I'm actually behind on a lot of my favorite shows. I'm two episodes behind each on Chuck and Glee, and at least three behind on Lie to Me. But I have been keeping up with some shows, so click through for my thoughts on them so far. (Spoilers for Fringe, Supernatural, Rubicon, The Vampire Diaries).
Fringe
How good is this show?! They've turned things upside down so many times that when I watched tonight's episode I was actually worried that Walter (not Walternate, mind you) was going to get replaced by a shapeshifter. Given what's happened with Olivia this season it wouldn't surprise me – they've made it clear that no one is 100% safe from the horrors of inter-universe war.
But it's a bold move, which I respect. I also wonder what Walternate's plan is once both Olivias do their jobs. Does he kill one? Leave Fauxlivia stranded? He's seems the type who plans several steps ahead, so I'm sure he has that worked out.
The real genius of it, though, is that they let us get attached to these characters for two seasons before revealing an uncomfortable truth: we're rooting for the bad guys. Walter's actions set in motion a chain of events that is slowly destroying another world. And while we view them as the "bad guys" because they're not "our guys," really they're just trying to defend themselves. A shapeshifter gave a speech on tonight's ep about how monsters can surprise you and even be your best friends that I think sums up the theme of this season perfectly. You think you know who the good guys and the bad guys are, but maybe you have no idea at all.
Supernatural
Oh those Winchesters. I have to be honest: big a fan as I am, last week's episode was the first one that I thought was really good so far. It all feels a little scattered right now what with Grandpa Campbell being back from the dead and there being "long lost cousins" who inexplicably escaped that thing in season 3 where Lillith killed all of Mary Campbell-Winchesters friends and family that I guess we were supposed to forget about and all.
They've made it pretty obvious that Zombie Grandpa is up to no good. He's building a monster menagerie for someone or something (my money is on Yellow Eyes and the "hallucination" in the season premiere being a red herring). So really the question is whether Parker Lewis Campbell and Dull Girl Campbell are in on it. Trouble is... who cares? There's no logical reason for these characters to even exist, and they're not likable enough to care about even a little.
This next part is going to get me into trouble. I'm a confirmed Dean Girl, see. Sam has always been just too arrogant for me. Plus Dean gets all the funny jokes. But good lord Sam is such a dick this season. Did we need that? For Sam to be a bigger dick? Because I don't know if you guys remember season 4, when he was screwing a demon and strangling his brother and running around being a creepy little jerk, but he was a pretty big dick already. I don't think we needed for him to be a cocky, gruff sociopath on top of all that. Giving Dean crap about being too "normal" when he claims he lied about being back from the dead (and don't even get me started on that) because he wanted Dean to be normal? Claiming Hell was no big because he's so awesome? Treating Dean like an inferior trainee? SHUT UP, SAM.
I do like the new-old Castiel, though. Even if his "people skills" have gotten a bit "rusty."
Rubicon
Not as much to say here except that this show finally found a plot... three weeks before it's season finale. We literally only found out what the big bad conspiracy was two weeks ago. Listen. There's creating a sense of mystery and there's failing to create a reason to care. On The X Files we didn't know specifically what The Syndicate was up to from day to day, but we knew that their overall goal was to hide the existence of extraterrestrials and negotiate Colonization. On Rubicon it took us 2/3 of the season to find out what all these rich white guys meeting in fancy rooms were even doing. That doesn't keep the viewer engaged.
But that's not even the true beauty of the show anyway. If you forget about the conspiracy crap, you have this gorgeous little ecosystem populated entirely with crazy people. Drug addicts and paranoids and awkward eccentrics all mingling together in stunted and sometimes unintentionally hilarious ways. They've created an entertaining little fish bowl of idiosyncracies that makes the show amusing even when the actual plot fails.
That said, the last two episodes really picked things up. The pieces are finally starting to come together, just in time for the season finale. But I don't know where they'll take it if they get a second season.
The Vampire Diaries
This is another show that's had some big "OMG" moments. Caroline as a vampire? Brilliant. Take the show's most neurotic and charmingly infuriating character and crank her up to eleven while showing the painful transition to her new life. I feel like giving her a magic sun protection ring right away was a bit of a cop-out, but it's worth it to see her enjoy Compelling people way too much.
Credit to Nina Dobrev for making Katherine and Elena so different, too. She seems to have a lot of fun playing the two roles. Katherine is a refreshing bit of wickedness in contrast to serious Elena. I just wish one of them would choose poor Damon – wouldn't it be fun to see the Salvatore brothers face off against one another, each with their respective doppelganger at his side?
I do really need to catch up on Glee. I hear the last two episodes were fantastic. I didn't love the Britney Spears episode except for Heather Morris' performances – that girl can dance. So until I catch up or have more to say, that's it for now. Feel free to discuss/argue/yell at me for being mean to Sam Winchester in the comments!
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