Scandal 1.4 "Enemy of the State" Review

This is where Scandal heats up and there's  flying everywhere.  Quinn (Katie Lowes) wakes up to banging on the door, as Olivia (Kerry Washington) answers her door to Stephen (Henry Ian Cusick) with a bottle of Shiraz so she can drown her sorrows.  He's the first person from the firm that she confides in about Amanda (Liza Weil)  being pregnant.  Probably the first person (that we know of) who sees her breakdown and drink wine, before she's called by Quinn.  There's an army at the office and it's General Benicio Flores (Jose Zuniga) a client who needs help cos his wife's been kidnapped.  Yeah Olivia helps a dictator this episode or at least it seems that way until the end.  A ruthless, enemy of the US, in this way he could be seen as the reference point in the title of this episode.  However as events progress there are other enemies closer to home revealed.  Not least the President himself.

A witness at the restaurant tells them he saw a van in the alley in the back and after checking the place out Abby (Darby Stanchfield) and Stephen find there was no room for a van to fit into the alley.  The waitress recalls seeing the boy had a games console which Huck (Guillermo Diaz) uses to trace their location.  That being the Woman's Shelter at a church.  Thus Olivia had David (Joshua Malina) send out a bunch of police cars when turns out Mrs Carolina Flores (Valerie Cruz) wasn't really kidnapped at all, but wants to leave her husband.  The usual story of him being good when she married him, wanting to do much for his country but he changed.  She no longer loves him.

Abby puts her up in a hotel for the night before she tells Olivia she found them, but Stephan does the opposite, he tells Olivia where she is as next morning she's gone.  Olivia has her brought to the office so she can reunite with her husband.  Cue Abby losing her temper and reminding her of Charles, how he abused her, threw her out and Olivia kneed him with a tyre iron.  She'd follow Olivia over a cliff and reminds her of her white hat which she no longer wears and also how she was a gladiator once and should do the right thing.

Elsewhere Olivia pays a call on Cyrus at his home on a Sunday and his husband, which was a revelation, doesn't let her in at first.  She tells Cyrus about Amanda being pregnant and wants $10 million outright.  He tells her they're no longer friends and doesn't want her coming round anymore.  Leading him to declare a war on Olivia Pope and Associates.  Taking a group of Whitehouse workers, swearing them to secrecy and then ordering them to dish the dirt on every one of Olivia's associates.  Billy (Matt Letscher) is surprised at this and talks to Olivia about it.  She doesn't tell him what is happening but instead she calls Cyrus and tells him they're talking with Diane Sawyer.  Being an ABC show, she'd be the news reporter they'd turn to.

Olivia takes note of Abby's words and she helps Carolina find asylum, only they're too slow and Benicio arrives in time.  he'll agree to her leaving but only without his children.  Olivia later convinces him with a long speech about how his wife would become not the mother of his children but the face of his opposition as she would write and talk about oppression of women.  He finally gives in, though you wonder why such a powerful man would throw in the towel so easily.

In comparison to the President.  He's not happy with the speech being written for him but Cyrus thinks of him as a bit of a wimp as he lays down the scenario of what would happen to him if his indiscretion was revealed to he public.  How he'd be impeached, return to Santa Barbara, get paid for writing his memoirs, but they wouldn't focus on his work rather the sordid secret.  Then one day he'd blow his brains out.  He gives a speech about the free world and how dictators will not win.  Before finally coming to his senses and telling Cyrus he took on this job to make a difference, to do good and that's what he wants to do, which is music to Cyrus's ears.  Who has some new found respect for him as he calls him Mr President.  That the problem isn't Amanda but Olivia.  Ooh, could call him a 'man scorned' there, as he makes this personal by going after Olivia.

Also Mellie (Bellamy Taylor) doesn't want him to step down when he asks her what would happen if this all ended? Clearly she's ambitious and as Cyrus mentions she has her own money too.  Which makes you wonder who is beind the kidnapping of Amanda.  Yes she's drugged and taken from her apartment, but is it cos of what she knows, or a result of the call she made saying she can't do this anymore and wants out.  Of course there are an abundance of suspects in this.  The short man as Olivia referred to Sanders Black (Leland Orser) Mellie, even Cyrus.

Quinn meets up with Gideon (Bredan Hines) again and they're meant to be on a date.  He doesn't want any info from her cos he has a source.  Now who could this source be? Amanda or someone else.  Harrison (Columbus Short) spots the two together and he warns Quinn off Gideon.  They don't talk to the press, nor socialize with them.  Ahh who would keep their hands off Gideon.  He looks through news footage and pauses the video on the President sharing a moment with Amanda and she has this look on her face which is enough to give away their 'affair.'  Yeah it was that obvious, surprised no one noticed it before.  Quinn however shows some defiance, continuing to see Gideon and calling it a 'date.'  Not only that but she kisses Gideon, much to the chagrin of many!!  Yet she has lied to him as well, so where will that take us.  Nah couldn't picture someone like Gideon going for someone like Quinn unless there's something more to it.

