A Case of the Mondays

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Before I get to this rather significant and exciting week of television, I have a few things I need to rant about.

As I’ve noted before, I’ve never had bad allergies, but this season I’ve suffered atrociously. So this past week I go to CVS to buy some allergy pills and I have to give them my license so that they can take all of my information, and to see if I’ve purchased any other allergy medicines in recent history. It is explained to me that there are a lot of kids out there that use things like Claritin and Sudafed to get high, so now there’s a regulation on how much milligrams a month you (or anybody in your household or with the same last name) can buy per month.

So let me get this straight: We have a regulation on ALLERGY medicine, which actually serves a great medicinal purpose, yet there’s no regulation on how often or how much cigarettes or alcohol somebody chooses to buy? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe there should be a regulation on purchasing those things, and I hate cigarettes. I just find it extremely, well, idiotic that we have restrictions on people purchasing something that serves a great health benefit, yet evidently have no qualms about those same people buying, in excess, something that has a dramatic detrimental effect on your health.

Rant #2 is about Pink (the singer). So I quite often catch that “Stupid Girls” music video, and while it’s a disturbingly catchy song after you hear it enough times, the whole premise behind the song annoys me. Actually, let me preface that with this quick message: I’m glad that she at least acknowledges that women are to blame for the way they act and dress, unlike Christina Aguilera, who dresses like a whore, and somehow that’s MY fault.

Anyway, as I was saying. So here Pink rips apart women for dying their hair blonde and all that, all while having blonde hair herself. Just so everybody understands, when other women dye their hair, they’re superficial and stupid. When Pink does it, I suppose, it’s some rebellious statement.

I also completely agree with the message that young girls shouldn’t feel like there’s anything wrong with them if they choose to play with a football instead of a Barbie doll. However, along those same lines, young girls shouldn’t feel like there’s something wrong with them if they prefer to play with dolls instead. Pink’s video practically demonizes the idea that a girl would want to play with dolls. It’s as if she’s saying that if you play with Barbies, you’re going to turn into some bubbly blonde when you grow up.

Anyway, it’s late and I’ve rambled on enough about this. It was a huge week in television, so let’s get into it.

LOST:

This show certainly knows how to come back from a hiatus, doesn’t it?

Before I get to the explosive ending, a few notes. The Libby/Hurley/Jin scene, with the “this is our beach….there’s Jin” was hilarious, exceptionally accentuated by Jin’s smirk and thumbs up at the end. While that was a great scene, I don’t think many people realized that it was also a wonderfully homage to a scene earlier in the season, when Jin left his shelter just after he and Sun were reunited, and Hurley looked at him, smirked, and gave him a thumbs up.

The writers did another great throwback to an earlier episodes, notably when Michael mentioned that The Others are all filthy and haggard, only to have Kate do a double take, as she knows that those are only disguises. Michael, of course, doesn’t realize that she knows that.

While one would think that this is the perfect time to segue to Michael and the ending, I’m actually going to quickly discuss Jack and Locke. I really like Jack as a character, but the guy is so extremely unlikable whenever he shares a scene with Locke. Yes, we get it, Jack doesn’t like Locke and doesn’t agree with this mentality….but must he be so excessively condescending whenever Locke says anything? That’s part of the reason why I want to see Jack and Kate happen so much, because I find Jack most likable when he’s with her.

Alright, about the ending. Wow, that was really, really unexpected. I definitely saw Michael betraying them coming, but I was shocked when he killed Ana Lucia…and was even further surprised when he shot Libby. I was honestly in awe when the episode ended.

A lot of people are saying that they don’t think Libby’s dead, but I’m not quite convinced. The big argument seems to be that she was holding blankets in front of her. Blankets, people? And yes, Michael didn’t shoot to kill (as it was unexpected), but he did shoot her twice, right in the gut. And when most people are shot and not killed, they usually scream bloody murder, or at least struggle on the ground for a bit. She dropped like a sack of potatoes.

