CSI:NY 7.22 "Exit Strategy" Review

                                            
After a close call with a suspect, Mac re-evaluates his career and life at the lab doing what he does. He opens his first ever unsolved case and then solves it too; in what would have been the series finale.

Mac (Gary Sinise), Flack (Eddie Cahill) and Danny (Carmine Giovinazzo) are on a raid .   Mac crosses his crucifix, which he wears under his shirt and we didn't know that.   Danny kisses Lucy's photo and, er, couldn't come up with anything for Flack, so he just puts on his badge.   It's all about the job for Flack.   Ahh how sad, there was nothing or no one for him to kiss.  It begins to rain.   Mac chases a suspect to the roof, where a struggle ensues and Mac is overpowered.   The suspect reaches for Mac's weapon and holds it to him.   Cue opening credits.   Hey that suspect with the dope bag, was he really gonna flush that big bag down the loo, bit late for that.   The gun jams and Mac takes it back, and gets it to work, and maybe looked like he wanted to shoot him or at least he would have shot the suspect if Flack and Danny hadn't arrived.   Then again it's Mac and he wouldn't have fired, unless it was in self-defence.

The others go over cases in the conference room and Mac can only drown them out.   Hey they don't normally sit down like that, unless they're on an active case and usually not everyone is there.   The sounds from the, almost near fatality, all echo in Mac's ears, especially with Sid (Robert Joy) and his pen sounding like the trigger jamming.   Jo (Sela Ward) notices something's wrong, as usual, which is great to see.   Mac has 3 files on his desk and he wants to solve his first ever unsolved case.   He says there's no pattern to Hexton's (Michael Irby) movements, 9 years ago.   He'd move whenever they were close to him.   His girlfriend, Jackie (Allison McAtee) never ratted him out.   Jo questions Mac on why he walked out of the room.  "I know you better than you think;" and she hasn't been here that long either.   He uses the normal excuse of being Head of the crime lab so he can re-evaluate any case, anytime.   Jo refers to herself as his colleague and friend but asks why this case and why now.   (Cos the show might've been over and they wanted him to solve all his cases.   Yet there are still some more outstanding cases, like the suspects that got away.)

Mac calls this case his last one.   Jo tells him to use a computer instead of the stringing method on the map.   Mac: "Old case, old habits."  He meets Flack at the bodega where the robbery and shootings occurred.   Hexton was bleeding from his GSW and they left through the door at the back.   This was his first case as Head of the crime lab (and he didn't get anywhere with it.)  Flack asks why he's looking over it now and Mac doesn't give him an answer, just replies, "no reason."  There were blood drops where the things fell to the floor.   Flack calls him 'buddy' when he asks if he's okay.   No he's not and everyone can tell, well at least Jo and Flack.

Then we get a boring scene with Danny and Lindsay (Anna Belknap) about their future and she calls Danny's Pacino impression bad.   He tells her he took the sergeant's exam and is awaiting the results.   It will take him away from here if he passes.   Oh and he actually said, away from her too.   We wish.    Hawkes (Hill Harper) examined the blood samples from the shooting, mostly belonging to Hexton, but he found a second profile from the epithelials on the purse using a different genetic analyzer (conveniently) this new machine picked it up.  The DNA belongs to Olivia Dalton (Kayla Carlson) who was reported missing the morning after by her mtoher.   Mac ascertains Hexton took her with him, along with his accomplice, Wes (Clayne Crawford) that's why they used the back door.

Her mother, Natalie Dalton (Lisa Sheridan) bought her the purse and she went out to buy her aspirin, she was more interested in drinking than her daughter.   Mac's not here to judge her.   No, but he has judged others in the past, even if they didn't warrant this kind of treatment, like the mother in 7.2 Damned If You Do episode, where he judged the son as being guilty and that his mother identified him as being their attacker, when she didn't.   Jo talks with Jackie and says she wanted to be beaten by her boyfriend cos of what her father's put downs.   She tells her about Olivia and and she gives Jo a postcard sent to her by Wes.   The writing is practically invisible.

Boston, MA.   Again the same rituals from Danny and Mac, with the crucifix and Lucy's photo has shrunk now, this time Flack gets to check his weapon.   Said rituals will be forgotten in the next season no doubt.   Mac still thinks about that night.   Yes Flack, knew that ice bag was coming, he needed cooling down, ha.  Hexton tells Mac that Wes beat him up and took Olivia, who had her chance to escape, but didn't take it.   Was it cos she didn't want to return to her drunken mother - perhaps - or she identified Wes as a father figure she never had.   Was she exhibiting Stockholm Syndrome.

Adam (AJ Buckley) brings up the writing on the postcard using infra red.   Mac wants the writing sample put out on the billboards etc, like the face of a missing person, someone might recognize the unique style of writing.   Adam refers to Mac's "out of the box thinking," which he isn't impressed with, again.    Danny tells Flack they've got a hit from a woman named Samantha (Jeanette Sousa) in Twin City, Georgia, where they both head.   Wes, under the name of Tony, left 9 months ago, with Olivia.   He called her his daughter, Madison and 'princess'.   She needs her heart medication.   Lindsay doesn't get any hits on Dr Miller.   Mac sending Flack and Danny to Georgia where they didn't find Wes, but he goes to North Carolina himself, cos Wes would actually be there.  Mac posits normally the suspects keep the first names of the Vics and change the surname.     There's a Madison Hughes in Shelby, North Carolina.

That was a bit obvious Flack turning up in the van and no one getting out.   Wes goes for his keys and is shot and killed.   Olivia pulls a gun on Mac, that's a second time he's had a weapon trained on him this episode, not mentioning the number of times he was shot at last episode.   He talks Olivia into putting the gun down and tells her her mother looked for her and loves her.   Olivia calls Wes her father.  Mac tells Jo, Wes could have let her go at anytime, but didn't.   Jo questions Mac as to why he didn't tell anyone about the roof.   Mac was trying to work things out.   Death "was staring me right in the eyes."  Jo says she knows he must have questioned why him.   Mac reveals when it was over, he asked himself what he was doing and how long he can continue doing it.   Jo understands he needed to find closure with this case.   Mac: "I've done a lot of good, maybe I've done my part."  So now it would have been for the others to take over, like Danny with his sergeant status.

Danny passes his exam and calls himself Sgt Messer.   Flack knocking down more doors in his same outfit!  Hawkes and Sid in autopsy, where he gets a call from Camille, with a photo on his phone of her.   So Mac walks away, leaving Jo et al.   In the words of the song Holding On and Letting Go at the end, by Ross Copperman;  "one door swinging open" again next season 8, luckily!

That's how 7 years would have ended and I have to say, not very satisfactorily.  The producers and writers may have been happy with the ending, but I know many of us weren't.   Fine to see Mac walking away into the sunset, or rather the street, but everyone else hardly got a mention.   Jo watching him from the balcony, he didn't even look up to see her, let alone acknowledge her.   Flack going about doing what he does (they had a similar scene with him in the Super Men episode; appears they can't come up with anything different for him; they didn't even try.)  Same for Hawkes and Sid, at least Hawkes got Camille out of it all; and Danny passing his sergeant's exam.   That came out of the blue.   Though he always wanted promotion since season 1, even before Lindsay came along, but they had to mention the obligatory, it'd mean more money for them, line.  It all seemed so hurried and rushed, like no one could be bothered to come up with a more fitting ending.   The show wasn't and isn't just about Mac.

At least Mac actually raised a smile at Adam's antics; which will long continue, he's Adam after all.   Mac didn't even say goodbye to anyone, maybe the scene didn't warrant it, thus leaving the path clear for another season.   Only dilemma being what's gonna happen with Danny now he's a sergeant.   Hawkes still with Camille, as I said and Sid hardly getting any lines.   The last episode clearly concentrating on Mac and it's been done before, staring down the wrong end of a barrel, making people re-evaluate their lives and their choices.   There wasn't much about Jo either, she just stays.   Basically, the last episode concentrated completely (as said already) on Mac which if this was going to be the series finale, would have been rather unfair on everyone else.

Having Mac kiss his crucifix reaffirming that he's always had his faith, going back to season 1, even if he hasn't talked about it much over the past few years.   Showing he still believes in good over evil, as we know, he's mentioned evil a few times this season, so it was only fitting he had his crucifix this episode.   But showing Mac and Danny doing all that kissing this episode, was new, they've never done that before.   Oh that didn't sound right, not kissing each other of course.   They could afford to go out of state this episode, ha (though they weren't really) but to Boston, Georgia and North Carolina.

As I've said 2.19 Super Men episode had them all go on about their daily routines, which was kind of like this ending here.   Indicating life will continue for everyone else; that their work: fighting crime never ends and when they finish/leave, someone else will carry on - the next generation even.   People like Flack, Danny, Jo, Hawkes.   In their never-ending quest to seek justice - oh okay - I sound a bit repetitive here, but that was the purpose of the ending in Super Men and here too.   Just wish the ending had been more original.   So this was the Exit Strategy: for Mac to solve his first ever unsolved case, which would have been his final case ever and leave.   What would he have done.

Well at least I'll get to write about about another season and more importantly watch another season along with everyone!

