The Mentalist 6.2 "Black-Winged Redbird" Review

                                                   
A  man leaves a restaurant and hurries to his car and is stopped for speeding.  He tells the officer (Pancho Demmings) hey it's Gerald from season 1 of NCIS.  He must do this and drives off as his car finally explodes.  The police are at Lisbon's (Robin Tunney) scene and Bertram (Michael Gaston) arrives to be told about Partridge being killed.  Patrick (Simon Baker) is already there and asks if anyone has water, surprised the paramedics don't carry water with them as a officer throws him a bottle.  He wipes Lisbon's face clean of Partridge's blood.  SO he's really dead then.  Keep us guessing as to whether he was one of Red John's acolytes or just another Vic. Oh dear, Patrick hasn't been drinking his tea lately.

We're shown Lisbon return to work and she sees Bertram drawing a smiley face on the board, and Cho (Tim Kang) Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti) Rigsby (Owain Yeoman) all dead on the floor as is Patrick with smiley faces around them.  Luckily it's just a nightmare.  The other suspects are there all covered in the blood of their Vics.  This was one reason why she asked Van Pelt to remove the surveillance, as she feared for her colleagues and friends.   What was significant about her dream is that she only suspects, these three, maybe cos she's had more dealings with them, but she hasn't worked with Reede (Drew Powell) that much. Haffner (Reed Diamond) is also interested to know how close they're getting to Red John, again it can't really be for his Visualize clients, that would suggests RJ is connected to them, which he may be, but is a part of the cult.  Leading to Bret Stiles again.

Also when Lisbon asks what happened to her cos she doesn't recall she questions why RJ would kill Partridge and leave her unharmed.  As a doctor walks in asking if she's Carmen Lee, any significance? Maybe Patrick wasn't being entirely truthful with her as to what happened to her but he does say that RJ may have run out of time, or was just playing with them.  Though she does call herself a fish, by saying, "at least he threw you back."  Another possible reference to Moby Dick as we appear to be getting plenty of those now.   She doesn't keep anything from him though and admits to Partridge mentioning, "tyger, tyger."  Again the mystery deepens as to why since Patrick doesn't know why either.  Lisbon brings up the possibilities of Red John being psychic as he knew about Eileen Turner and erased his happy memory.  But that psychic ability is laid to rest when Patty discovers how he really knew of Eileen.

Problem with that was, or as I saw it, why would Sophie talk about Patrick and Eileen and if she didn't keep any physical files.  Not detailed ones at least, or probably she kept them after they were transcribed.  Sophie Miller was his psychiatrist after his family was killed and appeared in Red Brick and Ivy.  Bertram asks Patrick what she was doing there with Partridge, why not ask Lisbon, see he probably he didn't go see her in hospital,  She had visitors as shown by the flowers in the room.  Patrick says he doesn't know but Bertram again stresses he has to be there when Red John is arrested/found/caught.  Again why.  Did it have something to do with the meeting he had with McAllister (Xander Berkeley) and Reede and Reede stressing Bertram has to find out everything Patrick knows.  Clearly they're up to something which may or may not involve drugs or RJ.

Titus, the Vic (David H Lawrence XVII) was hiring pros and they can look through his computer.  As Cho tells Lisbon who is visited by Haffner. She gets nervous around him and tells him Red John didn't lay a hand on her, he senses she's nervous cos of him.  Asking about RJ since he has Visualize clients who care, he's got a new suit and his job is treating him well.  Haffner whistles when he leaves her saying, "one of these days we'll have our time together."  SO what was that meant to mean? Especially as we know he has a thing for her, but also he might just have had 'his time' with her.   He whistled The Muffin Man didn't he, sounded like it.  Rigsby questions Carol Matthews (Jessica Blank) the hooker as Patrick called her.  She knew him four months and he would role play as a Samurai.

Lisbon checks out and Van Pelt tells her there's no files on Titus's harddrive, it's been wiped.  Lisbon wants the surveillance on the RJ suspects to be removed.  Patrick pays a visit to Sophie's house and finds a note on the door, "dinner's in the oven" with a smiley.  He finds her head in the oven and is genuinely shocked to see her like that.  Why did Patty ask Lisbon who Sophie Miller is since she's met her already?  He also found her recorder in her drawer.  Patrick tells Lisbon about Sophie and she tells Van Pelt.  The suspects, three of them are right here in the building and Lisbon calls Patrick.  Last time he saw Sophie was five years ago.

Patrick gatecrashes their meeting, Bertram, Reede Smith and Sheriff Tom McAllister eager to tell Bertram on a new Red John development.  Bertram tells him it's a private meeting, Patrick: "how was I to know, the door was closed."  He tells everyone about RJ anyway they're all law enforcement.  He just killed his doctor and Bertram wants to talk alone.  He chopped her head off, Sheriff didn't sound or look too convinced with his "Dear God."  RJ's getting desperate and crazy and doesn't realize he made a mistake.  He'd say but he feels this room is bugged!  Reede asks what mistake and then how much Patrick knows.  It's Bertram's job to find out how much he really knows.  What's it to them?

Patrick deduces Red John killed Sophie cos she could ID him so he needed to meet her and talk to her. Being curious about someone close to him and was planning this for a while.  He needed to see her in person, had to use subterfuge to see her.  She'd have a file on him.  He probably couldn't hide everything from her. Lisbon sends Rigsby to find the file, keep it quiet.  Turn off his phone and GPS cos anyone could be watching.  SO how come Lisbon's office is safe, it could also be bugged.  Also noticed how Lisbon didn't leave the office when she returned to work and stayed firmly inside.  Maybe she's a little weary of going out there, but did manage to have a conversation with Patrick in the park outside. She wan't giving any of her fear away if she has any.

Cho sees Aaron Kalinoski (James Urbaniak) who had a lawsuit against Titus.  He worked on the drone programme but Titus told him about a fault.  He wasn't a suspect but his partners were.  Only Aaron kind of gives away what happened when he remarks if a Samurai killed him?  You know honourable death and all that.  Redbird had a fault and killed some civillians in Afghanistan.  They covered it up, Kris (Paula Marshall) and Elliott (Ivan Brogger).  Modern Aerodynamics were cleared as Cho's former buddy in the Pentagon tells him now.  Each of the employees had an alibi that night.  Titus went to eat and it lasted for three hours.  Van Pelt just found some numbers on the computer.  Patrick asks what he ate for dinner, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, burgers, Macaroni cheese, apple pie and ice cream.  Patrick knows who did it, it's right on the board.  He wants to wrap this up and move "onto other matters."  Wink, wink, ha.

Patrick tells them neither one killed Titus since he killed himself as he committed sabuko as he was a Samurai.  He dishonoured himself when they lied about the drone going wrong.  His evidence being his dinner, it was all comfort food.  Lisbon tells Kris he confessed to her cos he was in love with her, which is what I said.  He left a suicide note and she wiped his computer clean.  She says he would ruin her and she didn't talk him out of it, telling him he "should do whatever brings you peace." They can't prove anything about the suicide but can about the cover-up.  Kalinoski can prove their were flaws in the design.  Kris admits to wiping the disc clean.  Elliott is getting a deal.

Rigsby found a list with names of new clients, Ernest Mathewson, Mitchell Washburn, J Roth meaning rote, as that's red from German.  She saw him five and a half months ago.  There's no file.  Patrick has one up on Red John cos she used to dictate her notes and have them transcribed by a service.  She couldn't type and didn't learn. They listen to her notes:  Severe acrophobia, middle aged in good health, no living family, relies on friends for emotional support, excellent whistler, damaged and narcissistic personalty, not deals easily with conflict and adversity, what he said didn't match, deceptive and dark in his emotional make-up, his phobia issues are real."  She looked forward to more sessions.  As this plays we get to see the suspects again.  The remaining 6.

Four suspects were shown this ep and Bertram features prominently especially as they also seems to be Cho and Rigsby's suspect, well Rigsby's first and Cho agrees with him which kind of surprises Rigsby.   Lisbon gave herself away by acting that way with Haffner so obviously he suspected something was up or already knew.  He does have the hots for her, ha.  But that was a tender moment between Patty and Lisbon in the hospital for shippers.  Okay I'm not one of them.  So focusing on the matter in hand, it's clear those three know something that Patrick doesn't, having their little cosy meeting.  Maybe Patrick should bug his office, or was that a subtle hint that perhaps he has done exactly this as past experience shows.

