Supernatural - 6.7: "Family Matters" Review

Cas takes a look at Sam who has returned without his soul. They trail Samuel and question the Alpha vampire who tells them about purgatory. They realize Crowley is involved.

Cas (Misha Collins) comments on how terrible Sam (Jared Padalecki) looks and asks if he  is speaking  in tongues and feverish.   Sam says he's diagnosing him.   Sam hasn't had any sleep since he got back.  He never told Dean (Jensen Ackles) Cas wants to know how he feels.   Sam doesn't know.   Cas then proceeds to use the 'angel' lie detector on Sam and comes up with Sam's soul "it's gone." Which we already knew, at least that there was something not right with him.   Sam was resurrected without his soul which is in the cage with Michael and Lucifer.

Sam was only trying to catch vampires and it'll never happen again.   Sam is still himself and he unties himself.   Dean's "stuck with a soulless guy so you might as well work with me."  Dean questions who pulled Sam out.  One clue is Samuel (Mitch Pileggi).   A new man greets Sam at Samuel's.   Dean asks him what happened when Samuel got back - a recap for Cas, who tells him, "My true form is the size of your Chrysler Building."  Dean: "quit bragging."  Cas works his magic on Samuel too and finds he has his soul.   Yet there's still something about Samuel you just can't trust.

Sam scares him at times.   They were hunting the Alpha vampire and didn't call Sam cos Dean doesn't trust him.   Samuel doesn't know Dean like he knows Sam, cos Dean's got a soul and would be able to make emotional, judgement calls.   Dean: "I don't trust him."  Samuel's hiding something and if Sam wasn't 'RoboSam' he'd feel it too.   Sam was meant to be keeping an eye on them and Christian (Corin Nemec), yet he didn't stop him from coming to check on Dean when he breaks into Samuel's office.  Dean gloats about calling Christian's wife to tell her he can't make it just to rile him up.   He threatens Dean on their hunt which is at the house where Dean had those visions of the Alpha vampire and the vampire twins; when he was a vampire in 6.5 Live Free or Twihard.   Dean says nothing is fine and he's left on guard duty.   He gets yet more blood on him after Gwen saves him from a vampire.   Saved by a chick.   Shots are fired and Dean checks out the house.   Samuel and Christian take the Alpha vampire away.  Sam helps and doesn't see Dean watching.   Samuel lies about the Alpha being killed and burned.

Dean's had enough of Sam and stops the car when Sam doesn't tell him what really happened.   Samuel's been getting info from the creatures and it was Sam's idea not to tell Dean as he'd mess things up.   Dean shoots first and they needed answers.   He says questions.   Dean asks if Sam wants his soul back.   Sam hasn't been where they're taken to.  Dean is weary of Samuel, "Can't assume family means the same thing to him as it does to us - he's not Dad."  Sam is messed up and Dean tells Sam to blab everything if he wants this to work cos Sam can't tell the difference.   Then he tells Sam to accompany Samuel.  He says Dean's gone as they're not getting on.   Sam wants in on the interrogations.  Samuel won't let him help until his soul issue is resolved.   Sam turns on the GPS on the phone in the truck.

Dean was pretty 60-40 betting on Sam not returning.   They follow the GPS and find dead man's blood on the door.  Samuel tortures the Alpha vampire for something.   When Samuel leaves, the Alpha (Rick Worthy) tells them both to come out.   Dean was his child for a while.   References to Fright Night and Skippy from Dean.   He's the very first vampire.   Sam asks who made him - he's got a mother too.   Vampires are going to war and he notices Sam smells cold and doesn't have a soul.   Well it seems any old monster knows that so maybe they should have interrogated a few before now and found that out.   But why didn't Cas use his lie detector on Sam before when Dean had all these doubts about him?   The Alpha asks if Sam feels empty.   Souls are predictable and asks where he goes.   They go to purgatory and mentions Dante, as in Dante's Inferno.   Sam should have known that.   He doesn't know where purgatory is and Samuel wants to know.   Sam guesses the Alpha knows its location.   Dean: "If he's Kermit, whose hand is up his ass?"  Jaws.   Well it's Crowley (Mark Sheppard) of course.

Gwen pulls a gun on them and the Alpha escapes his cage.   Dean demands they kill the Alpha or it will kill them.   All three will have a family meeting.   The Alpha's got plans for Sam, he'll be the "perfect animal."  Christian helps Sam, he's actually a demon.  Crowley arrive son cue and Christian was possessed ages ago.   Not in the biblical way but the business way.   Sam: "You're Crowley's bitch."

Crowley wants purgatory.   He calls Samuel ;Captain Chromedome' and Samuel knows more than Sam and Dean, so much about there being family loyalty.   Crowley brought back both Sam and Samuel as he's King of Hell.   "Me Charlie, you angels."  He just wants the creatures.   Sam doesn't know who he is.   Dean asks if he offered Samuel girls, money or hair.  Samuel had two choices: a bullet in him or to step aside.   Sam pulls out a gun quickly to shoot Samuel, so much for not being trigger happy, which he attributed to Dean a short while back.   Dean tells him to let him go, so much for Dean shooting first.   Sam says they'll have to go along for now.   So when Dean was a vampire how come he couldn't sense Sam was cold and empty and maybe had no soul?

Sam and Dean in another re-telling of an episode all about - you've guessed it - family.   I didn't much like the interjection of Samuel, he's devious when it boils down to it and really doesn't care about Sam or Dean.   He just looked like he was using Sam for hunting and wasn't really concerned for him.   Sam and Dean being family means nothing.   Dean's said it often enough - there's only Sam and Dean who can rely on each other (aside from Sam at the moment being momentarily emotionally 'lame' since he has no soul.)  Then there was Dad and that was the Winchester clan.   As far as Samuel's concerned, they're not Campbell's so barely rate a mention.   But the Campbell's are a disjointed, disgruntled lot and I'd put my money on Sam and Dean anyday than rely on this bunch of misfits.

As for Crowley pulling Sam from the cage; it doesn't appear plausible, especially since Crowley cowered at the sight or mere mention of other demons.   For him to go up against Michael and Lucifer in the cage doesn't beggar belief.   Still at least it wasn't dragged out too long, what Samuel was really up to with the monsters he caught and above anything else he lied to his grandsons - as well as the Alpha vampire revealing Samuel is in search of purgatory.   Should have realized Crowley would have a hand in this since purgatory means more demons for him to help him rule hell as King - or do whatever he chooses.

Dean gets to learn Sam is soulless and Cas gets to use his angel 'lie detector' on Sam.   Poetic justice in some respects as he let that boy in 6.3 The Third Man be subjected to the same 'torture' as Sam stood by and watched, and Dean's objections fell on deaf ears.  

Dean's reference to Christian as 'Newman' was a reference to the character Newman from the show, Seinfeld. Crowley referring to Charlie's Angels.

Stargate Atlantis - 5.6: "The Shrine"

Rodney is affected by a mysterious parasite leaving him only a few days left to live, whilst Ronon has a way of making him say goodbye to everyone. Jeannie arrives to say goodbye.

Rodney (David Hewlett) on video tape doesn't recall his name and he's not a doctor anymore as he's no longer smart.   He asks about Sheppard (Joe Flanigan).   Jeannie (Kate Hewlett) got a message from him four hours ago and he was fine.  Woolsey (Robert Picardo) wants her to have a chance to say goodbye to her brother.   Sheppard tells her of the "snafu on the last mission." Dr Nicol's team hasn't called in.  Sheppard and the team were sent to the town and discovered the stargate under water.   He sends a message back to send through a jumper.  They must stay until the stargate is accessible when the water level lowers.   Sheppard complains he got wet when he had to dial the DHD.  Ronon tells Rodney he's letting the hot air out of his mouth everytime he opens it.  Rodney fell asleep in the jumper when they were rescued eventually.   The story is told in flashbacks with Rodney's deteriorating state shown with his recorded video messages.

Woolsey decides it's prudent to send a MALP through before each transmission. Sheppard states, "Stuff happens."  What happened couldn't have been foreseen.  That MALP thing didn't last long.  Jeannie calls him Meredith, his actual name and he claims it's a girl's name.   Jeannie cries.  Ronon (Jason Momoa) has a way for him to say goodbye.   He knows a place where Rodney will be himself and he's willing to risk it if Jeannie is.  Rodney recalls his name.  Well he remembers Jennifer's name so...  There was something he wanted to say and Jennifer (Jewel Staite) stops the video there.

Tendrils have spread in his brain and he was affected by their last mission to M44549: a condition suffered by old people in the Pegasus galaxy.  Ronon's people call it "second childhood."  Jennifer missed the symptoms when he returned.  If she wasn't so taken by him she could have found it and operated.  Sheppard says they can go to the planet with a plan since there's a Wraith outpost there.  Ronon says he was there and knows how the place worked.  Sheppard doesn't believe it's real.  A magical shrine behind a waterfall.   Teyla (Rachel Luttrell) calls it having 'the gift of one day and then a quick death.'  Woolsey is more surprised with Ronon going hunting when he was 6.  Ronon believes it's a chance for Rodney to die with dignity.

Woolsey recalls his own father's battle with Alzheimer's and he had a moment of absolute clarity.  Ronon owes Rodney this and will take him himself.   Teyla agrees but they need Jennifer's permission.  They talk to Rodney first and she tells Rodney about the Wraith.   Sheppard is also willing to risk it.   What's a few Wraith between friends, not like they haven't encountered any before.  Jennifer still maintains the decision is hers and she hasn't given up on a cure.   The decision is Jeannie's and they're going.  His log monitors the progress of Rodney's memory loss, which is ironic.  Woolsey wants then to say goodbye for him.

The MALP goes in first.  Sheppard thinks the smokescreen should have worked against the Wraith and so they won't be detected.  In another flash, Rodney runs to Sheppard cos he left him when he was asleep. Sheppard takes him to the pier and they drink beer.  Rodney tries to recall the name of Jeannie's child and Sheppard calls her 'Betty.'  Rodney recalls it's Madison.   Rodney has forgotten more than most people and wants to say goodbye to Sheppard now.   Sheppard refuses and he's stuck with him.   He's a good friend and Rodney calls Sheppard 'Arthur.'

Jennifer picks up faint energy readings at the shrine and Rodney wants to go home and gets better.  On the tape log, Rodney forgets.   He sees a face when he close his eyes, probably his mother.

