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‘Spartacus: Vengeance’ Season Premiere Review & Discussion

Kevin Yeoman — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:26:19 +0000

After a very lengthy delay, Starz has launched the next chapter in the network’s sword and sandal epic: Spartacus: Vengeance. While the program’s return is marked by considerable excitement amongst its fans, the circumstances that led to the delay have tempered the event with a note of sadness.

With the untimely passing of Andy Whitfield, his replacement, Liam McIntyre, will certainly be met with hesitation and resistance on behalf of devoted fans of the series. But after watching the second season premiere, all concerns regarding McIntyre’s ability to step into the role should be put to rest.

In his role, McIntyre is (thankfully) not seeking to mimic Whitfield’s star-making performance as the titular Thracian. Instead, the new lead is making the character his by ever so slightly redefining who Spartacus ...

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‘Chuck’ Series Finale Review & Discussion

Anthony Ocasio — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:00:35 +0000

In 2007, Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak’s geek-inspired spy series Chuck premiered on NBC and the notion of a fan-driven series was forever defined. Battling continuous intents of cancelation, as well as nasty writer’s strikes, television’s proverbial ‘little series that could’ proved that a cult show can not only be saved by its fans, but it can also evolve into something wonderful, if only given a chance.

Starting out as a series about the geek-turned-spy Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi), NBC’s Chuck quickly took hold of all the geek cred that it received from fans and championed on for 5 years. Turning a series about one reluctant man against a world of bad guys into a hilariously referential ensemble series, which saw the entire cast join in on the fight – including Jeff (Scott Krinsky) and Lester (Vik ...

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‘Touch’ Series Premiere Review & Discussion

Kevin Yeoman — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:55:53 +0000

With the premiere of Alcatraz under its belt, FOX can now ready its second highly anticipated midseason premiere with Touch, starring Kiefer Sutherland. Given the idea comes from Heroes creator Tim Kring, and also counts Lethal Weapon star Danny Glover among its cast, there is a considerable amount of anticipation and curiosity surrounding this new program.

The pilot, written by Kring and directed by Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Constantine) is a kind of metaphysical exploration of what connects us not only to each other, but also to the world at large. And in order for Kring to make the statements, and deliver the kind of message Touch is intended to carry, he has chosen to expand the dynamic of the program to a global scale. While also keeping the central story ...

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‘Archer’ Season 3 Premiere Review

Kofi Outlaw — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:36:40 +0000

After a short mini-season arc in the fall (a la Lost), FX’s Archer is now back for its official full third season, kicking things off with a premiere that featured a guest appearance by leading man icon (and Sterling Archer’s longtime man-crush), Burt Reynolds.

The episode (titled “The Man from Jupiter”) was already distinguished by Reynolds’ presence – but it also proved that Archer is truly hitting is comedic stride in season 3.

Things started in the usual Archer fashion: with our master spy (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) by the bar, courting a few young ladies. The twist comes when Archer bumps into one of the other patrons of the bar – who just so happens to be Burt “Gator” Reynolds. Then comes another twist: Burt isn’t just at ...

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‘Justified’ Season 3 Premiere Review & Discussion

Anthony Ocasio — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:00:08 +0000

Fresh off an Emmy win for Margo Martindale’s portrayal as the violently altruistic Mags Bennett in season two, Justified spectacularly kicks off its third season by introducing two intriguing, yet completely terrifying, antagonists that serve to masterfully delve further into the criminal vein that runs through Kentucky’s infamous small town.

Picking up three weeks after the Justified season 2 finale, a visibly weakened Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) is forced to take a desk position at the U.S. Marshall’s while his two soon-to-be adversaries, Fletcher “The Ice Pick” Nix and Robert Quarle, make their way in to Harlan.

On loan from Dexter, the always wonderful Desmond Harrington portrays the eerily charming gunslinger Fletcher, who is brought in by the town magnate, Emmitt Arnett (Steven Flynn), to help secure funds that are owed to Justified season 3 baddy Robert Quarle.

