Showing posts with label Article. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Article. Show all posts
With James Bond's latest adventure heading to the big screen next with SPECTRE, I decided to dust off an old favourite feature of mine for my next piece on the blog. I will skip over the formality of mentioning how long it has been since the last post. Suffice it to say: I'm terrible! (We all know it, but you love me for it.)
This will be a short edition of The Big Bong Book Club. I finished this novel awhile ago and I watched the movie shortly after then, but I'm currently writing the piece now. For those of you unfamiliar with this feature, I read the 007 books in chronological order (those who have a movie counterpart) and then I watch the film shortly afterwards to do a comparison between the two. You can check out the previous features on this blog (Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds are Forever, and From Russia with Love).
For this edition of the book club, I will be taking a look at James Bond's first adventure, according to the movie franchise: Dr. No.
The Story (novel): After recovering from poisoning, James Bond is set on a simple assignment to Jamaica to learn about the disappearance of an MI6 agent.
The Story (movie): James Bond is sent to Jamaica to investigate a British Intelligence Station Chief's disappearance.
THE COMPARISON
Since Dr. No is the "first" James Bond movie adventure we're introduced to as viewers, a few details are changed to accommodate this new timeline. References to past characters and actions from the book series are omitted and the history of certain characters with 007 are changed to be new introductions instead. It's nothing major that alters the main theme of the story (Dr. No is still menacing and he is a member of SPECTRE), but it is a noticeable difference after reading the first few books and connecting these characters to past scenes in the previous novels.
My Favourite: The Movie! (...barely)
Similar to my conclusion from Diamonds are Forever, I wasn't particularly fond of either pieces. Be it that Dr. No was the first film from the '60s and the series was still finding its way OR the book coming off as James Bond's "relaxed" adventure, Dr. No didn't captivate me as a story. The certain aspect which could have pulled the movie ahead compared to the book is potentially the iconic scenes from the movie. Honey Rider rising from the sea, James Bond driving his car for the first time, Dr. No wearing the suit - there are many moments any 007 would love to see on film. These are all small cosmetic points, but they did help lean toward my ultimate decision.
Final scores:
Dr. No (the book) - 3/10
Dr. No (the movie) - 4/10
NEXT: The next blog piece will be tackling the (arguably) best James Bond story. I'm not going to confirm if it is my favourite, but many fans love this story compared to the others. If you're craving gold then be on the lookout for the next post: Goldfinger!
A good multiplayer video game can be so hard to find. Sometimes it's simply tacked on to a primarily solo story game with little care or it holds a multitude technical problems that prevent the experience from growing. I've played plenty of multiplayer video games through my console and PC gaming history. But when I find a really great game with an amazing multiplayer experience, I always come back for more. And the video game I will be reviewing today is definitely on of those games. On this video game review article, I'll be reviewing the first-person shooter multiplayer video game: Evolve.
The Story: Set on the distant planet of Shear, dangerous monsters have attacked the human settlements and nearly wiped out the population. No creatures are more so dangerous than the titans. They are the most powerful on the planet and they prove to be evolving at a rapid rate.
Players can take on the role of either a Hunter or a Monster. Hunters are from a crack team of military exterminators, specializing in roles like Media, Trapper, Support and Assault. There are plenty of different characters to choose from while Monsters, the sole competing enemy, is one of three different types of titans.
Where To Play: Evolve is available to play on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
The Good: Evolve sets its sights on delivering a good multiplayer experience, and it does it pretty well. The concept is simple: you're either the Monster plotting to defeat the Hunters or vice versa. Evolve features a collection of unique characters and roles to choose from for each match. Instead of the stale monotony of playing the same five characters over and over again, each role has at least three different characters with unique weapons, powers and features to help take down the competing side. Plus, each role and character is styled differently, such as one female Trapper has a pet animal who tracks the Monster down while another Trapper is basically a cowboy. Variety is a big strength for Evolve.
The environments in Evolve are also a big takeaway. Each location is visually beautifully and offers something different for the players competing in that specific location. Also, each location contains their own set of mini-monsters and obstacles that could kill a Hunter. You wouldn't believe how many times I did from being eaten by a plant!
The Bad: With any multiplayer-based game, there are always some technical problems and glitches around that could be fixed. Evolve has its few issues where I've noticed that it impacted my online experience. Sometimes a game would lag or crash and I would need to restart a match. I've had my character miss several important hits because of a technical snafu where my character turned around or attacked on its own. The issue wasn't because of my internet connection as I was able to reconnect in the next match. Those small little things just added up as the game went out.
Another point which I want to bring up, which could be viewed as good or bad, is that Evolve is a hard game. Whether you're a Hunter or a Monster, winning a match isn't easy. Depending on which Monster or which Hunters you're facing, it could become really difficult to win the game. I groan whenever I notice I'm facing against a Wraith or a certain Medic/Trapper character. It takes a lot of determination, evolving, team coordination (an absolute must!) and evolving to win.
