Longmire 3.2 "Of Children and Travelers" Review

                                             
A teen's DB is found under a bridge and Vic (Katee Sackhoff) calls in Walt (Rob Taylor) as he tends bar at the Red Pony, she had a Russian passport and Vic thinks the case may be related to human trafficking.  Walt doesn't think so since she wouldn't have her passport with her.  She's found to be adopted by a couple and they say they couldn't have children of their own so they found her.  But she was a handful and couldn't be controlled, so they sent her to a school.  A school which Vic questions if it is a school or a prison.  The woman tells them she got into trouble a lot and when she ran away he sent Norwood (Myk Watford) after her, his phone was found by her body and she reluctantly gives them access to his records.  At the school Polina's (Mary Elise Hayden) roommate shows them the photos she sent her and one of them showed a man dropping her off somewhere.  As the woman comes in, Walt tells her he was checking his e-mail!!

They plan to stay overnight and Vic strikes up a conversation about bad girls, good girls and how was Walt meant to react at that anyway, finding out she was a bad girl, that much was obvious.  She says bad girls need forgiveness.  As well as drinking his beer, exactly she could've got her own, it was a bar after all. Walt has trouble with his room door and then they both sit and look at the adjoining door, Walt looked funny thinking what Vic would come bursting through the door, ha!  She does knock on the door as they have a lead on Norwood, who Walt reads like a book, or one of his books I should say, as he joins him for a beer and sends Vic for supplies.  He tells Walt how she was in his office naked so he helped himself and then she took off with his phone, after he did her favours and left the doors open for her.  He thought he'd hang out here for a while.  Walt arrests him for statutory rape and suspicion of murder.

Branch (Bailey Chase) returns to work, guess it's not so much that he has to, but more that he needs to , to find out what happened to him and who shot him.  As Ferg (Adam Bartley) later catches him in Walt's office, but doesn't see him reading the files into his case.  He also brings in the man who dropped Polina off at some trailer park.  Here Walt and Vic find the couple just drove off and the man saying the walls were just paper thin.  Right he was being helpful so he was my suspect straight off.   Walt thinks it's a good idea if they bought the couple to them after they find so many predators online looking for children but nothing can be done about them as they don't have their real names.  Walt gets Ruby (Louanne Stephens) to access the chatrooms putting out a message of how they can't handle their Russian daughter.

A man stops by who gave her a lift and she told him about her father abusing her.  Vic says it might have bee the truth and not her fantasy as he put it.  They talk in the chat room to a couple who send a photo of Polina and their daughter Sofia (Charlotte Alexis White) and Vic takes hold of Walt's arm to make it look more real.  The man turns up and it's the one from the trailer park, as he runs away in his truck with Sofia.  He gets her to pull a gun on Walt and to shoot him.  But Walt tells her about Polina and brings the toy unicorn with him.  Now how did he get that into his pocket?!  ha.  He takes her away and says he will find a good place for her.
Elsewhere Henry (Lou Diamond Phillips) is being beaten up by Malachi's' (Graham Greene) men saying he's showing him his roots and there's no Walt here to protect him.  Infact if they knew about him being friends with Walt he'd have a tougher time in here.  Henry's PD (Public Defender) doesn't come in and the second one that does is incompetent (aren't they all?) so Cady (Cassidy Freeman) fires him and takes on his case instead.  Walt tries to call him but can't get through and when he does visit he gets Malachi instead who tells him how bad things can get for Henry, he wants him to help him out at his parole hearing.

A bit of routine a episode with the murder of Polina and it was apparent this would happen to her since she tired to get Sofia away from them.  As was Henry's predicament in jail with with Malachi inside too.  You'd have thought he'd have gotten bail by now or put in solitary, but they're not so big on that over there.  Branch is determined to find out who shot him and hasn't made any headway yet.

The Vampire Diaries 8.5 "Coming Home Was A Mistake" Review

                                             
As they show Matt (Zach Roerig) coming home with Tyler's (Michael Trevino) coffin, the others get calls from him informing them of Tyler.  Meeting up for his funeral eventually.  Bonnie (Kat Graham) is sorry she can't be there as she has to help Enzo (Michael Malarkey) and Alaric (Matt Davis) now writes entries in the diary for Elena.  He's sorry he doesn't have anything good to say.  Alaric uses the tuning fork but not for long, the number of times they showed it, it was apparent it was going to go walk-a-by.  Especially since they still had it at The Armoury and didn't even secure it.  Pity Alaric didn't tell his intern or whatever, Dorian (Demetrius Bridges) to lock it up when he's done with it. There's no sign of Georgie and Alaric wants to know if he's seen her.  He also wants to test the frequencies of the fork and anything else he can do.  Yeah typical guy can't multi-task.  Alaric uses it on Sybil (Nathalie Kelley) again but she's no help as he tells her he's got a cell ready for the second siren.  Ah once again more mistakes and oversights, they use their powerful voices for bad and again they have her in a glass cell so she can easily break the glass and escape.

At the funeral they find four graves have been dug and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) showing up, no surprises for guessing, well knowing, he'd be there.   He wants to end it all for them and Stefan (Paul Wesley) breaks the shovel with Damon asking if he's got intentions of staking him.  Well at this point in time, staking would be too good for him and pointless.  He's not remorseful obviously and he high tails it over to Matt and threatens to turn him into a vampire as he's the only surviving human boy left in Mystic Falls.  As he makes him drink his blood or at least tries too, whilst having a stronghold on him.  Caroline (Candice King) tells him nobody wants him here and he reminds her of how rich that is coming from her, considering the number of people she's killed when she flipped her switch.  He then leaves.  Yeah Damon run away.

Seline (Kristen Gutoskie) takes the girls to the carnival and uses her siren power to get the man to give them a dead goldfish so they can go home and bury it.  How macabre a nanny is Seline. Obviously cos she's a siren and not a nanny.  Sorry that wasn't meant to sound like a rhetorical one-sided joke!  As she takes them to the cave where she says she's going to bring back Cade.  However she gets them to use their magic and burn the DB under the tarpaulin.  Who won't exactly be Cade. Damon makes an impromptu visit to Sybil and she can see his humanity is getting the better of him. He feels once more and that's not good.  She tells him he should just go be with Stefan and turn off his switch if that's what he wants and a lifetime of unhappiness and death finally.  Sybil says she wants him, all of him (doesn't everyone? ha) he should just give over to the dark side and what's waiting for him there, i.e Cade.  Yeah an eternity with him in hell.

