The Mentalist 5.2 "Devil's Cherry" Review

This week's investigation leads to the murder of a demand merchant, Victor who was found eviscerated by a cutting tool in his own home.  The others are already at the scene when Patrick (Simon Baker) arrives and no he didn't leave his car in the middle of the road this week.  Rigsby (Owain Yeoman) and Cho (Tim Kang) notice Patrick seems a little off colour with all that Lorelei business and Rigsby suggests they invite him to a boy's drink out.  Cho won't ask him though.  Patrick is even warned by the ME (Cameron Meyer) not to step onto the blood pool, as he's standing so close by.

You'll notice this episode Lisbon (Robin Tunney) didn't have any interaction with Patrick at the CS until he goes out to talk to her via the kitchen.  Detouring for a cup of tea at the CS.  Okay so who does that anyway, besides Patrick and to make tea from already used leaves in a tea infuser in the sink, ewww that was disgusting.  No wonder he passes out, ha.  But not until later.

Lisbon chats with the neighbour, Betty (Lee Garlington) who tells her she couldn't see the kitchen from her bedroom window and she heard a man argue with Victor.  Patrick's kettle whistles and Lisbon asks what that is, really?  So he drinks his tea and notices a butterfly on the flower outside the window.  He then hears the lid of the pot on the stove rattling, where he finds a rabbit inside, as well as dropping his cup.  Of course we know what follows is just a hallucination.  With Patrick taking the rabbit to speak with the maid and Cho, but he doesn't make any remark about the rabbit and neither does the maid.  She's South American and is suspicious of black ants entering a home, as they signify death.  The maid gives him her necklace with a soaring eagle.

The rabbit escapes and Patrick follows it, eventually leading him to a garden and a blonde girl. She doesn't give her name, as they say, what's in a name, but then she takes him to where Victor worked.  His daughter's name was Charlotte (Dove Cameron) as he calls it a pretty name, but she's dead.  Ah the sad look on his face when he says that.  She was murdered and he found both her and his wife.  Here Lisbon and Cho arrive and she says he's having another episode and Patrick falls to the floor.  Cho identifies the tea infusion as belladonna so he needs his stomach pumped.  Here Patrick wakes and imagines himself strapped into a straitjacket, even though he knows he's not crazy.  Charlotte tells him he's having his stomach pumped.  She tells him about his search for Red John and how it's an obsession with him. His relationship with her mother is his business.  When she tells him, her mother feels the same way.  She should show some respect.

Patrick wakes up and asks for water, just so he can escape.  Only to end up sitting in an ambulance with Charlotte.  He tells Lisbon he's hallucinating her and Charlotte asks if she's his girlfriend?  He wants to go back to the CS.  He tells her drugs would not be his choice for solving a case, but he was inadvertently drugged but also that many "great minds have used them.  Lisbon pointing out he's not a great mind.  Others will take issue with that point.  Patrick even resorts to saying she should call him Patrick and he calls her Teresa.

Van Pelt interviews Julian (Yani Gellman) Victor's assistant.  He was his apprentice jewellery cutter and they were deciding on how to cut the Blue Orchid diamond which is missing.  Rigsby talks with his daughter and she was at a cabin but doesn't have any witnesses.  She did drink tea.  Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti) also talks with Fahad (Ajay Mehta) whom Julian said was an enemy of Victor's.  However he denies any involvement in the murder and even speaks a bit of Hindi that: "storm clouds that roar don't rain water."  Okay loosely translated, but he did not mention dogs incase you're wondering, since the translation he gave Van Pelt of what he said wasn't about 'barking dogs not biting.'  Betty says the man she heard didn't have an accent.

Lisbon and Patrick retrace his steps to where he found the rabbit, but there's a pool there instead, in which Charlotte swims.  He then wants to go to his workshop and promises if there's nothing there, he'll take his bed rest.  Here he finds the Blue Orchid in Julian's bag, but he didn't kill him.   Of course he would have his prints on the tools both shared.  Patrick senses there's more to this case.  Charlotte decides to leave as the drug wears off.  Before going she tells him that his family doesn't care about Red John or getting revenge for their deaths cos they're, dead.

Van Pelt mentions Betty being able to see the kitchen window from heh bedroom.  As Patrick mentions the necklace he gave Rigsby, but there was no maid and no necklace.  Eagles soar and can see high up.  Thus they set her up.  Patrick volunteers to make tea at her house and when she takes a few sips, she feels a rabbit under the table which they both pretend not to see.  Also Patrick and Lisbon speak German, most of it sounded gibberish with a few words thrown in for good measure.  She runs out of the house with  Victor's jewellery pouch which he never removed from his body, she needs a hospital cos she drank belladonna.  Patrick tells her she didn't drink any.

She later confesses to Van Pelt she had dreamt of a way to get her hands on those diamonds for months and to frame Julian.  She made him the tea and then got him to cut open his stomach and kill himself, telling him he had the diamond inside him.  She relished the killing.  Patrick makes himself some tea in his attic hideaway and we wonder if he's drinking the same stuff again, or if it's just his usual blend.  Besides there aren't any guarantees he'd hallucinate Charlotte again.  Of course as he told Lisbon, he wouldn't resort to drugs.  Though he does get up to no good in his attic, as we know.  Perhaps he decided to risk it.

From the outset this episode had shades of Alice in Wonderland.  From the white rabbit on the mug, which Lisbon points out to him, the rabbit he followed, down the rabbit hole, after drinking tea, as did Alice.  Then falling through the rabbit hole as he falls to the kitchen floor.  Patrick's mind has always been fragile since the season 4 opener after he thought he shot Red John, to the season 4 last two parts, where he was meant to have suffered a breakdown to go 'undercover' and fool Red John, at least bring him out of hiding.  Here once again his mind is mentioned, by Rigsby and Cho after Lorelei going missing and then Lisbon mentioning he's having another episode.

Patrick calling out to Lisbon when Charlotte asks him who really knows him.  More hinting here at Patrick's real feelings for Lisbon, more than just someone who he works with.  In Fugue in Red after Patrick suffered amnesia he asked Lisbon if they were sleeping together and here it's not hard to imagine or think why his unconscious mind, or his hallucinogenic mind, always refers to Lisbon.  Here Charlotte is about to ask if "they've ever..."  Also Patrick doesn't talk about his wife, her mother, to Charlotte.  Be they reasons of guilt or otherwise.  Perhaps that she wouldn't approve of him continuing on this Red John quest without moving on with his life and letting them go.

Then does Patrick subconsciously answer his own question, why is he after Red John?  Charlotte is his imagination so when he tells her he's doing it for them, she replies, they're already dead, what is the point of his obsession?  He says he does this job cos it's something to do but then Lorelei countered that by saying  last episode about his being in love with Lisbon.  let's hope they remain friends only.

In comparison to My Bloody Valentine last season where Van Pelt imagined her dead fiance O'Laughlin and he helped her to deal with her pent up anger and emotions, to move on.  This doesn't happen to Patrick, he still has his obsession though and he isn't ready to let Charlotte go.

Rigsby missing put on speaking with George Clooney over the phone as Victor had an extensive client list of celebrities and other high profile people.  Simon Baker was at his best here as heartbroken as ever over his family, more so over Charlotte but still managed to maintain the funny moments.  Charlotte was grown up, she had moved on in his imagination, but in his quest for Red John he still sees her as the child who was taken from him.  He never got to see her grow up in reality.

Patrick to Charlotte: "You are safe, you are loved and you are wise."  Which is all true, in his mind and heart, she is that.  She is in heaven.  Yet again, his hallucination so those words could equally be about him, though I may be sticking my neck out by saying that.  Since not all will agree.

Charlotte: "Red John, Red John, I am so over Red John."  Charlotte said it but Patrick thought it.  Maybe he wants to be over this but can't until he finally gets Red John or some pertinent answers or both.  As for all that black ants, Patrick warned to step away from the blood, was all about foreshadowing death but in what way and more importantly whose death?  Someone close to him?  One of the team, Red John (probably impossible) Lorelei?

A great episode once you get all the subtle references, have to watch this once again now.  Belladonna is known as devil's cherry. Oh the way Simon's hair kept changing throughout the scenes, from being combed to a little unkempt, then combed again next shot!  With that nice little bounce when his head hit the floor, ha.

Scandal 1.3 "Hell Hath No Fury" Review

Well that title had to enter the equation at some point in time as this episode Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and associates look into the rape by the son of Olivia's friend Sarah Harding (JoBeth Williams).  Assuredly his mother believes Travis (Michael Cassidy) didn't do it cos he's been manipulating her for so long that she just believes everything he says.  A bit like Olivia and the President (Tony Goldwyn) and Cyrus (Jeff Perry) too.  Though being rich only casts aspirations on the defendant and as Olivia says "it's all about perception, not evidence."

Olivia wants a meeting with Gideon (Brendan Hines) too and when he arrives she tells him it wasn't a meeting, he's been writing about cherry blossoms blooming late.  She'll give him a story with Amanda Tanner (Liza Weil) and a quote, if he holds off for 72 hours, which he agrees to.  She also tells him once this story gets out he won't be writing it as the other experienced reporters will take it over, so she promises the above.