Jeanette Sousa played the crossroads demon from the season 2 Cross Roads episode of Supernatural.

Downton Abbey 2012 Christmas Special Review

The action moves on one year later as the household gets ready to visit Duneagle Castle, Scotland.  Of course this was meant to be that episode, don't know how many believed the stories to be true, but it was said one of the cast would be leaving.  That would be Dan Stevens, no surprise, who plays Matthew Crawley, as he made his intentions on leaving clear earlier on.  But many will be shocked at how he was written out.  Not me though as I already said his fate was on the cards.

Anna (Joanna Froggatt) Bates (Brendan Coyle)  O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran) Moseley (Kevin Doyle) all accompany the Grantham's, with the Dowager (Maggie Smith) in tow.  As well as a very pregnant Mary (Michelle Dockery) Edith (Laura Carmichael) and Matthew.  Edith breaks the news that Michael Gregson (Charles Edwards) is to be there also and Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) is eager to meet him, but not it seems Robert Hugh Bonneville).  Branson (Allen Leech) stays behind to manage the estate and to stir things up with the new maid, Edna (MyAnna Buring).  Okay it's Edna who gives chase to him.  Have to say I didn't like Edna at all and she didn't really fit the show or the episode either.  A maid with yearnings of  a higher station is not at all what the Downton staff in Carson (Jim Carr) and Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan) will tolerate.

 A new grocer, Tufton (John Henshaw) turns up who sends Mrs Patmore's (Leslie Nichol) heart racing and especially since he tastes her wares.  He brings her dried ginger instead of fresh and Thomas (Rob James-Collier) offers to go into Thirsk and change it for her, with Albert (Matt Milne) in tow.  Seems like everyone is on speaking terms now with the fiasco of last series in the past.  Which also includes Daisy (Sophie McShera) and Ivy (Cara Theobold).  Albert it seems has also given up his pursuit of Daisy and Ivy now, it seems.  Not to mention Thomas has taken to 'stalking' Jimmy/James (Ed Speleers).  Well it appears that way and with the looks that pass between them, it's a wonder Jimmy is till around, ha.

Robert tells everyone about visiting Shrimpie, the Dowager's nephew, in Scotland, that's a nickname cos they had nicknames resembling fish.  When they arrive it's obvious tensions are high between Shrimpie (Peter Egan) and his wife, Susan, parents of Rose (Lily James) who is glad to see them.  O'Brien seems to be getting on with Susan's maid as she thinks they've found a fellow kindred spirit, another maid with ideas above her station, sorry I just love that phrase.  It appears they dine early in the Highlands, whereas the Downton staff are used to eating late.

Thomas and the others decide they want to attend the Thirsk fair where Tufton will have a stand and they will need Carson's permission to attend.  Carson who aims to work everyone like a horse whilst the upstairs lot are away is adamant they shouldn't have a break whilst still being paid.  Mrs Hughes talks him round when Mrs Patmore asks her to the fair also as Tufton will be there.  Obviously tufton is a cad in terms of only wanting her for her food, he even asks her to bring sandwiches.  As Mrs Patmore buys a new pink outfit for the occasion.  It's a bit 'girly' she thinks, but as Mrs Hughes tells her, it's good to be girly now and then.

Branson left to his own devices. has dinner with Isabel (Penelope Wilton) and she tells him it's okay to be his own man in that he can mix with whomever he likes now he runs the estate.  Thus Edna kind of does the same thing in asking him if he's ashamed of his position.  Even meeting him in the pub for lunch, cos she overhears he will be there, he has to walk Robert's dog, you see.  She then invites him to come down and have dinner with them, instead of eating on his own.  Isabel also having Doctor Clarkson (David Robb) over for dinner quite a bit too and we know where that was leading, with one-sided feelings on his part.

Mrs Hughes notices Tufton being free with the women and flirting with everyone in a skirt. As he says, "I love anytime, anyplace."  The men enter into a tug of war with Jimmy betting the Downton lot will win and that doesn't go down well with the other team, seeing as the bookie is on their side.  So they win of course and Jimmy has money to burn, so he buys drinks for everyone, gives Daisy and Ivy money.  Before you know it, Jimmy ends up drunk and is cornered under the bridge by the other rope pullers.  Only to be rescued by Thomas, who gets beaten for his trouble.  Doctor Clarkson is about to propose to Isabel but is saved by her telling him she doesn't want to ruin a good friendship and Jimmy needs his help.

In the Highlands, Susan aims to get her hair like Cora and enlists Brien's help, making her own maid, Wilkins (Simone Lahbib) jealous.  Anna and Bates help out Rose, who smokes outside and is cheered up by them.  She then returns the favour by teaching Anna the Reel; for the Ghilles Ball.  Shrimpie is to go to India and Susan doesn't want Rose to go.  He also tells Robert he's lost Duneagle, which makes Robert see the light and admit to Cora that Matthew was right about his plans for Downton and without him he would have lost it too.  Matthew takes Gregson under his wing and says he objects to his intentions towards Edith, in making him his mistress, as will Robert.  However Edith is determined to not let this one get away.

Cora agrees to take Rose to Downtown whilst the two are in India, we knew she'd become an addition at the estate.  Mary was being rather snobbish, as usual making comments about Gregson and how he brought his tails with him just to fit in at the Castle.  Since Matthew and Mary were getting so close it was inevitable as to the outcome at the end.  With him saying he loves her, she's changed his life and her adding he's the only one who could love her.  At the ball, Wilkins spikes O'Brien's drink to get back at her which she doesn't drink, but Moseley does, so he engages in plenty of merrymaking and dancing at the ball, letting his hair down.

Jimmy checks up on Thomas and finds out he was following him, well he needed looking out for.  Jimmy can't give him what he wants, but Thomas just wants to be friends with him, which he can be.  So they bury the hatchet.  Mrs Hughes tells Mrs Patmore about Tufton and his flirting with other women and she's relieved.  He was only after her for the cooking.  Albert finds he has a love for cooking also.  Hey O'Brien wasn't around to relish Thomas getting beaten up.

Mary is overcome with her little dance and wants to return home early, without Matthew of course again cos we knew what was coming.  Anna also surprises Bates and Mary with her dancing.  When Mary arrives at the station she needs to be taken to hospital.  The baby being born by the time Matthew arrives.  He's pleased and she's done him proud.  As Mary says they've done their duty, a male heir for Downton, which wasn't soon enough.  She wants Matthew to get the others and bring them back, so what happened to the telephone now?  He meets with an accident in his car and lies bleeding, life gone from him.  SO will she name the baby Matthew now?

That was a bit too much for a Christmas episode, I knew it was coming throughout the episode and even managed to say how, but a year after Sybil is killed off and they decide to do the same thing.  Another death after a baby is born, that's like saying babies are jinxed in this household.  As I said, it was obvious with everyone singing Matthew's praises, not to mention Robert finally accepting his proposals were welcomed and didn't even tell him.  Matthew knew about Gregson and his loony wife too, so he had to go.  He knew too much, ha (sorry).  Leaving Mary and Branson with lots in common now.  Branson even broke down and cried over Sybil in front of Mrs Hughes, particularly when she told him Edna must go and how he'll find someone one day.  Doubtful Mary will, I mean as she said Matthew was the only one who truly knew her and loved her.

Just think, last Christmas, they got together and this Christmas episode, Matthew was killed off.  Surely there were other ways of coming up with an ending in which he could leave, that didn't involve another sorrowful death.  The family will now go through another mourning ad upheaval as another baby won't know one of their parents.  Of course they could move the story along in years in series 4, which will be disappointing if Matthew/Dan doesn't get his moment in the limelight with everyone saying goodbye to him.  He's a character who will be missed.  One who wasn't stuffy or arrogant and gave everyone a chance.

Merlin 5.13 "The Diamond of the Day" Part 2 Review

                                               
There wasn't a dry eye in the house for this series finale and what an ending it was, leaving us with lots of possibilities for the future.  The Battle at Camlann continued as Merlin (Colin Morgan) rode his damnedest to help Arthur (Bradley James). With Mordred (Alexander Vlahos) getting closer to fulfilling the prophecy.  Lots of slo-mo action scenes again with Arthur and there stood Merlin/Dragoon on the hilltop, throwing down Morgana's hoards left, right and centre with his magic staff, as Arthur and the knights looked on.  Gwen (Angel Coulby) also saw him and asked Gaius (Richard Wilson) who that was, Gaius knows him but doesn't let on it was Merlin.  Think Gwen had a pretty good idea anyway.

Morgana (Katie McGrath) even sent Aithusa into the battle but he was no match for the power of the Dragonlord.  Until finally the showdown between Arthur and Mordred, and it wasn't really much of a showdown, Arthur didn't even get to fight. Mordred just skewered the sword in and that was it, all over for our fair and princely knight, er, king.  But not before Arthur got the blade in too and twisted it with relish.  Mordred saying Arthur left him "no other choice."  Oh you had choices, you just chose to side with Morgana, on the losing side of course!

Merlin roams through the bodies in desperation searching for Arthur but alas he is too late.  For Arthur lies mortally wounded as he eventaully carries him away.  In the woods and by Arthur's side, Merlin reveals his true self and his real powers.  Confessing to Arthur he has magic and always did.  Arthur is shocked and I was about to say what a time to tell him, you know, on his last legs and everything which could hasten his departure even sooner than expected.