The police call and tell him Georgie's been found being the DB that Seline burned.  But is she really gone even they show her tattoo just for clarity.  Matt gets a delivery from the Armoury which is actually from Tyler telling him if anything happened to him then he needs to help him now, he was looking for Selina and there are notes and sketches and photos of her in the box.  He hasn't met her yet but of course by ep's end, we know he'll find out who she is.  Good help is so hard to find these days.  Matt tells his father (Joel Gretsch) he's lost everyone and he's used to it from an early age and he replies he had that coming.  [Said after being Agent Afloat from NCIS should've said that last ep!] He tells him the story of Virginia St John and how Tyler was helping her, Enzo's relation from last season who told him about Selina and the siren being released back in 1883.

Damon decides he wants to end it all and meets with Stefan at the carnival, oh great, let's all hang out there but Stefan decides he's going to take Damon down.  Yeah that'll wok.  Caroline wants to come with him but he doesn't let her and since when will that stop her.  Damon isn't going to change and just wants everyone to stop trying to help him.  Even though he did say he needs his help.  That's nothing new and it's tiresome coming back to the same old story about how Damon is no good, always was and will be.  Also that Elena won't forgive him for what he did.  Stefan tries to shoot him with the vervain but he catches it and tells him this is where it ends for them.  Until Caroline shoots him in the back with vervain (short of backstabbing him! ha.)  Obviously those chains won't hold him since that's the first place Sybil will head, being in his head still, she knew where he'd be.

Bonnie tries to get Enzo to flip his switch but he's not buying any of it and knows about Tyler.  She asks Caroline how she came back and it was all about guilt for her.  What her mother would think of her and what she's done.  The thing she feared the most.  She thinks with Enzo that's fire as she's used the 'flame of imprisonment' from the Armoury to keep him in the cabin.  She burns it down and tells him she'll be the first one who dies tying to save him.  She'll never leave him.  On it went until she passes out and he carries her out by switching on his humanity but returns to the cabin to end it all for himself too.  Sheesh doesn't all this ending ti all business ever stop.
She tells him she'll never leave him some more times and then heads back into the cabin but he brings her out after she burns her hand putting out the flame.  Cue kissing.  What does this mean for her, will he get her witchy powers back?

They turn up at the carnival too as Stefan thinks they should say a proper farewell to Tyler, which again was nothing new, just saying what each one thought of him and his bravery and resilience to fight and come back again.  With Caroline saying she loved him and they all did.  Stefan wanted them here cos he was on the ferris wheel with Elena and they had good times here.  Reminding them they have to take every moment as that's all they have, just moments.  So they ride on the bumper cars and Caroline shoots some balloons.  She's going to be his wife so of course she'd be there for him.

Caroline's glad Matt's back and she shows him photos of the girls and Selina too.  He tells her they need to get home and find Selina and the girls gone.  And so coming home was a mistake, for all concerned, Tyler, Matt, as it led to nothing but misery for them.  Of course we weren't going to get Damon stuck in that prison termed time immemorial forever (sorry one of my lines from something else I wrote) it is the final season after all and we couldn't let Damon 'Damn' Hot be missing from several eps.  Besides as said, Sybil isn't done with him yet.  Some choice quotes in this ep and Alaric welcoming Sybil to her psychic hell.  Alaric also saying Tyler was the last of the Lockwood's and to Seline of all people!

Once again the title is taken from a previous ep 1.9 History Repeating (which is exactly what it did in this ep) when Stefan said it to Elena. Also in this ep, Damon revealed to Stefan why he actually returned to Mystic Falls, to get Katherine back (a little like waiting around to get Elena back.) So once again a bit of an overlap in that he's here again for some reason Sybil will eventually implant in his mind which will no doubt concern Seline.  Also that episode had plenty of Stefan/Damon bonding of sorts with Damon trying to show a different side of himself, less menacing and even offering to stay off eating people and just sucking on the feathered variety of animals.  Here he told Stefan he can't live off bunny rabbits, that's just not him.  Maybe need to go back and watch season 1 over again. Well at least they had the Gas 'n' Sip reference in season 1 relevant here as was also featured in Supernatural.  Yay remnants of an almost cross over!  Ha.

Longmire 3.1 "The White Warrior" Review

                                      
As always the opening of Longmire sets up stories for the entire season and this was no exception. As Walt (Robert Taylor) drives an injured Branch (Bailey Chase) to the Rez clinic where he has to be patched up by Walt and stabilized.  Well he did the patching up with fishing tackle and the Rez clinic worker stabilized him.  Barlow (Gerald McRaney) is angry that Walt brought him in when he asks what happened and he hopes he didn't use a rusty fishing tackle at that cos he' going to hold him responsible.

Walt drives to catch Mathias (Zahn McClarnon) as he transports Henry (Lou Diamond Phillips) to Denver and Mathias doesn't stop for him until Walt almost drives into an ongoing truck which prompts Mathias to pull over.  Walt says he wants to speak with Henry and he hasn't waived his rights.  Henry says he can afford a lawyer since he's got money in the safe and Walt tells him not to waive his rights.  He can help him if he stays in his jurisdiction, but if he goes to Denver that's Fales' jurisdiction.  At the office everything's a mess and they ask him what happened here.  Walt replies he got angry.  He wants Ruby (Louanne Stephens) to find a good lawyer for Henry and Vic (Katee Sackhoff) talks to him alone.  He tells her his wife was killed and Henry's taking the blame for something he doesn't want Walt arrested for.  Henry kept the teeth for those reasons.  He needs to get Hector back from Cumberland county as he's witness.

