Stargate Atlantis 5.19 "Vegas" Review

Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) drives up to a CS in his car.  A reporter (Carmen Moore) asks if this killing is related to the others.  The Vic was a white male.  Sheppard responds "most likely."  There are flashes to what may have happened just like CSI.  Cos as soon as we saw Sheppard drive up, shades in all, we knew this was a CSI:Miami style episode.  I thought it was, aside form the location.  There were 7 other Vics with chest wounds.  As I wrote in my notes, he's more Horatio than Grissom.

Jennifer (Jewel Staite) is the ME and mentions the ageing DB and other Vics.  He'll get her report when she's done, ooh stroppy!  She doesn't look old enough to be out of medical school.  Sheppard comments he got the life sucked out of him.  Even the police HQ was similar to a CSI set.

A man in a hotel suffers a nose bleed and loud music plays in the next room which is occupied by a Wraith, but they're not meant to know that.  Sheppard looks at the files, Woolsey (Robert Picardo) is part of the FBI.  Sheppard wonders why the ME didn't show radioactive isotopes on the DBs.  The nurse (Jody Thompson) tells him about the man and he says he'll call her, yeah as if he will.   Don't hold your breath, wait she's a nurse, she may be good at it, ha. Sheppard goes to the hotel room and the Wraith (Neil Jackson) disguises himself to look more human, well more 'rock rebel' human.

Sheppard follows him to a poker game and plays poker with him and others.  The Wraith runs and falls over the edge of the building, then walks away as if nothing has happened, glancing up at Sheppard.  The sick man is dead and Sheppard takes the Wraith's money from his room, for himself of course.  Well he figured he owed him. The FBI arrive.  Sheppard: "it's a CS."  There's a sat locator on his car. Rodney (David Hewlett) says he should tell him even if Sheppard hasn't signed a confidentiality document.  "I have the power to ruin your life."  He's welcome to "the little I have to lose."  Sheppard passed his detective exam after 4 years and 2 attempts, yeah rub it in Rodney, obviously he's the same Rodney as ever.  He likes spearmint gum and was a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan.  He disobeyed orders for staging a rescue.  He managed to live with himself with the deaths of others on his head.

Rodney has met another version of Sheppard.  "He was  very different to you."  They want to keep the planet safe and tells him practically what the show is about.  Wraith has flashes to a battle and being blown up.  He landed on earth 5 years ago.  (When the show began.) Found a ZPM and Darts attacked 3 months ago and a chair was found on earth.  He shows Sheppard a real Wraith in Todd (Christopher Heyerdahl) locked up. Todd speaks about a "fish in a pond".  Rodney explains he's delirious from starvation.  "The harvest moon is rising...I know the future" and calls him by his name 'John Sheppard.'  Jennifer is there too.

Rodney says the Wraith was exposing himself to radiation when building the device.  Zelenka (David Nykl) gives a talk on the worst case scenario of the device being a bomb.  Rodney believes he's signalling the Wraith and Zelenka talks of the inter-dimensional rift.  He reminds Rodney of it and they bicker.  Rodney mentions Sheppard being involved with the field medic he rescued and he made a tough choice, "things just don't always go the way we planned."  Sheppard dons his shades again.

Rodney says the other version of Sheppard opened the space/time rift.  Sheppard was the leader and was a hero.  There's no difference between him and this Sheppard.  He'd like to believe "you have the same strength of character."  Which is why Rodney told him the truth.  Sheppard packs up his stuff from the station and his Johnny Cash poster (the same one at Atlantis) and ends up just taking the poster.  Cue song: Solitary Man by Johnny cash, cos that's who Sheppard is.  He told him the money was a few thousand dollars.

Sheppard heads for the desert re Todd's words and the dessicated DBs.  Yeah and the destiny was no more show!  Sheppard locates the Wraith in the trailer which is near power lines.  Woolsey says they have Sheppard's  co ordinates.  In which case, why didn't they come to rescue him when they attacked the trailer.  Sheppard engages the target again  in a shoot out and is shot several times over.  Thus reinforcing Rodney's assertion Sheppard was a hero.

Sheppard is saved from being fed on by the planes and the Wraith manages to send out the co ordinates to earth in a transmission - encoded in Wraith.  Rodney doesn't think the message reached the Pegasus galaxy and could be sent to other realities.  Zelenka: "the transmission will be stronger in any other reality exposed to the rift."  Sheppard is dead and died alone.  Like a solitary man.

This was Joe's fave episode and I have to agree with him.  It over stepped the bounds of a normal Stargate Atlantis episode, but managed to maintain the overall mythology and premise of the show.  Yet it showed another Sheppard in another reality and how no matter how many realities over, he always stays the same: always a hero.

Rodney pronounces the ZPM as 'Zed PM' as said in the UK and he's Canadian, this line was also said by Daniel Jackson in the episode Rising, commenting on Rodney's pronunciation.  Wraith have the ability to read human minds in this reality, as Todd manages to read Sheppard's.  Rodney managed to open an inter-dimensional bridge and landed in an alternate dimension.  Also the chair has been relocated to Area 51, significant for the final episode.  Rodney also wears a wedding ring.  Suggesting he and Jennifer are married in this reality.

Rodney and Zelenka talking about the Wraith, "he probably got a job as a Klingon at the Star Trek Experience."
Woolsey: "that's shutdown."  (he'd know ha, being the holographic doctor in Star Trek Voyager.)
Zelenka: "...really, I wanted to see that."

Teyla and Ronon are not in this episode, they could have got them as extras.  Begging the question, where were their alternate selfs in this reality.  The poker scene was filmed at Planet Hollywood and they had to buy all the  other rooms too, located on the same floor, to film there.  The casino scene shows Brad Wright and his wife Debbie at the Blackjack table.  John Smith's wife, Lynn was at the roulette table.  The poker game included: Charles Cohen the Senior Vice President of MGM.  Joel Goldsmith composer, Frank Vincent and Steve Schirripa from The Sopranos.  Roy Winston and Todd Brunson are professional poker players.

The working title for this episode was CSI:Atlantis.  Jody Thompson was a bounty hunter in Stargate SG1 Bounty.  Carmen Moore was in the Stargate SG1 episode Cold Lazarus and Neil Jackson was in the episode Prototype as Khalek.

Joseph Mallozzi on his blog, wrote, "Vegas is very different from anything we've ever done on Atlantis before.  Different in a very good way and I'm sure fans will agree."  Apparently a lot of fans didn't agree.  You see, they don't like change and prefer to stick to the old tried and tested methods and episodes.  I thought this episode was good and made a change from the obvious ones set in the galaxy, in the realms of space.  Also it was a one-off and the show didn't return after that.  Hell, we didn't even get any Atlantis movies, huh!!

He also wrote: "a bittersweet time for all; me in particular.  Bitter in that it's been a great 5 years and I will sincerely miss the show and the many wonderful people who made it all happen.  Sweet in that I like to sleep in." Well as I say, any old excuse to watch Joe Flanigan.  Oh hang it, don't need an excuse!

The Vegas desert scenes were partially shot on location in Las Vegas and only Joe was present for these.  The location shooting was the final days of filming for the final season.

Without A Trace 3.13 "Volcano" Review

An autistic boy goes missing from a museum after he runs away from his father who tells his brother to fetch him.  He doesn’t want to leave the dinosaur exhibit.

2 Hours Missing

Ian (Dyllan Christopher) has a tendency to run off and that’s why his father was on the trip with him.  He’s gone home to get the locating device receiver which Ian wears on his wrist.  He’s been gone 2 hours and their mother is at work.  The device leads them to his bracelet, which Jack (Anthony LaPaglia) wants analyzed by forensics.  Martin (Eric Close) talks to some Indian tourists.  Jack tells his father that his looking for Ian isn’t helping and he should stay here with him.  His father, Daniel (Vincent Angell) admits he always finds Ian.  Jack needs his help and has to ask him some questions.  Ian went missing at 12;30pm and Daniel had been gone for 2 hours.  He looked for Ian for about 45 minutes: under the truck, stairs, garbage cans, he likes those places as they’re warm and quiet.  Makes him feel safe.  He went downtown by car.  Jack needs to establish  time line.  Jack tells Daniel witnesses saw him shout at Ian.

2 Hours Missing

Ian’s mother, Kate (Christine Tucci) tells Sam (Poppy Montgomery) that his locating device resembles a watch.  This had been cut off.  Ian has been described as “high functioning” by doctors and struggles with communication with others and social issues.  He has his own room.  Elliot (Hayden McFarland) has to share their room.  She and Daniel went to a class for autistic children and the instructor said that in 5 years time most of the couples would be divorced.  His one-to-one assistant was Anu Singhal (Shaeen Vaaz) and she called in sick last night.  She was  a part of preparing Ian for the field trip and his mother showed him a video of the museum.  Sam asks if Daniel forgets the receiver often.  He always has it with him.

3 Hours Missing

Viv (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) says forensics found the cut was made by a small blade.  Sam’s given them  a list of Ian’s therapists and helpers.  Anu has a Masters from Columbia in social work.  She hasn’t been seen all day.  Danny comments Anu would’ve known how to cut off Ian’s locating device.
Elliot reads a book on insects.  Sam doesn’t like them either.  She asks him why Ian ran at the museum.  He lies and says because he touched him.  Sam asks if it was because his father yelled at him.  Elliot looked for Ian on his own, he’s good at finding him.  Last time he ran, he found him in an alley.  Elliot gives him his hand and he takes it.  He thinks Ian would run to Anu.

Danny (Enrique Murciano) has a checked a list of employees Martin sent him.  One of them John Sewell has no match to his social security number.  He hasn’t paid taxes in over 3 years.
Danny questions Sewell at the museum.  He’s confused because his name tag says ‘J Sewell’ but a J Larabee (Lennie Loftin) stole artifacts from the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  There must be a mix-up.  He comments if he was going to pilfer from a a museum, he’d change his name to J Sewell.  The guard runs and Danny gives chase.  He ran because he was going to arrest him.  Danny tells him from the surveillance video, he wasn’t at his post.  He admits to seeing Ian in the basement with blood on his face.  Ian ran from him.