Arthur is shocked and wants Merlin to leave him.  He can't face him through all the lies he told.  Yet Merlin won't leave him.  He shows Arthur his magic by conjuring a dragon from the fire.  Arthur once again had to tell Merlin to not be "ridiculous."  But he wasn't.  For all the times he saved Arthur, he used magic to do it.  This is what made the show and gave the two their last moments together, so touching and poignant.  For Merlin reveals his true self to Arthur and Arthur won't be around very much longer to see Camelot or his beloved Gwen.  The bromance was to have some continuance before ending on a sad note.

Morgana is despondent but still wants Arthur.  "I want him dead" she tells her men and shows some more magical strength by dispatching one of them when they say they have searched everywhere for Arthur.  The knights too are in search of Arthur as Leon (Rupert Young) tells Gwen they haven't found him yet.  Seems Gwen is resound to the inevitable too at this point, but soldiers on to help the wounded.  She won't give up hope.  Gaius is also missing, as he seeks out Merlin.

Gaius convinces Arthur that Merlin is his best hope to save him as he must get him to Avalon and the Sidhe (shee) [Seen in Merlin episode The Changeling] who can help save him.  Gaius leaves for Camelot and Arthur gives him the seal for Gwen,  he will need it as queen to rule over Camelot.  So the one person who didn't want the throne, ends up with it.  All this time I was wondering what happened to the Dragon, why didn't Merlin just call for him in the night and get there much sooner, than calling for him in the final moments when it's too late. Of course we know Arthur wasn't going to survive but it was wishful thinking, you know just for a brief second.

Gaius also tells them about Eira and her betrayal and they get Gwaine (Eoin Macken) to set her up by telling her where Arthur is heading, she sends a message to Morgana and is caught.  Being hung for her troubles!  Another hanging at Camelot with Gwen presiding this time, showing she will be a good queen.  Morgana gets the message and rides out with her Saxons.   Gwaine after watching the hanging tells Percival (Tom Hopper) they wanted to see Morgana killed and so they know where she is now and can kill her.  Yeah with heh magic, that was a bit far fetched.  So they overcome her henchmen and Percival proceeds to drive a blade into Morgana's back.  But it's not that easy as she strikes them both down.  Then ensures Gwaine reveals the truth of Arthur's location by the use of her pet Nathair again.  Gwaine's anguish screams are heard by Percival as he breaks lose from his ropes, but it's too late.  Seems like everyone was dying and being killed off here.  That makes Mordred, Eire and Gwaine so far.

Merlin still forges ahead in a bid to save Arthur, using his magic along the way.  In one scene Arthur asks why he doesn't just use magic to light the fire?  Cos he hasn't done so in the past and it's his job.  As they almost reach their goal, the horses flee and Arthur knows he's in his final breaths.  It's futile.  Cue Morgana who is the epitome of smugness thinking she has the last laugh.  Saying she will stay by Arthur's side as he dies. Merlin won't let that happen and he stabs her with the sword, still smug, she thinks it's a mortal blade however he tells her it was forged in dragon's breath too just like hers.  So that's Morgana gone too.

                                                      
Arthur can't go any further and tells Merlin he is sorry for all he said to him and thanks him.  Merlin still won't give up and calls on the dragon, Kilgharragh (John Hurt) for one last favour as he flies them both to Avalon. Arthur didn't even know he got to ride on a dragon!  Arthur dies in Merlin's arms and he sends him on his way, a journey befitting a king on a boat.  The Dragon having already told Merlin it was too late.  Yet he must recall that Arthur is known as the "once and future king."  That Arthur will rise when he is needed. (Does that signal a film or two, please?!!)  Merlin takes Excalibur and flings it into the lake where a hand reaches out and takes it, a hand looking a bit like Arthur's, but obviously it's not.

SO it ends.  The battle scenes being cut short for the brotherly conversation between the two.  It would have been nicer I think if they had had the big reveal a few episodes ago so that Arthur could have come to terms with Merlin being a sorcerer for a bit longer and also it feels like Merlin only told him this now cos he was dying and it was inevitable.  Yet Gwen also works this out as she tells Gaius that she also knows the man they saw.  That it was Merlin and he will take good care of Arthur.  Gwen is hailed as the queen, as Leon announces, "The king is dead, long live the queen," and the knights follow suit.

Merlin however isn't shown at Camelot.  Instead we jump forward into the future as a bearded man gets off a truck, it's Merlin, or old man Merlin/Dragoon.  He walks the road with Avalon in the background.  Does this mean Arthur will rise soon, in modern times?  That would be interesting to watch.  Also the show ends on a light note with Merlin having survived for so long and we presume he was back at Camelot helping out Gwen and the others.

But for my liking Arthur's demise was truly sorrowful.  Yet there was humour.  Arthur commenting at one point that Merlin isn't an idiot so that was a lie too.  Best line from Merlin: "I am a sorcerer.  I have magic  and I use it for you Arthur.  Only for you."  That was a deep and meaningful line and if you weren't already in tears, you would have been now.

As Excalibur is returned, there were some remarkable scenes between Bradley and Colin as Arthur asks why he did all this when he was more than a servant.  Cos he wanted to, it was his job.  That he didn't tell Arthur sooner about himself cos he'd have "chopped off my head."  He didn't want to put Arthur in that position, of having to choose if he had told him earlier, or make those sorts of decisions.  They even recall how they first met with Arthur almost killing Merlin.  He reveals he used his magic to save himself.  Which Arthur calls cheating.  But the number of times he was there at Arthur's side to save him, take the brunt of his jokes, it was only fitting Merlin was the one there with him to the end and at the end.

Arthur asking at one point that Merlin isn't an idiot so that was a lie too.  That Merlin could have asked for credit for what he had done but he didn't.  Arthur rewards that with thanks and with his words; "I don't want you to change.  I want you to always be you."  Merlin came round full circle, going from light hearted nonsense in earlier seasons, especially 1-3 to realizing the true potential of the show, cast and stories and raising its game to give us real darkness, evil, action and above all, to signify the importance of friendship and loyalty in the end.

Glastonbury Tor was used as the island of Avalon here and it is alleged that Arthur and Gwen's tomb is here by certain monks.  Funny scene where Gaius and Merlin argue over what herbs Gaius has brought, this was not time for nitpicking, Merlin!  Big in the bromance stakes would have been Arthur's line of "hold me" to Merlin!  But through it all, Arthur knew he was dying and embraced his destiny just as Merlin did his.  The mark of a true and brave king; with loyal sorcerer and friend at his side.  Oh can't write this without a lump in my throat, several lumps!!

Farewell Merlin, you shall be missed!

What Katie [McGrath] Did

                                               
Katie McGrath plays kick-ass Morgana, evil sorceress and just a wronged daughter who wants nothing but Arthur's throne in Merlin and is more than just a magic wielding beauty.  Katie used to be a wardrobe assistant on BBC series The Tudors, admits she couldn't sew and so (no pun) decided to go into acting.  She hasn't gone to drama school and says it's not necessary if you have a good agent.  Of course getting an agent isn't easy, not even as a writer, speaking from my own personal experience; but she happened to have succeeded.

Growing up in a small Irish town, she didn't know or meet any actors until her time on The Tudors and found them to be "intelligent, passionate and engaging about what they were doing."  Working on Merlin for five years meant the cast got to know each really well and Katie thinks of them as family.  Filming on the fifth and final series ended in October and she believes the show's popularity extends to it being family orientated.  "Every character got to tell their story from beginning to end, which is a privilege as an actor."

She had plenty to learn from Colin Morgan who plays Merlin and describes him as being"an absolute acting genius."  He's really going places with his talent and the show has propelled him to global success.

Katie was directed by Madonna in WE and was in awe at being on set with her at first, but that wears off and you have to get the work done.  Other shows coming up with her include Labyrinth and she would "melt into a puddle" if she was offered a part in the up and coming new Star Wars films and would covet her own action figure.  She likes playing bad women as they have more to offer in terms of character and being engaging and enthralling.  Also cos she's so good, it makes a change playing the bad girl role.

Katie will be watching the final episode of Merlin with her family and watch out for Katie in the future too, cos she's another Merlin actor who is going places.

Merlin 5.12 "The Diamond of the Day" Part 1 Review

                                         
This episode opens with  Morgana (Katie McGrath) and Mordred (Alexander Vlahos) at her side up and she's up to some more treachery.  This time she demonstrates the power of the ?? a large slug looking creature which attaches onto men's faces and sucks the magic from them, having told dark sorcerer, Ari (Peter Guiness) to demonstrate his magic and then lack of, after his face has been sucked.  As a man later leaves this same creature in a box under Merlin's (Colin Morgan) bed, having hit Gaius (Richard Wilson) over the head with a rock.  Oh he knew that was Merlin's room and his bed did he.

Merlin meanwhile is at the tavern with Arthur (Bradley James) and the other knights playing a game of dice.  No wonder the tagline for this episode was The Die is Cast.  He bet on his numbers coming up using magic to win Arthur's money.  Ohh that's cheating.  No comments here about Merlin frequenting the tavern.  Later the knights engage in  battle at a garrison where Gwaine (Eoin Macken) rescues a damsel in distress, conveniently being the only survivor from the town.  Obviously that was no coincidence since she had to be another one of Morgana's spies, for all her magic, it's well known by now Morgana can't do anything for herself!