Quarle, who is chillingly ...

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‘Alcatraz’ Series Premiere Review & Discussion

Kevin Yeoman — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:08:57 +0000

Of all the television programs J.J. Abrams has produced, none have left a more indelible mark on the cultural landscape than Lost. So, naturally, once word broke that the famed director/producer would be involved in another island-based drama with a time-travel theme, Alcatraz inevitably, and perhaps unfairly, became the heir apparent to everything (positive and negative) associated with that series.

So it feels appropriate that Alcatraz should come with something of a disclaimer stating: Despite all the outward appearances and the inclusion of Lost star Jorge Garcia, Alcatraz bears little or no resemblance toward the program it finds itself most associated with. In fact, to Alcatraz is really more of the same ilk as Abrams’ other FOX effort: Fringe.

From the onset, Alcatraz has the same small-screen playfulness that Fringe had when it ...

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‘Hell On Wheels’ Season 1 Finale Review

Kevin Yeoman — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:50:50 +0000

When AMC announced it had picked up Tony and Joe Gayton’s television western Hell on Wheels, the news set off a string of speculative buys across the various other networks scrambling to reproduce AMC’s success, as was the case with Mad Men. After having viewed the complete first season of Hell on Wheels, however, the onslaught of pending westerns need not fret, the best is still waiting to be discovered because AMC has set the bar incredibly low.

Having previously written revenge flicks like Faster and The Salton Sea, it was of little surprise that the Gayton brothers would choose to begin the story of Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) by having his trek west be fueled with a thirst for vengeance. What is surprising is how quickly everyone – ...

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‘House of Lies’ Series Premiere Review & Discussion

Kevin Yeoman — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:54:10 +0000

After giving anyone with an Internet connection a free (but edited) preview of its newest comedy series late last month, House of Lies finally premieres in all of its adults-only glory on Showtime. After a second viewing sans large boxes of television static and with all the four-letter words reinserted, it’s clear that this series has potential, but whether or not said potential will ever be realized is somewhat murky.

Don Cheadle stars as Marty Kaan (as in con, and unfortunately not “Khaaaan!”) who heads up a group of slimy management consultants comprised of Kristen Bell, Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation) and Josh Lawson (who thankfully avoided headlining the ill-advised Americanization of Spaced). In everything leading up to the premiere episode entitled ‘The Gods of Dangerous Financial Instruments,’ Showtime would ...

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‘Doctor Who’ Christmas Special 2011 Review & Discussion

Anthony Ocasio — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 03:19:26 +0000

Each year, Doctor Who fans receive a very special gift underneath their proverbial television viewing tree – and this year is no exception! For the second time since taking the series over from Russell T. Davies, Moffat presents us with his interpretation of what a Doctor Who Christmas special should be.

While Davies gave us fantastical adventures like “Voyage of the Damned”, “The Next Doctor”, and David Tennant’s two-part sendoff “The End of Time,” Moffat made the decision when taking over the series, to transition these seasonal television events into programming that celebrates the surrounding holiday fare – which is contrary to Davies’ proclivity towards attempting grand-scale storytelling, of which their success often varied from year to year.

This year’s Christmas special, “The Doctor, The Widow, and the Wardrobe,” which is loosely based on C.S. Lewis’ fantasy ...

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‘Homeland’ Season 1 Finale Review

Kevin Yeoman — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:12:27 +0000

When Showtime announced they would be starting the new series Homeland from 24 producer Howard Gordon, the feeling was this take on US-based terrorism might borrow a little too heavily from the super heroics of Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer. Almost immediately after its premiere, however, Homeland revealed itself to be much more than a run-of-the-mill 24 clone, or anti-terrorism action program. In fact, over the course of its first season, Homeland has proven itself to be not only the best series on Showtime, but also one of the best dramas on television, period.

