Saturday, September 27, 2014

Dominion: Favorite Scenes: The Flood


Time for a family reunion
            So excited that we will be seeing Dominion again next year and that there will be 13 episodes to watch! "The Flood" is probably one of my favorite episodes, mostly because we got to see a new Archangel Uriel, a fiery, wickedly playful blond played by actress Katrine De Candole. I base my picks off of production value, character, and memorability. It was a hard list to choose which were my top favorites and these may not be in order.

Big sister has come back to play

           1. Uriel drops in and has a chat with Michael: Dominion loves strong powerful women as the producers portray one of the four Archangels as a woman. Tom and Kat play their characters well where Michael is on edge and serious, Uriel is teasing and exuberant. I loved the part where they're both up in the air, their wings outstretched and them twirling together. It kind of reminded me of two eagles in their famous acrobatic mating dance but this dance was slightly more dangerous. I could never do a  trust fall off a ledge even if there's a cushion at the bottom and the ledge is only 2 feet high but Katrine just gracefully falls back, as fearless as her character who takes flight after the fall. I remember in the Pilot where Michael has the same take off style.

The painting doesn't do Gabriel justice

           2. Uriel, Michael, & Gabriel have a family meeting: Love that the scene took place in a library. Mostly because of the artwork the production designers decided to display. If you recall a portrait of an angel with a kind face and hands outstretched in a nonviolent manner then you just saw a portrait of the Archangel Gabriel. I suppose it's an inside joke how we once perceived angels to be these benevolent celestial beings but they're really more human with monstrous qualities. So surrounding our angel characters with art depicting angels was sort of like placing caricatures around the room. The scene was non-stop laughs and gasps while the chemistry between the actors sparked the room. You have all of these different, vibrant personalities that left no space for boring; I was always rapt in the moment. The funniest part was Gabriel feeling up a statue saying: "Didn't Father teach us to share our toys?" Does that mean Michael has to share Becca? I would think Michael would prefer that rather than hand over Alex to the sadistic Gabriel or the secretive Uriel who's motives are still unclear. But the most striking part of the scene was Gabriel's allusions to Michael's violent, bloody past. Michael was even more on edge, I thought he's punch Gabriel in his smug face. I did love Gabriel's exit. I doubt Ryan Seacrest would have had a more memorable exit.

"Didn't Father teach us to share our toys?"
Michael is not sharing Becca...
unless it's with other girls...


80s songs just pop into my head when I see this.

           3. Alex has a wet dream... literally: The tattoos turn it up a notch on Alex while he languished in solitary confinement. I can only imagine the pains the make up artists went through to paint Christopher with those arcane symbols then wash them off then paint them on again. The tattoos trickled off then spelled another cryptic message: "She died for you." What the hell does that mean? I hope they had towels ready for Chris after that scene to keep from freezing although because of the heat in South Africa I bet it was refreshing. There was something else that stood out. A red picture with a silhouette of a tree which stood in stark contrast to the templates of neutral, cool blues. Could it be the Tree of Life or one of those other famous trees from Bible legend?

Can archaic messages just say what they mean for once?


Oh Bixby, "Red" is not a flavor but you're adorable

         4. Alex visits Bixby: It was such a nice scene. Alex would make a great dad. Christopher Egan and Betsy Wilke give off this comfortable, family vibe that allows Alex to become a softer person and ease his anger. The room is flooded with light opposite to Alex's time below in the darkness of the prison and solitary confinement. It's kind of like Alex leaving the Underworld where he thought he could keep his loved ones safe; a mental place of fear but Alex returned to the world of the living therefore coming to a mental place of courage. This scene is one of the first few scenes I think about when I remember "The Flood". 

Watch out these kittens have claws

         5. Arika circles Noma: Noma hates being on guard duty. She seems more of an action kind of girl but I would be nervous too if I was left in a room with Arika. Her intuition is borderline supernatural. There was an interesting power struggle here. Kim and Shivani both play women who need to be assertive and aggressive because they are surrounded by men and have to survive in a male dominated profession. Arika sense that Noma has a secret but Noma refuses to let this jungle cat psych her out with her mind games. Still Arika sees that Noma has value, enough to offer her a job. Noma's a loyal friend so I'm not sure she'll leave Alex behind. 

