Lost Recap - Stranger In A Strange Land

The title of this episode kind of describes me in viewing this episode. I felt lost (no pun) and somewhat out of place during this episode. It seemed very disconnected; with Jack's odd flashback that had him swimming in the sheets with Bai Ling (gross) who can "read people" and who "marked" him with the tattoo....was this really one of the "3 big mystery's revealed" like all the promos said? Please. This was not the Jack that the viewers know; if this was post-breakup with his wife then the random sex would maybe make sense, but it's a stretch. They're asking a lot with this whole marking deal - Juliet also got marked by episodes end - all I'm saying is that it better mean something and they better explain it fast or else it's gonna get lost in the mix; I just hope it makes sense somehow.

Then there's Sawyer and Kate; this part of the episode felt the most true to form. I feel bad for the both of them; Sawyer kind of put it all out there for Kate back when they got crazy in the cage, and that was big for him. Kate of course acted on raw emotions, but now that she knows Jack's ok and that her and Sawyer left him alone, she's feeling mixed emotions. Plus they've got lost-in-love Carl on their hands as well, who embodies all that these two will never be: honest with their feelings. Even though this kids storyline was a little cheese with the naming constellations together, I still kind of liked it. The guy playing this character is good, and he was a great juxtaposition to Sawyer's man's man.

We also got introduced to Isabelle, another creepy Other who's visiting the island to do some house-cleaning, and reintroduced to Cindy and the kids, then at the very end we see Jack and Juliet along with Ben on a boat to "home". Questions: who is Isabelle really and where did she come from? Why are Cindy and the kids "watching"? And most importantly, where is Ben taking Jack and Juliet?

Next week brings more promises of craziness from the promo department of abc, but I've learned to know better. I'm going in not expecting much, then maybe I'll truly be blown away.

Grey's Anatomy Recap

We just watched the newest ep of Grey's last night, and we're one step closer to knowing how Meredith doesn't end up dead (there's no way she'll end up dead). What we do know is that Izzie drilled holes in that guy's head, Karev helped a lot of people find their loved ones (both dead and alive), George found the lady's son, and even though Derek was the one who got Meredith out of the water, it was handled really well and it was probably the most touching part of the ep when he was forced out of the room she was being work on in and Mark sat down next to him.

My predictions: Meredith will not die, but the aftermath of all this drama will be intense. I've thought all along that Izzie loves George, and not just best friends love. It was kind of hinted at when she told him she disapproved of him marrying Callie - you can't deny that drama is only just beginning. The Karev and Addison intensity will only heat up. Even though Meredith won't die (have I emphasized that enough yet? Are you listening Bran?), I bet someone WILL by season's end.

I'm going to start something new for my Grey's recap. The weekly quote that gets viewers choked up.

This weeks quote - George:"People die" Izzie:"I know people die"

Grey's viewers know the simplicity of these lines combined with the acting from Katherine Heigl was by far the most tear-inducing moment of the night.

Lost - "Flashes Before Your Eyes" Recap

Last night's episode was all about what happened to Desmond after he turned the failsafe key in the hatch back in last season's finale. The episode was an extended quasi-flashback which I think the show pulled off. As Lost fans know, the show has always had flashbacks, but this time Desmond relived his past (traveled back in time?). We got to see Desmond approach his father-in-law to be to ask for his permission in asking Penny to marry him, in which he was swiftly ripped a new one by the old man (Kirsten's Dad from the OC!). Then this old lady started telling him what he was and wasn't "supposed" to be doing. Desmond wasn't supposed to buy the engagement ring, he is meant to break Penny's heart, meant to race around the world in a boat to prove Penny's dad wrong, meant to be on the island pushing the button for 3 years. Who is this lady? Did Des ever really come across her in his past? Is she part of Dharma planted in his past? Is she even real? The whole message relayed is that the universe wants certain things to happen, and there's only so much control we have over it. So just like the universe wants, Des breaks Penny's heart and he's on his way to the island.