The Results: 9/10!
I really liked Evolve. Evolve offered a change of pace for a multiplayer game and didn't over-complicate the experience with complex mechanics. The environments were beautifully created and each character was designed differently, albeit sometimes on the stereotypical or cliche side. The video game does have its fair share of tiny technical glitches that could ruin a good online match. However, these barely occur few and very far between. Evolve is a perfect game for gamers who love a first-person shooter or enjoy playing against other gamers online.
Quick entertainment news of the day. The future Dark Knight will be back to walk the streets of Gotham City on your television screen for another year! Revealed today at the Television Critics Association (and reported by TV Line), Fox has given early renewals to three of their TV shows. Two freshman dramas, Batman comic book origin story Gotham and hip-hop drama Empire, have both been renewed for a second season while sophomore comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine will return for a third season.
So far 2015 has
been a great year for renewals on the TV front - and my TV show schedule
thanks you! Though, as it's still early in the year, anything can
really change and I probably just jinxed myself with that last line. (Oh
no...must delete later...)
Did your TV show get the renewal treatment? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Alright everyone...let's take a minute and brace ourselves for potentially the best entertainment news of the week! The 2015-2016 television season is going to be a big year for The CW with their incredible, and early, renewal news. Announced today at the Television Critics Association (TCAs), The CW is ready to bring back eight (yes, eight!) TV shows for another year. It might be January 11th but it's already feeling like Christmas to me.
As a TV buff and fan of The CW's programming, I'm excited to hear that many of my favourite TV shows are returning. Which of the lucky TV shows are coming back? Established hits like Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries and Arrow will be returning for a Season 11, Season 7 and Season 4 respectively. Sophomore shows The Originals, Reign and The 100 will be getting their third seasons while freshman newbies Jane The Virgin and The Flash have scored a second season each.
It's not uncommon for The CW to dole out early group renewals, as the network did renew five TV shows last February. However, as the network only has 10 hours of programming to fill on their schedule per week, eight TV shows seems like a lot to hear in January no less. With Jane The Virgin and The 100 not pulling in the best ratings at the moment, and Reign and The Originals feeling the sophomore slump, I'm glad to hear that fans of the eight shows can breathe a sigh of relief - myself included. It's no guarantee that all will appear on the Fall Schedule; some may be relegated to midseason.
Speaking of the scripted midseason shows, no word yet on the current renewal status of Hart of Dixie, Beauty and the Beast or the two new freshman shows, iZombie and The Messengers. A decision will most likely be revealed this May. Hart of Dixie is currently airing on Fridays but fans can be prepared for the premiere of iZombie on March 17th and The Messengers on April 10th. Beast is potentially set for sometime either April or May (nothing confirmed yet).
Are you excited for the return of your show? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
My blogging habits aren't the same as most writers. Occasionally I will create a post every few days or weeks; potentially a few posts back-to-back if there is something I really want to talk about. It gives me time to have a breather and work at my own pace. In the worst case scenario, real life just becomes too busy with other priorities that sometimes I don't create a new post for a while. I hate when that happens and 2014 was a perfect example. It's time for a change and a little motivation to get me started. Cue the montage music...
Fifty-two. That is the number of posts and articles I wrote last year alone just for this site. It's a good number, it's basically one post a week. Though, I think I can beat that number. I want to keep writing more geeky content for you all - like TV shows, video games, movies, music and the occasional bits about my life. But nobody really cares about that last one, it's all about the good stuff!
Starting today I'm going to set a 52-day challenge. Every day for 52 days straight I will create a new post or article for this blog. It can be anything really: lists, recaps for TV shows, reviews for video games and movies, articles, editorials, music videos, pictures of cute animals... the skies the limit. However, I will try to add a little variety in the mix beyond just the same-old-same-old.
I'll be sharing the second post in the series beginning tomorrow and should hopefully meet my goal by March 1st, 2015. If there's anything you want me to cover, definitely let me know. I can't wait to start and see if I can actually pull this off. Winter is not my best-friend so I will try my hardest to do this.
Stay tuned!
I love survival-horror. Ever since the early days of Clock Tower, Silent Hill and Resident Evil, I was pulled into these extreme worlds of scary monsters and dark adventures. There's something about venturing into the unknown and fighting evil that really connects with me as a gamer. It's one of my favourite gaming genres. Unfortunately, as the years have gone by, the landscape of survival-horror games have changed and it's no longer just a scary world out there - it's the hybrids that reign supreme. One of the games released this year promised to head back to the survival-horror roots of gaming. Did it live up to its hype? The video game I'm going to be discussing today is the bloody supernatural adventure: The Evil Within.