It's the Shrine of Talus and calls him 'Ronon the explainer.'  He recalls Sheppard not wanting to say goodbye but why now.  Rodney thinks he can just stay here, but the planet is overrun with Wraith.  Jeannie picks up ionizing radiation.  It was Ronon's idea to come here.  Rodney's last supper.   Sheppard: "suit your Messiah complex." Jennifer asks why it worked.  The parasite expanded when they left the area.  She thinks she can operate on Rodney here.   The parasite is radiosensitive to the shrine.  Sheppard can't radio for equipment but they can get it from the jumper, rudimentary tools.   Use the life signs detector to see the parasite.  Rodney refuses the operation and Jeanie tries to modify the scanner.  Rodney says goodbye to everyone on the log.

Sheppard assists Jennifer, she's shown it a way out and it wants to get away from the radiation.  She manages to take it out and Ronon shoots it.  Sheppard tells him he could have steeped on it; but Jennifer told him to shoot.   Back at Atlantis Rodney can't sleep cos of their talking and on the log Rodney tells Jennifer he loves her for some time now.  

Wow what an episode and I could just leave this as a comment.   This episode leaves a lump in the throat.   There are so many moments which bring together different, yet similar and separate emotions of all the characters.   Who'd think Ronon could be such a big softie - over Rodney of all people: his love rival for Jennifer?   That Sheppard could be so emotional and actually show - express his feelings in hoping he doesn't lose his "buddy." Aww.   Even Woolsey wants them to say goodbye for him.

What I suppose I didn't like was Jennifer's attitude, she's a doctor first - yes - she has to look out for her patient too.   The scene with Jeannie where she says she was too emotionally involved to spot the parasite earlier.   Then she vetoes them taking Rodney off world; even if this may be his final chance to say his farewells in person, instead of recording them.   She didn't want to let him go, but she didn't want to let him go either if you get my meaning.   So it was good when she came through for him and saved him with her idea to operate at the shrine.

Rodney declaring his love for her cos it's his last chance.   The heart-wrenching scene between Sheppard and Rodney on the pier (I'm easily moved).  Much wasn't said but it was the acting feats of Joe and David which said the most.   Sheppard's smile when he recalls that memory which could never be recorded.   Such a convincing performance from David, especially since Rodney's whole life has been his geekiness.   His entire being revolves around his work and his intelligence, oft quoted by him on numerous occasions of course!  He wouldn't be Rodney if he didn't display some arrogance.   Rodney calling Sheppard 'John' and Sheppard calling him 'buddy' and 'pal.'

On filming this scene on the waterlogged stargate, David posted the following on his blog: "...shooting the entire Atlantis away team - looking like drowned rats, cowering atop a submerged stargate - Joe, Rachel, and Jason are crouching and look more like the glistening sea panthers...but I'm doing my part and representing for the bedraggled geeks with sinus problems."

A prime example of a character study in a TV show.

Stargate Atlantis - 5.5: "Ghost in the Machine"

Atlantis is overtaken by some entity in the computer systems and it turns out to be Elizabeth Weir. She brings the remaining Replicators back to Atlantis.

Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) and the others talk about the planet they have checked out and about the flying monkey.   Rodney (David Hewlett) claims it's not the Wizard of Oz.   Teyla (Rachel Luttrell) believes the planet was suitable to inhabit.  There's a power spike in the jumper and Sheppard loses the steering, then power is lost and they miss entry into the stargate.   There's interference and Rodney finds there's displacement current in the jumper, which should not hit them as it's dangerous.   They find themselves in decaying orbit.   The pod powers up and they lose life support.   The power then returns.   I quite like the floating stargates in space.  Being sustained there in the middle of nowhere.

No other jumpers have been exhibiting such problems so it was Sheppard's flying of it, but that was funny, no?  Sheppard says the alpha site is perfect except for the monkeys.   Rodney says the jumper is in perfect condition now and Zelenka (David Nykl) believes there never was anything wrong with it.   Woolsey (Robert Picardo) ends up in the wrong place when he uses a transporter.   Lights flicker at Atlantis.   Sheppard is almost zapped by a bolt of displacement current.   Rodney says the anomaly couldn't jump systems.   The laptop boots and a message appears after power is lost.    It's from Elizabeth Weir and she needs help.   She's in the computer.   Rodney comments they're spread out like fragments and he could put them in one programme, thus allowing communication.

Sheppard finds Elizabeth sounds different; her physical body is dead since the day she ordered them to leave her behind.  Nanites were released in her body, when they encountered Replicator versions  of the team.   She recognizes Woolsey.  Sheppard: "He's the new you." Obesoth was hunting them down and the Replicators were wiped out.   Sheppard explains that was them destroying the Replicator home world, but Elizabeth was there in the jumper when they decided they were going to do that as Rodney activated the base code and she agreed to help.   So why the explanation, except for those who didn't see it?

Elizabeth continues they could begin ascension.   Koracen (Robert Moloney) wanted them to embrace their origins and exist as a field of energy, without their bodies.   Nanite bonds will be severed.  Rodney calls it "machine ascension." Weir says it didn't work and they occupied Wraith tech for a while which was unpleasant.   Atlantis's computers big enough to house them.   She connected with the jumper.   Ronon (Jason Momoa) is certain it's a trick and it's not her.    Rodney wants to build another Replicator body to house her.   Woolsey thinks Replicators are too powerful to be trusted.  Sheppard comes up with uploading her to a virtual reality like Ava.   Weir is building herself a body and used the Replicator template in the machine.   She can't replicate her consciousness which is controlling her body and has uploaded Wraith tech to the computer in a bid to earn their trust.  Rodney wants to keep her under guard to study her.   Woolsey calls Weir a Replicator, but Rodney says FRAN was safe, that's cos Rodney built her and Obesoth could be in Weirs body.   Sheppard: "That's creepy." Rodney owes it to Elizabeth, and so do they all.

Woolsey wants her uploaded into virtual reality where she can't do any harm.   Teyla speaks with Weir and tells her Sheppard isn't the father, she was quick to say that.   Like I said before, everyone suspected they had feelings for one another, or at least it would develop into that.   Weir has been found by the other Replicators and are on their way to Atlantis.   Rodney could write anti-virus software, but it's too late.   Sheppard believes she set them up and tells them to go elsewhere.   There are eight of them and Zelenka pulls the ZPM.   Koracen wants a body like Elizabeth.   They are stopping them from leaving Atlantis and are sinking the city and destroying their way to get a physical form.   Woolsey calls their bluff and they relent.   Weir proposes human bodies, nanite manufactured and existing like flesh and blood.   Rodney says it will take time to build humans.

A forcefield is placed around the lab and Woolsey let's them go.   Sheppard asks what if one of them wants to stay, meaning Weir.  Ronon keeps watch on them.   Koracen takes the power out and escapes.   Sheppard orders to shoot them all and one begs for their life.   Koracen claims Weir knew and it was her idea to come to Atlantis.   She had to do it.   Sheppard: "You may think that you're Elizabeth but you're not."  She destroys Koracen.   Woolsey allows them to continue with their work.   Weir thinks it too risky and puts things right by leaving them.   DHD configurations worked and they float into space and are left to die.   Rodney posits that answers their question of whether she was really Weir or not.   Since she was willing to accept her fate and save Atlantis once more.

FRAN remained unconvincing as Weir cos we just kept associating her with being FRAN.   Though this story was sad in many way's it touched upon, especially seeing how Weir ends up at the end after making the ultimate sacrifice of her life in helping them rid the Replicators.   Good to see Woolsey keeping a straight head and be the voice of reason.   Yet he was giving the Replicators every chance to prove prove themselves trustworthy.   The one had to spoil it for the rest.   Woolsey is really fitting into his role as head of Atlantis.

At least we get to see how they really felt about Weir and Rodney had to drive the point home at the end - maybe by this time we had to be convinced even more if this was Weir or not - just incase there were still doubters at episode's end.   Ava was in the episode Outcast.   Episodes alluded to this time were Lifeline, Be All My Sins Remembered Part 2.   This Mortal Coil.   Torri Higgenson didn't want to return to this episode and wouldn't like to be brought back over and over when she didn't feel her storylines were progressing and heading towards closure; if the series had continued.   Joseph Mallozzi in his blog said, "Is Weir conscious, floating through space, did her systems shut down...if anyone is foolish enough to mount a recovery and then attempt to awake them, they'd be asking for trouble."
At least Torri was seen on other shows, including NCIS.

Supernatural - 6.6: "You Can't Handle the Truth" Review

Dean finally finds out the truth about Sam, well has his suspicions confirmed after he wishes for the truth and people around him start doing exactly that.

Calumet City, Illinois:  A waitress, Jane (Ingrid Nilson) on the phone to her sister, Olivia (Tristen Leffler) says she needs the truth, which she gets from everyone in bucketfuls. She takes a gun and phones her sister who calls her a freak and tells her to kill herself, which she does.

Dean (Jensen Ackles) tells Bobby (Jim Beaver) about Sam (Jared Padalecki) and how he threw him to the vampire.   Castiel (Misha Collins) isn't answering his calls.   He knew Sam was different from the outset.   Bobby says he'll hit the books and not to "shoot him just yet." Sam needs to know what he is first.   Sam shows him his paper reporting four suicides out of nowhere.   Bobby: "Get in the car, he's your case" is the advice Bobby gives Dean.

Dean notices the cat calendar on Olivia's wall and a card with a horn on it, a musical horn.   Sam knows she's lying when she puts her hair behind her ear and he confronts her about her 'tell.'  It's a poker term.   (Jared should know about that seeing as he's a bit of a poker player himself.)   Olivia wanted to tell Jane she's here for her but told her to end it instead.     She had a tuba.   Dean: "What made big sister open her big, fat mouth in the first place?"  That's kind of like Dean moaning to Bobby about Sam, okay maybe not moaning exactly, Dean has every right, but Bobby warns against shooting Sam.   Dean is trigger happy as we know, but he wouldn't shoot Sam, maybe beat him up.   It's a big brother's prerogative.   But it was funny the way Dean said that like he's thinking about little brother, Sammy.