Travis is dragged out of his hotel room, after spending the night with yet another blonde, that's his pattern: blondes, so find it hard to believe they didn't figure this out.  How could someone that smarmy and he was, be telling the truth.  Hey even his lawyer was the same, when will Curtis Armstrong stop playing a sleazy lawyer, can't use smarmy again, he played the same in The Closer final season.  Anyway the case will boil down to "he said, she said" and reading the jury, body language, etc as Stephen (Henry Ian Cusick) tells Quinn (Katie Lowes) the jury is against Travis.  Abby (Darby Stanchfield)  finds out the Vic Helen (Ellen Woglom) is a saint in comparison.  Leading to Olivia proposing a settlement, which Helen rejects.  Asking Olivia "How much would it be worth? to her"  Seems such questions are always posed and asked to put Olivia on the spot that little bit more.

Olivia also tries to dig some dirt on the Prosecution, as if buying US Attorney David Rosen (Joshua Malina) a cup of coffee will make him spill.  They're not friends and Jane (Mina Badie) is a colleague, not so subtly reminding him that she's after his job.  Olivia doesn't give up and Quinn asks what they do when they "lose."  A word not being in Olivia's vocabulary as Harrison (Columbus Short) tells her.  Obviously it may not be a word she likes, but she appears to be meeting it in every episode now, since the last one.

Harrison attempts to dress down Travis in a 'cheap' suit and he should wear a blue tie, you can always trust a man in a blue tie. Harrison wearing one too.  Travis lets slip that they "always take the money in the end."  Showing he did it after all.  Harrison looks into Travis's finances and finds he paid off a Rachel back in 2008. Rachel killed herself later and Abby finds an expensive car parked in her parent's driveway, with an American Uni sticker in the window.  Photos show Helen wasn't raped by Travis but Rachel was.  In the photo Helen is a brunette and dyes her hair to blonde.  Helen stalked him in order to get justice for her friend.  The very ammo they use against her in court, leading to Travis getting off.

Mellie (Bellamy Young) invites Olivia to the state dinner at the Whitehouse cos she's got a free space and the President can't sleep.  She's figured out he needs to see her and then tells him the same, now he'll sleep.  President being overjoyed at the sight of Olivia and tells her several times over he loves her whilst on the dancefloor.  He wants to meet her in their usual place.  Cyrus puts a spanner in the works as he stops Olivia from seeing him and has her escorted off premises by agents.  Not to mention the CD recording he got of the President in full swing with Amanda.  Cyrus thinks Olivia is blackmailing him and the meeting they agreed to was to ambush him with their terms.  Cyrus lies to Olivia by saying the meeting is off and he tells the President that Olivia called off the meeting.  So who exactly is he looking out for here.  He's not making things easier by accusing Olivia of blackmail when someone else sent him the CD.  After knowing her for so long, why would he even think she would stoop to blackmail.

Quinn attempts to call Gideon for a drink to find out what he knows and is nervous, yeah she likes him really and who wouldn't have a soft spot for fresh faced Gideon, reporter - yes, naive - yes and trying to make it big with one story.  Huck (Guillermo Diaz) tells her she's weird.  At the bar he tells her to untie her hair, orders virgin drinks for her but ensures Gideon is well boozed.  Gideon figures out she's not drunk and they've been drinking the same but he tells her he didn't call Amanda cos he wants that quote.

Olivia tells Sarah to stop 'mummy-ing' Travis and at a meeting they tell him to come clean.  Sarah knew he'd come up with a plan to leave the country and Olivia having got the rape kit with his DNA, courtesy of Harrison, has him arrested.  At least some justice there then.

Olivia once more tells Amanda she'll be on her side, but only if she tells her the truth, finally admitting she's pregnant.  Olivia gives Gideon the scoop on the Travis story which will be front page news and he can interview Sarah.  Wonder if she did that to keep him on side, since Quinn doesn't tell her until afterwards that Gideon didn't call Amanda.

Thus the mystery intensifies, wonder if Mellie has anything to do with that, she does know about Olivia, so why not his other affair(s).  Or clearly this goes much deeper than the First lady trying to keep him happy cos she knows he can't do anything, which will cause a scandal.  Also I resisted the urge to include another Brendan Hines photo, ha!

The Vampire Diaries 4.4 "The Five" Review

1110 AD witches are shown to chant as we get another flashback with Klaus (Joseph Morgan) Elijah (Daniel Gilles).  Damon (Ian Somerhalder) thinks Connor (Todd Williams) is dead and took some things from his van.  Stefan (Paul Wesley) asks what a 5 is?  The sheriff calls Damon but he doesn't want to tell Stefan what she said.  They say they're not in a fight with each other.  The sheriff told him Connor's alive.  Damon is taking Elena (Nina Dobrev) and Bonnie (Kat Graham) to college, he's teaching Elena how to feed since Elena almost killed Matt (Zach Roerig).

Caroline is too good at self control and Elena knows what blood does to Stefan.  Bonnie is going to Whitmore college to pick up Gram's belongings.  Stefan's getting Elena through this no matter who teaches Elena how to feed.  Rebekah (Claire Holt) buys a new truck for Matt and he tells her to apologize to Elena as she killed her.  Klaus tells her she's trying too hard.  "The Brotherhood of Five still existed."  She doesn't care about either.

Damon says Elena can go to college and he had a thing for sorority girls, he did go to college plenty of times.  Double taking on a girl.  They sit through a lecture on witches by Professor Shane (David Alpay) and he calls himself a true believer.  Damon jokes he thinks he's "Witchipedia."  Elena is too busy pondering if she's a ripper.  Damon thinks she should pick someone and they'll find out.  Like the self-absorbed pretty girl (Morgan Pelligrino)

Klaus says Connor isn't talking and can't be compelled.  There were a group of highly skilled vampire hunters in 1114 Italy when they came across them.  They were exposed cos of bloodshed.  Elijah thinks they should heed the warning and Klaus says the vampires haven't been discreet.  Connor is the first hunter he's seen since then.  Rebekah fell in love with one and told all his secrets to her.  He needs info from Rebekah so Klaus needs to make up with her.  She "holds the answers to all your prayer," he tells Stefan.

Matt keeps the truck anyway.  Rebekah tells April (Grace Phipps) she has dibs on Matt, not for long, ha.  Stefan compels April to forget the conversation he's about to have with Rebekah.  If she helps Stefan he can give her a clean slate and get Matt to do the same.  Elena compels the 'pretty girl' and then lets her go.  Damon tells her they're strangers to her, everyone is related to someone, she shouldn't care cos she doesn't know them.  Elena claims she's still the same person, but she's not really and how long can she maintain that stance.   Damon notices the Frat party flyer and wonders if they should go as killers or Vics.

Alexander (Paul Telfer) was a hunter looking for vampires so they felt safe around him wearing their daylight rings.  The hunters were bound by a single cause: the destruction of all vampires with an ultimate weapon.  They need to solve the puzzle to find the the weapon; visible in a tattoo which is a map.  Jeremy (Steven R McQueen) can see it.

Damon in yet another top hat, goes at Jack the Ripper, he "rippered these two."  Professor Shane is there too and Damon calls him creepy and he was right.  Elena finds a Vic and Damon reminds her not to kill him.  But once again Damon has to stop her.  Elena; "I want more."  Jeremy tells Connor he helped trap him as he'll kill people important to him.  Connor met someone with the mark and he could see the mark.  The tattoo showed up on him, the more vampires he killed the more the tattoo spread.  The sword is the key to reading the map and the weapon is the knife, which is what Rebekah elicited from Alexander.  Alexander daggered her and all her brothers too.  The dagger didn't work on Klaus cos of his werewolf side.  The weapon leads to a cure for Elena, leading to an end of the vampire species.  The map vanished.  Klaus thinks Rebekah will tell Stefan where the sword is.

Bonnie doesn't practise magic anymore, why was he so interested in asking her this and then revealing he's a true believer.  Also Shane tells her there are other ways to practise if she wants to.  Damon and Elena feed in a frenzy.  Bonnie watches Elena and you can't help but think she's disgusted at what her friend has become ad that she's with Damon.  Connor bites Nate (Michael Lee Kimel) in a bid to escape and rips out his earring.  Bonnie comments Damon makes everything sound like a good idea.  Elena has to do this with Stefan.  Damon tells heh she's a different person and is like Damon already.  He can make it fun cos he doesn't rip their head off like Stefan.  Clearly Damon was hurt when he heard Elena talking with Bonnie.  She should be doing this with Stefan and yet she tells him she couldn't cos of what blood does to him.  Again she wants things both ways.

Rebekah wanted the cure back then.  There's not a single vampire who hasn't killed a human and Stefan adds Elena eventually will and the pain and guilt will be too much for her.  She's driven by passion.  Love won't get her back when she switches off her humanity.  Rebekah envies Stefan and Elena's love.  Alex promised Rebekah marriage and she won't let Klaus get what he wants.  Stefan answers her question and tells her he wants to be with Elena, have children, grow old together and for that he'd take the cure.  Rebekah buried Alex with the sword which is what the two of them wanted to know anyway.  Shame on Stefan in a way using Klaus's humiliation of her by Klaus against her to find the weapon.

Klaus daggers Rebekah (again).  The cure must be kept secret.  Damon and Elena on the porch again and Stefan opens the door.  He was there to compel Jeremy to forget.  Elena hates the feeling.  Damon's right about what a vampire should be, but not be like Damon.  Elena doesn't believe it will get easy and she can't live like this.  Connor is gone and Shane has the tattoo map on his wall.

