stinkogingko

I loved the Partridge Family back in the day and still have some of their music on my iPod. This was just sad and terrible. I still don’t have a sense as to why he never really broke free of the teen idol mold. Was he just not talented enough? In retrospect i’m Surprised he didn’t do a CD of standards a long time ago, a la Rod Stewart. He at least had a real connection to that music. His interactions with his band were uncomfortable to watch. I think there was real respect and admiration on their part but I also got the sense that Cassidy could be a vampire, consuming those around him. Just a sad story.

Eleanor’s unrequited love for Chidi breaks my heart. Otherwise this was hilarious and surprising as usual.

I didn't see the first season, so no idea if Robin was a better detective then. I can't believe she couldn't figure that Miranda had a surrogate. A 35-year-old woman so worried about her fertility and smoking and drinking through her first pregnancy? But then none of the police seemed remotely competent. The ME also doesn't realize the victim was a surrogate when the DNA doesn't match. Hilmarson is terrible at every step. And there's no way the whole squadron wouldn't have realized what was up with Adrian and Miranda. I think the acting was very good, and both Moss and Kidman did great things with ridiculous parts. Robin was gang raped as a girl and gave up the baby. Three later miscarriages. Drugged and raped by her boss. Dumped at the altar. Unsupportive family. Skeevy workmates. Nearly murdered by her ex boss. Nose nearly bitten off. Daughter repeatedly wandering into danger and no one with the wits to restrain her. Susan Lucci had less material to work with. I know we're supposed to hate Julia but she was the one person who seemed appropriately alarmed at the situation, even if her handling was wrong. Pyke's passivity got to be ridiculous and his affair with Robin seemed like a really bad idea at the time. Are we supposed to think Mary is mentally ill? I was enraged by her behavior at the end. I think she must have known for some time what was going on; she certainly had to have known when that little shakedown notice was filmed. She doesn't leave Alex because he's a thief or a exortionist or maybe even a murderer. She just leaves because he doesn't really love her. I think the casting of Alex missed the mark: he was suitably creepy but no charisma to explain why so many were in thrall to him. And so so many plot holes. Was that red-haired doctor in on it? Was that woman at Cafe Stasi Alex's wife? When did Brett turn lunatic gunman? Why bury himself in the sand? Why didn't someone call the airport the minute they realized Mary's passport was gone? But the acting was first rate.

I think Henry VII was a usurper; he had no claim based on inheritance and even if he did there were other more senior (and legitimate) heirs ahead of him. He remained a usurper even though he successfully defeated other challengers. That said, William the Conqueror was a usurper, as were Henry I, Henry IV, Edward IV, and Richard III-- all displaced sitting or more senior heirs.

Margaret Beaufort was initially married to John de la Pole, heir of the duke of Suffolk. The marriage was annulled, presumably so the very wealthy Margaret could be given to the King's not-very-wealthy half brother Edmund Tudor. De la Pole was then wed to an earlier Elizabeth of York, sister to Edward IV and Richard III. Their son was the Earl of LIncoln that fought Henry VII at Stoke.

It was actually his mother's smarmy fourth husband but otherwise correct.

I'm so glad the original narrator is back. He brings just the right tone. I initially thought the victim had committed suicide and the family covered it up out of shame. That might account for how creepy and unbelievable younger son and his wife were. But he husband is pretty chilling. And I don't think they'd have just left her body out to decompose. It's still surprising to me that she wasn't found for two years.

I enjoyed Rachel and Josh but agree this was mostly wheel-spinning. Not enough focus on any one topic. I think they're right that there are some very bad police forces out there and the lack of cross-jurisdictional cooperation is a real problem. Some of the original Gilgo Five cases might have been solved if they'd been worked harder sooner. But I think these cases do tend to be hard to solve and I'm not convinced that citizen sleuths could do a whole lot better. Though I'd watch the hell out of a documentary about Websleuths. Who are these people? Why would anyone believe this Peter Brendt guy?

I found this disappointing. Not much about the other victims and nothing new, with lots of replay of the reenactment bits. I'd recommend A&E's The Killing Season over this.