Well he looks like he's bagged a winner there then?!

So who is Gideon's mysterious source and could this source be behind the kidnapping?  Whilst Amanda is being taken, Olivia takes a vote on whether they want to continue with Amanda's case.  All voting in favour, even Abby: "over the edge of a cliff."  Which is just where some may end up in this show.

What was interesting was how we got the lowdown on Olivia's associates from Cyrus and his team.  As he turns up with some printed 'dirt' on her and her associates; laying down his declaration of war!  That has actually come from the President himself.  Well Olivia has an enemy in him now so let's hope she forgets the crying and composes herself to take him on.

Okay there were some reveals about the associates which makes them look like they were in need of rescuing by Olivia as she banded them together to start up her firm.  Stephen was a lawyer who suffered a nervous breakdown after a high profile case.  Harrison evaded charges for insider dealing after Olivia represented him pro bono.  Huck is some sort of a former CIA operative and the CIA warned off Cyrus's team from investigating him.  Most of his history being subject to redaction.  Abby was the victim of domestic abuse.  Which is why she was so vocal in wanting to help Carolina.  Quinn remains a mystery as she didn't exist before 2008.

Seems with so much going on in and out of the Whitehouse itself, there's no need for a case of the week, which just seems to distract from the real story of interest.  Also we didn't get anymore input as to why the Pres said Amanda couldn't be having his baby, which makes it seem she made all this up together with the mystery caller.  Also liked the bit where Cyrus told Olivia there's more dirt where that came from and he didn't want to print it out cos that'd mean killing more trees.

Harrison to Quinn: "...we don't lie to reporters."  Seems Quinn must be good at lying if she never existed until recently and has gotten away with it thus far.  One of the best episodes of the show in season 1 thus far.
Cyrus: "You want to know whether the President wore protection with Amanda Tanner.  I don't know, that's your department.  Did he wear one with you?"  Wow didn't expect that from him, then there's a lot you didn't expect from Cyrus, a Republican with a husband for starters.  Then how quickly he turned on Olivia even resorting to dirty tactics.

What did Gideon unearth in that photo he took, other than the President and Amanda?

The Vampire Diaries 4.5 "The Killer" Review

Connor (Todd Williams) tells Shane (David Alpay) of Klaus (Joesph Morgan) he's meant to kill as many vampires as possible in Mystic Falls, but the witch, Bonnie (Kat Graham) is important to Shane.  Connor will kill anyone who gets in the way and takes Jeremy (Steven R McQueen) hostage at the Grill.

Elena (Nina Dobrev) writes in her diary saying she can't write this or even speak of it.  She's a vampire and she hates it.  Stefan (Paul Wesley) also writes in his diary about how he doesn't recognize Elena at times, but there is hope.  Elena feels hopeless and scared.  Stefan mentions the cure for vampires so Elena can be human again.  Elena wants to end it but she can't cos of Jeremy, she's all he's got left.  Stefan is ready to do whatever Klaus asks of him, keep as many secrets.  Which is impossible in this show.

Italy  Klaus is told of Connor's escape and Connor has the hybrid toxin.  He took the hybrid's head but he wants Connor kept alive.  Damon (Ian Somerhalder) wants to go after Connor and kill him.  Klaus trusts no one.  Stefan trusts Damon more than Klaus.  If more know about the cure, they will go after it.

April (Grace Phipps) comes looking for Rebekah and Matt (Zach Roerig) tells her they're not a couple.  Damon looks for Stefan and Elena hasn't told him about the party.  Damon: "...newbie vampire remorse is worse than a hangover."  Jeremy is told he was compelled to forget as he doesn't remember anything.  His friends will come for him and Connor texts them all.  Damon wants to conduct open heart surgery on him cos he has them all.  Stefan says they need to be careful as he's known for setting traps and has werewolf venom and has used it before.  Damon wants to call Bonnie who is too busy with Shane.

He's written books on witch therapy and using hypnosis she can confront her fear and guilt and remove it.  Klaus says Stefan needs to get the others on board with his plan.  Elena sees Stefan on the phone and Damon thinks the tunnels are a good way in and doesn't want Elena coming.  "For someone who doesn't want to be like me, you sure are."  Only Jeremy is holding her together.

Connor has werewolf toxin in the tripwire of the bomb, when it goes off it will enter the bloodstream. Connor will know his story when the tattoo grows.  Caroline (Candace Accola) meets Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin).  Damon comments on Connor having his MacGyver crossbow and wonders why Klaus would be involved.  Stefan vervains Damon.  Tyler (Michael Trevino) tells Klaus's lackey, Dean (Blake Hood) he doesn't have to do everything Klaus says.  Klaus says he knows about Tyler and Hayley.