One of the unique aspects of the series lies in the way it explores the fragile lives and psyches of those tasked with preventing or committing an act of terrorism. All season long, the game of suspicion and betrayal between ...

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‘Dexter’ Season 6 Finale Review

Kevin Yeoman — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:58:32 +0000

What to know what happens next? ‘Dexter’ Season 7 Details Revealed

After a somewhat disappointing downturn for season 5, the Dexter hype machine – started by Showtime head David Nevins – proclaimed season 6 to be a chance to bring Dexter Morgan “back to his roots.”

While that may have been the goal – and there is plenty of evidence to suggest this – the execution of season 6 has been such that Dexter doesn’t really resemble itself any longer, and with the quality of the program arguably waning, one begins to wonder how the show’s final two seasons will fare. Since there’ll be several months to wait until season 7, one bright spot to point out is that after season 6, the only place Dexter can go is up.

The season ...

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‘Luck’ Series Premiere Review

Kevin Yeoman — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:18:18 +0000

David Milch, whose long history in television has crafted stories for such programs as Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law and NYPD Blue is returning (both literally and figuratively) to HBO with Luck.

Previously, the network was home to his incredible, but truncated, western, Deadwood, as well as the misunderstood and similarly short-lived John From Cincinnati. The keywords there allude to the fact that both of Milch’s previous series were cancelled well before their time.

Perhaps ensuring Luck’s success, the ensemble drama comes with the kind of star-studded cast normally reserved for blockbuster films, but lately seems to be the norm for a HBO series. In addition – and to help bolster awareness – for a series that doesn’t actually start until January, HBO is looking to cash in early and hook viewers catching the Boardwalk Empire season 2 finale.

Luck ...

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‘Boardwalk Empire’ Season 2 Finale Review

Kevin Yeoman — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:41:02 +0000

1921 has been a rough year for the characters of HBO’s period drama Boardwalk Empire. After ending season 1 on a bit of a high, season 2 has been something of a downward spiral for Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) and by association, all the other factions vying for control of Atlantic City and a piece of the black market booze trade.

The ensemble drama has taken some surprising steps during the course of its second season, the most important of which has been the apparent usurping of Nucky’s power by upstart Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt), through the puppet mastering of his father, Commodore Louis Kaestner (Dabney Coleman). Whether it is the lure of money and power, or the wish to see Nucky no longer seated at the head of the table, Jimmy ...

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‘Boss’ Season 1 Finale Review

Kevin Yeoman — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:55:15 +0000

As political thrillers go, Boss is an interesting case, mostly because it nearly abstains from entering into any sort of political discussion. Instead, over the course of its first season, the series – starring Kelsey Grammer as fictional Chicago Mayor, Tom Kane – took to the notion of corruptibility amongst public officials – perhaps as a condemnation of the antiquated political machine the series and its characters have attempted to portray.

Boss is intensely bleak; the program relishes its cynicism and piles on the misdeeds of its characters so much so that each and every one of them feels beyond salvation. However, in a gross miscalculation of how much cynicism can be tolerated, and ultimately believed, Boss oversteps its boundaries and sometimes finds itself wallowing in its own preposterousness.

That is unfortunate, because with a ...

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‘Sons of Anarchy’ Season 4 Finale Review

Kevin Yeoman — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:12:40 +0000

In many respects, season 4 of Sons of Anarchy was an attempt to give the series a clean slate. It was a perfect jumping on point for new viewers. Most importantly, however, the sense of starting over allowed creator Kurt Sutter and his writers a chance to redirect the flow of the series back down the path it had begun with the first season.

The premise was simple: after the motorcycle club has paid its collective debt to society, SAMCRO emerges to a world that has moved on without them. It was an idea that thankfully pulled the focus from season 3‘s crazy, baby-stealing Irishmen, trips to Belfast, and Agent Stahl, and helped consolidate the many subplots of lies, double-dealings and revenge. It also meant viewers were asked to settle once more ...