A dentist (Roger Haskett) kills a patient (Michael Chase) who confesses to having the hots for his daughter and admits to sleeping with her.   Dean can't do this much longer.   'Satan as my co-pilot,' he remarks about Sam.   Bobby talks of the worst case scenario, "maybe he's just Sam."  That would be worst case and would mean he's changed in the most awful and dangerous way.   Sam tells him about the dentist.   Dean: "You mean the non-sexy kind of drilling." Dean wants to stay and research.  He's seen the photo before in the motel room and refers to Marathon Man.   Sam claims to have wanted to murder the man too after what he confessed - yet Sam is soulless so how can he feel that way?  Aside from the thought of murder, he wouldn't really have any emotions over why he'd kill.   Only that he'd do it.

Dean notices a sax at the dentist's office and the same shop name.   The man at then store tells him about the stolen horn, it was a museum piece and thousands of years old.   It was stolen the day Jane died.   It's Gabriel's Horn of Truth.   That was a little ironic, seeing as we met Gabriel last season and he turned out to be the trickster from season 3 onwards.     As for truth he wasn't much up on telling the truth, just making people his objects of fun.   Cas ain't listening, Dean berates him over being here for the Horn and yet he's been calling him about Sam.  Cas had nothing to say about Sam, so he didn't come.  He's not Lucifer as he would have felt it if Lucifer escaped.   In a roundabout way when he says tha,t he almost reveals he was the one who pulled Sam from the cage.   It strangely does sound that way.   Cas is at war and disappears.  Cas doesn't know what's wrong with Sam but he wants to help.

Whilst Dean just boozes some more, Sam visits the morgue and finds the other DBs have vanished.   Dean goes to a bar, surprise!  A woman reporter on the TV speaks about the truth, now that was a really big clue.   Sam finds there was a car accident a week before.   The bartender (Vicky Lambert) asks if he wants anything else.   Dean asks for the 'truth' and gets it.   A woman (Holly Eglington) asks him about her big ones and Dean wishes her good luck with those, then comes back for a second look.   As only Dean would.

Bobby's watching Tori and Dean, he's a huge fan.   With revelations about Bobby's life in 6.4, we now get another snippet.   Tori's a real talent ad he gets a pedicure too, for those who couldn't tell, Bobby sounded sarcastic there.   Dean's scarred for life now.  Dean's Bobby's fave, but Sam's a better hunter lately.   What did Bobby's first girlfriend turn out to be?  A man.   Wonders why he said that.   Dean calls Sam to ask some stuff.   Lisa (Cindy Sampson) calls.   Dean can't explain about Ben and she wants the truth.  She comments he's got so much buried within him that he'll never be happy as long as Sam's in his life.   They've got issues.   Well truth be told now we know that's how Lisa really feels about the one person Dean holds dear to him, she should get out of the pic ASAP.   As I said before I never much liked her anyway.  

Sam get out of the undies drawer!  He finds cats everywhere in Corey's apartment and the roommate (Laura Bertram) shows him a box which contains a cat skull.   Dean asks why Sam let a vampire attack him.   Sam claims he didn't - he froze - in shock and was too late.   Sam, a hunter has that feeble excuse of freezing, since when.   Also Dean wasn't really going to accept that he's seen him hunt and Bobby just told him Sam's the better hunter of late so shock wouldn't be an issue for him.   His first instinct would have been to kill the vampire.   Sam can lie since he doesn't feel any emotions.   Dean was right he did see something.

Paradise seed, devil's shoestring are used in summoning spells for a god.   Invokes Veritas.   If they ask for the truth  - kill them and she gets a tribute.   She wanted to be worshipped.   It's the TV reporter of course.   They watch DVDs of her show and Dean calls her creepy.    Lots of eating for Dean.    A dog barks at her and she's got cat's eyes.   They follow her home and try to take her out but she's already waiting for them.   Lots of cats around.   Hey they were taken by a chick god.

They're both good liars  when they base their lives on lies, then the truth comes along.   What does Dean feel about Sam?  Veritas (Serinda Swan) questions.   He wanted to kill him yesterday, thought he was a monster - but "he's just acting like" Dean.  He wanted out and a family and is good at what he does.   "I'm a killer" and he can't change that.   Sam's uneasy.   They look out for one another and she knows Sam's lying.   He's not human.   Sam gets loose and fights her and Dean stabs her, as does Sam, who enjoyed that.   Just when it was getting good Sam had to get loose darn.   Dean confronts Sam who tells him the truth is there's something wrong with him and he let Dean get turned cos he knew there was a cure and needed to infiltrate the nest.  Never trust a person who aims to tell the truth and begins a sentence with "truth is..." It usually ends with "truth is...I'm a liar."

Sam: "Ever since I came back, I am a better hunter than I've ever been because nothing scares me anymore." He can't feel anything and he needs help.  But not two minutes ago he was saying he was shocked at seeing Dean attacked.  Knew that punch was coming and rightly so and the ones after that, it's who Dean is especially as he's been hurt by Sam.   At least we get the revelation now that Sam lied and he can't feel anything and Dean gets to hear from his own mouth that he lied and didn't want to stop him from being turned.   Dean was the one who wanted the truth and he got the truth and nothing but, when he asked for it cos it wouldn't work on Sam asking for it.   Bobby admitting his fave is Dean and Sam's the better hunter cos that's all Sam could do since he came back.

A bit like the episodes from pasts seasons when they needed to talk, when something is affecting them and makes them open up to each other and they fight, sometimes.   Thinking of the well episode in season 4.   Love Sam's smirking and attempts to fool Dean into thinking he was being honest and telling the truth.   Kind of glad Lisa and Dean broke up, wouldn't think Dean would want to be with her after she made those remarks about Sam, cos Sam is everything to him.

Another great episode following on from last episode where time and again Dean has it thrown back at him - who he really is and can't change.   Such as 1.6 Skin where it took a shapeshifter to bring some home truths to the fore.   Even in the last episode and here the same is done again.   It may be deja vu - but Dean knows this is all he can do and he's hopeless at anything else.   Being a family man isn't for him and he kind of wants to make peace with that.   Then he's emotional too when Lisa tells him he'll never have a life and be happy with Sam around.   That was harsh - but think deep-down Dean knows how he fells about Sam: family is everything and he'll never move on from that.   What probably rings true and hurts for him is he tried to have his own life, to be happy without Sam as best he could.   When Lisa says what she does about Sam too, she's not being fair.   She hasn't experienced Dean's pain at losing loved ones - many times over.   On the other hand it's confirmed Sam was lying all this time, he was able to put his brother in impossible danger as he did, then lie to his face, which warranted a beating like that as far as Dean was concerned.

Hey Sam wouldn't be hurt - no soul - though he may be physically bruised, emotionally he's not.   Add insult to injury by Sam knowing all along there was something wrong with him the entire time he's been back and told no one.   A kick in the head for Dean, what another one, the way baby brother could betray him that way.   Super performances from Jensen and Jared here getting to the raw emotions and core of their characters, which is why this show is so watchable.   Also a reversion to earlier seasons where Dean was portrayed as a hunter through and through: remorseless, callous, getting the job done.   He had a soul and knew what had to be done and the distinction must be made he didn't kill humans or allow anyone to suffer in that way.   Now this is Sam and he's only doing what Dean, as Dean told Veritas.

As a god, Veritas came across as weak.   She knew Sam wasn't quite human and yet she acted shocked when Sam was lying.  Such a weak female god and she wasn't weary of what Sam was capable of doing.   Know some were irked by Dean not telling Lisa why he pushed Ben - since Dean wanted the truth, he wasn't giving any back; but it wasn't the best time to tell her why over the phone.   The look on Sam's face when he he had the box with the cat skull, knowing he's pulled the wool over Dean's eyes again.   Dean begins to trust Sam at that point - even a little. He thinks just as he's asked for the truth and is able to get it that Sam will automatically follow and not be bale to lie to him.   Yet Sam appears to be so out of it or so far gone that doesn't even affect him; he can still lie.

'Satan as my co-pilot' was a reference to God is my Co-Pilot also mentioned in Supernatural before.   No need to explain where the title hails from - A Few Good Men and sure enough, Dean couldn't handle the truth, he takes it out on Sam.   I referred to season 4's Wishful Thinking episode cos in many ways this episode reminded me of it.   At the restaurant Sam ponders why Uriel remarked Dean remembers his time in hell; yet Dean insists he doesn't.   Then Dean tells him the angel lied.   Dean didn't want to talk about his time there.   The coin well inside the well was granting wishes.   Here whoever asked for for the truth was bombarded with it cos of Veritas.  Tiamut, the god of Chaos was granting wishes and turning them bad in Wishful Thinking.   At the end, Dean finally admits to Sam that he recalls hell and he apologizes for lying.   Sam suggests he should get help.   As in this episode, Sam says he needs help himself.

CSI: NY - 8.5: "Air Apparent" Review

The CSIs investigate the murder of the girlfriend of a newly released prisoner, connected to a basketball coach. Meanwhile Flack pays a visit to his sister to check up on her.

A prisoner listens to Riley (Robbie Amell) play basketball on a smuggled radio.   That opening scene looked like he was going to get out something other than a radio.   Riley meets his brother Hank (Justin Bruening) at the prison and he wants to see his girlfriend.   Cue his DB girlfriend.   Flack (Eddie Cahill) ascertains she's been stabbed several times.   Hank moved in three weeks ago.   His name is written on the door in blood.   Mac (Gary Sinise) "Looks like Angela left us a message."

Hank is still on drugs, as Riley says a prayer at the dinner table and Flack arrests Hank.   The CS is processed and Flack questions Hank by showing him photos of the CS, in particular the one with his name.   He loves her.   There was no forced entry.   Flack posits it must be tough on him and how many times did he promise her he'd change.   As we're shown a possible scenario of what could have happened.   Obviously this is a bit personal for Flack since he's thinking about his sister, Samantha (Kathleen Monroe).   Hank admits he was getting high but Flack tells him that won't fly in court.

Sid (Robert Joy) comments death by paper cuts is torture but it isn't any better by knife wounds.   Hawkes (Hill Harper) notices the defensive wounds, except for one at the top of the spine, which Sid points out.   Also there are epithelials under her nails and he found a piece of laminated plastic in a cut.   The other seven wounds left no hilt marks and the deepest wound tracks didn't have any hilt marks.

Flack calls Mac about Riley, who's ashamed and overturns the table on Hank.   Then throws a piece of paper at him.   Haven't had a table turning since season 1's Three Generations Are Enough, when Flack and Stella were on the receiving end.   It was an agreement between them both and Riley wanted to be Hank when he was little.   Hank was injured which led to drugs and rehab.   Flack tells Mac how: "Addiction makes someone a threat to anyone or anything in his way." We know who that's a reference to.  Prompting Mac to enquire after his sister, Samantha.   Flack lives in fear of getting such a call and asks Mac to define what 'regularly' means in terms of keeping in touch with her.