We're also given another tie line here with Patrick telling the three in Bertram's office that Red John has killed his second Vic within two days so he's covering his tracks, knows the net is closing in on him.  So I used a fishing reference too, Ha.  Lisbon didn't tell him about her dream.

The Paradise Series 2 Episode 3 Review

                                            
Plenty of angry outbursts and goings on in this episode as troubles between the two lovebirds, Denise (Joanna Vanderham) and Moray (Emun Elliott).  Okay I referred to birds since Arthur (Finn Burridge) delivers Denise a message about the bird being at their usual meeting place, that bridge and we get to see that bridge during the day.  Clara (Sonya Cassidy) later refers to him as a chaffinch etc, when Arthur brings yet another note for Denise from Moray.  Actually I should have said there's trouble in paradise! Ha.  Denise wants to apply for the position vacated by Miss Audrey but Moray doesn't think it's a good idea especially since Katherine (Elaine Cassidy) can use it against them.  Thus putting his dream of getting back the store into tatters.  He calls her "sweetheart" and they kiss, and Denise thinks she can agree to not applying as long as he keeps calling her "sweetheart."

Katherine has ordered a doll for Flora (Edie Whitehead) and has ordered for clothes to be made so Flora can play dress-ups with her doll, er, wasn't that a little like Katherine getting them to make matching outfits for herself and Flora.  Did Katherine see Flora as her own little doll, looked that way, now they're all triplets. Katherine, Flora and the doll all with their matching dresses!  No wonder it all got too much for Weston (Ben Daniels) as he pokes out the doll's eyes after drinking a lot.  He asks Flora questions to which she doesn't know the answer, including when Christopher Columbus discovered America.  Hey I got that right, 1492, ha.  He thinks she "ignorant" and no daughter of his will be so, thus he's going to convert the attic into a schoolroom.  Katherine wants to object to this but can't since well, women didn't really have any rights. He's her husband and yet again he brings up the fact she married a soldier!  That's three eps in a row now it's been mentioned, but we're none the wiser as to how he got those scars that pain him so.

Thus the crux of this episode as later Denise and Moray argue over their visions for the Paradise.  He thinks she doesn't have enough knowledge to run the store, not like him anyway.  Telling her of how he toiled and worked at owning the store and learning all about running it.  Whereas she argues she's a woman so can't have the same visions since society won't let her.  The example being if she went to the bank for a loan she wouldn't get it, cos it would either show she's selling herself, being desperate for money.  He doesn't treat her as his equal which is true, but Moray tells her it's cos he doesn't want her to go through the same hardships. Of course Katherine will also make their lives hell.  This makes Denise determined to go through with making an application.

Denise says she doesn't mind whoever wins the position, it's better if it's Clara than some outsider but Clara doesn't agree with that.  She hopes it will be an outsider, naturally.  At a meeting with Moray and Dudley, Katherine embarrasses Weston when she brings up his wandering eye for women and how he almost got himself into trouble with one brunette, which he didn't appreciate, referring to Clemence from the previous episode.  No wonder he wanted a governess for Flora, who hears them arguing over Denise and Weston tells Katherine she's having noxious thoughts.

Katherine is overcome and Dudley (Matthew McNulty) comforts her.  She mentions the schooling and Dudley has two children but he wants them to have an education and not be ignorant.  He suggests Katherine should teach Flora and at the same time she too can learn, but she sees herself as "shallow" and doesn't have a mind for such things. Dudley tells her he used to read a word a day from the dictionary and had to educate himself to keep up with Moray.  He says she should bring Flora here and he gives her a lesson in French words, and where the crates are from and the languages on them.   He also tells her about the war in Japan and how it can affect trade.  Flora later mentions this in front of Weston who isn't impressed with Katherine making a spectacle of his daughter in public.

Jonas (David Hayman) has words for Denise and he's always got time for her.  He gets Weston on side and suggests that he should go ahead and have the staff go to the music hall since they are more willing to back someone up who is on their side.  That he will gain support from Moray's staff who will be less inclined to follow him.  Also mentioning Denise in the process and how she'd be good for the role vacated by Miss Audrey.

They narrow down the candidates to four, including Clara and Denise.  Katherine only wanting Denise in that position so she can cause trouble between her and Moray.  As Weston told her he saw how she looks at Denise.  Weston asks Denise how she'd organize the music hall entertainment but she tells him she'd bring the music hall here.  She has to organize it for tonight and she signs the staff up to for the entertainment.  Even getting Jonas to dance a reel with her.  He has one arm and she has "two left feet" so they're even.  She asks him how he's convinced Weston to do this and he replies he works for the Paradise.  Still can't tell if he's up to anything yet as he seems to be chopping and changing sides.  Don't know whether he's using Weston to help Moray get the store back or if he's playing them against each other.  Not sure where his loyalties lie now he's returned.  But he seems to be fine with Denise and does a good deed for Myrtle (Lisa Millett) when Arthur mentions a book is being run on who will get the position and Myrtle is at odds of 500-1.  He bets ten shillings on her and gets Arthur to spread the gossip.  Myrtle thanks him but tells him he didn't need to bet money on her.  He could have brought her a drink which he replies she can do so herself.

Flora having asked Dudley what "noxious" means and tells her she heard Katherine refer to Denise as this and he fears she may be up to something.  Denise organizes the show with Sam (Stephen Wight) dressing up as Myrtle which she finally sees as funny and Denise dances her reel with Jonas who is dressed in a kilt and Myrtle gets her wish to see him in one.  As she has a special penchant for a man in a kilt.  Dudley gets Flora to go on stage and answer ten questions from the audience, in music hall fashion, answering them all correctly, with Weston asking her when America was discovered, which she answers correctly.

Weston appoints Denise as head of ladies which Clara knew she would get and Katherine having the final say as she tells Moray Denise did an even better job than he could have done.  Well she's definitely stirring up trouble between them and causing them to drift apart.  Yes trouble is definitely afoot in paradise and it adds more to the tension between Moray and Denise, he wants her, she wants to make her dreams become real and envisions her, er, visions, but he seems to want to hold her back.  Moray is sexist after all like all men at that time and he did come across as jealous with Denise and her visions.  he still refers to her as his "little champion" but doesn't want her to excel him.

Wonder if we'll get to see Dudley's wife, she's been mentioned enough times and she doesn't even come in to his place of work, or the store to window shop or anything.  Does he keep her on a short lease.

Downton Abbey Series 4 Part 7 Review

                                              
Robert (Hugh Bonneville) sets off for America but is loathe to do so since  he doesn't know why he has to be there, at the request of Cora's (Elizabeth McGovern) mother.  Cora thinks it's to give some sort of credibility to her brother with the other senators, that having an Earl from England will help in their reputation. Robert adding that most Earls he knows don't have good reputations at all.  Just a little aside to ensure we know Robert isn't like any other Earl or aristocrat and that he is changing his ways to fit in with a modern society.  Robert requires Bates (Brendan Coyle) to accompany him but he really doesn't want Anna (Joanne Froggatt)to be on her own at this time.   SO Mrs Hughes (Phyliss Logan) speaks with Mary (Michelle Dockery) to get Robert to take Thomas (Rob James-Collier).  He's acted as valet for him before and he can do so now.  Mary wants to know why Bates can't go and Mrs Hughes tells her that "it's not my secret to tell," but does so anyway, for a second time.

Thomas is pleased to get a free trip to America and Mary convinces Robert to take him adding, think of all the stewards he'll meet on the ship.  Robert telling her to stop being vulgar and asking how she knows all this anyway.  She replies "I have been married."  To which anyone would ask, so? Ha.  Jimmy (Ed Speleers) wishes he was going too and that things are off with Ivy (Cara Theobold) since she didn't play ball with him and he spent all that money on her.  Charming!  Thomas tells him he expects him to court a village girl by the time he returns.  Also telling Baxter (Raquel Cassidy) he wants the low down on why Bates isn't going, i.e a "full report" when he gets back, which Molesley (Kevin Doyle) overhears.  Later when he asks Baxter about it she doesn't say anything.

