Exposed And Buried

One of the reasons why I love "Lost" is the way it can surprise you with things you already know. For instance, Nikki and Paulo became immediately the show's most hated characters, even with minimal screen time. Everyone, including myself, was quick to assume that these characters were to play some important role and their awkward introduction was there to mislead the audience. Wrong! Nikki and Paulo's purpose was exactly that : be hated!

Their episode was a very fun flashback of life on the island from their perspective, and basically a tribute to the "extras"; all those other survivors we never hear anything from, and don't care about. The attitude of the show towards them is clear. It happened with poor Dr. Arzt (featured on this episode, as well as other dead characters like Shannon, Boone and Ethan), and now it has happened again in the most disturbing way. Nikki and Paulo end up being buried alive when they manage to paralyze each other over a handful of diamonds. One of the darkest episode finales, and another unusual episode overall. Sure, the main plot is ignored, but "Lost" is so much more than its main story. If you appreciate this fact, you will enjoy the show much more!

Nikki foreshadows their demise with her very ironic line "you know what happens to the extras". I hope Locke's line "things don't stay buried on this island for long" is not another foreshadow!

Unbelievable

Stephen Colbert is famous for the caustic satire of his show and the liberal views it supports. It seems though that some people at the White House can't distinguish between caustic satire and mere comedy. There's no other explanation for this video which is an excerpt of the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner. It is simply astonishing that Colbert is allowed to make such harsh criticism in the presence of the President, even under the comedian license. It is very rare that words like "insolent" and "audacious" acquire a positive color and this is one of these cases.
Click here for the video.

Not Quite In Portland... *spoilers*

It's been 3 months without "Lost". Some people were frustrated, some were waiting patiently, some forgot the show's existence. It's too early to say whether this long break was as good an idea as it first seemed. What's pretty safe to say is that those who are really into the show's spirit and pace will not be disappointed by the returning episode.
Juliet, the seemingly cold and determined Other, gets her first flashback where we learn that she is not who we think she is. There are several new things we learn in this episode, and several new questions arise (as always) :
The Others are not above using aggressive brainwashing technics. What we don't know is for what purpose and why poor Karl?
Alex is Ben's daughter. Adopted daughter of course, because we know she is Danielle's daughter and Danielle was pregnant when she arrived on the island. Alex probably ignores Danielle's very existence. It is mysterious though that she would turn out to be so rebellious considering she was raised by the leader himself.
Finally, we learn why Juliet wants Ben dead, or we can begin to suspect why. She was manipulated into joining the Others' jolly team of scientists and has been a prisoner on the island for three years, forced to abandon her life and her pregnant sister. We also see that she is not above murder to accomplish her escape from the island, removing that annoying Picket from the picture.
In the end, the status changes once again. Kate and Sawyer find their way back to the home island, and Karl joins the castaways. Let's hope the brainwashing didn't erase some valuable info he could have about the Others. Jack remains a prisoner and we can't be sure what Ben's reaction will be to his ploy that freed Kate and Sawyer.
We will learn soon enough. Lost is on every week until the season finale. Finally!

Death By Black Hole

That's the title of Neil deGrasse Tyson's new book, and here's a video of his appearance in the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Tyson also gave an awesome speech at last year's "Beyond Belief" conference. Watch the video, it is simply hilarious!

TIME On "24"

The previous issue of "TIME" magazine had a brief but interesting article (by James Poniewozik) about Fox's tv series. I take the opportunity to write some of my similar thoughts on the subject.
For someone who hasn't really watched "24", it would be easy to conclude that it's nothing more than conservative propaganda : the good americans vs the evil terrorists. This is Fox, after all!
The reality of the tv show, of course, is much different, in the same way that the actual reality of our lives isn't black and white. Whether we like it or not, the existence of terrorism is real and it's not a made-up construct by right-wing agendas. On the other hand, dealing with it effectively should not be the responsibility of a narrow political line. "24" manages to highlight all these aspects, even if it is through the excesses and exaggerations that make it an exciting show. Very real moral dillemas like civil liberties vs security are presented very rationally, with no hint of adhering to a single ideology.
Jack Bauer himself is no fan of fixed rules of conduct. Extreme situations demand extreme measures, even if that means cooperating with an ex-terrorist responsible for hundreds of deaths. I think the show is doing a very good job in stating the importance of rationality and that people are more important than rules and laws. I don't know about you, but I can't exclusively assign this idea to one political party.

Rome is back!

