks for one when Viv calls him.  He’s knocked out.

18 Hours Missing
Sam finds bullets and money in a box at their house.  They were part of a group called Legion of the Cross and carried out bombings and attacks.  In the last one in Ohio, one person died.  Earl Ridgeway (Scott Haven) is the leader.  In 1989 all their activities stopped.  Viv comments extremists never stop.  The NYPD has an informant in the movement.  Viv thinks Ridgeway may have picked up Maureen.

19 Hours Missing
Martin meets the informant. They had  a secret banquet to honour them for their work in defending the unborn.  They’re planning something else.  Jack checks the footage from Ohio.  One speaker there at the rally survived the bombing.  Jack thinks Maureen may be atoning for her sins.

20 Hours Missing
Danny questions Luke and tells him his father left him.  Viv tells Danny to let Luke go and follow him.
WEST VIRGINIA
Sam visits Maureen’s mother, Annie (Amanda Carlin).  She hasn’t seen her in 15 years.  The toll receipt was dated last week.  She came down last Sunday and asked if Luke could call her.  She apologized and left.  She told Maureen if has had the baby she wouldn't help her.  Maureen ran away to the church group who gave her a wedding..


22 Hours missing
Maureen was seen arguing with Ridgeway a few days ago.  Martin finds detonator caps there.  Jack says they’re aluminium and are old school; the trade mark of the bombing group in the South.  They used to destroy buildings and last time it was different as they targeted people.  Martin thinks they’re using nails as shrapnel like the Atlanta Olympic bombing.

Danny sees Luke making a phonecall from a payphone.  The call is traced to Hope Divinity Bible Church


38 Hours Missing
It’s a safe number.  The church member calls, leaves a message and another one picks it up.  'Jacob calling for Rebecca’.  Viv says they were married in the Book of Genesis.
Danny questions Luke again, he’d be the last person he’d want to talk to, blowing up another clinic.  Luke tells him they’re not blowing up anyone and told him everything the night of his birthday.  They killed a woman who had a son, she was a janitor, they’re murderers.  The other survivor had burns all over her body.  She must turn herself in.  Luke will attend college soon and have his own life.
Danny says his spent his entire life thinking they were the bad guys.  He should call his father and ask him to meet somewhere and give himself up.

42 Hours Missing
Viv asks who Isiah is?  Probably Ridgeway.  Maureen went to see him.  He called the church after they left, there was a message for Ridgeway.  He’s holding her prisoner.  He doesn’t know the target and they must find her.

Jack checks out the list of clinics.  There are messages from the church regarding Cynthia.  There’s a Cynthia St 12th.  Viv says the linen for the clinic is subcontracted out.  Viv thinks they should evacuate the clinic and Jack thinks the bomb could be on remote as that’s their trend.  Viv says it could be on a timer.  Jack tells her it’s her call.

Sam and Martin pose as expectant parents.  Sam uses the bathroom.  She finds Maureen in a linen basket with a bomb taped to her back.  Danny tells them not to use mobiles within 500 feet.  Sam says the bomb is on a timer.  She cuts the tape from Maureen’s back as the clinic is evacuated.  Sam takes her out the back and stops her in the parking lot to handcuff her.  The bomb is deactivated.  Maureen is shot by a sniper.  SWAT searches for him.  Maureen wants forgiveness.

Viv receives a call from Director Baines.  She’s disappointed but has no choice and give up her new position.  Jack asks if she’s leaving work already?  She just wants to go home.

Jack: “Nobody’s gonna patch anything up, trust me.”  (See ep 3.10)

Martin: “New boss has got me running.”

Danny: “This day and age – must be tough being a teenager without a cellphone.”

Sam: “…some conflict, some secret, everyone has secrets.”  Don’t they just, re Sam and Jack and Sam and Martin.  Sam saying people disappear because of something they’ve done echoes Jack.

Jack fights the phone in the office.
Sam didn’t share her umbrella with Danny in the pouring rain(!)  Danny telling Luke he doesn’t like the FBI agents and talking to them probably because of his own experiences too.  When Danny mentioned being in trouble with and his scar on his leg.  Imagine Luke’s parents skipping out on him and leaving their son to fend for himself – he’ll be at college soon but that’s no excuse just to save themselves, especially his father.

Danny is hit on the head yet again, see season 2 ep 17.

Viv: “Nice theory Jack, but why’s her husband bashing people on the head.”  He’s not just people he’s Danny.