Stefan tells  them he needs him alive and he can tell Connor about the Tive.  Matt tries to get out through the tunnels and Stefan hears him trying to break through.  Klaus's hybrid triggers the bomb.  More of the tattoo is revealed on Connor.  Jeremy also steps onto the bomb trigger.  Stefan took Damon's ring and knows Stefan is stalling them.  Stefan has a deal with Klaus or he's been compelled.  Elena calls herself dangerous and she can kill him too when he gets too close.

Jeremy is shot.  Stefan stakes Connor and Jeremy can see his tattoo.  They get to the tunnels and Damon comments he had to go through a septic tank to get here.  He wants to kill Connor and doesn't trust him.  Damon grabs Stefan's heart and he spills.  Elena attacks Connor and kills him.

Bonnie has been undergoing hypnosis for 7 hours.  Shane tells her she can light the candle but she's afraid of the spirits and what they'll do to Grams.  She has her own power and is strong.  Elena buries Connor.  Damon tells her what Stefan did is complicated.  Elena says she trusted Stefan.  Damon told her to kill him and she did.  Hayley learns Dean is dead and Caroline wants to know what Tyler feels for Hayley.  She helped him only.  There are other hybrids they can help who need to be free and Klaus would kill them all if he knew that's why he thinks he and Hayley were together.

Jeremy gives April his bracelet.  Jeremy gets the tattoo now.  Damon went through six locks to get Stefan's journal.  He's got Stefan's back.  Stefan regrets Elena killed the only chance she had to be human, not knowing Jeremy has the tattoo now and Jeremy doesn't know that it will help Elena become human.  There are other hunters out there.  Damon is happy to go on a suicide mission with Stefan but why does Stefan want to cure Elena?  Stefan loves her but doesn't want her to be this person, well she's not a person anymore.  Damon is only doing this for Stefan.  Something he always says.

Elena writes how she lost control.  It's the worst feeling and you "realize you've lost yourself."  She has a nose bleed and follows the blood trail to the bathroom, where there is blood everywhere.  Now the hallucinations begin.

Damon wanted Bonnie there but no bothered calling her or finding out where she is, the same about Rebekah too.  Not that she would have helped them or anything but Stefan is the only one who knows she's been daggered, aside from Klaus who reminds us he did that this episode.  Damon still getting the best lines and it was inevitable he would find out about the cure.  Is he in denial, ha, saying he's only helping for Stefan's sake, well maybe not, we know what his feelings are for Elena and that he'd rather see her stay a vampire, especially since they can both party hard.  Also he keeps saying she's more like him anyway.

Elena is having vampiric mood swings, going from killer to whiny vampire to hallucinating now.  She had to become bad it was inevitable (to use again) but she really has to go through the transformation and decide what she wants to do and how she wants to be.  Either like Stefan or like Damon.  Though it seems that choice has been made for her now that she's killed.

We knew it was coming, Jeremy would become a hunter as Elena becomes a vampire.  Bonnie can't see Shane's up to no good even with her "witchy" powers as Damon calls them. So Bonnie's important to him, to use her against her friends.  Would prefer to see Elena become human, since there's Katherine, her vampire doppelganger, they shouldn't have both of them as vampires.  But Elena will have serious trust issues with Stefan as he isn't being honest with her, but it's for her sake.  Gotta ask if there's just a tad selfishness there on Stefan's part as he has a vested interest in wanting Elena to be human.  He's never really lasted long with a vampire lover.  Elena as a vampire is more Damon territory.

Oh and once again another plan goes awry!  The diaries surface this episode and Damon knowing Stefan would write everything down.

Without A Trace 3.16 "Manhunt" Review

Martin (Eric Close) and Sam (Poppy Montgomery) read papers on the steps of her apartment.  Martin comments the Knicks are playing Milwaukee on Wednesday night and they should go.  She says it’s a school night so there’ll be lots of people there and media coverage including a jumbotron.  Someone from the office may see them.  Martin asks what she’s afraid of, of what people might think, after all she’s been with two men from work now.  They argue and he goes for a run.  He sees a boy being taken by a man into a truck.  Then a woman shouts for somebody to stop the man from taking her son.  Martin gives chase on foot.

27 Minutes Missing

Martin gives the description of the man so a sketch can be made and notices Sam speaking with Jack  (Anthony LaPaglia).  He assumed they were a father and son.  He drove a green Nissan Pathfinder, a recent model.  Jack asks Martin what he’s doing here as he lives uptown?  He replies having coffee with a friend and he was going to run home.  Jack tells him to get the sketch to the media.

Danny(Enrique Murcian) questions Mrs Gerard (Grace Philips) Michael’s (Masam Holden) mother.  She dropped him off a block away since he was embarrassed to be seen with her.  She doesn’t recognize the sketch.  Danny tells her Michael knew the man.  Michael is 12 and had no problems with his father but he didn’t spend enough time with him.  The crossing guard tells Viv (Marianne jJan-Baptiste) she used to see him walk to the library with Michael and called him his uncle and just moved to New York.  Michael was lonely and didn’t have many friends.

