Without A Trace 3.21 "Off The Tracks" Review

Rafi (Alex Fernandez) plays with Nickie (Bobby Chavez) and receives a call asking him to go to work, he tells Sylvie (Marisol Ramirez) it was a customer and says he’ll be back late.  He disappears.  Jack (Anthony LaPaglia) arrives early to work and sees Danny (Enrique Murciano) at the office reciting.  It’s morning but he doesn’t realize.  Danny needed a quiet place to study and his neighbour has a cute but loud 2 year old.  Jack picks up his book, Constitutional Conflicts: Grossman’s Questions and Answers on the New York Bar exam.  He’s taking his Bar exams at the end of the month.  Jack tests him on some constitutional law questions but before he can do so, Danny gets a call from Sylvie and tells him  Rafi hasn’t been home in a couple of days. He’s on parole and works at a body shop.  Danny wants to check it out.

36 Hours Missing

Sylvie called him twice yesterday.  Danny tells her he was out all day.  He would’ve called her today.  Danny asks her if Rafi’s been to any bars or clubs.  She says he’s clean and promised her he wouldn’t mess up again.  Rafi told her he spent 18 years locked up or high and isn’t used to feelings.  Three months ago he took out a loan for his own business from the Small Business Administration for $10,000.

37 hours Missing

Sylvie’s brother says she’s a mess.  He did extra work at night.  He wanted to buy Petersen Bodyworks in Queens.  Danny tells him he looks like he knows he’s hanging with the wrong crowd.  He was hanging around with someone named Luis Vega (Reynaldo Gallegos) he used to work here.  The employees use the payphone to make personal calls.

39 Hours Missing

The call made to Rafie’s apartment was from a cloned phone.  Martin (Eric Close) and Jack offer to help Danny.  Sam (Poppy Montgomery) asks Martin how Danny is.  He’s “rattled.”

Jack bumps into Lisa (Stephanie Venditto) leaving a message for him.  Jack regrets being a grown up.  She asks how the medication is working out?

Danny meets Asher (David Costabile) from the FDA.  He wanted a loan over 2 months ago but was denied as management found out about his background, i.e Rafi’s prison record.  He couldn’t help him but wanted to.  Danny asks him if he knew his brother got money as he turned up to work with money.

Danny gets a call from the NYPD telling him Vega’s car is at a parking garage on 125 Broxton.  The engine’s cold.  Martin says the wheels must have cost at least $42,000.  Danny tells about how Rafi used to take him fishing to the Florida keys when he was little.  He had a 1972 Cherry Lincoln Continental with opera windows in the back.  On the way back he used to pick up small packages.  Danny jimmies open the door and takes the door apart to find drugs.

43 Hours missing

Sylvie hasn’t seen any drugs and not heard of Luis.  She saw the money and asks why he would lie?  Martin calls Danny and tells him Rafi’s prints are on the car.  He suggests they put the car back together  and wait for Luis to return.

Danny has a flashback to when he was little: messing around with his brother at the table.  He spills milk on one of Rafi’s drawing of a car and their father got angry.  Rafi took the blame for Danny and the beating.  Jack tells Danny the DEA has nothing on Rafi or Luis.  He made 20 calls to him within the last week and tells Danny if they’re going to carry on with the investigation then criminal charges will be brought against Rafi.

44 Hours missing

Sam talks with Petersen (Mike Scriba) to confirm Rafi was interested in buying the business.  He made plans for the place but he didn’t get the deposit in time and found another buyer. He introduced his friend Carey Chase (William O'Leary).  They left in a Lexis.

45 hours Missing

Sylvie hasn’t heard of Carey.  Martin finds 3 calls were made to C Chase on the payphone last week.  He works as a broker on Wall Street and has a record for possession with intent to sell.  At 11:30pm security saw Rafi with him last night.

Carey tells them he met Rafi in rehab.  He came to see him last night and told him he was in trouble.    He was high and said he was going to be killed.  He borrowed money and couldn’t pay it back.  He had to pack crystal meth into a car and was ripped off.  He went to look for Luis at his home and threatened a little boy, then saw himself in the mirror.  Danny asks him how long Rafi’s been using drugs, since he didn’t get the garage.  He tells Danny he doesn’t know where Rafi got the money but he needed a fix.

Danny talks with Viv (Marianne Jean-Baptiste).  He knows he’s been avoiding Rafi and has only seen him twice, at Christmas and at Nickie’s birthday.  Viv tells him Rafi made his choices.  Danny wanted to have a drink and came to see her.  He admits he didn’t fail his Bar exam, he never took it because he was late and was arrested for drink driving.  He had a good lawyer and the charges were lowered to a  misdemeanour.  He deosn’t reply to Viv’s question when she asks him what he’s going to do.

Martin arrests Luis and asks about the 8 kilos of meth.  Danny asks him where Rafi is.  Martin says all they have to do is put the word out he sold drugs on the street and he’s dead.  Danny demands to know where Rafi is.  Luis doesn’t know who loaned him the money, he knocked him out and took the car.  Danny’s angry, “you screwed Rafi over…you screwed over my brother.!” And loses his temper before physically attacking Luis.  Sylvie calls Danny telling him Rafi called and was going to kill himself.

49 Hours Missing

The call was made from Carey’s cell.  Martin says they got a ping from a number.  Danny says they should go to his office.  Viv calls Jack and voices her concerns over Danny.  He says he’ll keep an eye on him.
Danny and Martin find Carey dead in his office of an OD.  Martin receives a call telling him the call was routed through a tower in Queens.  Danny knows he’s at the garage.

Danny finds Rafi high.  He asks him when he’s going to stop taking drugs, after his heart stops?  And whether Sylvie and Nickie don’t matter.  He says even if his plan didn’t work out it’s not a good reason to get high and he should’ve come to him.  Rafi knows Danny doesn’t want anything to do with him.  He asks Danny if he remembers the car, he taught him to drive in it.  Rafi cries and Danny holds him.

Danny has a flashback to Rafi telling him he was the “King of Gargantuan…” The NYPD is processing him and Sylvie can see him  soon.  Danny says he’s sorry and they’ll get through this together.  He has another flashback and sees him sitting on the sofa with Rafi when they were little.

Jack asks Lisa for a drink and she hands him a bottle of water.  He’s not the only one without a life.  He doesn’t need a therapist but he can talk to her as a friend.  He tells her nobody talks to him about anything.  He needs something stronger than water.  She‘s not giving him anymore medication.  He can stay if he wants and stays to finish his drink.

Danny wanting to be a lawyer, he kept that quiet...a case of art imitating life there.  Since Enrique at one point studied to be a lawyer.  But you can imagine him as a lawyer in another life.  So being a lawyer was his dream.  Wonder if we’ll find out if he actually takes the Bar this time and passes.
Constitutional Law is a bitch!  There I’ve always wanted to say that for personal reason!  Ha.

Also Danny’s not very good at making coffee.  Lucky he didn't make any for Gibbs (mark Harmon) then in NCIS as 'CI-Ray!
Jack: “You look wired.”
Danny: “Wired, wired’s better than tired – you want a sip?”
Jack: “Oh I’ve tried your coffee.  I’ve got my own”

Danny: “I’m taking the test at the end of the month.”
Jack: “I thought you took the Bar exam when you got out of law school?”
Danny: “I did and I failed it.  So I’ve been brushing up on this over the past year and hopefully this time I’ll pass.”
Jack “ADA Danny Taylor.”
Danny: “Or Taylor and Associates.”
As Danny’s been brushing up over the past year to take these exams, re Martin’s comment in season 2 episode 5 about lawyers.  No wonder Danny never mentioned this and the looks they exchanged.

Danny failing the exams first time round isn’t really believable as he wouldn’t really fail at anything he puts his mind to.

Sylvie calls Danny at work after saying she left messages for him, what happened to his cell, did she try that.  Funny it’s the phone at the table where he’s sitting that rings the one he happens to be sitting across from and not his own phone at his desk.  Did he switch his cell off.

