Critical Myth

This season of “Supernatural” has struggled against a number of impediments, not the least of which was the writers’ strike that cut nearly a third of the story out of the season arc. The entire production did everything possible to make up for the loss, but only so much can be done. A lot of the subtlety and depth of previous seasons, especially the run-up to the season finales, simply didn’t exist.

Because the writers had to jump to the end of the intended story, the careful foreshadowing felt like predictability. There’s a fine line between the two in any given story, but my personal rule of thumb is very simple. Foreshadowing is done correctly if the plot elements over the course of a season all point towards a conclusion, but the ground work is layered into the story in an organic manner, making it inherently particular to that single story. Predictability is the lethal application of cliché, usually in such a brash and obvious manner that the story could have been stolen from any production.

I could say that I predicted much of what happens in this episode, at least in terms of the only viable solution for Dean’s survival, but I think it’s closer to the truth to say that I anticipated it. The writers simply did everything necessary to take every other option off the table. The only way to save Dean, in the end, was for Sam to take on the mantle of Antichrist Superstar (now destined to become his nickname) and lead Ruby’s demonic faction against Lilith.

The big shock is not that Ruby brings up that particular solution, but that Sam doesn’t do it before the hellhounds come calling and Dean descends into hell. I never saw that coming, because who honestly thought they would pull that particular trigger? On the other hand, I respect Kripke all the more for it. It’s similar to the end of the second season of “Twin Peaks”, except in this case, we’ll get to see how the surprisingly dark cliffhanger is resolved.

That said, I still think Sam’s solution to the problem will be embracing his Antichrist Superstar potential and taking on Lilith on her own field. The end of this episode strongly suggested that Lilith cannot touch Sam, and now that he knows it, it’s a question of whether or not his darker impulses will take hold. All season long, Dean was shown as the one holding Sam in check, especially in the second half of the season, and “Mystery Spot” provided a solid look at how far Sam could fall into inhumanity.

Of course, the best thing about this episode is that it tells the audience not to expect the obvious direction. It looked like Sam would turn in this finale, but he didn’t, and the consequences were horrific. The next logical step would be Sam’s decision to lead the demonic horde to release Dean from hell, but that may not be the direction taken. After all, the rules regarding Dean only applied before his descent; new rules may apply now that he is technically dead. The key would be making a new solution work within established continuity.

Frankly, I hope Sam does go dark side, because I want to see more out of Ruby. Others have been less than complementary to Katie Cassidy (in fact, some have been outright obnoxious and cruel), but I thought she pulled off the duel role in this episode beautifully. Yes, it helps that I find the actress attractive, but I also recognize the inherent aspects of the character. Ruby is a demon who has chosen to take over a hot young woman as a lure to Sam’s base instincts, and that has always made since to me as portrayed. The writers certainly had a more capable grasp of Ruby than they ever had of Bela.

Every season of “Supernatural” has managed to escalate the story to a new level, and this is certainly true in this case. It’s going to be very interesting to see how the writers manage to tell the story of the anticipated war between Sam and Lilith (the only real way to quantify the war at this point) with yet another reduction in budget. Then again, I personally believe it all comes down to the story, and with this finale, the writers have confirmed that story is still king on “Supernatural”.

There's little doubt that the three-hour finale was conceived as a cohesive whole, based on the how this episode begins. The finale will be the story of the Oceanic 6 from their return to the "real world" to, presumably, the now-classic scenes from "Through the Looking Glass". While that mini-arc is critical to the finale itself, it also serves to bring one of the key season arcs to a conclusion. The third and fourth season finales bookend what has been one of the best game-changers in recent memory.

If nothing else, the Oceanic 6 scenes clarify a few items. For one thing, the "Hurley in the coffin" theory has been all but debunked, which is fine; it was a low-probability bet anyway. The safe money would be on Michael, despite the fact that it would be remarkably predictable for this series. It's good to see, however, that part of Hurley's impending madness could be related to his reaction to "the numbers". That concept has been downplayed far too much since the end of the second season, given its initial importance.

The near-future scenes also flesh out the "story" that the Oceanic 6 tells the media. It's surprisingly weak, but if the current action on the island leads directly to the "rescue" of the Oceanic 6, then it's hardly surprising that they had little time to develop a solid story. In particular, it seems rather easy to figure out that Kate is not Aaron's mother, especially during the eventual trial.

Jack does learn the truth about his relation to Claire, which was actually one of the more disappointing scenes. It felt like the writers had been struggling with the dialogue for a while, and finally gave up and accepted that it would be clunky exposition. Given Jack's personality, that's the sort of information that he would have questioned immediately; it would have been more realistic (if perhaps more frustrating) for that to have been the main subject of a Jack-centric episode. But, at the very least, it ties off one of the open items from previous flash-forwards.

It was bittersweet to see Sayid with the gorgeous Nadia again, because for all their happiness now, it will be over all too soon. The real surprise came out of Sun, who took sweet revenge over her father in one of her best scenes yet. Sun hasn't had much to do for the past couple seasons, so this was quite welcome. It might also be setting the stage for the eventual return of the Oceanic 6 to the island, since her new business resources would come in very handy.

