The Mindy Project: Halloween

I am a huge fan of Mindy Kaling.  I loved her original blog, and her book is an awesome read.  When her show was picked up by Fox, I was really happy for her.  I was also impressed with her marketing campaign.  The picture above is from Walnut Street in Center City Philadelphia.  They were giving out free manicures, pedicures, and hair styling.  I thought it was genius for her show that is a romantic comedy once a week.

I thought Tuesday's Halloween episode was good.  I totally relate to the trials and tribulations of dating and possibly ending up a cat lady.  I also enjoyed the reference to Charlie Brown, which is a Halloween classic.  If she could have fit in a Hocus Pocus reference I would have been in heaven.  A separate story line for Danny and Jeremy was good for the characters.  I really hope her show makes it to a second season because I think she'll hit her stride with writing and the characters much like Happy Endings hit its stride in the second season. 

Well Happy Halloween Everyone!!!!  I will be eating Halloween Oreos and watching tv.

The Walking Dead: Walk With Me

Some of my readers expressed disappointment for not posting about The Walking Dead last week, so I am back this week.

Last week's episode had some shocking moments, both Hershel almost becoming a walker, and Rick killing the leader of the inmates with a machete.  In my humble TV Lass opinion that was the best human kill of the series.

In last night's episode, the survivors of the zombie apocalypse find themselves safe through imprisonment.  Woodbury and the Governor are another example of this theme.  Survivors are giving up their weapons and believing everything the Governor says and does when he is a true villain.  The Walking Dead now has the zombies to fear and the Governor.  The scene at the end with the heads was truly scary.  The Governor has power and will do anything to keep it.

It is a little hard to believe that he got the jump on the whole group of Army survivors, but this is fiction, and I'll believe it for the story.  The return of an improved Merle was what the show needed, but I could never see him as a crony of anyone. I am surprised he is going along with the Governor so much.  I know Merle would look down on Darryl for following Rick, so what does that say about Merle following the Governor?  I cannot wait to see what the scientist has to reveal about his experiments.  Anyone else find the tea suspicious?

Well I am looking forward to getting back to the prison next week.  The Walking Dead has two different universes, and they are going to meet soon.  I hope they do not spend the whole season apart, that will just drag out the series and make it uninteresting.

The Office: Here Comes Treble

This season of the Office has been really good.  I think the biggest factor for the improvement of the Office is bringing back the creepiness of Creed.  We always need a little creepy Creed in our lives.  I also think the writers are trying to get in all of their story ideas they've had since the beginning. 

I really like that they are showing the give and take in a marriage, and that even thought Jim and Pam are One True Pair; it still isn't easy.  Jim needs this sports marketing venture to work.  His life would be too sad if he just ended up a paper salesman for the rest of his life.  Speaking of sadness, Toby might get some happiness in his life with a crazy Brit. 

They have also made Dwight more human and kept him just as crazy.  It is what they needed because Dwight cannot just be crazy.  There needs to be humanity in him to make it work on the show.  Involving Oscar in Angela's marriage was a good pay off for all of the accusations by Oscar of Angela's Senator husband.

I would say last week's ep was better, it made me want pie and miss Pushing Daisies.  On that note, I am going to try to watch Mockingbird Lane.  Pushing Daisies writer Bryan Fuller has contributed to this show, and I like supporting good writing.  I hope Mockingbird Lane is in the same vein as Pushing Daisies.  Even though I am younger than a lot of people who were exposed to The Munsters a lot, I still got my fill of The Munsters when I was a kid.  So I am hoping this throwback works or at least invokes nostalgia.  I am traveling so I don't know if I can blog, but I'll definitely comment on it next week.

Nashville: Someday You'll Call My Name

My love for Connie Britton knows no bounds, except for shows that may be scary and cause me to lose sleep.  Sorry, American Horror Story, I will get there.  Of course, I started watching Nashville with the pilot.  I think this show is a good example of layered storytelling.  The third episode airs tonight, and it is continuing to reveal background story that couldn't be surmised from previous plot points.