Sid discovers she was paralyzed on her left side which would have made it impossible to have written 'Hank' with her left index finger.   Jo (Sela Ward) says all the defensive wounds were on her right side.   Hawkes tests knife blades and cuts on a pig, which is always done in these shows, using knives similar to the ones that were in Angela's kitchen.   The missing knife which was used on her left hilt marks which match.   Mac comments she wasn't stabbed with force and so it wasn't a crime of passion.

Jo puts the pieces of paper she found at the CS together.   Lindsay (Anna Belknap) finds two different DNA profiles in the blood.  Danny (Carmine Giovinazzo) has to help Lindsay with the blood analysis.   Jo thinks there could be a connection to the paper she found and it could have prints.

Flack visits Samantha who tells him he hasn't knocked like that on her door since the academy.   His hair cut looks nice.   Hey I make all the hair and clothes comments here!  She guesses there was a homicide with a sibling Vic and he hasn't spoken to her.   He needed to now she was okay as he couldn't get her on the phone.   Flack sees her go out and follows her.   Adam (AJ Buckley) finds the piece of lamination was from the edge of a hologram, fragments of which can have the whole image, which he's projected.   Jo says he's proud of that.   The logo belongs to a health company in California.

Hawkes discovers the epithelials belong to Nick (Jarold Einsohn) who has priors.   He worked at the same barber's as Angela.   Jo catches Adam in more 'Adam mode'.   The athletics company makes bracelets for athletes, exclusive and expensive.   The serial number belongs to the owner.   Pity Lindsay had to come along with Flack and yet make more trouble, cos it was a slow day and no one else could leave the lab!  Trying to act all macho again.   Nick says Angela massaged his scalp and what she wouldn't have washed her hands.  Lindsay gets a call and tries to looks at him, thus giving the game away.   He makes a run for it and holds a razor to a woman's throat.   Then she comes up with a line of being able to shoot him in the head.   Groan.   Flack: "That's what happens when you bring a knife to a gun fight."

Flack says the knife was found in a dumpster and Nick tries to make a break for it, getting run over by a taxi.   Danny finds the prints on the knife match Nick and he made a copy of the apartment key, thus no forced entry.   Lindsay doesn't find any match to Nick from the blood in the satellite spatter.  So someone else was there.   Jo's torn letter mentions Riley going to Kansas and not Red Town.   So why was the letter torn?

Flack confronts Samantha about the temp agency and lying on her application form.   She's meant to tell the truth.  She shows him her rejected letters.   Flack sees her having the chance to do what she wants, but she disagrees since Flack men had the NYPD in their blood.   She wanted to be a journalist and he just feels guilty for not coming round enough.   Adam finds the company had a merchandising deal with Riley and the bracelets were given to coach Gavin (Scott Lowell) only.   He wanted to go to Kansas cos it was Hank's choice.

Mac believes the coach and Hank were in a tug of war as coaches are paid to deliver the top payers.   Hank attempts to knife the coach but Flack stops him.   Mac tells the coach he's not accusing him since his DNA was found at the CS, probably from his bloody nose.   He hired Nick to plant drugs and Angela caught him, she wasn't meant to be there.   Nick killed her and he fixed things.   This wasn't about Riley's future but his own.

Mac gives Riley his agreement back, he needs to be there for Hank.   Mac will monitor Hank at rehab and Hank believes he'll do it too.   Flack gives Samantha a present, an NYPD baseball cap and a job in the Media Relations Department, who wanted someone with a journalistic background and he called in a favour.   It's what siblings do during the good and bad times. "Sometimes nepotism is a good thing."  Also he's not above doing interviews if she needs any.   He jokes.

An episode where we get to see how Samantha's doing as a bit of an afterthought to the main storyline concerning siblings and addiction.  But at least she got a mention since she's not been seen since season 5's Dead Inside.  So Flack got a part of a personal storyline, even if it may turn out to be the only one he gets this season.   Not a welcome back to Danny from anyone but he's probably been back a few weeks now and gets paired with Lindsay again, at least we didn't have to see that.   No but we had to see her with Flack instead.   In a repeat scene from season 6, she always gives the game away looking at the suspect so suspiciously.   Then that tough act from her.   Again she did the same thing with Flack when he couldn't shoot the woman with the knife and Lindsay went and snitched on him to Mac telling him that Flack froze.

This episode was different in that there was no way to determine the coach was behind it since he wasn't mentioned or shown until later, though Nick was obvious.   Still, instead of coming clean the coach just covered up.   Who wouldn't want to receive a gift from Flack? - me please!

The episode where Lindsay interfered was 6.4 Dead Reckoning, where she thinks the woman in the restaurant will attack Flack with a knife, which wasn't the case.   Thus Flack's comment here about the knife at a gun shoot, going back to that episode.   Hate the way Lindsay is always interfering.   In CSI:NY season 1.10 Night Mother, Mac tests splinter patterns on a pig and in Run Silent, Run Deep, it was Adam who tested different knives on a pig.  

Smallville - 10.4: "Homecoming" Review

Lois convinces Clark to attend their Smallville High reunion, whilst he's still having doubts about himself and his abilities. Oliver has his own doubts and waits for reassurance from Clark, who's too busy caught up in himself to offer it.

Clark (Tom Welling) looks at magazine covers in the barn, following Oliver's (Justin Hartley) revelation about being the Green Arrow.  More self-deprecating on his part and after looking at the cover from Time, which asks 'S' is a hero?  Something Clark questions himself.  Lois (Erica Durance) enters wanting him to go to their reunion tomorrow.   She then notices the magazines and comments, "hero-haters." Clark doesn't want people putting their hope or faith in someone who'll let them down.   Lois is adamant the Blur will never let them down and she'll always stand by him.   This scene almost felt like he thought Lois knew his secret, otherwise why would he be having this conversation with her.   Clark needs  a good-old fashioned shake-up cos he's still having his doubts.   Lois wants to attend their 5 year reunion and reminds him she was at school for 23 days, 5 of which was in actual attendance.   He finally agrees to go.

The guidance counsellor at the school looks over the past reports with Clark appearing to be the object of her anger.   She's about to let rip with a letter opener into Clark's figurine, dressed in his customary red jacket and blue T-shirt, when Brainiac (James Marsters) stops her from doing so.   Implanting a thought in her head. "I'll take care of Clark Kent."

At the reunion no one recalls Lois and just when you think the counsellor will do or say something nasty to Clark, she hugs him, before which, Clark bends down to pick up her books and has a flashback moment to Lana Lang (Kristen Kreuk) and her Kryptonite necklace.  Clearly Clarkie was hooked in that one moment.   As he picks up his book, Lana asks if he's "man or superman" in reference to Nietzsche, also quoted by Carter Hall (Michael Shanks) in Shield, when he talks of 'ubermensche.' Former student, Greg Arkin (Chad Donella) drives up in a car and appears to be there for the same reason: to exact his revenge on Clark.   At least he looked sinister enough to want that.   He was from season 2 episode Metamorphosis, but wasn't he killed off in that episode, when he was squashed by some heavy stuff falling on him.  

Clark looks at the name tags on the table and spots one for Lana Lang, as does Lois and one for Chloe (Allison Mack.)  Clark tells Lois that Lana's not coming.   How did he know that, he hasn't been keeping in touch with her on the sly has he.   He walks into the room where Chloe edited The Torch and gets a flashback to her.   Two of the students, Clayton (Tom Stevens) and Zoe (Allie Bertram)  say they are keeping The Torch going on the Net, it's gone viral and have developed a theory that the Blur was born and raised in Smallville.   Lois tries to refute this in her efforts to protect the Blur's/Clark's identity.   Much to Clark's annoyance he's been crowned Alumni Homecoming King and Lois sits beside him on a throne chair.   Time freezes suddenly as Brainiac enters and tells him, "this is the moment your life changes forever."

Clark thinks Braniac is evil and they end up in a snow covered cemetery.   Here Brainiac explains he's Brainiac 5 from the future.   In scenes which follow, reminiscent of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol, he'll take Clark to his past, future and then present again.  Listen out for Lois saying "humbug" at one point.  Brianic wears the Legion ring, they reprogrammed him and made him good.  He states both he and Clark were 'created' by Jor-El and he's here to show Clark how he will help the world.   To do so, Clark must overcome the "darkness within." Clark replies, "all of a sudden, everyone's telling me I have a darkness within me." (Going back to the season opener.)

They find themselves at Jonathan's (John Schneider) funeral from season 5's Reckoning: the starting point of Clark's darkness.   He blames himself for his father's death, but Brainiac shows Clark the scene from this episode where Jonathan fought with Lionel Luthor (John Glover) trying to protect Clark.  Brainiac explains Jonathan chose his own fate, just as everyone does.  Then transporting him back to the present, where Oliver watches a news report after his revelation of being Green Arrow.   He's despondent and is expecting to hear from Clark, but no call comes.  Clark says Oliver chose his own destiny.   So Brainiac tells Clark he needs to stop blaming himself for the past.

Lois looks for some spiked punch and talks with Maddy, who tells her about Clark being "dreamy."  That Lana was his first love and you never forget that.   Lois explains they're not really together at the moment.   Clark sees Greg approach Lois and wants to return to her.   So why couldn't he interact with her here, just as he didn't with Oliver, but in the future, he can talk to her.   Though Brainiac tells him he can't change anything when he showed the fight between Jonathan and Lionel.   Yet Clark, in the future actually is capable if interacting.  

Clark grabs hold of the Legion ring and is transported to the future, where he's graced by the headline, "Superman Saves the Day."  But for some reason our Clarkie seems to be oblivious as to its meaning.   Lois approaches and warns him he's not wearing his glasses, not to worry, she has a spare pair and removes his Crows jacket.   Continued on from last episode where she suggested Kara should get a disguise and wear glasses.   Oh and another thing, Kara dressed at the end of that episode in similar fashion to Lois in the future, here.  Lots of Lois calling him "honey," almost like she wears the pants in their relationship, not that I don't like Lois.   Though she is meant to be protecting him.   Clark attempts to tell her he's from the past, a different time.  She however, checks to see if he's been infected by any of the Kryptonite colours.   She also thinks she's forgotten their anniversary: the day Clark trusted her enough to finally tell her his secret.