The obvious conclusion is that Michael will set Henry free, and tell everybody that he got his hand on a gun, killed Ana Lucia and Libby, and shot Michael. So, was Michael brainwashed, or did he make a deal with The Others? I believe the latter. He seemed far too remorseful over the prospect of killing Ana Lucia and accidentally shooting/killing Libby, so I definitely don’t think he’s one of them. I think he probably made a deal with The Others to set Henry free and send the rest of the crew into a trap, in exchange for Walt.

Two other issues: Was Henry telling the truth about coming to get Locke, or was he pulling his chain? And was Ana Lucia in the wrong place at the wrong time, or was Michael specifically supposed to kill her? The answer to the first question, I believe, is no, Henry is not telling the truth. Henry has done a good job of manipulating what he sees, and I think that’s just what he’s doing.

The second question is a bit harder to answer. It’s been implied that Ana Lucia wasn’t on the good list, and Henry did try to kill her, mentioning that she killed Goodwin. Perhaps Michael was specifically sent to kill her.

On the topic of the Michael/Ana Lucia scene, did anybody else catch how slyly he managed to get a whole lot of information out of her?

I’m also playing around with a possible theory, which is that Walt is actually the leader of The Others. I believe that he didn’t actually know he’s their leader, but after they kidnapped him (and perhaps brainwashed him), he came to the realization that he was. This may also explain why he no longer appears in any visions.

Just a little thing I’m playing around with.

SMALLVILLE:

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m not a fan of the Lana/Lex stuff. That said, I was pleased to hear Lana clarify that Lex is not her boyfriend. It validates the belief that she’s only involved with him out of being hurt and vulnerable, and not necessarily genuine feelings.

I also have to give credit where it is due: Lex is right about him not stealing Lana away from Clark. That said, it wasn’t due to a lack of trying. If Lana would have cheated on Clark with Lex, he would have jumped at the opportunity.

However, I do have a few qualms: I find it hard to believe that Clark could ever be caught in any act. Okay, so he’s rifling through Lana’s papers, and she and Lois quite loudly walk in, and he doesn’t use his super speed to hide? Or somehow run out of the door or window? He just stands there red handed?

Along with that, if Clark has such a problem with Lana being with Lex, and he’s genuinely worried about her safety, why exactly is he struggling to find evidence against Lex? Why can’t he just say “Hey, remember when you, me, and my family were held captive by that crazy electricity guy earlier this year? Yeah, when that guy held you at gunpoint? Well Lex set that whole thing up, and Chloe can verify that”????

And, again, I feel like even in her hurt state, Lana would realize there’s a difference between lying and saving people and lying and putting lives in danger.

While I am not a fan of the whole Lex/Lana/Clark stuff, I am extremely intrigued by the Clark/Lionel/Chloe stuff. I think that trio has incredible potential and will be highly entertaining. Do I believe that Lionel is as genuine as he seems? No, probably not. Does he have ulterior motives? Almost certainly. Nevertheless I find it very interesting and entertaining, and I’m really glad that they brought back the whole Jor-El using Lionel as a vessel thing.

I also liked the Milton Fine stuff, and was pleased to discover that Lex was not duped into believing the whole CIA thing. The stuff with Lex having super heeling abilities is also very fun.

Is next week the season finale? If so, I will do a full write up (like the old days!) on the episode.

24:

Alright, while I’m not as big a fan of Chloe as the rest of the world seems to be, I did find the stun gun thing hilarious. Especially when she used it again when the guy woke up.

I also really like that Karen has put the pieces together and is willing to help Jack resolve the issue. Most people would put saving lives ahead of their ambitious nature, so I found this to be very realistic. And I also like that Mike stood up for her when Miles tried to usurp her.

Also, am I completely wrong, or wasn’t Buchanan protecting Wayne Palmer? Shouldn’t this have been dealt with when Buchanan was taken into custody?