4 Hours Missing

Daniel says he didn’t see Ian.  Anu is attached to Ian but wouldn’t hurt him.  Jack asks for a blood sample form Daniel; it’s standard procedure.
Anu tells Viv she was at an interview as she thought they wouldn’t be needing her anymore because they didn’t know what to do with Ian.  Ian drew volcanoes.  Daniel wanted to send him to a special school.  There was a disagreement with Elliot, but he tells her Ian nearly broke Elliot’s arm.  Anu tells them Ian doesn’t need the school.  Daniel was always positive and patient but changed overnight.

Ian’s shoe is found in a park in the snow.  Martin assumes it fell off when the kidnapper took him.  Danny says stolen artifacts were found at the guard’s apartment.  Viv says Anu’s alibi also checks out.  Danny says that Daniel’s attitude changed a week ago.  Ian was seeing a Dr Rosalin Whitmer (Shannon Cochran) 3 times a week for the last few years but stopped going a week ago.  Daniel cancelled his appointments.  Viv wants the doctor to talk to them about Daniel.  She was looking at a new area of treatment for Ian which involved a complete work up on the parents.  Daniel isn’t Ian’s biological father.  He didn’t know of this and was angry.

5 Hours Missing

Daniel says his knowing isn’t relevant.  Jack would like to believe he’s innocent.  He had means opportunity and now motive.  He undergoes a polygraph.

Ian’s real father lives in Arizona.  She didn’t know which one of them was Ian’s real father.  It was when they were separated and she thought it was over.  He was wounded at first.  Daniel replies that he has never harmed Ian and hasn’t hurt him this morning either.  The polygraph was inconclusive.  Daniel tells Jack he’ll look him in the eyes and tell him he didn’t hurt Ian.  Jack says he wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t lied to him.  His mother thinks Daniel hurt Ian.  They argue and Elliot says he killed Ian.

6 Hours Missing

He went after him in the basement and pushed him.  His hand got caught in a caged rail.  Ian wanted Anu.  He cut off his device and cut his wrist.  Ian ran away.

Martin says Ian came out of the museum but isn’t headed for Anu.  She was supposed to be there with him.  He recalls the tourists at Strawberry Fields.  They must have reminded him of Anu and so he must’ve followed them.  The bus driver, Barstatis (Vincent Gustaferro) tells him Ian was hiding in the luggage.  He thought he was stealing and he ran away towards left on Washington.

7 Hours Missing

The whole family searches for him as well as Jack, Sam and Martin.  Jack finds him in an alley under some stairs.  Daniel apologizes for what he said.  He reaches his hand to him and Ian takes it.  Daniel thanks Jack for helping and hopes he never sees him again.

A routine episode showing the the frustrations of a family dealing with autism.  Routine in the sense that it focused solely on the investigation without any grey areas.

Danny: “Nice resume...Now where the hell is she?”
Danny actually gets out of the office for a change to do some chasing after a suspect.
Ian drew volcanoes hence the title of this episode.  Do we assume forensics had already analyzed Ian’s shoe before Martin brought it back to the office.

Ian’s mother saying her husband was “wounded” after he learnt of Ian, that’s putting it mildly.  The polygraph would be inconclusive, for one thing Ian went missing in the afternoon and not morning, so there’s a mess up of the time line Jack mentioned earlier on.  Elliot reaching out to Ian to bring him home, later repeated by Daniel.

That’s the fourth time Jack’s been proven wrong this season: the first time was in episode 2 with the bomb, he said it was on a remote and Viv was right it was on a timer.  Then he was wrong about the prisoner in ep 12, he had changed.  Also you could say he was wrong about his wife, the shrew - oops, when he told his lawyer she wouldn’t have gone behind his back planning the divorce and taking his daughters away from him.  Here he was wrong about Ian’s father, he didn’t kidnap or kill him.

Three actors in this show, Vincent Angell, married to Christine Tucci in real life and Vincent Gustaferro became close whilst filming as they have sons with autism.  Vincent thought the episode was well written and addressed issues parents face.

The Closer 7.18 "Drug Fiend" Review

Gabriel (Corey Reynolds) has a girlfriend and she doesn't want to have brunch with his grandparents and thinks his mother doesn't like her.  He takes Anne (Shanti Lowry) to the CS as he's not driving his own car.  The Vic Dr Brady was an oncologist.  Brenda (Kyra Sedgwick) thinks of her own father as he's having problems with his recovery after surgery.  Gabriel didn't get to go to church and Provenza (GW Bailey) tells him "church will be open next Sunday too."  Kendall (Ransford Doherty) finds Brady suffered blunt force trauma and he was also strangled.  Sanchez (Raymond Cruz) adds with IV tubing.  Tao (Michael Paul Chan) hasn't found the murder weapon which caused the blunt force trauma.  Drugs are also missing.

Brady treated the homeless and addicts.  Flynn (Tony Denison) comments on his partner, Dr Parr (Lennie Loftin) treating cancer as " a business."  Sanders (Tim Martin Gleason) was Brady's drug supplier.  Parr refuses Brenda's request for patient records and Anne mentions HIRRA, she's a lawyer.  A Nurse, Lori (Michelle L Gardner) was fired and she found out Brady had been engaged in some creative accounting.  He ordered expensive prescriptions for patients who didn't exist.  Raydor (Mary McDonnell) warns abut Pope (JK Simmons) being on the warpath again.  A Special Warrant Master for patients' records will take 16 days but she got one for tomorrow.  Taylor (Robert Gossett) thinks Lori could hold a grudge.  Pope comments that's something Brenda would know about.  He wants her to "let the system work."  bringing up the Federal lawsuit again.   Taylor invited Parr downtown for questioning.

Raydor mentions her having to inform the DA's office when Major Crimes investigates a homicide, as said in episode?? but Brenda hasn't done that.  Pope wants to be appointed permanent Chief.  Brenda appreciates Raydor and Taylor "running interference for her."  At this point in time, you can tell that it's impossible for Brenda to keep doing this job, she's got so much to deal with, red tape, bureaucracy, etc that she can't handle that and investigate crimes at the same time.  Especially when she's being so closely scrutinized too

Parr isn't going to take on Brady's patients.  Sanders is questioned informing them some meds have a short life so prices are reduced.  $1000,000 a dose which is the discounted price.  Brenda tells Parr she only wants a list and not the patent's records per se.  Gabriel threatens they can pass the info onto the FBI if fraud is involved.  Parr wants discretion.  bread: "discretion's my speciality."  Well we know it isn't.

Anne tells Gabriel Brenda is intense and Gabriel adds the killer could also be intense since if he's a drug addict he could kill again.  Anne meets Raydor and Gabriel tells her he gets Anne's opinion if he he doesn't want it.  They've moved in together but doesn't want anyone at work to know.  Raydor tells him her husband was a lawyer, almost.  He used to drink in bars and started gambling too.  They're separated for 20 years, that's the Catholic way.

Flynn posits a thief would have brought his own weapons.  Rita (Akiko Morison) a patient lets them look at her records. Claiming she preferred Brady's meds as there was no side effects from it.  Parr comments on her being infused yesterday and looking so well.   Morlaes (Jonathan Del Arco) says she's not taking chemo meds, she's not being treated for pancreatic cancer.  None of the patients underwent any chemo.  Tao thinks that could be a good motive for murder.  Fritz (Jon Tenney) looked over the files and finds there's no fraud involved and Brady paid out of his own pocket for the meds.  Pope comes in and turns off the lights.  He doesn't want them working overtime..

Brenda asks her mother to bring her father down here as he's not getting better.  She wants Parr to have a look at him.  Fritz mentions Pope and his job being more important than thinking of others.  Referring to Brenda of course but she doesn't realize that.  She thinks he means doctors, as she serves him burnt toast. She laments doing everything for Pope which Fritz agrees with and then he does nothing for her.

They looked at Parr's patients charts and some patients didn't absorb chemo, Parr tells Brenda and he was afraid of being sued.  The drugs from Sanders are tested by Morales who finds they are fake.  Provenza says they'll need at least 40 or more Special Master Warrants.  Tao tells Sanders about the missing trolley case and he bought  a new one.  He used the old one to hit Brady with, as the imprints match.  Sanders claims the patients weren't getting meds.  The doctors were giving them poison and subjecting them to pain.  Brenda rightly brings up his bank balance and he was profitting from their misery.  She is rightly worried about her own father and perhaps he didn't receive the right meds either.  Raydor defends Gabriel and Anne as a lawyer since they do protect, imagine what they could do to Sanders if they didn't know a lawyer was coming.

Brenda says Parr doesn't deserve an apology and wants him to look at her father.  She bursts into tears, she "can't lose her father."  So much happening in this episode personally for Brenda and now for Gabriel also.  As she worries frantically about her father.  Gotta say Brenda, everyone loses their father, eventually.    Seems the last few eps of the final season are rather gloomy, to say the least.  A topical subject for Brenda as far as her father is concerned, why would anyone kill a doctor, well it wouldn't be a patient, that much was obvious.  But I think they could have come up with something different in terms of a storyline, but wanted Brenda to be conflicted and affected with something so close to home.

Fritz tries to tell her she's so preoccupied but she doesn't listen, her mind is on the job as always and her family.

Merlin 4.10 "A Herald of a New Age" Review

The knights come across a shrine and Elyan (Adetomiwa Edun) has to take a drink of water from it, when he sees a boy in the reflection.  Merlin (Colin Morgan) comments on Arthur (Bradley James) being quiet all the way home.  Gwaine (Eion Macken) gives Merlin salt so he can pour it into a circle to protect him from evil spirits. Hey this isn't Supernatural.  Merlin could feel the shrine was cursed.  Gaius (Richard Wilson) explains the shrine was built by Druids so the souls could find rest.  The ribbons and flags are a warning.  Merlin doesn't think anyone touched anything.  Gaius says they could risk disturbing a spirit.

