A Few Words on DVRed Shows (Spoiler Alert)

DVRed... Something new for Oprah and Bono to promote, or just a way of watching tv when you, unfortunately, have too much of a life to stay home and watch (or else you watch 3 shows in one hour). Yes, I digress...

This week has offered a few show surprises as far as writing direction, most of which I have liked.
I'm pretty sure, the way things are going, that I will have something to say about Battlestar. I just haven't watched it yet. So without further ado:

Desperate Housewives was good this week. Despite running Mike over and appearing to be a cold blooded killer, my husband and I both found ourselves really liking Orson. And after the last few years for Bree, she needed someone that was as perfect for her as he appeared to be. I have to say that Orson's mom, better known as Designing Woman Dixie Carter, was stand out as a villain. As the revelations came, you found yourself realizing you had suspicioned that she was this evil, but the writers set up Orson as a fall guy so well that you kept thinking back to him. We just kept hoping he was innocent. It was a sigh of relief moment for him to walk into his home, all beat up and battle scarred for his happily ever after [although I was slightly afraid that one more nightmare was waiting just around the corner - This is Desperate Housewives after all].

Ziva fell in love with a dying man. I became somewhat emotionally involved in this one. I kept hoping he would get better, you know, be a trooper. If I watch next week and he's alive, I will have yet another reason to enjoy watching this show. Gibbs and Abby, Gerald from Season One, the team member that was killed by the guy who created all of the best dramatic moments for the show... Yes, I am still rooting for that dying man, although I don't have much hope.

Sheriff Lamb died! I know he was not my favourite character, but I didn't realize how much I liked him on Veronica Mars until he died. I mean, his last moment was an adequately doofus moment when he shoots the mirror because his reflection startled him. I mean, Keith should have always been the sheriff (although I like Keith better in street clothes versus the sheriff's uniform - dowdy), but Lamb was such a great instigator. I wonder how being sheriff again will hamper Keith now. RIP Lamb. I didn't think you would go out like that. See you in that big tv box in the sky.

I am beginning to see more clearly why people don't like LOST. It's because it isn't logical. Well, that's what I said to my husband and while technically, I'm right, his "correction" gave a better explanation. He said that people are beginning to grow weary of LOST because they have no frame of reference whatsoever when it comes to the LOST world. They don't know where they are, when they are (she says, pushing glasses further up her nose), or even if they are - so trying to figure out the logicality based on this world only adds confusing to an already bloated storyline. I like it, but I would love it if they explained something. LOST is not an instant gratification story - unlike Heroes, which gives you some answers while asking more, different, questions. LOST is all questions, and you watch as more and more questions get piled on. What happened to Desmond? Why does the universe want Charlie dead? Why is Daniel Mead's dad turning his nose up at Desmond? Did Penny figure out where the pulse came from? Is Alex Rousseau's child or Ben's? What in the hell happened to Rousseau? What kind of work do the Others do? That guy Danny deserved to be killed. It'd be nice to have whiskey that cost more, in an ounce, than I make in a year. When does Men in Trees come back on? Who thinks Knights of Prosperity is funny? What lazy bastard wrote Michael's dialogue? (Walt! Where is my son! Give me back my son! Walt!) That Hurley guy is funny. He should have more scenes. More things should blow up. And on and on it goes. For us instant gratification people, LOST is not the show, but for people who like seeing the mysteries piled on, keep watching. I know it's going to get good.

Well, I've enjoyed taking you through my mind as I watched a few of my must watch shows. Fare thee well 'til I write again.

Smallville

By hook and crook, I am finally caught up with all seasons of Smallville. It was not as cumbersome as I thought it would be. Yes, there was certainly much drama in the LBC, but on the whole, the myth of Superman was a great story to delve into. Of course, Superman mythology has to have certain things (things I don't really know about because I'm not a comic book reader) happen. I loved the way Clark developed and discovered his powers, but my favourite episode was the Justice League episode. It was so much fun seeing AquaMan, Cyborg, The Flash, and the Green Arrow and Clark working together. I love the way Lex Luther has become evil. I mean, when I started season one a month ago, I was almost sympathetic to Lex - but it all explains his singlemindedness about Superman and how he can find out so much about him. To me, Superman Returns was enhanced by what was done in Smallville. Which makes me wonder why other writers don't do young superhero shows. Royalty and Rights aside, I would love to see the mythology of Wonder Woman or Catwoman or Batman - it would be great to see someone delve into the things that are only hinted at by the movies and the comics and the cartoons. Speaking of cartoon, every time I saw young AquaMan, I was reminded of the Justice League episode where he lost his hand trying to save his baby son. Enjoy your youth while you can Arthur Curry! While I don't think Smallville is the best written show on right now, I do think there is something to be said for a show that consistently made growing up in a small Kansas town interesting. That some of the best scenes happened in a barn is outstanding. Meteor Freaks aside, some very good dramatic moments were had by some very beautiful people. I read once that people were upset that the show included Lois Lane, but I truly liked her inclusion. Erica Durance did an excellent job of playing her, so excellent, in fact, that - despite all of the crazy things that have happened to her - she is the type of person that, with distance, could easily forget Clark. It may be a surprise, but there are people I have had good relationships with in the past whose names or faces I cannot remember (depending on which is brought up to me). My favourite is Allison Mack. Chloe is great, a great sense of humour, a great deal of weight on her shoulders, the unrequited love thing... except for the brilliance, I can totally relate. She was an easy character to root for and to pity. As I am watching season 6, I am hoping they get to do another season. Yet, if the series ends with this season, I cannot imagine how they will bring all the threads together with the ending being open to all of the Supermans that "comes after" it. Smallville has been a fun ride and I'm glad I got to see it in a month rather than 6 years.