Last week on TV - Dec. 7th-13th

I know I haven't written up any shows in forever. But I needed to write about the Arrow midseason finale. And the Constantine midseason finale was also pretty bad-ass.

Arrow - The Climb: So much happened in this episode, but the show didn't just rush through things, it gave us some amazing moments between characters, the best of which was with Oliver and Felicity. I loved that she didn't ask him to stay - she knew this was bigger than them. And I loved that he couldn't walk away without finally saying those three words. Oliver's goodbyes were heart-wrenching, and then the ending left me in shock. Shows need to stop driving sharp implements through the chests of my favorite characters. I'm still trying to process it. Overall grade: A

Constantine - The Saint of Last Resorts, Part 1: I didn't really need to see another character I really like bleeding out and left to die... That being said, it was quite a good episode. We finally got a more substantial hint at Zed's backstory, Chas was back, Anne Marie was a great character, the villain was creepy, and we also finally learned what the Rising Darkness is up to, and who's behind it. And somehow the episode managed all that plot-dumping without really seeming to slow down for the most part. Overall grade: B+

Last week on TV - Oct. 5th-11th

More premieres this week, including the show I've been looking forward to more than anything - Arrow. Didn't get to watch all the new episodes for my shows, since I was traveling for the later part of the week, but I saw the ones that really mattered.

Once Upon a Time - White Out: I spent half this episode cringing at Charming's hair in the flashbacks... In the present, I still like Elsa, but now that they've established her character, she needs to develop. Also, Hook and Emma are very cute together, although Hook and Charming make me smile even more (in a totally bromance sort of way). That was about all I liked from the episode. Did I mention that the flashbacks made me cringe? And not just at the hair, but at how awful they were as a whole. I get that the show reinvents characters, but bad-guy Bo Peep just didn't cut it for me, and Charming's whole progression towards heroism fell really, really flat (unlike his hair, which was really, really bushy...). Overall grade: C

Supernatural - Black: I'm going into this season with extremely low expectations, which lets me enjoy mediocre episodes much more. And that's what this was. Demon!Dean's actions actually made sense to me - Dean's been driven all his life by a desire to do the right thing; take that away and he's not really got a motivation to do anything. Cas, on the other hand, felt really out of character. After everything he's been responsible for, he would never stand by and let angels kill each other. And I felt like the writers were trying too hard with Sam. Yes, we already know he'll do anything to save Dean. You don't have to explicitly tell us that, multiple times. Can we just be done with the angels and demons and whoever the new guy is, and instead have Sam, Dean, and Cas all together, hunting bad guys and having sleepovers in the bunker? 'Cause I'd like that a lot more than what we've got right now. Overall grade: C+

The Flash - Pilot: This is how you do a pilot episode - fun, even funny at times, but with heart. I like most of the characters, especially Barry and Detective West, I really want to know what's up with Wells, and I'm invested in the show after just one episode. (Also, I really want crossovers with Arrow to happen every few episodes. Which I realize would be overkill, but I'm loving the fact that the shows share a universe, and apparently aren't going to forget about that fact.) I really like the idea of Barry using his new-found powers to protect his city, as opposed to the common superhero concept of saving the city. I think that will allow this show to set a different tone than every other superhero show out there (or at least that's my hope). Overall grade: A-

Arrow - The Calm: There was a lot to love about this episode - all the Team Arrow interactions were perfect, and the arrival of Diggle's baby girl was the best. Plus, we finally got the promised Olicity date (which was everything I hoped it would be), and their first kiss (which was very bittersweet and I don't know how I feel about it). The new Count Vertigo has potential to be a good villain, although I will admit I was hoping he would be a bit more like the New 52 version of the Count (whom I really liked). And I even found myself liking Ray Palmer (and Felicity dishing out hacker vengeance on him was amazing). And then there was the ending, which I did not love, at all. I know Sara's death will impact the most people, and will start Laurel on the path to becoming the Black Canary. I don't care. Sara was a strong female character (something this show lacks), and killing her off for the sake of furthering Laurel's development pissed me off big time. I knew it was coming - I actually thought she'd die in last season's finale, so she made it one episode longer than I expected - but that didn't make me hate it any less. Overall grade: B+

Last week on TV - Sep. 28th-Oct. 4th

Three more of the shows I'm interested in premiered this week, to mixed reviews. (Gilmore Girls also arrived on Netflix streaming, so you should all be proud of me for watching anything else besides that this week...)

Once Upon a Time - A Tale of Two Sisters: I should preface this review by stating that I didn't really like the movie Frozen very much, so I was less than excited to see that it was coming to OUaT. That being said, there were a few things I liked about this episode. I actually liked Elsa (I did in the movie too), and am excited that it appears that she'll be a major focus, rather than just a side plot (and it's great to see Georgina Haig on my screen again - makes my Fringie heart happy). The way the scene between Emma and Regina was framed to mirror a scene from Frozen was cool, and I like the potential comparisons between their story and Anna and Elsa's. And thank heaven that Regina didn't go full-on evil. (I'm okay with conflicted, but if they turn her evil again, I will quit watching.) Overall grade: C+

Gotham - Selina Kyle: As the title makes very evident, this episode was centered around Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Cat. I could like her, I think, although we still know next to nothing about her, aside from the fact that she's got quite the attitude. I want to see her interact with Bruce - who, by the way, is rather intense. I can totally see him becoming Batman one day. Gordon continues to be the morally upright good guy, and gets encouragement from his girl, whom I hated less this time around. However, he does seem willing to toe the line between right and wrong when lives are at stake... I really enjoy Bullock's character - he manages pull off being morally ambiguous while still somehow being likable - we'll see how long that lasts. As far as actual villains go, Penguin and Falcone are awesome, but I'm still on the fence about Fish Mooney. There wasn't really a lot of character development in this episode, and the story itself wasn't that strong (although I'm expecting the Dollmaker to come into play again at a later point). Still, it was an enjoyable watch, probably because it maintained the film noir feel. I'm gonna need something more than that soon, though. Overall grade: B