Sam meeting Maureens’ mother after all these years the two have been apart must have brought back memories of her own life and relationship with her mother.

Danny: “Must be tiring carrying around all those secrets.”  He should know!  An episode for secrets this one as everyone keeps mentioning secrets and nothing but.
Danny interviewing the teenager again as he’s got some personal insight into what it’s like re his own life.

Viv: “I hope you’re right about this.”  Jack just happened to be wrong since the bomb was on a timer and Viv was right.

Sam stopping to chat out in the open as if the bomber wouldn’t still be around to see his handiwork.  Don’t know if he’s caught or not.

Viv expected that phonecall and must have been dreading it.
Viv: “It’s been a really sad day Jack.”
Jack: “I didn’t want this but I couldn’t say no.”
After the call, she wouldn’t want to hang around Jack being insensitive there.

Viv’s promotion was shortlived so we didn’t get the chance to see what she would’ve been like as a leader, all for 2 episodes.  Jack getting his job back so easily, the FBI powers that be don’t like change.  It would have been good to see him working under Viv for a few more episodes at least as one of the troops.
The end scene re the clinic was very déjà vu.

Actually proved Viv right and Jack wrong about the bomb being on a timer.
Danny sports a new white suit!  Didn’t want to get this dirty, hence his meagre 3 scenes!!
Would finding religion provide absolution from their past transgressions – since on the one hand they’re trying to save the unborn and on the other resorted to violence and killing to do this.  Not in the eyes of the law – but perhaps their church and conscience?  Where’s the justice in that?

CSI: NY - 1.16: "Hush" Review

A truck driver is found splattered under a trailer and Danny and Aiden investigate the goings on at a fetish club. Plenty of jokes galore this episode.

There's a truck jacking involving a shooting and there's blood found on a container.   Stella (Melina Kanakaredes) can't wait to get her jokes in, "That's gonna need a bit more than a bag and tag."  They call Hawkes (Hill Harper) out of the morgue once more and Mac (Gary Sinise) suggests he brings a spatula, which he does.    Part of the DB has been found.  Kevin Harrington, (Mark Sheppard) the foreman says they can't shut the port down.     TOD was within the past 4 hours.   Mac tracks the databases and the computer shows where the container was during the last 12 hours.  The rest of the DB is found under another container.   The ME is in charge of the body.   So obvious who the killer is here cos he's in charge and so knows all the ins and outs of the port and what to hide where..

A dead woman is found on the side of the road in the second story, with blood on the tree bark and headlight glass on the ground, as well as the presence of skid marks.   Danny (Carmine Giovinazzo) says, "First thing you learn on this job is that anybody can do anything to anyone." Hawkes finds the DB has candy cane ligature marks on the neck and body.   No rope or tape was used and this was done quickly, the bruising is even, could be straps were used.   There's glass on the passenger side and a bag inside containing a latex body suit.   The straps have teeth impressions.   Ron Bogda and Debbie were involved in a fetish stunt, glasses were broken and these are but there is no match to the glass found.

Hawkes puts the DB together to determine COD.   He was crushed and the hands were in a defensive position so he was still alive when he died.   There's a knife wound, he is Paddy Dolan.   Mike, (Bumper Robinson) says the supervisor didn't treat the workers well, they're not meant to be talking to Mac.   The knife is used for work and all workers have one.   The worker's knives don't match and Sean's (Tory Kittles) knife is spotless.   Mac: "What worker keeps their tools clean, that isn't a science-obsessed criminalist."

Paddy's jeans contain insect eggs at this time of year from the south pine beetle.   Sean had a work accident a week ago caused by Paddy.   Mac and Stella check the containers and one is locked, revealing a DB inside, Mike's brother, Jimmy.   Hawkes finds multiple blunt force trauma to the head.   Brass knuckles were used.   The DB was preserved by the cold.   Mac believes Paddy was involved and was in the container; but why?

The latex suit is like a sponge and has prints on it.   Danny tells Aiden (Vanessa Ferlito) he'll  take the top, but she wants it.   Danny: "You getting all free on me because we drew a bondage case."  Aiden uses the ALS to reveal a print, matching Jennifer who has a record for public lewdness.   Danny and Aiden attend a safe bondage seminar, where they are mistaken for the Andersons.   Danny: "Yeah, traffic was murder."  In the garage, Joe (Ted Raimi) has contraptions and he makes a run for it and they lose him.   Bruising shows the DB was a passenger in the car but John (Albie Selznick) wasn't the driver.   Danny tries to get Aiden to try out the 'Robospanker'.   Aiden: "That's sexual harassment Danny."  Danny finds a hair that Aiden misses.  Then tackles Joe to the ground with a blowtorch.   Joe only sells the equipment.