So Rafi got his parole after Danny spoke for him at the hearing.  (season 2 episode 19.)  Martin asks if he wants coffee? Again.  He asked him this in season 1 episode too. He usually does this when it’s a 'Danny episode' - as in  season 1.10 Clare de Lune or when he’s got things on his mind.

Danny looks at Rafi’s record: ALVAREZ RAFAEL
3282443     10.4.95

Martin: “How are you?”
Sam: “Fine."  Now the two of them barely speak and engage in small talk.

Jack: “When I was a kid we used to pass notes under the desk at school.”
Lisa: “Everything’s personal Jack, you should know that.”
Jack: “Sure do.”
Jack chasing after the shrink, Lisa – kind of an afterthought.  Asking her out for a drink.  The story about him sleeping, or not, from season 3 episodes 18 and 21 was leading up to episode 22 as it adds a better perspective on that episode.

Danny’s shocked about Rafi not getting the loan but it’s more so because he thought he’d only end up in trouble again, only a matter of time.
Danny: “Mono en sera.  Mono sequera.”
Martin: “Comprendez the monkey part…”
Danny : “It means you dress a monkey up in silk but he’s still a monkey.”  Danny gets to speak Spanish for a second time in the series.  (re season 2)
Rafi had a ’72 Lincoln in which Danny learned to drive.  It’s mentioned he’s from Florida again  (as in real life).  So why the move to New York other than wanting a fresh start.  Re season 2 episode 23, when Jack announced his move to Chicago and Danny saying New York is his city and he wouldn’t leave it for anything.  So Rafi used to take Danny along on his drug runs.
Danny: “…pick up these special packages.  My brother always had a talent for hiding special packages.”

Martin: “This car could’ve been used to kidnap your brother.  Exigent circumstances work for me.”

Danny: “Because he lies.”  Moot point but Danny told a white lie about not passing his Bar exams when he didn’t really take them.  Maybe it was just easier to say this..

Jack: “If we pursue this – we’re gonna go all the way with this if it’s warranted.”
Danny: “It’s warranted.”
Jack: “We’re gonna make an arrest.”
Danny: “My brother’s prints are all over the drugs.  It’s warranted.”
Jack: “You know my inclination is to pull you off this case.”
Danny: “Why?”
Jack: “It’s obvious why.”
Danny: “I can handle it OK.  We done.”
Jack: “I’m here if you need me OK.”
Danny: “Thank you Jack.”.  Danny wants to stay on the case and is willing to bear the consequences for whatever happens to his brother legally when he’s found.

Pappi's not the same one in the photo Danny put on his desk in season 1 ep 10.  His flashback about Rafi taking the beating for him ties in with what Rafi told Danny when he saw him in prison (season 2 episode 19) about taking the beatings for him and Pappi wasn’t a saint.  So Danny remembers and like Rafi said then, Danny knew it was true if he thought about it.

Jack saying he’s here for Danny, but Danny turns to Viv to talk, though she doesn’t seem to have much to say.
Danny: “All day long today I have been thinking about this tavern that I used to go to.  Open’s at 6.  I used to be really close to the bartender.  So I called my sponsor and he wasn’t around and that’s why I called you.”
Viv: “Well I’m glad you did.”
Danny: “You know how I told you that I failed my Bar exam – the truth is I never took it.  I never made it that far…supposed to drive to Nassau Community College, crammed all night and I was late.  The car wouldn’t start first time and he crashed into a taxi after taking a drink.  The police took a  breathalyzer...one minute I was trying to become a lawyer and the next minute I needed one.”

Viv: “I don’t know what to say…you got lucky.”
Dany: “Yeah I did get lucky.  You know there’s a part of me that just wants to cut Rafi off and walk away from him because the closer that I get to him the more I realize that I am just one wrong step away from being where I used to be.”
Danny finds it hard to ask about Rafi taking drugs again.

(They’ve both been to rehab  - that’s something they have in common.)  Viv saying Rafi made his choices – this is what Danny used to say a lot, season 1 episode.  Danny made his choices too etc.  Like Rafi, Danny was tempted to turn to the demon drink again but didn’t so is stronger in many ways and owns up about not taking his exams.

Danny saying he’s a step away from returning to his past ways could be really do that so easily now especially since he’s got a future; work and most importantly friends who care about him.
He’s actually physically violent with a suspect, well if Martin let him.

Jack: “Nothing gets past you even in your bathrobe.”
Viv: “Danny came by and he seemed a little on edge.”
Jack: “Did he say anything which makes you think he couldn’t handle it?”
Viv: “Just one-day-at-a-time kind of thing.”
Jack: “I’ll keep an eye on him OK.”  Jack is psychic now.  Viv calls Jack not to see how Danny is doing but wanting to have Jack keep an eye on him.  No wonder Jack was frustrated none of his team come to him to talk.  Referring to Sam and Martin and Viv in the season 2 cover up eps. And Danny now.  Though Jack spoke to him before and Danny reassured him he could handle it.

Viv seemed rather aloof when Danny opened up to her: as if to say ‘don’t bother me I’ve got other things on my mind’.

So Danny still goes to his sponsor – wouldn’t think he’d be much help unless with drinking issues.  Didn’t like the part where Danny said he felt like having a drink because he’s known the bartender for a long time, or even the entire part where he said he even needed a drink because of Rafi’s actions!  Danny’s reason for drinking – as we understood it – wasn’t solely because of his brother.  Wasn’t it more to do with losing his parents, especially his mother, than not really having anyone to turn to – re adult.  But we don’t know where his grandmother figures into all of this.  Also where Danny said everytime he tries to get closer to Rafi, he feels he’s slipping into his bad habits again.  Come on – isn’t he much stronger now and older.  He’s come a long way.  He beat drinking, got a good job in the FBI and he wouldn’t become ‘bad’ again as he now also has friends and dreams of being a lawyer.  Though some would say that'd make it worse - shut up!!

It felt like Viv was ratting Danny out when she called Jack about Danny.  Another reason why Jack feels no one confides in him at the end, Danny didn’t come to him, though he offered to speak to him etc.

So does Danny wear contacts now, re his glasses in the flashback.  Not that we know more about Danny than we did before except he wants to be a lawyer and never took his law exams.
You seem to get the impression that Danny wants to wash his hands of Rafi when he tells Jack that legal action would be warranted then he won’t have to deal with him anymore.

Danny: “Don’t make me lie to him – Nickie.  Ten years from now when he asks me ‘how did Pappi die?’”

Jack: “That’s not exactly what I had in mind.”

Jack: “Nobody around here tells me anything.  I mean around here there’s all this stuff going on and nobody tells me anything.”
Lisa: “People usually have a tough time confiding in their boss.”
Jack: “Maybe, I don’t think that’s it.”
Lisa: “Do you confide in them?”
Jack: “I can’t I’m their boss.”
Lisa: “You sure that’s the reason.”
Probably they think he’ll judge them and then think them weak for having all these problems and personal issues.  Like Viv didn’t want to tell him about her condition and Sam about her and Martin.  But to be fair Jack did used to talk to Viv about some things and other times she had to force things out of him, as she said to Jack’s father in season 3 episode 10 that he usually likes to keep things bottled up.

When Danny first meets Sylvie in season 2 episode 19 she introduces herself as Rafi’s fiance.  Here Danny tells Jack she’s his girlfriend.  So an ep all about Danny was was still so sad in places but still enjoyable.  Enrique is a really gifted actor who makes his scenes, especially the sad ones so believable and real.

The episode title could refer to it all going wrong for Rafi and him going off the rails, or in the other sense tracks could refer to needle marks/tracks, re drug use.

Revenge 2.2 "Resurrection" Review

                                              
Emily: "For those who believe in the resurrection, death is inconsequential.  It's not an ending rather anew beginning.  A second chance, a reunion. The very idea of resurrection is so seductive a concept it's easy to forget, before you rise from the dead you have to spend a few days in hell."