Getting the cure and especially for Elena would mean reverting back to he beginning and she would become human again, thus once again providing blood for Klaus.  Would they protect her from him again and if Stefan took the cure also, he'd be no match for Klaus or the hybrids.  The same with Damon.  Would Damon even contemplate taking the cure since he's too set in his vampire ways to change.  Perhaps it's too late for him to change anyway.  Would being a normal human being be compelling enough for him to lose all that vampire power and dominance.  That is if he ever found out about the cure, which in this show is likely.

As for their Frat party field trip, Elena and Damon getting into their strife, what exactly was he teaching her to be - a messy feeder.  Can't say much for the professor either, knew he was shifty and was Grams really that open and careless about telling him she's a witch and that Bonnie is one too.  Someone had to have sent Connor to Mystic Falls and it was him.

This episode showed Rebekah was capable of love and yet Klaus just put her down everytime for choosing the wrong man.  At least she took risks.  Stefan and Klaus getting together again to pull one over on her just to find out where the weapon was just showed how much of an influence Klaus still is over him.  This time he has a chance to cure Elena and himself, without thinking of what Klaus would do to them both.  He's not exactly going to let her become human and let her go out of the goodness of his hybrid heart.

Jack the Ripper and Elena mentioning becoming the ripper, not the same thing of course but it was funny only Damon would come up with this costume.

Downton Abbey Series 3 Episode 8

Continuing on from last episode's "exposure" of Thomas (Rob James-Collier) Carson (Jim Carter)who is forever disgusted with any sorts of antics at Downton, last time it was Ethel (Amy Nuttall) this time it's Thomas, feels he has no choice but to dismiss him and decides he will give him a reference after all.  Before calling Thomas disgusting.  Thomas is not disgusting and he doesn't regret who he is.  Some great acting here on Rob's part as he's gone from self-assured, smug troublemaker to someone who you genuinely feel sorry for.  What with all of O'Brien's (Siobhan Finneran) scheming and Jimmy/James (Ed Speleers) in the process, he knows what it feels like to be down trodden.

O'Brien still sticking the knife in encourages James to go to Carson and tell him not to give Thomas a reference otherwise he'll have no choice bit to get the police involved.  Knowing full well Carson hates a scandal and will do most anything to protect his Lordship's name.  Thus leading him to change his mind and tell Thomas he won't be getting a reference.  Didn't Carson think that giving in to this type of blackmail will only stand him in lesser stead.  Who will follow orders from him if he can't keep the hired help in check?

Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan) gets involved when she finds Thomas outside in the rain and he refuses to tell her what happened, lest she be shocked.  Which intrigues her even more so he has to spill now.  Her conversation with Carson shows how different the two of them are even if they are close in age and do come from similar times. She is more open minded and admits to Carson she has come across men like Thomas before.  Still I can't believe they had Thomas just give in, this wasn't the same Thomas from last season and it's a wonder why they changed his character so much.  He would have given O'Brien everything he could to get back at her but no it seemed O'Brien and her scheming ways had won.

Infact Thomas finds an unlikely alley in Bates (Brendan Coyle) who takes up his cause.  They've had their differences in the past but he doesn't wish to see him dejected and knows how it is to feel powerless in that way and fights for him even if Thomas has given up.  Thus asking for a weapon he can use against O'Brien, even if he doesn't.  Knew it would be the baby storyline from Series 1, where O'Brien made Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) slip on the soap outside the bathtub so she'd lose her baby; the male heir to Downton.  To think she got away with that all this time and continues to do so.  Bates invites her over to their newly found cottage much to Anna's (Joanne Froggatt) chagrin and she can't help feel that Bates shouldn't be helping Thomas after everything he's done to him. Bates can't see him suffer though and especially not see him go to prison either.

Would have thought Carson et al would have realized James didn't have the nouse to be behind such a scheme.  Bates realizes when he sees the two together and Carson should have too when he saw O'Brien listening in outside his door.  Oh and another thing O'Brien thinking she could get away with this, did she not imagine Thomas could blab about her baby stunt, it's a wonder why he didn't.

Didn't like the bit where Cora stated O'Brien would scold her for being late to change, who's in charge anyway?  Bates whispers what Thomas told him to O'Brien which sends her hurriedly away all flustered and she convinces James to let Thomas get his reference since he's had his way now and they'll think him the better person for it.  Which again makes you ask why James didn't cotton on that he was just being used by O'Brien, she's Alfred's (Matt Milne) aunt, why would she be doing James any favours, since setting him up with Thomas was just a convenient way of getting rid of two birds with one stone, leaving promotion open for Alfred, well it backfired on her.  Bates finally reveals to Anna what Thomas told him, "his Ladyship's soap" which puzzles them both, but it works.  Good to see continuity here and this being brought up again.

Bates tells Robert ((Hugh Bonneville) of the goings-on which lead him to remark of the number of times he was kissed on the mouth at Eton, showing he's more open minded to such things than even Carson, but not to others.  Robert wants to keep Thomas on and not least for the cricket, he's the best player the House team have got.  Bates thinks it may be cruel to dismiss him after the game, but Robert wants him to stay permanently.  He thinks Carson should find some way to make James see sense otherwise he'll be undermined for always if he gets away with this blackmail.  Thomas gets promoted to under butler which makes him Bates's superior, ironically he helps him and Thomas gets promoted!  James is promoted to first footman by Robert.  Something he clearly didn't deserve and to think women are accused of being fickle!

This all leaves Albert annoyed and he calls the police, leaving Robert to sort this mess out too.  They've all made mistakes which is what Robert tells him and Albert tells the police he was too hasty in calling them and was drunk.  Those policemen didn't look convinced.  No scenes with Albert and Ivy this week, so much for him wanting to know if James had any intentions towards her which led to the whole mess last episode, so that was forgotten about.

Elsewhere Matthew (Dan Stevens) finds out Mary (Michelle Dockery) was unable to conceive due to a 'woman's problem' she can't explain to him but it's all better know, after he catches her at the same doctor he visits.   Branson (Allen Leech) agrees to stay on at the house with baby Sybil, now called Sibbie, until she's older which Cora is delighted with.  Branson also convinces Robert to come round to Matthew's idea about asking the farmers to sell and gets to play cricket, even though he can't; as the 'aristocrat-ization' of Branson continues.  Well he's becoming more like one of the landed gentry every episode.

Some nitpicks, everyone at Downton knew of Thomas's sexual orientation, not just a few but everyone, (going back to Series 1 and Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nichol) warning Daisy (Sophie McShera) to say away from him;) so much for idle gossip, but Robert as I mentioned is very understanding of it, yet he wasn't about many things.  Such as Ethel being a tainted woman and not wanting the Crawley women to mix in her company.  He was against Edith's (Laura Carmichael) marriage to Sir Anthony and her writing her newspaper column.  Yet he 'approves' of Thomas, a practise which as stated earlier, was a criminal offence.  Not to mention his treatment of Branson and his beliefs, not only when he left Sybil behind in Ireland and made a run for it to England, but generally, including the christening of baby Sybil a Catholic.

Elsewhere, the boring part was the arrival of the Dowager's (Maggie Smith) great niece, Rose (Lily James) neither needed in the episode nor made a slight bit of difference to it.  Just used as a filler (unless she returns nest series to cause more trouble) and her dalliance with a married man is also frowned upon, to the point of the Dowager ensuring she gets to Scotland to live with a boring aunt.  Edith checked up on her editor after he flirted with her and found he's married, but as he explains his wife is in an asylum and as she's a lunatic, he can't divorce her.  A plot stolen from Jane Eyre no doubt.  Did I say stolen, I meant 'borrowed.'  Again showing the times and laws that were prevalent at the time, thank goodness for liberalism some may shout.

Funny moment , though it wasn't meant to be when it was mentioned they shouldn't treat someone who served his country in that way, when talking about Thomas, considering the lengths he went to get out of the trenches!  Oh and the Dowager admitting to Isobel (Penelope Wilton) that she spent an hour with her own children every day.

Ethel found a position nearer to her son, Charlie and the Dowager made this possible by ensuring Mrs Bryant (Christine Mackie) approved of her working nearby.  Leaving the Dowager and Isobel to be in agreement over something, at last.  All in all, some highs and some lows this season of Downton Abbey but I'm sure you'll agree one of the best scenes was Sybil's death, okay I don't mean it to sound like it wasn't sad, but it allowed the cast to get their teeth into their roles, along with O'Brien's scheming and Thomas become a changed man, let's see how long that lasts?

CSI:Miami 10.16 "Rest in Pieces" Review

A man is seen to claw and dig his way out from being buried under the sand and calls out for Chelsea, stumbling onto the road.  Walter (Omar Miller) and Horatio (David Caruso) arrive and the Vic is Ided as Kirk (Alex Beh).  Horatio looks to find Chelsea, buried beneath the sand.  ME Tom (Christian Clemenson) finds her medical necklace saying she's allergic to penicillin.  Her eyes are missing thus leading them to suspect old adversary Esteban Navarro (Kuno Becker).  A helicopter lands disturbing the CS and Horatio is greeted by the Navarro matriarch, Vina (Raquel Welch).  She's here to take care of business and this is their land.  She wants to help and to let things go as far as they can.  Should have known she was here to fix her own problems.

Tripp (Rex Linn) has Esteban in the line up and he's as arrogant as ever, choosing to suck his lollipop.  Kirk identifies him as his attacker, he's certain.  Later Vina questions this identification based on there not being any Latinos in the line up, as she tells Delko (Adam Rodriguez.)  They need hard evidence.