At the hospital he tells the doctor to find out if Branch was on any drugs, hallucinogenic since he claims to have seen David Ridges (David Midthunder) and he was wearing white make-up and he found his ashes and left them at the CS.  He dreams of the man coming into his room.  He believes it to be true and also Jacob Knighthorse (A Martinez) is mentioned.  As he talks with Knighthorse he says that Henry's team wouldn't have done well and Walt replies he was here to help them.  He tells Whitehorse about David Ridges and how everyone claims he's dead.  He says it's the White Warrior and it's a spirit come back.  The doctor also told him about the crow feather he found in Branch's wound which would've become infected.  He also sees similar in Knighthorse's office which is made of raven, crow and eagle feathers, he says it's an antique.

When Walt speaks with Henry in jail he tells him there wasn't much money in the safe and he says Deena took it.  A good public defender should be able to get reasonable doubt as long as they have Hector there.  Henry tells him about the White Warrior also and how they'd call them religious extremists.  At the Rez Mathias runs Walt and Ferg (Adam Bartley) off the land cos it's not his jurisdiction and he scatters the ashes in the bag which was evidence.  You'd think Mathias would be more forthcoming in helping since it's his job.  He tells Walt he'll call the FBI to tell them Walt was here without permission.  Ferg inadvertently walks through the ashes, which was obvious but he didn't realize and Walt collects scrapings from his boot.  For someone who's not into forensics he sure knows what he's looking for, which is why so many underestimate the power and intelligence of our sheriff!

Also the remark made by Knighthorse about him not getting a call about that anytime soon, was a good laugh considering Walt wouldn't be cos he doesn't carry a phone. Thought he was going to say that for a second.  Vic says she's sorry about his wife and he shouldn't keep things to himself.  She also got a good look at Walt when he was cleaning Branch's blood off his body and yet again any excuse for us to see Walt shirtless!  Branch dreams again and he almost strangles Cady (Cassidy Freeman) who's shocked and leaves when Walt comes in.  Of course she's going to end up defending Henry cos there's no one else to do the job right.  Branch insists he wasn't dreaming when he saw Ridges.

As Walt checks out the Rez again he finds some men and a fire and convinces Mathias to come along. He ties them up and asks where they live but no one answers.  I said it was the one in the middle, the short haired one with the necklace.  They bring Branch here and he can't recognize any of them insisting it was ridges.  Walt has no choice but to let them go and tells him he just let his shooter go. Showing him the results of the analysis of the ashes which were Ridges.  Branch also being doses with peyote.

Knighthorse has an alibi which rules him out and this was confirmed by Barlow, who just likes to sit around cleaning his guns all day and drinking.  Of course this all opens up Walt's wife's murder again as everything appears to be up in the air.  Ruby being upset at him as he hasn't told her much nor where he's heading.  Nothing will be the same between Branch and Cady now and she was really shook up at his actions, even if he was dreaming, at least it seemed that way.  As said the opening setting up the groundwork for the many continuing mysteries this season 3.

The Vampire Diaries 8.4 "An Eternity of Misery" Review

                                         
Arcadia 750 BC
Another one of those flashback eps which you either hate or love and I actually don't like them no matter what the context or the premise they entail.  Especially having to endure last season's jumping and forth with three years later, earlier, present day etc.  This one is a story told from one sister to the other as she speaks of Cade (Wole Parks) a man who could read minds being psychic and how he was not only treated badly and eventually was burned on the pyre.  One of the sisters also developed this psychic ability and was driven out of her village, ending up with the other on an island. She was meant to be Sybil (Nathalie Kelley).  She taught the other how to forage for food or at least was supposed to by calling the ships to sink and then she'd bring back the provisions.  She didn't want that when she found out that's what Sybil had done and that God would provide for them from the land. Nothing came of that and so Sybil went out hunting on the basis that she would bring back food but in actual fact she was eating human flesh as there weren't any provisions on the ships and the sailors came from her village.

Damon (Ian Somerhalder) ends up at Peter Maxwell's (Joel Gretsch) [who was agent afloat in NCIS eps] garage and how prophetic was that or coincidental where he sets alight the mechanic cos he could and he wasn't much help, but as we know no humanity means no remorse.  When Peter returns Damon compels him to tell him about the Maxwell family heirloom.  He says his gran died and left a storage box which his son was looking for.  Damon thinks his watch could be an heirloom and when he touches it is laced with vervain.  He then stabs him and is saved by Matt (Zach Roerig) who shoots Damon.  With the reveal that Matt is his son.  Getting him to drink Damon's blood Matt saves him. He knows Matt is desperate and he's not really in the mood for small talk telling him if he doesn't help him then he won't get Tyler (Michael Trevino) back.  He's not in New York and he's finished with Elena.  How many times have we heard that one.  Ah silly Matty Blue Eyes leaving Damon tied to a chair with wheels!

Alaric (Matt Davis) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) question Sybil with the help of the tuning fork and she tells them the story of having another sister, as the name suggests they're sirens.  Georgie (Allison Scagliotti) is curious as to what's happening and goes to Alaric's house to retrieve the book but triggers the alarm.  She comes across Seline (Kristen Gutoskie) and she calls Alaric to tell him about Georgie.  Obviously giving everyone the impression that she's the siren.  But no, Sybil already threw that one out there by saying that Seline is a good name for a siren.  Seline obviously gets Georgie to help imprison Alaric and also knocks out Stefan.  But Sybil doesn't leave her cell.  Alaric leaves a message for the others and says he can get out cos Georgie showed the way out of the caves, adding she's the other siren.  Begging the question why would she do this if she was the siren.  So he knocks out his hearing so he can't be manipulated.

Sybil tells Stefan the story of how she discovered the bones of the men hidden in a cave at low tide and how she was turned into a cannibal.  She tried to kill herself but she was saved by Cade, who created an all powerful pit of fire to save himself from his fate.  She also tells him Seline is the siren but he won't remember that.  Asking him the question of "which girl are you?"  That sounded funny. The one who killed and turned his brother cos he couldn't bear to be alone or the one who was the victim.  She'll tell him everything if he answers her, "which girl is your spirit animal?"  Stefan replies he's both cos he is, and she tells him his destiny is that hell and the devil.  He doesn't believe her and doesn't believe there is a devil, but she talks of how Damon does and that's why he made a deal with Cade and he's switched off his humanity.  He doesn't want to end up in that place and he's seen it.