Edith (Laura Carmichael) wants to go to London and Rose (Lily James) persuades Cora to let her go too as Robert left her in charge of fun and maybe she can cheer up Edith.  Edith telling Cora she's worried about Michael not being found.  Cora doesn't want her to give up hope but she can worry as much as she likes. Edith admits the truth to Rosamund (Samantha Bond) in London cos she wants to be away the following night.  Admitting she's pregnant, she loves him but can't keep his baby.  Rosamund being very progressive for the times tells her she can't begin life with Michael on a lie if he returns.  Edith can't bare to live like some woman in Maida Vale, Sybil could but she can't.  Also how she won't be able to face baby George or Sibby anymore.  When Edith arrives and hears the doctor talking to another woman, she has a change of heart and leaves.  Rosamund tells her she'll stand by her and they can make it work.  Edith will have to tell Cora.

Rose meanwhile sees Jack (Gary Carr) and doesn't want to stop but it's not like Robert or Mary will approve he tells her.  Feel like a song coming on, "underneath the arches..."  Rose is in a huff when Edith returns home already cos she made other arrangements. Rosamund tells her she'll be there with her when she tells Cora if she likes.  Yeah cos Edith asked Cora if she's bad and has bad feelings.  Cora replying she can have bad thoughts but it doesn't mean anything if she doesn't act on them.  Well, too late, cos she already did.  To think she made judgements over Mary and Pamuk when the news was revealed.

Cora has received a letter but she doesn't tell anyone what it was until Anthony Gillingham (Tom Cullen) returns with his valet, Green (Nigel Harman) in tow.  She recalls when he's arrived that Anthony has arrived which is news to Mary.  You see she spent the night in mud with Charles (Julian Ovenden) sorting out the new arrivals at Downton, the pigs.  Charles having called her 'aloof' to Napier (Brendan Patricks). But Mary is pleased Napier is here.  Charles just wants to see Downton make a go of it cos they are trying whereas other estate owners just gave up and lived off their inheritance until it was spent.  Anthony doesn't tell her about Lane Fox and her name wasn't even mentioned this week, so I did.  He thinks Charles is lucky he'll be here this long and he knew Charles from the war.  They were at Jutland together.  No mention of Matthew this week, so everyone's over him by now!

Elsewhere the Dowager (Maggie Smith) suffers from bronchitis and Isobel (Penelope Wilton) offers to nurse her day and night, refusing help and not letting Mary or Cora do the same.  She remains with her constantly and Dr Clarkson (David Robb) tells the Dowager when she's fully recovered how Isobel nursed her without sleep or food.  The Dowager thinking she had a nurse there.  They end playing gin together.

Alfred (Matt Milne) wants to visit cos he's looking in on his parents but Mrs Hughes and Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nichol) convince Carson (Jim Carter) to tell him there's flu here and he doesn't want to miss his classes.  Putting him up at a hotel instead.  You see no one wants to stir up the love triangle again and Ivy speaks highly of Alfred now he's gone, much to Daisy's (Sophie McShera) chagrin, especially since Ivy wanted nothing to do with him when he was here, but now she does.  Alfred turns up before leaving and sets them off anyway.  SO much for that plan.

Green arrives and it comes as a shock to Anna, talk about making it obvious when she stops still in her steps and is shocked at seeing him here.  Green being his usual jokey self.  Mrs Hughes with that look of disgust on her face and tells him he's lucky to be alive and if he wants to remain so he should keep to the shadows. He tries to say Anna was at fault too cos they'd been drinking.  But Mrs Hughes knows it was all him.  At dinner he brings up Dame Nellie Melba and thinks he's home free by making comments of not liking her singing thus he had to come downstairs.  That look on Bates's face.  Of course he knows it was Green, he all but gave himself away when he said that.  Will there be murder at Downton?

Really trudging along with this season which I didn't find that interesting at all.  It had some good moments but series were much better.  What was up with that woman Branson (Allen Leech) met at that political meeting.  First she doesn't give the chair up she was saving for him and then she did.  It was like that political meeting scene from The Thirty Nine Steps, barring intrigue and er, murder!    Everyone's after Mary, let's see, she's got three potential suitors at Downton now.  Particularly as she demonstrated her skills of cooking, scrambled eggs, that's all she can do.  Scrambled eggs and drinking wine! Oh and she can also fling mud too, well wipe it across Charles's face.

Though we were shown the hardships faced by women especially where "bastard" children were concerned with the more wealthy being under an obligation, or expected not to get themselves into that situation, but deal with it, especially if they were unmarried.  The differences were shown by Ethel when she got pregnant but kept the baby.  However the stigma attached to unmarried pregnancies existed in both societies. Providing a social commentary on the times, in a way.

Final ep next week, will Michael show up and how will news of Edith's baby be taken.  Will Mary make any headway with her three men, that sounds wrong, especially since she wasn't ready to be with anyone just yet, and what news does Robert bring from America. And murder, wait I'v e mentioned murder twice already, ha.

Scandal 2.18 "Molly, You in Danger, Girl" Review

                                            
Huck (Guillermo Diaz) and Quinn (Katie Lowes) come for their weekly bug sweep on Olivia's (Kerry Washington) apartment and find everything clear.  That's cos Jake (Scott Foley) hastily removed all of his surveillance equipment and devices cos he knows when bug sweep day is, so wouldn't it have been easier to change the days and times instead of routinely coming on the same day.  It's ridiculous if anyone was surveilling he'd get their routine down pat.  They leave in one lift and Jake returns in the other.  So whilst all this is going on Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) addresses the nation telling them about Osborne's betrayal.  Was that really big news, I mean did they really want to advertize having a leak, a huge national security leak at such a level. SO the mole is dead and David (Joshua Malina) and Molly (Mageina Tovah) can leave and he can go back home and brush his teeth in his own sink.

Osbornes's widow, Susie (Mary Page Keller) comes to see Olivia to tell her he didn't kill himself cos he wrote Susan on his suicide note and in all of their tears of marriage he always called her Susie or honey. Olivia comforts her and reassures her she will get to the bottom of it and she promises.  Harrison (Columbus Short) says they won't take the case and he's proved wrong.  Jake meets with the mysterious man (Joe Morton) and tells him that Olivia is investigating Osborne's death and he replies that Olivia won't stop until she gets to the bottom of it.  Jake calls her for dinner, he's going to cook, not pasta or noodles but a real dinner.  She takes a raincheck and he holds her to that.  Jake giving himself away when he tells her she doesn't use her kitchen, she finally asks how he knows and he calls it a hunch.  Of course she didn't get that last ep, when he mentioned her drinking so much wine.  Yeah they all drink too much wine, hence the wine shortage in the world! Ha.

Huck and Quinn visit the coroner and find that Osborne killed himself, there's nothing out of the ordinary, which Quinn finally gets, the suicide was too perfect.  Abby (Darby Stanchfield)  realizes David is still in danger and rushes to his apartment to get him out.  But no one thought of Molly, wouldn't she still be in trouble.  They think she's a witness and can maybe shed light on the exact words Osborne used with Wendy. But she's in the wind and Harrison thinks of calling his Justice friends, but David thinks his Homeland Security connections will be much easier cos they can detain her at the airport.  Which they do.

Huck and Quinn check out the storage place that they were led to by payments made to Molly and Huck vanishes after leaving Quinn in the car to watch for strange looking people.  Quinn manages to find him cos she uses the security cameras and notices someone moved the direction of one of the cameras cos the pallet is facing the wrong way in one of the screens.  Yes it's a pallet not a piece of wood, which it is also.  She finds Huck beaten and locked in a crate.  He's traumatized and sits in the corner of the office.  David recalling this would be worse than water boarding for him.  Molly is detained at the airport and tells them she didn't do it for the money but she lied cos she was threatened.  Oh they were after molly cos the money paper trail led to her.

Olivia also finds from Osborne's security that he was a patriot but he had a gambling problem that's why he went to the laundry.  The man was his bookie.  She tells this to his wife and she can reassure her daughter her father was a patriot.  Olivia calls Cyrus (Jeff Perry) to tell them they were wrong about Osborne but he's not willing to believe that and that's what I was saying about the wine as Olivia and Cyrus both drink. Apparently the mysterious man wants Olivia dead cos of Osborne.  We are lead to believe that but if he's really you-know-who (not typed spoiler here) he wouldn't want her dead.