ME Tom is still with Chelsea's body and Walter notices the dogs bark at a crab, ME Tom finds it's taken a bone.  Leading to the discovery of another body, this time a male who has been shot through the head.  ME Tom even manages to find the bullet inside the skull.  Calleigh (Emily Procter) runs some tests and finds the bullet matches a gun registered to Diego Navarro (Carlos Bernard).

Horatio and Tripp try to question Diego and Horatio finds the remnant  of a woman's shoe in the fire, the heel of the shoe.  Diego is arrested for the gun charge.  Vina responds by saying she doesn't live here.  Back at the lab Delko runs tests on the heel and needs Calleigh's help in figuring out where the shoe is sold.  Delko tells Calleigh Elizabeth (Olivia Taylor Dudley) could help with the shoe but she doesn't want him to get her involved.  Then tells him to be careful.  Elizabeth did have a pair but she loaned them to Chelsea.

Chelsea agrees to testify as long as Diego goes away but Diego's lawyer brings up Delko's 'personal' relationship with Elizabeth, showing him a photo of the two together.  Delko is adamant he was taking her to a safehouse but the judge (Richard Herd) finds in favour of Diego leading the shoe evidence to be excluded.
Natalia (Eva la Rue) and Calleigh head back to the beach and widen the search area.  Here Natalia finds a lapel pin belonging to a yacht club.  One that Diego was a member of when he was 14.

Vina denies recognizing the pin but Natalia shows her the photo, Vina coming up with the argument that plenty of people would have a pin like that.  It was obvious the man they found was Diego's father, considering the contempt she showed for her husband and for her son.  Vina confronts Diego and tells him she's going to turn him in and he breaks a bottle.  She runs and hides in the room and calls Horatio for help.  When Horatio arrives he finds her holding Diego, a gun nearby.

Horatio gives ME Tom the bloody towel and he must speed up his findings.  Ryan (Jonathan Togo) and Walter go through Diego's belongings and Ryan finds a lollipop.  Walter claiming he hasn't had one of those since he was 9.  Ryan finds it's plastic and it contains something.  This being a microchip which Dave (Wes Ramsey) manages to pull from the lollipop.  It contains the address of some properties and some which are encoded, much to Ryan's chagrin.  It's actually a code to a location.

The warehouse contains the Navarro's property and downstairs they find the lab where the Vic's were killed,  including a jar with their eyeballs.  Natalia and Horatio analyze the evidence and Horatio finds a small piece from a latex glove.  Natalia analyzes the DNA and matches it to Esteban.  In court, still looking as smug as ever, Esteban is finally caught and comments on the gifts he's given to the judge.  Vina tells Horatio she's glad it's over but Horatio tells her Diego is awake.  The first thing she asks is whether he can talk but he's not going to let her see her son.

The DB is finally identified as Diego's father, Alfredo but Horatio doesn't believe Diego shot him, though he did help her bury the body.  He finds the room Vina was hiding in wasn't locked and she made up the story of Diego coming after her.  Vina calls Horatio from her plane telling him he won't find her and she's left to bask in the sun whereas Esteban sits in prison.

This episode seemed to be wrapped up too quickly and rather hurriedly.  Conveniently Vina is brought in to not only show that murder runs in the family, though it skipped a generation with Diego, but that she is able to get away with it.  Which was her single reason for showing up, especially since she must have heard where Chelsea's DB was found and she came to clear up loose ends, viz, Diego for herself.  Though question to ask is why Esteban buried the DB at the family plot, let alone leaving a witness alive?  Diego must be going through a case of deja vu, especially after covering for his mother's murder of his father and now he had to cover his son's killings too.

All of the cast were in this episode for a minute there it looked like Natalia wouldn't be in it again, then it seemed Ryan would be absent.  Calleigh warning Delko to stay away from Elizabeth, was it out of genuine concern or jealousy on her part?

Merlin 5.5 "The Disir" Review

Three seers/soothsayers of the old religion chant which suspiciously sound like a death threat against Arthur before a sorcerer named Osgar (Andrew Tiernan) is chosen to take a 'talisman' to Arthur (Bradley James).  Leon (Rupert Young) arrives bringing Arthur news of the death of one of his knights, Sir Ranalph, killed by a man named Osgar.  This leads Arthur on a quest to avenage his death and catch the killer.  In a theme which sounds all too familiar.  As he later tells Gwen (Angel Coulby) that he was not only a knight but a childhood friend, so the king must do...she doesn't want him to go after almost losing him last week.  Gwen entrusts Merlin (Colin Morgan) will look after him.

What's more Arthur takes Mordred (Alexander Vlahos) with him to prove himself much to Merlin's chagrin and well he does try to make sure Arthur's making the right decision.  Seems like Arthur has a new found friend in Mordred which is perhaps something Merlin may also take objection to, especially since they were all pally during swordfight training.  This gives the other knights a chance to tease Mordred as well as initiating the new knight, by making sure he has all his weapons, and equipment and then making him ride backwards on the horse.  Arthur also joining in the fun asking if he's wearing his trousers backwards.

It's not long before a man is spotted in the woods and he is identified as Osgar, like they knew what he looked like.  Gwaine (Eion Macken) and Elyan (Adetomiwa Edun) are the first to approach him and he tells them to basically "take me to your king,"  which they refuse and after a fight  Gwanin stabs him.  He reacts with magic and throws them against the trees.  Finding Arthur for himself he tells him he has something for him and gives him the 'talisman'.  It's a wonder none of these magical people can heal themselves, so what's the good of magic.

He has a message from the Disir: trio of goddesses who have cursed Arthur for treating the old religion with disrespect.  Camelot will lay waste, to ruin and after that he dies.  Merlin buries Osgar and Mordred remarks it should be an unmarked grave.  He sympathizes with Merlin, both of them having to keep their magic underwraps but he also states "until then we go unmarked in death as in life."  Couldn't tell whether Mordred was in a purely evil stance there as he watched Merlin and then smiled at him.  He does that to rile him, no doubt.  Merlin believes one day they will be free to practise magic.

Gaius (Richard Wilson) is approached regarding the 'talisman' which is a rune mark and he is weary of it predicting Arthur's death.  Arthur's death having being predicted since the start of season 5.  Arthur is meant to redeem himself by no longer outlawing magic and he has a difficult decision to make, so he asks for counsel from Gaius and even Merlin.  Gwen once again telling Arthur that he is a good king and has nothing to fear.  His good works at Camelot speak for themselves.

Merlin in desperation calls to the Dragon (John Hurt) and he is glad Merlin decided to call him with this dilemma.  The Dragon advises he had the chance to kill Mordred and didn't take it an  now he should do exactly that next time the opportunity presents itself.  No sooner had he spoken that very same opportunity arrives, as Arthur makes up his mind to go after the Disir for himself.  Not heeding Merlin's words that when they arrive at the cave, they should leave their weapons outside as the place is sacred.

Arthur confronting his accusers, which was not the thing to do since they are of the old religion, they don't see justice or the right to be judged by one's peers.  How was he hoping to reason with them without the magic card rearing its head.  They attack Arthur and Merlin deflects their weapons.  Mordred once again saves Arthur, almost sacrificing his own life in the process.  Didn't it look like Merlin purposely deflected the spear towards Mordred?  Anyway Merlin tells Arthur he can't help Mordred, only Gaius can.

Gaius however can't do much as he's dealing with old religion magic.  When alone, he tells Merlin only his magic can save Mordred but Merlin, having the courage of his convictions refuses to help.  Also heeding the Dragon's warning.  Gaius reminds him of the boy that turned up at Camelot and Merlin tells him he grew up.  So instead of healing Mordred and saving Arthur from a guilt trip and lots of moral indignation.  Merlin would rather ride out with Arthur once more and confront the Disir and how would that have changed things?  A chance for the two to have another talk.  With Merlin once more repeating what a good king Arthur is and will be, he is destined to be such. Arthur talks of fate and Merlin says destiny and fate are two different things. Which they are.

Merlin is becoming increasingly dark and Arthur asks him what he would do, would he let magic into Camelot.  Merlin, all teary eyed replies he should not let his hard work in improving Camelot be wasted.  He wouldn't introduce magic.  Well that's a contradiction and a touching thing for Merlin to say.  He is behind magic being allowed one day and here he says the very thing that he will eventually root for.  Merlin's dilemma is to either let Arthur die if Mordred is healed, or to let magic die if Arthur is killed by Mordred.  It was no contest really.  It pains Merlin to go against all he believes.

When they arrive at Camelot, they find Mordred is better and Merlin finds Mordred's survival and recovery is Arthur's punishment for turning his back on magic and the old ways.  Thus leaving open the question of whether Arthur will meet his destiny and doom at the hands of Mordred.  Before Merlin explained this was Arthur's punishment, it was almost as if Mordred had used his own magic to heal himself, which of course was impossible, those with magic don't save themselves in this show.

What was surprising was Gaius allowing Merlin to get his way in not wanting to heal Mordred, instead he would let him die to save a king and kingdom.  Merlin is meant to be there for Arthur so surely there will be other ways in which he could look out for him.  His stance was short lived anyway as Mordred is saved without his help in the end.

Osgar tells Arthur the same thing that Lochru said to Merlin did in Arthur's Bane Part 1: ""even as Camelot flowers, the seeds of her destruction are being sown."  The Dragon used to say something similar too.
Arthur is once again referred to as "the once and future king" by Osgard.

The Vampire Diaries 4.2 "Memorial" Review

Stefan  (Paul Wesley) knows Elena (Nina Dobrev) won't be able to handle it if she hurts anyone.  Damon (Ian Somerhalder) thinks Stefan is delusional, Elena needs human blood.  She can't live on a 'bunny diet.  Damon wants her to be who she is and be a part of the natural food pyramid, otherwise she'll be miserable.  Elena likes Stefan holding her, er, enough with the 'heightened emotions' already!

