Long Time, No Write (and lots of finales!)

So I just realized how long it's been since my last post....and oh my goodness: nearly a month!!!!  It's rather insane.  Since then I have seen multiple amazing season finales, caught up on all the Doctor Who, started watching Vampire Diaries (and was surprised that I kinda liked it), have seen Psych, etc. etc.  So yeah, time to catch up!

Season Finales (in alphabetical order):

The Big Bang Theory's finale was kind of a let down.  I love the show, and it is so incredibly funny, but the introduction of the female Sheldon was just weird.  I also really miss the Leonard/Penny relationship (stupid Wil Wheaton anyway...just kidding, he's cool).  But yeah, the finale, could've been more epic.

Chuck on the other hand was AWESOME!!!!!  The whole his dad dying and his sister learning about his CIA secret and the his secret about dying getting out to Sarah etc. etc.  I just love that show!  It was so intense and so epic (and it's been a while since I watched it so the details are not at all fresh on my mind, but) it was all around awesome! I do remember that the whole thing with Ellie taking care of Chuck and stuff, it really made me miss my little brothers, especially Davis.  I love how real the relationship between Ellie and Chuck is, it's one thing about the show that just makes me love it even more!!!  Love the show, the characters, the fact that it's gaining a wider fan-base (finally, it's about time!)  Oh yeah, and the return of the EVIL EVIL EVIL Shaw (didn't love that!)?!  Oh. My. Gosh!!!  This show just pretty much ROCKS!!!

The "oh my gosh that was the most intense season finale EVER" award definitely would go to Fringe!  Peter and Olivia FINALLY admit feelings and it looks all happily ever after, then WHAM!  She gets locked (literally) in an alternate dimension?!?!?!  Nooooooooo!!!!!  But really, the suspense is KILLING me for next season!!!!  That was one crazy season finale!

  

Glee, oh Glee...I'm sure a lot of people are sick of hearing about that show, but I love it!  I have to admit it's an odd feeling loving a show in it's freshman year that is such a big hit and isn't on the brink of cancellation.  It seems there are a lot of people who were not impressed by the finale, and I'm kind of a fence sitter on the matter.  I mean, the show is great because of the music, everyone should've realized that by now.  The story is cheesy, rather predictable, clichéd, and all sorts of lame, but the music, the talent, the energy, that's why the show is good.  Yes the season finale felt like every other episode, but really, why wouldn't it?  I love that they went back to Journey...and Faithfully?  I totally LOVED it!!!  But I think my favorite part would have to be the little convo between Rachel and Finn (her saying, "Break a leg," and him replying "I love you"....yup, squealed with delight right there!!!)  And I'm so glad that Jesse is out of the picture (I'm a die hard Finn fanatic...freaking LOVE that guy!!!)  I didn't like the Bohemian Rhapsody/giving birth sequence, it just felt totally awkward and weird, but oh well.  (Oh, and Will telling Emma he loves her, that was fun too.)

The HIMYM finale was cute.  I love how Barney made himself his own doppleganger...I just like that show, it makes me happy.  I love how Lily thought that weird looking guy looked like Barney.  The finale wasn't epic or anything, but it was good.  I love that cast for that show, they're always so much fun.  And I honestly can't wait for it to return in the fall.

Ok, Life UneXpected has surprisingly become a favorite of mine.  I'm surprised mostly because I really hated Shirri Appleby in Roswell (if you ever get the hankering to watch that show, I'm warning you, DO NOT CONTINUE PAST SEASON ONE!  And if you do, remember, I warned you!!!)  But I really, really like this show.  I love the cast, Baze especially!  I love the dynamics they have between all the characters (Baze/Cate, Baze/Ryan, Cate/Ryan, Baze/Lux, Cate/Lux, Ryan/Lux, etc.)  I think it's a really charming show and I love how its more of a family dramedy and how it doesn't feel as skanky as say Parenthood (I really dislike that show!  Like serious dislikeage!)  But the finale...I have to admit...I did cry.  (I tend to do that during TV shows, don't judge...I bawled during the season 2 finale of the Office, cried in the series finale of BtVS, multiple other episodes of BtVS, a select few episodes of Smallville, the pilot of Lost...I could go on and on, and I surprisingly have a much shorter list of movies I've cried during...go figure.)  It was so heartbreaking when Baze looked at Cate with that ultra pathetic, adorable, puppy dog face and she still chose Ryan...bawling like a baby.  It was so good, love the show, can't wait for season 2!

Modern Family really surprised me.  I had talked to my brother about the show over Christmas break and he felt ashamed that he had seen a few episodes.  I decided to check it out and I instantly fell in love.  I love how it's all mockumentary style a la the Office, but with more of a TV show feel between head-shots.  I really like it and although the finale just felt like the rest of the show (a lot of first season finales are like that) I can't wait till season 2!