Georgie tells Seline how Sybil told her to "piss off" and she kills her, foraging on her. As she floats off into another place.  Has Georgia gone to hell then and will be their ally?  She said she died and came back so there must be something she can do to help them and to defeat the devil.

Matt gets to Tyler after he and his father talk of how his great grandmother spoke of vervain to ward off the vampires and he was sorry he left Mystic Falls.  Matt saying they'd all have been better off leaving.  He opens the trunk and can't believe his best friend has actually gone!  Poor Matt's been through the wringer and has lost anyone he ever cared about!  Probably one of the best emotional scenes we've had in this show for a long time, as he breaks down and has his dad for support, at least. Showing Tyler wasn't strong enough to handle Damon.  Who finds what he was looking for in the form of an orb (cannon ball more like! ha) but doesn't know why he's looking for it.

Caroline's (Candace King) left Bonnie with Enzo but she hasn't been able to help him yet.  She tells Stefan he could've slept in his bed even if she was with Bonnie.  The part in the beginning with Cade reminds me of the episode of Once Upon A Time where Merlin was featured and how his magic led to his being ostracised.  Sybil kind of told a bleeding heart story didn't she about being the younger sister and the victim.  That she had no choice and Seline lied to her.  Making her story similar to Damon becoming a vampire but that doesn't absolve her for the killing she's done and made others do, in the same way it doesn't really absolve or give them redemption either, even if Stefan said whatever they did they've forgiven each other cos they're brothers and their bond is greater.

How are Alaric's daughters involved with this and their reaction to the pitch fork.  They can't be sirens considering they're meant to be witches.  Also seems they will have an impact on the story since Seline has a hold of them as nanny.

As always a word about the title which comes from season 1 where Damon said to Stefan: "I promised you an eternity of misery so I'm just keeping my word."
Also in 1.22 Blood Brothers, Damon says the line again as they flash to 1863: "you got what you wanted you and me for all eternity.  But hear this brother I will make it an eternity of misery for you." It wasn't just an eternity of misery quite yet over the years, but he got a good headstart on it, especially considering he didn't really act like the loving brother on numerous occasions, as well as deserting Stefan last season, just to wake up when Elena does. Which he now says doesn't mean anything to him.  It's what Sybil said too of how it was Stefan who wanted Damon with him and didn't want to live without him.  Good continuity for this episode.

The Vampire Diaries 8.3 "You Decided That I Was Worth Saving" Review

                                                
Bonnie (Kat Graham) surprises Caroline (Candace King) with champagne in bed for breakfast and to congratulate her on the engagement to Stefan (Paul Wesley).  Caroline being all shy in her top as if Bonnie hasn't seen her dressed like that before.  It's what she mostly always wears.  She snuck into her house and got her wedding scrapbook so they can plan together with Caroline saying she wants the same for Bonnie and Enzo (Michael Malarkey) and she'll help her get that for them.  Sybil (Nathalie Kelley) watches the car crash with Elena and her parents holding Damon's (Ian Somerhalder) hand and she sees the sheriff (Marguerite McIntyre) call it in the Vics, the Grayson's and Elena.  Damon saying he doesn't know them.  Of course he wouldn't, since she's turned his brain to mush literally and metaphorically.  And boy is she irritating for a siren.  Think they could've come up with someone better to play a seductive siren cos Sybil has no charm whatsoever and is as exciting to watch as a wet sponge and that's saying something.  However the plus side: Damon sitting calmly reading a book!  But what was he reading?  Ha.

Of course she's got Damon right where shew ants him, so easily and completely at her side and wants the same loyalty from Enzo.  Begging the question if she's already got one lapdog why does she need another one.  Or maybe all the fun is in getting him to submit to her will and mind games.  As Caroline and Bonnie go wedding dress shopping, Damon turns up as Sybil wants him to kill Bonnie, testing Enzo and seeing if he will submit to her.  He refuses to switch off his humanity (vampires must be easier to manipulate than other creatures it appears.)  Thus sending Damon after Bonnie. Bonnie wants to be Caroline's maid of honour, she'd be "honoured" and jumps at the chance since her competition won't be awake until she dies.  Yeah about that dying business, so if Damon was able to kill Bonnie, that would've meant Elena would've woken up and then where would Damon find himself.  But of course that's neither here nor there since he can't remember a damn thing.

Damon fails miserably in killing Bonnie as would be apparent and Sybil's disappointed since he got beaten by a girl, two girls he tells her.  But she wonders if his heart was really in it.  So once again we get more mind melding manipulation and she finds out that Bonnie and Damon have been through a lot together.  Then turning up at the house when Caroline is in search of weapons.  She looks through Caroline's wedding scrapbook too, and Caroline jokes how she liked a design she wanted when she was in the eleventh grade.  She wants a heart to heart with them or it occult be very painful for them both and wonders why Bonnie and Damon never went there together, you know, did the dirty cos he's hot and his name can spell 'Damn'.  Oh come on, to paraphrase Caroline, what was she five?  She wants Bonnie to choose between Enzo and Damon cos they're going to fight to the death and one of them will end up in that place below.  Not heaven but in real pain.  Bonnie doesn't choose so she takes them in the car to where they'll be fighting.

Strangely Damon calls Stefan, he doesn't know what she wants him to do saying his mind won't focus on that, calling it "apple sauce and penguins."  He wants Stefan to help him and obviously he's not given up on him though it's hopeless.  As said, Damon's given up on Damon so it was rather all pointless.  He shows him Enzo in the boot and wants his help in killing him.  To be his second.  Of course he knew Enzo wouldn't have anyone else there and that's it.  Everyone knows Stefan will do anything for Damon including taking sides.  Stefan wants to know why he can't fight her like Enzo has and why he's given up.  Again knew the answer would be that it's pointless.  With Damon the entire question and answer vocabulary just revolves around giving up for him.  Last time he gave up cos he didn't want his loved ones to fight for him anymore and get hurt, seems he's doing the same thing now.  Though he's the one behind the killing!  Guess I should day nothing's changed there then.