Daniel (Josh Bowman) goes through Conrad's (Henry Czerny) financial statements/records and discovers discrepancies.  Ashley (Ashley Madekwe) tries to distract him with a game of tennis but he's not biting.  Then Emily (Emily VanCamp) calls and tells Daniel about the shady Doc (Todd Grinnell) and how he should help Charlotte.  Cue lots of longing looks, when they meet that is.  Here there were lots of longing sighs on Daniel's part, ha.  Emily plans on taking Charlotte (Christa B Allen) away from Victoria (Madeleine Stowe) just as she took away her own mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh).  Outside the beach house Aiden (Barry Sloane) watches Emily through the crosshairs and keeps an eye out for her.  Nolan (Gabriel Mann) has a conference with his employees and a pushy one, Padma (Dilshad Vadsaria) encourages him to get a CFO.  What's she up to then?  Nolan feels his employees don't respect him and Emily replies it's cos he isn't wearing pants.  Like anyone could see him.

Conrad gets Charlotte declared mentally unstable and a judge gives him her inheritance, which he uses to save Grayson Global.  Ashley declares she couldn't keep Daniel away from his work but he wants her to keep Daniel away from the investors meeting.  Nah, don't bother, Ashley is rather useless.  Emily arrives at the rehab just as Daniel gets Charlotte released and is about to take her home when she walks in.  Charlotte doesn't want to go with him cos he didn't believe her at the memorial and he waited until after Conrad had gotten his hands on her inheritance before bailing her out. He promises to get it back for her.

Emily drives Charlotte to Victoria, who drives her away saying she doesn't want to go with her.  Cos the white-haired man (James Morrison) has taken Victoria's fake passport as collateral until she pays him.  Charlotte bringing Victoria mere trinkets as payment was funny, what was she going to do with those, ha.  Charlotte leaves and Emily takes her to meet her sister, Amanda (Margarita Levieva).  Obviously Emily has a hand in the paternity tests and when they are finally revealed, turns out Jack (Nick Wechsler) really is the father, only Emily cunningly tells Amanda he's not the father and the results were doctored to make it appear he is.

Declan Connor Paolo) is approached by a preppy guy from school, won't say friend cos he's not.  He uses Declan to keep a bracelet for him since his parents will find it and he offers to pay seeing how he's desperate for cash.  Don't know why after what Declan's seen and been though Declan is so trusting of other people still, especially since no one likes him at school.  He tells Jack he'll get place of his own but not until a while yet.

Victoria concocts a plan to worm her way back into society by getting Conrad to beat her up, which he obliges and then feigns a fake kidnapping at the hands of the white haired man.  He arrives and falls for the bait, but leaves before the police arrive.  Of course the clam cam is recording all of this but Nolan isn't monitoring it cos Nolan is distracted by Padma who he makes CFO, that's just what she was after.  Don't trust her she looks too shifty and coming out of nowhere too.  Since she says he doesn't know any of his employees, she could be anyone.

Daniel gives Charlotte his inheritance and Ashley is dismayed at this.  He later tells Ashley they can get a drink or two.  Yeah when all minx Ashley wants is the money.  Victoria returns home and everyone buys the kidnapping story, including the police and Daniel.  Charlotte has to keep their secret and Emily must too.  Daniel thanks Emily for Charlotte.  See, longing looks still...

The white haired man contacts Emily cos he saw the clam cam on the mantle, conveniently, and she has the recording that will clear him.  He tells her about her mother and how he took her away but perhaps didn't kill her.  Then takes a knife out and tries to shiv her; before shots are fired and Aiden saves Emily, again.  The whit haired man notices the cam on the mantle, well he had one of those at his place, not a clam though and obviously it does stick out didn't it?  Also the one in Conrad's office in the picture frame too in season 1.

Emily: "For those who believe in the resurrection, death is inconsequential.  In the resurrection, those who were dead live and those who live, believe they shall never die."

Emily must be going through hell introducing Amanda to Charlotte when she should have be the one in that position.  No wonder she relished lying to her about the baby.  So Amanda was actually being honest about Jack being the father.  Victoria exclaiming how Char could become an aunt, thinking Daniel got Emily pregnant, do you think that should have happened, instead of Amanda and Jack.

The plots are going all over the place here, Emily being evil to Amanda prob cos she can be at her beck'n'call since she'll have the 'Jack isn't the father of the baby' threat hanging over her.  Don't know why Amanda told her about the one night stand thing, Emily wouldn't have known if she had been with anyone else.  Well for someone who had feelings for Jack, seems she couldn't stay away from other men.

Daniel and Emily are a bit of a puzzle, was going to say enigma, but scratch that.  After everything they've been through it's unlikely Emily would want to take him back, especially she kind of learnt the hard way that Daniel is a Grayson through and through.  Though I'm probably wrong.  Hope he finds out about Ashley playing both father and son though, I can't wait for her to get her just dues.  Seems like Nolan and Emily are drifting apart as she tells him he should have a place of his own and a life, not just trying to get rid of him cos of the white haired man meeting.  Thus he shall move towards Padma, er, more trouble.

Daniel seemed to accept Victoria being alive very readily, like he wasn't concerned either way and without questions and she turns up before Char could tell him.  Daniel telling Char he was being nice to her cos Victoria made him promise.  Oh and the 'Single White Female' turns up as Emily's mom, forget to mention that last ep.

Victoria is clearly the one being resurrected here but she was never really dead, so she wasn't really resurrected.  Even though it was meant to look that way.  Conrad and Victoria arguing over why he didn't tell her about the plane and he said he did, of course it was too subtle a hint for Victoria when he told her not to board the plane!  But did he really let Lydia go to her death, I mean he was about to run off with her moments before.  Or did he find out about her testifying against him and didn't care anymore.  Conrad: "So the devil didn't want you after all."  Victoria replies he's the devil.

The white haired man is called Gordon Murphy here and posed as an FBI agent when he took Emily's mother.  Though that's not his real name.

Mr Selfridge Series 1 Part 2 Review

                                           
Another episode opens with everyone preparing for another day's opening of the store and Henry Selfridge (Jeremy Piven) expressing yet more enthusiasm for the day.  In jovial mood, he greets his staff on the shop floor and asks what's missing?  With everyone looking puzzled he replies, "Customers!"  That gave them all a fright and didn't last long when Selfridge upstages his window designer, Henri (Gregory Fitoussi) when Ellen Love (Zoe Tapper) complains about the photos for her role as "The Spirit of Selfridge's" and Henri's current designs.  Which leaves Henri angry as his photos are torn up.  Selfridge smitten (more like in lust with) with Ellen will do anything for her and later Henri hands in his resignation since Selfridge doesn't appreciate his "genius" and doesn't pay him any compliments.  Grove (Tom Goodman-Hill) manages to talk him out of it by saying he should think on it cos he doesn't want to lose him, he should do it for Groves as his friend and his 'genius' colleague.

A man walks into the store, rather dishevelled looking and Kitty (Amy Beth Hayes) immediately steps in to serve him as he asks her what he should get for his lady friend, something within his means.  Agnes (Aisling Lofters) notices him and takes over, telling him he should leave.  Obviously he won't until she tells him to meet her at the coffee place on Duke Street during her break.  Turns out this ruffian is none other than her and George's Calum Callaghan) father, Reg (Nick Moran).  He's got a job and needs a place to stay as he's under probation in his job.  Reluctantly Agnes agrees, only if he stays sober which he says he is and he promises there won't be any physical abuse of them.  That won't last long then.

Beforehand, Agnes approaches Grove about a job for George and he thinks she's asking under him duress, i.e blackmailing cos she saw him with Ms Mardle (Amanda Abbington).  Obviously Agnes hadn't even thought of that, cos she's not that sort of girl, but in return for a position in the delivery bay, she must agree to being discreet.  She replies of course they want things kept private, like the fact she's got a drunk for a father. Grove reminding her that "discretion is the word of the day."