This is the only one of the recent programs I've watched. I'm not familiar with the two main leads but after this I think I'll check out the podcast. I'm very curious as to what got cut because some of what got left in--the attempts to speak with the Whites, or the ridiculous effort of going to Henry Lee's facility for the testing of non-evidence--could have easily been spared. I found the discussion of the note to be helpful, as I think the note is the strongest evidence against an intruder. Too long, too obviously written by an amateur and an insider, and too likely to have been written in the house. I also found the 911 tape interesting, as I agreed with at least some of their interpretation. I thought it was called a stun gun because people are stunned into immobility, but it makes more sense now that sometimes suspects get tazed more than once. And I was again amazed at the amateurish police work and what now looks like interference by the DA. But I'm very disappointed that there wasn't more discussion of the DNA evidence--how much was found, where, and of what probative value. I've gotten more info from this board, although some of it's contradictory. I'd pay to see the remaining footage if there's more discussion of the DNA and the other autopsy findings. I suppose there's a chance they'll cover this in their podcast. On the whole I thought this was a good, non-sensationalized effort to review the record (except for getting that 10-year-old to bash the bewigged pig skull). It looks predetermined, but that may be editing. And Henry Lee tends to raise my hackles, because I think he's a publicity hound. I found the rest of the team generally credible. I don't think there's a theory out there that explains all the evidence without seeming emotionally or practically outrageous, but this convinced me that Burke-did-it is probably the best theory. And that we'll never really know.

I disliked Walt throughout most of this season. He's been blind to just about everyone and everything around him and to no good end. I did feel sorry for him when he realized what the game really was, and how completely he'd been played by Tucker Baggett. I hope the show wants us to be really questioning Walt, because he's otherwise almost ridiculous--that Monte Ford break in was idioitc. I'm not sure how they pull him back from this brink next year. I've loved the greater focus on Matthias and Jacob. The show has let them be real characters, with both light and shade, and it's been easier this season to see Walt through their eyes. I really hope the show doesn't throw Jacob under the bus next season. He's Walt's best opponent and hopefully that'll make Walt a little smarter next year. I'm intrigued by Jacob's growing relationship with Cady but I'm also suspicious of Cady's adoption and Mandy. Jacob is deep and he's playing 10-dimensional chess. Don't much like the Vic pregnancy/Travis relationship--why couldn't it be Eamonn?--but anything that takes Vic out of Walt's orbit is good. Ferg's girlfriend will turn out to be bent, I think. And more Henry and more Ruby next year please.

I hadn't known he was only 50. Sad for all those involved.

Re Gibbs, I found his level of stoicism unbelievable. In the past MH was able to convey more complex emotions under that impassive surface. He didn't manage it last night, not even with Tony in the basement. And shouldn't there have been a moment of Gibbs seeing Tony with Tali and a mixture of joy and sadness? The time spent with the expressions chart could have been better used elsewhere. For a guy making $700K an ep, MH just seems to be going through the motions. I understand why the last shot was the team but it still bugged. There had better be pictures of the DiNizzos on office cubicles next season. I just don't understand understand why we're supposed to think Ziva was wise in keeping the info from Tony. She knew he wasn't dating. Throughout season 10, even before her father died, he kept trying to get closer to her. He took care of her after Eli died, tried to protect her from the investigation, and begged her to come back to DC under any terms. He seemed more mature and ready for long term commitment and responsibility than she did.

They went full fanfic. You never go full fanfic. More than a little rewriting of history--when did Ziva tell Abby she loved him? And presumptuous of Ziva to decide when Tony would be ready. But Weatherly had some great moments. And if Bull doesn't catch on I suspect Daddy DiNozzo will do some consulting for NCIS.

Is it possible that Kort was the mole all along? His eyeball opened MTAC back in season 8. Maybe he was using his access to steal NCIS info for years. Who would suspect him? Yet more proof that I have watched this show for a looooong time: Wasn't Ziva's sometime fiancé CI Ray sent to Tel Aviv to deal with Trent Kort? I'll miss Tony DiNozzo. The writing has been lazy or neglectful for a long time but a great mating of actor and character.