Back on the island, in the "present", most of the time is spent moving the various characters into position for the massive events to come. Ben, Locke, and Hurley race Keamy's team to the Orchid Station, but they arrive too late. In the process of getting there, Ben apparently signals Rcihard and the Others to grab anyone who happens to be on the same trail. They miss Jack and Sawyer (who are coming from a different direction), but they do take Kate and Sayid into custody. Perhaps this will finally provide a glimpse at the previously mentioned "Temple".

Back on the beach, Daniel displays some surprising leadership when he begins shuttling the survivors to the Kahana. Unfortunately, nothing is quite so simple as that. The writers used Michael to foreshadow the possibility of blowing up the freighter in "Meet Kevin Johnson", but the circumstances are different now. The massive stash of C4 primed for detonation is inevitably linked to the biometric sensor Keamy had strapped to his arm in the previous episode. Defeating Widmore's mercenary team means destroying the most obvious means of leaving the island (thus explaining, in general terms, why only six survivors can ultimately escape).

As with most "Lost" finales, there is always an introductory hour, and this is clearly intended for that purpose. Some small items are revealed, but the story is more remarkable for clarifying the scope of the rest of the finale event.

The fifth and final network upfront is out, covering FOX’s fall schedule. Here are my thoughts and what I anticipate I will be covering in one degree or another next season. As usual for FOX, it’s confusing and ultra-tentative, but I’ll try to address it as is. The following is the schedule released by the network on 15 May 2008:

FOX Prime-time Schedule Fall 2008:

Monday
8 pm: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
9 pm: Prison Break

Tuesday
8 pm: House
9 pm: Fringe

Wednesday
8 pm: Bones
9 pm: ‘Til Death
9:30 pm: Do Not Disturb

Thursday
8 pm: The Moment of Truth
9 pm Kitchen Nightmares

Friday
8 pm: Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
9 pm: Don’t Forget the Lyrics

Sunday
7 pm: The OT (NFL post-game)
8 pm The Simpsons
8:30 pm King of the Hill
9 pm Family Guy
9:30 pm American Dad

Mondays

Wow. Monday night continues to dominate for me in the fall. I’m very exciting and pleased that “Terminator” was renewed not so long ago, and while “Prison Break” has been a questionable item for next season, it’s early start date should resolve matters a bit. (In the spring, I will be covering “Dollhouse” and “24”, so Mondays will continue to be a solid start to every week!)

Tuesday

For a long time, Tuesdays were desolate for me, but now I’ll be covering “Fringe”. Right now, “Supernatural” is the heir to “The X-Files”, but this show could join it on the pedestal (if FOX keeps it long enough).

Wednesday

Wednesday is fairly meaningless in terms of FOX.

Thursday

Reality dreck. I think not, especially when “Supernatural” and “Smallville” already dominate.

Friday

Even more reality dreck. Friday nights will once again belong to Sci-Fi Channel.

Sunday

In the fall, it’s more of the same (in fact, identical to last fall), so it’s pretty much an open night at this point.

So, with that in mind, FOX is adding a ton of material to my fall schedule. 7 shows will be reviewed out of the current list: “Heroes”, “Pushing Daisies”, “Smallville”, “Supernatural”, “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”, “Prison Break”, and “Fringe”. Compared to the previous season, that amounts to a net loss of -2 (not counting the cable offerings and special events).

The fourth of the network upfronts is out, covering CBS’s fall schedule. Here are my thoughts and what I anticipate I will be covering in one degree or another next season. The following is the schedule released by the network on 14 May 2008:

CBS TELEVISION NETWORK 2007-2008 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE (new shows in bold)

MONDAY
8:00 The Big Bang Theory
8:30 How I Met Your Mother
9:00 Two and a Half Men
9:30 Worst Week
10:00 CSI: Miami

TUESDAY
8:00 NCIS
9:00 The Mentalist
10:00 Without a Trace

WEDNESDAY
8:00 The New Adventures of Old Christine
8:30 Project Gary
9:00 Criminal Minds
10:00 CSI: NY

THURSDAY
8:00 Survivor
9:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
10:00 Eleventh Hour

FRIDAY
8:00 Ghost Whisperer
9:00 The Ex List
10:00 Numbers

SUNDAY
7:00 60 Minutes
8:00 The Amazing Race
9:00 Cold Case
10:00 The Unit


Monday

We’ll continue to watch “How I Met Your Mother”, because Barney is one of the best characters currently on television. The rest of the night is, of course, a waste.

Tuesday

Another network offering nothing interesting on the night.

Wednesday

Pretty much the same as Tuesday night, since it’s more of the “Criminal Minds”/”CSI” drivel.

Thursday

“Survivor” is a guilty pleasure staple for others in the household, but otherwise, my CW Thursdays are secure. I’m on the fence with “Eleventh Hour”, but considering the track record in past seasons (“Jericho”, “Moonlight”), I may try it, but I doubt I’ll bother reviewing it.

Friday

No “Moonlight”? No CBS.

