BungalowSummer

Isn't that the NCIS Way? When it's time for a shake-up, a shock, or just some tears and drama -- kill off one of the women! And I keep hoping for them to off that annoying, unfunny dweeb, Eric Beal.

I called it all: Evan and Paige foster the kids and Hank goes to Africa to woo Jill and start a new life. But I could never have guessed that Boris is Russian royalty descended from the Czars. I look forward to him deposing Putin when he's ready. This last was the bluest blue sky conceit and truly "Royal Pains." I loved every minute, teared up at least four times. I didn't even mind the fulsome toasts to Divya. I appreciated the lack of Eddie and that they really focused on the key characters. I think Mark Feuerstein was really inhabiting Hank in this finale. He had a bemused grin in almost every scene. In the end, the show really was a tale of two brothers growing up and growing together. And Evan was right, HankMed is a state of mind. Farewell, Royal Pains. Summer will be less bubbly and more humid without you.

The best episode in a very long time. Jill was fine-- absence has made the heart grow fonder IMO. Even Evan didn't annoy me with his initial hysteria over Ebola. In fact he was right, if a little overboard on protocols. I also liked how Evan was with the kids. I predict the series will end with Evan and Paige becoming their guardians. Hank's fight with Evan was wonderfully silly and had a sweet resolution. Hank was his most charming in this episode. My second prediction is that Hank will leave for Africa and Jill at the end of the series while HankMed becomes JeremiahMed. The best for last: Jeremiah stole another episode. My third prediction: Jeremiah finally finds love and companionship with C.G. Leviathan. Good show, 100!

I had the impression that Jasper was going to kill himself. He seemed glad that Monty had someone and some measure of happiness, but Jasper's own pain was back in full force and he still couldn't cope with it. Maybe they changed course at the last minute and re-edited the scene to keep him alive. It was great to see Lexa in action one last time. I was also surprised by how much Murphy was able to step up. Octavia did not disappoint. Pike was a goner from the moment he killed Lincoln. (O/T, but I caught Ricky Whittle today on an old episode of NCIS in which he played a character named-- Lincoln!) What happened to Indra?

Yep, Eddie's still a douchebag. And finally Evan understands that Hank was right all along. Speaking of Evan, it's only minutes into the episode and he does something that makes me want to strangle him. He committed a gross breach of ethics telling Paige that the politician was a patient and then Paige compounds it by shouting out the pol's name. Yep, Evan's still an idiot man child, one step forward, two steps back. The world should consider itself lucky that Evan has sluggish sperm. I'm thinking the kids are "home alone" and they're faking the guardian because they think they'll be separated by protective services. Maybe Paige and Evan can adopt them. All in all, though, it was a great episode for me: lots of long sandy beaches stretching into the hazy distance, country roads winding through the scrub pine and dune grasses, gorgeous beach houses, bright summer clothes and blue skies. I'm looking forward to more of Jeremiah and his parents next week. It will help get me through the scenes of Evan having hysterics over getting hacked.

There was a time when Limitless would have been a nice fit on USA. Not so much these days. This was my favorite new show. Sometimes I think I'm the kiss of death for a tv series.

I seriously want Indra and Kane to survive. And Monty better not waver, although of course he will. i was pretty sure Jasper was the one who was chipped and gave away the Luna colony location. I can't help it, I have no sympathy for him. Looks like Bellamy's Redemption is close to complete. Bah. i too would sorta like to see Clarke get the Flame. I'm sure the writers can devise some convoluted explanation for it not killing her. We'll see next week. Please, please let Alie 1.0 be killed off for good.

Yes! I knew it, I knew it, I knew it. If he had a mustache, he'd have been twirling it. I thought the way he showed up in the first place was a little "off". As for saving Brody, that was the smart call. He cements his position and he would probably have killed the guy if Pride hadn't done it first. Then he got rid of the guy's wife, the only other witness.