Cyrus convinces Fitz and Mellie (Bellamy Young) to give an interview cos he's going to have to announce he's running for a second term soon.  They feign being so in love and talk about where they met.  In some bar where Mellie was meeting Jim, but she doesn't want him mentioned in the press.  He was in the navy and they finally got to talk when Jim ordered a dink from the bar.  They later talk about what's wrong, well why they lie and it's so easy for them.  Mellie telling him everyone pretends in a marriage, that's what it's all about.
Fitz calls Cyrus and asks him how he's coping with James (Dan Bucatinsky) cos he's living in a hotel.  He tells him to hang in there and finally tells Cyrus he killed Verna.  Cyrus telling him they all do things like that cos he killed Gideon and cue Cyrus sending Charlie (George Newbern) to take care of Huck cos he was wearing the baseball cap.  But was it Charlie? So they ascertain that baseball cap man is working for albatross.  But was he working for Cyrus again or for someone else on the side.

Olivia watches the mushy interview on TV and has to turn it off, turning up at Jake's with Gettysburger.  She needs wine and napkins but he makes her drink ale, turning off her phone.  They finally kiss and fall into bed together as she sends the night with him, waking up for water and turns on the TV to find her apartment from all angles. She drops the glass and Jake wakes, obviously having time to throw on his pants!  Well never mind!! Ha. She tells him to get away and he pushes her back accidentally and she hits her head on the table.  He tells her he was watching her to protect her as a masked man enters her place.  That was conveniently timed.  Jake sees blood on her head and Fitz is called.  Who is that masked man, Charlie. Okay I don't know why I said that, just seems he's seen everywhere isn't he.  Especially when there's killing involved.  So where was Jake heading out with his duct tape and gun when Olivia came a calling.  To Olivia's place since he said he was protecting her.

Fitz shows up and rests his head on her as Jake watches from outside the room, jealous much?  The other main story was Cyrus showing up at his own home and not going anywhere.  He wants counselling but James doesn't want it now cos it would involve telling the truth and they've lied.  He perjured himself and Cyrus tells him that's the choice he made.  James tells him it would have been better if he had lied to him about Defiance. SO this ep, all about secrets and lies should I say.  How serious was Jake when he said he was protecting her as we know he was watching her cos of Fitz but how exactly does the mysterious man fit in and did the masked man think he'd really kill Olivia.

So if Jake is a good guy this means someone will eventually find out about him and be after him too.  But he's a real man, he can cook. Oh and Molly is also found dead, was that Charlie?  But what about the duct tape on Huck's mouth and then duct tape in Jake's bag, was that meant to be a clue he's the bad guy or just a red herring to throw us off the scent or in this case, a red wine soaked herring! Ha.  Sorry.  But this mystery with Jake is really hitting up (bit like him!) and you really can't trust anyone in this show, not even the gladiators.  They lie too, well Harrison with Abby breaking her and David up.  Olivia keeping Quinn's past a secret.  Fitz and Olivia a secret but for how long.  Cyrus getting away with murder too, as well as Fitz and on it goes.  Seems like James seems to be the only one with a conscience.

Apparently the ep title is from Ghost, which also starred Tony Goldwyn, as the baddie.

The Vampire Diaries 5.1 "I Know What You Did Last Summer" Review

                                                 
It's back to school or college in the case of Caroline (Candace Accola) and Elena (Nina Dobrev) as Bonnie (Kat Graham) sends them messages as to what she's doing over the Summer and now.  Not that Elena would notice so much since she and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) are busy getting acquainted or reacquainted still blissful in their relationship together.  As for Rebekah (Claire Holt) and Matt (Zach Roerig) well they're doing pretty much the same, no strings but we see them as a threesome.  Cue Nadia (Olga Fonda) some woman who's stolen Matt's Gilbert ring and he doesn't really want to tell Elena.  Elena thinks of Stefan (Paul Wesley) and is about to call him but changes her mind, deciding to take a dunk in the bath instead as we see Stefan underwater where he ended up at the end of last season in the safe.  That's meant to be a reflection of what Elena is doing right now, drowning in the tub.

Stefan has a flashback to how Damon tells him to turn off his humanity so he doesn't have to suffer the pain but he doesn't want t do that.  Jeremy (Steven R McQueen) needs to get back to school and so he and Elena come up with a story of how he was into drugs after losing his parents and aunt and so he set fire to the house and faked his own death.  Elena thinks he should call the fire an accident.  She leaves for college and the sheriff (Marguerite MacIntyre) helps them move.  Bonnie walks beside them as a ghost and still doesn't want to tell them she's dead.  When Jeremy tells her she's avoiding the inevitable and her father, Rudy (Rick Worthy) needs to know, she says she's sent him postcards.

Jeremy of course gets bullied on his first day back but being a hunter, he takes them on as the school watches.  Katherine shows up and is miserable with Damon offering to turn her but she's taken the cure and doesn't know what will happen and if she'll return or not.  She needs his help cos she's human now, has enemies and when they find out she's mortal they'll be afters her.  It's hard running in heels and her feet have blisters.  Damon looked like he was kind of drawn to her didn't he, in that "I used to love you once" kind of way.  Also ironic Damon got the line about Elena going off to college and protesting about stuff she doesn't really care about.  Cos we know Ian is as far removed from not caring about real causes as you can get!

Stefan shows up in town, or rather Silas as Stefan and bleeds the sheriff.  He controls her mind and he explains about how he's immortal, very old and Stefan is his doppelganger and Stefan just looks like him.  He doesn't want to be called a vampire.  Elena and Caroline get a roommate, Megan (Hayley Kiyoko) and set up some guidelines.  Strange how they rarely attended class at school and yet have arrived at Whitmore. Tyler is out helping some wolves so he needs to register.  Caroline sets up some ground rules but she doesn't practice them and tries Megan's protein water cos she's taking too long in the shower.  It's got vervain in it. Well she shouldn't have been too nosey!  Yes Caroline is in college but will forever remain 18 but she hasn't really done much growing up in her time has she, ha.

Stefan stuck in the safe doing an angel impression!  Elena is worried about him but is persuaded not to call him.  He has flashbacks to Damon once again telling him to turn off his humanity but then Elena appears to him and says he shouldn't.  That's what makes him special and who he is so he should leave his humanity on for her.  Caroline and Elena can't get into the party cos they're not invited in but Megan goes ahead.  Later Megan calls Elena for help and is thrown from the window.  Caroline took her phone to delete Elena's voicemail and they find a photo of Megan with Elena's father.  Elena says it's about her cos well, it's always about Elena.

Stefan appears to Damon in the bar but Damon can't see it's not him.  Jeremy tells Damon he's really Silas cos he go that cold vibe off him and being a hunter he's there to kill Silas so recognizes him as such.  Silas is after Katherine and tries to strangle her in Damon's bathtub (yeah where all the action takes place) but she cuts him with a razor and runs.  Jeremy takes her away.  Damon asks why Stefan can't use his vampire speed, he's a bit slow.  Stefan/Silas explains nature made him into Stefan's form, his "shadow self" so he's Stefan's doppelganger.   Damon replies "if I hear doppelganger one more time I'll have to learn how to spell it."  Ugh enough with doppelgangers already, it wasn't enough that Katherine and Elena are such but now Stefan and Silas too.  I'm with Damon, kind of getting boring having those around.

Damon makes Jeremy bring Katherine back but she crashes the car cos Jeremy appears to be useless at driving too!  She gets away and Damon helps Jeremy.  He doesn't tell Elena any of this though but she's not coming back until she's solved this.  Tyler calls Caroline to basically dump her and he's not coming back. The mayor tells Matt to say hello to Bonnie if she calls.  Matt spots Nadia and she gives him back the ring when he's attacked from behind by some man who whispers something in foreign tongue and Matt's eyes turn black.  Oh great we're not going to have demon possessions now in Mystic Falls are we?

Silas invades the town and uses his psychic powers on everyone cos over the "Summer I have been consuming excessive amounts of blood."  He kills the mayor and wants them all to hunt for Katherine.  We have no idea what that's about but seems like another parent becomes a casualty in this town.   Like Elena, it's about Katherine too all the time.  Yawn.