Damon meets up with the sheriff (Marguerite MacIntyre) and claims he "always takes credit for killing people."  She reminds him his friends tried to kill her daughter.  Stefan wants to celebrate Elena's first feed, she did it and survived and brings a bottle of champagne dated for her birthday.  Damon didn't blow up the town council but can help.

Elena doesn't want human blood and Damon tells her blood sharing is personal.  Connor (Todd Williams) turning up at the Lockwood (Susan Walters) house wasn't an accident and she tells him she wasn't at the meeting cos it wasn't official town business.  He shoots Tyler (Michael Trevino).  Stefan finds he has specially carved bullets and if Tyler was a normal vampire, he'd be dead.  His gloves were also soaked in vervain.

Bonnie (Kat Graham) is still grieving, the bullets weren't magical but have some sort of writing on them.  Elena needs Damon's help.  Well, considering the mess she made of the bathroom.  Damon doesn't shake Connor's hand, he's a "germaphobe."  He brings Elena a clean dress after the blood incident and he tells Connor they've got "scenery to die for...pun too soon?"  Nah Damon wouldn't care whether it was soon or not.  Damon thinks Elena's doppelganger blood could be stopping the transition.

Stefan fears if Elena hurts someone she could turn off her humanity and thinks she's more like Damon. But she couldn't even keep Damon's blood down, as he blabs to Stefan.  Connor arrives at the service with more bullets.  Damon crosses himself with holy water when he enters the church and remarks, it makes him smile for some reason.  All the vampires smell blood, dripping from the ceiling from April (Grace Phipps) and Damon warns it's a trap.

Matt (Zach Roerig) says Elena should feed from him.  Tyler speaks out about Young and is shot.  Caroline (Candace Accola) stops Elena from feeding on April and Elena must compel April to forget what's happened to her.  Connor notices Matt's bite on his neck and Jeremy (Steven R McQueen) comments on his tattoos which Matt didn't see.

Stefan's not happy, he's in hell cos of Elena and still she goes to Damon for help and feeds on him.  This meant a lot to Damon.  Liked Stefan punching Damon for sharing his blood with Elena, but it's not like he hasn't done that before in season 3.

They need to finish the memorial so they can begin to heal.  Damon doesn't want to stick around for that sentimentality and will find out who he hunter is.  Stefan says goodbye to his uncle Zack, Lexie and Alaric.  Matt says goodbye to Vicki.  Caroline to her father.  Jeremy to his parents, Vicki, Anna and Jenna, Alaric.  Bonnie says goodbye to Grams.  Elena to her mother and father, Jenna, Alaric and all those they have lost, releasing the paper lanterns.

Leaving Damon to say goodbye in his own way, well not really goodbye but share his feelings at Alaric's grave, ruing they're not children or even Japanese.  He doesn't want Elena to end up like the rest of the murdering vampires.  The only thing left is a hole in his life where someone used to be.  Alaric appears, he left Damon in the lurch and alone here and Alaric owes him.  Alaric misses Damon too.
Damon: "...in the end when you lose somebody, every candle, every prayer is not gonna make up for the fact that the only thing you have left is a hole in your life where that somebody that you cared about used to be."  Ahh, Damon babysitter!

Memorial was a bit of a hit and a miss episode in that it was geared specifically to a teen audience in some respects as paper lanterns is something not very many adults would associate themselves with.  As was Damon's criticism at the end when he spoke to Alaric, hey forget spoke, he had a manly heart to heart and really misses the only friend he ever had.  Who accepted him for who and what he is, flaws 'n'all.  Easily the best scene in the entire episode.  Damon grieves, of course he does but he prefers to do it alone (with a bottle) and not have to share the moment, sometimes it's just better that way.  Grief is private and personal and doesn't need to be ritualistic like lighting lanterns.  Damon venting for being left alone and not getting the girl.  He's better off without her.

It was difficult for Elena to make the transition but you'd wish she'd do it already.  She can't decide whether she's with Stefan or if she should contact Damon to help her out, why the hesitation. She's made her choice, Stefan is there for her, yet she pulls Damon back in causing more trouble between the two.  Okay Stefan would have 'mothered' her and she didn't want to disappoint him but as said she made her choice, now live with it.

The Mentalist 5.1 "The Red Glass Bead/The Crimson Ticket" Review

Finally The Mentalist returned for UK viewers but we weren't expecting much of anything to be tied up, just more loose ends, more of Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) running around starting trouble, as only he does best and then disappearing. This episode began with the double murders of a 'couple' in a woman's apartment and the arrival of the CBI team.  With not much to go on, Patrick notices the photos of Callie (Mandy Kowalski) on her bedside table and how did we know he would take it. Really nothing is safe or sacred when Patty's around.  The title here was The Red Glass Bead, but other sites have it listed as The Crimson Ticket.  Not sure why there were two titles.

Hot on their heels is the arrival of the FBI, Agents Mancini (Ivan Sergei) and Smith (Drew Powell) who were told to cover all of the CBI cases.  Too late Lisbon (Robin Tunney) tells them, they've been cleared to be back at work,  the brass "made a deal" and even Patrick was cleared of his 'crimes.'  Agent Darcy (Catherine Dent) would not be returning and as the FBI Head Alexa Shcultz (Polly Walker) tells Bertram (who is back presumably to clear up Patrick's mess, as he's a stickler for the press, or maybe for other reasons) Darcy is beside herself after the killing of Luthor.  Patrick is back cos it was the FBI who messed up, bringing a smile to Cho (Tim Kang) and Rigsby (Owain Yeoman) who adds they captured Red John's accomplice Lorelei (Emmanuelle Chriqui).

Thus a battle ensues over whether the FBI or the CBI will interrogate her.  It did seem that Patrick began the fighting between the agents and then promptly drives away but it was Lisbon who was the cause this time round and naturally Cho and Rigsby would accommodate her and run to her defence.  Betram (Michael Gaston) warns Patrick this is his last chance and they can't get rid of him now cos it would be "evidence of a scandal we're trying to conceal."

Lisbon and Patrick or shall I do what everyone else does and call him Jane, then I won't get to call him Patty. Anyway they pursue enquiries at the hotel where Callie worked and Lisbon thinking out loud to Patrick, always dangerous, gets her wish when she wants the FBI to just go away.  Patrick plants the photo in the manager's pocket, making the FBI believe they got their suspect.  Lisbon venting her frustrations with "bastards."  With Patrick calming her down, or either being surprised at her choice of words, ha.

Cho and Rigsby talk to neighbour who tells them about the man who came to visit Callie and she heard a noise but thought it was more a cry of passion.  Oh and watch put for the lottery ad on the side of the bus which was a clue.  Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti) finds out the Vic, Rex (Anthony Martins) changed his name and his cousin paints him out to be a good man which is contradicted.  Thus Rigsby concluding Rex was a creep but not a criminal.  Whilst talking to Callie's sister, Betram calls Patrick to say they've been given access to Lorelei and Patrick buys a bead charm bracelet, not for Lorelei as Lisbon thinks but cos he liked it.  Nah, it was to help him in his plan.

Lisbon warns him to be weary of Lorelei cos she was the first woman he was with since his wife, but he harbours no romantic notions towards her.  It's all in the game.  Lisbon looking a tad jealous there.  Patrick doesn't want her to listen in but she does so anyway.  Not that much is said, Lorelei comments on Patrick wanting her to do what he says but he refuses to kiss her when asked, thus he's complicated.  So he kisses her.  He can get her out and make her go somewhere far from here if she talks.

Lisbon clearly doesn't hold back showing she did exactly that, and listened in and is livid he kissed Lorelei.  Of course plenty could have been made about Patrick's true intentions when he slept with Lorelei, was it just for the game and to reel her in, get her on his side or did he think he could go this far to get his hands on RJ.  Especially as Lorelei tells him she thinks he's "a little in love with Teresa Lisbon."  There we have it spelt out but whether it's true or not is another matter.  Since it's difficult to say with Patrick, he has feelings for the whole team really, one of his reasons for staying put at the CBI.  The other he tells Lorelei is to pass the time.  Lisbon: "Don't be childish I am not your girlfriend, I am an officer of the law."  By the way why come up with the girlfriend line directed to Patrick of all people.  We know his stance with women particularly in light of what Lorelei just said to him about being in love with Lisbon.  Lisbon goes for that analogy.

The FBI get a warrant to take Lorelei and Patrick implores Betram to convene a hearing otherwise he will blab, squeal about the entire deal.  Where he once again continues to play the FBI, I would like to say at their own game, but it's not really their game.  To gain access to Lorelei he tells the judge (John Rubenstein) Lorelei told him things such as RJ's people having a secret greeting.  Carrying around a red glass bead which is found in Mancini's pocket.  Leading Mancini to chase after Patrick, throw a water bottle at him too as Rigsby asked if he really did that.

Oh and whilst all this was happening the case, well it was all about greed, lottery money, see the clue.  Callie won big on the lottery $56 million.  The police officer, Yannick (Jon Curry) on the scene discovered this and finished her off with a pillow whilst she had been strangled by Rex, who was a criminal after all, as well as a creep.