She's late for a meeting with the Mayor and Clark enters the lift where he meets his future self in glasses and raincoat.   Future Clark was expecting him.   He needs to save the city from an impending nuclear explosion and Clark needs to get to the roof, as Future Clark can't be in two places at once.  Clark watches himself whoosh and fly away and save the day.   While he rescues Lois in the falling helicopter.   This is the future Clark envisaged for himself, he tells Brainiac, who says he was meant to be here with him.   Brainiac confesses that Kal-El's darkness is within him, his "dwelling upon the past, but fearing the future."  Clark still doesn't believe this and his doubts remain.

Returning to the reunion, he hears Greg tell Lois that the message for Clark lies in him being grateful to Clark for saving him.  Lois and Clark share two seconds of a stolen last dance.   Music stops, reunion over, almost signifying that it's the reunion with Brainiac which has come to an end.   Clark visits Jonathan's grave in his new leather jacket costume, in need of saying what he couldn't say before, "Goodbye."  He wants to be the man Jonathan knew he could be and he also buries the watch Jonathan left him.   Why was that?  Some way of saying he needs to start over without any memories from the past, or dwelling on the past, but he'll always have his memories.   And having the watch doesn't in any way make him too overtly human, or weaken him, emotionally.

Oliver is interviewed by a forceful and dare I say it, bitchy reporter, who thinks she has the answers to everything.   Oliver is miffed as to how to reply to her constant bombardment of questions, until Clark shows up.   Oliver likens himself to JFK, repeating his "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" speech and he's not ashamed of what he does, or even likening himself to JFK.   He's a hero; along with the others who have chosen this pursuit of helping people, "I'm not doing it alone." This part was strange as it was always Chloe, or Oliver, who were always decisive in  telling Clark what he needs to do.  Now since coming out as a hero, Oliver seems to need reassurance from Clark.

At the barn, Lois finds a disco ball and Clark dressed in shirt and tie, wanting to have their missed dance.   In a rare moment, he tells her to shut up and get over here.   Lois steps onto Clark's shoes and carried away in the moment, Clark finally confessing, "I love you."  As she repeats the same.   They finally float off the ground as they dance.

Smallville keeps up the tease with the music attributed to the Superman theme and shows how Clarkie will finally be known in the future, as Superman.   This 200th episode only featured Brainiac in their reunion, having to make do with flashbacks for Chloe and Lana, but it wasn't in danger of wasting the episode by turning it into a clipshow as most other shows would have done.   Clark not noticing his name in the future, but only that he turns all geeky.   Seemed a bit rushed in places, but overall not bad for a 200th episode, with references to Clark's past and school days earlier on in the seasons, to which avid fans won't need any reminders.

Clark was doubly reassured by seeing himself in the future still with Lois, so it makes me wonder if he needed that to actually get their relationship going and back on track.   Providing him with the confidence he's been lacking in himself and his ability to do his work as the Blur.   Lois being rescued in the helicopter was a nod to  Superman: The Movie (1978).   It's finally spelled out that Clark isn't evil, what with all these allusions to his darkness, but that this darkness stems from his "human" side: that he's failed people, his father and blames himself for not accepting what happened in his past.

Just the right amount of sentiments without going too overboard.   Also good to see Brainiac was the buffer to bridge the gap between time for Clark and to draw him out of his "darkness."  Another added touch was Chloe's message to the two who are running The Torch, "Glad to see you're carrying on my Torch.  CS."  Showing that she's out there and still keeping a watchful eye out, even if it's not from Watchtower.

The song, Everything, playing at the dance, by Lifeline was also playing in the Pilot, when Clark realizes he's smitten by Lana.  The flashback to the episode with Jonathan, Reckoning was also the show's 100th episode.

NCIS - 7.2: "Reunion" Review

Ziva wants to be part of the team and applies to be an NCIS agent. Vance wonders if Gibbs is ready to approve this. The team investigate the killings of three marines in a motel room.

A stripper enters a motel room, only to find her clients are dead.    A new agent, Agent Brynn Fillmore (Valerie Rae Miller) recruited as Ziva's (Cote de Pablo) replacement types up her resignation.   Tony (Michael Weatherly) comments they only investigate crimes in the navy here and not the army.   (Also crimes in the marines.)  As we know the army has its own unit, hence Col.  Mann (Susanna Thompson) back in season 4.   Valerie Rae in her one and only short scene with Michael, a Dark Angel reunion.   As Original Cindy in the show, she didn't like Logan and she doesn't like Tony here either.   Her first name is Brynn, also the name of one of Max's (Jessica Alba) sisters in the show.

Tony asks McGee (Sean Murray) if Ziva called, he tried to speak with her on the plane.   He would have also tried to speak with her on the plane in the season 6 finale, had Ziva come back with them.   McGee mentions Janice  has asked him out for drinks.  Janice, described as having "man hands."  McGee tells Tony that Ziva will be back and they bet $20 that her desk will be empty by next month.   Too late, Brynn's already signed her resignation as she finds Tony to be "childish, juvenile and annoying." Nothing new there then.   Hey would love to work in that office, wouldn't you?  She refers to McGee as "the faithful sidekick." Tony has to repeat, "Annoying."  With McGee holding onto the "sidekick" reference.

Ziva pays Gibbs (Mark Harmon) a visit to his basement.   She gives him a chisel for leaving her behind in Israel.   As I recall from the season 6 finale, she wanted to stay and refused to go back with them.   It was her choice, he didn't leave her there.   She says she felt betrayed.   Her feelings of betrayal and anger were directed at Tony and not Gibbs so she can't say he left her.   Then she goes on to say after having time to think it through, Gibbs was right to leave her there.   Again it was her choice.   She had forgotten who to trust, but wants to be part of the team now.   As for the trust issue that works both ways and in the season 3 opener when Ziva arrived in town, they had no reason to trust her, but it appeared she insinuated herself into their lives and especially that of Gibbs.  Appearing to have a hidden agenda.   Gibbs tells her to talk to Vance (Rocky Carroll) who is expecting her and she most certainly needs to speak with Tony.

The others investigate a triple homicide and McGee insists he's not Tony's sidekick.   Tony replies he is since he's the boss.   No, Gibbs is the boss and Tony corrects him by saying Tony's the boss when Gibbs isn't around.   Gibbs and McGee question the stripper and her manager, Hector (Eamonn Roche) and McGee accepts his card with a pair of tweezers.   He sprays cologne on McGee.   (Hey McGee acting like he had OCD there, a trait he inherited from Agent Nikki Jardine - I liked her.  ( Susan Kelechi Watson).  [Recall the cologne for later.]  The stripper tells them that one of the marines had hair when she met him.   Ducky (David McCallum) finds a razor burn on his head.   His hair was removed after he was dead.   They are identified as Jurel, Ross and Sandrich, whose fiance was out of town.

McGee and Tony still harping on about the sidekick issue, when he tells Tony to follow him.   Tony replies, no McGee should follow him as the sidekick.   McGee shouldn't "fight his inner sidekick." Besides Tony calls McGee shorter than him.   They're the same height.   Tony tells him that women find him too good looking.   Ziva arrives and adds her opinion, she finds McGee is more handsome, it's "nothing personal."  Anyone would think it was, especially since she's into bearing grudges and she has a big chip on her shoulder too as far as Tony is concerned.

Vance asks if she's discussed her decision with her father, Eli.   She replies it was NCIS who rescued her and he thinks she has been invaluable to this office; but Ziva wasn't an agent.   Only a Liaison Officer.   She has to pass her Psych Evaluation before they take things further.   Gibbs tells her to talk to Tony and Vance wants her to speak with her father.   Like that'll happen.   As we know it's a pushover for Ziva to pass her Eval.

The auctioneer at Jurel's place of work thinks it's good news that he's dead since he made everyone miserable.   Yet one of his co-workers cries, Elena (Sarah Utterback) calls him misunderstood.   Palmer (Brian Dietzen) has never been to a bachelor party.   Ducky can tell him stories to embarrass.   Ducky says his findings were confirmed by Abby.  (Pauley Perrette) All three were drugged.   One drowned, one suffocated and one suffered alcohol poisoning.   The killer wanted them awake when they died and there's evidence of a GS wound.

McGee can't help playing with his new techno gadget, the touch screen TV.   With the "swipy things;" as he calls it.   He finds one of the Vics was followed.   Tony was interviewing his fiance and tells them she's already re-engaged.   Tony: "Remind you of someone Boss?"

Gibbs: "How long are you going to keep making those jokes?"  Cos he's been going since season 1!
Tony: "I think that was actually the last time I am going to be making that joke.   Sorry."  Notice when Tony apologizes to Gibbs, he's always coy about it and lowers his voice, like he's embarrassed or he's been caught out like a child.   So he's been married four times, we could ask, how many times is Tony going to keep on dating without settling down!  Then he shows his sign of weakness by apologizing, for fear of being slapped.   Not many slaps going around lately.

Tony and McGee watch the video from the bachelor party and Gibbs wants them to turn it off and rightly so.   Gibbs surmises the second party was a cover.   His fiance discovered he was messing around and called off the engagement five months ago.   Ziva suggests they recreate Jurel's daily route using his GPS history from his mobile (cell) phone.   Why didn't McGee(k) think of this anyway, it's his area!  Tony mentions loving Psych Evals, and as Ziva puts it, just so he could talk about himself the entire time.  Tony replies no one can accuse her of being tactful.

Abby welcomes Ziva back and then berates her for ever doubting Tony after everything they went through.   That Tony didn't kill Rivkin because he was jealous and she told Gibbs she didn't trust Tony.   But Tony's "all soft and goofy on the outside and 100% rock on the inside."  (Wasn't that meant to be the other way around.)  He risked his life for her.   She scores Tony -1 and Ziva -0.   It's her move and she'd better make a good one.   Then she hugs her again before the planned welcome.   Abby style with the banner.