Arthur was quiet cos of Gwen or cos he knows the place where they found the shrine.  The boy appears before Elyan again and Gwaine hears him scream.  He lies about him.  Merlin finds Arthur asleep on his plate of food.   His excuse, he was reading and fell asleep.  Merlin laughs at the food stuck to his face. Merlin says he slept on the wrong side of the table and "got up on the wrong side of the table." Also mentioning Arthur got stew in his hair cos he was reading to the knights.

Elyan draws a salt circle under his bed and sees the boy (Nicholas Croucher) again.  Gwaine knocks him out.  It would be good if Arthur didn't know he's upset about his sister's exile.  Leon (Rupert Young) thinks he doesn't want Arthur to know of his divided loyalty.  Gaius finds the salt circle.

Merlin wonders if Arthur will sleep on the table again and asks if he's brooding over Gwen, as they all miss her. Arthur doesn't reply.  Merlin doesn't know if Elyan disturbed anything at the shrine and Elyan believes the curse to be true.  Gaius tells him Arthur should be told of what happened; that Elyan is possessed.  Why go to Arthur unless he had something to do with the spirit?

The boy talks to Elyan and wants to help him.  Elyan will bring him peace by killing Arthur, which he attempts.  Merlin explains he's possessed by an evil spirit and wouldn't otherwise attack him.  Leon asks what he would do if his sister was banished?  They corner him and Percival (Tom Hopper) knocks him out.  Gwaine replies, his sister's "an ugly toad" and he'd be grateful.  The boy tells Elyan he failed him.  Agravaine (Nathaniel Parker) claims he should be tried and punished according to the laws.  That's what he always says.

Merlin doesn't see any other reason for attacking Arthur.  Agravaine calls it a rouse to save Elyan.  That coming from someone who runs to Morgana to use her magic.  Merlin must master magic if he's to save Elyan. They must remove him from prison.  Gaius says he needs to be unconscious when the spirit is expelled and so a powerful sedative is placed in his water.  The guards are lured away by magic.  Once in the woods, Elyan refuses to drink cos the boy tells him not to and now Merlin gets hit!

Gaius and Merlin arrive at the shrine and Merlin senses the spirits and what happened there, he hears the cries.  Gaius finds the runes are in the Druid language and finds the crossbow.  The spirit is from Uther's time and seeks revenge.  Merlin claims he was looking for herbs in the wood and got lost, what no tavern excuse this time.  Arthur tells him to "pull up a chair, tuck in."  Merlin missed out on eating that chicken cos he saw a dead guard on the floor.

Elyan appears to Arthur dripping water everywhere and speaks in the boy's voice.  Merlin stops Arthur from killing him cos he's not Elyan.  Gaius explains the Druid's camp was attacked by Uther and a tormented soul is possessing Elyan.  It needs peace.  Under Druid law, "atonement of the perpetrator can bring the spirit peace."  All assume it was Uther and not Arthur.  Which is why he was behaving strangely.  Gaius has to kill Elyan.  Merlin says Arthur's not responsible for what Uther did and follows Arthur to the shrine.  Arthur admits he led the raid on the camp.  He was young and wanted to prove himself to his men and father.  He wanted to stop the killing but couldn't.  He just froze.  Now he's king he promises he will do everything to stop this happening again.  Treat the Druid people with respect.  "I give you my word."  The boy forgives Arthur and hugs him.  The smoke leaves Elyan a la Supernatural style.

Arthur's reading this time.  Merlin says his words were moving and he meant it.  He's never seen him cry before.  "...New sensitive, emotional side" was good to see."  Merlin: "No chance that we could have a hug..."  Oh Merlin keep your bromance to yourself.  Or is it a man-mance as I like to say.

As for Arthur treating the Druids with more respect that wasn't so in 5.1 Arthur's Bane Part 1, looking forward to this episode.  When Merlin encountered the seer, Arthur just called him an old man, irrespective of Merlin telling him of his vision.  He was dismissive even after what he witnessed in this episode.
It is always good when the main cast get to share their woes and see where they need to atone or repent.  Also a good twist in everyone assuming Uther was responsible for the massacre when infact it was Arthur wanting to prove himself.  Yet he was powerless to stop it from happening.

CSI:NY In Music

In a first for any CSI show, CSI:NY  is to feature music from Greenday's album Greenday !UNO!  This is to help in the visualizatian of non dialogue/narration scenes in the show's season 9 episode 4, to air on October 19th.

Pam Veasey executive producer, who also wrote this episode said she was looking to "tell a story without dialogue, and Greenday's music and lyrics beautifully accompanied the visuals making it  a very special episode."

The scene in question from the episode is one with Lindsay (Anna Belknap) at a political meet of a politician (Neal McDonough) as an attempt is made on his life.  This could turn out to be very effective and striking in terms of visual storyline, a shame then it will be used in a scene with Lindsay!  As you know she is not one of my favourite characters.

Greenday were ecstatic, as songs from their yet to be released albums Greenday !DOS! and Greenday !TRE! will also feature.  They said, "it's the first time something like this has been on the series, and we are blown away with what we've seen."  Music used in this episode: Stop When the Red Lights Flash, Amy, The Forgotten, Kill the DJ.

Is it too late to say, "Wake me up when September Ends..." Or infact it's rather timely seeing as it's October!

Downton Abbey Series 3 Episode 4

Carson (Jim Carter) hands out the servants mail and Anna (Joanne Froggat) doesn't get any letters from Bates (Brendan Coyle) and vice versa.  Each under the misapprehension that they are making a clean break with each other.

Matthew (Dan Stevens) and Mary (Michelle Dockery) argue over Matthew pulling his weight over the running of Downton.  Anna hasn't seen Bates as she tells Matthew and she hopes to see him soon or receive word from him.  Isobel (Penelope Wilton) has a letter for Mrs Hughes (Phylliss Logan) from Ethel (Amy Nuttall).  She wants her to arrange a meeting with her son's grandparents, the Bryants as she wants to give Charlie up.  She won't let anyone to help her.  Matthew has only invested in Downton as he explains to Carson and he still answers to Robert (Hugh Bonneville).  They need new help.  A maid, footman, Matthew asks if he really needs one as things have changed after the war.  The archbishop is coming to dinner.

Edith (Laura Carmichael) doesn't have breakfast in bed since she's not married.  Robert mentions the American women having the vote and Edith says she doesn't.  Matthew suggests she should write to The Times.  The Archbishop, or "prince of the church" as Robert describes him is to be seated next to the Dowager (Maggie Smith). O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran) asks if the footman will be second footman and Thomas (Rob James-Collier) wants him to get someone to represent the house and maintain standards.  Which is aimed at Albert (Matt Milne).

Mary has taken over the nursery as a sitting room and Matthew thinks it may have been about a baby.  Apparently she's not keen on having children for a long while yet.  Which he is disappointed over.  Was Mary hiding something from him as she just fobs it off as needing something for her hayfever.  That's the first we've heard about Mary getting hayfever, which hasn't troubled her all those times she was out to garden parties, especially at the end of season 1.  The Dowager owes Edith a guinea for a bottle of perfume and she asks if the seller had "a mask and a gun."  Edith is at a loose end.

Carson helps Albert out with cutlery placements and what they are used for.  Thomas didn't ask him for help but Albert did.  Mrs Bird (Christine Lohr) treats Ethel like a scarlet woman, only worse, thinking herself above her.  It's not "part of her duties to wait on the likes of her."

Robert says there's "something Johnny Foreigner about Catholics."  Edith is called by Sybil who tells her she's not been stopped and is out of the flat.  Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) is worried about her being stooped from doing what?  The Dowager asks if the war has driven people to the church.

Troubles abound in Ireland as Branson (Allen Leech) goes on the run from the police and Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay) is made to make her own way to Downton.  He turns up in the rain in the middle of the dinner and everyone is angry at him for abandoning Sybil;  who agreed to this plan anyway.  Robert in particular is disappointed as he thinks Branson is only looking out for himself.  He tells them about the rich family being turned out of their castle home and it being set on fire.  It finally drew on him that they were still human even if they were wealthy.  Yet he doesn't want to give up his connections with Ireland.  He even wants to return there.  Robert: "other families have normal sons-in-law."

News reaches downstairs and gossip abounds.  As Thomas says there'll be no more gossip on that tonight as Carson takes the tray to Branson.  The Dowager comments on the hideousness of the castle. He's suspected as being an instigator.  He wouldn't get a fair hearing in Ireland.  Cora says so he gave them Sybil.  Cora urges Robert to see the Home Secretary.  Branson sees the horror in those places, the Dowager adds it was a "jungle castle" and she agrees.  He was sorry at the burning.  Robert is beside himself with anger.  It is understandable, she's about to have his baby and he leaves her to fend for herself in what is a 'foreign' land for her.  Saving his own bacon.  Then saying he's ready to face the consequences if she doesn't get away as an afterthought.
Robert: "what a harsh world you live in."
Branson: "We all live in a harsh world...the difference is I know I do."

Bryant (Kevin R McNally) is still terrible to Ethel but she knows he loves Charlie and she agrees to give him up.  Mary tells Carson to go ahead and hire the "more handsome" footman.  Mary thinks Albert looks like a rescued puppy.  Matthew laughs at Carson's remark of Albert being O'Brien's nephew.  Matthew: "nothing worse could be said of any man."

Ethel says farewell to her son in an emotional scene which would have many in tears before Bryant comes and drags him away.  Bates sets up his cellmate, Craig in the same way he did to Bates and gets his letters as he's no longer out of favour.  James (Ed Speelers) as Carson wants him to be called, wants to come to Thomas if he needs help and Thomas of course becomes to be attracted to him.