The Story: Players take on the role of Detective Sebastian Castellanos as he's pulled into a nightmarish world of monsters, death and a mystery spanning the unknown. After responding to a police report at Beacon Mental Hospital, Sebastian encounters the villainous apparition known simply as "Ruvik" who leads Sebastian on a horrifying adventure that bends reality. Joining Sebastian on his 15 chapter story includes fellow detectives Juli Kidman and Joseph Oda, Dr. Marcelo Jimenez and his patient Leslie, and a nurse who knows more than she lets on.
Where To Play: The Evil Within is available on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and the Xbox One.
The Good: The Evil Within plays to its strength when it comes to horror. Dark and confined spaces, grotesque monsters, blood and unexpected surprises - the game wasn't missing its mix of survival-horror. I quite enjoyed that for a few portions throughout its story, I was pleasantly scared. (Seriously, there were mannequins...lots and lots of mannequins!) I miss the scare factor of survival-horror games and before I even began this game, I was a little hesitant that it wouldn't live up to its "horror" hype. I wasn't fully blown away, but I did enjoy the horror element.
There's one fact you will come to understand when playing The Evil Within: you will die - A LOT. This is no easy game. Around every corner, every room, there are potentially many hidden ways to die. You would be surprised at the number of times I was killed by traps, common enemies and big boss battles. The Evil Within is a tough game to play and coupled with low ammunition/supplies, finally completing all 15 chapters felt like a real accomplishment.
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The Bad: The Evil Within has an interesting twist to it with its story. These articles and reviews are spoiler-free so I won't go into details beyond the bare bones of the plot. However, as I progressed through the many chapters, it became hard to get a clear grasp of the overall plot timeline. I understood many of the plot points about the villain, the deaths and missions but the overall arc was all over the place. A lot was happening at the same time and Sebastian was being pulled to different areas while given bits and pieces to try and determine the story. I had made a tiny logical guess by Chapter 4 and it proved somewhat right by Chapter 11, but I still needed to Google search a few articles and videos to fill in the story from people who pieced this together already. I like a story that makes me think so I was conflicted once the game was completed.
Also, I just want to throw this out there. I like Resident Evil 4, it's a good game that blended action and horror together. However, as I played the game, The Evil Within reminded me too much about RE4 to the point that I considered it nearly the same game. With the exception of The Evil Within being bloodier and scarier, the game was reminiscent to that vibe. The action, the mechanics, the male lead, the minions - it felt like a next generation spin-off.
The Results: 7/10!
The Evil Within strived to relaunch the roots of the survival-horror video game genre. It was creepy, it was bloody and it was a tough game to play. Through the eyes of Sebastian, you get to explore many locales that bridge on the horror cliché, like a mental hospital, graveyard and a large mansion. Monsters were plenty throughout the 15 chapters and they could sometimes feel a tad too familiar from other games, especially with the mindless villagers you face. The downside to The Evil Within is that the game doesn't offer anything new. Many of the locations, the enemies and bosses could have been inspired from horror tropes in the past. With the exception of a few items, like the agony bow or the plot twist, there wasn't much new ground covered, but with over 20 years of horror games already out (Wow, I feel old), it's hard not to expect some certain things to appear again. If you're a fan of horror, whether it's games or movies, The Evil Within might be your thing to play.
Where To Play: The Evil Within is available on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and the Xbox One.The Good: The Evil Within plays to its strength when it comes to horror. Dark and confined spaces, grotesque monsters, blood and unexpected surprises - the game wasn't missing its mix of survival-horror. I quite enjoyed that for a few portions throughout its story, I was pleasantly scared. (Seriously, there were mannequins...lots and lots of mannequins!) I miss the scare factor of survival-horror games and before I even began this game, I was a little hesitant that it wouldn't live up to its "horror" hype. I wasn't fully blown away, but I did enjoy the horror element.
There's one fact you will come to understand when playing The Evil Within: you will die - A LOT. This is no easy game. Around every corner, every room, there are potentially many hidden ways to die. You would be surprised at the number of times I was killed by traps, common enemies and big boss battles. The Evil Within is a tough game to play and coupled with low ammunition/supplies, finally completing all 15 chapters felt like a real accomplishment.
Also, I just want to throw this out there. I like Resident Evil 4, it's a good game that blended action and horror together. However, as I played the game, The Evil Within reminded me too much about RE4 to the point that I considered it nearly the same game. With the exception of The Evil Within being bloodier and scarier, the game was reminiscent to that vibe. The action, the mechanics, the male lead, the minions - it felt like a next generation spin-off.
The Results: 7/10!
