Ujio

WTF did I just watch? Only THREE more episodes to go (possibly for the entire series), and we get THIS? 54 minutes of Angst!Washington??? At one point, when he uttered the words, "This is ridiculous," I was thinking, MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!!! I don't have a problem with Ian Kahn's acting. I can understand him fine. But this episode proves that some characters are better as supporting characters (a la Glee's Brittany). I think Washington is handsome, too, but we only need him in small doses. Definitely not 54 minutes of him. Hewlett has become my favorite character on the show, so I really don't want him to die. Simcoe needs to suffer to have put Hewlett in such a predicament. If the show doesn't pick up its pace plot-wise, I don't think there will be a third season. Seriously, show, it's not too late to transform the show into a true spy adventure. And bring back the pretty boys, will ya?

Three's Company had a similar feud with Suzanne Somers demanding a pay raise, p@ssing off John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt. As a child, I remember wondering why on earth another ditzy blonde took Chrissy's place, when Somers' name was still in the credits but she was relegated to appearing only for a minute or so at a time (off-screen, to boot). I guess the tension eventually escalated to a point where not only were Ritter and DeWitt not talking to Somers but they would sabotage the scenes with Somers' (like dropping Chrissy on purpose in a scene where they had to carry her). Yikes. It's hard to believe that the surviving members Somers and DeWitt didn't talk for 30 years (I guess they don't hang out in the same circles?), but it seems they finally buried the hatchet in 2012. 30 years seems to be a long time to hold a grudge...

Major Hewlett's wig looked SO lonely without its owner :-( As much as I like Jamie Bell as an actor, this episode showed how much more interesting (and fast-paced) the show can be without the character of Abe. I totally agree with those upthread that said Ben and Caleb should be the leading men. I think a show with those two plus Andre (yes, yum), Washington (I don't have a problem with Ian Kahn's acting unlike some critics), Arnold, and Anna (with Simcoe as the obvious villain and Hewlett as the romantic interest [wow, I would not have uttered those words last season]) doing actual spy stuff and outwitting one another (and dealing with consequences -- good or bad) would be great. Okay, maybe this belongs to the "reboot a show" thread. Judge Woodhull getting called on for his wishy-washiness was great. I actually find his character so much more interesting than Abe's, to be honest. Last but not least, my token shallow comment of the week: Samuel Roukin looks SO much more handsome without the wig. The darker hair looks great on him. I also think Simcoe is so much more menacing when he is not way over the top.

Man, I just cannot believe it's the same show. And, yes, yes, yes, all the men are yummy. Major Hewlett has now become my favorite character (nerd!Hewlett was just too adorable), closely followed by John Andre, who couldn't look bad if he tried. Call me weird, but even grimacing!Arnold and Simcoe with face painting looked good (maybe it was the lighting in the latter's case). On a less shallow note, it's nice that even Abe is finally coming into his own story-wise. This season it is so much more believable that these guys actually will succeed in spying and contribute to a big victory in the end. Both Caleb and Abe can run pretty dang fast, too. I hope the critics are taking notice of the show's greatly-improved quality.

This season seems as if it's a completely different show -- in a good way! I mean, not only has the pace picked up considerably, the plot lines have gotten 20 times as interesting, and the characters have just become a lot more three-dimensional! Even Major Hewlett is a whole lot more intriguing. I guess TPTB read these boards, after all. Loved, loved, loved Caleb's childlike excitement in the spy lab. And as shallow as it sounds -- I could watch Washington, Tallmadge, Arnold, and Andre all day long. Sigh.

Totally late to the party! Yes, a totally satisfying finale. Despite all the colorful characters, the show was pretty understated, and the ending was no exception. I loved how for the most part all characters and the worldview remained consistent for 6 seasons. Sure, the obviously-Californian landscape was at times jarring (did someone say upthread that it was filmed near Lebec, CA? Even the final season? We kept saying that the mountains look eerily similar to those in San Jacinto), and there WERE some not-so-great moments (most of them coming in season 5), but I loved the little world that was Justified and Harlan, and I will miss it dearly. I liked how the finale made quick work of both Markham and Boon (how perfectly in line with everything about the show that we didn't get a 5-minute gunfight or a huge explosion?) and that it promptly shifted its focus on the characters that count the most. I commend Yost for resisting the urge to go out with a (literal) bang. Bravo! I know shows that fall out of favor with the Emmys don't tend to make a comeback, but I hope they recognize the quality of this show and reward it properly. I think the show itself deserves a Best Drama nod but so do Olyphant, Goggins, and (the mustache-less) Elliott. Wouldn't it be lovely to watch Walton Goggins make a speech? I mean, that man can read a phone book and still make women (and men, too, probably) swoon! He and his teeth alone deserve several Emmys! Edited because Markham's bodyguard is most certainly not a British spy...

Especially in the light of what happened in the last episode, I am convinced that Wynn WILL die.