Anyway little Ms Siren doesn't wear her seatbelt and still insists on getting the last word in and as Bonnie hasn't chosen the clock strikes 3 and they begin the fight, with Stefan trying to stop them. Bonnie slams the breaks and Sybil goes flying through the windscreen!  Pity there wasn't any lasting damage.  As they arrive, they find Stefan's out of action, and Sybil also arrives, knew she'd get a ride so much for Bonnie's walking theory, telling Bonnie to choose again as Damon has his hand in Enzo's chest.  She chooses Enzo as she would and Damon wants to be saved.  Sybil tells Bonnie no one's going to help her so Damon still needs to kill her, going back on her pinky swear to Enzo.  LIke he cared. Only Enzo can stop it by coming over to the dark side and he gives up and switches off his humanity.  Of course Sybil would still want Bonnie dead and Enzo tells her he doesn't care.  Bonnie standing there and not running until she told her to, what's up with that.

Beforehand Stefan had told Alaric (Matt Davis) about their engagement and he says he's fine with it and can give him a deal on two flowergirl dresses.  He gets Georgie (Allison Scagliotti) to carry out more research and she finds that the pitchfork is a pitchfork, which is what I said, last ep and in medieval times, that's the only fork they could use so it didn't have three prongs to it.  As the twins squabble over the fork it falls to the ground and makes a sound, he says it's a tuning fork and obviously would be used on Sybil.  Funny how Alaric knew where to find everyone and as Damon tries to kill Bonnie, he turns up and puts Sybil out of action with the fork.  Not for long though.  As they have her at the Armoury, didn't they even think of how she'll use her 'singing' to control Damon still.  Come on she's a siren, clearly all that myth stuff went out the window here!

Bonnie has words with Stefan about how he was on Damon's side and always will be, well that's apparent, they're brothers and blood is stronger and all that.  Alaric tells Stefan that he can get Damon back again cos he did before and not to give up to him.  Alaric considered Damon a brother, or as close to and again Damon doesn't know what she wants him to do.  So we get her humming and he needs to remove all the attachments to him and this one just happens to be Tyler (Michael Trevino) So that's how they aim to weed out the characters and that's their endings.  Not even Tyler was strong enough and he tells Damon to kill him cos either it'll help him overcome this hold on him, or his face will be the last one he remembers forever when he recalls what he did.  He turns away but her moany humming is too much of an allure and he kills Tyler!  Fans won't be happy.  Well one down and a few others to go.  Stefan didn't even finish writing in Elena's diary.

Caroline knows Stefan took Damon's side but she has to take Bonnie's.  We're not going to get that coming in between them are we.  Especially after they've found each other.  Will they get their happy ending.  Didn't think this was the show it used to be.  The storyline isn't very gripping and I still say this siren nonsense is a little out of place for this show.  

Once again the title can allude to any one of the characters here, either Bonnie, Enzo or Damon.  Or all of them.  Each one of them needs saving in their own way, not just from Sybil, but also in the form of their own personal redemption.  Perhaps one reason why they're taking sides.  They've all been there for one another and saved lives and yet it seems they're going to have a showdown here and it looks very ugly!  Time and again Bonnie has saved Damon even if she doesn't like him, but thought all that changed last season when she was angry at him for leaving her and going to rest for eternity, leaving everyone to fend for themselves.  Seems there's still fallout from all this cos Damon did the same to Stefan, again leaving him and not caring about family.  Little wonder he's so easily manipulated and can just switch off his humanity so easily.  So if he really cared for Elena how come Sybil got to him so easily.  He knew he would see her again and that he would be around for eternity.

Caroline had to take sides cos she's Bonnie's best friend and she can't see her go through all this over and over again.  She's always the one making the sacrifices for her friends, getting hurt and getting nothing in return.  Guess the funny scene was at then end when Sybil now takes Bonnie's place and eats the pancakes.  But that look on Damon's face kinda said 'I know who you really are and I'm bored of it.'  Get outta my head!!  Yeah can't wait for that!

The Vampire Diaries 8.2 "Today Will Be Different" Review

                                           
As the title suggest today wasn't any different to all the other days they've experienced in the past, especially considering as we all know from past lessons not learnt, in this show, there's no point in having a plan cos they always, always go awry and this was no exception.  The siren Sybel (Nathalie Kelley) still playing mind games, okay she wasn't playing, she was for real, but anyway she broke Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and he just seemed to let it all go anyway.  Resigned to the fact he's heading straight to hell.  But that'd mean no Elena if that happens and again why the self destructive streak Damon?  We know he's not the more decent brother of the two, but he made inroads and changes to his life and his character, not least of which was wanting to end the misery for everyone last season by giving up on everyone.  You could say again not much has changed there then, hence the title once again, today was not different.

So he gets easy manipulated and Stefan (Paul Wesley) says he's switched off his humanity, was it so easy for him to switch it off anyway considering he's been manipulated by her.  (Have to say the show does have almost a knack for casting similar looking brunettes to play the bad girls in this!) But I'm miffed and by that mean we went down the road of vampires, and all that and now we end up with Sybil, all roads leading to hell.  Even Alaric (Matt Davis) is pursuing that route with his intern, Gerogie (Allison Scagliotti) and her markings, as well as her finding that pitchfork of the two pronged variety.  Nothing makes sense yet it is early days, but I thought the show would probably end as it started with at least a reference, more episodes relating to vampires as opposed to sirens and even hell.  Hell is other people to take a title from another season and here Damon has done exactly that again, created his own hell for himself and he's determined to take all with him.  Sybil's seen to that.  Stefan of course not giving up on him and since he spared Sarah s(Tristin Mays) hows he had some part of Damon and his humanity left in him to overcome her mind control.

Bonnie (Kat Graham) seemed selfish, anymore than usual here then?  As she wanted Enzo (Michael Malarkey) back and was determined to drive him away with her.  As opposed to him driving her away which is what he wanted so badly.  She doesn't take a hint does she, again putting everyone in danger thinking she can save Enzo when she doesn't really know what she's up against, when she can see he's trying so hard to ensure his mind isn't taken over like Damon.  Didn't work in the end though, he gives up Sarah Nelson as a name and says he had to give Sybil something tangible, which Caroline (Candace King) and Bonnie found on the Internet, as Stefan said Enzo has to give them a clue.  With Stefan putting it together that it's a reference to Sarah Salvatore, their last surviving blood relative. When he said that you knew that was the end for her.  Oh and yeah packing was important wasn't it, I mean she couldn't get new things or have then sent on, no she had to pack!

