kkoller0693 Reviews

Breaking Bad: Dead Freight (2012) Season 5, Episode 5

Breaking Bad continues to astound us with one of the darkest moments in the show's history

[10/10 · 13 August 2012]

Look how far this show has come. Five episodes into the shortened fifth season and we are still astounded. The beginning set the tone: a little boy on his motorbike enjoying his hobby of picking up spiders . . . then we hear the train whistle blow in the background . . . and then the opening credits role. This is what Breaking Bad does so well. Every once and a while, for the opening scene, they will show a scene that happens towards the end of the episode and we have to figure out how it gets to that point or what happens after that scene.

That scene probably wasn't really paid close attention to most of the viewers - and I guarantee you that most of us went "Holy Sh*t" when we saw that little boy watch Walt, Jesse and Todd steal the methyl-mine from the train. And then, just when we thought something bad was going to happen, it did. Todd pulls out his gun and shoots the boy dead as Jesse screams out "No!" in the background. Walt, the man we once knew was full of good and love, stood there and watched - didn't even flinch.

Murder has always been taken very seriously for a show that has a large body count as of right now. Deaths are never funny or dumb to watch. Each death is taken with the utmost respect - each character's death hits the viewers. The death of Jane in season 2 as Walt watches on as she chokes on her own vomit, Hank taking down the Tuco's cousins in the grocery store parking lot in season 3, and even Gus Fring's death in the season 4 finale - every death was full of suspense and seriousness. This is what Vince Gilligan and his writers do so well - they make death/murder hard to watch. They through no punches that aren't necessary.

The boy's death will lead to the fifth season's end (even with 3 more episodes so watch). Jesse was hit hard when Todd shot the kid - he'll question if he should remain in the meth business with his old chemistry teacher. Mike will not be happy with Todd - shooting a kid who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The only person who will want to continue with the business will be Walt who, quite frankly, does give a damn. He will want to continue to cook as his lust for power turns him fully into Heisenberg - the drug lord Hank has been looking for since season 1.

Now with the ending aside, this episode was still masterful. The scene in Hank's office where Walt breaks down in front of his brother-in-law DEA agent was tremendous. Again, Bryan Cranston shows how easily he can shed tears and then become serious and bug Hank's office with a microphone and a tracker on his computer. It was great to see how Walt smoothly transitioned from heart broken family member to law breaking Heisenberg in a matter of seconds.

And it turned out Lydia didn't plant the tracker on the bottom of the meth barrels. Now, I wasn't too fond about this new character when I first saw her, but perhaps this show needs a Lydia after all. While she can be mentally unstable under the threat of DEA watching her moves but it's still pretty cool to watch as she helps out Mike, Walt and Jesse with the train situation.

The train heist was another great scene. We've seen another heist happen in the first episode of this season but the train scene was absolutely spectacular to watch. You had Todd and Jesse stealing the methyl-mine as guest actor Bill Burr plays around on the tracks with the engineers driving the train. And even though Jesse was nearly run over by the train and we had to watch Todd kill the only witness, it was still a great scene.

Breaking Bad continues to amaze with each passing episode. I am thoroughly enjoying this season. Though I am upset only three episodes remain and then the final eight air next year, but I know this show will continue to amaze until the final credits role next year. "Dread Freight" is a masterpiece and shows us that even five seasons in, Breaking Bad can still leave the audiences in shock and make us want more. Bravo.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Christopher Nolan concludes his Dark Knight Trilogy in spectacular fashion

[10/10 · 21 July 2012]

Grade: A+ (98%)

Superhero trilogies always end with a less than average film. "Spider-man 3" lost all sense of emotional impact and storyline that the first two films had and "X-Men 3" was just terrible in every sense. When we heard that Christopher Nolan will be making one final film to conclude the trilogy, I was a little nervous to see this film after every other final film in the superhero trilogies bombed out. But not only did Christopher Nolan conclude The Dark Knight Trilogy in spectacular fashion, it may be just as great as the critically acclaimed "The Dark Knight". "The Dark Knight Rises" is one of the greatest comic book films I have ever seen.

Eight years after the dreadful events that occurred in "The Dark Knight", everything seems to be doing well. Crime is low, a new series of laws under the name "The Dent Act" have been set against criminals, and Batman has retired. Yes, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has retired from being the caped crusader, uses a cane to get around his big mansion, and has isolated himself from the outside world only talking to his loyal servant Alfred (Michael Caine). Sure he has to deal with Selina Kyle (Ann Hathaway) and her "cat-like instincts" to steal his prized possessions but he has a lot of time to do that. But everything seems to fall apart when Bane (Tom Hardy), a huge, muscular, angry mercenary begins to terrorize Gotham with robberies and explosions, Bruce must put on his suit one last time to face him.

The story itself is very good and complex even if it does take a while to get going. Make no mistake about it, this is a long movie that is just 15 minutes shy of the three hour mark. The final half is full of action and excitement while the first half, while not boring, can drag on in some parts. Sure set pieces need to be stated and story arcs have to end (since this is the final film), but it should've been done quicker to get us to the more exciting moments.

When the film does pick up, it's absolutely jaw dropping. The fight sequences, while not bloody, can be somewhat brutal to watch, and the dialog just becomes more interesting. Christopher Nolan, who also directed the film, co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Jonathan who has been writing these screenplays since "Batman Begins". The writing is swift and clean, even if they throw in one too many jokes from one of the older cops early on in the movie.

The writing is also backed up by impressive performances all around. Christian Bale has toned it down with his low Batman voice (even if there is one or two scenes where I couldn't help but laugh at his yells) but he does a fantastic job as Bruce Wayne. Ann Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman is fantastic and fits the role (and her suit) extremely well. Even Joeseph Gordon-Levitt as Detective John Blake fits his role well.

But obviously everyone wants to know how Tom Hardy is as Bane. Now everyone is going to compare his performance with Heath Ledger's Joker from "The Dark Knight". I don't want to compare but if you needed an answer, Mr. Ledger's performance is far more superior with or without mentioning the Oscar for Supporting Actor. That being said, Tom Hardy gives a stellar performance as Bane. He may look silly at first with the mask on and his voice may not be as low as it should be, but once you get use to his character, he is fantastic.

In the end, many will be satisfied with what Mr. Nolan has made for us. The film is full of action, suspenseful and great storytelling even if the film is 15-20 minutes longer than it should. Still, if you loved the first two films or just looking for a more realistic comic book version to the caped crusader, you cannot go wrong with "The Dark Knight Rises". It's a spectacular finale to the greatest superhero trilogy in the history of the film industry.

The Newsroom: News Night 2.0 (2012) Season 1, Episode 2

Mackenzie and Will try to keep their past a secret as they try to rebuild the newsroom

[8/10 · 2 July 2012]

After a strong pilot episode to introduce us to this new HBO series, I wasn't surprised that the show would now focus on one or two story lines at a time. The first episode threw a lot at the viewer but thanks to the clever writing and outstanding performances, we were able to soak everything in with ease. "News Night 2.0", on the other hand, sort of slows down the show a little bit. While it was still a good episode, "News Night 2.0" just wasn't as strong as it should have been.

After a fantastic show a couple of days ago, Mackenzie wants to rebuild the show and introduces New Night 2.0 which is what she believes what type of news should be covered by them. She calls it a courtroom where only top guests will be invited onto the show according to her guidelines she reveals. Then they decide to run with the Arizona Immigration issue where their guest would be the governor of Arizona. Unfortunately, problems occur that actually leads to a horrible yet comical news show that night.

The writing itself was fine. While it didn't have a big impact like what it had in the pilot, the dialog was fast, serious, and sometimes offered comedic relief. The one problem with the episode was the whole secret that Mac and Will were trying to keep from the rest of the newsroom. Even though some people spread around that Will cheated on Mac and adds to Will's "donkey" remembrance, Mac tries to persuade everyone that Will did not cheat on her. And after a poor attempt to send an e-mail revealing what actually happened to Will, she accidentally sends the message to everyone in the newsroom. It would've worked a lot better with Aaron Sorkin wasn't so attached to detail. Characters tried to explain different ways to send messages to each other but I was unable to follow what they were saying. While it was funny to see everyone's phones vibrate and react to the incoming email, it just didn't do anything else.