Funny Damon didn't tell Elena he loves her back, ha.  Also this is getting rather boring as it seems like the same old plots are alluded to over and over, first it was the vampires and the originals, now it's Silas come to take their place.  Bonnie is useless as a ghost, Elena and Caroline and their boring college life, all they want to do is party, er, wasn't that already what they did back home!  It's true, The Originals is far more exciting than this!  Then there's Nadia who ether is a foe for Matt or someone he will go for seeing as they already had a menage a trois together.

Well we know what Silas did last Summer with his blood drinking but don't know much about anyone else, except Matt.  This means Damon should have realized Stefan must be in the safe but curiously isn't searching for him.

The Mentalist 6.1 "The Desert Rose" Review

                                               
The new season begins where season 5 left off with Lisbon (Robin Tunney) and Patrick (Simon Baker) watching the names of the seven suspects.  They have a discussion on the balcony of Patty's attic where he doesn't want Lisbon to tell anyone the names.  Back in her office Bertram (Michael Gaston) walks in with a case for Lisbon, she can either face the wrath here or be sent away from Sac PD which she opts for. Bertram also lets slip or casually drop that word is Patrick is onto Red John and is pretty close to catching him.  He wants to be in on the bust or as he puts it "be on the boat when that fish is caught."  Again it's either to throw us off his scent and cross him off our list of RJ suspects, or it's to put more suspicion onto him. Since they haven't let on to anyone about the suspects but Bertram walks in saying the news is out. How did he know, or does anyone know Patrick is close.   On the way Lisbon wants to let the others know, but again Patrick swears her to secrecy.  Of course that won't be the case since no one can tell Lisbon what to do.

They are called to the killing of the wife of a prominent baseball player, Cody Benbow (Mitch Ryan) and Patrick tells the sergeant (Andi Carnick) she's staring at him and he's working.  He takes some peanuts from the bowl, monkey nuts as we call them here.  Asking the Cody how much the valuables were wroth.  He can only estimate but he knows the exact number of his averages, vain much?  Patrick having nosed around in her closet before finds her clothes were hastily put back, yeah notice the shoes were arranged the wrong way, i.s. the left shoe was where the right one should have been.  He tells him he killed her cos she was leaving him and that he buried the jewellery in the garden.  Coming out of the house at gunpoint, Patrick tells them he put peanuts in the chamber so they can arrest him, but doesn't bet on him having another gun.  Funny the way Patty walked away sheepishly again as he often does after starting trouble!

They arrive at Bombay Beach, Salto Seas, California and find the skeleton of a man on the beach, or rather buried in the desert.  Brett Partridge (Jack Plotnick) is also there and Patty just looks at him.  The DB has been there about 18 months.  Lisbon is following up on the DB with his ring.  Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti) IDs him as Yardley and he was rich.  His car was found in California.  Partridge realizes something is wrong since Patrick not only treated him sullen but now he's staring.  Patrick sees a sign in the desert advertizing the Borrego Gap Diner.  Here he orders breakfast and the waitress, Sonya (Josie Davis) lets on she's psychic.  She knew he was sending her a vibe from beyond that he was out there.

So suspects, want suspects, here are 3 already.  She tells Heck (Marcus DeAnda) she knew something evil was out there.  Patty asks if she'll enjoy his eggs.  Lisbon tells him they need a plan.  She's scared cos she hasn't seen him like this before.  He wants pecan pie, he's serious and so she is.  They need help, so she calls Van Pelt, swears her to secrecy and wants to set up GPS on the suspects's phones.  Of course she's with Rigsby (Owain Yeoman) and she will tell him cos he'll know she's keeping something from him.  Lisbon thinks Red John's read Patrick's mind, but how?

Rigsby and Cho (Tim Kang) talk to the widow, Madison (Lauren Stamile) at her house and Rigsby is acting funny, so Cho knows he's keeping something from him.  His wife is relieved he's been found, pending DNA testing but calls him a womanizer and they were divorcing.  Cue her step-son and clearly they have a volatile relationship and she admits they slept together and he is after the money.  But she'll get the house and she can throw him out.  They tell him about his business partner, Arek (Guri Weinberg) in Mexicali and he owed Yardley money.

Lisbon and Patrick, still at the diner where Patrick shows Mac (Hugo Armstrong) the cook how to make loose scrambled eggs, by adding water.  Lisbon wants to drive there on her own and says she can handle herself (well she'll prove that wrong) but doesn't go cos she doesn't want to leave Patrick here alone.  So Cho and Rigsby go, bringing the three suspects back to the diner.  Van Pelt arrives and Patrick knows she's told her about the list.  Lisbon was doing her job and she's the boss, he's not her boss, the Red John case is hers and she can do whats she likes.  They're both angry but she drives off in a huff and heads back to keep an eye on the RJ suspects.  Who were really close to each other judging from their GPS signals.

Van Pelt tells Patrick she was doing her job and he should make it up.  He finds out Rigsby knows and he Cho he couldn't be the only member of the team not to know.  Patrick using his usual ruse to solve the crime tells Sonia to use the menu and her psychic skills to tell them what Yardley's communicating to her.  He tells her to point to a letter on the menu after closing her eyes and comes up with Luke 12:27.  Arek thinks it's from the Bible and Rigsby and Cho both know what it says, about seeds and flowers.  Thus the DB was here, kept in a freezer since it's a desert and the ice would have melted quickly.  Also the flowers around the DB, viz, lilies showed seeds were on the ice which melted and they grew.  This involved a gardener and Heck wears such a cap.

Sonya wasn't interested in Yardley until he flashed his money.  Then Heck saw them together and was jealous.  Mac helped and wanted the money too and he killed him with the baseball bat.  Yardley knew he was going to be killed and swallowed his ring so he could be IDed.  Patrick coming to the diner cos eh noticed the new flashy sign on the road.  Patty leaves messages for Lisbon who doesn't answer.  She gets an anonymous tip leading to a call out and notices that's where Partridge is.  Arriving at the house alone she finds his DB falling out of the closet.  He whispers "tyger, tyger" before dying.  Is he really dead?
Lisbon is kidnapped and Patrick is called by Red John who tells him she can't come to the phone.  That must have sent Patrick's heart racing.

Not much happened this episode, aside from the rest of the team finding out the suspect's names but they weren't given much reaction time to them.  Van Pelt writing down the names was silly and dangerous, couldn't she remember them since anyone could have gotten hold of the paper.  Not to mention Lisbon talking to her over the phone was also a bit reckless.  Seems Partridge being eliminated was too easy and RJ didn't really do himself any favours by killing him, he's just narrowing down the list for Patrick.  But he wasn't really a viable suspect for me, or my ultimate suspect either (as written in my Mentalist blog piece. http://mila255.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/the-mentalist-red-john-seven-suspects.html)  He does get the words "tyger, tyger" to say.  Perhaps RJ was drawing attention away from himself and causing them to conduct a further investigation into his death.

SO the opening scene shows the recording was made two months ago and Patrick is stumped.   He really doesn't know what to make of it especially since RJ can't really be a psychic, can he? Patrick really doesn't know what to do and Lisbon is right when she later tells him she hasn't seen him like this before, but he doesn't take her seriously or doesn't want to let on that he's really miffed.  He doesn't know which way to turn but he doesn't want to ask for help since it means danger for all those involved.  Then again it's what they do and they have been dealing with RJ for five years now so they know the dangers involved.

As for the baseball killer Patrick is rather short with the sergeant on the scene and the camera shows the painting on the wall behind of the wife and her husband.  Which has been likened to Patrick himself. Patrick even asks about the staring and if it's cos Patrick has two heads.  He even asks Cody this.  Patrick knows all about pride since he was the same way whilst he was on TV and was conning people.  Bertram made a surprising entrance since we don't see him in her office and he being the first suspect on the list.  Even saying at one point that he is duplicitous and calculating, but it comes with the job, "I am many things to many people."  Strange he says that cos it sounds like something would say, also Betram was also the one who mentioned the Tyger poem in Red Sky in the Morning.  Also here he made reference to Moby Dick here by that fish and boat line!

Lisbon being taken serves as a warning to Patrick, RJ can strike anytime, as we know, no one's safe and Patrick has lost his confidante.  Also painting that smiley face over her was creepy, up until now his Vics have not been painted, only the walls.  Maybe alluding to the fact Lisbon won't end up a victim.  But it appears Lisbon won't be killed, focusing on Kirkland or Haffner who both expressed an interest in Lisbon. Ohh Clever writing, Bruno Heller!  But what of the room door she opened, was the door to the bathroom and it appears she was abducted from behind the door of the bathroom, so how could anyone have sneaked up behind her?