The Evil Within strived to relaunch the roots of the survival-horror video game genre. It was creepy, it was bloody and it was a tough game to play. Through the eyes of Sebastian, you get to explore many locales that bridge on the horror cliché, like a mental hospital, graveyard and a large mansion. Monsters were plenty throughout the 15 chapters and they could sometimes feel a tad too familiar from other games, especially with the mindless villagers you face. The downside to The Evil Within is that the game doesn't offer anything new. Many of the locations, the enemies and bosses could have been inspired from horror tropes in the past. With the exception of a few items, like the agony bow or the plot twist, there wasn't much new ground covered, but with over 20 years of horror games already out (Wow, I feel old), it's hard not to expect some certain things to appear again. If you're a fan of horror, whether it's games or movies, The Evil Within might be your thing to play.
James Bond is ready to head out on his next death-defying adventure and finally the mission has a name. Revealed on Thursday at Pinewood Studios in London, Bond 24 will officially be known as 'Spectre'.
The official synopsis for the film is as follows: "A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE." (via Independent UK)
Spectre will feature many of the returning cast members from Skyfall, like Daniel Craig (James Bond), Ralph Fiennes (M), Naomie Harris (Moneypenny) and Ben Whishaw (Q). Joining the cast this time around will feature a few new characters like Andrew Scott (Denbigh), David Bautista (Mr. Hinx), Christoph Waltz (Oberhauser), and upcoming Bond Girls Léa Seydoux and Monica Belucci as Madeleine Swann and Lucia Sciarra, respectively. Bond is nothing without his automobile, which will be the Aston Martin DB10.
Many details are still being kept under wraps but rumours are swirling that longtime iconic 007 supervillain, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, will make his reintroduction to the series with this film. Spectre is set to be released on November 6, 2015.
Are ready for James Bond's next mission? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
I'm bad. I don't just mean bad in a mean way but bad in an "I'm sorry!" way. I've stopped counting the time since the last moment I "promised" to write the next edition of The Big Bond Book Club. I've probably written that I would write the next post more times than actually completing the blog post. Weeks? Months? Maybe a year? Years even?! I could check back into the archives but even then I wouldn't be surprised at the date. Suffice it to say...it has been a LONG time. With that being said...I'm sorry.
The last time I left off the series was with the fourth book - Diamonds Are Forever. It reached a medium thrill but for full details of the comparison, you can check out my article with the link above. For those unfamiliar with this series (I wouldn't be surprised - it has been a long time), I read a James Bond book chronologically from its release date and watch the corresponding film from the MGM series. I critique both against each other based on what I like and don't like. The scales don't always fall on the side of the movie series so I wouldn't prejudge just yet for all you naysayers and movie-only fans out there. The story I'll be reading today is the fifth book in the series: From Russia with Love.
The Story (novel): SMERSH, the menacing Soviet counterintelligence agency, plots to assassinate James Bond in the hopes of discrediting not only him but his agency as well.
The Story (movie): SPECTRE, a secret organization, plots to assassinate James Bond.
THE COMPARISON
Time has passed since the last time I read the book and watched the movie. It took a while to remember everything so I will keep this post short and brief. I'll probably expand this section further in future posts when the updates are more timely. (Seriously people, I'm really sorry!) With the exception of a few details - such as the name of the organization and updating the time period - I didn't notice much of a difference from the source material to the big screen. An organization still seeks to eliminate Bond, a beautiful woman manipulates him for the motives of said organization, and a slightly deranged woman tries to kill Bond with a blade...in her shoe. If this were any other series, I might laugh at writing that line but with all the unique gadgets and weapons, it feels right at home. Almost playful and giddy in a way.
My Favourite: The Movie!
From Russia with Love is not my favourite story in the James Bond universe. Woah...wait...lower your pitchforks and drop the flaming torches now, 007 fans! Hear me out. I understand that this story is a favourite by fans of the series; it has a lot of iconic moments and characters that resonate with fans (i.e. Tatiana Romanova, the shoe, SPECTRE/SMERSH). Unfortunately, I wasn't really pulled into the story. Blame it on the plot, the time period difference or the source material but I felt it was an average adventure in the Bond legacy. I mean in the stories before this book, he had to stop a space exploration or a voodoo drug kingpin with the help of his psychic ally. I couldn't quite get into the story. I've watched the movie and read the book a few times - it's good but not great.
Final scores:
From Russia, with Love (the book) - 4/10
From Russia with Love (the movie) - 5/10
NEXT: The sixth addition in this blog series is bringing it all back to the beginning. That's right! Slip on your cabana wear, grab your seashells and head to a tropical destination, I'm going to be reading "Dr. No!" It's funny to think that the first film in the movie series is actually the sixth entry in the book series. Comparisons will be on the lookout for my next post.