Gibbs speaks with Ross's C.O.  Marine Col.  Dick  Jestern (Charles Parnell) who needs to revise his report as Ross didn't hurt himself on the base in South Korea.   Vance will sign Ziva's reinstatement and work It out with her father, but if Gibbs doesn't want her here, then he won't bother with the formalities.   Gibbs needs her here.   McGee gives Ziva credit for her idea to track Jurel's movements.   Unlike Tony.   They arrive at a house where Shelley, (Ian Reed Kesler) a Baltimore cop is already there and pretends there's a suspect in the house.  He asks if he's Tony DiNozzo, he is, but only if he doesn't owe him money.   That was stupid of Shelley, did he think he'd get away with it, when they find out it's his own house.   Gibbs slaps Tony, finally!

Tony believes they may have stopped the second half of a murder/suicide.   McGee, out for coffee, spots Ziva.   She thanks him for saving her.   It's been three months and she has put everything that happened behind her; but she's avoiding Tony.   That's nice, McGee didn't being back coffee for Gibbs.   Shelley and the Vics all attended the same high school and Shelley was a target of their bullying.   Tony's desperate to use the Head.   They e-mailed the video of their bullying to everyone in Shelley's precinct.   McGee finds incidents were recreated from the past in the marine's deaths, so Shelley would be an obvious suspect.

Tony relieves himself and proceeds to sing and as luck would have it, or not, Ziva walks in.   She's not sure what to say.   Tony asks if she needs to say it here.   When he shot Rivkin, she could have shot Tony where he stood.  Tony corrects her, he wasn't standing and he was double parked outside.   Tony was watching out for her and she was wrong not to trust him.   She explains she trusted Ari (Rudolf Martin) and Rivkin and they let her down, she couldn't afford to trust Tony.   She gave the same explanation to Gibbs earlier on, couldn't she come up with something different now.   They say sorry to one another and she kisses him on his cheek.   Guess some of you Tiva lovers were poised on the edge of your seats thinking this was it, but thank goodness it wasn't!  Tony grabs Ziva as he gets a brainwave!  For a minute there, Ziva thought he was going to kiss her!  Tony's instincts were right.  "I'm a cop, think like a cop."  Tony knows Shelley has another burn phone and tells McSidekick to track the phone.   Shelley calls DiNozzo and denies killing them.   He will meet with Tony.   Shelley crashes his truck into the phonebox after being shot.

Ducky states he knew his killer.   Ross was involved in a shooting at an airstrip used by smugglers.   Had a package on the plane.   McGee sneezes in the presence of Shelley's DB.   The cologne leads to Hector.   He's not a manager but a fence.   He has Shelley's DNA under his fingernails as they were in a fight.   He admits the package was the plane.   See season 1 JAG  episode Black Ops, where Harm (David James Elliott) investigates the death of a Senator's son.   What appeared to be an accident, turns out to be murder by his C.O as he was selling off a military plane; which was the 'package'.   Abby's conclusions points to Shelley being shot by an antique percussion cap pistol.   Leading to Elena, well she stupidly gave herself away.   They have proof, as Tony calls McGee, 'McProof'.   The suicide note was traced to her laptop.

Ziva senses Gibbs' hesitation at Vance having her back in the team.   Gibbs mentions Ari and the flashback to Season 3 Part 2, Kill Ari.   She had orders to kill Ari to earn Gibbs' trust and Gibbs says she killed her own brother.   She thought her father was wrong about Ari.   Ziva believed Ari was innocent and would have lied to Gibbs since Ari was her brother.   Gibbs meant nothing to her but when she killed him to save Gibbs; she wasn't following orders.   Everyone's gone and Gibbs is the closest she has to a father and he's accusing her.

Ziva's back and Tony and McGee return to find her behind her desk.   McGee went on a date with Janice and Tony will get all the details out of him.    A bit of a long-winded way to get to the truth and the real reason why Ziva arrived in Season 3; it was apparent she was there for Ari, but when she found out what he was really like and what he had done, she had no choice but to kill him.   It could be pointed out that her character could have gone either way and her real reason for being there was to 'infiltrate' NCIS.   She was an assassin after all and so she could have strung them along and not been a part of their team because she really wanted to be, but since she was following orders.   At least that storyline was laid to rest, was tending to drag on a bit.

The way one of the marine's was posed over the toilet reminded me of Nick's (George Eads) stalker episode in CSI.

The Vampire Diaries - 3.2: "The Hybrid" Review

Elena hatches what she believes is a foolproof plan to find Stefan and drags along Alaric, who in turn convinces Damon to come too. Klaus puts his plan to mass produce hybrids into operation.

News reporter speaks of Andie's death, as Elena (Nina Dobrev) comes to visit Damon (Ian somerhalder).   Her birthday is mentioned and she tells him Stefan (Paul Wesley) called her, she thinks it was him since he didn't say anything.   No, she heard the pangs of heavy breathing instead, ha.   He called from Tennessee.   Damon tries to convince her, "Stefan's gone...not geographically."  Gone in the head, too far gone, the usual explanations that accompany the phrase.   Elena then turns to Alaric (Matt Davis) to ask about Tennessee and Stefan.   Damon doesn't want to help.   Well she's blinkered not seeing why Damon doesn't want to help, not at first anyway.

Elena still has the notion Stefan can be saved, is worth saving and Alaric asks why she has to be the one to save him?  A bit like all the other vampire shows gone before, not mentioning names, but of course she still loves him, or does she, maybe she wants to make a clean break, do everything she can for Stefan to save him before she turns her attentions to Damon, with a clear conscience.

Klaus (Joseph Morgan) and Stefan are tracking werewolves.   Klaus is still going on about Stefan's brooding.   They've been hunting all Summer and have finally found a pack of werewolves, camping out in the woods, led there by Ray (David Gallagher).   Lockwood is stressed out and Tyler (Michael Trevino) is surprised at Caroline (Candice Accola) "sneaking out" as his mother puts it and she's not a prostitute.   Lockwood calls Bill (Jack Coleman) about vampires.   Jeremy (Steven R McQueen) tells Matt (Zach Roerig) about Vicki (Kayla Ewell) and wants Matt to contact her.   Tyler tells Elena about some werewolves enjoying themselves without being chained up and gives her a map to their location in the Smoky Mountains.

Alaric thinks she's a bit mad wanting to hunt werewolves on a full moon, either that or she has a death wish (my words.)   Klaus meanwhile talks about a pure hybrid and he is attempting to convert Ray (who gets human blood to drink which Stefan says he'll drink if Ray doesn't, and Stefan doesn't know how to stop drinking, cos he's got his thirst for blood up to speed.)   Tyler says Caroline usually helps him on a full moon and Matt doesn't appear to get the significance of that.   The sheriff gets him to put vervain in the coffee, which is why Tyler finds the coffee tastes funny and why mommie dearest has been doing the same thing.   In a town this small it's amazing how Lockwood can be so naive as to think someone close to her won't or can't be affected in some way.   The humans can't taste the vervain but Tyler can.

Bill will take care of Caroline as she's a vampire.   Elena asks if Alaric was a boy scout, a boy scout/vampire slayer and he gives her wolfsbane.   Elena by way of return gives him John's ring since it won't work on her as she's a doppelganger.    He's only going to borrow it.   Damon turns up and Elena lands in the water but refuses to get out otherwise she'll have to go back.   Really how old are you Elena?  Alaric told Damon about their trip.  

Stefan talks of Klaus's plan to build an army of hybrid slaves, but he calls them hybrid soldiers, they'll be loyal since they'll be on the victorious side.  Damon hasn't given up on Stefan.   Klaus thinks Elena's dead when he broke the curse.   Damon says they need to get out before the full moon and that was wishful thinking on his part, "Unless you wanna relive that whole deathbed kissy thing." Sure he wouldn't mind a re-run, or several repeat performances infact.   Ray bites Stefan who hears Elena and Damon talking.   Could they be any louder and more conspicuous or did the fact that vampires have super-charged hearing slip their minds, talk about announcing their presence.   Of course that will work to Damon's advantage as we'll see later.

Klaus wants Ray back and then he'll heal Stefan.   Oh great is there anything more annoying than brothers following in each other's shadows, with their cast-offs as far as women are concerned and then getting bitten by werewolves too.   Damon last season, Stefan this season.   Tyler confronts Lockwood about the vervain in his coffee and she was testing him; making sure he was normal cos of Caroline.

The three find Ray and naturally he goes for Damon, er for a bite that is.   Jeremy tells Matt he's got an opportunity to help his sister but he doesn't want to help.   Matt picks up a photo frame and then lies it flat down, it stands up again when he turns away, announcing Vicki's presence but he can't see her.   Elena wanted to talk with Stefan, first she wanted to come and dragged them all the way out here and now she wants to leave.   Then she trips whilst running and faces a wolf.   Damon makes it chase him.  Alaric blames himself since Damon is here cos of him and not Elena.   Actually it is Elena he's here for.   Then maybe Stefan in a secondary way.

Tyler locks Lockwood in the cage and then chains himself up, undergoing a transformation right before her eyes.   Uncle Mason is also a werewolf, "It's a family curse." Stefan saves Damon from Ray, that was seen coming.   He tells Damon he didn't call Elena, so who did.   Damon tells him Elena won't give up on him.   Back in the truck, Elena convinces Alaric he's not a lost cause. "You're just lost" as is she and Jeremy.   They don't have anyone anymore so they're right for each other.   Alaric decides to keep the ring.   Stefan watches from afar and Elena senses she saw Stefan but he's vanished.

Jeremy understood Vicki better than Matt and he brings him her things.   They both don't have any memory of Vicki dying.   She's here and Jeremy sees her.   She needs him to help her come back, having something sinister up her sleeve no doubt.   Anna (Malese Jow) also shows up warning Jeremy not to trust Vicki.   Stefan brings back Ray since he has to be healed.   Klaus's potential hybrids can't make the full transition and survive.   He had to kill some and some died.   He can't understand why as he did everything right, broke the curse, killed the werewolf, killed the vampire and the doppelganger.   Klaus cures Stefan as he's "the only comrade I have left." Klaus has issues about being left alone, being the last of his kind.

Damon was wrong, Stefan isn't fine.   He's an "insufferable martyr" but he can be saved.   He owes Stefan for saving him, but wasn't that expected of him anyway as they're brothers.   They don't have to owe each other anything.   Elena believes it's too dangerous to keep going even if Damon wants to help her bring Stefan back, she doesn't want to see him hurt.   Which is what Damon wanted to hear her say so she can recall what she felt when Stefan was gone and when Damon brings him home.   It's all about Damon you see, at least the 'getting the girl' part.   Elena doesn't know what she's doing with Stefan and Damon as she tells Alaric.