Sybil arrives and Robert was able to pull strings with Branson having to stay here otherwise he'll be arrested if he returns.  But he's adamant he can't stay away.  Sybil wants him to since their baby needs to be safe.  He's set in his ways but he knew when he married Sybil he would have to compromise, yet he still wants things his way.  He can't compromise his principles.  He attended meetings where the violence was planned.  Which he kept from Sybil.  Branson was against violence.  Lady Gregory Countess Markivicz, the revolutionary, whom the  Dowager beings up after Robert mentions Sybil will be likened to her.  Irish people are so well born.  He is grateful for his freedom. Robert is certain he only says that to stay on Sybil's good side.

Daisy (Sophie McShera) tries to tell Albert her feelings but she's interrupted by the arrival of the new maid, Ivy (Cara Theobold) who catches Albert's eye; prompting Daisy to be horrible towards her.

Matthew confides in the Dowager at Downton being run badly and he needs her help with the mismanagement.  He put his fortune into Downton so it's his duty to fix it.  The Dowager knows: "...many noses will be out of joint." But he must do what he must.   Edith's letter gets published which Robert doesn't like and neither does Carson.  Secretly Robert looked like he was proud over the letter.

Mrs Hughes appeared to be judging Ethel for what she has become rather than her predicament with Charlie, in the same way Mrs Bird turned her nose up at her.  Yet she of all people, even more so than Isobel should understand what she's going through, especially since she was the one helping her last series.  Mrs Hughes is quite snobbish in that respect.  Perhaps the toaster she bought should have kept her preoccupied instead of getting involved with Ethel.

As for Branson, his position is understandable, he wants better for his home country, which the Crawleys just don't understand as they live their lives away from the real world.  They only read about things in papers, not get their hands dirty, or get involved firsthand in events they don't really care about.  Such as saving Downton being more important to Mary, than Matthew's feelings.  Branson was born into a different world and they expect him to tow the Crawley line now that he is married to Sybil, without realizing his conflicts and resolving them to please all, just aren't that simple.

The Dowager wanted Edith to be talked out of her marriage and this week she urges Edith to stop whining and do something, as she has  reasonable talent and a brain.  Countess Markievicz is known for her leadership role in the Easter Rebellion of 1916 in Ireland.  Making personal sacrifices for Ireland's freedom.

CSI: Miami 10.12 "Friendly Fire" Review

CSI:Miami once again delves into the high life with an episode which opens with the unveiling of a new smart phone: a topical subject.  The Solamyrge.  The inventor of this, Matthew Stone (Leonard Roberts)wakes up to an alarm call, infact everything is technical, using voice commands.  He gets up and sits in a chair outside, where he receives a text message saying: "the time is now."  Then a countdown 3, 2, 1.  He's finally shot; as a disturbance ensues downtown at the unveiling.  Protesters protesting against the unequal, wealth woes, corporate greed, blah, blah, blah, go on the rampage.  Matthew is shot.  Knew that was coming, it was so obvious and that he had planned the entire shooting.

Horatio (David Caruso) and Natalia (Eva la Rue) survey the CS but it's unclear as to where the bullet could have come from as there are no high rises nearby.  Natalia talks with the Vic's girlfriend, Amanda (Malese Jow) who met him for breakfast everyday.  They had an unusual relationship and he was suffering from cancer.

Ryan (Jonathan Togo) Walter (Omar Benson) and Calleigh (Emily Protector) analyze the CS.  Walter and Ryan are impressed by the voice commands and use it to open the TV, where a football match is in play.  they are about to watch a key moment in the game, when Calleigh switches it off.  Like she's never done anything like that before. Walter wants her to turn to it on and she'll only do so cos he notices something connected to the case.  Walter finds an object on the TV, a bug.  Whoever planted it was sloppy as they left a fingerprint.

The print is traced back to CEO of the company, Jerry Wilkinson (Michael O'Neill) who was monitoring everything Matthew said cos he was affected by the medication and was no longer lucid.  Natalia and Tripp (Rex Linn) think he had a lot to lose.   Matthew was receiving texts and these are traced to a protester's phone, Heidi Taylor (Amy Gumenick).  She denies sending them but is questioned anyway.

Ryan is stopped by Walter as he takes a gift to Sam (Taylor Cole) and welter thinks it's great news she's become a detective.  Ryan got her a charm bracelet with a shape of Texas charm, as she's from there and Walter rightly knows he's got a crush on her.  But he doesn't give it to her as he sees Delko (Adam Rodriguez) talking to her.  Instead Ryan decides to call the lawyer and ask about Matthew's will.  He later returns to Matthew's place with Delko.  There's no will in the safe, but Delko does find a hair.  Sam IDs this hair as human, from the body and is a lanugo hair.  Natalia recalls Amanda is thin and so could be anorexic. Dave (Wes Ramsey) finds Heidi's phone was hacked into using a Trojan virus and so she didn't send the texts.

Amanda tells Natalia of Matthew's paranoia and he thought people were listening to him.  He told her to take the will, which she did an put it in a safe deposit box.  The will contains a new clause, incorporating Matthew's former business partner, Raj (Sendhil A Ramamurthy)as a beneficiary.  He tells them he doesn't want money and was never interested in it but hh didn't kill Matthew.  Also saying Matthew asked him to include the clause using his typewriter as he didn't trust the lawyers.  That wouldn't make the will valid, what about witnesses and signatories, not to mention the clause stood out like a sore thumb.

ME Tom (Christian Clemenson) removes bullet fragments from Matthew's brain and he finds a microchip.  Calleigh removes more fragments and analyzes them to reveal the existence of a smart bullet.  One that is capable of changing direction in mid air.  Matthew had the money to manufacture this but so did Raj.  Calleigh manages to reconstruct the bullet and finds Matthew's company logo on it.  Jerry admits they had made prototypes of the gun, but only two.  Matthew researched this after his brother died in Iraq from friendly fire.  He wanted to ensure no other American suffered the same fate.  But they were conveniently stolen 48 hours ago.  Their private security is investigating.  At the same time, Tripp receives word of a robbery in progress at a bank.

Delko asks Sam to tag along and once they arrive, the robbers use the guns to shoot at the police.  Sam runs during the gunplay to the other side which gets Delko's goat.  The robber falls down dead.  Tripp thinks Horatio fired (what in yet another one of his famous gun battles in which he gets away with everything).  Horatio says it wasn't him.  The gun backfired.  The prototypes show they weren't used to kill Matthew.  Thus there was a third gun, which Jerry didn't know about or didn't tell them about.

Walter and Calleigh are able to trace the bullet's trajectory after Calleigh explains why the gun backfired, as the bullet changed direction in the chamber.  They come up with two possible addresses where the gun could have been fired from and Walter recognizes the one of the addresses of one, it's Raj's place.  Delko and Ryan search and Delko notices the opening in the ceiling, where the dummy has hidden the gun.  Thought he would have gotten rid of the evidence by now.  He tells them Matthew wanted him to shoot him and that's why he changed the will, he paid him for it.  Raj changed his mind about the money when he saw how well Matthew had done.  The gun didn't work but Jerry wanted to put it into production.  Matthew wanted to prove him wrong and this was the only way he could.  So he had Raj shoot him.  People would now take notice.

Horatio and Tripp stop Jerry en route to a sale of the gun.  He was selling the military faulty weapons.  Raj also hacked into Heidi's phone cos of Matthew who had sent her a form letter.  Ryan notices the logo contains a magnetic strip and Calleigh tells him he's been watching too many spy films.  Then changes her mind and says he could be right, since banks use magnetic stripes on credit cards.  Oh the strip in the logo was a fantasy but a smart bullet isn't. Matthew knew no one would believe him and that's why he staged his shooting.

Ryan is about to give Sam the bracelet but Delko mentions he doesn't know how to say sorry after losing it with her.  Ryan gives him the bracelet and they recall how they both went for Natalia when she first arrived.  Ryan tells him it's not like that and Delko takes the bracelet.  Yes Delko is still meant to have feelings for Calleigh.  Delko gives Sam the bracelet with Ryan watching but then Ryan disappears and doesn't notice Delko and Sam both look at him.  Thus Delko told her it was from Ryan.

Natalia mentions the late Steve Jobs, as soon as they arrive at the CS saying Matthew is even bigger than him.  Which came out standing a tad distasteful.  Especially in relation to the way Matthew died and how he masterminded it, even if it was to reveal Jerry's deal.

Walter smelling a whiff of Ryan's cologne and he claims it'd hide the from the smell at the CS.  Another funny scene between the two.  Dave is back this ep but that won't last long since the show was cancelled, as we all know.  Showing his enthusiasm for the gadgets and the smartphone.  Delko throwing his weight around as far as Sam doing the wrong thing was concerned, even if she says she was following protocol.  It's not something she should have done and it wasn't Delko's place to reprimand her either.  As for the issue of trust, they haven't been out in the field long enough for any trust to develop between them yet.

Ryan may have a crush on Sam but Natalia clearly does not.  She still has issues with her especially when her thoughts of congrats to her becoming a detective become more of rivalry when Sam suggest she would like to interview Amanda.  Natalia quickly shot that idea down (no pun) by saying she already spoke with Amanda and has developed a rapport with her.

The final scene has Horatio talking with Kyle as Matthew's secret message is discovered by Dave.  One where he speaks of sacrifice and everyone gathers together to listen.  Matthew: "We make choices everyday.  Some we're conscious of, others we're not.  These choices they affect others and not just ourselves.  And not always on good ways.  For that I am truly sorry.  But we must all follow our own path no matter where it leads.  I hope I can be forgiven for my mistakes.  I'm not perfect but then again none of us are. [That line was intended for Horatio!] These choices they're up to all of you now and I pray you make them with the same ethic I've tried to live by.  In the end I guess all that matters is that you try to leave this place a little better than when you got here.  The time is now."

A message most people would do well to listen to but can't help thinking most of the end part was aimed at Horatio.  He's tried to live by an ethic but now that has sadly changed since season 9, especially, for the worse.

The song this is read to is Forgiveness by Patty Griffin.

CSI:Miami is always the one to come up with new ideas and weapons out of the three shows.  It did so in the past with the machine guns in ep 6.11 Guerillas in the Mist, which had the ability to vapourize its Vic's.  But to be fair, CSI came up with their own deadly guns in the episode 12.9 Zippered. With 143 stolen/missing guns, military contractors ad all the rest of it.