The Office isn't as good as it used to be.  I've seen every episode, a lot of them multiple times, and I have to say, season 2 has always been and probably always will be my all time favorite.  This season was good (a lot better than the pre-strike episodes in season 4 anyway) but I think I'm only really watching it out of loyalty.  Don't get me wrong, I love the show and I think it's really funny pretty much every week, but I think it's getting old.  I'll probably see every episode even if it lasts another six seasons, but I think its prime was back in 2006.

New Shows (for me anyway):

So, I've now officially seen all the new Doctor Who episodes.  I'm practically in love with David Tennant, I loved all the story lines, I felt smart knowing who Billie Piper was when I was talking to my British friend, Debbie, I now understand the obsessively compelling nature of the show, I think Matt Smith is a funny and slightly adorable Doctor (but I think its weird because even though he's quite a bit younger than David Tennant...and all the other Doctors for that matter...he seems more...I dunno, ancient and old and stuff...maybe its the fish fingers and custard), and I absolutely ADORE Karen Gillan...she is so cool! (I hope I can grow up to be like her one day).  Yeah, Doctor Who is molto bene!  Oh, and Saturday's episode?  How on EARTH is he going to get out of the Pandorica and is Amy REALLY dead?!  That's just so sad!  I mean she and Rory were finally back together (at least sort of).  So, the Doctor got super dark at the end of the David Tennant era, and so I guess I was just a little surprised with how dark the new series is already...but I have to admit, it was cooool!!!!

Ok, Psych.  It's so funny and the Shawn/Gus bromance is hilarious and the one liners are priceless, the Shawn/Juliette pseudo relationship is adorable...I have to admit, I like it all very much!  I just finished season 4 today and was so sad when Juliette started crying in Lassie's arms at the end of the episode...and it was just freaky, the picture of little Shawn with Yang....creeeeppy.  And it was sad what happened to Mary (but the funeral, how sweet!)  I'm excited for season 5.  I dunno if it's going to become one of my week to week shows (like Chuck, Fringe, Life UneXpected, Glee, etc.) or one of my "watch the whole season marathon style" shows (like Lost, Heroes, and Smallville) but regardless, it's a great show, and I have to thank my friend from work, Spencer, for turning me onto it.

Last is Vampire Diaries.  I have to admit, my friend, Ruthie, knows me pretty darn well.  We were making jewelry to sell at farmers markets around the valley and she turned this on.  She was smart and started it off with the disclaimer "Ok Amanda, don't worry, this show is based on books that were written 1991."  I immediately became less skeptical (and for those of you who don't already know this, the Buffy movie came out in '92 and the series didn't start till '96).  Well, if there is one thing I probably hate more than vampire-y stuff coming out because of (and based on *gag*) Twilight it's got to be Buffy wanna-bes (most especially the blatant ones and ones that admit that they are intentionally copying it *cough* Roswell and Charmed *cough*).  So, I decided, "hey, it's not based on Twilight and it's a pre-Buffy story, I guess I'll just try it out."  Well, it's good, not "oh my gosh amazing" but it's good.  And then there's Damon Salvatore!!!!  First of all I love Ian Somerhalder.  Loved him in both Smallville and Lost...he's got amazing eyes, a beautiful face, and really great hair.  Plus he can totally play the whiny, slightly incestuous, spoiled rich boy and make the character pretty hot, and he can also rock the villainous villain with a heart of pure evil as well as the boy who fits right in between...yeah, can't lie, I watch Vampire Diaries for Damon (and because I'm insanely jealous of Elena's hair...oh, and the fact that Damon is totally in love with her and it's more fun to watch than Stefan's love with the brooding and the complaining, that too).

So yeah, there you go...all the shows are pretty much over for a while (I guess they've already been over for a while).  So this TV junkie seriously can't wait till the fall premires (until then I have shows like Smallville, Lost, and the apparently disappointing final season of Heroes that I can watch).  Have a wonderful summer (cuz it officially started today!  YAY!)

~Manda

Brown Betty: A Musical Mystery

Brown Betty has got to be my all time favorite episode of Fringe!  It was (get ready for my favorite word) AWESOME!!!!

First of all I just loved the style!  It was like a 40s/modern mix.  I loved the hair, make-up, clothes, hair, the colors, and, probably most of all, the electronics.  When I first saw Olivia on her cellphone I was perplexed.  Then I saw the laptops and stuff and was like, "this is soooo cool!!!"  I also really liked the polka dot cow....not gonna lie!

I really enjoyed the way they used the idea of a musical.  Since it was a story Walter was telling Ella (and he was all "brown betty-ed" up) it made sense that they would randomly burst into song.  I loved that it was not in a cheesy Glee/Once More With Feeling/legit musical way, but more of a Fringe/Walter way.

I also loved that the episode was pretty much a total stand-alone episode.  Some of my favorite episodes of Buffy are stand-alones (Superstar, Hush, Restless, Fool For Love, Tabula Rasa, etc.) but not every show can pull off a good stand-alone episode.  I felt this one was exceptional.