73 Minutes Missing

Sam tells Martin the traffic camera shows the truck didn’t have a licence plate, so he’s either taken the plates off or it’s new and doesn’t have any yet.  Jack takes Martin to question the Gerard's.

The father, Paul (Patrick Cassidy) blames Martin for his son being missing.  Martin looks at Michaels’s room and finds model planes.  Jack tells them he’s been seeing the man since November and the man was nurturing a relationship with him.  His father moved out 7 months ago and was 2 hours late for his birthday.  Michael opened a present but it wasn’t from his father.  His father couldn’t spend the day with his son.  The present was a video game.  Tek Zero 3.

Danny finds 900,000 were sold in the US and there are new models, now up to 19.  There’re collectables and can only be found online.  Sam finds a new pathfinder on the Net a B stone 834 brought a game in December and the truck buyer is called Brian Stone (Dylan Baker).  He’s a teacher.  Danny says he doesn’t have a criminal record.  He came here from Oregon.

Martin and Jack search his apartment.  There are Video games and a TV.  Jack finds a photo of Michael and another boy inside the frame.  Martin finds his sweatshirt.

Jack tells his parents they met at the library and his father wants to know what they were doing at his house?  They don’t recognize the other boy.

Danny and Viv question the Principal of Harper Prep who tells them Brian no longer teaches there.  Danny asks if he left or was fired?  He didn’t like his teaching methods.  He found children at his home when he called around; Brian said he wanted to show them the movie of To Kill A Mockingbird so he fired him.

Martin finds Brian lived off his savings and has no other job.  Jack says that’s why he had so much time to spend at the library.  Martin asks why he abducted him?  He was divorced 18 months ago from Debra.  They have a son, Alan, 14.  She moved to Boston and is on a flight to Boston.  Sam tries to get her off the plane at Kennedy.

Jack and Martin check out the gas station where Brian was seen 15 minutes ago, Outside of Westchester.  The clerk thought they were father and son.  He saw the photo on TV and Brian took his gun.  He took a road map of New York State.  He dumped trash in the bin and took the clerk’s phone.

Sam tells Martin the phone’s off but one call was made to Directory assistance.  It’s not connected to the number but he’s heading north. As the call was routed from Putnam County call center.  Martin  thinks of resorts and amusements.  Jack finds a receipt in the trash.  He stopped off at a diner in Melrose 2 hours ago.

The waitress at the diner tells Danny and Viv she remembers them.  Alan’s (Wil Meyer) photo fell out of his wallet and Michael refused to return it until he told him who it was, Brian got angry.  Brian said, “it’s not safe.”  He told him the boy was his son and he doesn’t see him.  Michael thinks he’s Alan’s replacement as he’s called him Alan by mistake.  The waitress said they were fine after that.

6 Hours Missing

His ex-wife Deborah (Chelsea Field) spoke to him a year ago.  The photo of Michael reminds her of Alan.  Brian wasn’t abusing their son.  Alan died 2 years ago today.  They  were at a lakehouse in winter and Alan wanted to skate on the ice.  Brian told him “it’s not safe.”  Alan complained he didn’t let him watch video games or do anything.  Two hours later they found him.  Brian blamed himself.  The house is Upstate.

Martin tells Jack they’re at the lake.  Jack and Sam check it out but they’re not there.  Martin has a flashback and says he’s not going there.  He took the road map so changed his plan.  Danny says there were 2,058  411 calls to Directory assistance and thinks perhaps the argument at the diner made him change his plans.  Martin says he’s going to do what Michael wants to do.

Michael’s father apologizes to Martin.  He wanted to go to the model plane museum for his birthday.  One call on 411 was to the Model plane museum in New York.  Danny says state troopers have found a pathfinder on US 20 heading west.  The phone is still off.

Martin wants to talk with Brian, he’s unarmed and gets into the truck.  Brian won’t put the gun away.  He recalls Martin coming after them.  Martin knows about Alan and tells him people will understand what he’s been through and Michael’s parents want their son back too.  Brain cares about him so he should let him go.  Martin says “it’s not safe.”  Martin radios to say Michael’s coming out.  Brain wanted to take him to the museum and tells him his father loves him, “whatever happens here” he should remember that.  Michael refuses to leave and asks what he means by that.  Martin tells him Brian will surrender.  He asks for the gun.  Michael tells him to give it to him.  Brian says he wants to be with his son and the gun goes off.  He gets shot.

Martin thanks Jack for letting him pursue the case.  He tells Martin it was risky getting into the truck.  Martin says it wasn’t by the rules but it’s been done before.  Jack tells him he knows about him and Sam and wishes him luck.  Martin watches Sam at work before leaving.