Sendhil A Ramamurthy and Leonard Roberts were both in Heroes and Malese Jow was witchy Anna in The Vampire Diaries.

Merlin 5.1 "Arthur's Bane Part 1" Review

Season 5 opened with knights of Camelot being chased in the snow covered North and finally a wolf catches up to Gwaine (Eion Macken).  Apparently Morgana (Katie McGrath) now has her foothold up North and is still out for revenge.  This time she has roped in Ruadan (Liam Cunningham) a sorcerer whom she has convinced or rather he is already certain that the Pendragons are trouble.  Morgana was meant to have been caught at the close of series 4 and could only see "darkness."

Arthur (Bradley James) awaits Gwen (Angel Coulby) at the Round Table counsel and she is late, having Merlin search for her everywhere reveals no sign of her.  Arthur agrees she isn't late when she finally arrives.  The knights speak of Gwaine and Percival (Tom Hopper) and three score of his men going missing and there's no sign of them.  Three years have passed with Camelot now at peace and has prospered.  However dark forces are still at work.  Arthur wants to rescue his men, as no knight is left behind and Gwen suggests he take another route into Ismere; through Queen Annis' (Lindsay Duncan) lands.

Now at peace with her also and the two of them are staunch allies, Arthur gets Leon (Rupert Young) to send a messenger.  Meanwhile Merlin seems infatuated with a new servant girl.  One to take Gwen's pace, no doubt and Merlin bumps into her outside the counsel door listening in.  Of course she was, she was that suspicious.  Can't believe no one would have her pegged as a traitor.

As Arthur and his knights set out for Annis' lands, Elyan (Adetimowa Edun) is sent to scout the ridge ahead, returns informing them of shocking news.  Dead bodies.  Merlin finds an old man inside, Lochru (Julian Glover) an old Druid seer who has been waiting for Merlin to arrive.  As he dies his hand hits the water and Merlin is shown a terrible future.  One where Arthur has a shadow, Arthur's bane stalks and kills him during the end of a battle.  This clearly causes Merlin to be distraught.  As yet again he worries about his friend and king and the future of Albion.  Arthur tells him he's seen plenty of dead bodies before.  But the images clearly have him shaken.  Especially the sight of the man who he sees killing Arthur.  Knew that was Mordred, since many years have passed, he would no longer be a boy.  Also ironic in that Arthur was the one who saved him and he is the one destined to kill Arthur.  Mordred even tells him as much in their first meeting.  Well, that he saved him.

Mordred is now in league with Morgana, of course.  Morgana meanwhile sets the knights digging, looking for a key, which she believes will help her in her quest against Arthur.  At Annis' court, the night proceedings involve a bit of action from the 'fool' as she calls Merlin and he uses magic to entertain with some juggling of eggs.  He tells Arthur he's not a juggler, shown by him being unable to catch Arthur's boots he throws at him and Merlin is still troubled by the vision.  He calls to the Dragon (John Hurt) who knows nothing of this prophecy. But only Merlin can keep Arthur safe.  Er, isn't that old news by now.

Next day Arthur and the others are ambushed by Morgana and her men.  Ruadan puts up a fight and injures Leon as well as hitting Arthur over the head.  Like to know where Merlin was during the fighting and why he couldn't use any magic.  Instead he drags Arthur away from the fight to save him.  The knights return to Camelot and inform Gwen of Arthur's and Merlin's disappearance.  Gwen immediately realizes they were betrayed as soon as Gaius (Richard Wilson) asks how anyone could have known of their route.  Gwen summons Sefa (Sophie Rundle) Ruadan's daughter, whom she saw leaving the castle the night before and she knows it was her who is a traitor.  She sentences her to death.

Here we get  to see how far Gwen as come as a queen and has a lot of say in the running of the kingdom.  Elyan looks at Gaius as if to think death is a harsh sentence, but Gwen doesn't flinch.  It appeared as if Gwen was walking in Uther's footsteps there for a second as she metes out this punishment.  Even if it is under the laws of Camelot, it was a fate she was once resigned to herself by Uther and was saved.  As well as being exiled by Arthur last season after her 'betrayal' with Lancelot.  Yet he didn't punish her by death.  Power has gone to her head.

Morgana searches for Arthur and Merlin and they spend a night together under the stars.  Merlin wants Arthur to take the urgency of the vision seriously but of course Arthur won't.  He's just a sorcerer.  Merlin is hungry and wishes they could find a pig to roast when Arthur wishes they had a horse.  Well they could have eaten the horse too, ha.  Merlin spies two rabbits on the ground and makes a play for them only to be caught in the net, together with Arthur. All that time stuck in the net and Merlin, once again didn't use any magic to free them.  Not even when Arthur was asleep.  No, then he couldn't have met up with Mordred (Alexander Vlahos) who reveals himself and suggests they let Morgana decide their fate.

The opening episode to season 5 sets up nicely the legend of Arthur and hopefully will make some inroads into Merlin using his magic more and revealing it to Arthur.  Gwen has come far since the serving wench and shows a little displeasure at being served on hand and foot by Sefa, but she's been queen three years now and you'd think she'd be used to it by now.  Especially since she has no qualms in laying down the law of Camelot.

Merlin is once again distressed by another vision of impending doom (as in season 3) and can only tell Arthur about it, Gaius not being around.  Arthur would naturally dismiss it as gobbeldy gook.  As he would.  It would have been good to see how the Round Table was established.  Suppose that would have been too much to ask!  Arthur is loyal to his men and will do anything for them, as he knows they will do for him too. They are "more than friends, more than brothers..."  Meaning what exactly, ha.

Gwaine also sees a glow come from another part of the caves where he and Percival have bee sent digging/mining.  It's a glowing creature, the Euchdag (Josette Simon).  You may recall her from Blake's Seven.  The battle Merlin sees is the Battle of Camlann, where the legendary King Arthur is meant to have fallen.  can't help but notice shades of Lord of the Rings:Fellowship of the Rings here, when Morgana turns up riding the horse in her black attire and Merlin and Arthur are hiding under the trees; as well as Game of Thrones.

Stargate Atlantis 5.18 "Identity" Review

A woman appears on Atlantis (and I said it's Andie from The Vampire Diaries) and attacks Zelenka (David Nykl).  She sees herself as Jennifer (Jewel Staite).  Rodney (David Hewlett) catches up with her for lunch.  Zelenka needs to be operated on, but lucky for her, McBride (Rick Wong) was assisting, since Jennifer says she's not well enough to operate on him.  Beckett (Paul McGillion) examines her.  Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) says there weren't any witnesses to the attack and Woolsey (Robert Picardo) wants to know who is responsible.  Ronon (Jason Momoa) checks up on her and she tries to sound like Jennifer.  Rodney interrupts.

She doesn't know what a puddle jumper is (or piddle' as I call them, affectionately ha.)  Beckett doesn't find anything wrong, it's probably psychological.  The woman tries to escape on the jumper but Rodney catches her again. She can't fly one of those and so she attempts to seduce him into taking her for a ride.

Ronon knocks her out.  Beckett says he wouldn't have pulled the trigger and Ronon says she's not Jennifer.  Sheppard wants to talk to her.  She stabbed Zelenka.  Her name is Neeva (Dawn Olivieri) and she was looking at the artefacts in the village when she was brought here.

Rodney is interested in the artefacts.  Sheppard says she steals and put the rune into the device and connected to someone far away.  Rodney reminds them about SG1 and the Glastonbury Cavern.  Daniel's grandfather and Janus lab.  Jennifer visited him there and touched a rune.  The stones connect to a terminal.

Woolsey is told of the problems disconnecting and how Jennifer's mind is in her body.  She's elsewhere and is obviously going to be executed for her crimes.  The magistrate isn't fooled by her.  Rodney says they need to shut it down at the source.  Beckett reminds them of the psychological connection as well.   If Neeva is killed so will Jennifer.  Neeva agrees t take them there if they will free her.  She complains plenty.  Sheppard: "only when he's awake."  He thinks Rodney and Jennifer together is "hard to believe."  Teyla (Rachel Luttrell) thinks they shouldn't say anything in the village.  Sheppard telling them his rank as if that means anything to the villagers, ha.  The magistrate is at an execution. Jennifer manages to escape  and meets up with Neeva's accomplices.

Ronon tracks her.  They ask Jennifer about the plan and Teyla says the whole village is looking for Jennifer.  Neeva runs and Jennifer tells them they should leave the planet and set an explosion. Jannick (Ron Selmour) ask why they would run towards the explosion?  Which is what Daniel said to Rodney in First Contact/The Lost Tribe.  Neeva turns up at the cave.  She is shot and wounded.  Sheppard thinks the villagers are better off being Atlantis's friends than enemies.  Jennifer runs into Bordal (Todd Thomson). Sheppard tells him to blow up the device, which Ronon does, thus they change bodies as Jannick shoots Neeva.

Rodney brings Jennifer flowers and chocolates and they wheel Zelenka to another room.  Rodney wants to take her for a ride and a picnic under the stars.
It's a shame that with so very few eps left, they came up with this storyline which was more of a filler, reinforcing what's gone before really and Rodney and Jennifer's relationship, which we already know about.  Jennifer falling out of her top again, almost.  Felt more like a rehash of Stargate SG1.

Carl Binder was Jennifer's father in the photo of her graduation.

Merlin 4.9 "Lancelot Du Lac" Review

Arthur (Bradley James) finally tells Agravainne (Nathaniel Parker) he wants to marry Gwen (Angel Coulby).  Merlin (Colin Morgan) drops the tray out of surprise, probably that Arthur is actually telling the one person who is not on his side.  Gwen has provided valuable support and counsel.  Agravaine thinks she's too much trouble to be his wife and Arthur tells him he must accept it.  Which means running off to Morgana (Katie McGrath) first chance he gets.  She's in new digs now and always needs help as I said.  For someone with magic, she can't do anything for herself."  About time she got out and about and came out of hiding.