The Dark Knight returns for another installment of the hit Arkham games. I absolutely fell in love with last year's Batman: Arkham City after secretly playing my brother's copy and it was hands-down the best game of the year. Never did I think that a superhero game could achieve more than as simply as a movie tie-in. The series surpassed my expectations and suffice it to say, I was excited to check out the latest game in the series. The latest video game I will be reviewing is the Arkham prequel: Batman: Arkham Origins.
The Story: Set years prior to the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum (the first game in the series), Bruce Wayne has started his adventures as the Dark Knight and began his mission toward ending the criminal control in Gotham City. Batman: Arkham Origins takes place on Christmas Eve when criminal mastermind and mob boss Black Mask issues a cash challenge to several highly-trained and powerful assassins to rid Gotham City of Batman.
Batman: Arkham Origins delves into the early days of Batman, as well as the beginnings of several notable characters and villains like (the future) Commissioner Gordon, the Penguin, Deathstroke, Bane, Barbara Gordon (the future Batgirl/Oracle), and the clownish psychopath Joker to name a few.
Where To Play: Arkham Origins is available on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii U.
The Good: Batman: Arkham Origins excels with its immerse storyline and open world. The success of the previous game proved that the developers could integrate its characters, the landscape and the extras together to make a cohesive story. While there was a linear plot to follow, I enjoyed all the hidden easter eggs and side-missions that deviated from the main story.
The Bad: Arkham Origins only suffered from two negatives that left me questioning certain aspects. The first were the technical glitches that kept popping up during loading screens and saving. At first I wondered if there was an issue with my console, but the problems persisted when the game froze/stopped at certain points and wouldn't transition to the loading screen. While it only happened a few times, it was still enough to notice.
The Results: 8/10!
Batman: Arkham Origins had a lot to live up to in terms of expectations. Since it's a prequel compared to a sequel, a lot of what was introduced was exposition and reintroduced many aspects to people new to the Batman universe. Characters, whether main or supporting, delivered great performances and were more than just filler of having a character on screen. The technical glitches presented a slight problem with the gameplay and the lackluster conclusion didn't payoff after what was up until that point a satisfying story. If you're a fan of Batman (or like action games), this is the game for you. It's also a great filler until the next Arkham game is released that continues the story after Arkham City.
Agree or Disagree with the review? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Plenty of romance and hook-ups are making their way to The Carrie Diaries.
While the first season toyed around with the ideas of innuendos and flirtatious hook-ups, this episode lit the steamy fire. Throw Samantha Jones and Larissa into the mix, The Carrie Diaries sparked its first intense and passionate episode with the characters. Dare I say, it felt a little like Sex and the City.
This week on The Carrie Diaries, Larissa arrives from her adventures overseas, Tom returns to the fold, Maggie makes peace, and Sebastian comes to terms with the future.
THE ACT OF ZEN
Larissa is the wild and carefree editor-in-chief at Interview Magazine. She left at the end of last season to become a geisha which allowed Carrie and Walt to live in Manhattan during the summer. Now that she's arrived back, the pair have to head back home for the school year. (Sigh!) Upon her return to the city, Larissa introduced Carrie to the world of zen: not just for any stressful moment but for helping to give up Sebastian. Her practice makes perfect at first until she sees Sebastian. Plenty of shirt removing, kissing and desk kicking ensue in their classroom make-out session. Go Ms. Bradshaw!
At first I thought "Kyddshaw" would reunite but luckily the pair didn't. Sebastian realized that he was holding Carrie back and decided to let her be free. Their relationship is toxic and for Carrie to live the life we all hope, she needs to give up the bad boy.
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| All photos provided by The CW |
Walt and Maggie had a lot to overcome, not just for their friendship but with their lives: Walt with finally coming to terms with himself and Maggie with her future. Bennett, Donna and Mouse, while supportive, offer help and advice to the conflicted pair. Donna plays Walt's beard, which ultimately gets him punched by Donna's boyfriend, while Mouse continues to reassure Maggie about going to college. It isn't until the two finally meet and become friends again do they show some kind of resolution to their storyline. Maggie became really unlikable last season and I'm glad to see she's turning over a new leaf.
LAWYER IN THE CITY
Tom has a new job! Well, it's his old job at his former firm in New York with Harlan. Except for catching Larissa and Harlan in the act, nothing else progressed for the new big city lawyer. Though, I'm wondering if this storyline will have the Bradshaws move to New York? It would change the pace for the rest of the series.
BATTLE OF THE QUEEN BEES
Larissa and Samantha are two sides of the same coin; one is classier while the other is more modern. Both immediately started fighting after their first meeting but strangely the pair had a few moments together that sparked a potential frenemy status. While Larissa hooked up with Harlan and Samantha with an unknown ninja, I suspect that these two will fight for supremacy as the flirtatious force of The Carrie Diaries before admitting their friendship. Maybe Larissa is the one that helps Samantha break into the world of marketing/PR?