Mike was fired and Mac has to make it right for him.   Paddy was stealing from the containers.   The bartender claims Jimmy and Paddy had a fight and Mike followed Paddy out.   Two samples of blood are found from the Vic and epithelials from a male.   The container was found in a shipment to Kong Kong and was moved by someone with authority and training.   Paddy doesn't know how to use the equipment and Kevin almost runs Mac over and Mac takes his knife.   Mac says Kevin wanted to teach Jimmy a lesson and Paddy helped with the body and wanted money.   Kevin stabbed him and made it look like an accident with the container.   Mike gets his job back and Mac thanks Stella for saving him.

The glass found was an optic lens from a camera and the bruising on the eye was caused by the lens.   Jennifer (Laura Leigh Hughes) wanted to make sure Debbie was safe.   Her husband didn't slow down, lost control and crashed into the tree.   The body was planted and wasn't wearing a belt.   It all occurred just for the fun of it.   Danny asks Aiden if she wants to get some food.  Danny: "I'll drive, put you on the hood."
Aiden: "Put you on the hood."

CSI:NY's first bout into a fetish case, which have been the subject of many a CSI episode.   Aiden missing the hair on the rack, what was she thinking?  Stella telling Flack (Eddie Cahill) he woke them up just to inform them he's solved the truck jacking case, really Stella?  The reference to the Marlon Brando movie was obviously, On the Waterfront.    These crims don't know how to go about committing the perfect murder, when Jimmy's body could have been dumped elsewhere, no body, no proof of murder.  The same with Paddy.   Mac getting 'physical' with a suspect as does Danny when he arrests a suspect and gets emotional too over the children no longer having a mother.

Two cases which had certain things in common; how the bondage had an affect on people's bodies, done voluntarily and then Paddy being crushed by the container, being killed that way.   Mark Sheppard went on to star in many other shows, such as Leverage, Doctor Who and playing ruthless Crowley in Supernatural.

The Vampire Diaries - 3.17: "Break on Through" Review

Elena tries to help Alaric and seeks Bonnie's help, who has her hands full with Abby and her transition. Sage returns to town looking for Finn and double crosses Damon in the process, as she reads his mind.

Meredith (Torrey DeVitto) tests Alaric (Matt Davis) to see if she can find something to explain his behaviour and if she can medically treat him.  Elena (Nina Dobrev) asks when she suspected him.  It was after she saw his ring and her grandmother had told her about Samantha Gilbert. Meredith doesn't like seeing someone get hurt by something they have no control over.  She wants to help Alaric, who sees his alter ego appearing like Jekyll and Hyde.  Everything's normal with him physically and he still denies the killings. He thinks he's gone insane like Samantha.

Elena calls Bonnie (Kat Graham) to see if she has a spell which can reverse the damage, since the ring was made by the Bennett witches.  Alaric doesn't want to wear the ring anymore.

Damon (Ian Somerhalder) asks about Alaric ditching the "house of horrors" and whether he should bring chicken soup.  Elena talks about Stefan's (Paul Wesley) vampire pub crawl.  Damon confesses he made Stefan drink, "We're predators, not puppies."  Stefan needs to learn control. Elena claims he was fine when he was drinking Elena's blood everyday and Damon didn't have any right to teach Stefan self-control.  Yes he does, they're brothers.

Caroline (Candice Accola) brings blood and the hospital was having a blood drive.  B+ being her fave.  Bonnie made Abby (Persia White) a daylight ring.  She's still adjusting to becoming a vampire.  Abby is upset and angry she doesn't feel anything when she touches the plants.  Bonnie explains a witch's connection is to the earth and they can feel nature.  Abby's lost her connection.

Damon knows Rebekah (Claire Holt) is up to something and comments the world can't stop because, "You're an accidental serial killer."  Carol (Susan Walters) complains about Alaric not bringing the restored sign for the bridge.  Sage (Cassidy Freeman) is in town.  Damon was her fave student and she's his fave teacher.  Oh enough with the false flattery, you can tell Sage is up to something.  She's here to see Finn who went in search of her.  Sage hates the "elitest original bitch," referring to Rebekah.