Merlin stumbles back in and doesn't even notice Gaius on the floor!  Merlin is attacked by the beast and loses his power, Gaius can't help him and he finds himself helpless in Arthur's time of need.  Merlin makes his excuses to Arthur about not being able to travel with him as he has important supplies to find for Gaius. Arthur tells him all those jokes he made about Merlin's bravery weren't jokes, but he doesn't think that now.  Merlin must go to the birthplace of magic itself and decides he has to head to the Crystal Cave, located in the Valley of the Kings.  The Crystal Cave a season 3 episode of the same name.

There's a meeting of the Round Table and Arthur suggests a strategy for ensuring Morgana and her hoards don't reach Camelot.  He'll block them off at the pass, a small pass known to Percival (Tom Hopper) where Arthur and the knights may be able to hold her off.  Merlin isn't pleased with this since the name happens to be Camlann.  Thus ensuring the prophecy of Arthur dying there at the hands of Mordred appears to be coming true.

Gwen (Angel Coulby) wants to be at Arthur's side and not wait here for him at Camelot, if this is his final moment she wants to spend it with him.  Gwaine meanwhile gets romantic with the woman, Eira (Erin Richards) he saved and blabs about accompanying Merlin to the Valley, obviously she goes straight to Morgana with this news and gets paid for it in return.  Morgana gives Mordred a sword forged in dragon's breath, with the help of Aithusa and you could see the effort the dragon had to put into it.  Mordred recalls when he was a boy the Druids told him of the place known as the Crystal Cave, the birthplace of magic.  Funnily enough Morgana gets there before Merlin, but she's incapable of anything else.

Merlin takes Gwaine with him and he fights off some bandits, you can see how naked Merlin is without his magic, he's no longer confident and is truly afraid of those bandits and for not being able to help Gwaine.  He can only shout out and warn him of the man behind.  Thought it would have been good for Merlin to have revealed his powers, well his magic cos he doesn't have his powers at the moment here to Gwaine.  As he did with Lancelot.  Especially since the two have been through a lot together and since Merlin encouraged him to become a knight.  Seems we weren't going to get any reveals until the final episode.  Only hope it lives up to the hype, well I mean hype in a good way, cos we want everything to turn out fine and have a happy ending.  We need a film!!

Morgana taunts Merlin in the cave and he takes a swipe at her with Gwaine's sword, who told him, "you know how to use the sharp end right," only moments before.  How did Gwaine make it back without a sword, carry other concealed weapons did he? Ha.  Finally she causes a rock slide, this being Merlin's speciality as he's used this on her in the past.  Merlin trapped once more, feels helpless and vulnerable.  Until he dreams of his father, Balinor (John Lynch) who tells him  he was born of magic, not only of the sea, but the sun, land etc.  He must find himself.  The magic is still within him and he never lost it.  Merlin wakes without bruises and does get his magic back as he uses it to conjure a butterfly in his hands.  After Merlin sees visions in the crystals he warns Arthur about Morgana and how she's planning to attack now and use a secret path to ambush him.  Arthur wakes and Gwen thinks he's just been dreaming.

Oh so who carried the bed all that way for the two of them?!  Arthur readies the troops and gives a heartfelt speech about this being their moment of glory, of honour and their time.  Arthur: "whatever the outcome  of this battle, my sister cannot and will not desecrate those values."  Funny how Arthur always refers to her as his sister but she doesn't really call him brother.

Merlin's father tells him to step into the light and find his true self.  As the battle ensues, "on me!" Arthur and Percival shout... we get slow motion scenes of Arthur battling the hoards.  Also of Mordred but not in slo-mo as he gets closer to Arthur and their fateful showdown.

A moment in the woods before they reach the pass where Arthur mentions to Gaius about Merlin not being here and Gaius is a little bemused but keeps up Merlin's cover.  Arthur is disappointed at not having his servant and friend his side and Gwen tells this to Gaius.  He tells her that there is something Merlin must do, but he can't reveal this to her.  Which is good enough for her and she wishes Merlin luck.  Merlin walks into the light in the cave, where we see a great explosion of light and Merlin leaves the cave as his old self, Dragoon, in full fury.

A great episode slowly unfolding into the series finale.  You can see the pain in Arthur's face and voice as he's disappointed in Merlin not being with him, he must have been mistaken as to his bravery he tells Merlin.  He thinks Merlin is using the excuse for the errand for Gaius to get away from the battle.  But Arthur forges on like a true king, at least he has Gwen at his side.  As Gwen later tells him his plan is good and she's never seen any greater "valour or wisdom."  Specifically when Arthur has his doubts and thinks Leon (Rupert Young) may have been right about them staying to protect Camelot.  Balinor last appeared in The Last Dragonlord.

Oh well at least we only have two days to wait for the thrilling finale and not an entire week, so it'll be over before Christmas.  This series of Merlin has impressed and it has been a joy to watch, as the cast and characters have grown into their roles and have become well rounded and loved.  Arthur now becomes a man as he takes up arms against Morgana who is filled with nothing but greed and tyranny, thinking her magic will win the day.  Yet she cowered everytime she heard mention of Emrys, until she realized, well was told by Mordred that he is really Merlin.  Her vanity and over-confidence was expressed in the cave when she tells Merlin he's nothing but a servant and thinks by trapping him, she can walk away and that's the end of Emrys.  I like the way Morgana's thinking, or lack of, leads her to always fail and lose when she comes up against Merlin.

Morgana has yet to see Merlin's might and let's not forget we haven't seen the impressive Dragon for the last time yet either, who told Merlin he will help him until his last breath, so let's hope he makes an appearance in the finale too.  Okay so Arthur has become a man, so has Merlin, as he tells his father he is like him and will follows in his footsteps.  This encounter with his father has given him the added courage and fuel he needs to face Morgana, defeat her and help Arthur by overcoming that dreaded prophecy.  At least we know Merlin now will stand at Arthur's side.  Magic 'n' all.  Either way it will be a sad day for dedicated fans!

Think Merlin also chose to disguise himself in this way as no one knows of his magical abilities and he is there to fight for king and country, not to show everyone that Merlin has magic at this serious time of war.  Don't think it means that Merlin is most powerful as his old self.

In The Crystal Cave episode, when Merlin can't save Arthur, he fears his magic is forsaken and he can't save Arthur from his wounds, which is the one thing he could rely on.  SO he cries for Arthur.  Here Merlin cries in the cave once again and this time it's also cos he thinks he can't save Arthur again.

The Mentalist 5.8 "Red Sails In the Sunset" Review

                                           
The episode everyone was waiting for directed by Simon Baker, who kind of took the easy way out spending most of his time behind the wheel of a car and his co-stars took a back seat, especially Cho (Tim Kang) and Rigsby (Owain Yeoman).  Not to mention poor Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti) hiding behind her desk, computer etc.  Nice touch when Lisbon (Robin Tunney) shakes her hair up with her hand before she talks with Kirkland (Kevin Corrigan) making us think she was "pretty-ing herself up" for him.

So Patrick (Simon Baker) meets Brett Stiles (Malcolm McDowell) for help with an escape plan to break Lorelei (Emmanuelle Chriqui) out of prison, which he doesn't agree to, meeting him in a cinema where he watches North By Northwest, the ultimate spy/escape/on-the-run movie, where Cary Grant is pursued by bad guys after being mistaken for George Caplan.  (Funny, mentioned that movie in something else I'm writing.)  Small part for Brett too just sitting in the theatre.  He's adamant he doesn't want to help, even if he can and tries to steer Patrick away from this plan.  a sense of genuinely caring for Patrick and not wanting to see him him arrested or some other motive.

Here, the episode's premise was described as Patrick needing help with an elaborate plan to break Lorelei out, didn't seem to be that elaborate of an escape.  Just have her in the yard, pay some people off and smuggle her out in a laundry truck, what else?  Perhaps the elaborate part was Patrick making everyone, including Lorelei believe he had been kidnapped by her.  Her motive?  Well, she is meant to be working for Red John but no one bothered to find out how she escaped and why at this point after all this time, who helped her, etc.  Patrick even taking a tyre iron to his beloved Citroen, before he abandons it.  As well as faking a text to Lisbon about someone following him.

Lisbon trust Kirkland too easily, I mean he still hasn't explained why he's there, especially since Homeland Security gets involved with the CBI out of the blue.  Patrick used the favour Brett owes him from 4.16 His Thoughts Were Red Thoughts, when he saved him from having his cult taken over when he was suspected of murder.  Even the laundry truck had the 'Visualize' logo on the back of it, incase you missed it.  being the name of Brett's cult.  Lorelei is dropped in the middle of nowhere and Patrick casually drives up in another 'inferior' car and she's shocked to see him, having thought her escape was the handiwork of criminal manipulator and mastermind, Red John.  She reluctantly gets in and the radio doesn't work, so she can't hear news reports of her escape.