I am enjoying the story of Rayna James, and the choices she made to get where she is today and how the world has change around her.  Also the characters are enjoyable, hats off to Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere, and Charles Esten for bringing these characters to life.  I am also getting a very All About Eve throw back from the show.  But I don't think it is as patronizing as it can come off in other instances.

I also have to give a shout out to Jonathan Jackson (General Hospital and Camp Nowhere).  Ten year old TV Lass is really happy you made it to prime time (outside of the Sarah Connor Chronicles) and that you didn't give up on your dream.  Too bad you are playing a dick that has his girlfriend stifling herself so that you can shine, and that gross facial hair that can't be called a beard.  You are definitely suffering for your art.  Even though Avery comes around at the end of the episode, it is still creepy and appears to have ulterior motives.

Next week's episode looks like it'll be good, and Juliette will have to fully address her mother.  While Rayna tries to figure out her financial, tour, and love situation.
 

Sons of Anarchy: Toad's Wild Ride

After seeing I haven't written about Breaking Bad, I knew Sons of Anarchy was lacking from my blog as well.  When this show first came out, I was the biggest fan of the show.  I would talk to anyone who would listen about it. Trust me, I am not the normal demographic for the show. I loved the show because I love sub-culture, I find the hierarchy and customs fascinating.  Another thing I loved was the retelling of Hamlet in a modern day motorcycle club (MC).  I enjoyed seeing the reinterpretation of one of my favorite plays. 

I would say last season was slow, but I feel that Kurt Sutter was building the background to take the story where it needed to go.  This season has been exciting, Opie's death was heart breaking.  (I wonder if Ryan Hurst got to cut his hair?)  Jax has also significantly changed this season, he has more purpose than before.  Gemma is even more off the rails.  I loved the random Joel McHale appearance.

I have a feeling Joel McHale really enjoyed this short character run.   Clay on the other hand, I hope Ron Perelman enjoys playing such a mastermind villain.  I thought Unser was going to die at the hands of Clay.  I should have known better than that. Jax knows better though. 

Meanwhile, at the club house, Tara shows up with the boys ready to go up to a cabin for a respite.  I loved the juxtaposition of the swing set in front of a clubhouse.  You could tell something was going to happen to the boys especially after what Gemma has been doing to herself.

The writers are really going for blood this season, and it is driving the plot.  I cannot wait to see next week's episode and the fall out from it.

Breaking Bad Parody

I just realized I have never posted about Breaking Bad.  I am obviously a huge fan, of course I wouldn't be able to call myself the TV Lass if I didn't watch. 

I saw this parody, and I had to pass it along.

Homeland: New Car Smell

I chose to write about Homeland tonight because I think it is one of the best shows on TV.  It is a character driven show with an aggressive plot line.  When I watched the first season I was ravenous to get through it to see what was going to happen.  The second season does not have the same urgency, but it is just as interesting.

Many critics have been pointing out the holes in the plot, but I think the viewers can overlook the slight inconsistencies because of the characters.  Carrie and Brody ultimately are significantly broken people trying to navigate complicated lives.  I think people identify with the brokenness and we like the backdrop of the CIA and terrorism to see flawed people become heroes/heroines.

In this episode, Carrie is reinstated in a limited capacity working for the CIA.  Brody is trying to clean up his family life and his car from the murder he committed last week.  Yet, no matter how hard they try, their worlds implode.  After Carrie sees Brody she can't emotionally handle her situation, and she is goaded on by Peter Quinn. Brody after being told to continue the relationship manages to continue to play mind games with Carrie. Unfortunately, this was her undoing.  After she met for drinks with Brody, she couldn't help herself especially after her therapy was mentioned.  She needed to bring him down, and she blows the cover of the whole operation.

It is very Shakespearean that the drunk Marine or joker sees/speaks the truth about the assassination attempt by Walker and his subsequent murder.  It will be interesting to see how the writers play that out. 