The Paradise Series 2 Episode 2

                                                
Clemence (Branka Katic) arrives from Paris, Moray's (Emun Elliott) friend and immediately she sends everyone into a state of intrigue and lust.  There were fireworks in this show, literally too as she's here to sell fireworks to the store.  She wants Moray to let her seduce him and Susy (Katie Moore) wonders what she's saying to him.  Sam (Stephen Wright) wishes she'd say it to him. Moray is only too pleased to welcome her but Weston (Ben Daniels) is enamoured by her.  He doesn't want Moray entering into a contract with her until she dines with him.  Everyone thinks she just likes playing hard to get and plays the men but there's more to her than that.  She's a realist and ahead of her time, even if they put it down to her being French.  Thus the writers had to find something different about her character which is revealed to Denise (Joanna Vanderham) the hard way and is something Moray already knew of.  Moray didn't write to Denise about Clemence though she tells Denise he spoke of her all the time.
Clemence: "Tonight darling we will light up the skies."  She tells Moray.  Not only that but she lit up everyone's lives and sent them spinning into turmoil like her fireworks.  Sam had it right when he tells Arthur (Finn Burridge) those fireworks were like women, at least they were like Clemence and Katherine (Elaine Cassidy).

Clemence: "Every decision we make is guided, determined by passion...sexual passion," she tells the others, though probaly she's the only one who sees it that way and again this applies to Katherine too.  Clemence also goes to Clara (Sonya Cassidy) for the gossip on Weston.

Denise is jealous of Clemence as Moray takes her round the store.  She asks the women if they are happy with their situation and position in society, that if they marry they must leave since it's news now that Miss Audrey (Sarah Lancashire) is going to be leaving.  So the position will need to be filled and for this Moray will be conducting interviews.  She invites the ladies to the inn and even Miss Audrey is persuaded to be there, telling them about her job in France and how she sold to La Bon Marche, which is where Moray was a buyer.  Even getting Denise tipsy.  She asks Denise if she's happy and what she wants.  Denise admitting she wants to be Moray.  Not be a man but to run The Paradise one day.  She has ideas but she wants to make them her own.  Clemence kisses her and Denise is shocked, but Jonas spies them.

Yes Jonas (David Hayman) is found at the back of a cart and doesn't know how he arrived there or what he's been doing for a year.  He's nursed by Myrtle (Lisa Millett) and by Denise and is able to stay until he gets better then Dudley (Matthew McNulty) wants him to leave.  Dudley is worried that the truth will come out about them knowing of Barrow and that Jonas killed him and is quite rude to Jonas.  Who is a bit of a dark horse cos he looked as if he was putting on his illness, especially when he leaves one night and goes to that 'famous' bridge where he tries to kill himself.  Arthur drags him down and he doesn't recall how he got there.  So where has he been for a year, not skulking around spying on them was he?

Clemence refuses Weston's advances and he's persistent that no contract be signed until she's had dinner with him.  To this end she seduces Dudley and he confides that he married when he was young and that his wife's kiss is the only one he's known.  It was quite surprising that Dudley was actually taken in by her and was going to betray his wife especially when Clemence was plying him with all that champagne.  Weston is jealous of her attentions towards Dudley and threatens him, with Moray saying he will take care of Weston.

Moray speaks to Katherine about Weston's actions and Katherine thinks Denise should take over Miss Audrey's position.  Katherine invites Clemence to stay with them and not in her hotel and there's a revealing scene where we see how Katherine lets Weston "fawn" over other women, as she calls it cos she's under the impression he will always be hers and return to her.  Though that seems to be changing when Clara sees him in pain at the end during the fireworks display and Katherine was oblivious to this. It appears that Katherine wanted a ready made family and is really only interested in Clara, she seems to be grooming her into becoming her.  What with matching dresses and how to make a lady's posture by balancing a book on their heads.

Clemence has an engagement and leaves after diner after impressing Flora with a magic trick, telling Weston she can see whomever he likes when he asks her if she's seeing a man.  He follows her later in his carriage but as Clemence gets Dudley drunk until he loses his senses, someone intervenes.  No surprises for guessing who this mysterious someone is.  Weston arrives and finds the room empty with only Jonas there.  He lies and tells him no one was here.  Next day he asks Dudley to leave before the staff arrive as they can't see him there, telling him nothing happened and a note was sent to his wife telling him he was working late.  Again it looks like it's another ploy for him to get back his job here since that's exactly what happens when Moray and Dudley ask him to stay.  Seems they need him around to take care of their problems.  Jonas tells them Weston can't be trusted since he'd sooner "kill himself" than to let someone get the better of him.

Denise doesn't tell Moray Clemence kissed her and tried to seduce her and she doesn't tell Dudley either but goes to Jonas for advice.  Miss Audrey appears to have a change of heart about marrying Edmund (Peter Wight) and he's selling the shop to move to her brother's cottage with her. She tells him how women have to listen to men and do what they say which is what Clemence says and he tells her he listened to her.  He put the shop up for sale one her say so and she asked him to marry her.  So he proposes to her now and she accepts.  Miss Audrey leaves the books to Denise since she's the logical choice to take over from her.  But it doesn't seem that way since if Moray promotes her it will be like he's favouring his lover.  Katherine looks at them with such jealousy still.

Also Weston finds out she didn't leave Moray.  It seemed crazy that Katherine would invite the very woman her husband is after to stay with them, just as long as he doesn't get Flora involved and to give him so much leeway in conducting his 'affairs' of the heart.  She still refers to him as a military man.   Clemence uses men cos if she was a man Weston would never have treated her in that way and it would just be about business. She tells Clara and Denise about how she met an older woman and thought she would leave her husband for her, however she didn't and Denise mentions she must have been like Dudley and wanted to do the right thing.

Moray tells Denise that she's not his type and he's not his type but didn't tell Denise cos it wasn't his place to say and did she want him to tell her to alleviate her jealousy.  Well it would have saved everyone a whole lot of trouble especially his friend Dudley, who almost did the dirty on his wife when Clemence didn't even want him and Weston seems to think he's better than Moray and Dudley just cos they worked their way up to where they are.  Clemence intends to sell her firecrackers regardless of the contract so Weston wants the contract signed and Clemence to leave.  Yeah only cos he got his nose out of joint and couldn't have her since she wasn't into men and that'd affect his reputation.

Susy really summed up the entire episode at the start when she asked Denise if she could fall for Clemence and if she was a man she would.  Firstly cos Clemence wasn't into men, just into using them and secondly Denise was more interested in what Moray had been up to, though Clemence does make a move on Denise so the question really remained moot cos Denise isn't into women.  The Paradise setting up more questions for future episodes such as what is really behind Weston, how he got his scars, where did Jonas go and what will Katherine do next to put a spanner in the works for Moray, his dreams of getting the store back and will she come between him and Denise?

Downton Abbey Series 4 Part 6 Review

                                         
Robert (Hugh Bonneville) gets a letter form Cora's (Elizabeth McGovern) brother, Harold and we're not made aware of the contents until the end when Robert asks if Cora's read it and she thinks Harold is innocent and it will all blow over, also asking if they know the senator.  Rose (Lily James) reminds Cora about the surprise for Robert's birthday but she doesn't tell her what that is. She asks if Carson (Jim Carter) will be able to help with it and keep the secret but Cora suggests she should try Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan) as she's better at secrets, as we know from the Anna (Joanne Froggatt) storyline but she didn't keep that for long.  Which Rose does and Mrs Hughes goes along with keeping the band down below as long as Cora has her permission.  Mary (Michelle Dockery) sees Anna is in better spirits and that she's moved back to the cottage eve if she won't tell her what was wrong.

Anna catches Bates (Brendan Coyle) alone under the stairs (!) having a moment which she thinks is cos of her.  He tells her she married a brooder and that's what he's doing, brooding, she tells him to brood about her.  Thomas (Rob James-Collier) is adamant Baxter (Raquel Cassidy) keep her side of their bargain and tell him everything she hears upstairs which she does but doesn't know what the secret is.  He tries to get it out of Mrs Hughes but she's not obliging either.