She wants to see the ocean and he drives her there but she refuses to speak about Red John.  Watching the ship out in the ocean she wonders where they're heading.  Patrick builds a fire and he huddles in front of the fire. She comes up and lies next to him covering him with her blanket.  She had ample opportunity to drive away but doesn't take it.  What does that tell us about Lorelei.  She shares some sort of a connection, or attraction to Patrick and he does care about her, doesn't seem romantically though.  Especially since the scene is kind of a repeat of the season 4 episode 4.24 The Crimson Hat, when they spent the night together, however fully clothed this time. Cue romantic music in The Mentalist, never had that before.

Anyway Patrick wakes up thinking she's done a runner but she has removed her clothes and bathes in the ocean!!  He can't help but watch her.  He tells her to hide when the Park Ranger (Ron Perkins) approaches and don't tell me he didn't see her walk on the beach, he wasn't that far away.  He tells Patrick about campfires being illegal with permits and notices her shoes on the beach.  She calls out that she's naked so can't come out from behind the rock.

Patrick's car has been discovered so the team look for him, except Cho and Rigsby spend their time in the office, as does Lisbon for a while.  She and Kirkland meet Lorelei's mother, Dana (Gigi Rice) who turns out to be uncaring and quite a vain woman, it's hard to see as a mother.  Lisbon is direct with her and she hates her tone, Lisbon's not bothered with that, taking a leaf out of Patrick's book when he's blunt and direct.  She also ask if the man in the photo is Dana's father, of course it wasn't, Lisbon just being flippant.  Don't know about you, but I miss Lisbon and Patrick working together and their interactions.  Though it does make a change to see them doing their own thing, for Lisbon to go off with Kirkland and Patrick with Lorelei.

Dana comes in to talk with Lisbon and tells her she had a habit back then and couldn't raise two daughters, so she sold one to a couple in need of a child. She wasn't happy with her decision but Lorelei didn't forgive her for this.  Miranda was raped and murdered, left for dead in a building and she managed to scratch the name 'Roy' on the floor.  An alias of Red John but we knew he was involved as soon as Lisbon saw the CS photo.

Patrick buys clothes, food and a disguise for himself of a cowboy hat  and sunglasses so she can disguise herself, but they didn't change their car which has been identified by the Ranger.  Again Patrick thinks she's driven away when he comes out and finds the car still there.  Think he left the keys in there purposely as a test to see if she will run.  Anyway after getting a room with a broken TV and sitting on the bed right next to the radio, he forgets to make sure it doesn't work.  SO whilst he's out getting ice and calling Lisbon, she hears the news she's meant to have kidnapped Patrick.  Lisbon faxes Patrick the CS photo.

Patrick is beaten by Lorelei when he comes into the room, oh Patty you let  a woman get the better of you like that! Normally it's the men who hit him!  He shows her the photo in a bid to convince her Red John lied and used her, but she's not buying it.  She heads for the cabin which Miranda owned and Patrick lets her drive.  This time Lorelei leaves the keys in the ignition.  The team have narrowed down his location from his call which is what Patrick tells her and tells her to go.  He'd kill for a cup of tea though and she agrees to make him one.  No time though as he lets her escape in the 4X4.  Lorelei leaving him with the clue that he and Red John are so alike, it's a wonder they're not the best of friends since he shook his hand?  Lorelei: "I only wonder why the two of you didn't become lifelong friends the moment you shook hands."

This being a clue that Red John is someone we actually know, possible red herring with Kirkland as Patrick shook his hand, but doesn't know who he is, as he asks Lisbon when she finds him.  TO make the whole kidnapped story convincing, Patrick crashes the car and ends up with whiplash.  He tells Lisbon about this and that Red John is someone he's met and shaken hands with, but he's met so many people.  Lisbon knows he set up the entire kidnapping as she's known him for so long and knows him too well.  Again saying she would arrest him, like she when she told Patrick if he kills Red John she will bring him in.

Lorelei kisses Patrick before she leaves and he's receptive to the kiss at first but seems to push her away, normally he wouldn't have let that happen but after their one might thnag, it's like he does almost welcome it.  Lorelei is nothing but another one of Red John's brainwashed Vics and Patrick tells her as much.  He's happy to let her go on her own since she pretty much told him plenty about already meeting Red John and he hopes she will call him when she realizes the truth about Red John.  Question being will she last long on the show or will Red John make her another one of his dead brainwashed Vics?  Clearly she's not about to go to her mother and it seems she was a late addition to the story just so the writers could bring in Lorelei's sister. and Red John having his claws into Lorelei's family.  Why were Miranda and Lorelei targets for Red John?  Broken homes, broken families seem to be his mantra for Vics and killing off family members and siblings is his 'game' to recruit acolytes.

Great directing on the part of Simon as he really made the episode atmospheric and creepy in places with Kirkland showing up and then that cabin.  Who had the car battery on charge there?  Patrick's slo-mo run to the cinema like he was himself escaping (from Lisbon, ha) and then the movie playing on screen, so apt.

As was Patrick cold reading Lorelei's mother without even meeting her: that she was vain and cold, also that Lorelei must have looked out for someone, this being Miranda.  Dana telling Lisbon she doesn't have children when she asks her if she felt at all responsible for her daughter.  That must have hurt her, considering Lisbon had her brothers and would have had to be mother to them.  Lisbon has no sympathy for Dana and the effect she had on her daughter and when she tells her she lost two daughters, Lisbon asks, "want me to get you a tissue?"

Mention His Right Red Hand as there were similarities between Lorelei and Rebecca,  who he ends up killing.  The grin on Patrick's face in the attic when he realizes his Red John suspect list has been narrowed down by Lorelei, but she could be lying.
Patrick referring to Kirkland as Lisbon's "new best friend."  Jealous he's out of that loop perhaps?
Kirkland: "If he's with her, he's in a lot of danger..."  What made him say this?  Suggesting he knows more about Lorelei than he's letting on, which he probably does since he's been seen with Alexa Schultz.

Lisbon referring to Loereli as Red John's mistress though she calls him a psychopath.

CSI: NY 7.21 "Life Sentence" Review

                                                                        
The crime lab is engulfed in a hail of bullets. Mac finds the reason for Harris's vendetta and as usual it's more closer to home and has nothing to do with him but with his former partner.

Hunt (Peter Fonda) meets Mac (Gary Sinise) at his office on the basis of being sent a text, but Mac didn't send it.   In a split second, a barrage of bullets hit the crime lab.   What was Lindsay (Anna Belknap) doing walking too and fro back there anyway, not like she was actually doing anything, no but she had to get in on the action!  Just so Mac can rescue his pet Lindsay.   Never mind coming to the aid of the 'extra' lab assistant, and she was shot, Lindsay wasn't; worse luck.   Oh never mind I'm just projecting my personal opinions, at least something exciting should happen to this pointless character.   The rescue of the lab rat was left to Hawkes (Hill Harper) and Adam (AJ Buckley.)  Then Lindsay acting all gung ho in wanting to stay behind and process the CS.   Like the lab's not complete without her.

Mac works out the bullets were fired level to the centre of the windows so the shooter was directly opposite them.   Hunt is wounded in the arm and asks Mac what he can do, er, hasn't he done enough.     Mac arrives to find the building is empty, well it would be, the shooter wasn't going to stick around.   He leaves behind a rifle and a map on the floor, the one he lad last episode, when Flack (Eddie Cahill) gave him directions.   Wonder if he left that behind on purpose so Mac knows it was Harris (Clifton Collins Jr) suppose he did, he wouldn't have just dropped it, mind you he was leaving clues left right and centre, as well as leaving the rifle behind too.   Harris was just waiting for them to come to him.   Flack asks why Harris is trying to kill him after stealing his wallet.   Think Mac should have been more on the ball with this case.  Flack's/Eddie's gorgeous eyes when he looks through the window, when Mac finds the map!

Hawkes also processes the CS.   Think they wanted a new set.   Flack says there's no sign of Harris at the boarding house and he's shocked at the state of the lab.   Jo (Sela Ward) thinks it a miracle no one was killed.   (Yes wasn't it!  Okay no snide, sarcastic comments, from me, yet.)  Harris cloned Mac's phone to send the text.   Hunt tries to convince Mac he successfully persuaded Harris into leaving them alone and he even lies about being intimidated by Harris.   yes he really looks the type to be scared.   Mac thinks pushing Harris around put them in danger, but it was more than that, 17 years worth of anger.

Danny (Carmine Giovinazzo) after that scene in attempting to comfort Lindsay we didn't need to see, processes the rifle.   Adam finds there was no physical trace at the other building, but someone sprayed the surveillance cameras.   Danny got a hit on IBIS relating to the gun, which was used in a drug robbery, gone wrong.   The AK47 wasn't found.   Hawkes says it was hidden as he found traces of copper, gypsum, asbestos, on the slugs.   They were hidden behind a wall so the bullet picked up the trace.   Mac goes to Harris's old apartment and he and Danny are involved in a shoot-out; killing a man who opens fire on them  (and no Flack either! darn.) IA Det Angela Sayer (Jennifer Mollen) questions Mac and Danny about the shooting.   She got there pretty quickly, like they were waiting for Mac to make the wrong move or something, or step out of line.