Flash-forward to the present back on the island and we find out that Desmond wasn't trying to save Claire earlier from drowning, but he was actually saving Charlie! Charlie's had several near-death experiences on the island (remember first season?) but is he really gonna die? How long can Desmond keep saving him, can he really change the fate of the universe? Let's hope we don't have to say goodbye to Charlie any time soon, but a good death would add some awesome drama.

My last burning question that Brandie helped me realize last night - when did Claire have time to cut bangs?

GREY'S!! *SPOILERS*

If you have yet to watch the newest episode of Grey's Anatomy then please stop reading!

Having said that, tonight's episode was freaking crazy! We all knew there was going to be some huge disaster that our favorite surgeons were going to have to save the day at, but as the episode progressed, things got more and more intense and plots thickened oh so very much.

The little things: the Chief dyed his hair. Nice moment when Addison defended him in the elevator, and then told him how she went blonde after Derek left her in New York; Addison's awesome, she's got my vote for the new Chief of Surgery.

The in between things: that annoying Dr. is back! She's the Taylor Townsend of Seattle Grace; she's insane, but brought some humor into the mix tonight. Burke and Christina of course are having interpersonal conflict, I don't think their relationship works if they don't. Christina didn't want Burke to tell anyone about their engagement until she told Meredith, but of course, Christina couldn't get the guts to tell Meredith FOR WHATEVER STUPID REASON!

The HUGE things: Yeah yeah the big ferry accident (which didn't look at catastrophic as it should have given everyones reactions). Karev saved a pregnant woman who was caught under a huge cement thing. George promised an injured mother to find her lost son (who, sadly, is probably dead). Izzie rushes to help a guy trapped between 2 cars, she gauzes him all up, sets his arm, all amidst the yammering of this other guy saying she isn't a good doctor. And then, at the end, when we thought Meredith's story was going nowhere (who was that weird little girl?), the guy she was helping wigs out and knocks her off the edge of the dock! Now I always talk about how much I dislike Meredith, but this was a huge shocker! After last weeks episode I started feeling for her a bit, with her Alzheimer's mother and all - now they throw in this! Crazy crazy.

Next week: the drama continues. Will George find the woman's son? What the heck is gonna happen to Meredith (my prediction: Derek will make a heroic leap into the water, pull her out, perform mouth to mouth, perform surgery on her right then and there, propose to her, then marry her on the spot)? And is Izzie really gonna drill a hole in that guy's head?

Lost is Back! The Recap

Such a good episode, and so glad it's finally back. One of the craziest parts of last night was when Ben woke up during his surgery, so I thought a picture of that would be the most appropriate.

So we know that Juliet is not an original island-dweller, but what made her change her mind? And we all know that "Portland" is really code for "freaky far away island where you can't leave". What made her change her mind and move to "Portland"? What happened to her sister? Will Ben let her leave the island for helping Kate and Sawyer (and Carl) escape? Was that even what Ben told her in their 3 minutes alone?

Oh, and yeah, no big deal, back in her old life, Juliet just happened to figure out a way to impregnate her cancer-stricken sister with some sort of serum. A serum that looked strangely familiar to the stuff Desmond was injecting himself with in the hatch, and that Ethan injected into Claire when they captured her. All of this has to be connected somehow.

Speaking of pregnancies, we find out that Alex is Ben's daughter....huh? Isn't she Rousseau's daughter? I've gone over theories in my head and the only ones that make sense are that the Others are lying to Alex, telling her Ben's her father. They captured her as a child from Rousseau and have been brainwash-sorry, raising her ever since. The other theory is that Ben somehow impregnated Rousseau back when her ship crashed and he really is her father. I had this third crazy theory that Juliet put her baby-making stuff in Ben and he actually gave birth to her, but this is wrong on so many levels (mainly because we found out that Juliet has only been on the island for 3 years and Alex is 16 years old). Confusing enough?

And what was with that video that they were making Carl watch? All part of their brainwashing schemes? What was Carl's "crime" that called for such a punishment?

And what's been going on since the sky turned purple Tom? Huh? The insanity and awesomeness continues....

The Office/Grey's Anatomy

Never has TV come together on a more perfect night. Since it is Thursday, I thought I'd write about 2 of my other favorite shows on TV (no, my two absolute favorite shows): The Office and Grey's Anatomy!