Sunday

I’m pleased with the return of “The Amazing Race”, the only competition-based reality show that I can watch without feeling a little bit dirty in the process.

So in terms of reviews, CBS changes nothing: 4 shows will be reviewed out of the current list: “Heroes”, “Pushing Daisies”, “Smallville”, and “Supernatural”. Compared to the previous season, that’s a net loss of -3. With only one network left, the fall could be fairly sparse for reviews. Then again, the FOX schedule sounds very promising (the FOX track record notwithstanding).

The introduction of the Veritas plot element has all but saved this season of “Smallville”. This episode is the perfect example of why this is so: details from the very beginning of the series are organically given a shared context by the cohesive nature of Veritas itself. I still maintain that the idea should have always been in the background, slowly but surely revealed over time, but better late than never.

One element from the second season that I always wanted to see explored was the “Naman vs. Sageeth” myth from the Kawatche caves. It was strongly hinted at the time that it related to the future struggle between Clark and Lex, but the writers seemed to drop it completely. The emergence of Veritas has finally brought it back to the story in a logical manner. Now that Lex has embraced the darkness, his oft-overlooked genius gives him the insight and drive to become a true threat to Clark.

The two of them are on parallel paths in this episode, and the real joy is watching how they manage to circle each other without an actual confrontation. Clark understands that Lex is now evil and a threat, but his basic sense of decency prevents him from standing idly by while Lex is killed. It underscores the difference between both men, since Lex is on the quest for the sole purpose of controlling what he sees as the primary alien threat.

Lex gets the better end of the questing deal in this episode, without a doubt. The character has truly come into focus lately (odd moments of apparent compassion notwithstanding), and if this is indeed his exit from “Smallville”, then he should be getting this kind of star treatment. As the man holding the legacy of Veritas in his hands, Lex is a true threat. The only question is whether or not the writers will come up with a rational reason for Lex to forget all he’s learned.

Clark, on the other hand, gets caught in the middle of a Edward Teague’s apparent madness, which leads to a bit of a cliché. Would Jor-El have sent a device to destroy the heir of Krypton after going through so much damn trouble to send him to Earth and save his life? As always, Jor-El’s motivations are all over the map, and by the time Clark is trapped in the middle of what feels like a “Young Sherlock Holmes” scene, I was once again shaking my head in frustration.

Similarly, I’m not sure what the writers are doing with Chloe lately. It’s understandable that they would emphasize the rise of Lois and Jimmy as their respective careers at the Daily Planet approach the levels seen in the comics and films. But must Chloe’s passion for journalism disappear to make the case? Why wouldn’t she be intrigued, as we would expect after all these years, by Jimmy’s discoveries? Perhaps the writers were hedging their bets, based on the protracted contract talks with Allison Mack.

Even with the frustrations, this episode was still one of the best of the season, because the focus on Veritas and Lex kept me more than interested in this prelude to the season finale. Hopefully the writers will end the season (and Lex’s arc on the show) on a high note, so my interest in the eighth season will be renewed.

The third network upfront is out, covering CW’s fall schedule. Here are my thoughts and what I anticipate I will be covering in one degree or another next season. The following is the schedule released by the network on 13 May 2008:

Following is The CW's 2008-2009 prime-time schedule (new show in bold).

Monday
8-9 pm Gossip Girl
9-10 pm One Tree Hill

Tuesday
8-9 pm 90210
9-10 pm Surviving the Filthy Rich

Wednesday
8-9 pm America's Next Top Model
9-10 pm Stylista

Thursday
8-9 pm Smallville
9-10 pm Supernatural

Friday
8-8:30 pm Everybody Hates Chris
8:30–9 pm The Game
9-10 pm America's Next Top Model


Monday

None of this interests me, regardless of how many oversexed young women they toss at the screen.

Tuesday

Pretty much the same as Monday night, to be honest.

Wednesday

An entire night of reality TV that more or less matches Monday and Tuesday. Whatever.

Thursday

Obviously, “Smallville” and “Supernatural” will retain their stranglehold on the night, especially since this will probably be the last season for both shows, realistically speaking. (Though I said the exact same thing last season, and I may end up dropping “Smallville”.)

Friday

Absolutely nothing of interest.


So 4 shows will be reviewed out of the current list: “Heroes”, “Pushing Daisies”, “Smallville”, and “Supernatural”. Compared to the previous season, that’s a net loss of -3…which means CW brings nothing new to the table. With only two networks left, the fall is shaping up rather nicely.