They were indecisive though about how to handle her and leaving Damon wiped out on the floor without restraining him wasn't a good idea.  We always know he gets his way.  Also Sybil finding out that Damon visits a secret place in his subconscious which of course had to be his last refuge with Elena.  His 'happy' place and that didn't last too long either.  She had to find that out and substitute herself cos Elena couldn't really appear every episode.  Don't like where this is headed at all.  As Caroline said at the end it was all for nothing, as usual, since Sarah is finally killed and she doesn't let Stefan save her, mind controlling him too cos again Damon was too weak, only he tells her he's strong.  Strong enough to get used again but weak enough to not save himself or even try, which I know would've been too simple.  As for Caroline, come on she couldn't have crawled to her ring, instead of having to walk towards it.  Why was Stefan so easily mind controlled, she knows nothing about him or his thoughts and he let it happen too.

Another heart to heart with Caroline and Bonnie as she thinks Bonnie is jealous of her and Stefan's happiness, well sure seemed that way.  She does want what they have cos poor Bonnie's always being left out and always has to think of and help everyone else.  But Caroline realizes she has to be there for her like they used to be, as she also continues writing in the journal for Elena, who isn't really missing much of anything.  Think the time was right to call it quits on the show, regrettably I have to say, they weren't really going anywhere with it.

Stefan's building a room for the girls and finally proposes to Caroline in a snogging, roundabout way and yes she would accept. At least it was a nice proposal, and different, without having to beg on his knees! ha.
Georgie appears to be setting him up with the "hot nanny" and how she came back from the dead after causing an accident and is convinced she's also heading to hell.  After almost flashing to Alaric, at least that's what he thought.  So he's back on the research gig again and raves his findings to the nanny, how trustworthy is she anyway?  Sybil finds out about Bonnie cos she just couldn't leave it alone and will be after info on her too now.

The only thing different today was Stefan actually proposing to Caroline, losing their last surviving blood relative and not at Damon's hands for once.  She could've gone out the other door couldn't she.

Salvatore Vs Winchester

                                           
Several similarities come to mind between these four characters, Stefan and Damon Salvatore and Sam and Dean Winchester.  Notice how the 'S' names always come first.   Not least which they're brothers.   All are involved in the supernatural and the mysticism surrounding this.   Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) all have the same initials for their respective names, at least there's two 'D's and two 'S's.   Although two, Stefan and Damon are characters from books, and thus form figments of writer, LJ Smith's imagination.   Hang on - Sam and Dean are also figments of Eric Kripke's imagination.

They do have plenty in common too.   Stefan, like Sam, is meant to be the caring brother, looking out for others, with Stefan clearly keeping his humanity in check.   Sam throughout the early seasons was the same; he wouldn't kill anyone if they could be saved; or there was some other possible solution in sight.   Sam's the thinker, the voice of reason.   Both are younger brothers.   Sam had his 'destiny' of turning evil one day overshadowing him and embracing his 'dark' side, which he did.   Yet things decidedly changed when he had to battle Lucifer in season 5.   Sam went to hell, endured 'the cage' and was brought back somehow altered.   This sacrifice he made to save the world from the impending Apocalypse was for everyone.

No such Apocalypse for Stefan but he underwent a transformation in season 2 finale when he had to 'embrace' his "ripper" side.  Klaus (Joseph Morgan) forced him to drink human blood to save his brother Damon, otherwise he wouldn't cure him of the werewolf bite Damon suffered, leaving Damon's life hanging in the balance.   Each have gone to great lengths to sacrifice themselves for each other.   At least Stefan did whatever he had to for Damon.

With Supernatural, both Sam and Dean made the ultimate sacrifices for one another by dying and returning, first by bringing each other back and then being brought back by Castiel (Misha Collins).   Dean sold his soul for Sam in season 2; then the search was on to a way of getting back his soul back and ending the deal throughout season 3 -   though Stefan was finally given a cure for Damon in the season 2 finale, As I Lay Dying, culminating in Stefan being lost to Damon.   Especially when Klaus compelled Stefan in season 3 to "turn it off."  I.e his humanity and was well and truly under Klaus's compulsion.   Stefan did things: killed, had fun feeding off humans and culling them, something he thought he would never have to do again and he reverted to nothing but a cold blooded killer.

Sam was brought back in the season 5 finale, but he wasn't the same Sam, as he stood by and watched Dean get on with his life, move on without him from outside Lisa's window.   Sam had no soul.  So he didn't care about anyone; nor did he have the same Sam emotions and traits everyone admired about him and made him Sam Winchester.   He was nothing but a ruthless killing machine, and a hunter without a soul is as cold and as cruel as they come.   Even more so Sam, since he was always the emotional, feeling Sam.   He showed his indifference and callous streak when he let Dean be attacked and turned by the vampire in 6.5 Live Free or Twihard.   He felt nothing and did nothing.   This is where Stefan differed. He was made to forget his humanity.  Stefan still recalled it and tried to break though and gain it back.   Yet through it all his actions were still motivated to protect Damon and the girl he loved, Elena (Nina Dobrev).

Dean and Damon share similar qualities too.   Both joke around, never take important issues seriously (at least Dean never used to), engage in witty banter.   Dean was forever on the side of good and helping people; to the point of feeling guilt and irresolvable shame at having to torture in hell.   Damon has helped out but he shows his cold, vampire side on many occasions too and loses his temper a lot.   A sign of hot blooded-ness, ha.   When he gets angry he takes it out on whoever is around him, be it furniture or be they human, friend or foe as he did with Alaric (Matt Davis) in 3.4 Disturbing Behavior.   Sometimes you really don't want to get on his bad side!

Both are a bit of  ladies men and seem to shy away from commitment, even if Dean tried settling down with Lisa for a year.   But Dean didn't covet his brother's girl, he did however go as far as killing one, a monster in season 7 and was willing to kill Madison for him in season 2 episode Heart.