There were a few plot holes here like asking Patrick what proof he has that RJ has someone inside the FBI.  They forgot O'Laughlin, who would have been a major name to drop in the CBI's favour.  Lorelei was genuinely afraid that the FBI were going to take her away, another point in their favour since this also shows RJ has someone higher up the chain in the FBI.  Either that or she wanted the FBI to do exactly this so she could escape.  Either way it still shows FBI involvement with RJ.  Funny part was Lisbon and Patrick at county jail waiting for Lorelei when the camera's showing this big, burly woman being led out by the guard, of course she was going to be passed off as Lorelei, that's what you get for RJ/FBI interference.  It was obvious Lorelei wouldn't be heard from again when Patrick said they could pick her up in the morning.  Too late - again.

Also Betram revealed at the press conference that the charges against Patrick weren't real and were fabricated in order for him to go undercover.  What will RJ make of all this, or was he already aware that Patrick hadn't lost the plot after all and suffered a breakdown?  And that's why he sent in Lorelei and all that stuff about wanting Lisbon's head in the season 4 finale.  Perhaps another reason for RJ taking down Luthor, revenge, or was Luthor involved with RJ?

Think people could get tired of the RJ story if the same thing continues to happen every season with only a few cursory episodes directed at the RJ mystery with his accomplices continuing to escape or get away.
Simon Baker now becomes credited as a Producer on the show.

CSI:NY Season 9 Lady In The Lake Photos

These photos are great, lots of Eddie Cahill too.

Ooh Flack losing his cool again as he arrests another suspect!

Also Sela Ward looking as good as ever, as the CSIs investigate the death of a woman found by a pond wearing a ball gown in Central Park.  Could this be CSI:NY's foray into fairytale realm in 9.6 The Lady In the Lake.

Hey this photo I'll be keeping, the enlarged versh that is!!  Strategically placed away from the dartboard, ha.

Scandal 1.2 "Dirty Little Secrets" Review

Well it had to happen, being set in Washington, home of politics and all things 'illegal' or just above the legal limit and so there had to be an episode on sex 'scandals.'  The whole Madam being in trouble, having a little black book, or list in this case has been done before but this time we were meant to see events merge in a different light.  This time Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) had personally vetted the President's (Tony Goldwyn) candidate for Supreme Court Justice, so it remained for her to spill and for the Pres to find another candidate.

Underpinning all this, or 'pining' were Olivia's feelings for the Pres which she still holds onto even though can't or won't act on them.  Hell he wants to, is that typical male behaviour or just cos he's the president? ha ad can get away with it.  It's been asked oft enough and even the Pres himself told Cyrus (Jeff Perry) in this ep that he's the leader of the free world, but he can't have what he wants.  Going so far as admitting Livvi "is the love of his life."  But you know given the nature of her job, Olivia will not stay away even if her pass was revoked and then reinstated.  She brought the security guard red velvet cupcakes and he remarked, he doesn't want to know what cupcakes she gave the president.  Talk about innuendo moment.

What was entertaining about this episode wasn't so much the Madam storyline or the fact that Keating got onto her list as a client cos of his wife, she was the mysterious call girl, Stacey (Megan Gallagher) everyone was looking for.  Nor was it Abbey (Darby Stanchfield) having the hots for Steven (Henry Ian Cusick) it was actually the storyline continuing from last ep re the intern, Amanda slashing wrists.  With so much to-ing and fro-ing from the hospital to office, someone was bound to find a story there. Cue reporter Gideon, who just happens to be out to make a name for himself, in the long run and find the story.

At this point in time he has a blog, one that hardly anyone reads but a simple line in that blog would make people sit up and take notice.  Olivia taking on Amanda's case would add even more curiosity into the picture and Quinn (Katie Lowes) leading Amanda right back to the front door with Gideon in tow was bound to happen.  Granted he hasn't done much yet and yes there were plenty holding out to see Brendan Hines in this role, which you can't even describe as sleazy, but as more opportunistic and he seems like he has morals, for a blogging journo that is.  Quinn also has morals, she's new and naive, maybe that will change overtime, but it's easy to see why she would be 'attracted' to someone like Gideon.  She's often left out of the loop on important matters and is sent running around like a headless chicken.

She convinced Amanda to return to the office with her so Olivia could help as she wears a "white hat."  Was that initself enough to make the scandal want to go away, did Olivia just add more fuel to the flame, especially by leading Gideon straight there.  Especially considering how Olivia wanted the press kept out of the story last episode with the war hero accused of killing his friend, but eventually had to give in.  But also she didn't want the Madame story to be picked up by the press.  So although she tried her best to ensure she could keep the President's dalliance quiet and deal with the fall out, it didn't work out that way.

Appears in wanting to help Amanda, she is also secretly covering up her own 'dirty little secret' in the process.  Olivia's 'gladiator suit' has signs of cracking or being exposed.  She does love the President, she has to protect him like a reflex reaction, but she can't be the other woman, even if to her chagrin he went and found Amanda.

The Closer 7.21 "The Last Word" Review

Brenda (Kyra Sedgwick) is driven to the CS where at least 3 women have been dug up, there could be more as Provenza (GW Bailey) tells her.  A boy called 911 but didn't ID himself.  The phone belongs to Douglas Grand (Adrain LaTourelle) and he reported it stolen.  Kendall (Ransford Doherty) tells her the women were raped, strangled and the killer of this Vic was interrupted.  Her name was Karen.  TOD was between 8-10.30.  Tao (Michael Paul Chan) says she was murdered last night but the grave was dug at least two days ago as there's still rainwater on the bottom.

Sanchez (Raymond Cruz) found tracks where two men disturbed the killer.  He chased one of them and he got close to the killer, who then called 911.  Grand tells them he was at a restaurant when his phone was stolen and that the coat, glasses and pen doesn't belong to him.  Gabriel (Corey Reynolds) finds it strange that he knows the boy's age but not his name.  Provenza adds he's surprised he left the teen behind.  His name is Rusty (Graham Patrick Martin).

Flynn (Tony Denison) finds Karen bought perfume and they have a video from the store.  A man approaches her with his back to the camera and doesn't show his face.  He gives Karen his card and Brenda recognizes him as Phillip Stroh (Billy Burke).   She recognized his walk from behind.  He never went near the CS in his own car and she stayed away from him for 7 weeks.

DDA Hobbs (Kathe E Mazur) is only here to observe and Raydor (Mary McDonnell) agrees to sign off on Brenda's investigation.  Fritz (Jon Tenney) tells them how Anna, another Vic, was also approached by a man whilst shopping.  Flynn says they should get a search warrant as the MO of the women fits Stroh.  He also adds no one would tell Stroh about the warrant since Gabriel isn't around.  Brenda doesn't want to listen to that.  Taylor (Robert Gossett) tells them Gabriel isn't a suspect today and Sanchez declares he didn't say anything about Gabriel. Flynn can't wait to also posit that if he did what Gabriel did he'd leave.

Rusty's last name is Beck and he's only 16.  Taylor says they won't be able to get a warrant on Stroh cos of what he can tell them.  He will help if Brenda finds his mother.  Gabriel tells him the killer saw his face.  Brenda wants Tao to take a photo of Rusty as if he's out in the night and she will give it to the press.  Fritz will go to Washington to see if he can expedite the case.  Brenda tells him Rusty said two things which made her think about her own life.  Her mother isn't coming back.  That's Brenda.  Also she makes her living listening to bad men.  Brenda thinks she won't get to arrest Stroh anyway.  She was right about that.

Tao et al conduct surveillance on Rusty and Taylor comes to look at their licence recognition system.  Gabriel has to sit in the van with Tao and Buzz (Philip P Keene).  There are 7 hits on the same car, belonging to Stroh, who is arrested as he approaches Rusty.  Brenda tells him they have a witness and DNA from his cap but they'll need a sample to confirm it.  Brenda will discover his mistakes overtime with the "entire justice system at my back."  Which he doesn't think much of.  Stroh tells her the killer considers trouble foreplay.  He's sorry about her mother.  Brenda beats him up in the lift and knows she's suspended pending an investigation.  She has his blood on her hands for DNA but they can't use it.  She did that cos she knew she was leaving and wouldn't be back so she had nothing to lose but to get this killer off the streets, being the last thing she does at Major Crimes.  The one that eluded her thus far.

She tells Morales (Jonathan Del Arco) she's not here officially but he needs to put the hair follicles from under her nails and the DNA onto the cap so they can get Stroh back in for an interview.  Hobbs tells him they can't use the evidence in court.  Hobbes also makes Brenda a job offer, her chief would like to make Brenda the new Chief for the Bureau of Investigation.  She'd only be in an administrative position but Brenda wants to bring along her own own team member.

Brenda feeds Rusty and he wants to prove to his mother that he can change.  Then accuses Brenda of only caring about dead people.  Brenda notices the open window and finds Stroh has Rusty hostage.  She doesn't have any DNA on Stroh but he doesn't listen.  They fight and Brenda manages to shoot him.  She stops herself from finishing the job.

SID can clear Brenda for the shooting but Brenda objects to the reprimand for beating Stroh.  Taylor wants to restructure Major Crimes and wants Raydor to be a part of that.  Gabriel will be transferred as Brenda's LAPD Liasion officer as Brenda states in her letter where she says goodbye and thanks them for letting her carry out her work as Deputy Chief.

Fritz thinks it's better if Brenda leaves whilst taking confessions rather than giving her own.  The only gift she wants from them is their friendship, as she names each one of her former team by first name.  Tao asks if she has to leave?  They give her a new bag as she shot through her old one, filled with her fave treats; Ring Dings.  Brenda thinks the bag "looks like love."  Cue her final scene in the lift where she eats with a smile on her face.