Elena drops by the house in search of Samantha's book and bumps into Stefan.  That was awkward.  She doesn't have to read the book as he can tell her what happened.  Samantha bled to death on the cell floor trying to give herself a labotomy.  Thus Elena can't help Alaric.

Finn was Sage's true love and he turned her.  Damon comments on his "hate sex" with Rebekah and Sage claims she can help him by getting inside her head to find out what she's thinking. She's still a girl and can exploit her weakness.  Damon thinks Sage is sexy when she's bitchy.  Damon attempts to seduce Rebekah.

Jamie (Robert Ri'chard) refuses to see Abby since he's afraid of her.  Caroline tells him she connects to people she loves and she won't let herself die for them.  Alaric looks through his restraining orders and was stupid when he was younger.  He needed to find a way to deal with his darkside and became a vampire hunter.  He slayed Logan Fell, Meredith's cousin.  He even tried to stake Damon once, who ended up killing Alaric.  Stefan comments on Damon and his blonde binge and wants to be left out of it next time.  Damon: "Own it, live it, love it." In reference to the vampires that they are.  He mentions the "Sage/Rebekah sex sandwich."

Jamie wants to be there for Abby who has an uncontrollable urge to bite him and does just that. Rebekah has a fear of being left alone like her brother, Klaus and she comes to the party.  Damon tells Sage Finn's gone and he tells Rebekah he wants her, not Sage.  Damon dancing with Sage was hilarious, for some reason.

Abby decides to leave and will end up hurting Bonnie if she does.  Alaric gives important info to Elena and Jeremy (Steven R McQueen), such as his bank details, will etc.  She's confident Bonnie can reverse the effects of the ring with a spell.  She needs a personal effect before he wore the ring.  Alaric thinks of his wedding ring.  Sage shows Damon what Rebekah is planning, she's searching for the oak tree.  It took them getting naked in the shower for this.  Damon looks through the family business records, as we get more shirtleess action from him!  Stefan found out more on Samantha, that Alaric can still be violent without the ring.  So after this discovery, no one thought to call Meredith and warn her.

In 1912, the Salvatore's chopped down the forest and used all the wood for the bridge.  This is a weapon and Sage thinks Damon can use it on Finn, so it's a problem for her.  Damon burns the records. He promises to leave Finn alone if Sage helps him kill Rebekah.

Stefan tries to make Elena realize it's not her responsibilty to save everyone.  He finds photos of Alaric's Vics.  Sage is gone.  Alaric has a file on Jeremy with a note wanting him to take over from him as far as the killings go. He asks Meredith if she feels remorse?  The council is ignoring their responsibilities and attacks her.  Rebekah burns all the wood from the bridge, but then you get all that ash from it. What did she do with the ash which can still be used for something?  Damon's plans go awry as usual.  Sage knows about the originals being linked and she got inside his head too.  Damon will end her and he'll start with Finn when he finds him. Yeah he forgot the sign as did everyone else since there had to be a reason why Carol mentioned it.

Elena reaches home and lies about not finding Alaric's ring.  Stefan helps with Meredith and feeds her his blood - it's only fair as she does that to other people.

Damon looks after Alaric and makes sure Bonnie's spell doesn't turn him into a toad.  The darkness got hold of Alaric's psyche everytime he died.  Bonnie has herbs for Alaric to take everyday.  He let the darkside take him over.  Elena and Bonnie hug and Abby leaves.  Caroline tries to talk her out of it as she can help her be a vampire but not how to be a parent.  She has an eternity to make up for leaving Bonnie, but she chooses to go again.  Caroline: "No one is better off without their parents."

Elena rings Jeremy as she misses him.  The song played here was appropriate, Rosi Golan's Can't Go Back.  Damon, forever the philanthropist, as he calls himself, locates the sign which is made from white oak.  Stefan realizes they have a weapon.  Damon: "Game's back on brother, let's go kill some originals."

Yes let's and by that I mean it won't be Klaus or Rebekah who willl get killed.  Maybe one of the 'extra' originals, like Finn or Kol.  Since Klaus and even Rebekah (dare I say it) have picked up quite a fan following.  Many have also clamoured for Damon/Rebekah 'sharing the love' to continue - cos it's that whole love/hate deal going down!  People think they have good chemistry together, but I said Damon would have good chemistry with anyone!  Okay moving on.