The second of the network upfronts is out, covering ABC’s fall schedule. Here are my thoughts and what I anticipate I will be covering in one degree or another next season. The following is the schedule released by the network on 13 May 2008:

ABC's fall prime-time schedule is as follows (all times listed are Eastern, with new shows in bold):

MONDAY:
8:00 pm Dancing with the Stars
9:30 pm Samantha Who?
10:00 pm Boston Legal

TUESDAY:
8:00 pm Opportunity Knocks
9:00 pm Dancing with the Stars the Results Show
10:00 pm Eli Stone

WEDNESDAY:
8:00 pm Pushing Daisies
9:00 pm Private Practice
10:00 pm Dirty Sexy Money

THURSDAY:
8:00 pm Ugly Betty
9:00 pm Grey's Anatomy
10:00 pm Life on Mars

FRIDAY:
8:00 pm Wife Swap
9:00 pm Supernanny
10:00 pm 20/20

SATURDAY:
8:00 pm Saturday Night College Football

SUNDAY:
7:00 pm America's Funniest Home Videos
8:00 pm Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00 pm Desperate Housewives
10:00 pm Brothers & Sisters


Monday

Much like the last couple of seasons, I couldn’t care less about Monday nights on ABC. My time will be spent between NBC and (presumably) FOX.

Tuesday

This night is identical to Monday nights now.

Wednesday

“Pushing Daisies” is the only show returning in the fall that I have any interest in, so it will likely be reviewed. I’m glad to see the support for this show, because it is really like nothing else on television.

Thursday

“Life on Mars” looks interesting, and I might give it a go in terms of watching it if the behind-the-scenes issues get resolved. But I decline reviewing it.

Friday

More reality dreck. Between NBC and ABC, it’s amazing how easy they make it to pretend they don’t exist.

Sunday

If only “Desperate Housewives” would be put out of our misery. And I say that (for another year) because I’ll be forced to sit through much of it (for another year). That said, ABC has nothing for me on this night either, in terms of review fodder.


ABC didn’t really change things for me much, did they? “Lost” will dominate the spring, but until February, that’s off my radar. Everything else is just not for me, with the exception of “Pushing Daisies”.

In terms of the reviews, 2 shows will be reviewed out of the current list: “Heroes” and “Pushing Daisies”. Compared to the previous season, that’s a net loss of -3. A lot could change with the other networks, but for now, the fall is looking quite manageable.

Next: the CW fall schedule, which should be rather interesting…

The second of the network upfronts is out, covering ABC’s fall schedule. Here are my thoughts and what I anticipate I will be covering in one degree or another next season. The following is the schedule released by the network on 13 May 2008:

ABC's fall prime-time schedule is as follows (all times listed are Eastern, with new shows in bold):

MONDAY:
8:00 pm Dancing with the Stars
9:30 pm Samantha Who?
10:00 pm Boston Legal

TUESDAY:
8:00 pm Opportunity Knocks
9:00 pm Dancing with the Stars the Results Show
10:00 pm Eli Stone

WEDNESDAY:
8:00 pm Pushing Daisies
9:00 pm Private Practice
10:00 pm Dirty Sexy Money

THURSDAY:
8:00 pm Ugly Betty
9:00 pm Grey's Anatomy
10:00 pm Life on Mars

FRIDAY:
8:00 pm Wife Swap
9:00 pm Supernanny
10:00 pm 20/20

SATURDAY:
8:00 pm Saturday Night College Football

SUNDAY:
7:00 pm America's Funniest Home Videos
8:00 pm Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00 pm Desperate Housewives
10:00 pm Brothers & Sisters


Monday

Much like the last couple of seasons, I couldn’t care less about Monday nights on ABC. My time will be spent between NBC and (presumably) FOX.

Tuesday

This night is identical to Monday nights now.

Wednesday

“Pushing Daisies” is the only show returning in the fall that I have any interest in, so it will likely be reviewed. I’m glad to see the support for this show, because it is really like nothing else on television.

Thursday

“Life on Mars” looks interesting, and I might give it a go in terms of watching it if the behind-the-scenes issues get resolved. But I decline reviewing it.

Friday

More reality dreck. Between NBC and ABC, it’s amazing how easy they make it to pretend they don’t exist.

Sunday

If only “Desperate Housewives” would be put out of our misery. And I say that (for another year) because I’ll be forced to sit through much of it (for another year). That said, ABC has nothing for me on this night either, in terms of review fodder.


ABC didn’t really change things for me much, did they? “Lost” will dominate the spring, but until February, that’s off my radar. Everything else is just not for me, with the exception of “Pushing Daisies”.

In terms of the reviews, 2 shows will be reviewed out of the current list: “Heroes” and “Pushing Daisies”. Compared to the previous season, that’s a net loss of -3. A lot could change with the other networks, but for now, the fall is looking quite manageable.

Next: the CW fall schedule, which should be rather interesting…

The second of the network upfronts is out, covering ABC’s fall schedule. Here are my thoughts and what I anticipate I will be covering in one degree or another next season. The following is the schedule released by the network on 13 May 2008:

ABC's fall prime-time schedule is as follows (all times listed are Eastern, with new shows in bold):

MONDAY:
8:00 pm Dancing with the Stars
9:30 pm Samantha Who?
10:00 pm Boston Legal

TUESDAY:
8:00 pm Opportunity Knocks
9:00 pm Dancing with the Stars the Results Show
10:00 pm Eli Stone

WEDNESDAY:
8:00 pm Pushing Daisies
9:00 pm Private Practice
10:00 pm Dirty Sexy Money

THURSDAY:
8:00 pm Ugly Betty
9:00 pm Grey's Anatomy
10:00 pm Life on Mars

FRIDAY:
8:00 pm Wife Swap
9:00 pm Supernanny
10:00 pm 20/20

SATURDAY:
8:00 pm Saturday Night College Football

SUNDAY:
7:00 pm America's Funniest Home Videos
8:00 pm Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00 pm Desperate Housewives
10:00 pm Brothers & Sisters


Monday

Much like the last couple of seasons, I couldn’t care less about Monday nights on ABC. My time will be spent between NBC and (presumably) FOX.

