REVIEW - How I Met Your Mother S08E09

This week’s episode the “Lobster Crawl” shows more progress in the final story line. Probably the best news of the episode is Robin begins laughing like a love sick teenage girl once again and Lilly knows exactly what Robin is thinking when she looks at Barney. She wants him, mostly based on the fact that she can’t have him and so Robin desperately attempts to hook up with Barney one last time. Robin spends most of the episode trying to seduce Barney by using several techniques such as dressing up as Lara Croft (Tomb Raider), trying to make out with other women and playing a damsel in distress. None of them working out the way she pictures.

Barney on the other hand, is busy starting a business of selling bibs for men called a “BroBib,” that has stylish designs and a tie of course. Since his break up with Quinn, Barney has felt a little lost. He eventually becomes drawn to Patrice (the one person who drives Robin crazy) due to her nurturing side and her love heart shaped cookies.

As for Ted, he offers to babysit Marvin and selfishly takes him out, trying to give Marvin some of his “first” experiences in life. He also had the luck to be the first to witness Marvin crawl and this upsets Lilly. In the end, Marshall and Lilly come to the conclusion that Ted is using Marvin to fill a void (with his architectural work & the lack of a girlfriend).

It looks like the favourite couple Barney and Robin will be back together soon and for Ted’s sake let’s hope a new girlfriend is on the horizon. Then the storyline can move finally forward and hopefully answer the big the question: Who is the mother of Ted’s Kids?

Review by Jessica Tisdell

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REVIEW - 90210 S05E08

Every time 90210 finds a new way to pull in their audience and there was no except for the 100^th episode of the drama series.

This week’s episode had the gang forced to return to West Beverly High, as Naomi is on a mission to win the opening spot on a prestige club for West Beverley women and she will do almost anything to get her way, while impressing the alumna Gwen (Denise Richards). Old enemies also return as a new twist in the story such as Jasper the creepy guy who was a little obsessed with Annie back in Season 2 and lit Liam’s boat on fire, resulting in Liam beating Jasper nearly to death. There is also a pleasant guest return of Annie’s cousin Emily whose life has turned quite good which leaves Annie feeling hopeless over her lack of success or accomplishments over the past two years since graduating. Navid is also back after to fix his wrong doings with Liam and Teddy is flown in town to join the festivities.

The guys and girls swap roles and clothes as a Beverly Hills tradition. Naomi and the rest of girls play a game of soccer which ends with Naomi’s latest enemy, being taken away in an ambulance. Due to this “accident,” Naomi gains the role to hold the banquet which turns out pretty awesome. The alumni event includes Taio Cruz as himself singing at the Playboy Mansion and (how ironic) the burlesque group Silver was dancing for not too long ago. While finishing off the event with a sexy lingerie fashion show that features Naomi herself, as she presents the new improved version of herself and tries show ex-classmates that she is the evil Queen Bee stomping down the halls of West Beverly High like she once was.

This episode also follows up with the disappearance of Vanessa (Liam’s crazy Ex/Manager) as Liam gets a phone from a random that plays the emergency recording of Liam calling 911 and asking for help but later decides not to tell. Annie tries to help him uncover who is stalking him and they confront Jasper who seemed to still hold a grudge against Liam for the old days. Only to find out that Jasper has turned into a film student who only wanted Liam to read over his script.

Teddy tells Silver he has broken up with his boyfriend, who arrives on Silver’s doorstep with a different version. She discovers that her best friend is scared of commitment and so she joins the burlesque group on stage to show that anyone can over their fears. On another bad note, Dixon finally finds out that Adrianna cheated on (which is super awkward because she just signed to be first artist under his record label) and Dixon calls quits on their relationship.

As this was the 100^th episode, it was definitely one of the best episodes in this season. It’s fun, dramatic and it has a few twists at the end to keep you hooked ready for next week.

Review by Jessica Tisdell

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Game of Thrones Season 3 Sneak Peek!

Season 3 of Game of Thrones is fast approaching, and just to tease us HBO has released their first official "In Production" video for the new season. And what do we know to expect from season 3? Well new characters for a start! Fans of the book will recognise names such as Beric Dondarrion, leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners that was briefly mentioned last season; the Reed siblings; and Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall.