Finally Alaric gets a story he can sink his teeth into, not being a vampire though the imagery still somehow seems relevant.  Maybe should have used the phrase, 'dig his daggers into' instead of teeth.  It was interesting seeing him with his alter ego making an impromptu appearance when he was being tested in the opening.  He transforms into Mr Hyde right before our eyes, like being on one of those (not so) scary movies.  As for Bonnie's herbs will they prove to be a help or a hindrance and has her spell really done anything for him?  Especially since she wasn't shown actually casting the spell.

Bonnie faces her own problems with Abby and her transition, who chooses to run for a second time.  The first time was to protect Bonnie and now she's also got Jamie to think of.  But if Abby really leaves she'll just leave a trail of Vics wherever she goes.  Caroline won't be around to help her.

Alaric recalls trying to stake Damon and it's fun to see their scenes together, as it's Damon who comes to get him out of hospital and then it's Damon who's roped into watching him under house arrest.  Have to say not liking Sage one little bit and her betrayal of Damon just to protect Finn who was all ready to help his mother with the ritual to kill his siblings.  Can't believe Damon didn't see her reading him coming as he just blatantly trusted her.

Vampires can read people, but why can't Damon do that too? Let alone remember she would do that to him. So much for him keeping the fact 'to kill one original is to kill them all' to himself.  So Damon should have been able to read Rebekah, no?  Elena in the past has mentioned Damon isn't able to get into peoples' heads but in the Rose episode, Damon got  into her head.  Damon has also gotten into Elena's mind in the past.  

Stefan smelling Meredith's blood but only after he knocked out Alaric.  Then almost changing into his vampire face in front of Elena who must now realize how difficult it is for Stefan to exercise control.  Elena finds that newspaper in Alaric's drawer about Brian being murdered, in the sub-heading the word 'found' is spelt incorrectly as 'fouund.'

Merlin - 3.11: "The Sorcerer's Shadow" Review

Another tournament in Camelot, this time open to all and sundry; leads to a meeting between Merlin and a fellow kindred spirit. Morgana encourages Uther to take part and he faces off with Arthur.

A boy by the name of Gilli, (Harry Melling) uses magic to fend off his attackers on a lowly road to Camelot.   Hiding a ring in his belongings, but how could they have not found it, it wasn't very cleverly concealed.  He's taking part in the tournament.

Merlin (Colin Morgan) wonders the sort of riff raff that will turn up, just for the money.   Arthur (Bradley James) tells him it's an open tournament and it's a tradition that takes place every 10 years.   Arthur: "The only rule is, there are no rules."  As soon as he said this, I thought Fight Club (1999).   So I ask you, "what is the first rule of fight club - there are no rules." Merlin's own version of the movie, circa medieval times.

Camelot is over-run with participants, as Merlin pointed out, so won't Uther (Anthony Head) fear there being sorcerers around.   Merlin is menaced by the same thugs who attacked Gilli, also here for the tournament, well they wouldn't turn down the winnings and Gilli saves Merlin from a whipping.

Uther brags he's won the tournament 3 times.   Morgana (Katie McGrath)  urges him to compete by playing on his sense of pride.  Merlin can only speak of the number of people killed in the tournament as if Arthur really wants to hear that. Gwen (Angel Coulby) is strangely absent from this episode, and in the past she would have had to sit with Morgana in the stand.   Strange she wasn't there to cheer on Arthur, from a distance of course.  Having said that, notice the purple favour on Arthur's arm, it was suggested he was given this by Gwen, as she may have been the subject of a scene being dropped.  This is not questioned by Uther, probably thinking he was given this by Morgana.

After the first round, Gilli is wounded and uses his magic ring to heal himself, within the castle; leaving behind a burning odour.  Dropping his ring when chased by guards.   Uther suspects sorcery at work  (now that's what I said already).   Gaius (Richard Wilson) finds the ring on the floor and picks it up before Uther can see it and convinces him the smell is from the brewery.  Gilli was very amateurish in his use of magic and talk about using it in the most obvious places.   During the fight, his eyes would light up when he used magic on his competitors and yet nobody noticed; not even Uther in his fight scene.