NCIS: Los Angeles - Deep Trouble, Pt. II: This felt a bit more like the NCIS:LA I used to love, but it still struggled with character interactions. (That used to be the strongest part of the show - I don't know what went wrong.) The episode was well plotted, and the scenes with Sam and Callen in the doomed sub were well done, as were the scenes with Hetty and Granger. Where this episode really struggled was with Kensi and Deeks and the random DEA agent (Talia?). Those scenes just rubbed me the wrong way for some reason. I feel like the writers haven't written Kensi and Deeks well since they sent her off the Afghanistan, and this episode was no different. The action plotline was on point this episode, though, so it was decently entertaining. Overall grade: B-

Chicago Fire - Wow Me: A solid episode, nothing stunning, but that's okay. Severide's struggle to deal with Shay's death was well handled, and not over the top, which made his breakdown at the end of the episode that much more meaningful. I liked seeing Cruz get a chance to be the smart one, and Boden's nervousness about the baby was great. And even though I'm not always a huge fan of Dawson and Casey together (mostly when their relationship gets played up for the sake of added drama), I really liked them in this episode. I also really enjoyed getting to know a little bit of Newhouse's backstory - he seems like a really good dad. Overall grade: B

Modern Family - Do Not Push: Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed all the plotlines in this episode. Alex meeting a cute guy on her college tour was great, and the moment between Phil, Haley, and Luke was sweet. Jay seemed a bit out of character, but I liked how he and Gloria ended up keeping the expensive gifts. And I know the pain of trying to get a nice smile out of a little kid (and out of bigger kids, too), so I found Mitch and Cam's struggle very entertaining. Overall grade: B

The Vampire Diaries - I'll Remember: I binged watched the first five seasons over the summer because I was bored, and wound up enjoying the show more than I thought I would. This was a decent season premiere, and I liked the way they approached both Elena and Caroline's responses to what happened at the end of last season. I could care less about Tyler, and wanted to see more of Alaric struggling with being a vampire now. And I'm gonna go nuts until Damon is back where he belongs. As a whole, the episode set up a lot of plotlines, so it felt a little disjointed at times, but I want to know what happens, so I guess it did its job. Overall grade: B-

Hawaii Five-0 - Ka Makuakane: There was a nice misdirect at the beginning of the episode, and I'm also inclined to think of William Mapother as a bad guy after Lost, so it took me a while to figure this case out, which was a nice surprise. As far as the case-of-the-week went, it was a good episode, although we didn't get much of a chance to spend time with some of the main characters. This show has suffered from adding too many characters, and some weeks I really miss when the focus was just the main four. The subplot with the shady character from Danny's brother's past was subpar, although I feel like it could develop into an interesting storyline, if done right. But right now I'm actually more interested in whatever it is that Jerry has uncovered... Overall grade: B-

Last week on TV - Sep. 21st-27th

Fall shows are finally starting up again! And I'm planning on watching a bunch of them, at least for a little while, until real life gets too crazy. I'm also going to try to keep up with the mini reviews for the shows I'm current on - we'll see how that goes.

Gotham - Pilot: Of all the new shows this fall, this was probably the one I was the most excited for, and so far, it's living up to my hopes for it. As my husband stated within the first minute of the show, it feels like Gotham, and like Batman (or at least the Christopher Nolan version). The show set a dark tone right out of the gate, but at least in this episode, the unwavering moral stance of James Gordon kept it from feeling too depressing. (We'll have to see how long that lasts.) As a whole, it kept me interested, and the nods to characters who will become important in the future of this universe were an added bonus. I'll definitely be keeping watching this one, at least for as long as they keep Gordon in character. Overall grade: B+

Chicago Fire - Always: A show that knows what it's about doesn't need to have a flashy season premiere to be excellent, and this week's episode proved that Chicago Fire has that down. The draw of this show has always come from the relationships - not the romance, but the bonds of friendship that tie all of Firehouse 51 together. This episode wasn't action-packed; sure, there were a few calls, just like always, but the real strength of the episode came from the subdued expressions of grief, the masterful use of flashbacks, and the sense of a family coming together to hold each other up in the wake of yet another tragedy. Overall grade: A-

Modern Family - The Long Honeymoon: I really liked the plotline with Jay and Gloria this episode - your spouse is important and you should care about things that matter to them, including your appearance. The plotline with Alex bothered me at first, but the resolution redeemed it slightly - her family really does need her. And the webcam mishap made me laugh a lot. Overall grade: B-

Hawaii Five-0 - A'ohe kahi e pe'e ai: The opening scene/music combo was chilling, and the story itself was well plotted. The idea of a drone that can strike anywhere, without warning, is maybe playing a bit too much to current fears, but it worked. The bit with Danny and Steve getting their annual psych eval was hysterical, and Kono and Adam are too perfect together. Quite a decent episode overall, although the ending felt a little crammed with information and plotline introductions. Overall grade: B

Arrow rewatch - Season 1, Episodes 9-10

This will be the last Arrow rewatch post for the moment, because after Burned, I started watching faster, without pausing to take notes. I might come back to this project when Arrow goes on break for Christmas - we'll have to see.