Now that Sebastian is out of the picture, will Carrie find a new guy? How long will Walt's life stay a secret? Will Maggie get into college? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The past is coming back to haunt Daniel.
After a few slow beginning episodes, I'm pleasantly surprised of where season three is heading. Plots are intermixing, others are developing into broader characters, and previous sentiments are boiling over as the climax episode nears. The jury is still out on if things have really changed from my last assessment but I'm starting approve in certain areas.
This week on Revenge, Nolan stands up to Emily, Charlotte becomes Victoria Grayson, the tide rolls in on Grayson Manor, and Patrick runs for the hills.
THE HOUSE THAT EVIL BUILT
Emily's take down this week is not on an individual but a house instead. Conrad plans to sell the iconic Grayson Manor and keep his family afloat with funds, but Emily can't risk her favourite targets leaving the Hamptons. With help from Aidan and a sledgehammer, Emily destroys part of her house to fool the Grayson's realtor into believing the beachfront properties will soon be destroyed by Mother Nature. The report is real but the severity and impact of the erosion is false. The realtor blacklists the Graysons and they're stuck in the Hamptons to live next to Emily.
FRIENDSHIP BLUES
Nolan has played the role of sarcastic and loyal ally to Emily throughout these three seasons, but what he really wants is to be called a friend. It's not hard to understand with someone as cold as Emily that wouldn't share any friendly or tender moments. Emily asks her Nolan to break things off with Patrick but he can't seem to do so, thinking it to be a step too far. He does what he's asked and ultimately confesses the truth to Jack out of a fit of anger. Jack already knows the secret and after a heartfelt argument, it's Emily that needs to apologize to her two closest friends and raise the white flag.
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| Photos courtesy of ABC |
WELCOME TO THE GAME, MS. GRAYSON
Charlotte hasn't played the game of Revenge. She's acted spoiled, focused on her relationship with Declan and dealt with family drama over anything else. Season three is showing a new side of Charlotte; she's manipulating the people around her with a secret agenda to break up Emily and Daniel. By leading Daniel to a new bakery, he ends up face-to-face with Sarah, the bartender and former flame he nearly killed pre-series. I'm impressed by Charlotte, not only does she lead Daniel to an uncomfortable moment but she manages to get Sarah fired and manipulates her into working at the Stowaway; causing Daniel to reconnect with her. Well played Charlotte, well played.
THE TRUTH UNCOVERED
Patrick bid a fast farewell to the Hamptons after the truth of Conrad's accident was revealed. He committed the crime to protect Victoria but all she could do was help him flee the country. I hope this isn't the last we see of Patrick as there seems to be more to his story than what we originally saw
Will Daniel spark a new romance with Sarah? Can the new Charlotte take down Emily? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
More New York episodes make the show a brighter place.
Similar to last season, the episodes that focused in the Big Apple are my favourites. Castlebury, while important to Carrie's past, doesn't hold the same appeal with episodes as do the New York storylines. It's similar to the current situation with Glee - the New York storyline is the real draw while the Lima focus can be a hit-or-miss. Since Carrie and friends are still high school students, I'm interested to see how the show progresses when it moves back to including the school setting.
This week on The Carrie Diaries, Walt and friends celebrate his 18th birthday at the Z100 festival, Samantha overstays her welcome, Carrie looks to the future, and Tom defines his relationship.
BIRTHDAY BOY
The moment has finally arrived: Walt is turning 18 years old. (Did anyone else feel really creepy right now?) I mean this strictly in the sense of the Bennett factor, as at the end of last season, the two didn't start a relationship as Bennett wanted to wait until Walt turned 18 years old. Arguably, Walt had the strongest character story and finally seeing him with the boy he likes is a happy moment to see.
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| Photos courtesy of The CW |
To celebrate Walt's big day, Mouse and Donna head to the city to party with Carrie, Walt and Samantha. Bennett is unfortunately working the Z100 festival and to have Walt spend time with his guy, Samantha helps the group get into the festival too. Tainted food - courtesy of Mouse - leads the group to head home in a fit of nausea but by the end of the episode, Walt and Bennett come to terms with their relationship. They're not defining it as a serious relationship and want to spend time together to see where it goes. Not exactly "happily ever after" but a nice to start to something more.
CALLING MS. JONES
Before Samantha finds a future as a PR maven, she had to make a living somehow. Last week it was as a bouncer and this week, it's a phone sex operator. Even though she does good by helping Mouse in the ways of dirty talk and gets the group into the festival, her presence in Larissa's apartment is wearing thin. The illustrious Interview editor is returning within a week and Carrie needs to find a way to get Samantha out, even though her new friend has no place to go.