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‘The Walking Dead’ Season 2 Midseason Finale Review

Kevin Yeoman — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:14:36 +0000

At seven episodes, so far season 2 of The Walking Dead is already an episode longer than the entire first season of AMC’s hit zombie series. After a somewhat mixed reaction to the finale of last season, fans should be happy to note that season 2 still has six more episodes before making way for season 3. So, whatever is delivered with ‘Pretty Much Dead Already,’ the story is far from over.

As far as season 2 is concerned, that is certainly a good thing. At seven episodes in (including the 90-minute season premiere) The Walking Dead writers have taken advantage of the breathing room a 13-episode season has granted them. In fact, they have practically put on a clinic in terms of decompressed storytelling.

Thus far, the catalyst driving our band of ...

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‘Green Lantern: The Animated Series’ Premiere Review

Kevin Yeoman — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:18:20 +0000

Cartoon Network has given fans a glimpse at the new Green Lantern: The Animated Series in a special hour-long episode that sets up the overall concept and provides an opportunity for the network to show off the slick, CG animated style of the show. While DC has normally done well by its heroes in the animated arena, Green Lantern: The Animated Series doesn’t quite live up to one series it is clearly attempting to follow.

Like the similarly titled Batman: The Animated Series, Green Lantern: TAS is being launched with a feature film still relatively fresh in the minds of its intended audience. After the critical drubbing and underwhelming financial gains of the Green Lantern movie, however, the world beyond the comic book pages has begun to look unduly harsh for the Emerald Knight.

To ...

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‘Hell on Wheels’ Series Premiere Review

Kofi Outlaw — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:56:55 +0000

AMC has been a meteoric success story in its push to deliver original programming that mixes big-minded drama with a variety of niche genres (horror, crime, period, etc.). Following the continued success of The Walking Dead (and failure of Rubicon), AMC TV is bringing its brand of drama to the old west with the new series, Hell on Wheels.

It’s a bit of irony, considering that airing old westerns was one of the things that helped establish AMC - but can the network’s new entry in the western genre corral viewers into watching?

The story is set in 19th century America, after the Civil War and the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. As the nation tries to heal from the scars of war, a great endeavor is put forth: unite the halved country ...

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‘Allen Gregory’ Series Premiere Review

Michael Crider — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:02:30 +0000

Fox is always ready to add another member to its Sunday night animation troupe, and this fall’s addition is Allen Gregory. The new show from movie comedian Jonah Hill encompasses some touchy issues, but can it meet or beat the other animated shows on broadcast or cable? Read on to find out.

Allen Gregory DeLongpre (Jonah Hill) is the “son” of two upwardly mobile socialites, with a vocabulary and ego to match. Due to the recession he’s forced to attend public school, where his intelligence and precociousness face off against the (more) normal kids. His fey father Jeremy (French Stewart) is essentially a copy of the pint-sized character, the straight man to his life partner and foil Jeremy (Nat Faxon). The two also have an adopted but neglected Cambodian daughter, Julie.

Allen Gregory’s cultured and sheltered upbringing ...

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‘Boss’ Series Premiere Review

Michael Crider — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 02:00:02 +0000

Starz’ latest original offering is Boss, a political thriller that puts television icon Kelsey Grammer in both the leading actor and executive producer roles. The show is a gritty and uncompromising look at the dark side (or from Boss‘s perspective, the only side) of American politics.

Right at the opening of Boss, the audience is given what is probably going to be the motivating dramatic arc throughout the series: Tom Kane (Grammer), the multi-decade mayor of Chicago, is losing his mind. His doctor informs him in secret that he’s suffering the early stages of an irreversible neurological disease and that he will begin to convulse and hallucinate within months. Kane, the undisputed ruler of Chicago and its political arena, keeps the secret to himself.

Elsewhere Kane and the rest of the city is gearing up ...

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