Lady Mae (Katherine Kelly) pays a call on Rose (Frances O'Connor) of course it was to see Selfridge's wife cos he wouldn't be around.  She's on her way out and Lady Mae manages to tells her about Ellen and the "spirit of Selfridge's" and how her husband is taken by her.  She's surprised Rose is venturing to the Tate gallery since it will be crawling with commoners and even shocked when Rose takes the underground.  There she meets a painter, Temple who compliments her on her beauty and they talk art.  The cliched 'come home and I'll show you my etchings' rears its head as she does exactly that.  He's more of a romantic painter.  Whilst at his studio he plants a kiss on Rose and she leaves telling him, at last, that she's married.  She didn't do that before since she introduces herself with her maiden name, no doubt.  Have to ask why she does that since she was flirting with him, otherwise she would have told him outright.

Selfridge hears about the Channel crossing made by Frenchman Louis Bleriot (Orlando Seale) which gives him another idea to promote the store.  He heads out there with his newspaper friend Frank Edwards (Timothy Spall) and impresses Bleriot with his uncontained excitement over the flight he had.  How he was "flying blind."  Bleriot agrees to Selfridge displaying his plane at the store and makes an appearance there too.  Henri agrees to stay after Selfridge compliments him, but only cos Grove told him to.

Victor (Trystan Gravelle) is told by his boss, Perez (Timothy Watson) that he got this job also cos of his good looks, not just his references, which will impress many a woman, in all shapes and sizes and he is to oblige their every whim since they want their customers to return. One such woman does pay him attention and invites him round to her house to wait on a party she's throwing, yeah party for two that is.  She later sends him chocolates and he tells Perez he doesn't know what she means by that invitation.  Perez must spell it out to him and tells him to go, "you're only young once."  Victor gives the chocs to Agnes and Kitty and Doris (Lauren Crace) both think he's a charmer.  He asks Agnes out.  Agnes has her hands full with her father who drinks once again and makes light of George and the work they do.  George challenges him to a fight and he obliges, but then jokes he didn't really mean it.

George meanwhile has a bit of a tough first day with Alf (Christian Patterson) who plays a joke on him by making him carry a large sack and putting his weight on it.  He then tells him about the blue trucks which are "special delivery" thus anything he says is "special" must be loaded into those trucks.  Looks like Alf is skimming from the store.

The plane draws huge crowds and Lady Mae openly flirts with Selfridge in front of Rose, asking him if he likes boating, where the man rows and the lady takes the tiller, also reminding him he's still indebted to her.  What with that and Ellen perched on top of the plane and Selfridge unable to take his eyes off her, Rose feigns tiredness and wants to leave. Selfridge begs her to stay as he can't do this without her.  Later he meets Rose in secret in her dressing room and can't keep his hands off her, being interrupted by her friend.  He even buys Ellen her own house in St John's Wood, "the posh part."  Victor turns down the meeting with the woman.

Well we all know where this is headed, what with Rose meeting Temple and getting a few tips from her husband's behaviour, she'll probably engage in an affair of her own.  Funny she doesn't look the type.  As we already begin to see how and why Selfridge died penniless with his lavishing houses on his mistresses and here spending obscene amounts of money on Ellen.  She was after all peeved when he talks of modernity and then leaves her at the cafe when he gets an idea to draw in the punters, er I mean, customers.

Though this episode kept up the fast pace and flare of the opening episode, it just didn't capture the excitement of it all and seemed a little dull in places.  Aside from Jeremy Piven keeping the aplomb and  enthusiasm going, this really wasn't all that exciting and needs to pick up the storylines.  Or maybe I'm just having withdrawals from The Paradise!

More Time Travelling In Supernatural

                                         
Just when you thought the Winchesters were firmly safe in the present time, we get another time-travelling Winchester this time round in the form of their grandfather, Henry Winchester (Gil McKinney).  Their paternal grandfather and let's hope he isn't as maniacal as maternal grandpa, Samuel Campbell (Mitch Pileggi).   Henry makes his appearance in the episode 8.12 As Time Goes By (and it's not Casablanca either.)

You may recall Gil McKinny who plays henry from Friday Night Lights.  It won't be Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) doing the travelling, though last time in season 7's Time After Time, it was Dean who went back in time and met Elliott Ness (NIcholas Lea).  Hopefully there should be some reveals in episode 12 of the season as the boys should get to know things about their father, John (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) they never really knew.  It will be good to see how the Winchester side of the family fares as there really hasn't been any background on their father and his family ties.  Like do any of the boys have any attributes inherited from John's family, seeing as they were named after their maternal grandparents.  Besides Dean wanting to be just like Dad.

John Winchester, as far as we know didn't hail from a family of hunters, rather Dad was a mechanic and was in the army, so there maybe be nothing 'supernatural' about the Winchesters at all.  Then again you never know what sort of skeletons could be hiding in the closet. We got to meet the Campbell's and Mary's family as hunters in The Song Remains The Same, but John had his memory erased, thus he knew nothing about monsters and demons and the like.  Yet he traded his life for Dean and the Colt back in 2.1 In My Time of Dying, so he came a long way as a novice hunter in fighting the supernatural and in his need to avenge  Mary's death.

Apparently to fit into the premise of Supernatural and the timeline, Henry must know something supernaturally connected since he comes looking for John.  Maybe he has to warn him but finds he's too late.  John and Mary were meant to be together and have Sam and Dean, as shown by Cupid in My Bloody Valentine.  As well as John being the the first to break the seal.  Of course all this came into play when he was much older and after he married Mary.

It's also revealed that Henry will be in pursuit of the demon called Abbadon played by Alaina Huffman (From Stargate: Universe.)  So it shouldn't come as a surprise that Grandpa Henry will be involved with demons, let's not forget Dean's famous line from the Pilot episode about them "hunting things...the family business..." That's what they do after all.  So is shouldn't come as a surprise if John's side of the family were just as involved with demons, they could have been inadvertently drawn into it.  But nothing happens in this show without a reason and let's not forget destiny, even if Dean doesn't believe in it.

NB Abaddon is actually a place like hell, not a demon.  In Hebrew it means "destruction."  However in demonology, Abaddon was the 'chief of the demons' and was known as 'the Destroyer.'  In the magical realm, Abaddon is the 'Destroying Angel of the Apocalypse.'

CSI:NY's ME Sid Not A Well Man

Every now and then CSI:NY writes a story for one of its characters which has a sad and devastating effect, not only on the character themselves but also on the fans and viewers, such as Mac (Gary Sinise) and his long-running story with losing his beloved Claire.  The same can now be said for the one of the show's best-loved characters, ME Sid Hammerback (Robert Joy).  Hot on the heels of becoming a millionaire with his invention in last season's The Ripple Effect.  It is now revealed in Command+P that Sid is suffering from non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Sid confides this to Jo (Sela Ward) who also knew about his striking it rich.  She is a great character to have in your corner when you need help or someone to talk to and will be great at providing the support he needs.  As writer Trey Callaway told TVLine, "...it was one of those things which from a writing standpoint, felt perfect....I wrote it and I've watched it several times and I still get choked up."

Yet he assures that Sid is not going anywhere, so if there is a season 10 (fingers and everything else crossed!) he will still be around for that.  Especially since Sid is a well loved character, with his little eccentric stories or comments, needed with what he faces in autopsy as the ME.  He kind of reminds me of Ducky (David McCallum) from NCIS.  They both always have plenty to say and share their thoughts and feelings without being condescending or arrogant; as well as being there for everyone else.

Jensen and Danneel Expecting Baby

                                          
It's official Jensen Ackles and his wife Danneel Harris are expecting a baby.
Danneel commented on her Twitter page:
"Thank you all for the well wishes.  We are excited about our soon to be new addition."