Morgana: "it's like my dream."  One that can come between them.  She knows Gwen's secrets and can't have her on the throne.  The Dochraid tells her Morgana is destined to being back the old days and needs her help.  She shows her Morgause's present.  "The price of a soul."  Travel to the last of the five gateways separating their world and the world of the dead to the pool of Nemhain and cast the coin in raising Lancelot; who emerges naked.  Morgana needs his heart - not his sword.  Wanted Arthur's hand and Gwen won his heart.  Arthur trusts her and also Lancelot too.  Gwen was his before Lancelot's (Santiago Cabrera).  "You were her first love and you will be her last."

Arthur proposes to Gwen with Merlin listening in.  Morgana is sad, he was mighty once and now he's not.  Arthur plans a joust to celebrate the engagement, just like Uther did for his wife.  Merlin: "two days of sweaty men knocking the sense out of each other."  That's  aprospect! ha.  So Arthur couldn't have done something different to Uther.  How many jousts does that make now?  There were four before.

Arthur knows Gwen understands and Lancelot reveals himself and he remembers little when he entered the veil.  The Madhavi people found him and was found  in Cenred's kingdom which is what Elyan (Adetomiwa Edun) says.  (Hey but Cenred is no more so why is it still his kingdom?)    Arthur tells him how he can't offer enough thanks for his sacrifice on the Isle of the Blessed.  Merlin is glad to see him and he thinks he could have used magic to save Lancelot.  For all this talk of magic, he didn't sense there was anything out of the ordinary or strange about him.  Lancelot: "If any of us had magic Merlin, life would be a lot easier."  Finally Merlin realizes he's not Lancelot.  He was suspicious before but now he's sure.

Agravaine has to report to Morgana.  Gwen truly loves Arthur and she gives him the enchanted bracelet to "reawaken those feelings" between Gwen and Lancelot.  Which Lancelot gives to Gwen and she accepts it.  Huh accepting gifts from former beaus when she's engaged.

Gwen never thought she'd see him again.  That's nothing new.  He never used to be around that much anyway, not until he became a knight.  She felt guilty since he protected Arthur like she wanted.  Lancelot did what was in his heart and she will make a good queen.

Merlin looks up necromancy in books.  Gaius (Richard Wilson) explains it's the most dangerous of magical practices.  Merlin suspects Lancelot's been raised from the dead by Morgana.  Gaius calls it 'shades' summoned from rest by necromancer's art.  Merlin paints a symbol on the floor in a circle to see if Lancelot is dead.  He steps into it revealing his skeleton.  Gaius tells him they all wanted him back.  He's a shadow of his former self - a shadow with ill intent.  Gwen is drawn to him but doesn't know why.  But she still looks at him longingly anyway.  Percival (Tom Hopper) says people will like seeing Arthur and Lancelot together in the joust.

They joust and Lancelot lets Arthur go cos he has other plans.  Arthur:" noblest of my knights.  You just proved me right," and he was until Morgana bought him back and sullied his name.  Merlin sees Gwen enter Lancelot's tent and still he doesn't get it - why he's here.  Lancelot then meets with Agravaine and Merlin watches.  Yet he still does nothing until it's too late.  Agravaine wakes Arthur and he sees Gwen and Arthur kiss cos Merlin gets knocked out by Lancelot.  So much for his magic.  Arthur fights Lancelot in rage and Merlin uses magic to save Arthur.

Lancelot is imprisoned and Gwen throws her bracelet away in the cell.  Which no one found, conveniently, not even Merlin.  Agravaine tells Arthur he was made a fool of and "death's too good for him."  Er, yeah he's already dead!  He already died painfully, probably.  Arthur is alone with Gwen and tells her to get off her knees.  "What are you still doing on your knees.  Am I just your king?  I am to be your husband."  They were happy.  Gwen can't speak.  It's their wedding tomorrow.  Arthur is angry and Gwen means everything to him. Lancelot was dead and she had feelings for him and was drawn to him.  Arthur: "...only had to wait one more day."  Gwen pleads she only wanted to be his queen.  Would have thought she'd have said wife and not queen.  Uther would have demanded her death.  Arthur exiles her.  "I don't want to see you dead Gwen - but I don't want want to see you."  It's okay for Uther to have another child and engage in adultery but Gwen gets exiled for doing nothing wrong.

Gaius says if Arthur knew it wouldn't change what Gwen has done.  She betrayed him.  Agravaine gives Lancelot a note from Morgana.  Her wish is for him to kill himself.  Merlin knows Gwen is good, that it's Agravaine.  People will find Arthur is merciful and he will forgive her in time.  Arthur can't trust her and can't live like that as a king or husband.  Arthur: "Lancelot was a man of honour in more ways than one."  The burial is left to Merlin and he uses a spell to remove Morgana's magic and ensures his soul can rest and Lancelot finds peace.

A good episode but many holes and inconsistencies in places.  Merlin not picking up on Gwen and the bracelet.  It's magic, he should be a dab hand at that kind of stuff now.  Then Lancelot, one of the greatest knights as he's referred to and yet he's juts a zombie who ends it all.  Merlin couldn't help him either, except for the end scene when it's too late.

Merlin also buried a loved one in 2.9 The Lady of the Lake on a boat before setting it on fire and adrift.  The end scene was sad and Lancelot wakes long enough to thank Merlin for what he's done.  One of Colin Morgan's fave episodes.

Yes about those jousts, there was one in 1.2 Valiant, 2.2 The Once and Future Queen, 3.4 Gwaine, 3.11 The Sorceror's Shadow.

The Closer 7.17 "Fool's Gold" Review

Another ep of the 'Provenza and Flynn show,' that's two this season.  Provenza (GW Bailey) doesn't want to pick up the phone and the woman keeps calling him.  Liz (Deirdre O'Connell) his ex shows up.  Buzz (Phillip P Keene) wonders which wife she is and Tao (Michael Paul Chan) says she corrected him on his grammar, that's something a first wife would do.  Liz tells him the ring isn't worth $500 but $49.  She needs the money cos Frank the dog is sick.

Provenza and Liz and Flynn (Tony Denison) take a ride to 'Goldibucks' which exchanges gold for cash and hear drilling inside.  Flynn is too taken aback by the woman in the store to notice what's happening and Provenza doesn't either.  She takes off her glove to shake Flynn's hand.  Outside, Liz notices the woman leaving with a man with bags from the back.  Provenza remembers the glove, but Frank beats them to it as he eats the glove.  Inside they find Milo Billings, the owner's dead, apparently of a heart attack.

Brenda (Kyra Sedgwick) doesn't let Flynn or Provenza speak yet.  Buzz finds the harddrive is gone and Brenda tells them they don't have to watch the video of Flynn and Provenza on the news not noticing the robbery.  Liz gives them the description of the woman and Gabriel (Corey Reynolds) finds the warrant signed by 'Judge Judy.'

Raydor (Mary McDonnell) explains they pretended to be from the LAPD.  Pope (JK Simmons) calls this a professional standards case but Brenda needs to be involved cos of Milo's murder.  Taylor (Robert Gossett) reminds them Flynn and Provenza were there as witnesses.  Pope wants Brenda and Raydor to work together.  Milo was a street scam artist.  They dub the robbers 'Bonnie and Clyde.'  Brenda tells Raydor she needs the right confession to deem it a murder.

Milo's partner was Jerry Cooper (Reg Rogers) and Milo called about the raid and the police were searching for stolen property.  Cooper is distressed over the safe being raided and feigns worry over his personal possessions, such as a baseball card, a photo with Bruce Willis.  Gabriel finds the financials and they received a half million dollar wire transfer.  Provenza doesn't find any criminal history on Cooper.  He volunteers to play the 'dirty cop' if they need one.  "I'm at your service."  Wonder if there was anything behind him wanting to play a dirty cop.  No mention was made of the leak this episode.  Provenza doesn't want Liz to be 'Bonnie.'

Cooper shows up at his house and asks for two things back.  He'll pay them in return.  Provenza asks him how much the wedding ring is worth and he will give him $60.  Adding when people sends rings etc to them, it means there no longer of any personal value.  He wants the double eagle coins returned.  His buyer calls and they sold the coins to someone else.  Frank makes a run for it out of the house.

Fritz (Jon Tenney) explains the coins were meant to be destroyed. The coins are stolen US government property and are worth $8 million each.  Raydor and Liz take Frank for a walk and Flynn is sent to carry the evidence bag for the dog poop.  Cooper says a woman mailed them the coins and she was paid for them so they're not stolen.  Brenda makes him answer his buyer's phone and Victor (Ilia Volok) tells him the thief called him.  They're to meet at the gallery at 9am.  Tao and Sanchez (Raymond Cruz) help Raydor with the glove.

This case was easily wrapped up, making a change.  Ensuring we didn't have to sit through this ep any longer than necessary.  Brenda accompanies Cooper and he tells her Victor won't believe he could be with someone like her.  Paul (Jayson Blair) brings the coins with him.  He was a chemistry teacher who lots his job but they still haven't found Bonnie.  Tao believes he'll get 5 years and Provenza says plus more for impersonating an officer.  Raydor IDs Bonnie as Audrey (Sunny Mabrey) a lawyer.  Which is why she was able to write out the warrant.

Brenda wants Flynn and Provenza to take Paul's lunch order and Audrey is shown Paul writing.  Brenda asks why she thinks they found her so quickly after Paul was arrested.  He's cooperating with them.  Audrey revokes all rights to a lawyer, what an idiot and she's meant to be a lawyer herself.  Pope tells her of Milo's heart attack during the robbery.  Taylor reminds her of the felony murder rule, which she doesn't seem to know of.

Brenda tells Raydor she can't believe she had to beg Pope for the murder case.  Raydor: "a good relationship depends on what you're willing to overlook."  Fritz takes the coins.  Cooper's real name is John Hughes Smith and he's in witness protection.  Liz tells Flynn the others think of him as Provenza's fifth wife and they get together every month to vent.  Provenza buys the ring from her.  It reminds her of their wedding and she sees their children and grandchildren and how life could have been  and takes the cheque.  Provenza gives her the ring for safekeeping.