This season has been exceptionally exhilarating, that needs to be restated.

SURVIVOR:

What an episode!

Is it me, or is this the first time we already know the final four before the last episode? Will we have an elimination next week and go into the final episode with the final three, or will next week be just a build up for the finale?

I continue to find Aras exceptionally unlikable. This guy can’t stand Terry for the SOLE reason that Terry outdoes him in every single challenge, whether it’s mental or physical. Dude, get over yourself. And you have to absolutely, positively be kidding me if you honestly want to compare your relationship with your mother with somebody’s relationship with their wife or husband. I think that argument hurt Aras a whole lot more than it hurt Terry.

I was actually surprised that Shane didn’t make a bigger, Judd-like scene when he got voted off. I honestly thought he was going to explode. He handled it pretty well, considering.

I also find it interesting how much Courtney resents Danielle. Not that it’s necessarily surprising. Nevertheless, Danielle should be the person everyone wants to go into the finals with.

I was actually quite pleased with Terry’s decision for the reward challenge. That is EXACTLY, to the tee, what I would have done.

Speaking of Terry, I know that they said the immunity idol can be used up to the final four, but does that mean it can be used until the vote that determines the final four, or the last vote of the remaining final four? If it’s the former, the hidden immunity idol is now a moot point. If it’s the latter, then Terry is guaranteed the final 3.

What do I think will happen from here? Well, an alliance between Danielle and Terry would be mutually beneficial (not to mention very funny, considering their feelings towards each other this past week’s episode). I see them probably voting off Aras next, because he’s a bigger physical threat. Cirie has the least chance of winning an immunity challenge, so they can probably vote her off from there. This leaves Terry and Danielle in the final two.

From there, we know that Austin and Sally will vote for Terry. Courtney is a pretty sure bet also. Shane and Bruce also seem to more or less like Terry as well, so I could easily see them voting for Terry. We don’t quite know how Aras and Cirie would react to Danielle having them voted off, but I probably see Aras voting for her. Nevertheless, another IP columnist made a great point with the observation that, so far, Terry has not once voted for the person who got voted off…so there really isn’t all that much bad blood against him.

THE OC:

I have to admit, I was a bit worried that they’d have Summer wake up so hung over, that she would forget about getting back together with Seth, making us wait even longer for the reconciliation. Worries averted!

I thought the stuff with Seth and Kirsten was really cute. I liked how Seth was concerned for her, but still wanted to protect her. He’d lie to Summer about what was wrong with Kirsten, he’d super scrub her glass to make sure it had no scent, at all, of alcohol. He’d sneak to her meetings, and then when he found out that Sandy was in part responsible, he told him off.

Less said about the Ryan/Volchek said, the better. I have no interest in that whole thing.

Marissa’s sister is really hot. Yes, I know, she’s like 12….but she’s also like 8 feet tall, so it all balances out.

I actually quite enjoyed Julie’s behavior this episode. She seemed very genuine in her desire to be there for Sandy and Kirsten. I do get a kick out of whenever she says “they’re like family,” however. Did she forget that she was married to Kirsten’s father?

I liked how they tied up the Sandy turning evil story arc, and how they managed to tie it into earlier story lines that were never fully resolved (most notably, Seth smoking pot).

I guess we’ll have to wait two weeks before we find out what happens with Seth setting Sandy’s office on fire.

Oh, and the previews seem to hint at one of the major characters possibly dying. Mark my words…MARK my words….if anything, ANYTHING happens to Rachel Bilson on that show, there will be hell to pay.

I don’t want any spoilers or reassurances AT all, so please don’t e-mail me if you know what happens. But there will be hell to pay.

I’m going to cut things off there. Hope everybody has a good week, and I’ll be here next Monday!

Matt Basilo has been writing for Inside Pulse since April 2005, providing his insight into various popular television shows. Be sure to visit his blog at [a case of the blog] and follow him on Twitter.