This will be the couple's first baby after the two were married almost three years ago.  Jensen will relish his role as a doting father, as does Jared Padalecki, his co-star on Supernatural. Maybe he can give some parenting tips.
The couple will make super parents!

Wishing the couple all the best!!

CSI:NY "Civilized Lies" Flack Photo

Oh here we go again, more pics of Flack (Eddie Cahill) well just the one, but one's enough in my book!  Take what you can get.
                                           
Flack's looking jovial here, perhaps it's another of his 'infamous' interrogations where he always has something to say about the suspect.  Always one for a joke or sarcastic comment is our Flack, which puts the fun into Flack!

This episode involves the death of an NYPD officer during a robbery.  The show's done lots of episodes involving robberies too, botched or otherwise. Let's hope this one is different but just as interesting.

Revenge 2.1 "Destiny" Review

                                            
Emily: "Destiny, to believe that a life is meant for a single purpose, one must also believe in common fate.  ...Blood ties can be as unyielding as they are eternal.  It is our bonds of choice that truly light the road we travel...a person's true destiny can only be revealed at the end of his journey.  And the story I have to tell is far from over."

Guess it was our destiny to watch season 2 of this show, ha.  Emily (Emily Van camp) is tied underwater and there's a flash to The Amanda scuttled or shipwrecked underwater too.  She tries to undo her ropes with Takeda (Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa) who takes over from the other actor, Hiroyuki Sanada in season 1 and another Brit guy Aiden (Barry Sloane) watching her.  She thinks of her mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and recalls visiting her at the hospital when she was little with her father.  It's an asylum.  Her mother doesn't want to see her here.  Emily's fear doesn't allow herself to be free of her ropes.  Aiden rescues her and she gets angry as she almost had them undone.  She fights with him and leaves  returning to the US.

Flash to the present, three months ago and a year has now past since the planecrash in which Victoria (Madeline Stowe) is meant to have died.  Meant I say cos she got on the plane but I said she probably got off there anyway.  It didn't appear she would get onto it.  Ashley (Ashley Madekwe) is planning her memorial and Charlotte (Christa B Allen) wants to be there out of rehab.  Only if she's free of drugs and heh bloodtest is negative.  Conrad (Henry Czerny) doesn't want her to rush her recovery, cos Conrad is deviously planning to get his hands on her inheritance, so he's roped Doctor Thomas (Todd Grinnell) in to help him keep her there.

Ashely it seems is 'cosy' with Daniel (Josh Bowman) and Conrad, especially when Daniel says at least he can trust her not to cheat on him, Conrad asking whether he really can?  Of course no one can, the skank has her paws everywhere.  The look on her face when Emily turned up to the memorial with Nolan (Gabriel Mann).  Who has now sold his house as he wants to get away from the whole bad vibes thing.  So Emily lets him stay with her but only until he finds somewhere else.  Emily needs to find a way to get back into the Grayson's lives and she does this by visiting Charlotte in the clinic and she asks her to come to the memorial.

There's trouble in deep waters with Jack (Nick Wechsler) and Amanda (Margarita Levieva) as he sleeps on the boat and Declan (Connor Paolo) isn't to happy about big brother's drinking.  He wants him to come clean and tell Amanda he doesn't love her but instead he moves back into the bar for the sake of the baby and kicks Declan out onto the boat.  Emily gets Jack thinking that he may not be the father of her baby.  As well as declaring herself the baby's godmother.

On the harddrive Nolan copied they find Victoria knows a whole lot more about Emily's mother than she's letting on, as she talks with Conrad and the White-haired man (James Morrison) on the footage. Daniel feels uneasy around Emily when she shows up and Ashley proceeds to give a tribute to Victoria, of course Charlotte doesn't like what she has to say and wants to say a few words of her own.  That she was her mother and she loved her, a "woman of many contradictions."  Charlotte speaking up for her mother, something had to be up with that, why the softened approach.  The Doctor gets a call confirming Charlotte has drugs in her system and must be taken back.  She protests saying Conrad is behind this cos he planned the plane crash.  She manages to whisper into Emily's ear, which has her leave immediately.

Knock, knock, who's there, why it's Victoria, as if we didn't know.  Surprised she told Charlotte where she is and how she's still alive.  She trusted her enough to do so, a reason for Char to clean herself up.  More surprised that she answers the door for herself.  Those pesky government agents aren't doing a top notch job of looking out for her until they can find enough evidence against Conrad, if all and sundry can just drive up.  They have some words and Charlotte told Emily where she was.  Victoria calls Charlotte on her burn phone but the Doc finds it and removes it.  Why was the phone turned on anyway when not in use, why not on vibration and why did they not have a pre-arranged time for calling?

This all gets back to Conrad of course, who wants Daniel to invest the proceeds of his trust and his mother's inheritance into the company.  Daniel can't lay off the booze now but does think he's neglected Charlotte, that was big of him to admit.  He now stands out looking over to the beach house as mother dear used to.  Clearly he's not over Emily.  Who has brought back a clam shell from the cabin so Nolan can plant a camera in it.  A "clam cam."  She overhears Victoria planning Emily's 'removal' with the White-haired man.

Recalling the asylum, she heads back there with Nolan to look for clues and finds her mother's room and looks at the restraints on her bed.  Nolan finds her father visited her mother, Kara Wallace Clarke and so did a woman named Charlotte, but the handwriting is that of Victoria.  Emily now knows they, "did to my father, what they did to my mother."
Nolan: "now they're coming for you."
Emily: "good, let them."
Yes but will the White-haired man do anything especially since he knows she's really Amanda and hasn't told Victoria.

Emily: "Some say that to believe in destiny is to dismiss the role of free will.  That self determination cannot prevail in the presence of fate...and the truth is the only part of destiny we control is the fate we choose for another."  There it is, always boiling down to that fate vs destiny argument.  Do we control our own destiny, fate controls us and all the rest of it.

What's with the DB in the water along with The Amanda which we don't know anything about.  Suppose that's a ghost of the future to come, or of the past, for which we'll have to wait, or was Emily imagining it;  this ep was all about destiny after all.  Nolan's taken up boxing and karate to defend himself against the White-haired menace, if the need arises.  Which was funny, not to mention Emily turning up to the memorial wearing a red Special K cereal dress!

The opening with the sunken boat was meant to be this season's opening teaser, reminiscent of the Pilot ep opening when the shots were fired and everyone thought Daniel was dead at their future 'fire and ice' engagement party.  Think they're trying to re-live season 1 in that way.  In the Pilot ep Emily looked in the mirror to see Victoria and here she sees Ashley, bit scary that, grooming herself to take over in Victoria's shoes. It was only natural or not, that Daniel would take to watching Emily now from the balcony.  Though Nolan and Emily are still acting nonchalantly in their beach house, the way they speak so freely, I mean who's to say it ain't bugged.  Also in the Pilot, Victoria was having an auction for the painting and her friend, Lydia was there.  This time they unveiled an unfinished portrait of Victoria.

Mr Selfridge Series 1 Episode 1 Review

                                       
So another drama about a department store; the biggest in the world this time.   Described as "Downton Abbey with tills..."  Okay so I'll get The Paradise similarities out of the way first, since we all know it's a much more bigger version than that.  Based on the book, Shopping, Seduction and Selfridge by Lindy Woodhead.  ITV wanted to screen this last year but didn't until the BBC had screened The Paradise.  Though the BBC maintain The Paradise had been scheduled eight months in advance.  The similarities, well there's the boss, John Moray (Emun Elliott) and Selfridge (Jeremy Piven) both with big aspirations of making their dreams come true: large department stores with all the trappings to seduce buyers from all walks of life.  Though in essence only those who can afford to live the high life will be buying.