Sam’s so worried about what everyone will think and see at the office, more like she’s worried about Jack’s feelings, which is silly.  It’s not surprising the whole place doesn’t know by now with the looks that have been passing between the two.  It’s so obvious.  So here they have their first argument and things are never going to be the same again.  There’s thousands at the game and she’s positive they’ll be seen.
Sam: “I am a woman who has slept with two men on the same team.  If people in the office find that out…”
Martin: “What we’re just sleeping together.  I know exactly what you’re talking about.”
He thought they meant more to each other.

As for Martin running after the truck, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were watching a scene out of Now And Again!  Eric's other show.

Martin feels guilty about not noticing what was happening sooner with the abduction because he had other things on his mind, so he didn’t notice.  Not something you’d notice since everyone kept saying in this episode that they assumed they were father and son.

Of course Jack knew about them – Martin was in Sam’s neck of the woods after all and the ‘friend’ had to be her.  They’re always exchanging glances and even more so when Jack’s around and even Danny found out.

The number of times, “it’s not safe” was said.  That was the buzz word for this episode, even Martin said it.

Jack and Martin’s relationship has come a long way, whereas before he’d have reprimanded Martin for getting into the truck – unarmed – this time he didn’t, and for endangering lives.

Jack: “Martin, I know about you and…”
Martin: “OK.”
Jack: “Good luck with it.”  Jack doesn’t even say her name.

As for getting into the truck and where Martin says he's seen it done before, it was exactly what Jack did in the season 1 finale – going into the bookshop in exchange for Sam when she was shot.  So maybe that’s what he was referring to.  And maybe that’s why Jack didn’t admonish him.

Danny mentions 411 – the number for US directory assistance – hence the phrase “the 411” on someone or something – meaning information, the lowdown etc.  Well some people won't know the reference.  As in season 1's Fallout this episode doesn't show the Vic disappearing, though Martin does run past him.  So it was good to see Martin's feelings of guilt and how his character has evolved since the Pilot episode where he seemed so cocky and sure of himself.

A shame things didn't go anywhere with Martin and Sam since they made a great couple, but you knew nothing would happen.  There was just a good storyline on offer while it lasted.

Castle 2.16 "The Mistress Always Spanks Twice" Review

A woman is found hanging in the park from monkey bars, with ooze dripping from her.  Alexis (Molly Quinn)  tells Castle (Nathan Fillion) she's trying out as a cheerleader which he's disappointed with.  Martha (Susan Sullivan) advises he should let her work things out for herself.   Castle is called to the CS and Lanie (Tamala Jones) thinks the Vic was covered in caramel sauce, also adding she's into whipped cream bikinis, chocolate and the like, but not caramel, which sets Castle's mind and heart racing no doubt.  As he says they can hear what she's saying.

The Vic was most likely suffocated and there are marks on her body.  Beckett (Stana Katic) finds a pair of handcuffs which also sets tongues wagging.  Ryan (Seamus Dever) finds wheel marks on the ground belonging to a suitcase which was used to wheel the Vic there.  Castle is intrigued on Beckett's knowledge of sex shops in the area and is curious to know how she knows.  Beckett keeping it to herself of course.  Um maybe she's a detective, anyway she tells him about Vice working cases.  Lanie doesn't find any evidence of a sexual nature on the Vic.

Esposito (Jon Huertas) and Ryan watch sex videos on the Net and Esposito makes comments about his girlfriend, Jenny (Juliana Dever) and he says he will let them meet her when he's ready. Ryan receives a call from a sex shop owner who sold the handcuffs.  Beckett and Castle head there and once again Castle comes up with the comments about seeing her in those outfits.  Beckett shows Barry (Paul Schackman) her own set of handcuffs and he sold a pair to Tyler.  Tyler (Gil McKinney) says the Vic, Jessica was his girlfriend and he's an intern at the hospital with late shifts.  Jessica was researching bondage for a paper.  Then gives them the name of her roommate.

Danielle (Amy Gumenick) says they are old friends and Ryan and Esposito notice Jessica's bed hasn't been slept in.  Jessica worked with a Mistress Venom to conduct her research and Kelly (Keiko Agena) shows them Jessica's notes but some files are missing.  Matt (Devon Gummersall) also knew Jessica and they were in competition with each other to win a scholarship  Mistress Venom works at a place called Lady Irena's and Beckett makes an appointment for her boyfriend, Castle.

Lady Irena (Dina Meyer) tells them Jessica was Venom and shows photos of her.  She refuses to answer questions but Castle is mesmerized by her.  Particularly her shade of lipstick called Mistress Red.  Mistress Sapphire (Azita Ghanizada) who also works there tells them she saw someone wearing scrubs, which is meant to lead them to Tyler but obviously he's not the killer.  He loved her and wanted to marry her and they took out a lease together a few days ago.  Jessica had a file on a man named "Sam I Am," who was a masochist, making threats against Jessica and covering her in a sweet substance.  Richard is identified as Sam and Beckett questions him since he's into dominant women.