Lockwood reassures Tyler she'll make sure Caroline will be okay and calls Bill who is determined to do this since they're monsters.   It's his family's fight for over a 150 years.   He already has Caroline.   He's her father.

Thought this episode would've been more exciting after the season 2 finale but it just wasn't in the same vein (ha.)  It was more about setting up stories and plots for this season and what the characters have to do.   How Elena is caught between the two, Damon and Stefan again.   Does she have true feelings for Damon and will she acknowledge them?   Oh forget her, will Damon be able to make her fall for him now brother's out of the picture, helping Klaus in his devious plan.   Klaus wants to build his hybrid army cos he doesn't want to be alone in the world.   Stefan still has his humanity, or barely hanging onto it, at least when he saves Damon from Ray.   So why does Damon have so much trouble fighting a werewolf?  - Once bitten, twice shy and all that - but his mushy feelings for Elena seem to affect his fighting prowess and spirit that the "old" Damon had when he was antsy and dark.

Why do they not have Stefan drinking blood directly from Klaus's arm.   How much longer can Stefan protect Damon and Elena, seeing as he has to help Klaus anyway and seems this will somehow backfire on him as eventually he'll have to torture, hurt Damon and Elena in some way?   Klaus, at this pint, doesn't know his plan concerning the hybrids isn't working cos he didn't do everything as he says - he failed to kill Elena. At any rate she's still around.   Stefan managed to not give that away when Klaus has his rant.   Don't see that secret lasting for long though.

Elena's stupid and juvenile plan to look for Stefan on a full moon in werewolf territory, taking Alaric and then roping Damon into it too.   Jack Coleman playing yet another father figure with much to be desired, who has no intentions of protecting this daughter.  Tyler reveals in the most horrible and direct way possible that he's a monster so his mother can't deny it.   Maybe it's just me and a few thousand others who don't like where Damon and Elena are headed together.   Preferred him mean and brooding than marshmallow-y soft and romantic.

Supernatural - 6.5: "Live Free or Twihard"

The one with the vampires and the Twilight references. The one where Sam lets Dean be bitten by a vampire as he stands by and smirks...no really! Then lies about not knowing there's a cure.

Bauhaus's 'Bela Lugosi is dead' plays in a bar, when a girl meets a boy, who is so obviously a vampire.   Her names is Kristen (Elise Gatien) and she posted her poems on the Net.   He says he knows who she is and she sucks her blood from her finger after a paper cut.   Yuk.   Kristen doesn't know him and she shouldn't either, but she's 17 and can make her own decisions.   Robert (Charlie Carrick) shows her his fangs and she fears she's just dreaming and will wake up in Math class.   In an alley Robert reveals his fangs again and the other big ugly mug of a vampire, going by the name of Boris (Joseph D Reitman) bites her.

Dean (Jensen Ackles) calls Lisa (Cindy Sampson).   Six girls in seven days have all disappeared.   Dean calls them cute, at least one of them.   Dean: "Ice cream comes in all sorts of flavours." Pick Kirsten to check her out.   Her room is full of all kinds of vampire posters and paraphernalia.   Dean: "These aren't vampires man, they're douchebags."  Sam (Jared Padalecki) finds her laptop.   Dean picks up the book, 'My summer of Blood' and comments on the cheesy vampire watching the woman sleep on the cover of the book.   He wonders; "How's that book not wrong."  Then reads an extract.   Dean suggests Sam should try 'Lautner' as a password.   Sam replies he's a werewolf.   How did Dean know that? Oh never mind. He's probably been watching a certain movie.   Dean adds that kid is everywhere. "It's a freakin' nightmare." Sam thinks of Pattin-son.   Sam discovers vampires are phishing for Vics.   They're easy prey, all that they need to do is to write bad poetry.

There's a raid on a blood van.   Samuel (Mitch Pileggi) thinks it's a pattern. He wants to be sure it's a vampire so they need to find the nest and work it out.   Dean: "You think she wears all that rubber to the beach?" commenting about a girl in the bar.   Dean asks about the last time they had a beer together.   There's three possible vampires and only two of them.   Dean suggests Sam takes Efron and he'll take Bieber.   That was so the wrong choice on Dean's part.   Sam lops the vampire's head off.   He's come a long way from 1.20 Dead Man's Blood when Dean had to do the culling and also Dad.   Now he's in his element and he doesn't care how he hunts.   It's getting the job done that matters.   Also a complete reversal of season 1.   Dean comes across fake vampire.   He's wearing glitter, which he does to 'get laid.'  Dean: "Does it work?" Boris calls Dean pretty and throws Dean back.   Dean doesn't play for his team.   He overpowers Dean and Sam just watches as he takes a bite into big brother;  not stopping him from biting and feeding on Dean.   Until he decides to stop it - by then it's too late.  Oi Sam!  Could have just punched Sam then.   He was so mesmerized by what he saw and that smirk!

Everything's heightened for Dean now and he didn't think he'd die like this.   Samuel will kill him cos Sam won't do it.   Sam says they can work it out and Dean asks why Sam isn't freaked out since he can hear his heartbeat and it's steady.   Sam insists he is freaking out, yeah in 'new' Sam mode.   Relishing every moment.   Dean is a monster and needs to be taken care of.   Sam asks how he's feeling.   Dean: "Now you want to talk about my feelings."  Dean can see a fang taking shape.   Dean: "vampire's pee" and he makes a break for it through the window.

He watches Lisa sleep just like the pervy vampire on the book sleeve, so much for his comment.   He can hear her heartbeat.  Dean can't bring his life home to her, it's "ugly and violent and I'm gonna die soon." Dean with fangs, something we never thought we'd see. Why's it always Dean who gets  to turn into a monster, or attacked by one, or the monster turns into him, a la shapeshifter?   Dean pushes Ben (Nicholas Elia) aside.   Dean returns to the motel and Sam and Samuel pull their knives on him.  He didn't feed but he came close.   Samuel can turn him back and save him.   Samuel's grandad's journal: a cure is an old Campbell recipe.   Wonder if he had one in there for werewolves too, harking back to 2.17 Heart and Madison.   If Dean drinks blood there's no going back.   They need the blood of the "fang who turned you."  Dean can get it and calls Sam a "walking hamburger." Actually Dean should have called him worse than that for what he let happen.   Dean knows where their lair is and takes dead man's blood with him.

Samuel tells Sam he knew about the cure but he denies it.   Sam did know it was like he wanted Dean turned to find the Alpha vampire.   Sam: "You really think I'd do something like that to my own brother."   Yes cos we know Sam isn't 'Sam' so he won't feel anything - no emotions and so he did stand by and watch just to find the nest.

Dean's met by Robert who gives him blood but Dean's already fed.   They don't kill people anymore but wants to know what it's like.   Dean hungers for blood now as opposed to food!  Dean asks what a hunter is and thinks he looks 33 (Jensen's age in 2011.)   Boris talks about their father, i.e Alpha vampire.   Drops fall from the syringe Dean is carrying and Boris hears it fall to the floor.   Father tells him to leave Dean, probably, and he falls to the floor as do all the girls and Dean too.  He has flashes: two girls, vampire twins, a cemetery, a house and 'Father.'  Boris releases the girls and Robert gets lopped.   Dean was doing a good job killing those vampires, vampire strength came in handy.   Boris tells him this is bigger than the both of them.   Samuel says Dean has Campbell in him and takes care of Boris too.   Sam is more interested in questioning Dean on what he saw in the nest and he can't hear him cos the sound of the blood in his ears is so loud.

Dean throws up and flashes back to everything.  Recalling Sam standing around and watching with that big grin on his face - like he planned it all and then used Dean as bait.   Sam again asks what Dean saw.   There's a psychic connection, the Alpha sends them messages, he's building an army.   The vampires aren't afraid of the hunters anymore.   Then Sam asks about Lisa, like he really cares.   Dean can at least can be assured Sam's got his back, "No matter what happens I can always count on you - right Sammy?"  Yeah just like he let Dean get turned.

For all its criticisms, I thought this episode of Supernatural was fantastic.   It shows it can still do 'monster' stories mixed with emotional highs and lows.   Just when you think you've got Sam pegged he goes and lets Dean fall prey to a vampire.   Shame on Sam (even if he is different.)  Also making light and poking fun at the Twilight saga, which admittedly isn't my cup of tea, but it has its fans.   With the two in the beginning being named for Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson.  Hey that was Stargirl from Smallville.  I enjoyed all that humour and comments about vampires in films and in books being 'douchebags' especially when referring to the number of vampire shows on the market.   (Though I do have a penchant for the Vampire Diaries and Ian Somerhalder! )

At least Dean's suspicions about Sam have been confirmed now as he recalled Sam at the end with that evil grin.   When Sam lies to Samuel about not knowing there's a cure for Dean!  How long has he been with Samuel now, a year and he feigns not knowing?   Samuel doesn't tell Dean that Sam knew of the cure either, whichh means this is one thing Dean doesn't know about Sam, so look a secret again in the show.   Used to love when they both had their secrets from each other and kept things to themselves.   Though if Dean put two and two together it wouldn't be so hard for him to figure out.

As for Dean being able to rely on Sam, he hasn't been able to do that for a long time, oh don't get me started.  Sam is vicious and cruel and tries so hard to cover it and his true intentions, no Sam can't cos he can no longer use that puppy dog act that people used to fall for in past seasons.   He saw Dean in trouble and watched him get turned as a chance to garner info on the Alpha - whereas he would have used some other poor bait - he finds the ample opportunity falls into his lap when Dean is in grave danger.   As for the vampire cure, well it was on the Campbell side of the family, so it's doubtful anyone else would have known of it, let alone Dad, who didn't really get on with anyone much, so he wouldn't have found out.   Also the way the Supernatural writers crawled out of a mire by ensuring no cure was known before this episode as it's in the Campbell family journal.   But hey, wouldn't Daniel Elkins have had an inkling about a cure, especially since he was around and knew of the Colt?

Sam was always destined to the 'dark' side and he clearly demonstrated that in this episode and season, and in seasons 4 and  5.   Dean was meant to be on the side of 'good' and this was shown by Castiel (Mischa Collins) being able to pull Dean out with his soul intact.  Kudos to Jensen.  This really was his episode and he played it to the hilt.

The title is an allusion to the Bruce Willis movie, Live Free or Die Hard, number 4 in the Die Hard franchise.