"Looks like love" where Brenda's first words spoken in the Pilot and her last words spoken in the series finale.  At least the show left off on a good note without any animosity or ill feeling shown towards Brenda.  She also managed to get a job out of the entire situation only down the street.  Though Flynn and Sanchez won't be best buds with Gabriel again, she made sure she took him with her.

Brenda: "I came here to arrange surveillance of the suspect not me.  This is what comes of settling lawsuits putting my name on a Special Order.  We have to worry more about what the suspect will do to us than what we're gonna do to the suspect.  Didn't think of that, did you?"  No they didn't.
Brenda moving to the DA's office, they thought they could do better with her there, well she was good at what she does and if the LAPD don't want her.  Anyway she was taking a leaf out of what she told Fritz and that it's time she lived for the living and thought of them, instead of the dead.

No goodbyes from any of the senior officers though since well she was closer to her team anyway so it's understandable.  What could they have said anyway?  Brenda attacking Stroh may have been a little out of character but as I said she was going so she may as well have taken him down with her, especially since she let all of her pent up anger out on him, which turns out to be a good thing, instead of bottling it up and holding onto it.  Also Brenda not shooting him in the end, even if she would have gotten away with it reinforces her strong character.  After everything she's been though she wasn't going to let him have the last word or be the stain on her conscience.  And the way she told him she didn't want to hear what he had to say; again it was about the dead so she didn't want to hear it.

Seven seasons later and The Closer ended as it began with Brenda walking away this time and taking Gabriel with her, the only one she got on with as soon as she arrived.  Her right hand man, so to speak.

Liked the way she drove up in the beginning looking at her team's faces one by one, as if she knew she was going to say goodbye to them and then calling their names out at the end, except for Provenza's first name of course.  Shame the only thing Pope (JK Simmons) could only do was order her to stay away from the case not wanting another lawsuit on his hands and wanting a smooth transition to his new position.

Brenda having the last word.

The Vampire Diaries 4.3 "The Rager" Review

Tyler (Michael Trevino) is attacked in hospital and is paralyzed whilst his blood is taken.  Damon (Ian Somerhalder) comments on Stefan's (Paul Wesley) midlife crisis, but since it's been 164 years, he's due one. He knows the vampire hunter, Connor (Todd Williams) has poison in a bottle and Damon just wants to eat him.  But Damon knows he's not wanted here anymore.  Stefan reminds him he blood shared with Elena (Nina Dobrev) and so Stefan punched him.  It's almost as if Elena is being drawn to bad boy Damon now that she's become a vampire herself.  She's struggling to retain Stefan's fave word, her "humanity."

Elena drinks Matt's (Zach Roerig) blood.  It's her senior year and she wants to be here.  The town is under a curfew.  Klaus (Joseph Morgan) heard of Tyler's attack and duty calls.  He's brought hybrid bodyguards for him since he can't make any more hybrids.

Elena is ready to cry for Alaric during first period until Rebekah (Claire Holt) shows up inviting everyone to a curfew party.  Elena and Rebekah engage on some bitch, er I mean pencil fighting, stabbing.  Really?  Elena hates Rebekah.  That dislike was apparent before but now she's become a vampire it's intensified and become hatred.

Elena sees Connor at school and Rebekah sends in Heather (Nicci Fairies) to tempt Elena with blood.  Jeremy (Steven R McQueen) saw the Connor's tattoo, it's a "hunter's mark" and it's invisible to all except a hunter.  He knows Jeremy's family history.  That'd be a story wouldn't it, pitching Jeremy against Elena, if it ever transpired.  The hunter agrees to train Jeremy.

Damon shows up at Connor's trailer and is caught in a trap, a bomb trap, er so vampires can be blown to smithereens, I jest.   Stefan suggests they skip school and head to the party.  He tells Caroline (Candace Accola) how Elena must channel her emotions into rage and confront it before she can let it go.  Wouldn't Caroline already know this if Stefan helped her when she became a vampire.  Seems Damon has the right intentions on how to make Elena became a vampire.

Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) shows up to see Tyler and he's keeping her a secret from Caroline, so much for hybrid honesty.  She helped him break his sire bond.  Damon calls Meredith (Torrey DeVitto) for help and she tells him to stop "being proud and stubborn" and make up with Stefan and Elena before he's left alone;  instead of calling her, Damon: "...oh look you're already here."  He shows her Young's letter stating, "a greater evil is coming."  As we get all cryptic again.

Connor threatens Matt and he tells her Rebekah is a vampire.  Elena pretends to look for Damon's bourbon to give her the strength to go to the party,  he's no fool.  He knows she's looking for the ash stake.  Jeremy told him about the hunter. As once agian Damon proceeds to undress!!  Tyler gets rid of Caroline when she wants to get way with him.

April tells Elena her father's death was no accident and Rebekah takes Elena's daylight ring making Elena even more angry. Stefan can't stop her staking Rebekah but she'll kill every vampire Rebekah ever turned in  the process.  He thinks guilt will destroy Elena and he's a big one on guilt.  Klaus and Damon go after Connor and lure him into a trap at the hospital with Jeremy's help.  He's trapped in his own bomb and this hunter has werewolf in him.

Rebekah hallucinates at the party and sees Matt telling her she had a thousand years to learn and she threw it away.  She's alone now and doesn't deserve love.  Damon mentions the "great evil" and didn't think there was anything more evil than Klaus.   Klaus sees a sign on his stake and remarks he's "one of the five."  Elena thinks of Damon and being more like Damon as a vampire than Stefan.  Klaus arrives to heal Elena who was infected with werewolf blood when she drank beer at the party.  He doesn't want anything from Stefan but Elena can be of use to him still.

Lockwood (Susan Walters) calls off the curfew after Damon tells her the hunter was killed in the explosion and Stefan tells Caroline of how he enjoyed the rush and fears becoming the ripper.  He doesn't want to hold Elena back.  Caroline is a good vampire cos of Stefan and she won't let him lose control.

Elena has violent thoughts driven by hunger and can't stop feeding off Matt, causing Damon to rescue him.  Then compels him to forget.  She must learn how to be a vampire and he'll teach her.  Klaus is surprised Connor doesn't know his own history but he'll be the most well protected vampire hunter in town.

Elena understandably will be raging all over the place, to use the title, in comparison to how Elena the human used to be.  So at the first sign of being taunted by Rebekah Elena overreacts.  Her first 'heightened' emotion is one of hate and being new to the vampire game and how to be one, she reacts by wanting to stake Rebekah.  Not thinking about anyone else, the vampires she's turned and all the rest of it and well, that only affects them cos they're vampires, humans wouldn't care.  Stefan wants to teach her his way and Damon wants to teach her his own way so once more we're still getting that triangle.  Even if Damon did compel her to choose Stefan, he can't stay out of it.

For more, season 4 seems to be a little slow finding its feet and storyline direction, as we seem to be covering old ground now with Elena as the vampire.  How to feed, when to stop, control herself.  With the brothers still at odds with each other over her.  Another vampire hunter in town, what took him so long?

Breast Cancer Care Show With QVC

October marks a very important event in the calender referring of course to Breast cancer Awareness Month.  So every year the Breast Cancer Care fashion show is held, with survivors of this terrible disease attending and having a chance to shine in the limelight and also a time to raise awareness as well as funds.

October 3rd saw the star studded event take place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London's Park Lane.  QVC gave some lucky viewers the opportunity to attend this amazing event during lunchtime.

Hosted by Olympic champion Denise Lewis,

Here's Denise rehearsing;

With Joe McElderry providing the musical entertainment.

Also taking part in the fashion show itself was QVC presenter Ali Keenan.

Also present were the wonderful and funny QVC presenter Debbie Flint.  Along with Pippa Gordon and Will Gowing.  Had a great chat with Debbie as she was seated near us but not with Will, which was a shame.

It was an exceptional day with Silent Auctions, raffles, to ensure we all do our bit for this worthy cause.

Downton Abbey Series 3 Episode 7 Review

Bates (Brendan Coyle) was released this week and finally arrived home, much to the pleasure of Robert (Hugh Bonneville) who was overjoyed to welcome him back and agreed to get him a cottage and to settle him back in quick smart.  Seeing as he'll be returning to his valet duties now.  Leaving Thomas (Rob James-Collier) in the lurch.  Thus he had nothing to lose when passion finally overcome him.  That and O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran) telling him how much James (Ed Speleers) talks about him.  Thus he snuck into James's room, just as Albert (Matt Milne) was arriving back from the pictures and caught the two of them kissing.
Actually it was one sided and of course, James won't be telling anyone, not until he gets found out obviously.

The Dowager (Maggie Smith) took it upon herself to tell Isabel (Penelope Wilton) that Ethel (Amy Nuttall) should go her own way and should find another job.  With her repeat remark of Ethel having many suits to "fit all occasions."  This was further reinforced by her seeing Ethel in tears when she came from the grocer's shop.  Edith's (Laura Carmichael) job came up again as it would and she got the Dowager on side by saying she wanted her to do something and this is it.  The Dowager agrees only in return for a favour. This being advertizing a position for Ethel.  Anyone could tell Edith and the editor would have an attraction.  Wonder if he's married, no one said.