"News Night 2.0" was a good episode. The dialog drives the show even though these plot lines involving past choices made by characters don't work that well. But it still is a good show to watch . . . until Breaking Bad comes back July 15 haha.

8.3/10

The Newsroom: We Just Decided To (2012) Season 1, Episode 1

"The Newsroom" is one of the best shows on HBO

[10/10 · 26 June 2012]

After finishing the 75 minute pilot of the new HBO series "The Newsroom", I was stunned by how brilliant this show is. The writing, the acting, the story, the chemistry between each character, everything was brilliantly executed. After watching this episode, I realized how great this show will become. AMC's "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad" along with HBO's "Games of Thrones" and "Boardwalk Empire" have met their match - "The Newsroom" is one of the best TV shows out there.

Now of course, I haven't seen any other episodes since they haven't been released but I have a lot of confidence in this show after the masterpiece of a pilot "We Just Decided To". The show starts off with Will McAvoy, played by Jeff Daniels, answering questions at a local college. And after using a little humor to get passed questions he didn't want to answer, he finally snaps when the host demands his opinion if America is the greatest country in the world. Not only does he lash out at a college girl, but he also lashes out on the country that turns his career for the worse.

Mr. McAvoy is the head anchor at Atlantis Cable News (ACN) and when he returns to work after his lash out, he realizes most of his staff is gone from the newsroom. As he discusses what happened with the head chairman of the network Charlie Skinner, played by Sam Waterson, he realizes that his boss hired a new executive producer for the show without allowing Will to meet her. It turns out that the new executive producer is Mackenzie McHale, played by Emily Mortimer, who has had a relationship with Will in the past that went sour. It doesn't take Will too long for him to be completely upset with the whole predicament but has to face facts that she will help save his show after his outburst.

With a show like this you need two things to keep the boat afloat: a clean script and an solid cast; "The Newsroom" exceeds in both departments. Aaron Sorkin, the creator of the show (and his return to television), wrote the pilot and does a tremendous job of it. When I saw that he wrote this episode, I knew that the dialog was going to be strong with hints of comic relief. Aaron Sorkin won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay two years back for his work on "The Social Network" but he has also done other nameable films like "A Few Good Men" (You can't handle the truth). The writing was perfect. It was fluent, interesting, funny, and above all else - it was strong. Mr. Sorkin is a master at writing scripts - I pray that the writers he works with will be just as great because you can't have much better writing than this.

With writing that is so good, you need a solid cast to control it. I was really surprised with Jeff Daniels' performance as Will McAvoy - he is brilliant. After watching this episode, I kind of wish his movie career went a little farther. As of right now I can only remember him in a few movies that I would call decent. But he is amazing. Sure when he's funny, I can't help but remember him in the comedy "Dumb and Dumber" but when he's serious, it's like I never seen this type of acting from him before. An Emmy, and possibly a Golden Globe, nomination will be coming his way in the future months - that's for certain. Even the supporting cast is fantastic. While there are a lot of actors worth mentioning, Emily Mortimer as Mackenzie leads the supporting cast. She is strong hearted as well as has the ability to ease the tension with a little humor. Sam Waterson as Charlie also has his moments.

I've given perfect scores to only a couple of pilots before "The Newsroom" such as "Breaking Bad", "Mad Men", and "The Sopranos"; all of which went on (or still are) to receive big awards like Best Drama and Best Writing. As of right now, "The Newsroom" is on its way to greatness. A perfect score for a pilots either means it will continue to be a great series or it will slowly die down to an above average TV show. Only time will tell if "The Newsroom" deserves a 10 out of 10 but as of right now, it deserves your attention.

Game of Thrones: The Old Gods and the New (2012) Season 2, Episode 6

Frightening moments appear in the best episode yet

[10/10 · 8 May 2012]

There was no Stannis this episode, yet the episode was still a masterpiece. Even though they excluded somethings from the book, I really loved this episode. It was frightening, suspenseful, funny and dramatic. "The Old Gods and the New" is an achievement.

Right from the start, Theon captures Winterfell and orders Bran to yield the castle to him. Now if you remember from last episode, Bran's dream showed the ocean claiming Winterfell. As Theon does a dangerous decapitating a loyal soldier, the rain begins to fall harder and harder symbolizing the ocean Bran was referring to. By the end of the episode, Bran and his son sneak out of Winterfell undetected.

North of the Wall, Jon Snow continues his journey with the intent to kill as many wildlings as possible. During his mission, he and his group ambush a wildling campsite and Jon captures Ygritte, a female red head. Ygritte is an important character to this series for Jon Snow so be ready to see a lot of her. And after a failed attempt at executing her, Jon and Ygritte have a rundown. Even though Jon captures her again, he is unable to find his group before nightfall.

In Kings Landing, Cersei and Tyrion watch as they force the princess to leave the capital before the war hits. After a little threat from Cersei, King Joffery and the royal family are attacked by the people. Even though Tyrion tries to tell Joffery that this attack is all his fault, Joffery walks away and even lets Sansa to be attacked by three men. The Hound does save her just before she is raped but it will scar her for life that Joffery did not do anything for her.

In Harrenhal, Arya continues to be a cup bearer for Tywin. It seemed everything was fine until Littlefinger came in and began to talk to Tywin about Renly's wife and her family. It was intense since Littlefinger knows Arya when she was in King's Landing. It was great to see Arya try to hide her face as she refilled their wine cups and Littlefinger trying to see her face. Later in the episode, Arya steals a message about Robb heading south before Tywin can see the message. Though a red cloak caught her outside his chambers, she goes to Jacquen and tells him to kill the guard immediately. It was a funny scene of dialogue and close calls but the episode did it perfectly.

In Qarth, Daenerys tries to find any way to get ships to cross the sea towards Westeros. Unfortunately for her, she has no allies in Westeros and no one gives her the ships when she promises fortunes. At the end of the episode, her dragons are taken from her bedroom.

This was a fast paced episode. I was glad when I hit the half way mark because I wanted to see more of the story unfold. Yes, Stannis was left out this week but it didn't matter. His time will come in the later episodes. Still, it was a fantastic episode. Bravo.

10/10

Game of Thrones: Garden of Bones (2012) Season 2, Episode 4

Robb continues to win battles, Joffery shows his darker side and the Baratheon brothers meet

[9/10 · 28 April 2012]

"Garden of Bones", while showed a lot of story, showed more violence this time around. Having said that, I am very glad it turned out that way. Throughout this season so far we have seen a couple of violent scenes. This episode showed more torture than actual sword on sword violence but it was very well done.

The episode begins with Robb (The King in the North) winning another battle against the Lannister forces. After the battle, he helps a woman saw a prisoner's leg off because it has become infected. While it was her job, you could see that Robb felt sympathy for the woman and even thanked her for being at the battle. The woman didn't respond likely to Robb but it was nice to see Rob being normal again with the female doctor.

It doesn't take too long to show how King Joffery is taking his defeats against Robb. He brings Sansa to the throne room and wields a crossbow as he watches Sansa's clothes being torn off as her "punishment" for her brother's treason. Thankfully, Tyrion comes in and saves Sansa from more suffering. The madness of Joffery doesn't end there as the next scene involves him and two prostitutes in his chambers. Even though it was a gift from Tyrion to celebrate his past name day, Joffery orders one of the prostitutes to beat the other prostitute with his belt and then with an unlit torch (or so it looks like). I'm unsure if it was Joffery getting back at Tyrion for embarrassing him in the throne room or he just gets aroused from beating people . . . with objects that is.