He has an alibi and was with his wife. Ryan finds Irena knew Jessica had other clients outside of work.  Matt borrowed Kelly's keys and so could have taken heh papers.  They see a photo of him wearing scrubs.    He threatened to tell Tyler about her work and she pulled out of the scholarship.  He took her research back to her apartment, thus Danielle is a suspect.  At the apartment Beckett finds a glass with the same shade of lipstick as Irena.

She was there to talk her out of her outside work and then she invokes her right to a lawyer. Notice the lipstick mark on the glass was brighter in the photo than the actual glass.  Ryan and Esposito find Jessica's bedside table had bleach stains but her pillow had saliva on it.  They still suspect Irena.  Obviously it's not her either.  Alexis gives up cheerleading and will stick with her usual academic pursuits.  Castle wonders who washed Jessica's pillowcase.  Danielle was the only one who could have tidied up and would have had time to wash the pillowcase.

The relationship mentioned in the paper was the one with Danielle and she read the paper to find the reference to caramel and used it to frame a client.  Jessica was going to leave but she loved her.  Ryan introduces Jenny to the others and she's heard a lot about them and has read Castle's book.  She's nice and Esposito would do anything to have someone like her.  He and Castle figure out Ryan didn't introduce them to her earlier cos they'd steal her from him.  Oh yeah, as if Castle is really looking for someone as nice as Jenny.  He's not into that sort of nice, but Beckett nice.

An episode which was right up Castle's kinky alley, oh did I just say that.  Well Beckett keeps him guessing about her extensive sex shop knowledge and she strings him along in 'domineering' form.   Not giving in to him for a second.

Castle's safe word is "apples" here when he enters the bondage dungeon with Beckett and in the pilot episode, Flowers for Your Grave, he uses the same safe word of "apples" when he's arrested and placed in handcuffs.
Castle; "Haven't you ever wanted to do something with your handcuffs besides arrest criminals?"
Beckett: "No, but there is one hot, wild, kinky thing that I like doing...putting killers behind bars."

Jenny was played by Seamus Dever's real life wife, Juliana Dever.  Once again Dina Meyer doesn't get a long part.  She would have made a great FBI agent in next week's episode instead of Dana Delaney!

CSI:Miami 10.17 "At Risk" Review

A tennis coach is attacked in the locker room by a rabid dog and the janitor who comes in to help him is attacked and killed.  A call is made to 911 and the voice on the phone sounds black, clue for later.  Walter (Omar Miller) and Ryan (Jonathan Togo) arrive on the scene and Walter tranquilizes the dog.  Coach Hopper (Matthew Glave) is told that Ross (Christopher Darga) the janitor is dead and he is relieved he saved his life.  Coach says people knew his routine and Tripp (Rex Linn) asks who else would know his routine.  Horatio (David Caruso) tells him Ross saved his life but he's dead.

Walter notices the scars on the dog and Delko (Adam Rodriguez) says it's a fighting dog.  Walter thinks there'll be a chip under his neck to identify the owner, which leads to a dog rescue place.  Mason Torres (Ignacio Serricchio) says the dog escaped and shows Delko and Walter the cut fence.  He didn't have time to retrain the dog yet.  Obviously he had to be involved otherwise he'd never have been shown, you know foreshadowing and all that.

Natalia (Eva La Rue) notices Ryan looking at a tennis racket but he doesn't know how it got inside the locker room.  Then notices it has marks on it and they realize it was used to bar the door closed from the outside.  The racket is analyzed and Sam (Taylor Cole) calls in ME Tom (Christian Clemenson) for help since he's a great tennis player, he used to play in college and they play together in the mornings sometimes.  He explains how a racket is customized for each player and you can tell a player from a pro.  He measures the string tension which Sam looks up on the website and IDs the racket as belonging to Jack Brody (Aml Ameen) a famous tennis player.

Jack tells Horatio he's giving away rackets all the time.  His arm injury was caused by the dog biting him and he admits he was there and called for help.  That was his voice on the 911 call.  He went to hospital that's why he didn't stick around and shows them his mauled blue jacket.  Natalia takes more photos from the CS and finds shreds of paper.  This leads her to a Janice Wells (Jodi Harris) who had paid $40,00 for her son to be trained.  She confronted Coach about her son not improving but she couldn't get her money back.  Her son tells her he doesn't even like tennis and Horatio advises she should listen to him.

Horatio and Tripp question Hopper on whether there were other disgruntled parents and he tells them about a scholarship fund where those who can't afford to play are taught.   He sends the ledgers over with Andrew (Travis Caldwell) who also used to play tennis there ten years ago.  He knows each expenditure off by heart but when it comes to an amount for $100,000 he doesn't talk about it until he has Coach's permission.  Calleigh (Emily Procter) also notices Brenda's (Rebecca Lowman) name on the list, she's Austin's foster mother and wonders how she could afford $40,000.