CSI:NY 8.16 Slainte

Good to see Flack (Eddie Cahill) have more of a role in this - not only as a cop but also getting to show his caring side (coming a long way from his gruff, rough exterior back in season 1.)  At least he's excelled and developed as a character instead of remaining stagnant (like a certain Lindsay.)  Then there's more mention of his Irish roots and his faily name: he's also a Jnr, Donald Flack Jnr (incase after 8 years you hadn't noticed!) as he tells Reilly - so he knows about wanting to emulate his father.  Flack's father was a cop so he followed in his footsteps.

Flack clearly got his one-liners and the more amusing moments of the show: such as helping out the Vic's daughter and even giving her his card - to call incase she needs help.  (I'd call anyway!!  Then that's just me.)  Maybe that was his intention as he walks away with that 'sly' Flack grin.  Uh-oh then he gets caught up in another bomb blast - thankfully he's not hurt this time.  Flack and bombs do not go - re the season 2 finale Charge of This Post, when he was injured.  But no time to mention that this time round.  Flack was also thoroughly amused at Reilly's mentioning of him as the 'mick' on their case as he told Declan.

Anyway, this epsiode was about a dismembered DB being found on four corners of Hell's Kitchen.  Now if that wasn't sending out a message... Knew Reilly and Declan had something to do witht he killing and they didn't help by drawing attention to themselves.  Flack not wanting to get into it with them.  For a moment there; didn't think Hawkes (Hill Harper) was going to be in the ep.  He was wearing 'retro' shirts, he hasn't worn before.

Danny (Carmine Giovinazzo) and Flack at a pool table and no time to play, though they both took pleasure out of pockting the balls for Declan.  I do so enjoy their scenes together and was glad Lindsay wasn't dragged around with either one this time round, aside from the opening with Flack, when he tells her she's not missing much about his weekends - so he can spend with me -ha.  Also Flack getting an eyeful of Coleman's assistant, so not his type!!
Talk about dumb criminals, Declan goes and uses the very same gun with which he killed the bodega owner Vic.

Danny texts: "What has two arms, no body and no head?"  "My CS."  Mac seems to be getting Stella's stale and unfunny lines.  Noticed Jo (Sela Ward)  doesn't get any such cheesiness.  Danny also gets to process a CS on his own and he hasn't done that for a long time.

What was Mac (Gary Sinise) making at the end, grilled cheese?  Why not bruschetta.  He's now ready to accept a relationship with Christine (Megan Dodds) though he has to cancel their proper 'first date' together for work.  Which is something she can get used to.  But how long will the 'getting on' with life last?  (Since we know what's ahead in 8.18.)

Adam (AJ Buckley)  was up to his usual fun geekiness when he finds the cigarettes are fake and Mac telling him smoking's not allowed. At least he didn't light them as Stella did where the man dressed up as a cig in 3.17 The Ride In.  Then he actually knocks on Mac's window, brave thing to do and gets him to come to the lab - he's excited!  Mac didn't say anything horrible to him - could this be the effect Christine is having on him.

All that was missing was a Flack/Danny chase scene, but guess Flack made up or that with all his scenes and so did Danny, still showing how much of a friendship they had - don't do that anymore. A shame!  Slainte means 'to your good health' and is a toast and saying; such as "luck of the Irish", "the life of Reilly".  Hey the perps' name was Reilly.  6.17 Pot of Gold was another ep with references to Ireland and Flack.  Mac describes Hell's Kitchen as being located from 8th to 12th, 34th to 59th. It was the home of Irish immigrants for centuries from Hudson River West, Time Square East, Chelsea/Penn Station South, Garment District North.  Jo says it's now called Clinton.

The ep where Danny and Flack played pool was 3.23 Comes Around.  There have been several eps from other shows involving dismembered DBs, including: the trilogy cross-over eps of the three CSI shows, where the dismembered DB of a girl was found in CSI:Miami, leading to CSI:NY and the investigation was rounded off in CSI.  CSI 12.3 Bittersweet where the Vics were dismembered, CSI season 11 Father of the Bride, 1.22 Evaluation Day, and plenty more too.

Actually enjoyed this ep and that's one reason why this show must survive, which it did  (written before the season 9 renewal) It's consistently good and entertaining and if the storyline isn't so good or interesting at times; you know the cast makes it watchable and there'll always be something to amuse, or even someone.

Doctor Who - 5.2: "The Beast Below" Review

This is on again on BBC3 Saturday.
The Doctor takes Amy on a new adventure, landing on the Spaceship UK. All of the UK on a ship, until Amy can't help being curious and they stumble upon the real creature behind the ship.

Children in school and one of them has been bad since he got a zero.  So Timmy ( Alfie Field)  has to walk home or he'll get sent below.   The Test Card girl in the lift recites a rhyme about "the beast below."

Amy (Karen Gillan) : "My name is Amy Pond, when I was 7 I had an imaginary friend.   Last night was the night before my wedding and my friend came back."  Hang on, somethings not right, he can't be her imaginary friend cos we know he's real, yes the Doctor is very real, so clearly this is an arc for this season.  The Doctor (Matt Smith) says his box is a spaceship.  He tells her in the twenty ninth century the human race moves  to the stars.   They're on the Starship UK: "it's Britain, an entire country  looking for a new home." He calls them observers and he doesn't get involved in other's problems.   No he doesn't! And Amy hasn't changed her pyjamas yet.

He notices something is wrong, it's a police state and tells the man he thinks an escaped fish is on the loose (a future Christmas special to come!)  A man reports the sighting of the Doctor to a woman, after he placed a glass of water on the ground.  The Doctor notices the girl crying alone.   Amy asks if he's a parent.  The people know what's wrong so they don't ask her.  He sees the "smiley fellows in the booth,"  they're clean.   Amy: "never interfere in the affairs of people or planets unless there's children crying."

Amy wants to investigate the hole in the road and tells the girl, Mandy ( Hanna sharp) she's getting married.   Smiley fellow's (known as Smilers) head in the booth turns and his expression changes to scary.   The Doctor notices a glass of water on the ground whilst investigating the ship.   The woman says he sees it in a glass of water.   The ship has no engine as the water would move.   She asks for his help.  She's Liz 10 (Sophie Okonedo) i.e.  Elizabeth 10.   Amy wakes in a voting cubicle to watch the history of the Starship UK.   After she's seen it, she can push the 'Protest' button or she can vote to 'Forget'.   She chooses the latter and hears a message from her to the Doctor telling him to leave.   The Doctor calls himself "worse than Scottish."  He looks Time Lord.   He came first, there were others, but now there's only him and he can't forget it.  (A recap for those who didn't watch the 2009 Christmas special all about the Time Lords and their destruction.) This is what he does everyday and presses the 'Protest' button.

He and Amy fall into what looks like a garbage dump below.  It's actually the beast's tongue they're standing on and the only way out is to find the eject button.  Doctor: "This isn't going to be big on dignity.   Geronimo!" The beast throws up, expelling them out.   The Doctor wonders what the beast is doing on the ship, he's not going to forget.   Smilers/men come out and Liz shoots them.   The Doctor tells Liz she looks better without her mask.  She hasn't voted, as she's not a British subject; and he has the "hair of an idiot." She's heard stories about the Doctor.   Then mentions Victoria, Elizabeth II and the Virgin Queen.  People are fed to the creature.   The Doctor regrets coming here, but then he always does that before helping out.   The man, Hawthorne ( Terence Hardiman) begins the Protocol.   Liz needs to discover what her government's been doing and so wears a mask when she ventures out.  She's been doing this for ten years or so she believes, but the mask has been sculpted to her face.   The Smilers are half human.   Liz must be taken to the Tower.

Hawthorne tells her the beast won't eat children.   The Doctor refers to this place as the "torture chamber of the Tower of London."  The creature's brain is being tortured, the ship was incapable of flying and they trapped the creature to fly it for them and it's been tortured to keep the ship moving.   He makes them listen to its pain.   Liz is the highest authority, but her mask is old, at least 300 years old, that's her age.   She always returns to the 'Forget' button.  

On her message she says the creature is a Star Whale, the last of its kind (like the Doctor).   She wants them to press the 'Forget' button to end her reign and set the creature free and the ship will be destroyed.   Amy voted for this too so the Doctor didn't have to make this choice. "Humanity or alien...you don't ever decidefor me."  He doesn't care and he's taking Amy home.   He's going to turn the whale into a vegetable so it can't feel the pain and he won't have to make his choice.   After he kills them, he won't be the Doctor anymore, no one should speak to him today.   (That's what River will say to him in 6.7: that he's the Doctor, he's meant to save people and how he's come to be known, but instead some fear him.)

Amy says the whale volunteered, it didn't have to be tortured because it couldn't bear to see the children cry, just like the Doctor.  The pain and loneliness is amazing, she's seen it before, "very old, very kind and the very, very last." Alluding to him again.   The Doctor ran from something once years ago.   The phone rings in the TARDIS.   It's Winston Churchill and the Daleks.

"In bed above, we're deep asleep, while greater loves lies further deep.   This dream must end but this world must know, we all depend on the beast below."  As the Doctor said people will write about them and the whale in years to come.  The episode ends with the crack from Amy's wall visible at the side of the spaceship.

Amy rescued the creature to save the day in this episode.   The Doctor couldn't resolve this problem cos he's stuck in his own way of doing things, which inevitably and ironically involve choosing one species over another, usually the humans to the detriment of the aliens etc, which he has to do most all of the time.   Whereas Amy realizes the real picture - that he doesn't have to choose as the whale has already made that choice.  The Doctor's reaction to Amy making his choice for him is exactly in character; he's been alone all these years and he won't have someone else making such serious decisions for him.  

Great to see the Doctor's dark side finally getting some exploration and it's evident Matt Smith is excellent at portraying funny, to angry, to understanding.  The relationship between Amy and the Doctor isn't as passive as some of his other companions have been, she can think for herself and make choices that she believes are right but he doesn't agree with.   She's always questioning him.   Amy takes an integral role in this season and most of the time, she's the one who comes to his rescue, as the season is apparently about her in the most part.

Liz 10 mentions Victoria from the earlier episode Tooth and Claw.   Elizabeth/the Virgin Queen from The Shakespeare Code and mentioned in the End of Time episode and Elizabeth II in Silver Nemesis, Voyage of the Damned and Planet of the Dead.

Liz 10 makes another appearance later in the episode The Pandorica Opens.