I cannot wait to see how the series handles the interrogation.  I wonder if it'll spark any criticism or if it will highlight that the government has deprived people the right of due process in the name of the war on terrorism.  As long as it generates dialogue of any kind, that's the best thing any show can hope for.

P.S. Only prep school kids would make cute nick names out of history, Dana as Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson's slave and possible mother of two of his children, and Finn as Thomas Jefferson.

The Walking Dead: Seed

Needless to say Sunday nights mean DVR overload for me.  Once Upon a Time, Revenge, Walking Dead, and Homeland.  I have been working to keep my DVR lean as well, so I can continue to watch all the shows I love and write about whatever strikes my fancy.

I think it also goes without saying the Walking Dead had a lackluster last season.  There were some high points, specifically 18 Miles Out was an episode that was emotional and thought provoking.  But the farm became so boring, and they needed to leave, and a herd of zombies along with the death of Shane finally moved the story forward. 

As the episode opens, we find the survivors of the farm foraging a house looking for a place to rest.  But they are cast out again by a herd of zombies. (I think the herds of zombies should be called a murder like a murder of crows. Since the show already used the term herd, I will use their terms.)

Rick and Daryl find the prison while hunting, and immediately they hatch a plan to take it.  There is irony in the fact that they find freedom and space in a prison.  Granted this was in the comics, but if I was in the writers room, I would have had a field day writing this theme into the episode and the season.

Michonne and Andrea finally make their appearance.  Andrea is really sick, and Michonne is taking care of her.  They have survived the winter, which I need to mention I guess the cold didn't slow the zombies down.

Lori, who is now significantly pregnant, confides in Hershel  her fears for her pregnancy.  I had thought about some of the consequences she expressed, and I don't think they could do any of them on tv.  But we will see if she manages to have the baby. It may be the high point of the season, and what it means to be human in their post-zombie epidemic world.

As the men try to take more of the prison, Hershel is significantly injured and ends up losing his lower leg and foot.  To see Rick hacking away at his leg is crazy but also necessary.  Even more startling are the prisoners that appear, and they are just as freaked out to see other survivors.  The introduction of new characters will be good for the show. But I can't see myself liking anyone who was formerly a prisoner.

Well next week looks good, and I am interested to see if the absence of Shane is ever felt. I just can't want for Merle to come back, he looks new and improved without his hand; and I cannot wait to see it.

Gossip Girl: Gone Maybe Gone

I decided to write about Gossip Girl tonight because I haven't watched the show religiously.  I am coming back to it after half watching the past few seasons.  Since it is the final season, I decided I needed to return. 

In all honesty, I didn't watch the first season of Gossip Girl, I thought I was above it.  And then I had an extremely bad day where I didn't get a job I wanted, in a city I was dying to move to.  So I bought the first season on DVD, picked up a pie (yes, a pie....blueberry), and a can of whipped cream; and I had a pity party.  Well Gossip Girl distracted me from the disappointment, and everything was ok in my life for awhile.  I feel like may be bringing Gossip Girl back into my life will bring me luck as I am figuring out my next steps after finishing my masters.

They opened the season with a search for Serena, which harkens back to her return in the first season.  I truly love the writing and the witty quips of this show, especially Blair Waldorf's "Country Strong" reference (yes, I am watching Nashville on Wednesday.  I have to support Connie Britton, Texas Forever!!!). 

I absolutely love that all of the characters spent the summer abroad.  Oh, how I wish I had their lives. I think the best formula for this shower is Chuck and Blair together, Dan and Serena together, and Nate just looking cute.  Even though Nate and Serena together was hot.  I love all the drama with Rufus being manipulated by Ivy.  The show also works best when nefarious characters are manipulating the ones we love.  How is Nate going to be further manipulated by Gossip Girl?  Or Sage from the previews, she's going to be 17?  Also, I love the name choice, Sage means to predict the future.  So what role will she play in the Gossip Girl world or Nate's paper? 

My preference for Blair and Serena for when they are best friends.  It makes the characters more relatable. I have high hopes for this season because the tension the writers are building between characters will make this season suspenseful, interesting, and hopefully worth watching.