The worst part? No chairs just a hard metal floor.

          6. All Frost hostage scenes: It would be hard to pick just one scene where Frost goes postal and holds David and Riesen hostage. The architecture of the set was pleasing. My father's an architect so I've developed a love for interior and exterior design of buildings and I just loved the set of the agriculture towers with the crops being set up in some hanging gardens of Babylon style. Lighting wise, keeping Frost in Caravaggio lighting helped to color his desperation and madness of the moment. As far as character, forcing David into a corner we saw that he's not just into giving out threats. He tried very hard to reach out to Frost with reason but when dealing with a religious nut reason doesn't really cut it. Also even though David attempted to be understanding his past of being a total ass with Frost's beliefs just made him come off pretentious. I was wondering when someone was going to shoot David. I guess Becca was just sorry that it wasn't her. Riesen managed to keep his mouth shut most of the time, however. Being a military man sometimes patience and keeping your mouth shut helps and he rushed to give David medical attention after he was shot. It could also be what Riesen said, "I wish he was crazy." So Riesen understands that Frost is somewhat right about why they want to keep the Chosen One a secret. I did notice that David was sort of nicer than usual to Riesen. It could have been the blood loss or feeling that he was going to die, but when it comes down to it, David and Riesen have been through a lot together on and off the battlefield. They have some degree of respect for each other.

The future of leaders of Vega


Eye of the Tigress

       7. Claire is acting Lady of the City: I did like seeing Claire sitting in her father's chair but the best scene had to have been Claire going to the Agri-Towers and asserting her authority. Roxanne brings out Claire's inner-Margaret Thatcher/Iron Lady by giving that icy, penetrating stare then speaking in a low, threatening voice. She totally castrated that guy! But more than that. It's Claire coming into full terms that she will one day run Vega for real and that if this were a test, she passed with flying colors. Her reluctance to take the chair and dealing with the Senate made come off as a bit nervous and inexperienced to take the job in the Senate's point of view, however, Claire proved that she can think on her feet and that the Senate needs a strong hand to steer the ship. Claire knows now that when the time comes she can take on the challenges of leadership. 

Maybe he needs to see ALL of the tattoos? Wink wink

          8. Alex talks down Frost/Riesen executes Frost: Alex can't help but try to do the right thing. When he heard that Frost wanted to meet the Chosen One he stepped up because lives were at stake. He volunteered to go in and talk Frost down. Caravaggio lighting strikes again adding drama to the scene with Alex and everyone else in dark shades with little light. Then there's make up showing Alex's bruises from his time in prison. That archaic message "She died for you" suddenly had more significance now but from David or Riesen's point of view I think it sounded more like a wild guess. Though they did look a little surprise. Alex wouldn't have known about Frost's daughter, Abby. The most shocking moment was when Riesen just shot a kneeling Frost in cold blood. Instead answering why he did it he just ordered Alex to put his shirt back on. I suppose Riesen killed Frost because he knew he wouldn't keep quiet about Alex. Still you kind of dislike Riesen a bit after this (even more actually). 

Little Brother's big nightmare

         9. Uriel's Duplicity: Uriel and Gabriel have some similarities between their personalities which is probably why we'll see them get along so well but that doesn't mean Uriel won't try to make a fool of either of her brothers. The scene with Michael and Uriel was Uriel choosing Michael's side but that scene becomes more important when we see Uriel making similar promises of loyalty to Gabriel then flashing a devilish smirk while Gabriel held her in his arms. We definitely know she's up to something.

Alex is ready and willing to learn

              10. Alex accepts his destiny: This is a favorite of mine because of character. Alex is sitting before the Savior statue seeing the candles and gifts placed there. It has a sort of ironic feel to it being that before Alex had no faith in the Savior or even himself but now he has gained some perspective and realizes that he can't run from this. He wants to learn how to use the tattoos and end this war. Michael and Alex finally come to common ground and approach the conversation with cool heads. After years of pushing against and away from each other, these two hot heads are able to agree and want to work together. But how long will that last?