Tuesday

This night is identical to Monday nights now.

Wednesday

“Pushing Daisies” is the only show returning in the fall that I have any interest in, so it will likely be reviewed. I’m glad to see the support for this show, because it is really like nothing else on television.

Thursday

“Life on Mars” looks interesting, and I might give it a go in terms of watching it if the behind-the-scenes issues get resolved. But I decline reviewing it.

Friday

More reality dreck. Between NBC and ABC, it’s amazing how easy they make it to pretend they don’t exist.

Sunday

If only “Desperate Housewives” would be put out of our misery. And I say that (for another year) because I’ll be forced to sit through much of it (for another year). That said, ABC has nothing for me on this night either, in terms of review fodder.


ABC didn’t really change things for me much, did they? “Lost” will dominate the spring, but until February, that’s off my radar. Everything else is just not for me, with the exception of “Pushing Daisies”.

In terms of the reviews, 2 shows will be reviewed out of the current list: “Heroes” and “Pushing Daisies”. Compared to the previous season, that’s a net loss of -3. A lot could change with the other networks, but for now, the fall is looking quite manageable.

Next: the CW fall schedule, which should be rather interesting…

Shortly after this episode aired, the tide began to shift for ‘Moonlight”. Instead of an apparent lock on a second season, the series was suddenly facing cancellation or, at best, a 13 episode mid-season run. Sure enough, by the time this review was finally written, the show was cancelled and the reported cliffhanger ending to the season (now series) finale will never be resolved.

This episode continues to display the series’ strengths, exploring the many facets of the unusual relationship between Mick and Beth that has emerged after the disappearance of Coraline and the death of Josh. Beth was always on the edge of committing her life to Mick’s capable hands in every possible way, but now the decision has been straying towards a true love affair. Only the details of a vampire/human relationship, particularly sexuality, seem to be in the way.

Instead of focusing on what Mick and Beth might have, the story focuses on what they cannot have, specifically by exploring what Mick might have had. The kidnapping of a child just happens to involve a man who might be Mick’s biological son, based on his younger human exploits. This revelation is not easy for Mick to digest, because that would mean that he betrayed his best friend and fellow soldier back in the Second World War. To top that off, the kidnapped child would be his own biological grandson.

Even Josef understands the lure of such an improbable legacy. If there is any sure sign that Josef is beginning to get more comfortable with the idea of Mick and Beth circling each other so closely, it’s the conversation between Josef and Mick over children and what Mick can and cannot provide. Mick is forced by his circumstance to consider what the inability to father children might mean, while Beth’s reaction is caught between panic and bemusement.

As much as the episode focuses on Mick and his potential human family, there are stirrings in terms of the growing threat to the vampire world. Ben’s interest in Mick is based on the pictures he received at the end of the previous episode, and it’s not much of a stretch to consider that his job offer to Beth had an ulterior motive. It’s a foregone conclusion that this will factor in the series finale.

I mentioned back when NBC released its fall season plans back in April that I would comment on it during the 2008-2009 Upfront Week. So here are my thoughts and what I anticipate I will be covering in one degree or another in the fall. (I will discuss the spring much later down the road; that will be true for all the networks, for that matter.) The following is the schedule released by the network on 02 Apr 2008:

NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2008-09

*New programs in CAPS (with the exception of "ER")

MONDAY
8-9 pm Chuck
9-10 pm Heroes
10-11 pm MY OWN WORST ENEMY

TUESDAY
8-9 pm The Biggest Loser
9-10 pm KATH & KIM
10-11 pm Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

WEDNESDAY
8-9 pm KNIGHT RIDER
9-10 pm Deal or No Deal
10-11 pm Lipstick Jungle

THURSDAY
8-8:30 pm My Name Is Earl
8:30-9 pm 30 Rock
9-9:30 pm The Office
9:30-10 pm The Office
10-11 pm ER

FRIDAY
8-9 pm CRUSOE
9-10 pm Deal or No Deal
10-11 pm Life

SUNDAY (Fall 2007)
7-8 pm Football Night in America
8-11 pm NBC Sunday Night Football


Monday

I wasn’t particularly interested in “Chuck”, so that stays off my list. “Heroes”, on the other hand, remains a major part of my viewing/reviewing slate. “My Own Worst Enemy” has an interesting premise, but so did “Journeyman”…and NBC cancelled it. So I’m not inclined to give a show that’s already “on the bubble” for me a chance when I have so much else to consider.

Tuesday

As usual, Tuesday still appears to be the relief night coming out of Monday, giving me time to catch up.

