I’m a bit pressed for time, so this week’s edition may end up a little shorter than usual. Of course, I often say that and end up rambling on and on. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
First things first, nobody responded to the riddle I had in last week’s column. That either means nobody could figure it out, or nobody cared. Or both. Anyway, I discussed the riddle with a couple friends of mine over the week, and we were able to figure out the answer. So, once again, here is the riddle, and I will put the answer at the bottom of the column:
Into the eye, I am to fly
I have a body and a head but not alive
It is your determination how far I go
And you may hold me in your hand but I am not to throw
CONTINUITY POLICE, VOLUME 10:
After a one week hiatus, the continuity police are back in action. In his Thursday Report, Kevin Wong asked about the connection between the Law & Order franchise and The X-Files and The Beat, since Richard Belzer’s character crossed over onto both shows. To be honest, I haven’t watched any of the three shows enough to have a valid opinion on it, but that did remind me of a similar continuity contradiction revolving around one show crossing over to another.
As most of us know, the television show “Newhart” made the shocking revelation that the entire series was actually somebody’s dream, in which is remembered as being one of the most surprising and clever finales a show has ever done. So that means that all of the characters from Newhart don’t actually exist, and none of the events actually happened. Yet, Larry, Darryl, and Darryl (of Newhart fame) made a guest appearance as the characters they played on Newhart in the series finale of Coach. This cannot be possible, since Larry, Darryl, and Darryl are a figment of somebody’s imagination.
The connections don’t stop there, however. Christine (from Coach) reads a book on fly fishing, which was written by Dick Louden, who was the main character from Newhart. Again, since Dick Louden didn’t actually exist, he would never have been able to write a book. The repeated references to Newhart on Coach indicates that that universe was indeed real, which is a direct contradiction to the continuity established on the actual series.
LOST:
I actually quite enjoyed this episode as, for the first time we had dual flashbacks, getting the perspective of both Jin and Sun and how they met. I’ve always really liked Sun, but Jin has grown on me a great deal since their sorta separation last season. Just to set the record straight, I’d really like for them to reconcile, but it was nice getting a deeper sense of Jin’s roots.
I really liked how loyal Jin has become to Michael. It’s almost hard to believe that a year ago these two were at each other’s throats. Now, Michael is referring to him as his friend, and Jin is risking life and limb to help Michael search for Walt. That said, I find the whole “there’s something in the woods, but instead of, ya’ know, telling you what it is and giving you details during our long walks together, I will repeatedly give you vague cryptic hints over and over again” thing. I mean, honestly, if there is something THAT dangerous out there, why on earth wouldn’t they be at least somewhat straightforward with them about what it is?
I like the hatch storyline, but it was also nice taking a big step away from that whole arc. The season has thus far been so heavily revolved around Jack, Locke, Kate, and Hurley (who I all like), so it was nice seeing the other characters get some much deserved attention. Yes, I know that we’ve seen a great deal of Sawyer, Jin, and Michael, but they’ve always seemed like a supporting part to the main story.
I continue to loathe Ana Lucia, once again not in the way I suspect we are “supposed” to hate her. Nothing would make me happier than if SHE was the one who died in a couple weeks, but since I know that won’t happen, I am at least hopeful that she’ll soften up a bit once the tailies get united with the front end survivors. Of course, that lightening up period probably won’t happen for a while. And, in fairness, I did kinda chuckle at her “you gay?” line to Sawyer.
Speaking of Sawyer, I thought it was a really sweet moment when Kate quietly expressed her sadness that she didn’t have a chance to say good bye to Sawyer. Those two have certainly had an unusual relationship, but once again I find it realistic (similar to her mostly inexplicable immediate attachment to Jack). I like how Jack and Sawyer are so completely different, yet Kate feels an undeniable yet distinct attraction to both of them. In addition to that, I think the opposite scenario will happen, where Jack and Sawyer will both grow an attraction towards Ana Lucia, who is quite radically different from Kate in her own right.
Looks like we’re going to have to go three weeks without a new episode, which completely sucks. And it seems as if somebody is going to die next week, and from what I understand it’s supposed to be a female character. Since there will be little to talk about next week, I’ll give my thoughts on this subject at that time.
NIP/TUCK:
Well, I stand by my current belief that Quentin is the Carver, and having Kit be his latest victim is a nice touch. However, I can’t help but be really confused about something. I assume that the Carver was the one who framed Christian (it was likely not Kit, since she was the one who got the charges dropped, and she went to Christian for his help after she was the victim of an attack), and provided he was, he obviously wanted Christian to take the fall for it. Yet when the news is reported on television, suddenly the Carver becomes infuriated that somebody else is getting the credit for his kills?