Year's End

• The Dark Archer!
• Oliver and Diggle sparring is very hot - we need more of that
• About the island, to Diggle: "There were no holidays on the island - every day was... how do I stay alive? And to do that you had to forget things."
• Had totally forgotten that Malcolm is the first one to suggest "Green Arrow"
• Lots of secrets at that table - and Oliver knows it wasn't the vigilante, but for once he's not the one with the most inside info - that would be Malcolm
• Lance and the Arrow working together for the first time
• In which we are introduced to the Queen method of addressing problems - let's throw a party...
• Walter: "You're a good man, Oliver" - which is pretty much the first positive thing anyone has said to Oliver Queen since the beginning of the show? Really? I've gotta be missing something here.
• Fyers' crew disposed of all the inmates except two - Yao Fei, and, according to Fyers, Billy Wintergreen. And yet Slade tells us that he and Billy were ASIS agents who came to the island together - their stories don't match up.
• Lance tries so hard to stay within the law, but as the series progresses, the corruption in the Starling police force becomes more and more evident. He's a good man, and it's hard to watch him struggle to find the right path.
• I love how Felicity gets so engrossed in things that she's oblivious to stuff around her
• They were cute together from the beginning, but it took me a while to decide they were also right for each other. I always knew he didn't belong with Laurel, though.
• Laurel recognizes the difference between being willing to kill to protect someone, and killing as a means of dispensing justice
• Tommy: "Merry Christmas, sir. How are you?" Lance: "Proficient with firearms."
• Jealous Oliver face - although by this point I had realized that Tommy was the one Laurel belonged with
• Oliver: "Diggle, there wasn't anything on the island that wasn't twice as dangerous as this pretender, and I survived there for five years."
• Oliver: "So maybe we can just accept each other, not for who we were, but for the people we are now."
• I will admit I did not expect Malcolm to be the Dark Archer
• The first glimpse we get of the fate in store for the city - thousands dead in six months time - it gave the show a more cohesive goal than just crossing names off a list
• A couple general thoughts at this point, since I've reached the original midseason break. First, I originally considered the first half of season one to be much weaker than the second half (this held true even when I rewatched it after seeing the whole season). But after having seen the second season, these first nine episodes make a lot more sense, and hold together better. Basically, they require the events shown over the course of the second season to really hold together well, and this also goes the other way - the events of season two only make sense in light of the events in these episodes. Does this mean they were weaker episodes? In some ways, yes - they don't stand on their own quite as well. But I've concluded that this has less to do with the quality and more to do with the lack of time to develop important pieces of the story - specifically the events on the island. Given that information, they become very strong episodes. I'll have to see where they stand once I've finished this rewatch, but I certainly enjoyed them much more this time around. Second, I'm also appreciating the fact that the main cast is small enough at this point that every character plays an important role, and is given the chance to have their backstory and motivations explored (you could argue that Lance hasn't been given that, but I think he has). Marc Guggenheim actually stated that he felt the biggest problem with season two was that they "committed the common second season mistake of introducing more characters than [they] really had time to service." I would definitely agree, and rewatching season one makes that even more clear.

Burned

• Seeing Oliver haunted by his failure really works to make the story more compelling
• Also not complaining about the workout sequence :)
• He's always been one to run or hide from his problems, rather than facing them
• Technically he's being there for his family after Walter's loss, and that is a good thing, but he's using that to avoid facing things, which isn't healthy
• Lance has a half-eaten doughnut sitting on his desk :)
• Oliver's "what the hell?" face when he picks up the phone and it's Laurel - priceless
• The fact that even Oliver is awed by the massiveness of Diggle's arms :)
• Watching Tommy change for the better was awesome. And then he got angsty and died and it sucked.
• For the first time, I find myself thinking about how terrified island!Oliver must have been at this point. The first couple times, it was easy to just condemn him as a whiny brat, but now I'm realizing that he was basically living in constant fear, with no real knowledge of how to defend himself or survive.
• Take #1 of brooding Oliver sitting alone in the darkened lair - this will become something I really think works well for his character - his instinct is to be alone
• Laurel lies to Tommy about talking with the vigilante. I know lies and their consequences is one of the main themes of the show so far. That doesn't mean I have to like it.
• One of my favorite lines of the entire series - after Diggle slams Oliver into a table, and then Oliver does the same: "What did that prove?" "This is one sturdy desk."
• Laurel: "I don't take things slow, remember? I close my eyes, and I jump, just like you. I think that's why we spooked each other."
• Other favorite moments of the series - Lances calling the vigilante while they're with Oliver :)
• I really liked how island!Oliver's progression to a killer was gradual - first the bird, now a man, but accidentally, later a purposeful kill. I wonder, too, if we'll see him progress under Waller from killing in self defense to killing as a method of dispensing justice.
• Oliver: "I've been close to death, on the island, more times than I can remember, and I never feared it, 'cause I had nothing to lose."
• Laurel, Tommy, and falling beams equals a giant lump in my throat
• Oliver: "Thank you." Diggle (with a smile): "What for?" "You know what for."

Arrow rewatch - Season 1, Episodes 6-8

Lots of quotes stood out to me in these next few episodes - most of them because they relate well to later events.

Legacies

• A bit more about his time on the island - Diggle: "Where'd you learn that?" Oliver:"His name was Yao Fei." "He give you those scars?" "One of them."
• Diggle: "Sounds like you have a narrow definition of being a hero."
• Now I'm curious as to when Oliver really starts to change the way he views his mission. Diggle isn't really able to get through to him at this point.
• Oliver: "I'm not a hero."
• The familiarity with which Oliver and Thea play off each other speaks highly to how close they were before the island. It's tragic how much has been lost between them.
• Major squick with Thea crushing on Tommy!!! He would have been an amazing big brother to her, though. Now I'm sad thinking that he never knew he had a sister, much less that his sister was a girl he already considered practically family. He went through so much of his life feeling alone - I wish he'd known the truth.
• Diggle: "You asked me to work with you, not for you."
• Many feels about how awesome Diggle and Oliver's relationship is. I love that Diggle isn't afraid to call him on his shit, and their snarky conversations are perfect.
• Diggle has a smile reserved only for Felicity, too
• And this is when I realized how much I liked Laurel and Tommy together
• Headcanon: while Oliver was on the island, Tommy sort of stepped into the big brother role as best as he could - threatened boyfriends, was there when Thea needed someone to talk to about anything - even if he didn't always give the best advice, and wasn't always the best role model
• Oliver: "I made you a promise; I couldn't keep it." Moira: "Well, it's nothing new for you, Oliver."
• He reveals himself to Derek Reston - the man who realizes he's responsible for turning his son into a criminal and a murderer
• This line makes a whole lot more sense now - Robert Queen: "The things I've done, what I was about to do..."
• Smart move, Tommy - especially since she's not just "like your sister," she actually IS your sister...
• And now I'm wondering - if Tommy had lived, had been there for Thea like Oliver couldn't be, would things have turned out differently?
• Diggle lifts Oliver's darkness just a little - not enough to actually let light in, but enough that it isn't smothering him for a moment
• The moment when island!Oliver finds something that will keep him fighting through the next five years of hell - it should be more powerful, but it isn't
• Moira: "I guess I just miss my son." Oliver: "I miss you too."
• They try so hard to connect, and knowing what's coming for them just makes these scenes hurt even more
• Foreshadowing much? Oliver: "Mom, it's okay to get your hands dirty every once in a while."