This show is hands down THE funniest show on network television currently. Finally a show that caters to people who hate Friends and Two and Half Men. This show is brilliant because it's shot documentary style, no audience, no laugh track, the writing's amazing, the cast is amazing (great chemistry), and it's not only funny, it's touching as well. I can't even begin to think of who my favorite character is. Of course Jim and Pam are meant for each other, forget Karen. Michael's just crazy, as is Dwight. But I'm more drawn to bit characters like Phyllis, Stanley, Kevin, Creed and Toby - their one-liners and facial expressions make me laugh so hard. Like the other week when Michael was throwing Bob Vance's bachelor party and there was a shot of Stanley breaking his plastic fork on his "man meat" and then a quick shot of Creed taking a huge bite of his steak holding it with his hands! Freaking amazing. Currently in it's third Season, this show is bound to be one of TV's greatest. By the end of this season, I'm hoping Jim and Pam unite finally (but we all know good tv drama wont' keep them truly together forever) and I'm waiting for the moment that Jan finds out that Michael leaked the picture of them in Sandals Jamaica.

In my opinion this show perfectly combines drama and humor; throw in a ton of relationship issues, plus medical oddities and you get one heckuva show. Two years ago when this show started, Brandie and I would catch an episode or two after Desperate Housewives, we'd watch about the first 15 mins or so, then I'd go home. It was after the show was just starting it's 2nd full season that my brother told me how good it is and that we should watch. So we borrowed season 1 (only 9 episodes), then caught up to season 2. Now I don't know if it's a good thing or not, but this show can make someone cry every single week. Medical dramas have been done to death, but there's something in the way this show is handled that makes it a cut above the rest. I think it's successful because in the beginning the viewers are right there with the interns, we're seeing things through their eyes, and we want them to succeed. Even with characters who we're supposed to dislike at first begin to come around as their stories unfold and their lives get tangled up with the others' at Seattle Grace (Addison, Callie, even Mark). I like this show because although it doesn't dwell on the medical patients and their sicknesses, each one of them matters, and has an impact on the characters that viewers don't even realize until later on. Also, the music is great; lots of indie music that just enhances the experience so much. The best way to sum up this is just: It's so good!!

TV

Oh TV, why do I love you so much? Probably because you don't disappoint me as much as movies do. Or because I can watch you in the privacy of my own home. Or because you consistently are awesome. It's pretty much only the last one. Here's the breakdown on my favorite shows currently on TV.

Back in late high school, early college Brandie would always tell me about this show, and try as I might to avoid it, it eventually sucked me in. There were a few years there when I avoided telling others that I watched Gilmore Girls. Those times are long gone because this show is one of the most consistently funny and touching shows I have ever seen. The writing is brilliant; fast paced, laced with pop culture references, overall it's just smart. However, this season, its 7th, has not been as good as it once was. Creator Amy Sherman-Palladino left the show last season, and it is really evident. Season 7 has become all that Gilmore Girls has tried not to be: cliche, "romantic", and generically funny. There is hope though, the first 2 episodes of the 2nd half of this season are showing signs that the writers and producers might be realizing how they've been getting it wrong the first half of the season. So Brandie and I continue to watch and hope that this show stays on our viewing schedule. Tuesday nights at 8pm on the CW (I know, conflicts with American Idol....thank you DVR)

Lost is the show that made me realize that television can be a greater medium that movies. This show is more cinematic than a lot of movies I have seen. It is well written, shot, acted, everything. I almost forget that this is a TV show, because when I watch it, it's a whole different experience. This show is not just about castaways on a deserted island, it's so much more. Much more than I can even start to explain. Here's what you need to do if you haven't seen this show: get your hands on the first and second seasons on DVD and watch them all. I promise you it won't take as long as you think it might. You can eat and shower later, just watch this show. Plus, you'll be able to get a lot more answers at one time than the rest of us did when we watched them when they aired....there were full weeks in between those episodes! Sometimes months! This show comes back from it's hiatus (way back in November!) on February 7th on abc at 10pm (to avoid the American Idol juggernaut), so catch up and watch.

More TV posts tomorrow....