This episode was a big let down as far as The Closer is concerned.  The continuing arc with Brenda's lawsuit, the leak was interesting and made for tense viewing, but this episode doesn't rate a mention.  It was one of the worst ones out of all the others, where Flynn and Provenza get up to mischief.  Don't know whether this is adding insult to injury but it happened to be directed by Jon Tenney.  Surely they could have given him another ep to direct!

Without A Trace 3.12 "Penitence" Review

CROTON CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Prisoners are escorted on a bus, inside one starts a fight and others join in.  One standing around with a broom disappears.

42 Hours Missing
The prisoner’s name was John MacAvoy (Jeremy Davidson) and his sister Laura (Anne Ramsay) asks the FBI for help. Viv  (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) tells her he’s not a missing person.  Jack (Anthony LaPaglia) says everyone including the warden think he’s escaped.  Laura says he would have been out on parole in 2 weeks and reads them an extract from his letter; 'my faith is truly being tested.  Come what may know that you are truly in my heart and that I have tried to walk the path the Lord has laid out for me.  Love Mac.'  Viv asks what’s happened to him if he hasn’t escaped.  On her last visit he told her he was attacked by guards and they threatened to kill him.  Viv assures her they’ll look into it.

44 Hours Missing
There were 66 inmates and 64 after the fight was stopped.  Ferris (Corey Reynolds) also escaped.  They don’t have any leads.  The fight was a distraction and they hid in the food service truck.  The guards realized they were missing after a head count but it was too late.  The guard assigned to the gate left it open, it was him, Orley (Dean Norris).  The Warden Hillary Guiterrez (Jenny Gago) says the relationship with her staff was fine.  Mac punched a guard 18 months ago during a fight.  Viv tells her they’re here because he’s missing.  Damon Ferris was state raised and has been in and out of prison since 16.  He and Mac weren’t friends as Mac was part of the Arian tribe; the leader is Beast.

Laura doesn’t seem to recall when Mac told her about the attack.  Jack tells her the real truth is she called everyone, i.e. the sheriff, warden to sell them the idea of him not escaping.  He lied about being killed by the guards.  He beat men up as part of a group.  Laura tells him people change and she saw this at his parole hearing.  He apologized for killing Mrs D’Angelo’s husband in a drunken brawl and cried.  He seamed sincere.  Mrs D’Angelo dropped her objections to parole.  Jack wants a list of known associates Mac may contact.

Danny (Enrique Murciano) and Viv question Beast but he’ll only speak to Danny, he’s not black. He has a 666 tattoo on his arm.  Viv asks him why Arians would help a black inmate escape?  He replies there’d be one less of someone like her.  Viv says he’s trying to steer them towards Ferris.  Danny replies that’s why they’ll focus on Mac.

Sam (Poppy Montgomery) finds Mac hasn’t contacted anyone on the list.  Viv asks for a background check on Orley.
The Chaplin (Damien Leake) attended Mac’s hearing and wrote a letter about his deeds.  He can’t see into the priosners’ souls.  They’re usually working an angle anyway.  Mac assumed religion for parole until a few weeks ago.  Mac told him he got no comfort from religion.  His father was a drunk and beat him up.  Every hit made Mac meaner.  He excluded his weak feelings and doesn’t cry or show mercy.  He can’t even recall the face of the man he killed and now sees him all the time.

Danny reads a bible in the prisoner’s cell.  He speaks with the Professor (Dave Florek) Mac’s cellmate.  He wants a job in the library in return for information.  Mac left the Arians and cut his tattoo.  He and a prisoner Randall Bowen (Billy Lush) seemed to be an ‘item’.

47 Hours Missing
Randall attempts to hang himself in his cell.

48 Hours Missing
Viv asks the warden why he wasn’t placed on suicide watch? As he was Mac’s punk, the warden thinks he’s got a death wish.  Viv says he had a good reason to escape.  Mac was protecting Randall.

Kansas (Cyrill O'Reilly) runs a gang.  He comments that Viv did a good thing by bringing a white man with her, i.e. Martin (Eric Close). Martin says he’s in charge and they ask why Beast helped Ferris escape?  Why Mac escaped and carved out his tattoo?  Martin comments on how it must be frustrating not having visiting privileges.

Jack tells Sam the Highview PD reported a stolen car with guns and ammo.  Sam thinks the escapees must be up to something big.  Danny questions Randall.  He understands why he needed protection from Mac and made a choice to survive.  Randall tells him it wasn’t his choice to make.  The others gave him to Mac as a present when they heard about his parole.  Kansas said they should take care of each other.  Mac didn’t want Randall.  He protected him because he reminded Mac of someone.

49 Hours Missing
Sam finds that in 1999 a Jersey City patrolman was shot and killed.  This carries a capital sentence.  An eye witness, Doris came forward to testify against Kansas at the Grand Jury trial.
Danny asks about Doris.  They need Randall’s help and offer him protection.  Viv says he knows something.

Jack tells Laura he’ll arrest her for obstruction.  Mac didn’t mention Doris and he wouldn’t kill her.  They had an argument and she wanted to help him.  He hasn’t done anything good in his life and only knows how to be inside.  He belongs in prison.  Jack tells Laura Mac was trying to let her down gently.  Laura asks Jack if he’s ever tired of being wrong about people.  Danny is stabbed by Randall.

53 Hours Missing
Martin pulls off Danny’s blood patch.  No one else knows of this set-up and he’ll be  recognized by the others for stabbing an FBI agent.  Randall tells them Mac kept a low profile.  He requested Randall should get transferred.  Mac told them he wasn’t one of them anymore.  Kansas wanted him to take care of Doris.  Jack says Doris is alive and well and in protective custody.  Sam says she spoke to the DA 6 months ago, the same time Mac began Bible class.  The DA moved her up so Mac had to escape now.

Ferris is picked up by state troopers.  He got the weapons from his cousin.  He doesn’t know where Mac is.  He saw his chance during the yard fight.  Mac was sweeping, minding his own business.  The guards went in and headed straight for Mac.

55 Hours Missing
Viv tells the Governor Orley is dirty.  He paid cash on an addition to his house costing $100,000 on a $45,000 salary.  The records of prison assignments show Orley changed Mac’s assignment to yard duty.    Martin wonders how Kansas keeps going inside.  He’s missed his daughter’s life whilst inside and knows he’s filed 7 petitions for visiting privileges.  Viv brings his daughter to the prison.  Martin tells him the fight was a diversion for Mac to be taken out.  He tells him to speak with Randall.

Danny tells Randall part of the reason why he tried to kill himself is because Mac tried to protect him.  His sister deserves to know the truth about her brother.  Kansas gave up Randall so if he goes back inside he’s a dead man.  He tells Danny Mac couldn’t kill Doris.  Kansas wanted him to persuade Mac to change his mind.  The guards brought Mac to him and din’t have a choice.  Mac lights a candle.  He’s listening to someone else now and says doing this will make Randall safe.  Mac hugs him and Randall stabs him twice.  He cleaned up and Mac’s body was burnt in the incinerator.

Jack tells Laura that Mac didn’t suffer.  Laura reads his letter:
"Dear Laura
It seems like every week the Chaplin preaches on Psalm 23 – like I have to be reminded that I’m walking through the valley.  It’s the other stuff, the goodness and the mercy that I need to hear about and I’m trying to find inside myself.
My faith is truly being tested but I’m not afraid.  Come what may, know that you will always be in my heart and that I have tried to walk the path the Lord has made me.
Love Mac."

Jack: “I don’t appreciate being made a jackass.”
Laura: “People change.  You’re wrong.”
Jack: “Not people like that.”  hey this people change line was used by Horatio in CSI:Miami 10.11 Crowned.  That was a coincidence all these years later.

Viv: “Your brother talk to you about what I was like inside?”
Danny: “No, the only thing he said is that everything that happens in here happens for a reason.”
Of course Danny’s brother was right about things only happening in prison for a reason, almost always the wrong ones.  No wonder prisoners who go in come out worse off than when they went in, in most cases. We get a mention of Danny's brother and him being in prison and how lucky Danny was not to have walked that path.

Danny looking through the Bible in the cell, was he just looking at it or was he looking for something inside it.    Typically prisoners do find religion in prison.

Professor: “You should watch your back…sweat smells of fear…”
Danny: “You should watch your mouth….maybe you should get your nose checked out.  That’s a little friendly advice.”
Danny has to rescue Randall when he hangs himself, true to form it’s what we’ve expect from him: he always has to do this, save someone or find the DBs etc.

Jack: “I just get tired of being right.”  Again he’s proved wrong.  Though makes you wonder why he wasn’t right about Maria or maybe he didn’t want to believe what a backstabber she’d turn out to be.

Danny being stabbed.  You could sense that was a set up a mile off.  He wouldn’t really be so silly or reckless as to walk around in prison on his mobile, oblivious to his surroundings.  Especially since he knows all about prisons and the prisoners.  Though on the other hand, it would’ve been interesting if something actually happened to one of the team at some point and not just Sam.

Danny:”You just shanked a Fed – thanks to me, you’re big man on campus okay.”  But in the end he didn’t really need his help anyway or protection.

Danny: “do the right thing.”

Randall stabs Mac in exactly the same way he did to Danny, no wonder he was such an expert at it.

Jack: “For what it’s worth you were right.  Your brother had changed.”

Mac’s letter at the end and the Chaplin referring to the same Psalm, you’d think he’d had a premonition about his fate and what awaited him.  Especially since he also tells Randall that doing what he was would make him safe.  He didn’t put up a fight.

Jack mentioning he’s never wrong about people.  Whereas at the end you know he’ll be proved wrong again.  The second time in this season so far.  He was also proved wrong in season 3 episode 2 about the bomb at the abortion clinic being on a remote, whereas I was on a timer.