I love how the show just takes its sweet time with everything. The scene with Mike and Jaul alone at the police station was quiet and beautiful. I also enjoy the fact that Kim, who is gorgeous and smart, is not a typical "pretty blonde." I would love to get to know her better. It's also nice to see Bob Odenkirk show off his acting chops. Whenever we saw him on BB, he was always "on," but here we see glimpses of his raw emotions. Those quiet "off" moments (like his scenes with Chuck) leave a strong impression... I had my doubts until episode 5, but I am officially in love with this show. BCS, all the way!

Harlan has been THE show, in many ways, so I have a feeling that Loretta, who is the heart of the town, as she admits in her speech at the pizza parlor, will survive. She's probably the one outsmarting (and outlasting) everyone, including Boyd and Avery. I don't see Ava making it out alive. We'll probably lose one or even two out of Art, Rachel, and Tim. I think Wynn Duffy will bite the dust, but my husband thinks he'll slither his way out of Harlan. As long as Mikey is not the one that pulls the trigger, I'm okay either way (wasn't Wynn supposed to be a bit part? It's almost a miracle that here we are with four more episodes to go, and he's playing one of the most important characters!). Avery will be killed by Katherine, who will be killed by Loretta. Raylan and Boyd -- they'll be in a duel-style shootout and both be fatally wounded. Okay, I'm officially depressed now...

Wow, a LOT happened! It's sad to think that this wonderful journey will be all over in just FOUR more episodes. Bummer. So far, I've loved every minute of it -- yes, even the god-awful 5th season. I will miss this show dearly. I hope to god Mikey does not end up killing Wynn Duffy. Mikey's anguish was palpable (still cute, though -- yes, I'm shallow). I don't mind getting a new character, but I will be p@ssed if he ends up killing Raylan, Boyd, Wynn, Avery, Katherine, Loretta, or Ava (or any other major character). Please don't do that to us, show!

Loved the episode! Avery looked awfully lonely at the pizza place. I'm surprised that Ty met a pretty anticlimactic end -- so early. But then, this show has always been good at defying expectations. I had no problem seeing Arlo. As someone said upthread, the scene was beautifully lit, which gave it an eerily elegant effect. Glad to see him one last time. Mikey never ceases to amaze me. I love how even a (seemingly) throwaway character like him gets to speak some great lines. Seriously, this is the best season since season 2. I hope the Emmys take note, although I know it's difficult for a show to get back into the "in" crowd once it falls out of favor (but then, one can argue that this show was never IN favor). Last but not least, I've said this before, and I'll say it again -- Walton Goggins has chemistry with everything that he comes across. Even with a telephone pole. Like a walking male genitalia, that man.

. Alun Armstrong also played Harry Percy senior in The Hollow Crown - Henry IV, and his son Joe played his son Harry (Hotspur); part of that series was also filmed at Alnwick Castle. . . For Les Mis fans, Alun Armstrong will forever be remembered as the original Thenardier! Master of the House, indeed! I'm late to the party, but some random thoughts... I seldom think Allen Leech is handsome, but I found him stunning in this episode. I know I'm in the minority, but I enjoyed the "brothgate" storyline. I don't care for Denker, but who wouldn't want to see Spratt make a fool of himself. Even though it was a sweet moment, I wasn't super keen on Mrs. Hughes/Mr. Carson engagement. I hope they don't get too lovey-dovey next season. SO happy for Molesley and Baxter! I know this is not the UO thread, but Molesley just might be my favorite male character on the show... ITA with Violet that Dr. Clarkson WILL be thrilled with the broken engagement. And I am, too! Matthew Goode!!! Really happy we got many lovely Edith moments. And every dress she wore was beautiful. I thought it was the best episode in a long, long time. Can't believe we'll have to wait 9 months for another episode!

I'm a big figure skating/gymnastics fan. When I was younger, I had to watch everything live, lest I should miss anything, whether it's a once-in-a-lifetime performance or a disastrous fall. But then, as I got older, I couldn't take the excitement or tension anymore, and instead, I began recording the competition and watching only the good performances -- WAY after the fact. That way, I no longer had to be on the edge of my seat, worried about whether my favorite athlete would complete his/her triple axel or whatever and instead got to concentrate on the beauty/excellence of the performance. I think binge watching is akin to that. In order to "binge watch," the show will have to already been established. And the fact that most likely a viewer is attracted to it in the first place is that it was well reviewed, so one doesn't really have to worry too much whether the show is going to be any good (case in point: we binge-watched Mad Men, and while the first several episodes were god-awfully slow, we knew the show always made its way into the "best ever" discussions, so we stuck with it, and, voila, we ended up loving it). There are no pleasant surprises, but there aren't any unwelcome surprises, either. So now it's all about binge watching for us. That said, being pretty old, we couldn't watch 5 episodes a day. We watch one (or two, when we're feeling pretty ambitious) episode a night, and we enjoy it for a long time (I guess that'd be "slow" binge-watching). It's easier to keep track of what's going on that way, too.