Wednesday

I have no interest at all in “Knight Rider”. The movie was horrible, and I wouldn’t want to see that on a weekly basis. That’s pretty much true for the rest of the night for this network, too.

Thursday

Not a blessed thing has changed, and nothing will be reviewed. I’ll be watching “The Office” and “My Name is Earl”, of course, but I refer to let them stand for themselves.

Friday

Also, nothing on this network will be reviewed on this night. “Crusoe” sounds like “Lost” without all the things I love about “Lost”.

Sunday

When my 2008 Super Bowl Champion New York Football Giants are playing, I’ll be watching.


In terms of the reviews, here’s the current tally. 1 show will be reviewed out of the current list: “Heroes”. Compared to the previous season, that’s a net loss of -2. “Heroes” is the only thing on the network I’ll be reviewing. I suspect other networks will try to make up for the slack!

As anticipated, this episode effectively ends the “introductory” phase of the season arc, bringing Kara’s initial search for the path back to Earth to a close. It also takes the Cylon civil war into an unexpected direction, and Roslin receives an interesting challenge to her perspective from another dying cancer patient. Whether in active practice or quiet discussion, faith is at the center of the story.

Previous episodes had the more “human” side of the Cylon civil war decimated without the presence of a resurrection ship, so as the weakened army, it makes sense that they would find a potential alliance with the Humans a viable option. It’s also worth noting that the models in question have been represented by individuals with a particular brand of “love” (even if Boomer is playing for the other side now).

From the pragmatic perspective, they need help to survive, and if the hardliners among the Cylon are taking control, the Humans could also use all the help they can get. From a metaphysical perspective, both sides are searching for the “Final Five”, so there’s a common cause. The lethal scene between a Six and Barolay is more than enough to remind the audience that it’s still a tense and potentially disastrous arrangement. The wounds of New Caprica are evident on both sides.

Of course, that is in and of itself intriguing. How many of the Humans have had the opportunity to realize that the Cylons are not all mindless copies? They may come from the same template, but their personalities derive from a mixture of shared and individual experience. Exposure to Humans has unlocked, at least for some models, Humans traits. It’s been acknowledged in individual cases (as demonstrated by the trust given to Athena), but how will the Human masses, who were still isolated from most Cylons on New Caprica, deal with constant exposure? (Certainly Tigh, Tyrol, Tori, and Anders will have some interesting reactions.)

The hybrid’s jabbering to Kara ties in nicely with the final moments of “Razor”, and seems to give a direction for the new alliance to follow. In fact, much of what is happening in this episode fits the prophetic words of the very first hybrid: “The denial of the one true path, played out on a world not their own, will end soon enough. Soon there will be four, glorious in awakening, struggling with the knowledge of their true selves. The pain of revelation bringing new clarity and in the midst of confusion, he will find her. Enemies brought together by impossible longing. Enemies now joined as one. The way forward at once unthinkable, yet inevitable. And the fifth, still in shadow, will claw toward the light, hungering for redemption that will only come in the howl of terrible suffering. I can see them all. The seven, now six, self-described machines who believe themselves without sin. But in time, it is sin that will consume them. They will know enmity, bitterness, the wrenching agony of one splintering into many. And then, they will join the promised land, gathered on the wings of an angel. Not an end, but a beginning.”

The sleight of hand regarding the ringed planet and the comet was clever, lending far more question to the nature of Kara’s memories than I had suspected. I still don’t think Kara is the final Cylon, but she may be something apart from that entire discussion. After all, the Temple of Five on the algae planet (“Eye of Jupiter” and “Rapture”) was dedicated to the five priests (analogues to the Final Five, or so it seems) who worshipped “The One Who Cannot Be Named”. The natural assumption is that this “One” is the Cylon God, but what if it’s something very different? Is it possible that, like the thirteen Human colonies with one quite apart from the other twelve, there is a being above and apart from the twelve Cylons?

If the Final Five “come from the home of the thirteenth”, then the theory that the Final Five are genetic descendants of the previous cycle’s merging of Human and Cylon is further supported. If that process is possible, then Kara’s genetic legacy might be connected similarly to this “One”. The mandala, carried over the ages, could be a meme carried down through the genetic memory, bringing “death” in the sense of “change/renewal”.

The first hybrid’s words seem to be following a chronological path. The “world not their own” could easily be the New Caprica situation, as “denial of the one true path” could have been the decision not to pursue Earth. The four, of course, are the four newly revealed Cylons. Kara certainly appeared to be in the “midst of confusion”, after which Leoben found her. At this point, the enemies have indeed been “brought together by impossible longing”. It would seem that the path forward is soon to be defined, and it will not be pleasant.

As seemingly obvious as it seems, the one clawing “toward the light, hungering for redemption that will only come in the howl of terrible suffering” could certainly apply to Baltar. It could technically be Roslin, though she has always been in the role of the “dying leader”. Of course, since these are obvious connections, it’s likely that the revelation will involve someone else.