I'll save you a seat in Hell, David.

        11. David puts Bixby to sleep forever: This scene was emotionally powerful. The room was drenched in shadows of the night adding the intense immorality of the moment. Harming children is one of the most despicable things a person can do and there's a special place in hell for people who hurt children. Yet David doesn't kill Bixby out of malicious intent. Anthony Head gives more depth to his character by comforting Bixby as she goes into cardiac arrest, holding her hand until that last long beep. He also made sure her death was painless by increasing her morphine dose. Given how David so callously threw that Tech to his lion I was surprised to see how solemn and troubled David was. As bad as he is, David took it upon himself to get rid of Bixby. He preferred to stain his own hands but he did it for the wrong reasons. Knowing David he'll probably defend his actions as doing it to preserve the family and Vega's infrastructure but we know the truth.  

That weapon is really cool!


         Now for some Honorable Mentions

I would love to have a star gazing session with Michael...
& Gabriel too

      1. Michael & Becca's stargazing session: It was just a romantic scene. Secret romances are always tantalizing and we see how human Michael is. He may hate himself sometimes but Michael wants Becca in his life as she reminds him that there's some good in him; good that he has a hard time believing is there. 

          Michael: "What makes you think I'm capable of love?"

          Becca: "I know you are."

Who is this person???

     2. Mystery Person in Black heals Michael: At first I thought it was Gabriel but the figure wasn't wearing the Archangel's signature leather pants. Rumors circulate that it's Raphael but we don't know for sure. We'll have to see in season 2 next year.

Should have given her that rabbit from the Holy Grail.

      3. Claire gives Bixby a purple bunny: Claire and Bixby are so adorable. If Bixby didn't die, Alex, Claire and her would have made the cutest family. Roxanne and Betsy have an equally parent-child feel like Chris. Claire gives Bixby a friend to keep her company (should have given her a dog; better protection). If only Bixby had whispered softer or kept her mouth shut then Frost would never have heard her blab about Alex. 

Karma's a bitch, David...

           4. Frost outs the Chosen One at the Senate: Frost being an honest man thought it best to tell the Senate that the Chosen One had arrived but David being an ass not only has to deny these "allegations" but also make jokes that humiliate the poor Senator. Don't worry Karma gets David eventually. Loved the glare battle between Riesen and Frost. Frost has Riesen's number.

Alex doesn't take crap

         5. Alex starts a fight to get thrown into solitary confinement: This was early in the beginning. The prison system of Vega is no joke. Loved the trash talk and Alex just straight up hitting that officer in the face.

Conjugal visits aren't romantic but at least trailers
have cots.

         6. Alex gets a visitor in prison: Even though Alex was back in Vega he thought if he couldn't run then he could hide from his destiny. Alex's vision of Claire from a previous episode was his conscious reaching out to him then the real Claire reminded Alex that he had responsibilities here like taking care of Bixby. She just had to bring up Alex's dad abandoning him to make a comparison. Truth hurts. No wonder Alex needs Claire, she's his Jiminy Cricket in heels. 

My advice? RUN

             7. Ethan discusses the dangers of politics: Ethan doesn't think Noma should work for Arika of Helena. Mostly because of the woman in the box incident. Ethan may be a joker but he prefers the cold hard truth. When Alex revealed that he was dating Claire Riesen, Ethan responded bluntly: "The same Claire Riesen who's father orders executions?" Ethan is not on board with this Alex/Claire ship. 

"They were once Father's greatest creation."
I still debate that I mean horses, birds,
and dogs are pretty amazing

          8. Michael and Uriel hug it out: Michael lays back on a couch contemplating the ceiling while Uriel sits with him. The energy in the room had gone from hot to more cool but in a good way. Tempers have been controlled so there can be a sincere conversation about the dangerous situation. Uriel shows that she's a daddy's girl who wants Father to come home and I believe her but I'm unsure about her allegiances given a later scene with Gabriel where she makes similar promises of loyalties.