Also in this episode, we finally see Daenery's continue her march into a city of Qarth. While at first they are reluctant to let her in when she doesn't reveal her dragons, one of the Twelves (the leaders of the city) allows her in as long as they don't do anything that could get them into trouble. So hopefully next episode, her story will finally progress.

Back in Westeros, Stannis and Renly Baratheon finally meet. From the start of their conversation, you can see that they have grown apart. Renly makes jokes and even tells his brother that no one wants him for their King. In the end, Stannis gives his brother the night to reconsider or else he will be destroyed. While it was a brief meeting, one can tell that this clash of the brothers will not end well.

At Renly's camp, Littlefinger enters Catelyn's tent and asks for a trade: Sansa and Arya for Jamie (Kingslayer) - even though he doesn't have Arya in King's Landing. After Cat draws a knife on Littlefinger, he gives her Ned's bones as a gift. Cat does not agree to the terms.

Also in this episode, Arya enters Harrenhal under the control of Tywin Lannister. At first, the prisoners are being tortured for information about the Brotherhood (who appear next season/book) and other things.

The ending is where we see "Game of Thrones" enter a new area. Melisandre, Stannis' priest, is brought to a dark cave with Davos (Stannis' trusty companion) and she gives birth to a shadow creature. This symbolizes that this show is now showing magic in their episodes - prepare for more of that to come.

I hate writing these reviews - they are so damn long. Having said that, I loved this episode. While we didn't see Jon Snow or Theon in this episode, the other characters were exceptional. We are nearly halfway through this season . . . and the best is yet to come. Prepare for a couple of surprises next episode.

9.3/10

Game of Thrones: What Is Dead May Never Die (2012) Season 2, Episode 3

Theon chooses a side, Tyrion finds the Queen's rat and Robb's mother meets Renly

[9/10 · 17 April 2012]

So there was no Daenerys this week nor was there Robb Stark or Joffery. While these characters were left out this episode, it was still a great episode. The storyline has continued to move forward at an incredible pace. Again, complements to the writers for suppressing a thousand page book into a single season.

The episode begins where it left off. Jon Snow is brought to the Lord Commander of the Night's watch after snooping around his host's business. When Jon tells the Commander about what he is doing to the children, Jon realizes that he already knew. It turns out that wildlings serve other Gods as well and have to do with sacrificing sons as apart of some ritual. While Jon nor the Lord Commander couldn't figure out what the beast was, we were able to figure out that it was the White Walkers who were receiving the babies.

Meanwhile, Theon is at a cross roads. Still at his homeland Pyke, he is trying to figure out who to help: Robb Stark and his war against the Lannisters or his father who has just declared war on the Starks. It was interesting to see how Theon's mind was so split on the idea of going against the family he was born with and the family who raised him. In the end, Theon writes out a warning note to Robb but then immediately sets it on fire to signify that he will stay with his father and sister. So this another plot twist in this episode that will become major as the season continues.

Back in King's Landing, Tyrion continues to have his "fun" as Hand of the King. It is quite clear from the get go, Tyrion is far more intelligent than Ned as the King's Hand. In this episode he was telling Littlefinger, Varys, and Grand Maester what his plans are for the princess to get her out of the capital before the war arrives. However, he tells each person a different location he wishes to put the princess. Later in the episode, Queen Cersei comes up to him and yells at him for sending the princess off to a certain location. While he had no intention of going about his plan, he was able to find the Queen's rat: the Grand Maester. During the interrogation, Tyrion is told that the Grand Maester went against Jon Arryn (the hand of the king before Ned Stark) and might have poisoned him to keeps his secrets safe.

While the trickery was great, the scene between Varys and Tyrion was very well done. The discussion was about where power resides. Not only was the dialog fluent and easy to comprehend, it was great to show that Kings sometimes don't hold all the power but the people who fight for him. Fantastic dialog and scene.

Also in this episode, Catelyn Stark arrives at the camp of Renly who has declared himself King. We also see Brienne of Tarth, a great character, but more on her in later reviews. Catelyn asks for Renly's allegiance with Robb. Though we don't quite get an answer, we do know that Renly plans on attacking King's Landing with his 100,000 men at his back.

The ending was probably the most suspenseful part of the episode. Arya and Yoren are talking about the day Ned was killed which led to someone attacking their camp. However, it was the Gold Cloaks (army from King's Landing) that attacked but Red Coats under the control of Tywin Lannister, the actual Hand of the King. Of course, a battle broke out and it was graphic and emotional that led to the death of Yoren. The real bad news is that Gendrick (Robert's bastard son) and Arya are now under Lannister forces.

Again . . . a lot of story was told this episode. Having said that, it was still a great episode. The real entertainment comes from the twists and turns that the story unfolds to the viewers with the nudity and violence being extra. "Game of Thrones" has become a great series to watch. It's dialog driven; something that is somewhat rare for the fantasy genre. This was yet another great episode to watch.

Now if you are loving this season so far . . . from a person who has read the second book this season is based on, you haven't seen anything yet.

9.1/10

Game of Thrones: The Night Lands (2012) Season 2, Episode 2

Theon returns home to talk about Robb's offer, but his father has other plans

[8/10 · 9 April 2012]

"The Night Lands" was another strong episode. It's funny that throughout its twelve episodes that have aired, every single one has been very strong. I don't think I ever given an episode under an 8 before. The creators should be proud of that.

Season 2's second episode, while showed a lot of characters, was mainly about Theon sailing to his homeland of Pyke to talk to his father about joining Robb in his fight against the Lannisters. And after a (cough, cough) reunion with his sister, Theon's father decides to reject Robb's offer by tossing it into the fire. Even though his reward would that he would rule the Iron Islands as King, Theon's father wants to earn his reward by declaring war even though the father does not want to attack the Lannisters.

If you don't remember, Ned Stark destroyed Theon's father's revolt to become King of the Iron Islands years before. And when he lost, Ned took Theon to Winterfell.

Even though Theon was the main plot line, there were still great scenes to be shown. The episode first starts off by showing Arya on the road to the Wall. It was also great for Yoren (the leader of their group) threaten to kill a Gold Cloak who is looking for Gendry, King Robert's final bastard son, and kill him. It was also a great scene when Gendry tells Arya that she's a girl. Those lines is remembered right from the book. Again, the writers stick with the book's dialog and that's a good thing.

The other strong point was Tyrion. He had some great scenes this episode especially with Varys and a later scene with Cersei. The Cersei scene alone was tremendous. Not only we found out that Joffery was the one who ordered the attack on Robert's bastard sons but that she knew about it. You could see that she was getting very emotional. She now knows that she has created a monster for a King.

We also see Jon Snow and the ending was basically another plot twist. It seems that where they are staying, the husband is giving babies (probably sons) to the White Walkers (we haven't seen these guys sine the pilot). While it was a good twist, I wish there was more of him.

Oh and Stannis screws his sorceress Melisandre . . . . moving on.

While "The Night Lands" was a great episode, it still lacked. Daenery's one scene was way too short and we didn't see any Robb or his mother. We are now beginning to see that one episode isn't enough to show every character because there is way too much to cover. But the episode was strong though - it hasn't lost it's interest. The hour long episode went by pretty fast. I wanted more but I know I have to wait until next Sunday to see more of this season to unfold.

8.8/10

Game of Thrones: The North Remembers (2012) Season 2, Episode 1

We revisit the Westeros in this fantastic season premiere

[9/10 · 4 April 2012]

When I first saw Game of Thrones a little over a year ago, I didn't not read any of the books. But when Ned's head was chopped off, Joffery wasn't the true heir and Robb has crowned himself as The King in the North, I couldn't wait any longer. So I decided to read the books. Now I'm watching this show from a different perspective and I am still amazed how well this episode was played out.