But for those of you who are only watching the show, this season promises to be very exciting with the writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss revealing that this season was the one they had been "anticipating from the very beginning". With such high hopes being placed on this season by the writers, we expect it'll be one to remember.

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REVIEW - American Horror Story S2E07

A Dark Angel has arrived within the walls of Briarcliff. Sister Eunice is not impressed.

A favourite from season one, Frances Conroy arrives in the Asylum and her character is fascinating and beautiful to watch, she is here to claim a key player and to tempt some of the others ‘to the light’. Sister Eunice is intrigued and threatened by this new dark force.

Following on from the last episode, Grace and Kit are sentenced to a barbaric sterilisation for being caught in a compromising tryst which simply will not do at Briarcliff. With Thredsons taped confession and his remorse shown to Sister Jude before she left, Kit is spared the castration and turned over to the cops for interviewing. Grace is not so lucky. She is put under the surgeon’s knife, but the knife this time does not belong to Dr Arden.

Meanwhile Sister Jude goes to Mr. Goodman the Nazi hunter with a fingerprint on a brandy glass so that she can prove the Dr’s Auschwitz past. When she arrives she soon finds that someone beat her to him and has stabbed him in the throat. With his last breaths he tells her that ‘a nun, one of yours’ was responsible. No-one can blame Sister Jude for what she does next, which is to crumple into a messy heap and swig a bottle of whisky dry. She is in a real mess. Chatting to the angel of death in a booth in a roadside café is probably rock bottom for anyone.

Lana is still the unluckiest woman alive (and at times she wishes she wasn’t). A momentary chance of escape pays off for her and a last ditch attempt at freedom is rewarded. But is it out of the frying pan and into the fire?

Kits love for Grace knows no bounds and once he knows she is still going under the knife he risks his life to bust out of the police station, face the ‘creatures’ and return to the asylum to break her out and go on the run together. In true Asylum style the last 60 seconds are full of suspense and not the ending you expect at all.

Dark Cousin gives a brief rest from terror, blood and gore and the slick production of this episode and the introduction of the graceful yet macabre angel of death keep this series fresh and just as intriguing as the first episode.

Review by JoAnn Duff

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REVIEW - The Walking Dead S3E08

After the big build up, we arrive at the mid-season finale. And to say all the stops have been pulled out would be to put it mildly as this is one of the most densely plotted and action packed episodes of the series so far.

The duty of writing the episode goes to comic book and series creator Robert Kirkman and he has delivered an episode that makes the prospect of having to wait two months for the next fix an agonising one.

There is so much to process; it is an episode that is worthy of an immediate repeat viewing to ensure everything is taken in. Rick, Daryl, Oscar and Michonne launch their rescue mission for Glenn and Maggie although Michonne quickly reveals an ulterior motive for returning to Woodbury. Andrea’s loyalty to The Governor is put to the test and a battle erupts in the streets between both opposing sets of forces. Meanwhile, back at the prison, a new threat arrives on the doorstep, Carl is forced to take responsibility to protect the facility and another fan favourite character from the comics makes their entrance.

That summary barely does justice to all that is going on as this mid-season finale truly delivers on what has been a season of high quality so far with an episode of amazing scope and spectacle.

Robert Kirkman’s script is excellent, especially when considering the fact he has a lot of plot to cover within the episode’s running time and ensure that this half season goes out with a bang. It is a script that starts to peel away the layers of certain characters and leaves a lot of intriguing questions to be asked when the season continues. Credit here must also go to the cast, particularly David Morrissey as The Governor and Danai Gurira as Michonne. It is these characters, as well as Rick, that makes the strongest impression and leaves the most room for interesting development. Amongst the carnage, Kirkman also manages to deliver one of the funniest moments of the series in an exchange at the prison between Axel and Carol.

As always, the production design and special effects are of the highest order. It is praise that has been often repeated during the course of the season but I feel it is worth mentioning again here for one stand out scene in particular.

The second season of the show was roundly criticised for its meandering pace and lack of action. This is something that in no way can be leveled at season three, which has justified the faith of fans and is rewarding those who stuck with the show while others deserted during season two.

The episode finishes on a tantalising cliffhanger that means the early February return cannot come soon enough.