David prefers to drown his sorrows. Forget the pain pills

         9. William and David argue what's best for Vega: David's hurt but prefers alcohol to numb the pain over pain pills. There was some comedy here especially when William walked out of the room telling Arika: "Have fun." William's other line was also significant where he said, "Alex Lannon is destined to save mankind not two old men past their prime." That shut David up. He seemed hurt that his own son should choose faith over family but he'll recover. 

Becca, you got some splainin' to do!

          10. Becca's dirty little secret: Becca you naughty liar! She claimed before that she never saw the blade that was lodged in Michael's abdomen but I knew there was something fishy about that. Her house controls all medical and scientific issues so Becca not knowing where the blade was was pretty suspicious. 

             



Friday, September 26, 2014

Dominion and Defiance Renewed by SyFy!


Congratulations!
                  I was having a pretty bad week but the news of SyFy renewing both Dominion & Defiance was an uplifting event for me! I had to control myself from dancing because I was at work (but I couldn't stop smiling). Both shows ended on emotionally powerful and nail biting cliff hangers so it's nice to hear that fans will not be left wondering.

More of Gabriel's den of sin

           Dominion fans were a little on edge and worried that their new favorite show wouldn't make the cut but one of the reasons behind SyFy's decision was that Dominion did exceptionally well on social media. Twitter just lit up every Thursday this past summer. Both shows have been given 13 episode sets, which is very exciting especially for Dominion fans who only had 8 episodes that went by so quick. Also both shows have ended pretty heavily:

Yes, hunky angels, yes!

        Dominion season 1 ended with Alex outside of Gabriel's evil lair. You can't end with the antagonist winning no matter how captivating he is. Gabriel has been in the lead so far but in season 2, Uriel's deception may throw him off balance. I'm talking worse than Furiad going after Michael where Gabriel ran Irin through with Furiad's sword. Big sister's got some explaining to do. Michael needs to do some soul searching. In a deleted scene there's a mystery person who we've seen before. The figure in black who healed Michael touches a crying Michael's shoulder. Could it be Raphael the fourth Archangel sibling? 

Job well done!

          Defiance ended on an equally epic cliffhanger as well. Nolan's line as the roof came tumbling down, "I love you, baby girl" got me right in the heart. Then seeing Nolan and Irisa together in one of those weird eggs protecting them? Oh my god how will they get out of this one? You can't end a show with a woman ending up with her stalker. It just doesn't feel right! Niles sadistically played with Amanda's emotions and sanity just so he could get her to fall in love with him. One way or another Amanda's going to find out what Niles did and then Nolan will have a chance again. How hard is it to miss a camera in your room especially when it's not that well hidden?

More of Uriel's playful energy and Michael's fiery wit

        There are so many possibilities open for Dominion story wise and Defiance can only get better in season 3. I hope filming starts soon and that this winter goes by fast. Until then I along with other fans be spreading the good word of Dominion collecting more angels for the fandom, which is growing world wide. 

"We live or die together." Dominion & Defiance fans
are family now. 
       

        

        

Thursday, September 25, 2014

NCIS New Orleans: Crime in the Crescent City





            It's rare that I like procedurals. Even rarer I review them but the NCIS franchise (except for NCIS: Los Angeles) has grabbed my attention with its adventure, character chemistry, and some moments of comic relief to ease the tension. CBS just jumped at the chance to produce another spin off of one of their most watched shows. Even if the show doesn't do well in the U.S. still other countries will take on the show as advertisers just line up to sponsor this popular show.

Scott Bakula with producer/actor Mark Harmon

          Everyone is laid back in the Big Easy but crime still runs rampant as New Orleans while a beautiful, exciting location is one of the United States's most violent cities. Yet that doesn't get our crime fighters down. The mood is a bit different with this NCIS crew. After the first few seconds of the intro music my blood was pumping. I was even more electrified with Scott Bakula's fun energy for his character Dwayne Cassius "King" Pride. He's certainly different from Gibbs (Mark Harmon) who is more stoic and unapproachable while Dwayne is more friendly and social. Dwayne is the type to hop up on stage and start playing his heart out and embracing a stranger with a big smile and an offer of a beer. Still Dwayne keeps the tradition of being a parental figure for his team (which I sort of feel NCIS: LA lacks a bit but it still keeps a family vibe). However, Dwayne is just as big a lover of justice and isn't afraid to get in your face as he did with the crooked councilman. I see why Dwayne and Gibbs are friends. They each take their cases to heart but Dwayne is still married (or separated at the moment) and his daughter's in college. 