"The North Remembers" shows us how much this show will now jump around. With Ned Stark dead, there is no real center role to keep everything together. Even though Tyrion (played by Peter Dinklage who won an Emmy and Golden Globe for Supporting Actor last year) is now considered the overall fan favorite, he still fits in the supporting actor role; and it's better that way. The season will jump around a lot from Daenerys and her dragons to Robb Stark and his ongoing war against the Lannisters. For those who had problems remembering plot and characters from Season 1 might want a note pad handy - because it doesn't get any easier in Season 2.

The season premiere was all about showing where everyone is. I loved how it opened; they show King Joffery and much of a monster he has become by nearly drowning a knight in wine. I also loved that Tyrion is finally in King's Landing serving as Hand of the King that his sister, Queen Cersei, is not too happy about. Across the Narrow Sea, the episode showed Daenerys and her dragons heading east for shelter or civilization. While we were only able to see on dragon, it looked beautifully made. Robb Stark, the King in the North, sends his peace terms to King's Landing and wants the North to be separate from the Kingdom forever. We also see his wolf, that has grown since we have last seen it, test the imprisoned Jamie Lannister. The episode also shows Jon Snow north of the wall and we are told that a new king has also risen beyond the wall.

The episode shows some new faces. Stannis Baratheon, only mentioned in Season 1, finally comes on screen during a ritual that dealt with burning the old gods for the new God of Light that a sorceress, Melisandre, is performing. Stannis has declared himself the rightful heir to the Iron Throne and declares war on King Joffery.

Yes, the episode is full of information. They throw a lot at you and since this is only a ten episode season, it's required to show so much information. Having said that, they did a marvelous job of bringing the book to the TV screen. The little game between Cersi and Littlefinger (also known as Lord Baelish) was tremendous and shows what power really is. The ending with all of King Robert's bastard sons was beautifully done. Though I wish we could have seen more Arya (who only appears before the credits role), everything else about it was fantastic.

"The North Remembers" was about bringing everyone up to speed again and now the show should continue with great pace. This is a 1000 page book they are trying to squeeze into ten episodes. So far, the show is doing beautifully. I can't wait to see how everything else is played out. Even though I have read the book, I am still eager to "see" what happens next.

9.4/10

The Walking Dead: Beside the Dying Fire (2012) Season 2, Episode 13

Season 2 comes to a close with an excellent finale (Season 2 Review included)

[9/10 · 19 March 2012]

Most of the viewers watching "The Walking Dead" finale were finally happy to see the group leave the farm. I couldn't be more happy to see the barn go up in flames. Now my response isn't a "Finally, they left the farm" because it is just the opposite. I was happy to see the farm become overrun by walkers because of Rick's speech that I will get to later.

The episode itself started off with walkers seeing a helicopter fly by in a city (the same helicopter that Rick saw in the Pilot) and they begin to walk in that direction. As the walkers continue to follow the same direction, they hear Carl's gunshot and they immediately change directions and enter the vicinity of the farm. While I personally don't think it was a good way to show how the walkers came out of the forest, it doesn't ruin the experience. Because by the time the credits role, you are ready to see Hershel and his family team up with the group and defend the farm. The first half hour or so is all about killing zombies and they did it pretty well. Whether it was Andrea shooting out of a car while T-Dog ran over zombies or Rick setting the barn full of walkers on fire with Carl, the episode never ceased to be suspenseful.

However, some were unable to make it out alive as Jimmy was eaten alive in the RV and Patricia's neck was completely torn off. But they are the only two characters that died. I was actually surprised that Hershel did not come to his end especially when he told the group, "This is my farm, I'll die here." but it never came to be. Though I am happy that he is alive as he is one of my favorite characters. The other person I thought was going to die was Carol who basically serves no purpose whatsoever. After losing Sophia in the mid-season finale, you have to wonder if there is any reason to keep her alive.

There are many other strong points to this episode. One of the biggest is Andrea running for her life in the woods. Sure she wasted all of her ammo and even bashed some heads in with her gun but I was really surprised when a hooded person comes out of nowhere and decapitates a zombie attacking her. Now I never read the comics so I have no idea who this character is but I can't wait to finally see who this person is. Another big plot twist was that Rick told the group that they are all infected with this virus. The doctor at the military base at the end of Season 1 whispered into his ear but didn't believe him until he saw Shane come back from the dead. But the whole group felt a little betrayed that Rick did not tell them when he first heard it. This then led to an amazing speech by Rick. His speech was filled with so much anger. He's sick and tired of everyone questioning his actions even though he had to kill his own best friend to save the group. The last couple of words he said was, "This isn't a democracy anymore" which basically says that the group will listen to Rick no matter what anyone else believes. Outstanding way to end the season. I couldn't have loved it anymore.

The episode didn't come without it's problems unfortunately. The main problem was Lori. When Rick said that he killed Shane, she felt betrayed that Rick would actually do that or she felt so angry that it actually came to this . . . I don't get it. In one episode, she was telling Rick that Shane is dangerous and won't stop until he gets what he wants and in another she was telling Shane how she feels so bad for screwing up Shane's life. The writing on Lori's character is so dumb it's not even funny. Fix the writing or drop the character because it's not working.

"Beside the Dying Fire" wasn't the best episode of the season but it sure was one of the more exciting. They ended the season very well. They got rid of the farm, Rick has become a more darker character and the democracy they once knew is completely gone. Dale would be ashamed.

9.6/10

Season 2 Review: Season 2 started off slowly. The whole Sophia plot was unnecessary and it lasted way too long. Sure the change in Shane's character kept us interested in the first half of the season but it wasn't enough to really make us feel emotional for any character. But when the second half began, it was fantastic. The episodes became fast paced and characters that we loved died. Dale and Shane were some of the best characters this series has to offer and with them gone, it'll be interesting to see how the other characters become. There are memorable scenes from this season: Shane killing Otis, everyone's infected, and the climatic scene between Shane and Rick. Sure the season had its problems (mostly in writing) but they weren't really noticeable to be problem. "The Walking Dead" will return in the fall and hopefully this prison (seen in the final moments of the finale) will bring some new characters and new conflicts to a group that is now being ruled under a dictator.

Season 2: 9.4

The Walking Dead: Judge, Jury, Executioner (2012) Season 2, Episode 11

The "gut-wrenching" ending isn't enough to save this episode

[7/10 · 5 March 2012]

"18 Miles Out" was fantastic last week - it was full of intense action, decisions, and suspense. An episode coming off of, what is probably the best episode of the season, is really difficult to make it memorable. "Judge, Jury, Executioner" has a shocking ending but what else did it have? "J.J.E." was about how to deal with Randall, who is being tortured by Daryl. Rick, siding with Shane, believes that Randall has to die as he is a threat if he breaks loose. Dale, shocked, goes over to Rick and asks for the day to talk to everyone about their thoughts on killing Dale. Rick gives him until sunset . . . and that's basically what happened in this episode. It was Dale going around asking everyone if they believe it is right to kill Randall.

The side story and big character development dealt with Carl. As he was sitting beside Sophia's grave, Carol comes over and says that Sophia is in Heaven, and Carl replies by calling her and everyone else who believes in Heaven is an idiot. It didn't take too long for Rick to go over to Carl and talk some sense to him - verbally. When Carl was alone, he went over to Daryl's campsite, took his pistol, went into the woods and found a walker trapped in the mud. He begins to taunt the walker by throwing rocks and finally gets a little too close to shoot it when one of the zombie's legs becomes free. After a close call with the walker, he drops Daryl's gun and runs back towards the farm.

By the end of the episode, the whole group came together to decide Randall's fate. And after a long speech by Dale, Andrea takes sides with him because . . . . . . . I have no idea. It was kind of funny that Andrea would take his side after always being of Shane's side and allowing Beth to nearly commit suicide last week. But no one else takes his side and they decide to kill Randall by taking him to the barn. Just before Rick was going to pull the trigger, Carl comes in urging his Dad to kill Randall, but is unable to do the deed. Shane, angry at Rick and Carl, runs towards the camp. Andrea wants to bring Dale the good news, but after she runs off to find him, the camp hears a scream from a distance.