Muse of Fire

• So tempted to skip these next two... I hate Helena
• Diggle: "So let me get this right, Oliver... Your mother's shot at - nearly killed - and the way you process this emotionally is by going undercover with the mob."
• His face when he tells Tommy he's okay with Laurel and Tommy dating is the same as when he tries to encourage Felicity about Barry...
• Oliver: "Tommy... If you hurt her I'll snap your neck."
• Gadreel is Bertinelli's bodyguard... First time seeing it since SPN season nine :)
• Thea: "Aren't you getting sick of his lies?" Moira: "Thea, everyone has secrets."
• About his time on the island, to Helena: "When I didn't feel lost, I felt free. More than one, and, uh, those are the days that I miss."
• Tommy and Laurel are very sweet together
• Oliver: "People are always asking me - what did I miss the most? Air conditioning, satellite radio... those are the answers that I give people because those are the answers they're expecting... I don't know how truthful I can be."
• Malcolm Merlyn is one creepy dude, long before you ever know what he's planning
• Oliver sounds really pissed at Diggle for interrupting his sort-of date :)
• Oh look, the plot twist we all saw coming a mile away
• Lance's sense of honor is the reason his character is so amazing
• And then the plot twist I did not see coming - Malcolm being Tommy's father
• Upon reflection, I think Malcolm cut off Tommy's trust fund in order to hopefully eventually turn him into a sidekick for the Dark Archer - first step being to see what sort of stuff he was made of
• Now he's doing the finger thing around Helena...
• Helena: "When you love somone as much as I loved him - with all of your heart - then you can't just turn that emotion off when they're taken from you. You still feel things as deeply, and if it can't be love that you feel, then it becomes hate."
• You know, at this point, they're both killers, and they're both hurt and alone - this seems to be a theme for his unhealthy relationships (Helena and Sara)
• Why did Walter and Moira's relationship have to get destroyed?!? There's so much love there and the writers smashed it to pieces
• Thea: "You seem really lonely, and we all have our secrets, Ollie - clearly, you have yours - and it's fine it you don't wanna share them with us, but I just really think you should share them with someone."
• Helena: "Why is your vendetta more valid than mine?"
• The parallels between his relationship with Helena and his relationship with Sara are really, really clear, right down to getting together out of desperation and pain
• I liked this episode a whole lot more this time around (third viewing). It makes a lot more sense and fits a lot better after seeing more of what he went through during those five years, and finding out more of how he copes. It also helps his actions and decisions in the second half of season two seem more in character.

Vendetta

• After the end of season two, every time I see the opening sequence I get really, really curious as to why he wound up back on the island
• He doesn't see himself as a hero; he sees himself as a killer atoning for his sins and his father's sins, and that's why he tries so hard to save people, both from others and from themselves, because maybe if he saves enough people he can wipe out the red in his ledger
• Thea has been incredibly lucky to have had not one, but two amazing fathers. I get that Robert was far from perfect, but he loved Thea, and always made sure she knew it, and Walter stepped in to fill that role after Robert's death
• What do you mean "back then" you didn't do serious well and were excellent at screwing things up? Pretty sure you still have a long way to go with that, Mr. Queen...
• About Sara: "I brought her on the yacht, and she died, right in front of me."
• He's such a showoff and it's really adorable
• Diggle: "Oliver, you're lonely - lonelier than you wanna admit. And that's why you think you can change this girl: because you need to think you can."
• I think the other reason Oliver tried to save her was because he is so alone all the time, and the chance to have a romantic relationship where he doesn't have to hide who he really is seemed pretty darn good to him
• The really, really awkward double date... worst thing pretty much ever
• Sometimes Oliver can really be a douche. I think his pre-island friends tend to bring out that side of him more.
• I think he legitimately cared about Helena, and it could have become something more. He was trying really hard to move on from Laurel, and given time, he would have. But right then Laurel also represents all that was good before the island, all that he lost and is trying to find again. Later on, when she starts to struggle, I think he realizes how much he idealized her, and starts to reevaluate his way of thinking, but at this point I think he was still in love, not with Laurel herself, but with what she represented to him.
• It's painful watching Tommy/Laurel scenes and knowing what's coming
• Even before she joins Oliver, Felicity is willing to put herself at risk to chase the truth
• Oliver expressing his loneliness and how he felt the universe owed him one is heartbreaking
• Diggle: "I don't think love is about changing or saving a person. I think it's about finding the person who's already the right fit. One day you will."
• Diggle: "You opened up, took a risk with your heart. The Oliver I met a few months ago would not have been able to do that. And when you meet the right person, you'll be ready for her."
• Tommy finally growing up is amazing
• And the fact that Oliver and Tommy can maintain a strong friendship with everything that's going on is also awesome. I hate it when they fight later.
• Also two episodes with no island scenes - it's no wonder these didn't work as well the first couple of times I saw them - at this point we know next to nothing about what happened to Oliver on the island

Arrow rewatch - Season 1, Episodes 1-5

I started an Arrow rewatch to try to recover from season finales - it's sort of working. This will be my third time through most of the episodes - I watched as it aired, then rewatched season one last summer, and the first half of season two over the winter break. So this is my first time watching season one after having seen season two. I meant to just jot down a few interesting notes and/or quotes from each episode, but that expanded rather quickly... This will be split up into blocks of episodes that I watched on the same day.

Pilot

• Oliver having bad dreams is something I wish we'd seen more of
• He does the finger thing around Laurel in the beginning!
• Isabel Rochev is on the very first page of the list you see
• Guys smoothly vaulting fences turns me on big time

Honor Thy Father

• So much anger right under the surface
• Diggle having his back from the very beginning
• Lance: "I'm your father - I live to keep you safe."
• Oliver: "It will never be enough."
• Having Oliver narrate worked well early on
• Oliver: "I didn't know how painful it would be to keep my secrets"

Lone Gunmen

• When he climbs the wall to dig the bullet out - gymnast's gracefulness right there
• The way he looks at Laurel then is the way he looks at Felicity now
• Badass Laurel
• Oliver and Tommy's friendship was so awesome
• Felicity!! and Oliver's smile totally says he thinks she's cute
• Plus he is such a TERRIBLE liar :)
• Oliver: "I can't do this alone."
• Laurel did know him well enough to know that he knew about her and Tommy
• Tommy: "You said you didn't think I was a one girl type of guy. I'm gonna prove you wrong."
• Pretty sure he was planning on telling Diggle even before Diggle got shot
• What is it with Oliver and putting arrows in eyes?