Solving the case while munching on some New Orleans Cuisine


The party never stops in the Big Easy

           But let's not forget the rest of the characters who have quickly settled into their roles and already give off a good humor vibe. Lucas Black (Legion, The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift) plays the mellow, spirited Christopher LaSalle. He loves being in the thick of the excitement (as Dwayne pointed out given LaSalle lives in the French Quarter). He seems to always have a smile on his face which makes you smile. Then there's the feisty special agent Brody (Zoe McLellan). She's not a native of the South and she may prefer to dress professionally where as her coworkers are less buttoned down but she's no downer. She's very bold with a sharp mind. And no NCIS team is complete without an enthusiastic ME like Dr. Loretta Wade (C.C. H. Pounder). Despite her morbid profession, Loretta is always ready with a smile. And her awkward, talkative assistant Sebastian Lund (Rob Kerkovich) who may come off as a nerd but he's always ready for an adventure with the living. Perhaps because it's New Orleans, death is mourned but it's the city of voodoo where the dead still play an active part in life. So seeing a corpse on that cold slab is sad but at the same time you know that wake's going to be a blast. Solemn processions with sad jazz music is always followed by a joyful celebration. Given our favorite happy Goth Abby is from the Crescent City this sort of gives us familiarity so we are much more comfortable with the theme. 

An electric cast that keeps your blood pumping

        The setting is New Orleans so producers thought it best to actually film in New Orleans. It really is a beautiful city. We get to see NOLA in all her impressive beauty. We see her ports, the French Quarter, and her jazzy clubs. But we also see the lower income areas which although aren't the most appealing are still a part of the city and would be incomplete without seeing them. All cities have light and darkness but because of New Orleans rich diverse history every space has an affect on you wherever the cameras take you whether it's in the French Quarter (the crown jewel of New Orleans) or in the bug infested swamps of the bayous. 

Crime doesn't sleep & neither does the Crescent City

           NCIS: New Orleans is definitely worth a watch. Supernatural or not, there's always exciting stuff happening in the Crescent City and you'd be a fool to miss this show.

Forever: Will It Last That Long?



So far it's so/so but it could get better


              Procedurals can get pretty boring after a while but it's always nice to introduce a supernatural element to one. ABC's Forever stars the handsome and talented Ioan Gruffudd named Henry Morgan who won't stay dead. He dies but he just disappears and winds up in water, naked and alive. He has no idea why this is happening to him. So to help pass eternity, Henry works as an ME for the New York Police Department.

100 ways to die. Henry's done them all

         Henry Morgan is an interesting character for sure. He's a sort of Sherlock Holmes character but he uses his knowledge from the last 200 years and experiences from his many deaths to help solve cases and speak for the dead. His narration gives us an extra perspective on Henry's point of view and we get a more intimate look into his heart breaking past. Although Henry Morgan is a bit neurotic and a bit of recluse, he's very caring with a big heart and forming attachments for him are very painful because while he stays the same others age or move on. But to keep Henry from going crazy he has his adoptive son, Abe, whom he rescued from a concentration camp in 1945, to keep him grounded (and also to get a ride from the river with a change of clothes when needed). There's also some romance possibility for Henry with the bereaved yet hard nosed detective Jo Martinez who lost her husband a year ago. I do see some chemistry here.

A possible romance here

          So far the show as received mixed reviews with some calling it a gimmicky premise but I disagree. I haven't seen a supernatural procedural like this one. Maybe it seems close to Highlander but it's a far cry from that premise. Henry's adversary Adam, who calls himself Henry's fan, has so far proven to be only a blip in the passing episodes. Adam has gone through 2,000 years of Henry's curse turning him into a sociopath that likes to play with Henry's sanity. I hope Adam shows himself soon. Perhaps that would really rev the audience up. It would also be a shocker if Adam turned out to be Martinez's deceased husband and he just got bored being married (for the umpteenth time) so caused his heart attack then moved on. That would probably be predictable but I don't see how else it could go. If the writers want to bring Martinez and Henry closer then this is one of the ways they can do that. That's just my opinion.