I loved watching the scene where Molesley, Daisy, and Baxter go to Mr. Mason's house. They all looked so happy and so pretty/handsome outside of their usual servant attire (especially as they were walking out -- they all looked really "alive" in the natural light). While I wish TPTB would leave Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson as platonic friends, I'm all for a Molesley/Baxter paring. They'll make a cute couple! But the highlight of the show was watching Edith get upstaged by Isis. I mean, it was almost too much. My husband and I almost fell off the couch because we laughed so hard. That girl can't get a break, can she?

To me, James Rebhorn, Dennis O'Hare, and Michael O'Neill have for the longest time been the quintessential "H!IH" actors (I believe some of them were once interviewed by L.A. Times in a series dedicated to such actors). But then, they all got pretty mainstream -- and while I was happy for them, I felt some sadness, too. You know, that oh-shoot-now-everyone-knows-who-they-are feeling. BTW, I know it's not quite what this thread is intended for, but I enjoy watching the credits from the old L&O: SVU episodes just for the "hey, he/she's in it!" moment, too.

Totally love everyone's UOs! Here are mine... 1. I never understood the Brendan Coyle adoration from S1. I ALWAYS thought he was creepy, not very handsome, and unremarkable in many ways. How on earth a girl like Anna could go for him in the first place was just beyond me! 2. I still don't "get" how Mary's supposed to be the pretty one of the girls. Yeah, I get that her porcelain skin is really nice, but, hey, Edith has nice skin, too! 3. I never thought Matthew and Mary had much chemistry. Come to think of it, I can't think of anyone that Mary seems to have chemistry with. Charles Blake, maybe... But perhaps the one that she has most chemistry with is Carson! 4. Never rooted for Tom and Sybil. And while I enjoy watching how the Crawleys deal with the dilemma that resulted from Tom and Sybil's marriage, I never particularly enjoyed that storyline at all. 5. While I'm at it -- I admit that I never found Tom "eye candy," either. Or Matthew. There, I said it. (I actually think Dr. Clarkson is the most handsome of the characters, closely followed by Richard Carlisle, so, okay, it might just be me...) 6. Rosamund should be in every episode. Period. But this might not be an UO. 7. I don't mind Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson together, but they should never, ever get "romantically" involved! 8. I didn't think Cora's mother or brother added anything to any of the episodes they were in. They were more distractions. 9. I never minded Ethel's, Jane's, or Edna's storylines. I actually enjoyed some of them more than some storylines that eat up a LOT of screen time.

Had high hopes for Hannibal, The Newsroom, and The Following. Gave up on all three after several episodes. I also wanted to love L&O: Criminal Intent because I enjoyed the original and SVU, but, nope. I trudged through Mad Men. First 5 episodes were excruciating. Then, I got hooked. So I wonder if I had stuck with any of the shows I mention above, I would've gotten into it.

Ooh, I love positive threads like this one! Okay, with the risk of dating myself... Here goes... M*A*S*H Little House on the Prairie NYPD Blue Sports Night The Wire Breaking Bad Justified But if I have to pick one, it'd be Sports Night. Ah, the good ol' days.

I wrote this in the UO thread, and I will again. Numb3rs' series finale was one of the most satisfying series finales ever. Every loose end was tied up beautifully, yet there was the sense that life simply goes on. Brilliant -- and beautiful. I also loved The Wire's series finale. The Baltimore skyline? And that beautiful montage? Absolutely breathtaking! Interesting how the "best" finales tend to be of shows that didn't overstay their welcome. I honestly can't remember the series finales of shows like Three's Company and Charlie's Angels, even though I grew up watching (and loving) them!

For television fans, Richard Kiel will forever be remembered as Kanamit -- who tried to "serve man"!!!

I know it's been discussed ad nauseam in this thread, but I need to chime in and say what a pity that Boardwalk Empire never achieved the kind of greatness (and accolades) that it could/should have. I mean, great cast, wonderful production value, some flashes of fantastic writing, with (very) colorful characters and an interesting era -- how COULD it not go right??? We just finished watching season 4 (yes, we're too cheap to pay for HBO), and it made me feel truly sad about all the LOST opportunities. I wonder if the producers (Scorsese, Wahlberg, et al) feel that this show was an underachiever, too.

I watched her one-woman show in L.A. several years ago -- front row center. It was fantastic! Love her or hate her, there's no denying that she was a woman to be reckoned with. RIP, Joan. With some of the best comedians of this era gone, this world now seems to have less laughter...

OMG. Isn't this the thread for Sarah Linden -- speaking of The Killing??? I'm soooo happy that the kid is now away and safe from Linden and hit it big in The Way Way Back!!!

LOL. This thread reminds me of the (controversial) debate on The Wire about the use of the verb "evacuate" (when you say you "evacuate" a person, it means you give that person an enema). I hate it when people misuse pronouns. For example, I cringe when someone says "you can count on Steve and I." Ugh. Dang, candall, you beat me to it!!!

Actually, speaking of Little House on the Prairie, the scene of Alice Garvey banging on the windows while she's engulfed in flames was quite disturbing... Still gives me the heebie-jeebies... I have another one. The original Alfred Hitchcock Presents -- The Final Escape episode. I literally screamed at the last scene. My heart races just thinking about it.