An Innocent Man

• Oh look - the opening sequence for the season makes its first appearance
• On the rewatch it becomes quite apparent how much thought Oliver put into the reveal
• Diggle: "You're a criminal. And a murderer."
• Love the little moments where he and Thea actually connect
• More bad dreams. In my headcanon, he never sleeps without at least one nightmare
• Why don't we see him making his arrows anymore? That's just awesome
• The first time Oliver tells anyone any part of the truth of what happened during those five years - to Diggle: "We both made it to a life raft but there wasn't enough food and water for both of us so he shot himself in the head."
• Even when she doesn't know who he really is, or really anything about him, Laurel instinctively knows she can trust the vigilante
• She also understands how lonely his job must be
• Laurel: "I think they need someone who cares about the lives of other people. Someone like you."
• Oliver hassling the replacement bodyguard is hilarious
• I love Laurel as the badass lawyer fighting for justice
• I really miss this Laurel - a strong woman who was more than just a way to create love triangles and unnecessary drama. I want her back in season 3...
• Laurel: "He's a killer. He would have killed that man. I looked in his eyes - it's like he had no remorse."
• The pain in Oliver's eyes as he hears her say that...
• The bird was the first step to becoming a killer. Felicity was the first step to becoming a hero.
• Oliver: "Diggle, I'm not looking for anybody to save me." Diggle: "Maybe not. But you need someone just the same. You are fighting a war, Queen, except you have no idea what war does to you, how it scrapes off little pieces of your soul. And you need someone to remind you of who you are - not this thing you're becoming."

Damaged

• He is one smart and manipulative guy. This is an incredibly elaborate plan, and relies on a whole lot of pieces working out the way he wants
• Even after Laurel calls the vigilante a killer, she still believes he's trying to make a difference for the good of the city
• For all the harsh things Laurel says to Oliver's face, when she's talking to other people it becomes very clear that she still sees good in him
• Holy mother of god his eyes are a gorgeous blue
• It's amazing how little I care about the island storyline at this point
• Deathstroke 1.0 - how quaint
• Thea: "I can't lose you again." Oliver: "Deal." AND MY HEART FREAKING BREAKS
• His birthday - May 16, 1985
• Realizing now that he actually lies during the polygraph about being on the island for five years
• We get a bit more truth about the island: "No. I wasn't alone. I didn't want to talk about what happened to me on the island." "Why not?" "Because the people that were there tortured me." "Have you killed anyone?" "Yes."
• But then he deflects that to Sara's death - he holds himself accountable for that
• Oliver: "It was never my intention to put you in harm's way." Diggle: "Oliver, I didn't think joining your crusade was ever going to be risk-free. I just don't like being played. Now you might have gotten used to lying to everyone else in your life, but I'm the one guy you don't lie to."
• Oliver: "Why don't you hate me? You should."
• He opens up to Laurel after she forgives him and tells him what happened on the island was more than he deserved: "There were times when I wanted to die. In the end, there was something I wanted more."
• I love Moira Queen when she goes into mama bear mode
• Oliver: "Do you wanna know why I don't talk about what happened to me there? Because if people knew, if you knew, you'd see me differently. And not as some vigilante guy. As damaged. I don't sleep. I barely eat. I can barely sign my name, let alone aim a bow and arrow."
• Diggle: "You didn't think about what happens when you lie, especially to the ones you love the most. When you were stuck on that island, plotting your grand plan to save the city, I don't think you stopped to consider the effect it would have on the people in your life, or how it might hurt them." Oliver: "You're wrong. I think about it all the time. And just to be clear, not being able to tell my family the truth... it doesn't hurt anyone worse than it hurts me."
• This is the episode where I started to actually sympathize with Lance
• Also Oliver is a freaking terrifying killer and Diggle isn't enough to stop him

Last week on TV - May 4th-10th

Finally got caught up on H50 just in time for the season finale...

Once Upon a Time - Kansas: Once again, rushed and predictable - my two most common complaints about this half of season three. Everything fell into place too easily, and things that should have meant a lot, like Regina finding good in herself, or Emma choosing to save Hook, wound up having little to no impact. I was also annoyed by Rumple's character regression. Nothing annoys me more on a show than when character development is discarded for the sake of a plot device. It wasn't terrible - in fact, I don't know that it could have been much better, given the lack of good development up to this point and the pressure to fit a whole lot of plot into just a few episodes - but it struggled in some key areas. Overall grade: B-

Supernatural - King of the Damned: Manipulative Winchesters are awesome, Crowley having feelings and hating it is always fun, Dean was very bad-ass, and the angel command post was pretty cool. I wish they'd given us more this season on the angel war and how it's affecting the world, because that could have been really great. Having Crowley remember the Winchesters' code word was a nice touch. My only thought is that Abaddon went down way too easily, or at least it seemed like it to me. If she's not really dead, that'd be okay, but if that really was the fight to end it all, it was kinda lame. Overall grade: B+

Arrow - Streets of Fire: I've seen it twice and I still can't seem to manage to be coherent... It was amazing. From Felicity hitting Isabel with the van, to all the Team Arrow action, to the Lance family awesomeness, to Slade at his window watching the city burn, it was all perfect. And don't even get me started on the Olicity scene in the clock tower. Felicity balances Oliver out so perfectly, and they are perfect together. I was intending to save the highest marks for the finale, but this episode deserves all the points. Overall grade: A+

Hawaii Five-0 - O Ka Pilo 'Ohana Ka 'Oi: After last week's powerful ending, this episode fell a little flat, though it was still good. It felt more like a mid-season setup episode than a finale - the story was pretty much self-contained, with the only question being exactly what Wo Fat is up to. I think Grover will bring an interesting dynamic to the Five-0 team, if the show can find a good balance between character screen time. It was nice to have a finale that wasn't a cliffhanger, but there are a whole lot of unresolved questions from the season that have yet to be addressed, and I was surprised that none of them were touched on. Overall grade: B+

Last week on TV - Apr. 27th-May 3rd

Yes, I'm down to only three shows that I'm actually caught up on. I'm still watching most of my other shows - I'm just behind, so no episode reviews for those.