After the debacle with tainted food - which led Carrie to potentially ruin her program interview - Carrie lashes out at her new friend and demands she leaves. Instead of caviar that Samantha bought off a truck, it turns out the eggs in Mouse's quiche were expired and cause the group to vomit in hysterical fashion. Carrie apologizes to Samantha and the two reconnect.
ROOT OF THE PROBLEM
Sebastian has never been one to approve of his family. Meeting his mother last season, we finally caught a glimpse of his relationship (or lack there of) with his father. They decide to rebuild a car together but Sebastian's father has another plan: he plans to sell it to a business partner. After being letdown by his father yet again, the bad boy heads to the city to reconnect with Carrie but the future columnist is not having any of it. She lashes out and confirms that she still loves him but hates herself for it. Ouch! If I heard that from my ex (or had to say it), I don't think I could hold it together.
QUIRKY HABITS
Tom is finally getting a storyline separate from his daughters. He's still hooking up with Deb from last season but this time, they've defined the relationship. An official woman is now in his life and on top of that, Carrie of his "gym" workouts.
How will things change with Larissa back? Will Carrie forgive Sebastian? Does Carrie still have a shot at the writing program? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Does the third season have a main story?
That's the question I keep finding myself asking with Revenge so far. With five episodes in, Revenge has taken a slow start to pulling these characters together to the main episode (Spoiler Alert: Emily gets shot on her wedding night). Much of the first few episodes erased the entirety of season two and the others have done little to progress the season arch. Small problems were created and two people were "sharpied" but anything that was established has eventually been erased too. Emily's journey the last few episodes aren't setting the tone for a big climactic moment; characters like Margaux, Daniel and Aidan (my guesses for the attack), while potential shooters, haven't shown any reason to do the deed. While it is early in the season and only on episode five, Revenge needs to quickly return to its fast-paced nature and character progression.
This week on Revenge, Daniel throws a wrench in Emily's plan, the culprit behind Conrad's crash is revealed, and Jack finds a new lady love.
LOOSE ENDS, NEW BEGINNINGS
I'm not an Aidan fan. He suddenly appeared last season with a story that connected to The Initiative and became the new third person fighting for Emily's heart; it was a bit much and he hasn't won me over yet. Picking up from last episode, Aidan confronted Jack and threatened him that Conrad (and by extension, the Graysons) will cause his death. Jack's being framed for cutting Conrad's brakes and if he doesn't hightail it soon, he'll soon meet a grisly fate.
Receiving word from Victoria (albeit because of nefarious motives - more about that later on), Emily runs to the Stowaway to help her former flame and discuss a plan of action. Jack's being pulled into yet another set up and he's reached his end with Emily's plans. I would be too with the amount of destruction that Emily leaves in her wake. Moving on from his toxic ex, he kisses Margaux, setting up for another love triangle that won't last.
THE ICE QUEEN MELTS
Emily's pull on Daniel has weakened the last few episodes. All the lies, lack of trust and hidden motives reached the boiling point when Daniel calls off their engagement when Emily arrives late to the Voulez launch party - instead helping Jack first. He's tired of the situation and doesn't know if he can really trust Emily. For the first time, she comes clean about her trust issues, sheds a few tears and shares her resentment toward losing her family. This may be the closest moment that she's ever told Daniel the truth of her past.
FAMILY SCHEMES
Charlotte has shown her Victoria side. She sided with her mother to add doubt in Daniel's mind about Emily and she's successfully pulled Jack and Margaux together. When the "truth" is revealed that Charlotte cut the brakes, Conrad is all too forgiving to reconnect with his daughter but the real truth is more sinister (and believable). In actuality, Charlotte is lying to protect Victoria and keep the truth that Patrick was on the one to cut the brakes. No reason yet why he did it but we'll find it soon enough. But where is Patrick? He's off hooking up with Nolan and getting together for the first time. So far Patrick's five episodes in and already winning at Revenge.
Will Charlotte continue to bring out her devious side? Does Jack have a shot at surviving this season? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The little scrappy show is back to fight again.
Last season had a shocking and uphill battle for renewal. I don't think anyone expected The Carrie Diaries to return with its ratings, especially on a network like The CW, which only has a limited schedule as is. Though, I'm happy it did and I was pleasantly excited to see how the premiere of the second season would turn out. New faces (Samantha!) and more footage in the city, I already prefer it much more than some of last season's episodes. Will the show survive? I'm still on the realistic side, but at least we'll see how things go with the new changes.
This week on The Carrie Diaries, Carrie loses a treasured icon but gains a new ally, Mouse brings the fight to Maggie, and Dorrit's love life is uncovered by her father.