When the group runs over, it is Dale being attacked by a walker. Daryl kills the walker but sees what it did to Dale. It didn't bite Dale but literally open his stomach up with its hands. Hershel, telling Rick that there is no way to save him, is about to give a merciful death. Knowing that Rick is too emotional, Daryl takes the gun away from him and does it himself. This especially hit Carl because the walker he was taunting was the same walker that killed Dale.

Yes, the ending is shocking and sad. I personally liked Dale in this show. He was the one who kept the peace between the group. The last words he had to the group before leaving the meeting, was that the group is broken. And it's true and now that Dale has been killed, how will the group be now without the man who keeps the balance in check? Have to check next week.

There are two episodes left in this season and after a fantastic second half, it's okay to have a descent episode from time to time. The whole episode was pretty bland since it was Dale going around asking everyone's opinion. Personally, it wasn't needed since Dale did the same exact thing during the meeting. They did not need a whole episode to decides a person's fate who was trying to kill members of your group in the town. They should have killed him last episode, but now it just brings up more problems.

7.3/10

The Walking Dead: 18 Miles Out (2012) Season 2, Episode 10

From beginning to end, you will be amazed

[10/10 · 27 February 2012]

As we continue to watch this show, we begin to see how far this show has come. The short first season left us wanting more zombie killing and hard decisions to be made by both Rick and Shane. The first half of Season 2 brought us that and more if I thought the whole Sophia thing was stretched a little too much. Now the second half of Season 2 is coming and going and we have seen so much more than ever before. Since creator Frank Darabont was let go from the project, he was not apart of the writing for the second half of Season 2. But this final half of the season has been fast paced through each episode's 40+ minutes. And "18 Miles Out" is no exception to the rule. Not only is it outstanding, it is probably one of the best episodes in the series.

Not five minutes in, Rick confronts Shane about him and Lori having a relationship when he was declared dead. He put fear into Shane's eyes, something that he wasn't expecting from Rick. Not only did Shane admit to that but also admitted that he killed Otis when Rick brought the situation at the school up. The scene was full of hatred and fear and it was the beginning moments of the episode.

The real story behind this episode was bringing Randall, fully healed from his leg injury, 18 miles outside the farm and drop him off. But before they could leave, Randall pleads Rick and Shane not to leave him behind because he knows Maggie. Shane, thinking logically, tells Rick that he probably knows where the farm is and will get his group and ambush them. Shane pulls out a gun and barely misses Randall because Rick stops him. This begins a fight between the two leaders that ends with dozens of walkers attacking them.

In last week's episode "Triggerfinger", the farm scenes sort of brought the episode down. This was not the case in "18 Miles Out". Beth, now awake from her shock, is thinking about committing suicide which brings out an argument between Maggie and Beth as well as Lori and Andrea. We are beginning to see a conflict between Andrea (who is on the side of Shane) and Lori (who is on the side of Rick). Viewers have been talking about Team Shane and Team Rick and this episode finally shows how the group is separated into these two teams - except for Deryl who seems to be on no one's side.

I had one problem with the episode unfortunately. Towards the end of the shootout with the walkers, Rick and Randall begin to run away from the area leaving Shane to die. But in the end, Randall and Rick come to the rescue in a car and save Shane. Now if I was Rick and Shane nearly tried to kill me, I wouldn't have rescued him. But I understand that Rick, while beginning to change into a darker character, still has the feelings of understanding and forgiveness. Honestly, I thought this scene was a tease. Rick and Shane will face each other by the end of this season and it won't end with walkers interrupting the fight. I predict that one of these character's will die or leave the group . . . but only time will tell.

"18 Miles Out" is a masterpiece. This episode shows that Rick and Shane can no longer be apart of the same group. With Shane trying to do ruthless, but some would say right, moves to keep the group (but mainly Lori) safe and Rick trying to restrain Shane from making these moves, it is clear that the these two characters can't live or work together. While the shootout between Rick, Shane, and the walkers was the highlight of the episode, the side story with Beth and her suicidal ideas were very strong. With only three episodes left, it is clear that we are in for a wild ride. Last week I couldn't wait for the next episode; today, I'm dying to see what's next in what has become a great second season.

The Walking Dead: Triggerfinger (2012) Season 2, Episode 9

An unbelievable first half brings this episode to greatness

[9/10 · 20 February 2012]

In the first thirty minutes of "Triggerfinger", I was biting my nails, on the edge of my seat, and always full of suspense. This shootout was one of the best moments in "The Walking Dead".

The episode didn't take any time at all to get started. From the start Rick, Hershel, and Glenn find the rest of Dave's and Tony's crew who begin to search for them . . . guns loaded. When they try to enter the bar, Glen pushes the door close and then starts a chain reaction of suspenseful scenes. We also see a new Hershel that we didn't even know existed. He knows how to shoot a gun and even shoots a man down when they begin to attack Glenn in the streets. We also see Hershel not help the person he shot when three walkers begin to eat him alive. Even when they were trying to help a person who has an impaled leg on a spike, it was done very well. Rick automatically takes out his knife and asks Hershel, "will this cut through the bone" but at last second pulls the legs out of the spike. It doesn't sound like much on paper, but when there are numerous walkers around them and little to no ammo, that is the definition of suspense. The shootout wasn't only the most suspenseful part though. After getting over the ridiculous situation with Lori and the map, the walker slowly pushing through the car windshield was fantastic. The addition of seeing the walker's skin getting peeled off from the glass was a nice touch.

Although the first half of the episode was masterful, the second half was a step back. Glenn, after being shook up from the fight, went to Maggie and said that when she said, "I love you," and the bullets began to fly, he was unable to help Hershel and Rick because if he died, he couldn't bare the thought of seeing Maggie upset. First of all, that was a weak answer that the writers thought of especially after the unbelievable scene where Maggie runs past Hershel and hugs Glenn instead . . . that would never have happened in real life. So it looks like their relationship is all but lost . . . but who knows. There was also a good scene with Carol letting Daryl vent at her because it looks like he is very upset with the outcome of Sophia. Carol also finds the ears of the walkers Daryl took which was a very nice touch.

But the best scene of the second half was Lori telling Rick that she believes Shane killed Otis, that he thinks the baby is his and that Lori is his. This is the spark that will bring Rick and Shane into a confrontation that has been anticipated since Shane aimed at Rick in Season 1.

"Triggerfinger" was a brilliant episode. The first half was unbelievable and even though the second half didn't have that big of an impact, it still was enjoyable to watch. There are four episodes left and it looks like they will have their hands full. It will be fun to see the outcome of Rick and Shane . . . all we do is have to wait until next Sunday which I can't be more excited about.

9.6/10

The Walking Dead: Nebraska (2012) Season 2, Episode 8

A solid mid-season premiere that foreshadows a darker tone that we haven't seen yet.

[8/10 · 15 February 2012]

When we last left the group Shane showed Hershel what walkers truly are, killed the zombies in the barn and Rick kills poor little Sophia who has become a zombie. "Nebraska" picks up right then and there with the burning of bodies as well as burial ceremonies for Sophia and Hershel's family members.

Story wise, "Nebraska" did a great job not wasting the hour it had. It doesn't take too long for Shane to question Hershel if he actually knew if Sophia was there all along. It was a good question to ask but the answer was somewhat difficult to believe. I'll get into that later. We also see character developments in many characters. The one who really stands out is Rick who is shocked and upset with himself that Sophia was in the barn all along. He begins to tell Lori that he feels responsible for Dale getting wounded and shot and even sort of thanks Shane for doing what he did. While he doesn't thank him in his mind, because he still believes it was a horrible thing to do, he now realizes that if he stopped Shane from opening the farm, they would be chasing a "ghost". Carl is also beginning to change when he tells Lori that he would've killed Sophia too by saying, "It was the right thing to do". Not only is that a chilling speech for a mother to hear, but we are beginning to see Carl change into what his father has become.