HBO's series is a rare one, and I didn't have much hope it would continue into a second season. I am very glad I am proven wrong.
This genre is pretty much ignored on TV. It's understandable considering it requires a lot of work and money to create something serious and not some parody like Xena and Hercules. So, hats off to the creators for giving us this series.
In the first season, we followed the lives of two Roman soldiers, as they made their way to greatness next to the rise of Julius Ceasar. Season 2 begins exactly where we were left off last year and there are plenty of historical events we can expect to frame the adventures of the series' heroes, Vorenus and Pullo. "Rome" continues in its realistic direction; the nudity and violence do not make this a series suitable for small children. The rest of us can enjoy a very special TV time that really stands out.

A Lost Moment

We still have a full month before Lost returns with the second part of third season. Here's one of the previews I found particularly exciting.

There Never Are Guarantees

The 4400's third season ends in a way that would serve for the end of the series itself. Smart, but fortunately there will be a fourth season next summer.
In this final episode, we finally see the confrontation : Isabelle vs everyone else. But let's take things from the start.
Jordan Collier films Devon taking a shot of promycin and urging the viewer to do the same in order to get a 4400 ability. The video is then circulated all over the internet. Tom and Diana, who are looking for the missing promycin, manage to track down Devon only to find her dying in Shawn's arms. The shot of promycin was fatal to her. Shawn, arrested, does not betray Collier's plan...until Ryland brings in Isabelle to question him personally. It is clear that Isabelle has replaced Shawn with power as her infatuation. She ends up leaving him hurt and unconscious but learns the location of the promycin. Accompanied by Ryland's troops, Isabelle arrives at the location soon and finds what she thinks is Jordan Collier along with the promycin. But it's a trap : the promycin is fake, and Jordan Collier is a disguised 4400 prepared to martyr himself for the cause. He gives Collier's message to Isabelle, "This is a new world, and there's no place for you in it", and activates an explosive device which kills Ryland's men, injures Ryland but only manages to anger Isabelle. Furious, she plans to attack the 4400 center, kill everyone in there to force Collier to appear. Ryland, seeing her madness, informs NTAC.
Tom knows it's time to use the shot given to him by the future. He and Diana arrive at the center just as Isabelle locks herself in Maia's class. Would she be able to murder children? Considering she has never been one, I don't find it hard to believe. She never gets the chance because Diana empties her weapon on her, and Tom hurries to use the syringe. Unfortunately, Isabelle recovers very fast and stops him. She incapacitates Diana with a move of her hand and in seconds the roles are reversed. Tom is about to be strangled by Isabelle and the syringe is out of his reach. It's at this time, that Richard appears and tries to convince Isabelle to stop her murderous urge. She knows it's too late for her to change and ignores him. Richard's telekinetic abilities, regretfully, come into play. Isabelle is shocked when the syringe flies into her neck. She convulses for a moment but comes around intent on retaliating and killing her own father. But the syringe's effect wasn't supposed to kill her. Her powers are gone forever. Tom can't risk it, however, and shoots her on the shoulder to make sure. Isabelle ends up in the hospital, next to Shawn.
The episode ends with several important events: Kyle is ready to inject himself with promycin. Alana is being kidnapped from the future. Diana chooses to quit NTAC and move to Spain with Ben and Maia, while her sister decides to give herself a dose of promycin. "There are no guarantees", the distributor tells her. "There never are" she thinks walking away. Then, the distributor turns to the viewer and offers promycin...would you take it?

The Manhunt Begins

I admit that I didn't expect it, but the premiere of Prison Break's second season blew me away. An episode that tied all loose ends, kept you at the edge of your seat throughout, built a basis for the entire season and, as expected from all great episodes, shocked you in the last minute. Don't read below this line if you don't appreciate spoilers.
The former prisoners, and now fugitives, run like they've never run before in their lives. While Bellick's dogs are behind them, this time Michael's enemies are far more dangerous than police force simpletons. For the first time, he receives attention from the real bad guys who manage to decifer his tattoo...a bit. This allows them to apply pressure even though Michael is one step ahead. I am a bit bothered, however, at how fast agent Mahone was able to find the graveyard or how he assumed that Michael must have thrown evidence in the river below his apartment. Anyway, in the end, the party manages to blend with the crowd and escape. Which direction will they go next? Considering that Michael's plans no longer require anyone other than his brother, we can expect some conflict, especially since Westmoreland's money is involved. I am sure though, that Michael will cross paths again with Dr. Tancredi who I was very glad to see survive her attempted suicide. Michael and Sara's story is one that could either end happilly or tragically and I hope they give some emphasis on it in the course of the season
In the meantime, Veronica is really at the end of the puzzle. Having found Steadman alive, she thinks everything is over. Steadman's warnings about the prison-like nature of his habitat do not sway her. She sees through his lies that there's no signal to make a phone call here. She calls the police and asks for help. She keeps reassuring Steadman that everything will be ok while waiting. When help finally comes, Lincoln chooses this most dramatic and fateful moment to call Veronica. She is not finished urging him to give himself up and reassuring him that everything's over, when it becomes clear she's been fooled. The help that arrived is no other than Steadman's keepers. Lincoln hears the gunshot that ends Veronica's life and is devastated. The episode ends with a scene of Michael, in a most formal suit now, removing his handcuffs...