Roslin’s own journey through mortality seems to confirm her role as the “dying leader” (who, apparently, will soon learn the truth about the “opera house”). Considering how long the series has drawn the distinction between the Humans’ “Lords of Kobol” and the Cylon “God”, it’s about time they had a deeper discussion on the subject. The interesting thing here is the underlying imagery that Baltar continues to utilize, which seems to connect to the collective unconscious of both Human and Cylon. More evidence, perhaps, that he is the final Cylon after all.

In terms of Roslin herself, the discussions with Emily have actually led her to wonder if Baltar is not as nutty as he seems. Given her absolute disgust with Baltar and distrust in every word that comes out of his mouth, it’s realistic for something like this, a confrontation with her apparently inevitable fate, to consider his words outside of that context. It would be a stunning turn of events if Roslin were to admit, on any level, that Baltar is right. Then again, with a basestar full of Cylons coming to visit, she’ll likely have other things on her mind.

This episode gets the season arc back on track, and brings the quality back to its usual excellence. This has nothing to do with the well-discussed death at the end of the episode (which has been celebrated far too loudly with a blood thirst that is disturbing to behold), but rather, the exploration of how far Sam is willing to go to save Dean’s life.

Both brothers are challenged in terms of the lengths they will go to change Dean’s fate. In previous seasons, Dean would probably have been the one with questionable morals, or at the very least, the one willing to take chances with his own existence. The past year has forced Dean to consider what he has to live for, and with the war still escalating and Sam’s nature still in doubt. Saving Sam is not purely a matter of keeping him alive.

Sam, on the other hand, has allowed his desperation to save Dean to undermine his usual compassionate perspective. With a bit of time to reflect on the matter, it’s unlikely that Sam would have suggested that Dean endure an existence like that of Doc Benton. After all, would Sam really want Dean to have to replace worn or damaged organs and body parts to survive? And there was no guarantee that immortality would have saved Dean at all.

In the process, however, Dean managed to get one over on Bela, whose motivations were finally clear. Hopefully, Bela’s exit was not purely a response to fan pressure; fans should never have that much power, as it is inevitably abused by those with an extreme point of view. Instead, I would hope that Bela’s demise was a response to the writers’ inability to give her a solid and balanced role on the series. The potential was there, and the character has its place, but the writing staff never seemed to find it.

But the writers did manage to give her a logical exit, and it provided the link between Dean’s current situation and Sam’s competition for control of the demonic horde. In my opinion, Sam’s attitude about Doc Benton and Lilith’s interference adds to the long list of plot elements pointing to Sam’s decision, possibly in the finale, to assume the mantle of Antichrist. Sam’s character arc this season has been pointing in that direction for quite some time, and if they don’t go in that direction, the alternative will need to be equally compelling.

Right from the beginning, it was clear that this episode would be a stunning chunk of mythology, adding to the recent revelations and placing them in a more confusing (yet more intriguing) context. The nature of time and space has once again come under question, at least in terms of the island, and some of the speculation from previous reviews appears to be right on track.

Perhaps the most interesting development in this episode is the apparent confirmation of Locke's destiny. As a character, Locke has never questioned that his arrival on the island had a purpose. It was the kind of assumption that becomes easily absorbed by the audience, something of a shorthand for the character himself. It's not so much that the audience must believe in Locke's destiny, only that he himself believes wholeheartedly that he has one.

This episode turns that assumption on its head. Locke may have been delusional, but he was, in fact, "chosen". In this case, something inherent to John Locke caught Richard Alpert's attention before he was even born. This would imply (along with the unusual space-time properties of the island) that he was known to have potential for leadership of the Others. Yet, despite the fact that Richard and the Others attempt to bring him into the fold throughout his life, Locke continually makes the wrong choices.

Even so, Locke came to be on the island, and the process of getting there might have made the difference. Locke was the first to see the "smoke monster", early in the first season, and he survived without incident. Since that moment, his success on the island has been tied to his faith in his destiny and his purpose as the "shaman priest" among the survivors. That now ties into his apparent status as Chosen One, the new liaison between the physical world of the Others and the apparent spiritual or non-corporeal world of Jacob and his amazing friends.

It now seems clear that Jacob is not the one taking on the forms of those passed, but that the connection to Jacob is very strong. The previous episode seemed to show, through the character of Miles, that the whispers surrounding the Others are connected to the dead. The apparitions have been connected to Jacob, but also to the "smoke monster". There is an underlying rationale to all of it, and it is likely connected to the properties of the island.

An early theory for the activity on the island was that a non-corporeal intelligence was looking for a way to regain corporeal form. That turned out to be incorrect (as most early theories were), but the intersection between corporeal and non-corporeal on the island is clear. What if the souls of the dead on the island are "trapped" there, acting in some gestalt form as the "smoke monster"? Alternatively, the "smoke monster" could be something designed to allow the gestalt intelligences to act on the physical plane. Jacob, then, would be something of an interface, with the Chosen One as the voice of the dead, who combined comprise the "will of the island".

This idea is meaningful because non-corporeality, in conjunction with the space-time warping properties of the electromagnetic anomaly, could explain much of the rest of the seemingly paranormal phenomena encountered. If the anomaly heals, then it also would preserve…unless the non-corporeal beings on the island intercede. And it would appear that longevity lasts far beyond the island, once granted.