We also see Shane and Dale exchange glares of hatred and don't really start a conversation. We also learn that Dale believes Shane killed Otis. He even tells Lori. I'm going to be honest, Dale is a smart guy and one of my favorite characters, but he has to learn to keep his mouth shut. If he keeps going after Shane like this, who looks like is not going to last the rest of the season (my prediction - not a fact), he might be killed by this newly born psychopath.

The ending also truly shined. The confrontation between Rick and another survivor Dave and his friend was played out so incredibly well. This also shows Rick's darker side begin to appear. We all know Rick as a person of reasoning and discussion but in this scene, we begin to see Rick take things a little more seriously. While he probably wouldn't have aloud the two survivors join their group anyway, Rick said flat out, "Sorry, we can't take you with us. There is no room for you". While it ends badly, in a good way, Rick did the smart thing which was to keep his group safe from outsiders whether walkers or other survivors.

The episode isn't without it's problems though. Remember when I said Hershel's answer to Shane's question was hard to believe? Well Hershel said that maybe Otis found her and put her in the barn. Now I'm being really critical here but that means after Rick left Sophia in the woods, she got bit by another walker, was able to get away, turned into a zombie, get caught by Otis in less than 24 hours and then Otis goes back out the same day to shoot the deer and finally Carl. The time line seems a little off for that to possibly happen. If you remember when Jimmy turned got bit in season one, it nearly took him a whole day to turn into a zombie. Just something to think about.

Another thing was the scene with Lori on the road. Can someone tell me the minute she looks at the map, while driving, a walker comes out on an abandoned road at that moment, and causes a car crash? That seems nearly impossible for that to actually happen.

Even with it's minor problems, "Nebraska" was a solid mid-season premiere. It showed new character developments and some action. The main plot itself doesn't really go anywhere but it doesn't have too. It was a strong episode without the group deciding what to do next after Sophia's death. It may not be one of the best episodes this season, but its a good starting point for the second half of season two.

8.5/10

Game of Thrones: Fire and Blood (2011) Season 1, Episode 10

Season 1 Review

[9/10 · 8 January 2012]

If I had to put it into one sentence, "Game of "Thrones" is a fantastic HBO series. While it is more dialogue than action for a fantasy series, it works out tremendously with great characters (backed up by great actors) and a complex storyline. For people who haven't watched this show before should give it a test run; it might work out for you in the end.

After the first episode "Winter is Coming", I knew that this series was a winner. While the writers threw a lot out at you in the first episode, with the Starks and Lannisters, it was never too much to understand. The episode showed a lot of sex, a lot of story and a lot of character development but it all fit into the one hour frame they had to work with. As the season continued, I never got tired of it. The dialogue, while there is a lot of it, never seemed to bore me which surprised me. I found myself to love the blood and sword fighting when it appeared but I never missed afterwards. I sort of got use to the idea that dialogue is going to be a huge part of this series.

While dialogue is most of the episode, "Game of Thrones" does give you some intense action sequences. The short battle between Jamie Lannister and Eddard Stark in the episode "The Lion and the Wolf" was suspenseful, graphic and very entertaining. Even the trial by combat the Vale in the episode "A Golden Crown" was both suspenseful and exciting. Those are some of the battles to be seen in this 10 episode season.

The series also does show it's fair share of twists and turns. Whether it was the death of a major character in the episode "Baelor" that made audiences so angry that they threatened to stop watching the show (seriously that actually happened) or story twists that threatened the King's life, the season never back down from giving audiences shocking twists to keep them entertained.

"Game of Thrones" Season 1 was absolutely amazing. The characters are greatly acted out (especially Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister the imp), the story is complex and full of twists, and the violence while not a lot until the final episodes are exciting to see and graphic. This was a powerful season and I strongly recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy and complex story lines.

By the way, since I have read the second book "A Clash of Kings" I can tell you Season 2 will be fantastic. I have read the first three and I believe Book 2 is the best of all of them.

9.5/10

The Walking Dead: Pretty Much Dead Already (2011) Season 2, Episode 7

A powerhouse performance from Jon Bernthal drives this mid-season finale to greatness

[10/10 · 28 November 2011]

"Shane that's enough!" - Rick "You know what Rick, that is enough." Shane kills the zombie in front of Hershel.

Wow - what an ending. "Pretty Much Dead Already" has it's moments of greatness in this episode that come mainly in the final fifteen minutes. The confrontation between Dale and Shane was, yet again, strong and fierce. Even as Dale tries to defend his reasoning for taking the guns, Shane stops him and says, "Dale just shut up and give me the guns." Even after Dale pulls a gun on Shane, he is not able to pull the trigger. It is then that we know that Shane is fit for this apocalyptic world by slowly turning into a psychopath.

Another powerful scene was between Lori and Shane after Rick's informs his deputy that Lori is pregnant. The whole discussion about whether the baby was Rick's or Shane's was great specifically when Lori tells Shane that the baby, if his, will never be his but will be Rick's.

Finally the ending is where "The Walking Dead" really shines. The show is really powerful during sad moments that make you feel sorry for the character's and their decisions. The pilot of the series really showed this with the half-bodied zombie being killed by an apologetic Rick. That was great. In this episode, Rick kills Sophia who comes out of the barn. It was emotional, tragic and powerful. But even before the big shocker, Shane kept on shooting a zombie that Hershel was bringing to the barn. He shot it in the stomach, chest, heart and lung before killing it. Jon Bernthal, who plays Shane, was absolutely amazing in this scene. He shows his anger and frustration by torturing the zombie with bullets and Hershel with the truth. As Shane and the group killed all the zombies in the barn, Hershel watched and realized that these "sick people" are not sick but dead and dangerous.

The episode isn't without it's problems though. The lame joke with Maggie and Glenn with the "rotten egg" in the hat was . . . . really stupid. The writers were trying to be funny but it failed miserably. The scene with Shane saying that Rick isn't cut out for this world was sort of pushed in my opinion. While I do get that the show is trying to show that Rick and Shane are beginning to split apart, Shane saying that Rick isn't cut out for this world wasn't as thought out as I wish it was. Instead of saying it to Lori, Shane should have said it to Rick himself to make it a more powerful scene. Also wouldn't Maggie or anyone say that they have a little zombie girl in the barn after they have been searching for her the past couple of weeks? Come on, they put couldn't put the two together?

Saying that "Pretty Much Dead Already" is good is an understatement. The mid-season finale truly shine as probably the best episode so far in Season 2. While I think the episode "Cherokee Rose" with Shane killing Otis is pretty damn good, "Pretty Much Dead Already" might surpass it. In the end, I can't wait until February to see the final episodes unravel. 10/10

The Walking Dead: Secrets (2011) Season 2, Episode 6

Carl learns how to shoot, Dale tries to protect Andrea and Shane becomes more dangerous

[9/10 · 21 November 2011]

Well this was a very good episode indeed. "Secrets" was all about the characters who are keeping secrets from one another and how they are revealed. Lori is confronted by Rick about the empty abortion box in their tent, Dale talks to Hershel about the barn after Glen tells him, and Dale begins an argument with Shane about the night with Odis and how his story was bland. All of these scenes were great which I will get into later.

The episode starts off with Shane finding Carl with a gun under his belt. After Lori settles down, she and the rest of the group allow Carl to keep the gun as long as he is trained how to use it. Chandler Riggs who plays Carl was great in this episode. He spoke a little more than the previous episodes but delivered with his "I want to help protect this group with you guys, and I can't do it without a gun." Andrea also wants to train with shooting and goes on a private tour with Shane. Shane was a little of a show-off when he could hit a moving tree branch when Adrea couldn't.

Later, Andrea and Shane drive into a village hoping to find Sophia. They didn't expect a lot of zombies there though. And on the way back, Shane has sex with Andrea after getting off on their little adrenaline rush.