Stacey (Dawnn Lewis) the secretary is questioned by Calleigh and she asks if Austin is around.  He'll be in later and Calleigh notices she sanitizes her hands with soap after she shook her hand and after Calleigh gave her a card.  Tripp brings in the boxes of files and notices a manilla envelope at the bottom of the box.  It's marked for Miami Dade so someone wanted them to have it. Inside is a copy of a deposition where someone was abusing a child.  The name is redacted.  They think Coach paid for this incident to be settled.  His lawyer says the file is sealed and a non-disclosure agreement was signed to keep the file secret.  He advises Coach not to talk about it. Coach of course denying any wrong doing.  They needed a name since the boy is a suspect in the case.

Since the abuse took place ten years ago, this should have led to them thinking of Andrew as he started to play there ten years ago.  Calleigh tells Brenda she shouldn't leave Austin at the tennis academy since he may be in danger.  Then offers to look after him whilst Brenda works.  Ryan doesn't get anywhere with the deposition copy and Calleigh thinks there could be something on the envelope.  She finds a chemical on the clasp which is common in hand sanitizers.  Stacey doesn't want to get involved but finally gives her Andrew's name.

Horatio and Tripp question Andrew who states his parents made him say he was abused but he wasn't really. Calleigh talks to Austin who tells her Jack gave him a phone and told him not to tell.  He could call him on it anytime he wanted.  Calleigh warns he shouldn't listen to grown ups when they tell him to keep things secret.  Walter notices a piece of trace in Ross's neck, which ME Tom, missed again.  It's a blue piece of cloth, which is found to have come from Jack's jacket.

Jack is accused of abusing children and he angrily replies he didn't.  He gave the phone to Austin so he could call him anytime and he stayed behind with him until Brenda came to pick him up.  He tells them of a friend of his who was abused when they were at the academy together when younger.  He confronted Coach and he threatened to end his career and no one would believe him.

Ryan and Sam are transporting evidence when one of the police dogs growls at Ryan, who was carrying the box with Ross's clothes in it.  Sam tests them to show they were doused with pheromones.  Thus Ross was also an intended target.  Mason changed his name and was molested by Coach.  He admits they came up with a plan to kill Coach but Jack didn't know about Ross.  Horatio says he killed an innocent man, but Ross deserved it cos he asked him for help and he didn't do anything.

Natalia and Calleigh discuss how Jack and Mason will be on trial for murder when Coach goes free.  Natalia suggests they should talk to Andrew and ask him to speak out.  His non-disclosure agreement prevents him from saying anything.  Calleigh asks if the abuse still continued after he signed the agreement, cos it means he can talk about any later abuse occurring after 2002.  Coach is arrested by Horatio and he wants his jacket to cover his head.  Horatio refuses, like they don't know ho he is.  A man is shown in the crowd and it's apparent he is there to gun down Coach!  The usual ending in most episodes of this nature.

CSI:Miami is obsessed or was obsessed with paedophile eps; such as 6.17 To Kill A Predator, 1.6 Broken, 7.6 Burn Out, 4.16 Deviant where Alexx was a suspect in a molester's death.  They already had one this season with the child beauty pageant, Crowned.  Where Horatio 'took care of' the abuser.  Here it's left to what must be an angry parent to do the killing.  Surprisingly Horatio was rather reserved with this paedophile considering he was no better than any others he's come across, but it's left to someone else to take vigilante action.  He also kept his cool with him, no threats of any kind.

Adam Rodriguez directs in what is a mediocre episode at best.  He tries to entertain with some different camerawork again when he zooms into the cast whilst they're in the lab and then the camera goes past them  slow motion style.  As said this storyline has been covered many times and it would have been better if they came up with a different twist or another angle.

Janice telling Natalia she doesn't "handle wild animals, I wear them."  Calleigh losing her cool with Jack when she erupts that Austin has her.  Clearly she still has a soft spot for him and he for her, but she hasn't visited him since he moved in with Brenda.  Ryan bringing up Sam's ASA boyfriend again.

Merlin 5.6 "The Dark Tower" Review

Elyan (Adetomiwa Edun) and Gwen (Angel Coulby) ride out to their father's grave.  They are ambushed by Morgana (Katie McGrath) who else.  She unleashes a magical snake which attacks Percival (Tom Hopper) and Leon (Rupert Young).  Thus requiring them to be returned to Camelot.  Surprise, surprise Arthur (Bradley James) did not venture out on this journey with them, though would have thought he would have wanted to lend some moral support to his wife, but alas no.

Gaius (Richard Wilson) explains that dark magic has been used and Merlin (Colin Morgan) suspects Morgana's handiwork.  He tells Arthur the same and Arthur is determined to find Gwen.  Once again the knights ride out, including Leon and Percival, they must have made a miraculous recovery.  Morgana holds Gwen as bait in a trap to lure Arthur to the Dark Tower.  Leaving her isolated and alone whilst she has visions of seeing Elyan, Merlin and then even Arthur, who all laugh at her ominously.