Sam did kill Madison (Emmanuelle Vaugier)  - the werewolf he loved.   In contrast, Stefan killed Damon's "fake" girlfriend, Andie in a bid to prevent Damon from constantly coming after him, hoping to get him back to 'normal'.   He did it for himself in part and mostly for Elena,  well kind of.   As a result, Damon gave up on Stefan in season 3 - he couldn't be bothered wasting his time on trying to bring back the old Stefan.   As he told Elena, the old Stefan is gone and he's "not coming back in your lifetime."  He was wrong.   Something Dean has never done, nor would he ever give up on Sam, even if he made him endure an unmentionable and unimaginable hell when he became a vampire.   Everything he's done and does, has been for Sam, for his family and their unfaltering brotherly love.   Though viewed as extreme by some, such as Lisa, it is the ultimate force that holds them both together as Winchesters.

Dean, after being turned into a vampire, may share this experience with Damon and Stefan, although Dean didn't feed. He came close and felt the heightened feelings and strengths of being one of the 'undead.'  Sam too hasn't been spared the bloodletting. He's partaken in drinking demon blood: same principle, different outcomes and reasons and knows of its strengths.   He was superhuman and he was bad, whooping demons left, right and centre, encouraged by evil Ruby (Genevieve Padalecki) in season 4.   Setting him apart from Dean and also in conflict with him for what he was doing, it was unnatural and not something Dean would have wanted for him or expected from Sam.

Winchesters are hunters.   Salvatore's are vampires, centuries old.   One family would inevitably hunt the other - but that works both ways.   Vampires can also be termed Hunters and can turn so when survival is on the agenda.

Brothers, can't live with them, can't live without them!  These four have lots in common and lots going for them and yet plenty to set them apart and make them unique.   Which brother is your fave: which family would you choose and who would win in a battle of wits and survival?

Jensen and Ian were both born in the same year, 1978, Jensen in March and Ian in December; both being older than their counterparts, both in the shows and in Real Life.   Jared and Paul were not only born in the same month of July but also in the same year, 1982.   Also Paul's last name is Wasilewski, his parents are Polish and Jared is of Polish ancestry from his father's side; how uncanny is that?  Both shows also airing on the CW, we've even had almost similar sounding episode titles, Supernatural 2.1 In My Time of Dying, and Vampire Diaries 2.22 As I Lay Dying...

Written 2011.

You know you write for some pesky websites who preach 'copyright' at ya so when you leave they don't give you back all your articles etc cos you wrote for them, well then they vanish and don't have the decency to tell you they'll be getting lost so you can download your work!! Well there was plenty of stuff I had I wanted and couldn't get back! Thanx for nothing !

Moral: Don't write for crap sites!!
Glad I got this one and a few more and including the Jon-Erik Hexum biography I just posted previously, cos I spent a while on that and it was sentimental!!  Didn't get the great Mentalist ones I wrote though!!

Jon-Erik Hexum Biography

                                                 
"I'd hate to die young and never have made Grapes of Wrath.  Life goes by so fast...I just don't want to miss out on anything."   Jon-Erik Hexum

Jon-Erik Hexum (he was advised to drop the 'C' in favour of a 'K' as it looked much more stronger) and used to go by the name of Jack; was born November 5 1957 in Englewood, New Jersey.  He was 6' 1", of Norweigan/Icelandic descent.  His parents Gretha and Thorleif Hexum separated when he was 5.  He had an older brother, Gunnar. The two were raised by their mother, who held down two jobs. Though they couldn't afford to, his mother also bought him a piano.
As a child, Jon-Erik took violin, singing and dancing lessons, also playing the baritone horn and was very eager to play Flight of the Bumble Bee after only one lesson on the piano.

Jon-Erik inherited his confidence from his mother.  Confidence was described as one of his "strongest traits," saying, "at times I'm amazed at my confidence, even when it doesn't make sense that I should be." He also cited his mother as being his influence, "I kind of did whatever I wanted when I was growing up and my mother always kind of helped me do what I wanted when I was growing up."

Jon-Erik attended Tenafly High School, New Jersey, where he was the first male cheerleader.  Here he also played soccer, wrestled, was on the diving, swimming and gymnastics team.  Also having band practice, played baseball and if that wasn't industrious enough, he also became Class President. The first college he attended was Case Western Reserve, Cleveland and graduated with a BA Social Science from James Madison College, Michigan State University.  Majoring in Philosophy and Economics.  He liked Philosophy and was "going to unlock  the questions of the world...after 4 years, I didn't really care much more...it was interesting."  He only studied these subjects but didn't really want  a career in that field.  He studied, "what I was interested in, not for what I could use it for."

At Michigan State he was on the football team and wanted to play after seeing his first football game there.  Later saying, "5 months of running and lifting weights  got me on the team.  Then I spent 3 years keeping the bench warm." On his appearance he commented, "I grew about 4 inches, gained about 50 pounds for football, my face changed...my range of experience broadened almost immediately."  Jon-Erik gave up sports after his "sixth concussion and second broken nose."  He once considered being an Olympic athlete, a champion figure skater, a football player or an artificial heart pioneer, but the acting bug was too great to pass by.  He was  a late-night DJ on Lansing Radio where he went by the name of "Yukon Jack."

Upon graduating school (university) he began theatre classes and looked for agents; as well as getting in to see casting directors, producers, anyone he could.  In New York he studied with Willard Young; Uta Hagen and Mervyn Nelson.  As well as attending some of Sandy Meisner's seminars.  During this time he held down many varied jobs ranging from a bartender at NYC discos, a bouncer, a singing waiter. After spending 8 months in New York, where he became known as one of the "most industrious and determined young actors in all of New York."  Then moving to California and was only in LA for 4 months before landing the role of Phineas Bogg in Voyagers!  A show where he played a sixteenth century time traveller, travelling back and forth in time, changing history wherever it went wrong, along with a 12 year old, Jeffrey Jones (Meeno Peluce) who was effectively his history book.  Considered to be the prequel to Quantum Leap and an inspiration for this.  Jon-Erik became "one of the most sought-after properties in Hollywood."  He said his most notable feature was his voice.