Albert (Matt Milne) gets a letter telling him he's been accepted at the Ritz as he was number 5 in line and he tells that to Jimmy (Ed Speleers).  Who responds he didn't say he wasn't next in line.  Albert's nervous about going but Carson tells him it's only cos he's intelligent and only intelligent people get nervous and not the forward thinkers.  Daisy (Sophie McShera) is upset he's leaving cos she thought he'd stick around now even if he was moping around and didn't want to watch her prepare anchovy sauce!

The Dowager (Maggie Smith) finds a Japanese figurine missing and that's the final straw for her as she fires Pegg.  He tells this to Isobel (Penelope Wilton) and she's angry at her hasty response.  Thus she confronts her and they have an argument over the Dowager not doign what is just and how she just wants to accuse Pegg without finding out the real truth.  So when she goes out, Isobel returns in true detective fashion and feigns being dizzy to be able to sit down in her sitting room and nose around.  She finds the letter opener lodged in between the Dowager's chair and gives it to Sprat to return to her.  Oh and the figurine was found in the maid's cleaning bucket so it must have fallen in, but she thinks Pegg could have placed it in there. These two really do make the show more comedic than it is and that's good cos some scenes make you think you've seen it all before.

Albert thanks everyone for being kind and having him here and even thanks Carson for teaching him so much.  But Daisy doesn't say goodbye to him, he does to her though and tells her she couldn't have had him cos he doesn't feel that way about her but she'll make someone really happy so she wishes him luck.  Cue Molesley (Kevin Doyle) as he saw Albert whilst working at the station, he came running to secure his position, which Carson doesn't want to offer him even if he was "willing" to take it on.  Prompting Molesley to go to Mrs Hughes for help.  She comes up with the plan that they'll be busy at the birthday party and so Carson will need someone to serve the servant's tea.  So you see the hierarchy is still going strong, depending on which servant you were, the upstairs servants get served too! Carson gives in and tells him he can have the job and reminds him to wear gloves.

Anna and Bates decide they need to go on a date and should go out for dinner.  She's still sad that a shadow lies over them and he sees her differently.  He tries to reassure her as she says she wants to make good memories and star again.  Jimmy wants to take Ivy (Cara Theobold) to see The Sheikh with Rudolph Valentino.  But when they return and kiss on the bench outside, he gets carried away and Ivy tells him she's not like that.  Was wondering where Jimmy's wandering hand was going to end up seeing as he didn't put it around her!  He goes on about taking her to the cinema and theatre and he never does that for any girl.  Well she's not just any old girl and Ivy tells Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nichol) and Mrs Hughes about what he tried to do.  Daisy has a go at her that she's to blame and she drove Albert away to London which he hates cos she lead him on too after Ivy says Albert wouldn't have tried that on.  Mrs Hughes tells Ivy she had that coming.

Edith (Laura Carmichael) is worried she hasn't heard from Michael and can't get hold of him but his office has sent a detective to Germany.  She gets a letter from the doctor and it seems she is pregnant after all. Robert notices how upset she is, as does Cora since she's her mother but she doesn't tell them anything. Robert referring to her as his darling girl.  That he doesn't play favourites when she tells him she's not his darling daughter.

Isobel, Branson and Mary exchange stories about how they've loved and lost but were still lucky.  Isobel recalling how much she loved Reginald that it made her physically sick, how Branson (Allen Leech) didn't think Sybil felt the same about him and Mary reminds them of how it was snowing and she didn't have her coat but was excited cos she knew he was going to propose.  Matthew has now been relegated to a 'he.'  Isobel was sorry to hear Anthony Gillingham is getting married to Lane Fox and Mary says she's not ready to be happy yet.  Branson is still harping on about not belonging here and if he was to stay here he doubts there'd be another Earl's daughter who would marry him.  Let's hope the writer isn't hinting at Mary!  Of course he says he can't exactly bring an Irish girl into the family even if he does love them all.  He still wants to leave but won't go until at least the pigs have settled in.

Yes pigs, Downton is taking them on now.  Napier (Brendan Patricks) arrives with Charles Blake (Julian Ovenden) and Mary immediately takes a dislike to him, especially when she finds out they're not here to help estates like Downton but to see which ones are able to produce food.  That's all Lloyd George is interested in.  They'll probably get sick of their lack of sense of humour and Napier suggests they throw them out if they're too much of a nuisance.  Of course Mary and Charles don't like one another, it was the same with Mary and Matthew when they first met.  Mary calls him an enemy when Napier refers to him as a traitor.

Anna and Bates dine at a hotel where Cora is having her meeting but the Maitre'D appears to have lost their booking until Cora vouches for them and he finds them a table quick smart.  Cora wishes she could join them.  Bates regrets he wasn't there to protect her and Anna says she's not a victim but he's treating her like one.  Bates thinking she expects him to act like a murderer.  Cora interrupts them and offers them a ride back.  She tells Mary of their conversation about Anna being hurt and Bates not being there to protect her which Baxter listens to and although Cora tells her she doesn't want it leaving the room, she still tells Thomas. She hates doing that but he tells her she must decide where her loyalties lie.  She could always make some things up but doubt she'd get away with doing that.

Jack Ross (Gary Carr) arrives with his band and for a moment everyone is shocked by him.  Carson later asking if he doesn't want to got to Africa.  He's not from there, though his ancestor were and Carson reminds them Britain was first in abolishing slavery.  Mrs Hughes telling Jack he's hit on something which Carson doesn't like which is a first.  But Carson thinks he's okay.  Rose surprises everyone again with the band but Roberta and the others seem to take it in their stride and dance.  That really wasn't expected since no one made such a big deal about it, no fireworks and their reactions turned out to be nothing but a damp squib though the Dowager did have a few things to say as did Edith, oh how very unaccepting of you Edith!

Mary later catches Rose kissing Jack downstairs as she asks him to send the bill to Robert but doesn't say anything to them.  The servants enjoyed the jazz even if many didn't, the Dowager asking that's what it is and each of the band were playing something different, more like off key.  Mrs Patmore sending Carson in a right tizzy by saying she shivers all over at the sight of Rudolph Valentino and that the band was enough to jig to. As was everyone's description of Jack as being "odd."  It was "odd" he was here and Edith asking, "isn't it rather odd?" Think if anyone said anything stronger, they'd never be seen the same way in some viewer's eyes.

So another suitor for Mary, really they must have thought how they could have gone for so long without meeting her! ha.  Though if we're not careful it could turn out to be a bit of Pride and Prejudice, Mary's pride in not liking the lowest commoner of the low and always meeting men who are engaged, and Charles's prejudice in that he's got it in for the upper class toffs! ha.

Next time Gillingham returns as does his valet, Green, which is what everyone was waiting for, let's hope for some fireworks then.  Also the Dowager is taken ill.

Scandal 2.17 "Snake in the Garden" Review

                                                 
Huck (Guillermo Diaz) and Quinn (Katie Lowes) follow Osborne (Kurt Fuller) and find they've been made cos he's not heading to his usual drop point but instead heads to Olivia's (Kerry Washington) apartment. They give her the heads up viz text and he tells her he's onto her and wants them to leave him alone.  Jake (Scott Foley) watches and his camera signal fails at a crucial point.  Funny that!  Or not.  Does this mean someone else has her apartment bugged too? Anyway Jake sees Olivia hiding something in one of her vases, silly hiding place, yes it's in plain sight but if anyone breaks in (emphasis being on anyone such as Jake, ha! knew that was coming) he'd or anyone else would easily find it and what about it falling or dropping in an accident, struggle, etc.  SO he's going to find a way to find out what's in there but has to get in anyway to secure his camera feed.

Hollis Doyle (Gregg Henry) arrives with his fourth wife, Deborah (Melinda McGraw) as their daughter, Maybelle (Andrea Bowen) has been kidnapped.  She sent them a video message, at least the kidnapper did and hell yeah like Hollis, I too was cynical and said straightaway that she planned it herself.  They way she kept looking over to the alleged kidnapper but we couldn't hear him.  Of course sitting in front of a window was amateurish since anyone can figure out the location.  She says she got into trouble cos she met this boy Justin and he led her into drugs so they got into stealing etc, but Deborah wants her back.  Did none of Olivia's team think of checking where Justin was right about now even after Harrison (Columbus Short) and Abby (Darby Stanchfield) found his apartment empty.