Meanwhile, Harris walks into the precinct to file a harassment complaint.   Funny Flack walking right into him and he didn't display the usual animosity he would've done in the past towards suspects.   Mac refuses a Union Rep as he did nothing wrong and the suspect opened fire on them.   Danny: "Bullets above my head were visual enough." She takes Mac's weapon, why not Danny's too, or didn't we see that cos he was just as much involved in the shooting.   Danny: "This woman's got a bug up her ass."  (Don't all IA officers.)  Hawkes answers his question saying she probably hasn't been in a shooting before.   Danny: "It was a clean shoot, no?"  Almost as if Danny was looking for some sort of confirmation from Mac, after his fiasco with clean shoots in season 1's On the Job.   Also cos next episode he's going to pass his sergeant's exam.   The DB didn't have any connections to Harris.   No, but that apartment was just rented to another crim.

Mac knows it was Harris.   Flack calls Mac and asks Harris how he got an AK into the building, but he's got nerves walking in here.  He was there when Harris stole his wallet and he put over a hundred rounds into the lab.   Harris describes Hunt as his assailant but refuses to ID him in a line-up.  He's after justice.   Glad Hawkes was the one to find the wall space, couldn't take another smug comment or look from Lindsay if she'd have found it.   She later tells Jo that 'they' found it.   No dear,  it was Hawkes.  She however finds dry blood under the carpet.   Mac is adamant Harris can't win this game and Harris doesn't want to kill him now, there's no surprise in it.   He wants them looking over their shoulders.   Flack asks if that's a threat.   Mac wants to know what he did?  He wants a tail on Harris.   Det Sayer clears Mac of the shooting and returns his weapon, telling him to stay away from Harris.   Well he's the one doing the stalking.

Lindsay tells Jo the carpets were laid after Harris was already in prison, there's a blood pool under the floorboards from a female donor.   Jo says he doesn't have any family or friends so how do they get into his head?  Silly question for Jo to ask Lindsay, she knows better than that.   Mac only now reviews Harris's file, what took him so long, thought he would have been onto that already.   Jo asks if he wants an outside perspective.   Mac said it was a routine bust, he resisted arrest and they subdued him.   Mac was a beat cop and only put Harris in the car.   There was blood on the duffel bag with the money.   Jo describes the blood stains as circular and not elliptical.   Mac surmises the blood lands on a  full bag at a 90 degree angle leaving circular drops.   Jo says the drops on a half full bag are elliptical, so the bag wasn't full when it was turned over for evidence.

Mac punches Hunt, seems he wanted to do that for a long time.  Mac hates what he did and loses all respect for Hunt, didn't know he still had any, though last episode Mac said he respects him.   Mac knows he stole the money.   It's the same old excuses about retirement, walking the beat and having nothing to show for it.   No one would question the property voucher if Mac's name was on it.   Mac didn't think he'd cross the line.   Hunt had a $35,00 pension coming.   CSI:NY likes to specify amounts, going as far back as season 1, Tanglewood, when Stella (Melina Kanakaredes) specified how much they earn and they work hard for every penny.   Mac posits this is more than about money.

A DB is found, identified as Lucius Woods (Michael Worth) a drug king.   Wow and Lindsay nowhere to be seen.   Hawkes determines he's been here a few weeks from the high level of decomp.   Jo says he was tortured.   Mac believes Harris sat and watched him die, he was Harris's boss and the drugs and money belonged to him.   Mac wants them to bring Harris in for the murder since they can't link him to the lab shooting.   They need to prove he was here, cue rosary beads on the floor, which Mac had to spot.   If Miranda (Alana Morshead) gave those to Harris, why was he so clumsy and dropped them on the floor, unless he wanted to be caught.   Jo says Danny Id-ed the fingerprints on the rope and the air fresheners to Harris.   The female DNA from the epithelial tissue on the rosary matches the dried blood from the apartment, and belonged to Miranda.   She was beaten to death and two weeks before Harris was arrested, they had applied for a marriage licence. Jo thinks Harris believes Woods killed her, but again it couldn't be that simple.

Mac calls Flack (and calls him Don now) who tells him Harris is in a diner.   Lindsay mentions finding an impression on the wood from the apartment and Mac recognizes the design and where it's from.  Flack asks Officer Stone (Vince Pavia) how long the truck's been obscuring the view to the diner, "5 minutes too long.  Harris is gone."   Mac asks Hunt for his pearl-handled gun.   He killed Miranda.   Of course it'd be him since he had to retrieve the money from the apartment, but he didn't think about covering his face, just in case.  The imprint belongs to Hunt's ring.   He thought about turning himself in but it didn't matter anymore.   It would have made a difference to Mac.  A truck drive into Mac's truck, that's an old ploy.   How did Harris know exactly where mac would be and that Hunt would be with him.   Since he was still in the diner, not 5 minutes ago.  

Did he have a tracking device on him, he couldn't have tracked his GPS.  Harris shoots Hunt and then fires at Mac, who shoots him with Hunt's gun.   Some would call that poetic justice as it would be like Hunt shooting Harris, but more likely it's as though Hunt saved Mac, as Mac was out of bullets.  Mac finally gets to tell Harris he didn't kill Miranda.   Flack's car looks rather sportier than the one he had last season.   Mac looked as though he genuinely felt sorry for Hunt dying.   Even Flack didn't have anything to say, what could he, but it had to be Mac saving the day for Mac.  That police officer was bit lax, sitting in the car, could he see through the truck.

It appears they were coming to the end of the series' run, with Mac having this case with his former partner, him being killed, the lab being shot up and again Mac looks defeated, as of he's given up on everything, especially the job, when all around him he sees deceit and betrayal and from those who should know better.   He's not in this job to punish their own, he shouldn't have to.   That's not what his work involves, it's about catching the bad guys, yet corruption always rears its ugly head, eventually.   mac taking that bag in for evidence - similar to Flack and the drugs in season 3's Consequences episode, where one of Flack's men stole stole the drugs and killed to protect himself.   A bit similar here as Mac checked the bag in, but no one noticed the missing contents, or indeed that anything was missing, until later.  No one would have suspected Mac of foul play, just as Flack had to ask if Mac suspected him and was certain one of his own wasn't a dirty cop.   Mac had to ask for Flack's memo book and prove himself right.   Here Mac's past comes to haunt him now; at least that of his former partner's catches up to him.   Showing he was self-righteous in his attitude towards that case back then and towards Flack too in Consequences.

This episode reminded me of season 3's Snow Day, only the opening shooting part.   In this episode, Flack and his team took hold of cocaine and weapons from a drug lord.   Here, they find the DB of the "snow king" as Flack refers to him, also into cocaine, hence his name.   Said drugs lord in Snow Day was also found dead, like Woods.   The lab was stormed then too and here it was swept by a  hail of bullets.   Flack mentions Mac's GPS in his car, how come they didn't have access to his GPS in the season 4 finale Hostage.

The car crash was reminiscent to the one in season 6's Rest in Peace Maria Garito and in an episode of the final season of Without A Trace, when another car hit Sam (Poppy Montgomery) at an intersection.   Danny wanting Lindsay to get downstairs, but Hawkes and the others were there too and no one told them to leave.   Again in Snow Day, Hawkes, Mac and Stella stayed behind to get their lab back.

In the season 8 CSI:Miami finale, All Fall Down, everyone was dropping like flies in the lab too and Delko (Adam Rodriguez) rushed to help Calleigh (Emily Procter) never mind helping anyone else, like Mac and Lindsay here.

Nicholas Bishop in CSI/CSI:NY Crossover

Nicholas Bishop formerly of Body of Proof is set to appear in the CSI/CSI:NY crossover episode when it airs next year.  The episode entitled In Vino Veritas (read here for more info:  http://mila255.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/csi-meets-csiny.html  )

On his Body of Proof character, Peter Dunlop, a medical investigator, he said he is a cop but with more of forensic edge.  So he makes an appearance in CSI but his character, Tom has nothing to do with forensics or indeed any sort of medicine.  Nicholas described Body of Proof in a ZAP2it interview how people say "it is like CSI.  Even though I highly respect those shows, they're very much about the shows, whereas our show is very much about how we are all affected by the case."

Yet the CSI shows are so very much about the affect the case/investigation has on the CSIs themselves, as well as the Vics involved.  Sometimes it can get very personal.

Nicholas was also seen in other US shows such as Necessary Roughness but will be best remembered for his role as Det Peter Baker on Home and Away.  There are some shows people just don't forget and also for being mistaken by most people for that other cute Aussie, Simon Baker aka The Mentalist.

The Saint: The Series?

                                                    
Looks like it's all go for a new "back door" Pilot of The Saint, well it will become a TV series if it is picked up as such.  With Eliza Dushku and Adam Rayner.  Roger Moore is to co-produce and we all remember Sir Roger himself played the title role of Simon Templar in the 1962 TV series, the series of books were written by Leslie Charteris. Also involved in the production is Geoffrey Moore, Roger's son.