By the way, Quentin had access to Christian’s condoms from when he was involved in the foursome with Kimber and Kit, so at this point my prediction is being validated.
SMALLVILLE:
In the latest TV Guide (with Geena Davis on the cover) has a page long interview with Al Gough, executive producer of Smallville. There are some interesting tidbits in it.
First and foremost, we now conclusively know that there will NOT be a Bruce Wayne episode, which has been rumored (and wanted by the producers) since the beginning of the series. But why? Well, after the exceptional success of Batman Begins, Warner Bros. wants to keep Batman as its own franchise. This is disappointing, since I would have loved seeing a young (and tortured, perhaps) Bruce Wayne interact with Clark Kent. And the dialogue between Bruce and Lex and.or Lionel would be a thing of beauty.
In regards to somebody dying, it’ll happen the 100th episode, which airs this winter. Along with that, there’s a possibility that this may not be the only death in that episode. Intriguing, indeed. I still think Jonathan will be the one who bites the dust, but there’s a chance that it could be Chloe, also. It’s too bad, since I like both characters.
In news that I found a twinge disappointing, it seems like they’re going to once again explore the whole Lex loving Lana thing. Quite specifically, Lex hits on Lana on the November 10th episode. I guess now that Lex and Clark aren’t so much friends anyway, Lex wants to take what is rightfully his (in his mind, anyway). It is interesting to read this, and then watch back to season one, and see how drastically different Lex behaves in regards to Lana and Clark. In season one, Lex would go to unbelievable lengths to help Clark get Lana (giving him concert tickets, letting him use his limo, having the Metropolis Football team play with Whitney, etc.) At the end of season two Lex started putting doubts in Lana’s head, and in season three Lex began making his feelings more apparent. Now, it looks like his eyes are on the prize.
Something I found especially interesting is Gough’s explanation of Jor-El’s current “nagging” of Clark. I’ve noted in my reviews that Jor-El seems softer, and more loving towards Clark. This is part of what Gough had to say: “Jor-El sees that Earth is on a path very much like Krypton was. Clark can save Earth.” I find it interesting that Jor-El now wants Clark to be Earth’s savior, when in the past he’s indicated that he wants Clark to be Earth’s ruler. Again, this appears to be a much more benevolent Jor-El. Obviously, he also wants Clark to expand his worldview beyond Kansas. He was unable to do this in the season premiere.
Finally, Gough also opens up a bit about Brainiac. Interestingly, he refers to him as a “Kryptonian villain,” which sheds some light on some confusion I experienced during my last Smallville review. Although not much light. Anyway, apparently he makes his intentions known on the November 10th and 17th episodes. Oh and there’s going to be “a smackdown in the Fortress of Solitude.” Awe-some. Wow, it sounds like a whole lot is going to go down on the November 10th episode.
TV FUN FACT OF THE WEEK:
This week we’ll take a look at an old favorite, Curb Your Enthusiasm. This is one of those shows that I absolutely love every time I watch it, but always, well, forget to watch it. I was going to check it out last night, but for some reason it was on at 9:00 instead of its usual time (which I believe is either 10 or 10:30), so I missed it yet again. Anyway, this one’s a doozy, so sit back and relax:
In 2003, a man named Juan Catalan was arrested for a murder in California. He repeatedly professed his innocence and asked to take a lie detector test, a request that the police denied. He also had an alibi: he swore that at the time of the murder he was at Dodger Stadium with his little girl, watching LA get creamed by the Braves, but his lawyer was unable to find him in any of the Dodger Vision or FOX footage he subpoenaed. Catalan’s lawyer discovered that there was another possible source of crowd footage: “Curb Your Enthusiasm” had shot at Dodger Stadium that night. Although he Catalan did not make the final cut of the show, his lawyer was able to find him and his daughter depicted in the outtakes, and ascertain from the timestamps on the tapes that he could not have been the killer. When told that his show had released a wrongfully accused man from prison and a trial that could have led to the death penalty, Larry David commented, “I tell people that I’ve now done one decent thing in my life, albeit inadvertently.”
How’s that for dumb luck? Anyway, hope everybody has a great week. Check out my Smallville recap/review later this week, which should be posted sometime Friday.
Oh, and for those of you wondering, the answer to last week’s riddle is an arrow.