It was a bit silly Beast saying he’ll only talk to Danny since Danny isn’t exactly a WASP, though he is 'white.'  Would’ve thought the Arians would’ve been prejudicial not only against black people.

Jack: “You shouldn’t eat this stuff.”  Another clue as to what’s going on between Sam and Martin when Jack tells her she shouldn’t eat junk food.  Some of Martin’s bad habits running off there since he’s the only one who does this.  Also one episode Martin eats a sandwich for a change so there’s Sam's good habits brushing off on him.

Going to prison didn’t affect Danny in any way re Viv’s question to him about his brother, does this mean they’ve been speaking to each other since he was released.

Danny’s scar seems to have vanished from his wrist.

A familiar episode of CSI here.  Lots of clues about what happened in this episode; such as the shank, Danny getting stabbed was just a repeat of what happened to Mac.  Wonder if they knew then Randall was guilty.

Also appears in the last episode with Danny’s brother, season 2 episode 18 Legacy – he didn’t really tell anyone about him and Viv asks about him in this episode.  Does that mean everyone knows of his brother now.  If so, she knows his name at least Danny’s real surname.  DO we take it they’ve been talking about his brother.  She could find out Danny’s name, that is if Danny isn’t his actual first name.

See CSI:Miami episode 24 from season 1 Body Count where an inmate at a prison is stabbed to death in the prison yard.  The murder being a decoy to help inmates escape.  Corey Reynolds before being cast in The Closer.

Downton Abbey Series 3 Episode 3

More monetary woes from Mary (Michelle Dockery) as she tried to talk Matthew (Dan Stevens) round into accepting the inheritance from Swire but Matthew was standing firm and not having any of it.  So the big wedding day was almost upon the residents but not before the family set out to see their new humble abode.  We shall name it Downton Place Robert (Hugh Bonneville) said.  Yet all this was being kept quiet from the servants, well most of them were going to be laid off.

As Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan) fretted over the news from the doctor, Carson (Jim Carter) wheedled the news from Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nichol) by telling her he'd spoken with the doctor Clarkson (David Robb) who told him of the cancer but it wasn't conclusive yet.  Thus Mrs Patmore although aware of doctor/patient privilege went ahead and blabbed anyway, thinking the doctor told him.  Prompting Carson to request Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) to have a word with Mrs Hughes.  Telling her she can stay here for as long as she needs to rest.  Carson also attempting to lighten her duties.

Elsewhere, Thomas (Rob James-Collier) took it upon himself to get back at O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran) oh come on are these two just going to play like little children and try to get one up on the other, i.e. tit for tat.  He tells Molesley (Kevin Doyle) O'Brien will be leaving soon and he heard one of his nieces was in need of employment.  Leading Molesley to get in early with Cora and ask that she be considered as a replacement.  This being news to her and is thoroughly disappointed O'Brien didn't tell her for herself.  As if O'Brien would love such a cushy position!

Carson reveals O'Brien's plans to leave at dinner, which is also news to her.  Thomas with smug grin on face, which O'Brien later warns will be wiped off his face soon enough.  Actually, when he least expects it.  Thomas thought he was clever and tells her and Albert (Matt Milne) he hid some of Robert's shirts so he won't be caught out next time!

Mrs Hughes is given the all clear and everyone is relieved.  Not more so than Carson, who takes to singing whilst polishing at the end.  Ethel (Amy Nuttall) comes to see Isobel (Penelope Wilton) and is troubled but can't talk abut it.  Isobel gets her address from Mrs Hughes.  That place of Isobel's, it's so obvious the 'pros' are only there for a free feed, not to actually make something of themselves, is there a pun there?

Can't tell if Daisy is in awe of Albert or whether she just wishes she could be like him, care free and living for the moment as she asks Anna for advice about love.  Think she has a crush on him.  Anna pays a visit to Vera's friend and pays her off but she's reluctant to speak at first.  She tells her Vera was afraid of Bates (Brendan Coyle) and he had changed.  Telling her Vera had made pastry beforehand, as she scrubbed her fingernails.  Was this some sort of a clue?  Why make pastry if you're going to end it all anyway.  In prison, Bates is warned about being set up before a cell search.  He finds the offending material and hides it in his hand as the guards search and one of them is disappointed at not finding anything.  Talk about making it obvious that something had been planted!

As for Edith's (Laura Carmichael) wedding, the Dowager Countess (Dame Maggie Smith) is still insistent Robert get Sir Anthony (Robert Bathurst) to call the whole thing off again remarking despondently on the age difference.  Robert doesn't want to but he still has a word to Sir Anthony about it at dinner.  He hopes he will accept Branson (Allen Leech) into the family, just as they have.  Edith comments on her sisters being married and Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay) having a baby on the way.  Oh how did Sybil and Branson afford to be there for the wedding this time round.  So Downton has seen two weddings, it couldn't be third time lucky of course.  Where's the drama in that?  The big day arrives and Sir Anthony finally jilts her at the altar even if he was in torture.  The Dowager intercedes and tells her to let him go. As he's finally doing the right thing.

Think Mary jinxed the entire wedding by wishing Edith all the luck in the world before she stepped into the church.  Edith is resounded to life as a spinster and doesn't want any comforting from her sisters.  Well it's always Edith who has all the bad luck in the family and despite her selfish snickering ways, especially during the first series, you would think the writers would manage to give her some happiness, even if it was only for a few hours.  But alas it wasn't meant to be.

As for the inheritance, Mary secretly reads Swire's letter to Matthew and it transpires he knew all along about Matthew and his feelings for Mary, so he didn't want Matthew to feel guilty about anything.  Apparently Lavinia wrote to her father whilst she was dying.  Yet Matthew won't believe there is a letter.  After making enquiries, Daisy reveals to Mary she sent the letter for Lavinia when she was making the fire, they talked.  Matthew finally relents and gives Robert the news about not having to leave Downton.  Robert accepts his generosity but on the condition they are both lord and masters of Downton together.

Agh these Downton men and their notions of honour.  Matthew refusing to accept the inheritance, Robert only accepting Downton be saved if they share the manly duties and if Matthew invests in Downton.  Sir Anthony abandoning Edith as it's the honourable thing to do, never mind her happiness.  Yet the Dowager coldly steps in and stops Robert and Edith from talking him out of it.

Merlin 4.8 "Lamia" Review

A couple hear  a noise outside and John (Wayne Foskett) goes to check, telling her to lock the door behind him, but if the thing is supernatural, it will get in anyway.  Mary (Melanie Hill) comes to see Gwen (Angel Coulby).  The village has sickness and they need a doctor.  Gwen takes him to Arthur (Bradley James).  Gaius (Richard Wilson) declares Camelot is under a sweating sickness and he can't go, so sends Merlin (Colin Morgan) instead.  Arthur finds that hysterical but Gaius says he can describe him the symptoms and tell him so he can find a remedy.  So why couldn't anyone else do that, cos they don't have magic.  Arthur comments he's not capable of finding his backside most of the time."  No cos he's too busy making sure Arthur doesn't lose his, ha.  That's harsh coming from Arthur.

Gaius knows Merlin knows more than that and they put their life in his hands everyday.  he is intelligent, courageous and passionate.  "I have every faith in you."  He has Gaius's medical bag.  Merlin changes his shirts now in between from red to purple.  Elyan (Adetomiwa Edun) calls him Merlin and not a boy.  The sickness strikes without warning and his magic doesn't work.  Merlin sees a shadow outside and it's not Gwaine (Eoin Macken) answering his call of nature.  Merlin believes magic is at work.  John felt an evil and they need Gaius.

They come across some slave traders with a girl and they rescue her.  she forms a bond with Percival (tom Hopper) who becomes protective of her and she lashes out at Merlin.  She's a Lamia (Charlene McKenna)  Arthur feels they should have returned by now ad he leaves to rescue them.  Leon says they should ride east as she wants to go home.

Merlin tells him the people need help and Leon retorts he's not a knight, "you're nothing but a servant."  Elyan tells Gwen to stay out of it ad they've all fallen under her spell.  Arthur finds the abandoned wagon and dead men.  the scratches were made by a human.

Gwaine and Leon fight over her.  Agravaine (Nathanial Parker) left yesterday for Camelot.  Merlin suspects their strange behaviour began when they found Lamia.  She's bewitched them.  A Lamia is a "creature of magic".  the high priestess took the blood of  a girl and mixed it with a serpent, sucking life from them.  they become monsters.  Elyan is attacked.  Gwen was meant to wake them.  Elyan is then found unconscious.  Gwen tells Merlin Lamia did it./  the castle is near.  they leave a trail for Arthur, placing rags on tress.

Agravaine covers over their footprint.  Lamia disappears when they get t the castle.  Merlin tells them Lamia attacked Elyan and they can't see it.  Arthur must find them.  Gwen was with them.  Gwaine goes in search of more wood and is attacked.

Arthur finds the rag from Gwen's tunic, of course he'd "know it anywhere."  Merlin uses his magic to attack Lamia with a sword and she changes into the "hideous monster" Gaius mentioned.  Gwen fights it and Arthur saves the day.  Arthur: "...almost good to see you."  Arthur humorously comments Merlin was saved by a woman.  Arthur thought he knew everything about her, her loyalty, wisdom, when did Gwen become a "fearless hero."  he's proud of her.  well that felling won't last long.

Lamia was mentioned in Supernatural season 6 episode Weekend at Bobby's. Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) were on the hunt for one.  Lamia apparently sucks the life from men.

Didn't think this was that good an episode for season 4.  there was no Morgana and Lamia was predictable and boring, she didn't even look evil, let alone cat evil.  Arthur recognizing Gwen's rag from her tunic was the comedic highlight of the show.  Merlin having to put up with yet more jibes and put downs from the knights, even after they were under her spell.

Don't know why Agravaine was around - was it to ensure Gwen isn't found and thus he can be of help to Morgana with this unforeseen opportunity presenting itself.  Even the lamia didn't come after him, what a shame.