Once Upon a Time - A Curious Thing: The good: Outlaw Queen is adorable and I ship them hard. Plus the number of snarky one-liners in this episode was amazing. And let's not forget the extremely shallow but also extremely important fact of the hotness of Charming, Hook, and Robin. I also liked that the good guys were actually the ones who cast the curse; it was a nice twist. The bad: the good guys casting the curse had exactly zero lasting effects on them. I know no one ever really dies on this show (except for Neal, and don't get me started on how that was a terrible way to get him out of the way for Hook), but for something to have a proper impact on viewers, it has to last for longer than a minute or two. Also, those monkeys are cursed people - you might want to think before going around shooting them. And then we come to my constant complaint about this half of the season - it's way too rushed. I really like the ideas, but the material covered in this episode alone would have been enough for at least two, and maybe three, more in-depth episodes. It wasn't terrible. It made me smile. But it wasn't as good as it easily could have been. Overall grade: B-

Supernatural - Bloodlines: Mediocre episode, which had a very different feel from a normal episode of Supernatural. That was okay, though, because it was intended as a backdoor pilot. However, it would have worked better somewhere around episode 14-16 of the season. At this point, three episodes out from the finale, with so many unresolved plot lines, I didn't want to be wasting time on an only-halfway-decent MOTW episode. Nothing I'd heard or seen up to this point had made me excited for the spin-off, and this didn't really do much for me either. The bad guy being human was obvious from the beginning - I'd rather have seen the werewolf girl die, and him survive as a super villain or something, though. The shifter guy is hot, the hunter kid is not interesting at all, and although I'll still probably watch at least the pilot for the spin-off, I don't see myself really getting into it. Overall grade: C+

Arrow - City of Blood: Loved it. Still rather incoherent with happiness. Loved how all the pieces played out, loved watching Oliver say his goodbyes, even loved that Laurel was able to give him a new purpose. There was no way he was going to be talked out of giving himself up. It wasn't that Felicity failed and Laurel succeeded. Laurel just had information Felicity didn't have, information she'd obtained at great personal cost. It's nice to see her storyline getting the payoff it deserves (yes, I like Laurel). I want to see Felicity get similar treatment next season. But for now, I will be satisfied with that perfect scene where they both knew it was very likely the last time they'd ever see each other, and their guards were both down all the way. I really thought he might kiss her then, but I think he didn't because he didn't want to make his impending death any harder for her to bear. Just replaying that scene in my head makes me scream internally. Only two more episodes left, and I am so psyched. Overall grade: A

Last week on TV - Apr. 20th-26th

I didn't get lazy this time around - these were actually the only three new episodes I watched this week. (What can I say? I got the complete Indiana Jones collection on sale and I've been making sure those discs all work...)

Once Upon a Time - Bleeding Through: This show loves to play six degrees of separation. Except here, it's more like one or maybe two degrees. It makes me want to tear my hair out. Best part of the episode: Killian around Emma - very well acted on Colin O'Donoghue's part. I actually do find myself rooting for Robin and Regina as well, even though that hasn't been given the development it should have been. Plus, Roland is adorable. That's about all the good stuff I have to say. Like every other episode in this second half of the season, everything felt rushed. I feel like they're trying to do too much, too fast, and none of it has the impact that it should. This show has actually struggled a lot with pacing, being in turns too slow and too quick with plot lines. I really could care less about most of the characters at this point - I'm just watching because I'm hoping it gets better again. Overall grade: C+

Supernatural - Alex Annie Alexis Ann: Bob Berens is awesome. This was a great MOTW episode that didn't forget about events in the larger world and season arc. Another plus was the multitude of well-fleshed-out characters. The brothers felt right, though the Mark is changing Dean in ways that are more than a little frightening. Jody Mills is always a great character, and I loved the way she was written this week. Alex/Annie was a little cliche, but then again, vampire stories are also cliche, and her character was likable and fleshed out well for only having one episode. I hope she sticks around with Jody and we see more of her later. And the momma vamp was also awesome - just the right mix of creepy hick and grieving mother. Basically, the ep left me feeling good about my show, at least until worries about Dean and the Mark start to creep in... Overall grade: A-

Arrow - Seeing Red: All of Sara and Oliver's disagreements finally came to a head, and she realized they really didn't work as a couple. (I think she may have headed off to find Nyssa...) Thea wasn't able to get through to Roy, in a twist on an overused trope. Felicity reminded Oliver of how far he's come (and hopefully he remembers who helped him get there). Diggle was just plain awesome, although he's not really that great a bodyguard when the attacker is hyped up on Mirakuru (not his fault, though - no one would be). And just so no one forgets, the people we were shown during Slade's first big declaration of his plans were Quentin Lance, who was thrown in jail and beaten up for being loyal to the Arrow, Roy, who has now gone nuts and become a killer, thanks to Slade, and Felicity. Makes you wonder what's coming for her. And Oliver is not going to be in a good place to fight back, not after watching Slade kill his mother in front of him. Moira's death wasn't a surprise, especially after she revealed that she'd known Oliver's secret for the past year. I was sad to see her go, because, like pretty much every other female character on this show, her potential was somewhat wasted, and now can never be realized. But I'm hoping for some good fallout. Overall grade: A-

Last week on TV - Apr. 13th-19th

Yes, I realize I went a whole month without writing up anything. And yes, I did watch more than two shows this week. I was actually about ready to call this whole experiment a complete failure, and give up, but then both of these episodes frustrated me so much that I had to write something.