There's shop assistant Agnes (Aisling Loftus) who resembles shop girl Denise (Joanna Vanderham) both wide eyed and bustling with huge ideas.  Moray doted on his dead wife and was in  a 'relationship' of sorts with Miss Glendenning (Elaine Cassidy).  Selfridge is married with children, yet he neglects his wife, Rose (Frances O'Connor) failing to show up for dinner since he was at the theatre watching actress Ellen Love (Zoe Tapper).  Whom he wanted to be the "face of Selfridge", encompassing her beauty, and standing for quality.  Whose in it for the money and other perks.  As is Lady Mae (Katherine Kelly), whom Selfridge had to approach for funding the store when his partner, Waring changed his mind and withdrew his investments.  Lady Mae, one of those upper classes who marries for convenience, has a toyboy lover and then will hold Selfridge to owing her and she'll collect.

Selfridge purports to get Agnes fired from her position at Gamages store after asking her about gloves, how she would sell them and display them.  Not intentionally, but it was obvious she'd be fired.  He sends her his card with the red gloves and she keeps it since she'll need a job with him in the future.  Supporting her brother, you're meant to think it's her no good husband, but then she couldn't work in the store if she was married, as was the taboo of the time.  Also the same rule in The Paradise.  Which also boasted two assistants who didn't like Denise, well one did, Pauline (Ruby Bentall) and the other, Clara (Sonya Cassidy) didn't.  Here there's Kitty (Amy Beth Hayes) and Doris (Lauren Crace) who think Agnes is  a tad arrogant when she's given a job as senior shop assistant; working under Miss Mardle (Amanda Abbingdon) who happens to be Miss Audrey (Sarah Lancashire) from The Paradise.  Kitty comments how Agnes is more the name of a servant and Agnes replies they had cats back home called Kitty.

Miss Mardle who is secretly seeing Mr Grove (Tom Goodman Hill) and are spotted by Agnes holding hands in the lift at the station. That probably won't bode well for her.  What was a little surprising was how Selfridge couldn't recall Agnes, or that he would have gotten her fired due to his flambouancy and eccentricity.  Of course the assistants are in awe of him, the ladies in particular, as they were with Moray.

Selfridge perseveres and doesn't spare any expense in ensuring the store does open one year on, much to the chagrin and unrealistic tendencies of his finance man Crabb (Ron Cook) who is cynical of the store and its success.  Though we know it will be successful, part of the pleasure in watching was seeing how it was all done, though in part to dramatic licence for TV purposes.

Agnes turns up at the hiring at the store without references and Miss Mardle was in thinking she made up getting a personal invitation from Selfridge to visit the store and ask for the chief of staff.  Agnes later meets another employee there who appears to be enamoured with her, who shows her the restaurant where he's a waiter and then asks her for a dance.  Before proceeding to deck her brother reg (Nick Moran) cos she can do better.  Does that mean Selfridge himself, ha, well he is portrayed as a womanizer, although not apparent in this opener, he did however not have dinner with his family in favour of Ellen.  And he couldn't keep his gaze from her when she was behind the screen, changing even if he appeared to.  Though his dalliances were more for showgirls.

Selfridge had the sole intention of making "shopping as interesting as sex" and was the first to coin the phrase, "the customer is always right" as well as his extravagant window displays.  The series is set in 1909 when women were coming into their own, like being able to walk the streets alone, demonstrated here.

Jeremy Piven relished the title role and wanted to play him as a showman, since he was interested in PT Barnum and showmanship.  Shown by his glamorous window displays, the brainchild of  Henri LeClair (Gregory Fitoussi).  In this episode, Henri sets the sprinklers off whilst smoking in the displays.  Crabb reminding Selfridge they're not insured if the sprinklers go off in the store, being a new untested innovation.  As well as taking on board Agnes's idea of having a silk red rose flower for the woman to hold in the window display, as a token of love.

It's still early days but you have to get away from the remnants of The Paradise,  wipe it clean from the windows of your mind,to judge whether this lives up to its potential of providing thrilling entertainment for the next ten weeks, now nine.   Fans of Jeremy Piven will tune in after his eight year stint on Entourage, personally I recall him more from the role of Cupid, in the short lived TV show of the same name! Ha.  Then maybe I'm funny like that.

Desperate Housewives 8.19 "With So Little To Be Sure Of" Review

Mary Alice:  "When it came to throwing a bridal shower, Bree Van de Kamp believed everything should be done with taste and dignity...personalized party favours...and she insisted on traditional gifts even if they received an untraditional response."  Bree (Marcia Cross) made all the arrangements for Renee's (Vanessa Williams) bridal shower, especially when she gives Renee a blender for perfect soups.  Gaby (Eva Longoria) however hired a male stripper and the doorbell rings, cue Det Heredia (Jose Zuniga) and two policemen here to arrest Bree.

Mary Alice: (Brenda Strong) "Bree Van De Kamp believed in doing everything with dignity, even in the most undignified of circumstances."  Even having time to give the stripper a dirty look.
Mary Alice: "Sometimes no matter how much we plan things don't turn out the way we expect.  A sterling reputation may become tarnished, and one person may end up paying the price for a crime that everyone thought was shared."

Bree returns home with Bob (Tuc Watkins) who bailed her out.  The police have the letter Orson sent them but can't be used as it can't be corroborated and the conversation she had with Ben doesn't prove much either, being ambiguous.  Bob also tells them of Bree's fingerprint on Alejandro's shirt button.  Bree believed out of respect she should tidy Alejandro.  The women want to confess but Gaby insists Carlos (Richardo Anthonio Chavira) will go to jail.  Besides Bree knows she's best equipped to take the wrap since she's alone and has no job.  Lynette (Felicity Huffman) tells her she has "a halo over your head."  Bob knows a lawyer, "a real shark, he's not cheap but he's worth it."  Susan (Teri Hatcher) says they will all pay.

Det Murphy (Michael Dempsey) is still harping on about Bree killing Chuck and therefore wants her to go down no matter what.  Gaby tells Carlos the news and he won't let Bree suffer either.  Gaby warns this will be his third strike and he will end up in prison for life.  Bree will be okay as she's getting "a hotshot defence attorney" which she loves saying.

Susan puts away Mike's things and finds Lee (Kevin Rahm) crying, oh he turned up now did he after the funeral.   He discovers a box which Susan hasn't seen before and Lee thinks it may not be a good idea to open it since it's locked, adding if this was in his house he wouldn't want Bob looking it it.  Lee suggests he open the box and he'll tell her if she needs to know since, "men have secrets."

Renee feels she's owed another bridal shower and Lynette is baking for phase two of "get Tom back."  Tom (Doug Savant) says his children are throwing him a party and Jane (Andrea Parker) reminds him to take his divorce papers.  He promises to get round to it, cos he's putting it off, of course he doesn't want those served, but Jane decides she should do the dirty deed.  Well Lynette should have served her on a silver platter instead!

Lazaro (Matt Winston) suggests Gaby try the men's department and she should show more cleavage and remove her ring.  Bree waits for her "hot shot lawyer" who arrives having a phone conversation about his client being innocent and takes one of her muffins, asking if it's got raisins, cos he hates those.  He tells Bree to call him Trip (Scott Bakula) and liked her muffin.  Bree tells him her case and he has a reason for everything the police have against her.  She thinks Bob was right, Trip is actually "amazing" though, yeah isn't he just!   He doesn't take her case though as it's a "snooze" besides no jury would convict her.  He likes cases with challenges, Bree leaves, taking his half eaten muffin with her.  Suppose it was still her property.

Gaby goes down a storm in the men's department and Susan ponders over the box contents.  She knocks down Lee's door and he opens the box finding cheques he had written to Jennie Hernandez (Sarah Zimmerman).  There are also drawings inside the box and an address for Jennie.  Jane arrives at Lynette's whilst she's beating the cake mixture and she tries to put her off her beats.  Lynette claims she's like Rain Man.  Tom has signed the divorce papers and Lynette should sign them now.  Lynette confronts about the divorce papers and whether that's what he wants, that he already signed them.  She does so too and later she cries.