Percival and Leon have the same dream about a dark tower and it's a place Arthur knows about.  Now we know why they had to come along.  A dark and foreboding place which not only haunts the dreams of men, but also takes down armies.  Merlin hasn't heard of this place but tells Arthur that Morgana is luring Arthur into a trap.  Gwaine (Eoin Macken) was however dreaming of cheese which tasted like apples, food as usual and goes back to sleep.  All the knights agree to accompany Arthur as Gwen is their queen, sister, friend.  Gwaine even comments on her being a damsel in distress in a tower, which is enough for him. Arthur loses hope but Merlin reminds him of the promise he made to bring her home.

To reach the tower, the knights must navigate a forest and they find they're going round in circles as they come across Gwaine's torn cloak.  Setting up camp for the night, Merlin is awoken by noises in the forest leading him to Queen Mab (Kelly Wenham) the forest's ruler.  She speaks in riddles and knows him as Emrys, doesn't everyone.  Merlin can't understand her, then she leaves him with a riddle and warning one of them won't come back.  Again no surprises for guessing who that could be, viz, Elyan.  Well he's the obvious choice since they've just come from visiting the grave.

Morgana invites Gwen to share food with her as she's "fading away."  Gwen refuses to be broken by her.  That cobweb infested table reminiscent of Great Expectations, that of Miss Haversham.  Morgana finally comes to Gwen again telling her mandrake root can be cruel and this time Gwen takes her hand and they hug for comfort.  Showing Morgana did break her down eventually.

Merlin says he can lead them to the tower and Arthur is sceptical.  Elyan trusts him and suggests they should do the same.  He finally leads them out of the forest and closer to the tower.  Stumbling at one point and finding himself close to a sword in a 'burial' ground of long dead knights.  Reaching the tower, they are confronted by a hidden trap, as Elyan forges ahead without heed.  They find the slabs are displaced by weight as arrows shoot out at them when stepped upon.  They must distribute their weight accordingly.  Elyan reaches Gwen and sees her being held by a floating, magical sword.  He fights the sword and is struck by it, eventually disposing of it out the window.

The others arrive too late as Elyan is dead but he tells Gwen how proud their father would have been of her and also of Elyan too.  Arthur can't believe it and neither can we, again showing how Morgana has robbed another of the knights from Camelot in her nefarious schemes.  Elyan is buried in knightly fashion.  Merlin tells Gaius he was warned of this and he can only comfort Merlin by telling him it wasn't his fault and that the sword was intended for Arthur and he saved him.

That night, Gwen meets Morgana for a secret rendezvous and she tells her she's still with Morgana and that she trusts her and hates everyone else.  No one wanted to find what happened to Morgana, they leave the tower as is without destroying it so it can lay claim to more victims and Arthur doesn't have any feelings of revenge or otherwise at Gwen being kidnapped and Elyan being killed.  We do get to hear Morgana tell Gwen how she was chained at the bottom of a pit in darkness for two years and is surprised Gwen didn't know of this.  Why would she?  None of the others know either.

The Dark Tower a remnant from Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers perhaps?  Maybe if they rushed the ending less then they could have gotten more out of it.  Gwen succumbs to magic once again s in last season's Lancelot Du Lac, which led to her being cast out from Camelot.  This time round she is firmly in Camelot and in a better position to perform every task asked of her by Morgana.  A shame Elyan was killed off considering he was her brother, maybe Morgan didn't bank on him being the one to rescue her and it seems ironic in a way that she takes hold of the sister whilst the brother is killed.  Not to mention him being a black knight.  The only one in Camelot.

What happened to Mordred this episode after his initiation as a knight proper last episode.  Perhaps one reason why Elyan was killed off, seeing as he served his purpose even if he was under utilized in the show.  Then there's Merlin and Arthur becoming more as one, as Merlin promises, "we're not going to lose her, we'll bring her home I swear. "  Leading onto their arms gripped in unison.  Also the forest was reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty. Of course there were the Dark Tower series of books written by Stephen King, which I have read, shockingly, ha.  Where there is also a character of 'Maerlyn.'

Merlin uses his glowing eyes this episode to guide him out of the forest, something he hasn't done before. My sister said that Gwen could actually be Morgana when she got out of bed and headed out, but darn, it wasn't.  Oh and Arthur no longer sleeps shirtless!!!

Not a bad episode, with Morgana getting her own way at times and this was one of them. If Gwen wasn't even more vulnerable before she is now after losing Elyan.  But if she was under Morgana's enchantment, then have to ask how much of losing Elyan really impacted on her and did she feel real loss and sorrow, or was she just going along with everything as Morgana wants her too.  When Arthur puts his arm around her at Elyan's send off, she seems emotionless.  Just staring.

The Mentalist 5.2 "Devil's Cherry" Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scandal 1.3 "Hell Hath No Fury" Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Vampire Diaries 4.4 "The Five" Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Downton Abbey Series 3 Episode 8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CSI:Miami 10.16 "Rest in Pieces" Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Merlin 5.5 "The Disir" Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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