Everything Lost In One Image

The above is a sample of a very nicely done image that contains most of the info we have gathered in those amazing two "Lost" seasons. Get it over here. Be warned, it is over 4 MB in size!

Two Deaths For The Road

SPOILERS AHEAD!

As the second season of "Lost" comes to a close, extraordinary events take place that will change the picture for the third season, much like the hatch's contents did for the second. It is hard to tell what it will be like, but one thing is sure : it will be violent.
This episode was a wealth of information and shockers. Michael returns and he claims the Others are miserable, poorly armed and waiting to be owned by the fully equipped survivors. Kate should open her damned mouth about the disguises she has discovered at this point, but the hope for revenge is clouding everyone's thoughts. Ana Lucia tries to resolve her guilt over the murder(s) that made her a failure as a cop and a daughter. In the process, she assists Christian Sheppard (Jack's father) locate his daughter in Sydney. I'm sure Jack would like to know this, but by the episode's end it's clear it won't happen. Ana Lucia figures out that killing Henry will make her demons go away. Getting a gun from Sawyer to accomplish this is no small task, but Ana Lucia's resolve is strong. She seduces him and gets to steal the gun after sex. It's a big clue to how psychologically messed up she is. In the end though, she finds herself unable to do it. Still, she doesn't think much when Michael asks for the gun to do it himself. I believe his speech about the Others being animals and killers is genuine, and Ana Lucia is convinced. This is when things get wild : Michael says "I'm sorry", shoots Ana Lucia who dies with a depressing expression of surprise, and an unlucky Libby who walks in the scene while picking stuff for a picnic with Hurley. The episode ends with Michael opening the door to Henry's prison and shooting his own arm.
It's obvious at this point that the Others have blackmailed Michael to help them free Henry and possibly be a mole at the survivors' camp in exchange for his son. Despite the fact that a father will do anything for his son, Michael's actions are terrible and his deception will not last long. I doubt his character will continue much into the third season. Libby's death is the most frustrating event of the season. She is the only character we have had no flashback from, and the teaser from Hurley's episode was a promise for interesting plots that are now hanging in the air. I hope these issues will be resolved in some flashback before the season ends. Three more episodes to go, and the writers promise a finale that will top the one of first season. It seems "Lost" will keep people at the edge of their seats for quite some time.

Showdown Draws Near

WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD.

Don't read below if you have not seen last Monday's "24" episode.

The 5th season is quickly becoming a favorite one. What is ultimately at stake this time is not human lives at the mercy of terrorists, but the integrity of an idea. The show has always presented its characters with terrible moral dillemas that could drive a normal person crazy at the short time they have to be resolved. Jack Bauer, of course, is the guy of right and fast choices. But let's see things in more detail.
Hendersson slashes Audrey, slowing Jack down as he has to stop her from bleeding to death. He is also slowed though, because he has to deliver the recording to a safe place. It is his security against any attempt by President Logan to use him as a scapegoat. I should mention here that the transformation of Logan from an apparently dependent and weak person to a subtle mover of strings was handled convincingly and smoothly. It appears that Logan is again supported by a previously unseen cast of people which is consistent with his flawed personality. Their appearance suggests that something is on the move that hasn't happened yet. This is also supported by the diplomatic flight where Jack is led to when following the recording. Something of international importance is happening that is at the heart of the whole buisness and which will finally explain the high risks Logan has taken in this season. Other highlights of the episode was of course Heller's sacrifice, but I have a hunch he may have survived, and Karen's change of sides when her suspicions are verified. 5 more episodes to go for the finale and I'm sure the surprises will not stop.