David (Joshua Malina) finds his apartment has been ransacked and thinks the person is still there as he hears a noise and ducks for cover behind the sofa.  The others find him at the office the next day and he suggests they should contact the FBI who will have a better chance of finding her.  Huck disagrees and tells them if his family was kidnapped he'd want Olivia and her team finding them and on his side.  Quinn thinks Huck should get a new family and that they should look for one for him, she shows him one, they even have a dog, a very small dog which he says isn't a dog.

Hollis won't pay the ransom and takes things in his stride,even eating breakfast until he finds out he has a special delivery, her ear.  Of course it'll be too late for DNA testing cos they have 24 hours in which to pay the ransom of $20 million.  Olivia says they should pay half now and then wait for the call, that's how they deal with kidnappers.  Deborah says they should go ahead and pay it.  Huck makes Quinn analyze the video footage for sounds and tell tale signs showing the location of the building.  They find it's a warehouse and when they turn up, the place is empty but there are signs of blood showing she was there.  Again it's cos she's behind it.

Hollis wants them to pay the entire ransom and the call finally comes.  Olivia asks for proof of life in a meeting place before they send through the remaining ransom.  They meet at a location and see she's alive so the ransom is paid.  Hollis is relieved to have her back and Huck analyzes the ear properly and tells them it was staged by her since the ear is not cut perfectly as it has jagged edges.   Hollis gives Maybelle an ultimatum and tells her she can have the money or family.  She opts for money but not before Olivia gives her the whole speech on having everything and being selfish and spoilt.  Clearly this is close to Olivia, well family is as you can tell she has family issues of her own, otherwise this wouldn't have meant so much to her and she wouldn't have had that outburst.  Though Harrison et al can't decide why they helped, Hollis being the devil. Olivia repaying, "even the devil loves his children" Again a reference to father and children.  Her father?  Oh and Cyrus's (Jeff Perry) funny line about this being karma.

At the Whitehouse Mellie (Bellamy Young) and Cyrus are still having their problems with trying to outdo each other for Fitz's (Tony Goldwyn) grace and favour.  Cyrus telling Mellie he's working on finding out who the uniform man is, as he's given the file to Charlie (George Newbern) to dig the dirt on him.  Fitz has invited their children down for the weekend from boarding school.  They're going to play tennis.  Mellie tells Lauren (Sharmila Devar) to fill Fitz's schedule so he can't fit them in anywhere.

Jake calls Olivia for lunch but she's busy giving him ample opportunity to break in and steal the flashdrive files and fix his camera.  Sly old Jake, knew he was up to something more and here he's playing both sides.  He copies the files and gives them to Fitz telling him that Osborne is the mole.  He can't tell him the source's name but it's the same source who got the hostages freed.  Osborne tells Cyrus his place is being raided but he's not the mole.  He's a patriot and for years he's worked and never saw his family or wife.  He always put work first and you know he sounded sincere enough to be telling the truth.  Cos this is Scandal and is never straightforward.  He couldn't be the mole and that'd be the end of things, no there has to be more twists and more behind this.

Charlie gives Cyrus info on Jake and he confronts Fitz with Operation Remington.  When he was in Iran and he probably had to do things he's not proud of, things that could earn him honours and medals and he can't tell anyone about them.  Well that's what Cyrus compares Ohio to.  But it's not the same thing.  He said he's done things for the good of the Republic and that history will judge them and have the final say on whether they did good or bad, not them.  Cyrus is told about Osborne being the mole as Mellie listens in.

Fitz is angry she cancelled his meeting with the children as he pours himself another scotch.  She tells them they didn't want to come cos he's changed.  He drinks a lot and they don't have fun with him.  He forces their daughter to play tennis and she doesn't like it, then quizzes her on political questions.  Fitz is becoming Jerry, his father.  Which is something that I said some eps ago.  Olivia gets ready for a date with Jake as Cyrus calls her and tells her about some man who's threatening his marriage, not to his husband but his other marriage to Fitz.  Obviously he doesn't mention names and Olivia doesn't mention who she's seeing either, no, that'd be too easy!  But she tells Cyrus to "go for the juggler."  Oh Olivia but it's your beau! Ha.

Jake pays her a visit surprise, surprise and she's wearing her casual clothes saying she can't go out.  He sees her pain and she tells him about the man she was seeing and she was on the phone talking about him not five minutes ago but he's still in her head.  He tells her to close her eyes and kisses her.  Then asks her if he's still in her head and then leaves.  Cos he's got his own date.  This time with a mysterious man in the park who he tells everything's been taken care of concerning the mole.  The man walks off.  Disn't he look like Harrison from behind?  The news reports the suicide of Osborne in his car but again he was killed.

A bit of a spoiler in the next para so if you don't want to find out what that is  DON'T READ!
Since there was a lot of talk of family in this ep, Fitz's family, Hollis's family, finding a new family for Huck, but he finds one for Quinn, one where it's just a and father and daughter like her, since her own father won't talk to her.  Well since there was family talk I guessed the man on the park bench with Jake is Olivia's father. Hand on heart I did not read up on the next series.
END OF SPOILER

Oh Jake, we knew he wasn't that good of a guy in that he was watching Olivia cos Fitz tasked him to do that, but also knew he had an agenda since he wants Olivia for himself and hasn't told anyone about that. Well he wouldn't would he.  Which leads me to ask will he also betray the man in the park?  But this is Scandal as said and everyone uses everyone in it!  That's part of the fun!
Oh and didn't Hollis not recognize Quinn or did he just not care?

SO was the snake in the title of the ep, Jake, Mellie, mysterious man?  I liked that scene with Mellie and Cyrus when he told her everyone must do what she wants and finished off with saying, "as a friend of mine says, it's being handled."  Sure was.  A lot was being handled in this show, but it kind of weighs heavy that Jake took care of Osborne like that.  Then again no one in this show has 'clean' hands.  Everyone has been or is involved in some sort of underhand activity, including killing and getting away with it.

Maybelle was played by Andrea Bowen (Desperate Housewives) so knew she'd be up to no good, ha. I just wanted to say, "maybe it's Maybelene" throughout and now I have! Ha.  She did used to play her mother a lot in that show.  Not surprised she took the money and not family having Hollis as her father. Doesn't exactly spell role model or devoted father.  The opposite to Fitz, I don't believe he's a bad father and yes he is drinking but the way he spends time with Ted and is completely devoted to him, does not make him a bad father.  Conversely Mellie is the bad parent and Fitz was right about that but she turned it round on him and made him out the bad guy just cos he's been drinking a lot of late.  Hated that scene, but liked how Fitz left his glass on his desk and didn't pick it up after she left.

Huck found Maybelle pretty quickly, should have handed her into the police and have done with it.  Cos she was a spoiled little rich kid, having a father like him did not give her an excuse to behave in that way.  Olivia telling Cyrus she smells something fishy about Jake so she's going for it, she's "jumping."  Shouldn't that be a warning sign to her to keep away.  Then again as we know she doesn't like easy or comfortable, as Edison said, "love shouldn't be painful."  Yet here with Jake she's going to put herself through the wringer all over again.

Also Olivia didn't realize how Jake said she thinks of wine as another foodgroup cos he only took her out once, she couldn't really have drunk the entire place down since they ended up at the Jefferson Memorial, not so much wine on tap there!  Olivia dropping her guard again.

Some choice quotes this ep too.
Olivia: "Poor little rich girl. What was it? He worked late, she missed your dance recitals, they threw you in reform school, rehab, they tried to buy your love instead of earning it? Whatever they told you in therapy, whatever sad cliché you’re still holding on to after all these years, it doesn’t matter. No one feels sorry for you, not anymore."

Also Jake to Olivia: "You don’t know me. I might be the worst guy in the world. Or I might be the best. Whoever I am, I like you. I like you a lot. I like how you say ‘What?’ when you answer the phone, how you always seem to be wearing white, how wine seems to be a food group for you. I like that you know who you are and that you fix everyone around you, but you seem...sad to me, Olivia. I like you, but you seem sad."  SO he could be right about himself in the first line, he looks to be both bad and good guy, but which way will his loyalties turn or lie in the end?  Yes Jakey will keep us guessing!