I don't think they'll kill off Ziva--there's no need to, either dramatically or spitefully. And the way the character has always been written, she'd never be caught unawares in such an attack. I only hope that Fornell will recover fully. I will not be in a forgiving mood if they kill Tobias. No, I think the death we'll see will be that of Trent Kort. i also was annoyed at the lack of scenes with Tony. It's his penultimate episode--give him some time on camera please. Instead they crammed the episode with new character intros, the hospital scenes, chasing bad guys who really aren't, the return of Ol' One-Eye Kort and a stroll down Memory Lane with Ziva. It will be doubly annoying if we get to next week and they wrap up Tony's departure and his reasons for leaving with a few lines of dialogue, a bunch of old clips and the usual round of goodbye hugs.

It really all started with Monk. Remember the USA slogan, "Characters Welcome"? Later on, the "blue skies filter" was added to the formula. Here's an old article that describes the network's thinking and strategy: The Writers Making “Characters Welcome” at USA Network. I don't know why they changed it. Various series' ratings will sink after a time, but I thought the concept was still sound. Did they run out of character ideas? Are the ratings for these darker shows any better over time? I've made loud complaints about some of Royal Pains' plot misfires and character silliness, but overall I've always looked forward to this summer confection. Some things they always got right: the sun, the blue skies and sea, the wacky Hamptons fashionista vibe, the money, the optimism of summer.

They will never kill Ward. I will be very surprised if he isn't left stranded on the other planet, presumably to die of insanity or as a victim of the mysterious beast. In actuality, Ward will be in plot stasis awaiting writer revival and improbable escape back to Earth when they need an injection of annoying eeeevil.

This show proves that the balance achieved on TGBBO is a fragile and delicate wonder. The producers have hewed quite closely to the form and script of the British original, but they just miss the mark. The contestants were perfectly nice, but lacked the energy and charm of the British competitors. I'm not sure if it's editing or haphazard recruiting or the natural charm of the Brits for American viewers, but this bunch was oddly flat to me. And I totally agree that as bakers most of them couldn't hold a cookie to their British counterparts. Mary had to dig deep to find something nice to say to some of these bakers. Nia Vardalos and Ian Gomez also seemed out of their element and flat to me. There was a serious all-around lack of energy to the proceedings, as if the producers mistook the good feelings of the British production with a low emotional level. Here's where the absence of Mel and Sue were most felt. Bingo! Mary Berry is like the lighthouse, the port in this fog. She was the one I wanted to see and hear. Johnny Iuzzini is okay, obviously a skilled pastry chef, a competent judge and handsome to boot. I missed Paul Hollywood's teasing hints and incisive explanations for why something failed or succeeded. Even the location, which I never heard disclosed, lost its charm. The tent was never grounded in its locale as thoroughly as in the British show. It could have been set up in any park. I had no real idea of when it was taped. It got dark early, so I presume it was sometime within the last few months. But a shot of a spring crocus was confusing. The beauty and charm of the setting was never exploited. Was it Americans plunked down in Britain? Who knows? Overall, the idea for doing a holiday version of the Great Bake-Off is fine, but the execution failed at exactly the points where the British show soars: charming and personable bakers who actually have skills, lively hosts and two judges who are both warm and encouraging even when they're delivering bad grades. Mary was the sole saving grace for me. Even so, I'll keep watching with hope that it improves in the three remaining weeks.

Chloe, Zoe, it hardly matters. The character impresses me as just another generic quirky eccentric in the female ingenue subset. I guess I expect more fire in any woman that would attract Ichabod. You're absolutely right: no chemistry. It's been a constant tension in the series, probably deliberate. The only women we've seen that produce sparks with Ichabod are Abbie and possibly Jenny. Tom Mison is totally sexy, but Ichabod is so restrained by his 18th Century manners that the character sometimes comes off as strangely neutered. I never once could imagine him and Katrina in the sack. What arouses this man, anyway?

Well, this news really makes me sad, even though I expected it. The longer we waited, the less likely renewal seemed. I'm grateful for the season/series ender now. It was a lovely going-away present to the fans.

I hope it's a case of "other factors." Otherwise, it seems ominous not to announce the SyFy Friday lineup is staying intact. Why does every series I like get cancelled?