Tom confronts Jane and they argue, Tom will always care for Lynette as she is his children's mother and she has to deal with that.  Jennie tells Susan the cheques were for Laura (Stephanie Jones) Mike's sister.  Who is autistic.  At a resting home, Murphy and Heredia come across some of Ramons' belongings, in particular a map with Wisteria Lane circled.  Murphy writes Bree's house number on the map.  Murphy later shows Bree the map and that she should come clean now otherwise he can't help her.  Bree will wait for her lawyer.  Trip is also there and sees Bree by the water cooler.  She says she's fine and she's waiting for Bob, that they found some evidence and she doesn't know what it means.  Trip enters the room to rescue Bree and tells Murphy he's Bree's lawyer.  Bree asks what makes this case so interesting and he says Bree may not be the killer but she knows who is and that makes it interesting.

Carlos is annoyed by Jason (Sean Kanan) whilst he and Gaby are at dinner and then leaves, angry.  Gaby calls him a hypocrite for all the times he wanted her to show cleavage to his clients.  Gaby enjoys her job cos she can now treat Carlos after all these years.  Julie (Andrea Bowen) finds a letter about Mike not knowing about Laura until eight years ago, or rather the writers thought about writing that in now.  Mike was keeping the secret from Susan cos his mother asked him to.  Susan wonders how a mother can give away her own child, which hits home to Julie.  Who admits the baby is inconvenient but she's resolved to keeping the baby now.

Mary Alice; "yes in life we all make plans, but sometimes they don't turn out the way we expect...by attempting to reach out we may push someone further away...but then there are those who refuse to let go of their plans no matter how badly they're turning out."  Heredia reminds Murphy that Trip has the case now and he won't give up until he gets what he wants.

The title is from a Stephen Sondheim song of the same name from the musical Anyone Can Whistle.  A lot of repetition in this episode with Tom and Lynette going over old ground again, how many times have they had arguments and bust ups when they didn't need to.  Tom not really telling her how he feels and then doing the same thing with Jane.  He doesn't answer Lynette when she asks about him signing the papers and yet with Jane he says he will always care for Lynette.  Sounded like her being the mother of his children was just an excuse.

Murphy turns out to be as bad as Chuck what with 'doctoring' the map just to get Bree, without that he doesn't have a case and to add insult to injury he's reminded Trip is now her lawyer, though they didn't have much more interaction.  Gaby will always be Gaby and this time round she's the breadwinner doing exactly what Carlos used to do yet it hits home with him and he doesn't like the flirting with her clients.

Well call me biased, but I liked Scott as Trip, he was much better than Karl and yes, he was a "hotshot" lawyer in more ways than one.  Not to mention intelligent and on the ball (no pun!) even liking Bree's baking straight off, her orange glazed muffins.  It was funny watching her bring in muffins when she's about to go on trial for murder.  That can wait, "I've got baking to do..."  Liked the ball scene with Trip (Scott) too as a nod towards his role as Captain Jonathan Archer in Enterprise and his love of water polo!

AJ Buckley Engaged

                                                           
It's official for all you gal fans of AJ Buckley, he's off the market!  AJ proposed to his girlfriend, Abby Ochse in Hawaii on New Year's Eve.  Also present were his mother, Patrica and Abby's sister, Alyshia.  Abby is an oncology nurse and they had been dating for two years.

That makes AJ spoken for but on CSI:NY in which he has been starring in for almost eight years now, he still remains single.  Perhaps art will mirror life one day.  There were some pretty mean comments floating around on various sites as to the appearance of his fiancee which were uncalled for.  It amazes me still how shallow some people really are, not to mention cruel.

Anyway AJ had the ring stored in some fireworks, imagine if that had gone off with a bang before he popped the question!

Enrique Murciano: Another Great Detective

                                                      
Typecasting can be a dirty word to actors but sometimes they're suited to their role or the part they play and so they end up being cast again, doesn't necessarily mean that's a bad thing.  That's how we could view Enrique Murciano.  Seems like he's forever been playing detectives, FBI Agents and the like for as long as can remember.  Best remembered for his endearing and captivating role as FBI Agent Danny Taylor in Without A Trace, bet many a fan would have wanted lovable Danny on the case if they ever went missing.  Only in TV land though, not in reality.

Danny Taylor is the role that propelled Enrique to stardom and firmly put him on fan radar.  Also earning him two ALMA Award nominations in 2008 and 2009.  He should have won, at least once if not both times, cos he isn't just handsome, but he's gifted and so talented as an actor too!  He was denied that Award!

But he had played other 'cop' parts before that.  Such as a 'DEA agent' in Traffic, that wasn't a big part though.  Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous saw him play Jeff Foreman, another FBI agent, which was more of a comedic role rather than all-action.  Proving he's great whatever genre he appears in.

Without A Trace saw him grounded in agent 'training' as an actor, so to speak and this led nicely onto the part of Det Carlos Moreno in CSI.  His first appearance in the show was in 2009 in the episode Coup de Grace and held him firmly in stead and was a character who did make a huge impact with viewers.  That's not easy when you find yourself a new guy in a procedural show that's been running for nine years at the time.  However it wasn't until three years later in 2012, that his character was revived again in CSI.  This time we had a little more background on Det Moreno as we found he was the step son of 'disgraced' Det Sam Vega.

As a detective in Vegas, Carlos had extensive knowledge of gangs and this led him to helping Sara Sidle (Jorga Fox) solve the case in Coup de Grace.  Wanting to be just like his step father when he was younger, as revealed in Altered Stakes.  Women can't help falling for him, which is no big surprise as he got engaged in Without A Trace to fellow agent Elena Delgado.  Even Finn fell for the "cute guy on third" in Altered Stakes, but she was cold towards him in Homecoming.  Agh, he didn't deserve that!

In NCIS he was CIA Agent Ray Cruz, AKA "CI-Ray" to Tony.  Where once again Ziva (Cote de Pablo) couldn't resist his charms when she met him in Miami.  He also wanted to ask Ziva to marry him in Pyramid, but alas he just presented her with an empty ring box - ah the miser, ha.

Photo from Enrique's Twitter, @enriquetwiter

More recently we'll see him in yet another, dare I mention it - detective role in the Pilot of the rebooted version of The Saint, where he's been cast as Inspector Henry Fernack.  A New York detective who first made an appearance in a Saint production, in a Pilot for CBS called, The Saint in Manhatten in 1987; the first time since the 1940's.  In this, Inspector Fernack was played by Aussie actor Andrew Clarke.  Inspector Fernack has been likened to an "Inspector Estrade-like foil" to the Saint.  (Inspector Lestrade was of course a character  in Sherlock Holmes.)

Hopefully this series will extend beyond the Pilot stage, so we will have ample opportunity to see Enrique.  Oh you wanted me to say so that we can watch the show, well if you like, that too.  Just goes to show how much we like to see Enrique in a good guy role, it's just as a sexy as a bad guy but you get the added bonus of the good guy always winning at the end of the day!  Playing a true hero to our heart's content.

Desperate Housewives 8.17 "Women and Death" Review

Mary Alice: "Everyday on Wisteria Lane, women face their share of problems.  Like a paper boy who's off the mark...these everyday problems can seem like matters of life and death but then something truly horrible comes along and we rush to hold onto what really matters...before it's gone forever."

Mary Alice: (Brenda Strong) "When a loved one dies, certain decisions have to be made...preparing a body for burial is never an easy thing to do, but unearthing one can be even harder."
Gaby (Eva Longoria) has a flash to Carlos (Richardo Antonio Chavira). She's a mother, her wedding dress and agrees to quit his job.  Mike (James Denton) tells him he's a great man if he feels he needs to do this to be happy, then he should.  Mike helps Carlos out in rehab.  He doesn't want Gaby here cos she'll be ashamed to see him like this.