Review by Jonathan Gray

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REVIEW - Glee S4E01-08

It’s a fresh new year for the students of McKinley High, while the rest start their new lives abroad. Season 4 has the same take on high school life but with a few new comers to the stage such as Marley Rose (Melissa Benoist) and Puck’s half-brother Jake (Jacob Artist). Rachel begins school at NYADA where she meets junior Brody Weston (Dean Geyer) and attends dance classes with tough dance instructor Cassandra (Kate Hudson). Everyone struggles to adjust to the changes, some more than others. The writers this year have really emphasized on identity more than ever and cover topical issues such as dyslexia, bulimia, infidelity and gender.

‘Unique’ aka Wade and Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet) were promoted to main roles on Glee, while Mr.Schue has moved to Washington to fight for the Arts and Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) returns to hating the Glee club.

In Episode 8, Finn continues to guide the ‘New Directions’ as sectionals approaches quickly and fellow glee members (Quinn, Puck, Santana, Mercedes and Mike Chang) return home for thanksgiving. Finn calls in favour for the graduated glee members to help mentor the new comers.

Quinn brags about her new life at Yale, as she has started dating a professor and was invited to join a secret women’s society at the college. She takes Kitty (Becca Tobin) under her wing, only to find out that Kitty and many others still idolise her. “Every day I ask myself what would Quinn Fabray do?” Kitty says.

Back in New York City, Rachel and Kurt are contemplating whether to come home for the holidays but decide to stay and start a new tradition. While Rachel is still upset about Brody’s sexual encounter with her arch enemy Cassandra, Kurt also can’t seem to let go of Blaine (Darren Criss) even after all that has happened. Brody suggests he cooks dinner for them and Kurt invites his boss Isabelle Wright (Sarah Jessica Parker) which turns into a party.

Marley, the new star for ‘One Directions’ is still conscious about her body and continues on her ‘weight loss plan’ that Kitty (the new head Cheerleader) has referred her to. Jake proves to be a good friend, as he allows Ryder take the dance number with Brittany. As anxiety takes over, Marley panics she will let the team down and Ryder decides that Jake should do what’s best for them all, dance.

This episode has performances of songs like ‘Gangnum Style,’ Flo Rida’s ‘Whistle,’ One Direction’s ‘Live While We’re Young,’ and a mash up of Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Homeward Bound’ and ‘Home’ (Phillip Phillips).

Watch next week for the second part of this two part-sectionals episode!

Review by Jessica Tisdell

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REVIEW - Elementary S1E08

After a mini season break, Sherlock Holmes is back but far from firing on all cylinders. It is unfortunate that just has the series was building up some momentum, concerning the revelations about Sherlock’s past, we’ve had a two-week gap to endure between episodes. And unfortunately, this episode is unable to pick up where the previous episodes left off. It also decides against picking up any of those loose threads that have been left hanging but instead adds one or two new ones of its own.

The latest mystery to land at Holmes’ doorstep sees him called in to investigate the bombing of a web design company, which has caused the deaths of two employees. The case also takes in a PR firm with a dubious history, a group of animal rights activists and a missing company man. All the while, Watson is beginning to plan for the end of her companionship with Sherlock by finding a suitable sponsor who can see him through the rest of his rehabilitation.

The mystery at the heart of the episode struggles to truly captivate and offers nothing new to the series. However, the one really interesting component is getting the chance to see Sherlock use some of the skills and techniques that we have seem him practice and hone during the course of previous episodes. This is where the episode is at its strongest as although the mystery is none too taxing it is fun to see Sherlock deploying a variety of methods to crack it.

Meanwhile, Watson’s search for a sponsor is a rather unnecessary and slightly disappointing subplot. Just as it appeared that the relationship between Sherlock and Joan was starting to open up following on from the “Irene” revelation, everything seems to be have swept under the carpet. This is a little frustrating as it makes the writers appear to going around in circles, especially as there is still a long way to go in the season and I assume there will be some way of keeping Sherlock and Watson together. We are also introduced to the character of Alfredo, who Sherlock picks out as a potential sponsor, but whether he is a character with any genuine mileage is up for debate.

Former House star Lisa Edelstein makes a guest appearance and does her best to liven up her role but it is severely underwritten and feels like a waste of her talents. Jonny Lee Miller is the undoubted star as his Sherlock carries the episode in a whirlwind of energy and high-powered reasoning. Hopefully future episodes will return Watson to a more prominent position after being sidelined this week.

So, this is steady stuff but with a lingering feeling of “must do better”.

Review by Jonathan Gray

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