Jesse Alexander is writing the script and he was involved in many shows including the five year hit show Alias as executive producer, Lost, Heroes to name a few.  Adam Rayner, a Brit actor known for his role in Hunted series 1 alongside Melissa George (who also had a stint on Alias season 3) will play the eponymous Simon Templar and Eliza is cast as Patricia Holm, his on/off romantic interest.  Of course we  know Eliza from Buffy and Dollhouse, hey no one mentions Tru Calling anymore, wonder why?  The character of Patrica Holm was featured in the books but did not make it to screen in any of the incarnations, except for one film from 1943, The Saint Meets The Tiger; where she was played by Jean Gillie.

There have been many versions of the popular novels, including The Saint TV series, as well as The Return of the Saint with Ian Ogilvy, liked that one.  As well as black and white films where Simon Templar was played by George Sanders.  Most people would prefer not to recall the movie version with Val Kilmer.

This Pilot will also feature Greg Grunberg and Enrique Murciano, it appears from photos posted on Twitter, but no news on what characters they will play. At least we will get to see Enrique on our screens again, he gets so little air time as it is, well he does!!

By the way my Alias book, Inter Alias: Unofficial and Unauthorized is also available at online book sites.

The Vampire Diaries 4.9 "O Come All Ye Faithful" Review

                            
Damon (Ian Somerhalder) should have made Elena (Nina Dobrev) leave since he promised Stefan (Paul Wesley).  Everything she feels isn't real and Damon should make her leave by revoking the sire bond, which he doesn't do.  He told Stefan he'd set Elena free but he wants her "back in my bed and never let you leave."  Oh get over it and her!!  Saved by the bell, Bonnie (Kat Graham) calls Elena.

Stefan walks in on Klaus (Joseph Morgan) finishing off a painting for the Winter Wonderland Charity event and Stefan thinks it looks like a giant snowflake.  He gets Adrian (Mica Joe Parker) to take it over there and uses the free labour of his hybrids.  Stefan wants the cure for Elena and isn't sure how they can keep Jeremy (Steven R McQueen) from killing them, they are vampires after all.  Klaus has the sword, the hilt has a cipher which will help decipher Jeremy's marks.  Klaus is the best friend Stefan has right now.

Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) tells the hybrids she's found a witch to save their lives and they need the body jump spell so Klaus can jump into someone else's body so Tyler (Michael Trevino) tells Caroline (Candace Accola) he volunteered.  They can bury Klaus in the concrete.  Tyler started this and it must end with him so h needs Caroline's support.  Bonnie tells Jeremy that Damon and Elena are here to help.  Damon refers to "shady pants" being there, i.e Shane (David Alpay).  Jeremy tries to stake Elena again.

Stefan looks through more journals and Caroline needs him, she's having a crisis.  He tells heh the sword decodes the map as Klaus told him.  She tells Stefan about Tyler and the hybrids taking out Klaus.  Caroline looks at Klaus's painting and they talk about Dickens.  She says it looks lonely in there.  She also corrects him by saying, "we don't have a thing."  Stefan doesn't find the sword in his safe.

Damon thinks Stefan should try the sock drawers (er, that'd be soap dish to you Damon!) or he can kill Tyler or tell him about the hybrids so Klaus can kill Tyler.  Stefan ask about Elena and he replies she's trying to deprogramme Jeremy.  Bonnie explains how persuasion reverses Elena's conscious thoughts.  Shane adds Jeremy's subconscious thoughts will recognize Elena as someone he needs to love  and protect.  Elena talks to Jeremy and reminds him how Jenna made them come to the cabin and how their parents wanted them to stay together and fight for each other.  Jeremy wakes and says Elena ruined their lives and she's not his real sister and will kill her even if he dies himself.

Tyler refuses to call it off and can't believe Caroline told Stefan.  All the hybrids are here to help Tyler.  Stefan doesn't have a choice they need Klaus.  Damon: "I travel with the bar" as he talks with Elena and she recalls how she loved Stefan the last time she was here, but now she's happy to be here with Damon.  He doesn't respond but instead thinks they should try something else with Jeremy.  He should attach his feelings to someone else, like Damon.  Jeremy feels that way about Damon anyway.

Shane tells Elena there's no spell for her as he tried to forget his wife and son after they died and not miss them.  Damon wants to know why he's after the cure.  Shane knows where it is as he's already been there.  Carol (Susan Walters) drinks a toast with Tyler little knowing it'll be for the last time.  He tells her he's the hybrids alpha and has to help them.  His father would have been proud of him as Tyler is la leader like him.

Shane brings out that rock again and mentions the story about Silas again.  The witch  who was in search of an immortality spell and wanted a cure for immortality.  Human blood being the life force of mortality.  Silas's DB is the cure so they don't need the sword.  Oh another plan to go awry.  How do they know Shane is telling the truth, cos like Damon, I wouldn't trust Shane as far as Damon could bite him.  Shane explains the mark of the brotherhood of five leads to the murder of a girl (who April?) and when the mark is complete, they will have the spell to dig up Silas.  Shane is interested cos up until now it's only been a myth.

Caroline tells Tyler they'll fight plenty as he has to get someone else's body, thinking of Rebekah and they can bury her.  Tyler thinks Bonnie can help. SO when they kill Klaus what of the vampires he sired, they will die too, no?  Hayley tells Shane about this plan and he wants her to fix it.  Elena trusts Shane now and Damon doesn't, telling her about how he blew up 12 people.  Shane coming up with a convenient story of the Pastor being depressed, hey he has a story for every occasion doesn't he.

Jeremy thinks he's fine now and hands over the stake to Damon.  Hayley tells Klaus about the hybrid plan and Stefan sees them together.  Stefan doesn't trust Klaus since he found his letters, those of his Vic's.  Klaus reminds him it's similar to Stefan's wall of names, "Ripper."  He recalls their loneliness and how they hold their lives in their hands, then rip it away and are left with nothing.  In the end they're all alone.  A bit like Stefan and Damon in this episode especially when Caroline blabs to Stefan about Elena being at the lake too and Damon and her being together.  Just like Tyler said she blabbed to Stefan about their plan.  She seems to be doing a lot of 'bonding' with Stefan and blabbing too.  Shouldn't she be out looking for April (Grace Phipps) especially when the poor girl will be so distressed after what she heard.

April finds Caroline and thinks she's dead since she doesn't have a pulse.  Caroline again foolishly blabbing about Rebekah having the dagger in her and compels her to forget.  Matt (Zach Roerig) tells her about Adrian following Klaus to the cellar and that April is wearing Jeremy's vervain bracelet so compulsion won't work on her.

Hayley admits there isn't a witch and made it all up, she needed Klaus for the sacrifice, so he would kill them all.  Klaus calling Kimberley (Alyssa Diaz) 'love.'  So did killing all his hybrids pain Klaus after his speech to Stefan, he finds himself all alone again and betrayed once more.

Elena brings out mistletoe to kiss Damon under but he can't.  Elena is certain she knows her feelings are real and he thinks it's good to see her normal with Jeremy.  Christmas was Damon's and Stefan's fave holiday.  Damon revokes the sire bond and do right by both. He wants her to go home and he'll teach Jeremy how to hunt and kill vampires without her.  He's setting her free, which will make him happy.

Caroline and Stefan together for their tete a tete again.  Stefan feels guilty over Klaus and Caroline does too.  They all do horrible things but they are better than him cos they have trust.  Well not when Caroline blabs about Damon being with Elena.  Right after Damon's let her go.  Elena can't fight Damon and must leave.  Stefan's angry and Tyler finds the DBs.  April hides in the cellar and finds Rebekah, Sure you could see Rebekah breathing when April opened the lid.

Carol calls Tyler for a ride but Klaus gets to her first, knew it. She tells him Tyler is her son and she's all he is, then drowns her.  Yeah a gory revenge fueled episode for Christmas. Well it was with all that killing going on and Klaus staining his shirt red.  SO not only will we get Tyler on the war path to avenge his mother, not that he wasn't already on the war path as far as Klaus was concerned, but it seems Caroline will probably be caught in the middle, no matter how much she tells Klaus they have no "thing."  She already felt guilty about Klaus.  But she can't get together with him after he killed Carol, she has to stand by Tyler.

What about the way the carol was playing in the background (some pun there with Carol's name, oops) and how Klaus was out on a murderous spree.  Yet he was bonding with Stefan a few moments before lamenting over being lonely in the world.  When all is said and done there's not much loving for a vampire really, not unless you're Stefan or Damon!!  It's kind of macabre that Stefan and Klaus kept 'tokens' of their Vics, at least something they remembered them by and that sort of gives them something to share and have in common.  Along with Klaus threatening to compel Stefan again.

So there's more anger between Stefan and Damon, seems whenever they get close, they end up fighting over a girl!  Is their brotherly bond not strong enough for them to overcome the girly issues and make them a real family, cos after last episode, it's clear Damon really loves his little brother and vice versa, I mean they were going to war together.  But Elena the minx, ha, gets in the way over and over.   Please let the love triangle be over with and let her have Stefan.  So Damon can be mine!! ha.

Then there's Shane and his using Hayley to get his way, surely killing the hybrids was something he wanted and as for that story about the Pastor being depressed, don't buy that for a moment and I hope they keep having Damon being cynical over this and not trust him.  Bonnie was kind of boring again, not doing much if anything.  A nice touch with Jeremy having to invite Elena in showing she's the undead.