Glenn and Maggie went back into town to get Lori abortion pills (which I don't blame her - even though it's a sick thing to do). After this part the great scenes occur. Dale confronts Hershel about the "moaning" in the farm and how he thinks he should keep it a secret and focus on the rest of the group and trusting them. After Andrea and Shane come back, Dale immediately pulls Shane to the side and confronts him about things that Shane has done very wrong. While Dale was just trying to protect Andrea, Shane took the offensive and we began to see a different personality of Shane that we haven't seen yet. It was a powerful scene that if Dale continues to confront Shane about Odis and aiming at Rick, Dale will be in serious trouble.

At the end, Rick finds abortion pill boxes empty in their tent and decides to confront Lori about it after she vomited them out. Lori also tells Rick that she and Shane slept with each other. Rick acknowledges it but doesn't become extremely angry because of the circumstances.

All I know is that the mid-season finale is the next episode. I know the show will deliver a cliffhanger and we will have to wait until February to finish the season but I have faith that it will be great. This season started off slow but has picked up the last few episodes. I am dying to see what happens next and if they succeed, it will be a great accomplishment. 9/10

The Walking Dead: Chupacabra (2011) Season 2, Episode 5

Amazing moments, shocking scenes and a twist makes this episode great.

[9/10 · 17 November 2011]

Finally we see Daryl do some crazy s*** this episode. "Chupacabra" isn't the best episode of the season but it was still very entertaining. The season has really found it's momentum and is beginning to move forward if I am analyzing the ending of this episode right. By the way, I don't know if I'm alone here but this whole Sophia crap has to go. This whole storyline with Sophia DID NOT HAPPEN IN THE COMICS! So the question I must ask is, "Why would you waste our time with a character we really don't care about anyway!." Honestly, if Rick would listen to Shane and stop looking for this girl, I would feel sorry for less than a second and continue on. These writers have really screwed up with this stupid plot point - but I digress.

This episode mainly focused around Daryl and his brother Meryl. Even though Daryl sees his brother after a brutal injury by falling down a cliff, it was a real letdown that Meryl wasn't here at all. I was so hyped up for this episode because I thought Meryl would return and come after Rick and T-Dog. So yes I was a little disappointed with these "dream scenes." However, these scenes were key for Daryl's character and we finally see his anger being unleashed. When it was when he pulled an arrow out of his body or it was him limping back to the farm, we see some true changes to Daryl that will become incredibly interesting in the next couple of episodes.

There were a couple of holy s*** moments in this episode. The scene where Daryl takes out two zombies while injured was suspenseful and entertaining and when Adrien shoots Daryl because she believes he's a zombie was gut-wrenching. The reason why that particular scene was so amazing was because after she shot Daryl (with a sniper that had a glare in the scope mind you), it immediately went to commercial. I seriously thought Daryl died but he wasn't as the bullet barely hit his head. That was one of the most suspenseful moments in this season so far and I hope more of these moments come soon.

Awesome scenes and shocking "cliffhangers" aside, the side stories were pretty good as well. Glenn was trying to seduce Maggie yet again with the "I have six condoms left" sentence that sort of backfired on him until the end of the episode. The episode also showed more arguments between Rick and Shane. Shane believes that they should stop looking for Sophia (and I am 100% with him on this one) and Rick believes she is still alive. They only had one scene together that started out pleasant but then turned into an argument in the end. Lori is trying to keep her pregnancy away from Rick as Glenn thinks she should tell him. There was also a funny scene with Glenn and Dale if Lori and Adrien are on their periods - it wasn't needed but it was funny while it lasted.

The ending is shocking as we finally know that zombies are locked up in the barn. Now with this twist, it better succeed. I have a feeling that by looking at these characters who live on the farm are keeping those zombies in for a reason instead of killing them. Whatever the reason might be I just pray that the story at the farm ends next episode. We need to keep Season 2 going. This episode was great but "The Walking Dead" has this reputation of being slow. Now a lot of series do this (Breaking Bad, Mad Men) but they end up being fantastic seasons in the end. This twist better be played out great and get the group away from the farm peacefully or violently. And I want to see more damn zombies! I mean, this is a zombie show right? 9/10

The Walking Dead: Cherokee Rose (2011) Season 2, Episode 4

Compared to the brilliant episode the week before, this episode is sort of a letdown.

[9 November 2011]

Okay so we understand that Shane is turning to the dark side by purposefully shooting a man down for the zombies to eat him instead. That was a great twist in last weeks episode. After that good of an episode, the next episode has a lot to show. Unfortunately "Cherokee Rose" is uninteresting even if a zombie is pulled apart.

The episode starts off with slowly coming out of his semi-comma and he asks how Sophia is doing (NOTE: why is it taking it this long to find the girl - honestly by day 3 I would've just said "F it" and continue.) After lying to keep Carl's strength up, they try to organize a plan to try to find Sophia. Then the whole crew comes to the farm and they find a zombie trapped in the well that completely contaminates the water after being split in to while trying to pull it out. Oh yea then Glenn has sex with the girl he's been eying the past couple of episodes.

I guess the very end was good enough to be a twist. Lori finds out she's pregnant that brings up two very important questions. The obvious one is whose baby is it? Is it Shane's or Rick's? The other question is would you bring a baby into a world where zombies has taken over? I would say no on that subject but that's my opinion.

Overall, by reading this review nothing really happened in this episode. It was pretty bland but not really boring. I still have high hopes for this season but they have somewhat decreased since episode one of the second season. 7/10

The Walking Dead: Save the Last One (2011) Season 2, Episode 3

A great episode with an unforgettable ending.

[9/10 · 5 November 2011]

First off I loved the ending at the beginning type of storytelling from this episode. I reminded me of what "Breaking Bad" does with great episodes and it works very strong for "The Walking Dead" as well. Well obviously this was Shane's episode and his descent into darkness. Rick and Lori talk as we see Shane and the guy who shot Carl (forgive me - I don't recall his name) run away from a pack zombies in a hallway. Then the episode splits into two stories. We see Glen and T-Dog arrive at the farm to see Carl on a bed dying. We see a lot from Rick and Lori as well as a little dialogue from Carl that soon turns into a vicious seizure. That scene was very suspenseful and I almost thought Carl would have to be in surgery without the respirator. T This leads to the other storyline. Shane is trying to get out of the town that is full of zombies. Whomever was getting tired of not enough zombies will be very happy this episode. Throughout the episode Shane pops off rounds and he literally leaves with no ammo left. At the very end we see only Shane return to the farm with the respirator. He is shaken up by what just happened and tells the group that the guy was unable to get back.

But when he gets into the shower, we see a bald spot in Shane's hairline that brings us to where Shane shoots the guy in the leg and leaves him for bait for the group of zombies behind them. And you see them eat into this guy as his screams become less and less loud. It was one of the most powerful scenes I have seen in this series (the last time was in Episode 1 where Rick gives a "mercy" kill to the zombie in the park).

The ending was so powerful that it truly shows that Shane is beginning to do anything to survive while trying to get back on Lori's good side. This descent into darkness will be a key plot point later in the season and I am desperate to see how it all plays out in the end. A fantastic episode. 9/10

Take Shelter (2011)

A riveting performance from Michael Shannon and a unique plot makes Take Shelter a must see

[10/10 · 28 October 2011]

"Take Shelter" written and directed by Jeff Nichols is a fantastic movie. It's full of great dialogue, disturbing nightmare sequences, and it is lead by a powerhouse performance by Michael Shannon.

The film follows Curtis (Michael Shannon) who is recently having painful nightmares that all follow a storm and how everything turns crazy. These dreams impact his regular life, from sealing his dog in a fenced area to asking his best friend/co-worker Dewart (Shea Whigham) to not work with him anymore. But more importantly, he begins to expand on his tornado shelter in his backyard that leads to complications between his wife Samantha (Jessica Chastain) and his little deaf daughter Hanna.