Obviously Robert was still against the job offer, as well as many other things, including Matthew's (Dan Stevens) proposals which resulted in the resignation of foreman, Jarvis (Terence Harvey). A man who has been around since the time of the Dowager's husband.  So naturally Matthew couldn't put a foot right, as he once again accused Robery of letting the estate being left to fall to pieces.  Robert once again convincing him it was the result of bad investments.  Matthew reminding him, not too subtly, that he also used up Cora's (Elizabeth McGovern) money in the process.

Matthew thought of having the farm up and running and Robert refused to go into competition with the other farmers.  With Branson (Allen Leech) reminding us again that his grandfather was a sheep farmer.  When Cora and the Dowager decided he should work at the farm instead of living above a garage with his daughter.  Cora saying it was what Sybil would have wanted.  Robert accepting on the condition that Cora and the Dowager would admit they were wrong if things go haywire.  With the Dowager adding, that's easy as she's "never wrong."

Speaking of Branson his brother, Kieran (Ruiari Conaghan) turned up this week showing just how uncouth the rest of the family is, ha.  He even wanted to have dinner with servants instead of with Cora and the family and Branson sopke up for his mother-in-law which was music to Carson's (Jim Carter) ears!

Alfred took Ivy (Cara Theobold) out, much to Daisy's (Sophie McShera) chagrin and Ivy told him if James doesn't have any feelings for her, then maybe the two of them could have something. Which led Albert to Jame's room at that time of night and chancing upon Thomas there too.  Of course Albert would tell Carson what he saw, leading him to have yet more moral judgements to make.  Last time it was about Ethel, this time about Thomas and his 'alternate' lifestyle, which as we know was a criminal offence at that time.  Carson leaving it up to James to decide whether to call the police or not.  Er, seems just as one Downton servant has no sooner got out of prison that another one's fate hangs in the balance.  Being the last episode next week, seems the police will be called, not to mention Thomas will be out of a job anyway, so that was 'convenient.
But what of O'Brien let's see her get her comeuppance too for all her scheming otherwise it hardly seems fair.

Matthew thinks they can't have children cos of his war injury with Mary (Michelle Dockery) trying to convince him it's not.  The looks on her face somehow gives the feeling it might be her.

So much for the women standing by Ethel last episode over their luncheon and this episode, the Dowager insists on sweeping Ethel under the carpet and having her shift off to London or somewhere, just so the village can get back to normal.  It seems that way.  Didn't like the way in which Thomas just burst into James's room and kissed him when he's sleeping, if  O'Brien, kept telling him how James was raving about Thomas, wouldn't he have woken him up, or at least spoken to him, instead of charging in there without thinking.  The same with Albert bursting in on James like this just to ask about his intentions with Ivy.  Albert and James aren't friends, they don't even like each other, so Albert could have waited until morning.  Seems all of O'Brien's scheming has worked in her favour, not to mention the added bonus of actually having Albert walk in, without this being planned.

Seems the Crawley's were scheming themselves as far as Branson and the job of estate manager was concerned. Just to give him the position so Sybil would be raised in an environment they approve of.  Not to mention Branson accepting the job to begin with even if Robert turned up at the christening.

CSI:NY Clue:SI in Pics

The November 9 episode of CSI:NY, Clue:SI leads the CSIs on a game of Clue, or as we know it here, Cluedo.  Thought the show would have dome something along these lines a long time ago.  This time they investigate the murder of a psychiatrist's patients.  Wonder if they'll have us guessing whether it's Patient X in the park with a branch, ha.

Anyway some Eddie Cahill for our ogle-ment (okay no such word).

                                   

Just squint and you can just about see him alone. Ha

                                     
At least we'll also get to see Sela Ward, she's great and Gary Sinise.

Merlin 5.4 "Another's Sorrow" Review

Odin (Fintan McKeown) captures Rodor (James Fox) and Mithian (Janet Montgomery) with Morgana's (Katie McGrath) help.  As they plan on raiding Camelot as well as exacting revenge on Arthur (Bradley James).  Odin wants him for killing his son.  Which works both ways as Arthur seeks revenge on Odin for killing Uther.  Of course, let's all forget that Morgana had a hand in killing Uther too.  Mithian arrives at Camelot with her servant, Hilde.  Now anyone could recognize Morgana's chin, oh please.  She thought she'd do a 'Merlin' and don an old disguise with the use of magic, just as Merlin does with Dragoon.

Mithian arrives at Camelot, as said, doing her fainting act in the process, to be rescued by Leon (Rupert Young).  Mithian is attended to by Gaius (Richard Wilson) and then receives her audience before Arthur and Gwen (Angel Coulby) where she recounts her tale of escape and how her father needs help.  Of course Arthur won't resist the chance to help but also to exact revenge.  She later tells them she was captured too.

Merlin (Colin Morgan) once again warns him that this is too dangerous and once more Arthur ignores him.  Morgana has Mithian under lock and key literally and ensures she's not able to speak to anyone.  Even when Mithian manages to get away by taking the key from under a sleeping Morgana's hand, she is still caught.  Even Gwen can't help her.  Mind you, Gwen also has her reservations about Arthur and his rescue attempt and clears the air with him, reassuring herself that as long as he's going to help Rodor and not for any other reason, like say revenge again!  Does Morgana really need all this sleep?

Morgana accompanies them every step of the way and yet no one is oblivious as to how the old hag can keep up with them.  At one stage, her magic almost gives as she succumbs but manages to keep her old wig on and face!  Gaius examines her and finds she's in perfect health for an old hag and that she's in even better condition than he is, which he tells Merlin. still nothing dawns on them though.  Other than Merlin having his reservations before about the fear in Mithian's eyes and she and Hilde not being right.

Mithian tries to tell Merlin but Morgana doesn't let her guard down, always sneaking up on them.  Whilst in the woods, Leon also tries to tell Arthur to wait until Odin's patrol passes them as they are outnumbered, again Arthur refuses to listen to anyone else's counsel.  So where did Gwaine (Eion Macken) pop up from, as he wasn't seen with the others when they left.

Mithian gives Merlin her water bottle to fill and insists he fills her one up.  At the river, he sees 'Morgana' scrawled on a rock but too late, Morgana is already there and knocks him out with her powers, funny she still had any left.  Oh and Merlin rushing to warn Arthur like that, talk about giving the game away.  Arthur leaves Merlin behind with Gaius and Gwaine and continues with the rescue.

Gaius uses his magic to heal Merlin after sending Gwaine for firewood.  It takes him a lot of power and plenty of the lighting up of his eyes, but finally Merlin recovers and they head off to warn Arthur, with Gwaine following his trail.  Arthur enters the cave with Percival (Ian Hopper) and they are trapped by Odin.  Morgana revealing herself, "dear brother."   Merlin manages to get into the cave after a little use of magic and some sword fighting and sends Gwaine for the others.  Would've thought he'd be using a bit more magic.  Anyway he sets another quake in motion, seems to be his speciality and Arthur and Percival manage to fight them off.  Morgana once again being knocked back against the wall by Merlin.

Arthur and Merlin split up allowing Rodor and Mithian to take the other route and they fight Odin and his men.  Arthur wants a ceasefire and for him to return Nemeth to Rodor.  Finally setting this piece of an old story to rest, though to be honest many fans wouldn't even have remembered it or have been bothered with it.  But at least we got to see Arthur and Odin reach a tentative truce, let's see how long that lasts when Morgana finds out.  if she does.  Merlin is still weary of Morgana and her power growing with Gaius once again hoping it won't come to that.

It was a shame nothing more was made between Arthur and Mithian especially since Arthur was enamoured with her last season 4.11 The Hunter's Heart and was going to marry her.  He doesn't talk to Gwen about it and neither do the writers take it any further.  Clearly this is one story just about revenge.  Which is a pity as it's a wasted opportunity for Arthur's other feelings to be explored and it would have given Gwen something more to do than just walking about in her cleavage-revealing dress at court and then in her nightgown.

Morgana delighted in her antics this week in being just as cruel as ever, keeping a tight reign over Mithian, wonder if she knew about Arthur's intentions towards Mithian last series, also.  She could have made more of that to run waves between Gwen and Arthur.  The contrast between Morgana and Merlin when they disguise themselves in older attire and physique is enormous.  We see Merlin with still the strength of a young man and yet Morgana was practically stuck inside the body of an actual old woman, it appeared.  Thus probably highlighting their varied power.

Also another chance for Merlin and Arthur to have another heart to heart with Merlin once more telling Arthur he should not be on this rescue and Arthur saying much the same as always.  Think they need to move beyond this now and lay down some defining character points for the two.  Mithian telling Arthur the same thing Merlin does about Camelot being a stronger kingdom for having Arthur as king.

Yet it seems pointless that Morgana constantly requires help to come up with some sort of a plan to kill Arthur and ruin Camelot, or take it over, why not branch out on her own now anyway.
The death of Odin's son was in 2.2 The Once and Future Queen and Odin was meant to have killed Uther in 4.3 The Wicked Day.

Merlin giving Arthur an order that Mithian is not to be disturbed.
Arthur: "did you just give men an order?"
Merlin: "yes Sire."
Arthur: feels good does it?"
Merlin: "it's not unpleasant."  Merlin also calls him Arthur showing he's more confident in his friendship with Arthur who lets it go or doesn't say anything about him not calling him Sire.

Fintan McKeown was in Game of Thrones.  some good sword fighting scenes in this episode and Merlin asking Arthur to think about killing Odin.  He did that last season in 4.5 His Father's Son and Arthur went ahead and killed Annis's husband.  Here he actually stops and listens to Merlin.  Though he doesn't admit this to Merlin but tells Gwen that Merlin made some valid points and input.