Oh and appropriate title, not so for Christmas, but in Klaus having to kill his loyal hybrids who were no longer faithful to him, after the sire bond being broken.  Then Damon doing the same for Elena, who was no longer in his control, not to mention being unfaithful to Stefan in a way, even if they weren't 'together.'

The Hobbit

                                                   
Peter Jackson's long awaited movie of The Hobbit opened on 13th December to critical acclaim, which stars Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins.  As Martin recalls it was a once in a lifetime opportunity he would have missed out on as he was contracted (and still is) to film Sherlock for the BBC.  The Hobbit is a movie role which is firmly destined to put his name on the map, as Sherlock has done so already but it's so much more.  As Martin said, the film means "people in Papua New Guinea will know me...it will be of a universal appeal, the like of which I haven't known before.

Luckily Peter Jackson called him to say he had rearranged filming so he would be able to star in both.  Other stars already associated with the Lord of the Rings Trilogy also reprised their roles, including Elijah wood, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom and Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf.

After working on the third series of Sherlock, Martin will be back in New Zealand in May to film some more scenes to finish the Trilogy.

Also in the movie is Richard Armitage who already has established heart throb status in the UK with such roles as Sir Guy of Gisbourne in Robin Hood, John Thornton in North And South, Spooks and other shows.  In The Hobbit he plays Thorin, a dwarf which was no mean feat seeing as he's 6' 2" in real life.  Yet he acquired a certain fondness for the boots he had to sport for his role.  "You had to run with effectively what felt like concrete blocks on your feet.  You had to make that look natural."

                                                                                  

For more on Richard read here:  http://mila255h.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/richard-armitage.html

No doubt this movie will be the year's talking point for more reasons than just the sheer effort involved from all in filming.

Merlin 5.11 "The Drawing of the Dark" Review

                                            
The knights and Arthur (Bradley James) come across an attacked convoy and find it to be the work of Saxons.  Mordred (Alexander Vlahos) notices one in the forest and gives chase, catching up with Kara (Alexandra Dowling) someone he used to know.  He lets her go as Arthur catches up to him and tells him he thought he saw someone, but Merlin (Colin Morgan) knows better.  Merlin once again tells Gaius (Richard Wilson) about this and believes Mordred is up to something but Gaius wants him to give Mordred the benefit of the doubt.  As they leave with medicines, Mordred enters Gaius's chamber and takes some bottles.

He finds Kara with the use of telepathy and heals her wounded leg.  They speak of his role as a knight and he talks of Arthur as being good and his friend, but she doesn't agree.  Mordred returns and Merlin is waiting for him, in a scene reminiscent of Gwen (Angel Coulby) when she was under Morgana's (Katie McGrath) spell and she returned after the meeting with her, Merlin was waiting in that same spot, sensing she was up to something.   Mordred admits he was out helping Kara and she is one of them.  He begs for Merlin's promise that he won't betray him or Kara to Arthur and Merlin hesitatingly gives his word.

Later Arthur and Merlin travel to the forest and come across the same attacked site.  Arthur teaches Merlin how to track and Arthur notices the broken plant.  Merlin thinks it's a deer and there is one there, but Arthur finds a shoeprint.  This leads them to a cave and to Kara.  She comes out of hiding, why if he didn't know anyone was there did she reveal herself?  She says she doesn't want to hurt him.  Then pulls out a dagger and tries to stab Arthur.  He arrests her and takes her to Camelot, where she is tried and is unwilling to show remorse for her actions.  She's a Druid and she believes Arthur and his father are responsible for all the misery caused to the Saxons and to those with magic.

Arthur tells her she's not on trial for her sorcery but for her betrayal and sentences her according to the law, death by hanging.  Gwen was rather silent in all of this and didn't speak up to stop Arthur as she has experienced the same sort of 'judgement' and justice under Uther when he killed her father.  Oh and what about the girl, Sefa, Gwen let go in episode 5.2 Arthur's Bane, no one heard from her again.  Point being she had committed treason, though if it was under the encouragement of her father. Arthur tells her of her wounds and how someone helped her, someone from Camelot, but she refuses to name this person.

Mordred goes to see her and we get lots of emotion and tears from this former Druid boy who left here and grew up to fall in love. Well that was a blast from the past for him but not for us, as this Kara appeared out of nowhere just to add fuel to the fire and force Mordred to reassess his loyalty to Arthur.  Oh and the guard didn't notice the tears in Mordred's eyes when he put the pot down for her.

Mordred is grateful she did not betray him to Arthur, but he will talk to his friend and get him to change his mind.  He also accused Merlin of going back on his word but realizes Merlin didn't betray him, it was his own stupidity of leaving behind his footprints.  Once again the knights, don't have much to do.  Mordred gets on his knees and confesses to Arthur how he helped Kara, the love of his life, whom he has known since childhood.  He truly believes he can help her change if he spares her, but Arthur is adamant he can't change his mind.  Even Merlin tries to persuade him but he refuses.

Merlin confronts Mordred who now knows Merlin didn't tell Arthur where to find her but he will escape with her.  He wants Merlin to keep his word and not tell.  However he tells Gaius this is not something he can do.  Merlin tells Arthur and when they arrive at the cell, they're too late.  Kara meanwhile stabs a guard as he is just a soldier of Camelot, well what was Mordred then.  Mordred is genuinely shocked she has done something like that.  Alarm bells ring out and they get to the forest but the others catch them up.  Arthur telling Gwaine (Eoin Macken)and Leon (Rupert Young) to put all friendship with Mordred aside when Leon asks if Arthur wants them caught alive.

Kara attempts to persuade Mordred to use magic and kill them but he doesn't.  He aims to plead with Arthur to let them go but he doesn't.  Mordred looks as if he's about to relent and turn to magic when Percival (Tom Hopper) knocks him out from behind.  The two now find themselves in cells.  Merlin one again tries to be the voice of reason and convince Arthur to change his mind but he can't.

The scene where Mordred asks for Arthur's forgiveness was compelling and poignant as Arthur believes him completely, thinking he's come to his senses, but how can he when it involves the woman he loves, even if she is bad.  Arthur would do anything for Gwen as we have seen so many times.  he says the same to Mordred: "You know there's nothing I wouldn't do for you."  Oh and lots of soppy romantic music in this episode too, ha.

Leon takes Kara before Arthur but she still refuses to repent and would do it over again.  Arthur has no choice but to carry the sentence out and Mordred uses magic to shake the objects outside his cell and his "nooooo" reaches out to blow the cell door down.  He escapes and heads straight for Morgana.  This time he wants to help her, though eh tried to kill her last time and does this by betraying Merlin, who kept his word and did not betray him, no matter how much he wanted to speak out against Mordred, well that's what you get for listening and trying to do the right thing.  Mordred tells her about the man she is looking for being inside Camelot and how Emrys is really Merlin. Ooh secret's out!!

It had to come anyway since we know this is the final series of Merlin, but Morgana the useless sorceress couldn't work that out for herself, it took  betrayal from Mordred for this to happen.  First thing Morgana asks when Mordred arrived there is about Arthur's death.  Arthur blames himself for trusting Mordred to begin with and Merlin can only try to assert it wasn't his fault, no Merlin should have spoken out as this episode leads us to the inevitable battle of Camelot: between Merlin and Morgana and Arthur and Mordred.  How the trouble began all for the love of a woman!  The episode was cleverly played and written since in the early part we side with Mordred, even if we know Kara isn't any good for him and nothing good will come from their meeting as Merlin waits for Mordred to put a foot wrong.  Mordred: "Everything I do, you think the worst."

Merlin doesn't, not until Kara reveals her true colours but even this doesn't perturb Mordred as he still wants to save her.  Love is blind and he asks Merlin if he wouldn't do the same for the woman he loves.  Merlin has also lost his love, Freya through fate and circumstances but did not turn to betrayal.  Merlin telling her, "I don't think you realize how special you are."  She became the lady of the Lake but she wasn't outright bad to begin with.

As we get several references to Arthur not being any better than Uther, yet Merlin still holds out hope that things will change.  He even had Mordred believing this until now. Yet Kara speaks out of the atrocities performed by Uther, not Arthur who has not done anything like that.  Her mentions are of the past and doesn't look to the present or the future that's how much she's set in her ways and the hatred just eats at her.

Merlin mentions the knight's bond here but clearly it means nothing to Mordred and especially not when a woman is involved.  If she was his childhood sweetheart and the love of his life, how come he hasn't seen her or been in touch with her until now, conveniently.  Once again the cast, specifically Colin, Bradley and Alexander were excellent in their respective roles.  Mordred keeping his emotions to himself and not revealing much at all, except to Kara.  He's not overly emotional either when he begs Arthur for her life but you can tell the pain is there.  Merlin is caught between the two as usual and try as he might he can't help stop the impending doom to come.

Mordred was ambiguous in his loyalty right until the last moment, throughout all this time he was loyal to Arthur, one of the knights of the Round Table and up to that point Merlin didn't have anything to fear, though he was weary.  But as it was bound to happen, Merlin is finally proved right in not trusting Mordred as he does the very thing he said he would not.  It's a shame the show got to find its brilliance and sense of character in the final series since after getting to this high, the show will be now more.  Yet at least there's plenty to come in the final two episodes!