It might also explain the truth about the crash of Oceanic 815. What if neither Ben nor Widmore brought the plane down on the island? What if neither of them contrived to have the plane so far off course? What if it was Jacob and his kind, purposefully bringing the right people to the island, ensuring that particular individuals survived? (A question, in fact, that has been asked sporadically by characters on the show, though not in the same terms.)

If so, then perhaps this episode begins to suggest the timeline of events on the island. Assuming, once again, that Charles Widmore was the leader of the Others up to (and perhaps including) the arrival of the Dharma Initiative, it leads to the following speculation. What if Jacob was not pleased with Widmore for quite some time? Perhaps Widmore had a right-hand man, someone like Matthew Abbadon. Perhaps Richard was tasked by Jacob to find a replacement.

Maybe Richard had reason, based on certain signs and portents, to believe that Locke was the right man for the job. Richard tried many times to bring Locke into the fold, as a child and as a teen. But clearly, Locke’s own issues stood in the way. Around the same time, Dharma might have come to the island, perhaps based on a decision by Widmore himself. This could have been the final straw, forcing Widmore’s ouster (as well as Abbadon’s "walkabout") and the need for a replacement.

With Locke out of the running (at least, at the time), could Jacob have led Richard to Ben, a young man with very similar circumstances of birth? Could the signs and portents have been "close enough"? In the meantime, Widmore and his right-hand-man Abbadon could have learned about Locke, and could have pushed him towards his destiny, knowing that Locke could be the key to restoring their primacy over the Others and the island. Once Locke was on the way (metaphorically and, soon after, literally), Jacob could have decided that the interim leader was no longer necessary, leading to Ben's tumor. This would put the competition between Locke and Ben in an intriguing new light.

This assumes that the non-corporeal elements on the island are represented solely by Jacob. That may not be the case. The non-corporeal entities may, in fact, be in a struggle for control themselves. Jacob may represent one side of the equation, the side populated by Richard and Ben. There may be an opposing force related to Widmore and Abbadon. Jacob's side may simply want to protect the island; the other side may be wanting broader control.

If this speculation is at least close to reality, it may explain why Aaron was so important in the first season, as well as the early use of black/white imagery. Aaron could be more than just the solution to the fertility problem. He could be meant as the next great leader of the population of the island, perhaps even Locke's successor. Claire's presence in his life could be a deciding factor in which side controls Aaron's future, and thus the fate of the island and its secrets.

All of this is subject to much revision, but that is the strength of "Lost" this season. The condensed nature of the storytelling has made every moment important and meaningful to the Big Picture. It's also great to see Claire regain importance to the narrative. There's something disturbing in the sultry, dreamy, knowing look she gives Locke.

The rest of the episode is devoted to servicing the plot, setting the stage for the invasion by Widmore's mercenaries. These events are relatively straightforward, since it's clear that the ball has to get rolling for the finale somehow, but the time-distortion issue is still kept consistent throughout. Keamy is coming across as a bit over the top, but once his ruthlessness was established in "Meet Kevin Johnson", it couldn't be reduced. It is, however, the only true complaint for such a mind-bending episode.

This episode is yet another alternate reality story for “Smallville”, this time playing a rift on “It’s a Wonderful Life”. The story itself was somewhat mediocre, serving the current season arc more than demonstrating its own merits. This episode was all about laying out the consequences of not stopping Brainiac in the future, which logically speaking, is hardly necessary. Even Clark should realize that dying on Krypton would have serious long-term consequences, since all the other Krypton-related incidents would have still taken place.

It is fun, however, to see “what might be”, however inconsistently the possible future is depicted. I found it all too easy for Clark to negotiate his way through a world where a “real” Clark Kent was already alive. For example, how large is a graduating class at Smallville High that Chloe wouldn’t know whether or not a “Clark Kent” graduated with her, especially considering her role as editor of the Torch? And if the world is so oppressive under President Luthor and the presence of the DDS, why did was it so cheery and carefree most of the time?

I did like the alternate versions of Jimmy and Lois, as they seemed to be more thought out. Lex was generally his current self (not counting the odd and contradictory final scene regarding Lana). The most jarring exception was Lana as “Linda Danvers”, head of the DDS. Setting aside the odd notion that the head of any authoritative security organization would be so active in the field, Laura Vandervoort was completely out of her depth. Every time she tried to act tough and capable, it came across as disingenuous. It pulled me out of every scene with her character.

Overall, the season still feels fragmented and unfocused. The main season arc was originally Lex’s desire to use Kara to uncover Clark’s secret. I wouldn’t say that the thread has been lost, but it was buried somewhat under the return of Brainiac and the long-awaited revelations regarding Veritas. It hasn’t been completely terrible, but it’s been scattershot.

Between the loss of so many high-profile cast members and producers and the looming SAG strike, I’m also very concerned about Season 8. It’s beginning to look a lot like the final season of “The Dead Zone”, which had some interesting moments but felt unnecessary. It could be fun to see the show go out on an unusual note, but it could just be the very, very long road to the anticipated series finale.