Nothing lasts forever, except for love

           All I can say is Forever is at least worth the watch. It's up to you on whether or not you want to fall in love with the character of Henry Morgan and see how much Ioan Gruffudd can make him grow.

Interesting potpourri...


          

Haven: The Troubles Are Just Beginning



No one's seen Troubles like the ones in Haven
                    The Troubles of Haven have never been more... well troubling! In a bizarre twist befitting a Stephen King project, it turns out that Mara, Audrey Parker's original self, started the Troubles and is bent on causing even more chaos. 

The original bitch is back

             Emily Rose deserves an Emmy. Every personality she takes on for her character feels so dynamic and complex, literally oozing with layers for each alter ego that makes you believe there's a different actress playing her each time. Now Emily goes from a nurturing, understanding heroine to a cold blooded, diabolical, violent antagonist. It sort of shines a light on a few things. First off we know how the Troubles started. Second we now know why Audrey kept coming back to help the Troubled: a punishment for starting them in the first place. But a new mystery is whether or not Mara is entirely human and who punished her in the first place. William was pretty tight lipped about it. It could be Audrey's father, some big bad spirit. Who doesn't have daddy issues in Haven? 

Who says Pro-Wrestlers aren't good actors.

              In other news, Dwight has taken over the Guard and unlike Nathan, he's not so inclined to believe Audrey is still alive in Mara. As much as we like Vince we know that he's been slipping lately. Understandably, Vince has been dealing with his brother, Dave (who apparently was born in another dimension) and losing Audrey. No one likes being replaced especially if they're ganged up on like Vince was, but he stepped down gracefully. Dwight's warning, however, was a bit harsh. "I like you, Vince. Take care of Dave. But don't get in my way." Vince didn't deserve that. Not sure he'll take Dwight's warning though. 

Two love sick fools

               Poor Duke. Things just keep getting worse for him. Before he just had to worry about his own family affliction but now after generations of Crocker family tradition, Duke has taken on all of the Troubles his ancestors took away. On top of that, Jennifer is cruelly taken away from him. Duke is going to have to try and be a little more zen after the damage his denial had done (hear, see, & speak no evil). We all know that Duke loves Audrey and only Audrey (unlike Nathan who loves all of Audrey) so it's unclear whether or not he'll help Nathan get her back given how easily Mara took over and how much destruction she's causing. Now that Jennifer's gone, Duke is a lonely heart again plagued by his unrequited love for Audrey Parker. Duke has little luck in the love department.

Is this another trick or is Audrey really breaking through

            Nathan was ready to give Audrey up but Audrey managed to resurface proving that her love for Nathan is stronger than Mara. Mara wouldn't admit it but Audrey and Nathan's love is becoming an obstacle to her diabolical plans. In the next episode cruel Mara may use that love against Nathan (having Audrey's memories doesn't help either) and Dwight seems to be closing in on them. As far as we've seen, Nathan and Audrey's love can weather any storm and has proven to defy the laws of time. It would be great if James returned. Mara can't deny the fact that Nathan is the father of her son and it could be that seeing her son again could allow Audrey to resurface again even stronger. 

Mara plays dirty...

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Almost Human: The Campaign Soldiers On


Thought-provoking, exciting, and entertaining

                Although I have left the Save Almost Human campaign others still carry on the fight. Follow this link here for the article done by examiner.com.

Karl Urban's becoming a hot commodity

           That being said although I applaud fans' efforts the only way I see Almost Human coming back is if it's a movie to tie up loose ends. Karl Urban doesn't want to come back to television (given his hot movie career and the stress of his marriage right now) and Michael Ealy is a hot commodity making it hard to pin him down. It's hard to hear but like Firefly I believe fans can get a movie I mean I'm happy to see how many signatures the petition has gained so far. Almost Human has gone the way of Star Trek where fans would write letters to the network to save their show. Almost Human is a well written, thought provoking show and will live in Cult TV History forever.

Who could resist that smile? FOX & Warner Bros. that's who!