Once Upon a Time - The Jolly Roger: I like Hook. I like the complexity of his character, and the way it's been developed up to this point. And it doesn't hurt that he really is a dashing rapscallion. But this episode wound up falling flat for me. Everything that I think was supposed to be a surprising plot twist was not. And then we ended with the overused cliche of the lovers who can't touch/kiss for some reason or another. Not saying that can't be done really, really well (see Pushing Daisies), but it can also be a total failure (think Dark Angel). And sadly, this is already feeling like the latter. I wanted to like this episode; it was centered on one of the best characters, and there were moments when I really felt like it had potential (watching Hook react to losing Emma could have made for a really good story), but it never got off the ground. Overall grade: B-

Supernatural - Meta Fiction: Interesting ideas, poor execution. I've found that with Robbie Thompson's scripts, I either really like them, or they feel very disjointed and poorly paced - no middle ground. And this episode was the latter. Sam needed more time to react to seeing Gadreel, and to seeing what Dean did to Gadreel. Gabriel felt off, but since he was basically just the result of Metatron writing fanfiction, I'd be willing to let that one slide. If all he's brought back for is a poorly written cameo (whether that be Robbie's or Metatron's fault), I'm going to be ticked, though. I'd really like to see that last eyebrow quirk pay off and him play a role in either the end of this season or the beginning of the next, but I feel like that's probably hoping for too much. And apparently the fandom was hoping for too much as we waited for Cas to find out about Dean and the Mark. That was probably the worst paced part of the episode. Seriously, guys? Ten seconds to show Cas' reaction?!? That should have been a scene right there! I swear, the only reason I didn't throw something through the TV screen was because at least Jensen and Misha put enough emotion into those ten seconds that I can pretend it happened differently and rewrite the scene in my head, given what they portrayed. This episode made me sad, because there were so many things that could have been brilliant and were just wasted. And now those opportunities are gone. Overall grade: C

Last week on TV - Mar. 2nd-8th

This is me attempting to get back to actually writing these mini reviews... I feel like this experiment is failing me.

Teen Wolf - The Fox and the Wolf: The way the Japanese internment camp/nogitsune origin story played out was incredible (and a perfect example of how to do exposition without boring your audience). And I'm a huge fan of Derek, Mr. Argent, the sheriff, and Allison all working together. Plus, having the sheriff comfort Allison was really nice - her breakdown made her seem more human and more likable. Gotta say, I'm loving Sheriff Stilinski a lot - he's smart, caring, and passionate about doing the right thing. Overall grade: B+

Supernatural - #THINMAN: Subtle, this episode was not... That didn't mean it wasn't good, though. I will admit to finding the Ghostfacers annoying the first time they appeared, back in season one, but after a few series rewatches, I've come to really like them. Yes, they're ridiculous - but it works for me. The story this week was interesting, the parallels to the Winchesters were nice, although more than a bit heavy-handed, and I actually really liked not getting to see Sam and Dean's reactions to those parallels quite yet. I also like it when episodes explore the darker side of human nature, rather than having a supernatural baddie - that's about the creepiest thing, in my opinion. Overall grade: B+

Growing Up Fisher - Blind Man's Bluff: This show is, in my opinion, a breath of fresh air in the arena of half-hour comedies. Sure, it's cheesy, and sappy, and fairly predictable, but somehow that's really working for me. It's refreshing to watch something that, while not being laugh-out-loud funny, still makes me smile because of the way it approaches living life. It's not yet another jaded sitcom, and I like that. The family interactions are well played, the blind-guy gag isn't overused, and I feel like all the characters have potential. Overall grade: B

NCIS: Los Angeles - Fish Out of Water: The Afghanistan storyline has dragged on too long. This week's episode should have been an exciting reveal regarding the White Ghost - Kensi obviously reacted when she saw him, and the audience is supposed to be left wondering who it could be (her ex-fiancee being the obvious choice). But I don't care anymore about who the White Ghost is. I just want the team back together, and Deeks to have his partner back. The LA case was decent, and Sam and Callen's banter was back on form. Also, I totally believe that Hetty invented the internet. Makes sense to me. Overall grade: B

Chicago Fire - Keep Your Mouth Shut: I'm just gonna come out and say it: Jones is an ass. I know she's probably going to undergo major character development, but right now I hate her enough that I really don't care. On a brighter note, I'm liking Severide's storyline, and also really liked Mouch finding himself without a couch - it was entertaining. Overall grade: B-

Arrow - The Promise: I liked this episode a lot. Was it my favorite of the season? Probably not, but it was up there. The best parts, for me, were little moments that stood out among the rest: Ivo's call to Jessica, Slade picking up the mask, Sara making Oliver promise to tell her family she died on the Gambit. And of course, Oliver donning the hood for the first time. Slade is a perfectly menacing villain - I'm looking forward to seeing more of him as the bad guy. Overall grade: A

Modern Family - Spring-a-Ding-Fling: The best part of this episode was Lily lying through her teeth and blaming everything on Joe. I totally used to do that with my younger siblings. I also liked seeing Haley step up and be there for her dad. She isn't mature yet, but she's getting closer. Cam and Mitch have been irking me in recent episodes and sadly, that was true again (which sucks because I did really like their dynamic). Overall grade: B-

The Tomorrow People - Enemy of My Enemy: I wish we saw more of Astrid and John and Russell, and less of Cara and Stephen. The show would be much better if they cut out the whole love tangle (it's not even a triangle - that's how messed up it is). Julian was a good enemy, and I felt like they wasted his potential. The only thing I really liked about the episode was Jedikiah - looks like Mark Pellegrino is stealing the spotlight on yet another show. Overall grade: C+

Last week on TV - Feb. 23rd-Mar.1st

Sadly, my motivation for writing up episodes has failed me this week. I watched a lot more shows, but these were the only two I bothered to write up...

How I Met Your Mother - Rally: I always like getting glimpses of Ted and the Mother in their life together - can you say, "Awww"? This episode wound up revolving around what's always been my favorite part of this show - how much this group of friends cares about one another. It wasn't as funny as some episodes have been, but seeing their love for each other made it a worthwhile watch. Overall grade: B

Arrow - Time of Death: Laurel reamed out Sara and Oliver, which needed to happen, but then was mature enough to move on and still love her sister. Diggle was, as always, the glue that holds the team together. Oliver had his moments, but also ticked me off with a lot of what he said to Laurel. And Felicity, even in her insecurity, was the hero of tonight's story, saving Sara and stopping the bad guy herself. Plus, she's mature enough to not be jealous of Sara. It was a much, much better episode than I was expecting. Overall grade: A-

Last week on TV - Feb. 16th-22nd

A lot of my shows weren't on again this week because of the Olympics, and given the amount of time I've spent watching various Olympic sports, I actually only managed to catch one new episode.