Before this Jon-Erik had acted in some plays: playing Johnny Brown in The Unsinkable Molly Brown; Billy Bigelow in Carousel as well as the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance.  He enjoyed watching many plays when he was younger and, saying, "I just think you should do what you want in life that you enjoy the most."
He believed that the "best thing is to go to work, to do lots of plays and to learn while you're performing...it's so much more incumbent upon you to really pay attention."  The best advice Jon-Erik would have given to potential actors, or anyone thinking about going into acting as a career.

Jon-Erik was discovered by agent Bob Lemond whilst he was cleaning apartments.  Sadly he missed out on a role as a dancer in the movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.  Appearing as an extra in Deathtrap, A Little Sex and in soaps.  In 1981 he auditioned for the movie Summer Lovers, which ultimately led to the part in Voyagers!

Other roles were in an episode of Arthur Hailey's Hotel, (1984) in the episode The Tomorrows, playing Prince Erik, alongside Emma Samms.  He filmed the movie, The Bear about the life of football coach Bear Bryant, where Jon-Erik played Pat Trammell.  The film was made in three months but he was on set for only over a month .  He commented, "there's this one scene where I die and we did that scene for 9 hours."  Pat Trammell died aged  28.  Most of Jon-Erik's scenes were cut from the movie.  Some other shows included, Fantasy (1983) where he hosted the show for a week as a guest.  Just Men (1983) a game show, hosted by Betty White.   He turned down roles in TV Series where he had to play replacement actors, such as in CHiPs, Dukes of Hazzard, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Jeff Daniel's part in Fifth of July. 1983 saw Jon-Erik selected as one of the Ten Most Watchable Men in the World by Man Watchers Inc.  Others on the list included Richard Gere and David Hasselhoff.

                                               

The movie, The Making of a Male Model (1983) in which he played Tyler Burnett and starred with Joan Collins, was a big break for him, saying "it helped a lot but it hurt a lot too...it was exploitative." He had modelled in the past, but that was just for 8 months.  Jon-Erik was smart, talented and gorgeous and once said, "if I couldn't follow the sex-symbol image with good quality work, then the image might be uncomfortable for me.  But I think I can offer good, quality work." Joan Collins also wanted him to star in Dynasty, but he turned the part down.

1984 saw him earn the bitter sweet role which would have propelled him to stardom.  The role of Mac Harper in TV series Cover Up. In this, he played an undercover CIA agent, whilst undercover as a male model.  He described this as a little "Indiana Jones, James Bond, Mr Magoo and Superman." This show Jon -Erik called, "wildly commercial...I think it will be very successful."  He thought TV was about "being commercial - but try and make a good show at the same time."

On October 12 1984, whilst on the set of Cover Up, which involved an extremely heavy workload, Jon-Erik was exhausted and awoke from sleeping, only to be told filming was to be delayed.  He picked up a gun, unaware it was loaded with blanks and discharged it to his temple.  After being in a coma for a week, Jon-Erik was pronounced brain dead on 18 October 1984.  His organs were harvested for organ donation and as a result of this tragedy, he saved the lives of 6 other people, one of them a little boy; through them, he still lives on.

The creator of Voyagers! James Parriot was so moved by the generous donation of his organs so he wrote this story for the film, Heart Condition, which was loosely based on this.

Season 1.7 Writer's Block of Cover Up included a brief tribute to him written by Glen A Larson, with Richard Anderson reading the following:
"when a star dies, it's light 
continues to shine across
the universe for millenniums... 

John Eric Hexum died in October of this year [1984]
but the lives he touched 
will continue to be brightened 
by his light...forever...
and ever..."

John-Eric Hexum
1957-1984

(Apparently his name was spelled as John-Eric on screen, but is credited as Jon-Erik on websites where this quote also appears. )


His mother, Gretha and Gunnar filed a lawsuit against Fox Studios for wrongful death and this was settled.  It was a tragedy that never should have happened and due to this more stringent prop gun laws were introduced on film/TV sets to ensure this would never happen again.  Clearly someone on the set messed up, since such weapons should never have been left lying around.

A year later in response to all the wonderful letters of support from all around the world, Gretha received from fans and admirers of Jon-Erik, his mother responded to this selfless outpouring of love by writing a letter, part of it read: "To you who shared with me the loss of Jon-Erik.  There is a quiet place along the shore with distant mountains, brisk breezes and here for a time shattered pieces slowly come together.  I've gone to this quiet place before sunrise and everyday since my son's death." Jon-Erik's ashes were flown over Malibu along the shore he lived."

Jon-Erik was likened to James Dean, both so young when they passed: James Dean - 24, Jon-Erik - 26.  But he will live on in his work, as well as in the hearts and minds of those who loved and admired him.  Jon-Erik's film, The Bear was re-released with many of his deleted scenes restored. On James Dean, Jon-Erik himself said, "Jimmy was the best actor on the screen for these few brief years. I would like to be half as good as he was some day."

His wanted to star in Gone With The Wind, but he also wanted to get married and have children and "live happily ever after."
His ultimate fantasy was to play a tragic hero.  "It's a bit self-indulgent and sympathetic but interesting.  In my private life, my fantasy is to get married and have kids."  He wanted to star in films about "real people...I'd like to be a tragic hero - a Rocky - he's a hero but he's realistic and approachable and you can empathize with him."  Jon-Erik was our tragic hero.

Jon-Erik was mentioned in a brief article in People Magazine Tribute Book December 2007, together with other people who tragically died young, including Princess Diana.

More than just a pretty face, with beautiful ice blue eyes.  Jon-Erik was kind, generous, funny and always had time for everyone.  At least a new generation can get to see him in his few films, and show Voyagers! To get to know and see just how talented an actor Jon-Erik was.  He was going places and his star will always shine brightly.

To dreams to many
to distance be
You graced our screens - a presence 
so quietly crept
into our lives, into our hearts
you gave your all, your talent, your love
Your heroic pleasure
And when you left this world
so lonely, snatched by cruel fate
To know you're watching from Heaven
Your gentle touch (presence) here on earth will always echoed be.
Dear heart, dear soul
To us you will always remembered be.
                                                          MH

(Written 2011 In Loving Memory...)