More Long Days For Jack Bauer

The news come directly from Fox's "24" website : Kiefer Sutherland has signed for 3 more seasons of the popular show. Am I happy about it? You bet. Few shows have managed to glue me to my seat, episode after episode, disregarding bodily protests about something called sleep. One has to wonder though, how will the writers manage to come up with enough ideas so that they won't repeat themselves. I mean after assassinations, nuclear weapons, deadly viruses and traitors in the White House, the options for terrorism plots run thin. Of course, Jack Bauer is quite a versatile action character and I can speculate, even at this early point, that we may see him spending his long day away from CTU. Hard to imagine how the "24" factor will fit if the bad guys aren't terrorists but let's hope the writers will be resourceful whichever way they choose to go. It's also hard to not feel sorry about Bauer's character. He's too busy saving the world that personal life is out of the question. It took a few kidnappings and betrayals for Jack to learn the lesson and the 3 more days that await him show that he learned it well. Of course, alongside Jack, Kiefer Sutherland feels somewhat tortured as well. It's all on this Rolling Stone article. Well, good luck to everyone involved so we can enjoy the show for 3 more years!

Pre-prison Flashback

Finally, a different episode for Prison Break. This much-needed flashback will make you like Michael's team in Fox River, even T-Bag (ok, a little). If you thought that freeing criminals as a part of the whole thing is questionable, you may change your mind. You will also learn what motivated Michael to pursue his elaborate plan and how he designed it. Finally, new information about Dr. Tancredi and Captain Bellick provide an updated context and some possible future plots that could prove very interesting. Let's hope it will be so when the series returns to the present, where things are quite grim for our escape artist. In the photo, the moment of inspiration for Michael's tattoo.

Last Seconds Shock

Both "24" and "Lost" are shows which are enjoying huge fanbases that I am sure are overlapping to a large percentage. While the format and setting is very different, both shows use the technique of the "last seconds shocker" to great effect and there is a reason it works well for both.
"24" with its continuous action and fast pace can actually turn a single trivial moment into one of suspense just by the sound of the seconds ticking away. The conspiracies and intrigues that surround terrorism plots can certainly provide a variety of shocking moments that are perfect for closing episodes.
"Lost"'s elaborate background and tons of characters, on the other hand, has a vast wealth of details that can be revealed. The writers have proved very skilled in their ability to prepare and present these moments just at the right time.

The question is who does it better?
I don't want to venture a general answer, so I'll just comment on the latest episodes. On "Lost", we get the first glimpse of a new major character's background, Libby. It is shocking for two reasons. First, it is the first direct connection between two characters after the countless indirect connections between them. Second, Libby is proved to have lied on at least one occasion which raises questions. The shocker's value is undiminished since the viewers don't have much information.
On "24" the things aren't nearly so good because the shock is too big and the viewers do have some information that could make them call shenanigans on the writers. The previously helpless, indecisive and weak President Logan appears to have worn a mask and now the writers have work to do to convince us of their plot consistency.
No matter what, both shows have lots of people waiting anxiously for the next episodes. If you are not one of them, you should think about joining them!

Hail Xenu!

As Tom Cruise gets in the closet and refuses to come out, many people less wealthy than him are robbed of their money in order to stop the evil alien overlord Xenu from making them unhappy. When the concept of faith is met with unquestionable respect, absurdities like scientology are free to brainwash and take advantage of people. Southpark has been one of the most extreme and succesful cartoons of the decade, and despite the quality dropping recently, it still remains a voice of reason and a strong supporter of freedom of speech. Apparently, the criticism is too much for the american actor who is trying to ban the episode. You can read the story here. The question we should be asking, however, isn't whether or not Tom Cruise is in the closet but whether he is gullible or not. Considering the ultimate goal of the cult which is money, I am leaning toward the first.
Some may think the story about "cartoon makes fun of cult, celebrity cultist gets upset" is trivial but the point is hidden between the lines and it is the concept of faith. Hiding in the realm of faith, where nothing can be proven, con men flourish and get rich. And if it can happen on a global scale in such short time, what hints can we take about our large, ancient and untouchable religions?

Still not broken

After a very long break (pun not intended), Fox's series is back. The re-opening episode did very well in raising tension, as everything was falling apart and Lincoln's clash with electricity was only minutes away. The next delivery, however, becomes tedious, as Michael's new plans are even more absurd than before and the crucial destruction of his tatoo was a possibility that was extensively discussed by fans for a while. Still fun to watch, but I suspect many of Fox's viewers tune in an hour later to meet with Jack Bauer.

The Map Of The Lost Mystery

Hidden on one of the blast doors, visible only in black light, "Lost" reveals a map of the island hatches, workstations for the mysterious Dharma Initiative group. The many notes on the map will provide food for endless discussions, as will the taunting question mark in the center (they should make that an official symbol of the series!). "Lockdown" was a great episode and more will follow!