Teen Wolf - Letharia Vulpina: No big developments this week, but it was still a solid episode. The violence and darkness were definitely ramped up yet another notch, though, and the resulting tension played really well. I'm always happy to see Uncle Peter appear, because he is just the right mix of manipulative and creepy, and am also enjoying seeing more of Mr. Argent. The way the episode kept you guessing about the ultimate threat and end goal was handled nicely, and the ending pulled everything together well. Overall grade: B+

Last week on TV - Feb. 9th-15th

I've only managed to watch one new episode this week, thanks to the Olympics. Most of my shows are on break, and snowboarding and skiing took priority over Almost Human.

Teen Wolf - Riddled: Again, a dark episode that raised a lot of questions. Why did Lydia think Stiles was in the mental institution? Why was the kanji for "self" on the wall there? If Stiles was there, how could he also be out in the woods where he was found? I'm really liking Stiles having a big part to play, and Dylan O'Brien is doing a brilliant job. Stiles and Scott and Stiles' dad and Scott's mom's reactions to the fact that Stiles has the same disease that killed his mother were perfect (and heartbreaking, especially his father's). And the reveal that the monster that took Stiles was Stiles was handled well; again, kudos to O'Brien's acting. Overall grade: B+

Last week on TV - Feb. 2nd-8th

I've been having trouble settling down and focusing enough to write full-fledged reviews of episodes, so I'm going to try something new - a brief overview of the TV shows I've watched each week, along with episode ratings. We'll see how that goes...

How I Met Your Mother - Sunrise: An average episode - I liked the overall idea of Ted finally learning to really let go of Robin, because that needed to happen before he met the Mother. The resolution to Marshall and Lily's fight was also handled well - marriage isn't about winning or losing, it's about doing what's best for both of you, which might sometimes mean letting go of a dream or two and replacing them with something that's better in the long run. Barney passing along the playbook was kind of annoying. Yes, he's serious about settling down with Robin so his legacy passes to someone else, but I felt like we'd already covered that ground already (and better). Overall grade: B-

Teen Wolf - Silverfinger: This show surprised me earlier this season by turning away from the teenage angst and toward something much darker, and the episodes this year have continued that trend. The revelation that Stiles is possessed by the nogitsune wasn't entirely unexpected, but I felt it was handled brilliantly. This episode raised a lot of unanswered questions about Stiles' mother and Scott's father, as well as cementing Melissa McCall firmly as an awesome character. The Yakuza side of the episode was a little heavy on exposition, but that didn't ruin what was overall an episode on par with the ones leading up to it. Overall grade: B

Almost Human - Unbound: Cop procedurals always fare better with an overarching storyline to tie together otherwise unrelated episodes, and although we've had hints at this storyline before with bits of information about Insyndicate, I felt like this episode took a huge step forward with that. It's good to have a personal "big bad" rather than just a shadowy organization, and Vaughn's connection to Dorian should provide some interesting plot avenues. I'm also really curious about "the Wall" and what's on the other side - the show is expanding its universe beyond the confines of the city, and I can't wait to see what's out there. Looking back, the episode itself wasn't anything really special, but the potential that it revealed made me very excited for where the show is going to go from here. Overall grade: B

Supernatural - The Purge: I tried to like this episode, I really did. But the humor fell flat, the MotW wasn't interesting, the resolution to the case was extremely predictable... I wasn't impressed. The episode's only redeeming quality (aside from the boys wearing less layers than normal) was how the scenes at the bunker were handled, especially the ending one. I love Dean Winchester more than any other character on TV, but that conversation has needed to happen for years now. It hurt to hear Sam say those things, but the only way the brothers will ever find a happy ending is if they're able to work through this. I just hope Dean can see it that way. Overall grade: C-

NCIS: Los Angeles - War Cries: The bad guy was Colby from Numb3rs. Also, for so being tiny, Nell can kick some serious ass. And am I okay with Kensi and Deeks being apart for this long? Not really... It was a decent episode, but ever since Kensi left I feel like the dynamic of the whole team and of the show has been thrown off. Overall grade: B-

Arrow - Heir to the Demon: Most of the twists in this episode were things I expected to happen. I really liked Nyssa and Sara being lovers, and was also impressed by how Lance handled the news that his daughter is bi. I was much less of a fan of the ending scene with Oliver and Sara - even though I can see why it happened, I'd hoped they'd both matured past that. The best scene of the episode was probably Felicity confronting Moira - two strong women facing off. And I was glad Felicity didn't let Moira intimidate her, even though I hate to see her hurting. Overall grade: B+

Modern Family - iSpy: I've really been appreciating the way the show has been dealing with the kids growing up. And having Haley finally find something that she's good at made me happy (as did seeing the pictures she took - those were sweet). The other storylines didn't hold my attention very well - they weren't really funny or interesting. That's really been the story of this season for me, sadly. Overall grade: B-

The Tomorrow People - Things Fall Apart: So Stephen's mom is a Tomorrow Person too... I saw that coming about five episodes back, but it sets up some interesting possibilities. I wish they'd explored Cassie's heightened powers more, but maybe that will come later. And I'm not sure how Stephen hasn't been caught and stripped of his powers yet, since it's pretty obvious he's not on Ultra's side, given his recent interactions with Jedikiah and the Founder. Overall grade: B-

Enlisted - Rear D Day: I'm still on the fence about this show. On the one hand, it can be really funny or even occasionally play the "Aww" factor, but on the other hand, it can sometimes be borderline offensive. I think this episode bothered me because I hated the way the military spouse was presented for most of the time, even though he was sort of redeemed in the end. And the way the soldiers treated him wasn't okay, which the episode pointed out, but it tried to make it seem funny first. Up until this point, the show was growing on me after an iffy first episode, but now I'm back to not being sure what I think. Overall grade: C-

And that's it for this week - sadly, it was a rather disappointing week for my episodic shows. The Olympics started yesterday, though, so that will be on my TV a lot for a few weeks here.