Mary Alice: "As she arrived at Mike's funeral, Gaby considered what her friend, Susan (Teri Hatcher) must be going through, after all Mike was the love of Susan's life and that got Gaby thinking about the love of hers."

Bree (Marcia Cross) is questioned by the police.  They caught  Mike's killer and Bree talks Renee (Vanessa Williams) into attending Mike's funeral.  It's not about heh guilt but it's to honour Mike.
Lynette (Felicity Huffman) sees Tom (Doug Savant) turn up with Jane (Andrea Parker), cries on his shoulder but Jane doesn't let her have her moment.

Mary Alice: "As Lynette looked at  a wedding photo of Susan and Mike , she thought about the tragic end of their marriage and that started her thinking about the beginning of her own."   Haggles over a cheque at a restaurant with Tom. Which means there will be a second date.  Lynette didn't want children or a ring but likes white picket fences, she plans to become VP of the company. Tom buys the house for her on Wisteria Lane but she doesn't recall the fence.  Mike helps Tom move out and tells him he should fight harder for his marriage since Lynette and Tom are meant to be together.  Which is apparent and they do get together eventually.  The time apart won't help them since they'll grow further apart whilst they are waiting.  Someone has to make the first move.  "Hope it's not too late for either one of you."

Karen (Katherine Joosten) tells Lynette she shouldn't be bothered about Tom bringing Jane.  Mary Alice: "Bree Van de Kamp found herself helpless in the face of a powerful man and this got her thinking about the ways she handles powerful men before and how she'd learned to do it." Bree learned to cook from her mother.  How to handle questions and wear a mask to conceal emotions.  If she knows what a man is thinking they won't have power over her.  Her father cheated on her mother.  Rex (Steven Culp) thinks he can read Bree which Bree knows and puts on her her 'plastic' face.  Bree doesn't think it's safe feeling every emotion she has.  Rex complimented Gaby and was hurtful to Bree when he tells her she's the most gorgeous model he ever met.  It was insightful of her mother as she serves his favourite waffles for breakfast.

The detective asks if she knows Ramon but Bree has never met him.  They have a tip that Bree killed him.  He also tells her she's hard to read which she takes as a compliment.   Her mother raised her to be graceful.

Mary Alice: Susan and her wedding day.  Mike is happy and wrote her a poem.  Bob (Tuc Watkins) writes a will for Mike and Susan, she thinks they are being jinxed.  Mike tells her it's not doing it that will jinx them.  Mike: "If something happens, there's nothing more important than knowing you're taken care of."  MJ (Mason Vale Cotton) mentions getting killed, has questions on death, heaven.  Susan says he's in heaven with the people they love.

Susan speaks at the service and says they didn't talk about what he wanted for the funeral as they didn't talk about it much.  She realizes he's in a better place, "in a diner eating cheeseburgers with his family...fishing at a waterfall and watching football with his son."  She will say goodbye now and reads Mike's poem: "I love you once, I love you twice, I love you more than beans and rice.  Renee sings.

Mary Alice: "Yes, as much as death takes from us, it also gives.  It teaches us what is truly important, like giving back after a lifetime of taking...going after something we should never have let go of..but sometimes the lessons learnt after a person's death aren't the ones we expected."

Where were Lee and Roy at the funeral?  Not much of a proper send off for Mike, since the episode was meant to be about him and his funeral, instead we get kind of a selfish look at the women's past and their lives, reminding them of what they're missing out on in their lives.  Aside from Susan and her recalling his poem and Renee's singing, everything else revolved around the women, as said.   Lynette seeing Tom at the funeral with Jane.  Should he have brought her considering she didn't really know him and especially after the flash we had with Mike helping Tom move out and telling him he and Lynette belong together.

The flashes to how Mike affected the women and men's lives reminded me of 5.13 episode The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened, the show's 100th ep and which guested Beau Bridges as the handyman, Eli Scruggs, who suffers a heart attack and dies, and the women have flashbacks to how he affected their lives, whilst playing poker.
The title of the episode is a Steven Sondheim song from the score to the film  Stavisky.

Covert Affairs 3.3 "The Last Thing You Should Do" Review

                                            
Auggie (Christopher Gorham) and Parker (Devin Kelley) are in the Red Sea on the boat with Debbie and Wade (Brendan Hines).  On the beach Auggie proposes to Parker and she finds a ring in an oyster shell.  When they return they find Debbie fell and injured her head.  Wade's radioed for help.  Auggie says this wasn't a good idea and a small boat approaches.  They're pirates.  The opening credits remind me of a cross between Alias and Spy Game (the TV series, not the movie).  Auggie tries to remove the ring from Parker's finger but it's taken.

Annie (Piper Perabo) receives a call from Parker's phone which was made by Auggie.  Debbie is taken to hospital.  An American woman is the hostage negotiator.  Her name is Annalise (Julianne Nicholson) and she appears to be running this band of pirates.  She puts her hand in front of his eyes in the old ploy to check if he's really blind.  Joan (Karri Matchet) warns off  Lena (Sarah Clarke).

Auggie doesn't want to be separated from Parker and tells the man she and Wade are engaged, only Wade's left the ring at home to be resized.  Their families will be involved since wade's father has money and Annalise is obsessed with Auggie's physique.  He wore a uniform and she sees his tattoo.  So he will get more money in a ransom.

Lena knows people at the State Department and two hostages died recently.  Annalise demands $8 million and increases this to $10 million.  There's a scuffle between Wade and the pirate as he comes to take Parker to the loo.  Wade stood up for her which was good and Auggie tells him he needs to sell that.

Auggie admits to Parker that he's CIA, he wanted to talk to her about it in Washington.  Wade thinks it was a smart move that he and Parker were engaged.  Parker really cares about Auggie and talks about him all the time.  The Peace Corps is a blast.  Well she won't talk to him now.  Wade gives Auggie his ring back, he found it on the ground after their scuffle.

Simon (Richard Coyle) needs his phone charger and calls Annie, she wants to go to Paris.  The facility is raided by Topaz Securities.  They raided the wrong house.  Annalise now demands $15 million in two hours and they will also lose a hostage.  Joan says she thought Lena had them standing down.  Reminding her she's taking risks with operatives and unkept promises.  She's reminded of Nairobi.  Jonathan wasn't professional. Well Lena doesn't really care about others, they're just collateral damage if they get in the way.

They are being moved and Auggie says they must escape since hostages don't survive moves.  The road block is the best way.  Parker freezes.  Annie says there's a ship and SEALs in the area.  But Joan wants to wire the money now.  Annie knows Auggie will follow his training and no one knows him better than her.

They escape when the truck stops and Wade grabs the gun.  They need to get to a roof but when they find one, they must jump to the next one since they're surrounded by antennas.  Auggie and Parker jump together.  That was a long two minutes for the helicopter to arrive.  Simon called Annie about his phone ad she didn't give it to him.  Lena tells Annie one day she'll be the story.  Auggie now on his knees; his only secret was his being in the CIA.  What about Annie though and their unspoken feelings?

Have to ask about Annie and Simon, she knows how dangerous he is and yet she seems to be playing games with him, like taking his charger so he calls her back and Lena encourages this, to get Intel.  So female agents aren't encouraged to sleep with the enemy in missions, but Annie did it anyway.  Lena appears to be a bad influence on her and that's another reason why Joan hates, yes hates her.   Auggie proves what a bad ass he really is, even if he is blind, doesn't mean his training won't come in handy and it does here, as he saves their lives.

Not sure about Parker doubting his sincerity just cos he didn't tell her who he is, erm, not really meant to most of the time.  You don't get round telling people, no matter how much you like them you're CIA.  Only reviewed this ep cos Brendan Hines was in it, but he didn't get that big a part.  Neither did Julianne Nicholson and besides she got away.

The engagement ring in an oyster shell was a nice touch, I was about to ask where's the pearl?  On the ring, ha.