WELCOME MS. JONES
The first season is a faint memory. Change is good and "Win Some, Lose Some" washes away the childish theme of the first season to introduce a more mature Carrie Bradshaw. Who am I kidding! Carrie is still in her naive phase, but she's grown up since Sebastian cheated on her last season. The time away in Manhattan gave her and Walt more independence to grow up and live the life they want. However, when Sebastian shows up with Donna for a party night in the city, Carrie reverts to her old ways and avoids dealing with her toxic ex to attend a different club.
Two major events happened this episode. The purse, as in the Carrie purse, is stolen outside the club and Ms. Bradshaw has a mini panic attack, practically calling the police and breaking down at each available moment. The purse, while nostalgic and important, is better off gone moving forward - Carrie needs to mature and holding onto something from the past keeps her from moving on to the character we all know. The theme was a little too on the nose but if introducing Samantha was a trade-off, I'd be happy to see it gone forever.
Samantha Jones, the witty and larger-than-life character from the main series, is introduced as Donna's cousin and a bouncer in New York. In the span of one hour, Samantha loses her underwear, flirts with cops, helps Carrie break into her apartment, and delivers a multitude of life lessons to Bambi (i.e. Carrie). Samantha's a breath of fresh air the show needed to feel more like the original series and Lindsay Gort owns the role as her own person; fans of the original would be proud. Samantha helps the young Ms. Bradshaw out but calls on a favour to crash at her place for a few episodes. Let the fun begin!
MY ENEMY, MY FRIEND
Castlebury.... if only your storylines disappeared. Mouse and West, picking up their official new relationship from the end of last season, spend fourth of July at the country club for some food and fireworks. Unbeknownst to Mouse, Maggie is working the party to raise money for college and ends up fired by the end of episode - due to Mouse. I've never been drawn to Maggie as a character - she's a little egotistic, self-centered and plays the victim card too much. The Carrie Diaries' writers probably introduced the student and money issues to add some humility to the villainous character. Mouse ends up forgiving her friend but will Carrie be as forgiving?
BOYFRIEND BLUES
Miller and Dorrit balance each other. Both are rebels in their own right, defy the rules of convention, and refuse to conform to the expectations of others. While Tom, failing as parent to spot the obvious, finally discovers that Dorrit not only has a boyfriend but has spent the night with him, invites Miller to the house and meets the new boyfriend face-to-face. It's great to see Tom try and reach out to his daughter; even if he it failed miserably at it. Dorrit takes a stand and reverts back to her punk trendy style. I like the look - it's very Topshop now.
What adventures will Samantha dragged Carrie into next? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
New beginnings, old rivalries.
Revenge is known (or used to be) for its fast-paced storytelling. Barely were there any filler episodes in the first season and Emily only focused on her mission or the events of the Hamptons. While nothing new really happened this week (except for a MUCH needed steamy kiss), this episode focused mostly on exposition.
Revenge is known (or used to be) for its fast-paced storytelling. Barely were there any filler episodes in the first season and Emily only focused on her mission or the events of the Hamptons. While nothing new really happened this week (except for a MUCH needed steamy kiss), this episode focused mostly on exposition.
This week on Revenge, we find out the aftermath of Conrad's car crash, Nolan digs a little deeper into Patrick's life, and Victoria enters the working world.
DIE ANOTHER DAY
Soap operas kill characters off all the time. One day they're casually throwing off-handed comments, the next they're being poisoned by their enemy. Conrad possibly has survived the most murder attempts and assaults over the last three seasons. When Emily finds the car crash and makes the subsequent hospital visit this episode, Father Paul is dead while Conrad, not only survives the episode, but finds out that his Huntington's Disease diagnosis was a lie. Conrad is a megalomaniac but Emily has been dropping the ball lately and giving him the opportunities to outlive these endeavors.
Someone is trying to kill Conrad, though. Emily and Jack's snooping discovered that the brakes on his car were cut, leading to Father Paul's death. Jack is being framed by Aidan but who really cut the brakes? My money's on potentially Patrick or Charlotte.
ART-SCHOOLED
Victoria is trying something new: she's working a real job. Well, she's selling her artwork and invited her rich friends to buy the items at the art gallery. Sheila, her new boss and frenemy, deals in stolen art and when Patrick sells a painting from Victoria, the Grayson matriarch uses the opportunity to force the frenemy out of the Hamptons and takeover ownership of the gallery. Victoria should be proud - she used her new son to take down a threat. So proud!
KISS OR MISS
Nolan hasn't had the best luck in dating. Tyler, Marco, and Padma all fizzled but his newest beau, Patrick, might have a secret or two. Patrick catches his interest and by digging a little deeper into his past, Nolan makes the first move. They're so on! Though, I have to wonder if one or both of them have ulterior motives? The sly looks speak for themselves.
What secret does Patrick really hide? Can Emily score another take down since Father Paul? Will Conrad eliminate Jack? Share your thoughts in the comments below.