The film works perfectly by its great pace. The film is about two hours long but it never feels boring. The dialogue is great, and the nightmare scenes break up the talking and create a more scary and suspenseful mood. The film moves between Curtis at work as a construction worker to the tornado shelter and how it impacts his family's life.

The film is also backed up by Michael Shannon's extraordinary performance. He fits the role of Curtis perfectly: a loving man who is trying to protect his family from a storm he believes is coming as well as a man who is defending himself from his co-workers and family whom think that he is crazy. Michael Shannon delivers in one particular scene at a dinner later in the film with a bravo speech to neighboring families and co-workers; he's angry, emotional and above all powerful in this scene.

"Take Shelter" is a contender for the 2011 Academy Awards so far. It is riveting, emotionally charged and a powerful film. Michael Shannon has delivered his best performance in his acting career with "Take Shelter." The movie asks a pretty tough question about Curtis: is he mentally ill or is he a prophet? This questioned is answered within the film to a certain extent but it is up to the viewer to decide for themselves. And it is one of the strong points of the film. "Take Shelter" is a superb film that anyone who is looking for something original and great performances should watch. It is one of the best films of the year.

The Walking Dead: Bloodletting (2011) Season 2, Episode 2

More story is plotted with less zombie killing

[7/10 · 27 October 2011]

Two episodes in and The Walking Dead is continuing its progress of slow build up. We know something is going to happen very soon and it makes us want more which is a very good thing. I have never read the comic books before so I have no idea what's going to happen but I feel something coming soon.

"Bloodletting" was a good episode from start to finish. There wasn't a lot of zombie killing at all during this episode; it was all story driven. The episode opens up with Lori being told that Rick was shot back in the first episode. Then it immediately goes back to Rick running towards a house with Carl dying in his hands. We learn that a hunter didn't see Carl behind the deer and the bullet went through it and hit Carl in the stomach. It was great acting by Chandler Riggs who plays Carl. Even though he didn't say a word this episode, his pain acting was pretty good for a kid his age. Not bad kid, not bad. Andrew Lincoln as Rick was better this episode than the first. He was shaken up this episode and it showed.

Other than the Carl storyline, Lori and the others continued to look for the little girl who just ran off into the woods because that was the smartest thing she could do (sarcasm by the way). But when they return to Dale and T-Dog, they find T-Dog suffering from Blood poisoning after tripping and opening a vein in the last episode. It was pretty funny that the show spoofed Breaking Bad with the blue crystal meth inside Daryl's drug bag while he was looking for pain killers.

The ending was pretty good as well especially when Shane punches a zombie in the face . . . that was awesome by the way. One punch and it goes down to the floor . . . bada**. The ending in this episode was a little better than the previous episodes. I want to know how the hell they get out of that situation really badly.

Overall, "Bloodletting" was a solid episode. It wasn't brilliant but it wasn't average either. The story is progressing and little zombie killing is being made so far - I think only one dies this episode. But it was a solid episode that left me wanting more - something that was missing from last episodes ending. 7/10

The Walking Dead: What Lies Ahead (2011) Season 2, Episode 1

The episode did everything right for the first half hour then lost momentuma as it progressed

[7/10 · 20 October 2011]

"What Lies Ahead" was a good premiere for Season 2 but could've been a lot better. The opening was fantastic, Rick kneels down and talks into the radio trying to contact a friend who saved his life when he left the hospital in episode one. No response and Rick and the group decide to head out away from the city trying to find refuge somewhere else. They come across a highway that blocks their road with flipped over cars and bodies as well as hundreds of zombies coming towards them. The scene when the group hides from the zombie mob was tremendous. It was suspenseful, it was nail biting, and it kept me on the edge of my seat.

But after Rick bashes two zombies heads in with a rock, the episode quickly loses the greatness that the first half hour had. One of the younger survivors runs into the forest after a zombie finds her under a car. From that point on, it's the group trying to find the little girl. It's boring and pointless. Rarely is a zombie found or killed within the final half of the episode; but when there are zombies, they are taken down awesomely.

The side story between Shane and Rick's wife is still approached a couple of times within this episode. Sometimes Carl is found to be the victim with Shane not talking to or screaming at him to listen to his mother. You really see the change in Shane's character in this episode. He's backed off Rick's family but is not afraid to argue with Rick himself. I thought a fist was going to be thrown but perhaps later this season it will happen.

The ending, while creates a new plot thread, was more funny than anything. The director didn't clinch the seriousness of the ending and left us with a couple of chuckles. It's supposed to be serious and supposed to keep me looking for more but it doesn't. The ending didn't make me want to see more of the show but more of a "whatever" feeling.

"What Lies Ahead" is a descent episode. Character development is all over the place, new plot lines are being created, and the story is progressing. But you have to wonder: after seeing so many zombie movies, you have to ask yourself if "The Walking Dead" can change the zombie genre for the better? I personally it can but it will take time to re-define the genre. And it will take time for me to become fully synced with the show. 7/10

The Walking Dead (2010–2022)

Season 1 is entertaining but slowly loses its momentum as it progresses

[9/10 · 13 October 2011]

The first season of "The Walking Dead" came with a premise that has been used over and over again in movies and TV shows alike. Zombies have been used in all types of horror films and now they invade AMC in "The Walking Dead". As you may have guessed, "The Walking Dead" begins with sheriff's deputy named Rick waking up in a hospital to find that a zombie apocalypse has occurred. Not knowing what is going on, he goes outside and finds a crippled zombie crawling around in the grass. As the episode goes on we figure out that you have to shoot them in the head and don't let them bite you . . . you know the common zombie crap. The first episode of the first season is probably the best episode out of all of them. It's slow building but tells you a lot about the main character and even makes you feel bad for the crippled zombie in one instance.

Where the show fails is in the character of Meryl, a redneck coke addict who comes out so strong in the first scene with him that you almost believe the producers and actor overdid his character. This brother, Deryl, is more likable and not as over-the-top as Meryl. Even though Meryl is in the season for a limited amount of time, you really start to hate the character and wish he wasn't apart of the show or at least less racist and vulgar. The show also fails in its story which can't be the writers fault. Since it is based on a comic book and the zombie apocalypse story has been used for the past thirty years, it is very tough to make a zombie show unique compared to others. By the end of the season it gets really predictable with the story of a cure to treat the zombie outbreak. So yes, the show is flawed but has its strong points.

"The Walking Dead" is entertaining enough for a six episode season. The show does lose its grip on the audience as the episodes come and go as the story becomes more predictable but the show shows us what we want: people shooting zombies in the head. The show doesn't have a lot of "Holy S***" moments that you would like to see but it is still entertaining enough to give it a look. It's only six episodes so if you don't like it, you won't miss much since you've seen this type of genre before; if you do like it, season 2 is right around the corner. 7/10

Breaking Bad: Face Off (2011) Season 4, Episode 13

Face Off is the best season finale for this series

[10/10 · 9 October 2011]

Oh boy look how far have we come since episode 401. Season 4 started off a little slow and didn't really pick up until episode 5. But since then, this show has been a roller coaster ride and "Face Off" finishes it off.

The episode starts off with Walt desperately retrieving the bomb under Gus' car and meeting Jesse in the hospital. Two police officers come to question Jesse about Brock's sickness and Walt tries to figure out how to take out his old boss. The episode is paced very well. There is action, there is drama and there are "Holy S***" moments that fans of the show will be dying for including the final seconds of this incredible episode.

I won't spoil anything further because this episode is so great. Walt finds an unlikely partner in his war with Gus and the plan they come up with is genius. Vince Gilligan, who wrote and directed the finale, did a superb job with this episode. The writing was excellent and the direction was smooth and effective.

"Face Off" is the best season finale compared to the other seasons. There is no big cliffhanger like the previous season finales but a "Holy S***" moment that truly changes the audience's mood . . . in a good way. Season 4 has really shown what great television really is. This was a fantastic season with an excellent ending. Season 4 might be the best season in the series so far. 10/10