Merlin attempts encourage Gilli to refrain from using magic and Gilli refuses to show him his wound.   He denies he's using magic; giving Merlin the chance for his spiel on the old religion and he has nothing to be afraid of.   Gilli believes his father was scared of Uther and of using magic and he wasn't proud of who he is for this reason.   Merlin reminds him of someone, himself no doubt, but he doesn't tell him who.   Gilli: "Without magic, I'm a nobody."  Merlin calls him "special" and  warns Gilli he'll be executed if he continues using his magic.   (Prompting the question if those who were sorcerer's were put to death for using their magic, how come they never used their magic to evade death?)

One by one the opponents are whittled down.   Leaving Arthur to face Uther in the next round.  Arthur raises his doubts about fighting him: he could either kill him or humiliate him.   Arthur: "Do you have any idea what it's like to live with a man who constantly thinks he's the best?"

Merlin: "....must be irritating."  Conversation alluding to Arthur and Merlin here obviously.   Arthur lets Uther win.

Gilli continues to fight in the tournament because people respect him now, he's the underdog who can take on the king.   Merlin knows what it's like to be him and shows him some magic of his own.  "It's lonely to be more  powerful than any man you know and have to live like a shadow...to be special and have to pretend you're a fool.   I know how it feels." Summing up Merlin's raison d'etre.   Magic is for good, not "for vanity."    Merlin did sound a little arrogant here, as if he's better than everyone else because he has powers; for someone who was meant to be convincing Gilli to be proud of his ability, but not to use it.   Merlin is protecting Gilli and hasn't forgotten who he really is.   Merlin shows who he is everyday, but he uses his magic only when absolutely necessary and only to save others.

Merlin calls upon the Dragon (John Hurt) who says, "I was beginning to hope you had forgotten me."  Ahh, not so easily, poor Dragon.  Merlin ignored his advice last time- and comments a Dragon Lord shouldn't abuse his power.   He should hope that Arthur "brings about a new age...where the likes of you and I are respected once again...if he sees his father killed through the use of magic, it will harden his mind forever...all great struggles demand sacrifice."

Merlin: "...some choices...stay with you forever."  It's difficult ro see why Merlin didn't know this for himself as he knows how much Arthur does care for his father, so if anything did happen to him he knows he wouldn't stop at hunting down those who would harm him.   In the same way if Uther was harmed by magic, Arthur too would begin to see all magic as evil.   Merlin can only converse with the Dragon since being of magic he is the only one who can advise him.   Merlin's line of choices staying with him forever means merlin having to be the one to protect Arthur and ensure he brings about a better age for all, not just those with magic.

Merlin shakes his head towards Gilli in the tournament, in the hope he won't use magic and kill Uther.   Morgana's absent from this scene, would've had her there in a flash to gloat at what Uther was going through!  It was her suggestion he fight after all. Merlin uses magic to obstruct Gilli in the fight.   That was a bit of a cheat, in the same way Gilli was going to use magic to win, Merlin used magic to make Uther win.

Merlin tells Gilli he was going to kill Uther regardless and "there's no honour in that."  Gilli comes to see his father wasn't really afraid of magic, but he was frightened of how magic could corrupt.   One day Merlin assures him, they'll be free to use magic in the open.   They are kin and will meet again.

Uther is aware of Arthur throwing the fight, as if he wouldn't know and hopes Arthur's sons will give him the same honour when he's king; causing Morgana's blood to boil.   Arthur's actions have "shown that he is now truly ready to be king."  Prophetic words from Uther.   A little confusing as to why Morgana would encourage Uther to fight, considering there are other ways to have him killed, was she so sure he would be killed as he has been champion 3 times in the past, granted he was younger then, but he hasn't lost his fighting prowess, even if Arthur did let him win.   The heir apparent is still alive in Arthur, or did she think Arthur would also succumb to a stronger opponent.   But wait, Morgana, Uther hasn't told anyone she's his daughter yet, so how would she succeed to the throne?

Don't much like these tournament episodes, they're usually more action than intellect; nevertheless, a chance for Merlin encountering a kindred spirit in Gilli.   Again showing how positions could have been reversed and how Merlin could have found himself in Gilli's place, if he hadn't been taken in by Gaius.   Some character development for Merlin, which was good to see, at least he's not stagnant and he is being moved forward and moulded into the merlin he will become one day.

Admittedly this episode felt out of place here, like it was just thrown in before the two part season finale.   Since it's clear Morgana has no clue as to how to go about killing Uther and maybe it would have better served its purpose earlier on in the season.