Lastly, I'm so glad that Peter was in this one and that he and Olivia were all flirty in Walter's story (I think he wants them to get together as much as I do! hahahaha)  I loved the little fight scene in the house Peter was staying in, and I LOVED the "For Once in My Life" performance by Olivia when Peter was dead for a little bit.  I'm so sad that Peter ran away...so sad!

So, that's all...I have to go to work now!  Ciao!

~Manda

And why am I still surprised?!

yes, I painted that with acrylics, and no, I did not use a stencil! (pretty awesome, huh?)

Chuck's outdone itself again!!!!  Have I mentioned that I LOVE THIS SHOW?!?!?!?!?!  I think I have!  It's beat BtVS for the (to date) most mentioned thing I blog about and I'm fine with that!  Every week I expect it to be good, and it's ALWAYS better!  This week, after waiting weeks (and wearing my hand painted Chuck T-shirt) made me so darn happy!

K, recap.  Chuck and Sarah nearly run away together. Chuck flashes, Sarah suspects, and their spy sides get the better of them.  Casey and Morgan are sent to fetch the two adorable love birds while they are trying to get the bad guy who just happens to be not so bad.  Conversations about wanting to both be spies and date (unbeknownst to each other), a sullen Ellie at a goodbye party, more trying to run away, and Morgan and Casey getting got by the bad guys later we see some AWESOME couples cuffed fighting ("I can't hit a girl"  Bahahahahahaha) Chuck and Sarah finally admit to each other they want to be spies (which is surprisingly more comforting than if they had run away to some desert island for the rest of their days...who'd'a'thunk?) thanks to a little help from supposed bad guy.  And then the priceless line from Colonel Beckman after telling the two that it's probably unwise to date and that she doesn't want to know or see or anything (and I sadly will not be quoting it...cuz it's me, ultra conservative, old fashioned Manda), but I just about died with joy right there.  And then the scene at the end, complete with Chuck's ever present Tron poster...all smiles right here!

Well, I love this show...and there is no question, it's FAR better than Glee (and if you disagree, fine, that's cool, keep it to yourself.) Ahhh...Chuck ROCKS!!!!!

~Manda

Now that's more like it!!!

So, last week's Glee was rather lame.  The more I thought about it the more I disliked it.  And then, no Chuck again (but it's back next week!), so I thought this week would be just sad and depressing TV-wise, and compound that with the end of the semester and you've got a not so fun week.  But I was pleasantly surprised with this week's Glee...it was WONDERFUL!

Although I personally believe that Madonna is not the greatest role model for girls I really dug the feminist vibe of the show (there's a few people I work with that I'd like to share that little message with, but I digress.)  I absolutely LOVED that Mercedes and Kurt joined the Cheerios.  I've been so sad that they haven't been showcased as leads like Finn and Rachel have.  Me and my "Mormon values" were sad with the why and the how Finn lost his virginity, but it was to be expected...and man, they really need to get Santana a solo, that girl can wail!  I'm not completely sold on Jesse (just like Shaw in Chuck, I can't wait till they get rid of him...I want more than a glossed over relationship for Finn and Rachel!!!!!!!!) but that's a given cuz we all know he's evil.  I have to be honest, I was not at all expecting Jesse to switch schools...poor Finn!  (And poor New Directions...but, its a show, so it's ok!)  I loved Sue's rendition of "Vogue"...and when she added her name and then put "Will Schuster, I hate you" followed by the confused look from Kurt: PRICELESS!!!

So, Glee thank you for redeeming yourself!

On an unrelated note, I recently got myself a bit of a BtVS almost convert in the form of my roommate's fiancée.  Also, I saw How to Train Your Dragon and loved it...and want to see it again and again!

Adios!

~Manda

You can't be a huge fan of BTVS without rooting for girl-power!!!

So, it's 2 am and I can't sleep (mostly because I accidentally took a four hour nap today).  Well, my brother down from Idaho today and came to see me.  He mentioned something while I was working on my last post that made me think...he said that he's been skimming all the latest posts because they're all about guys...so I thought, "hey, what if I dedicated a post to him about all my girl-powery girl faves of my favorite TV shows...that'd be fun."  So, that's what this post is gonna be!  This is for you De-bi-su!!!!!

Buffy Summers - BTVS

The reason for this super-powered chica is pretty obvious.

Giles: Into each generation, a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world, a choosen one. One born with the...  Giles, Buffy: -strength and skill to hunt the vampires...  

Buffy: To stop the spread of their evil blah, blah, blah, I've heard it, okay?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1, Episode 1: Welcome to the Hellmouth

Yeah, she's the most girl-powery icon...she saves the world all the time and makes sure she looks pretty while she does it!  Hero, right there!

Rachel Berry - Glee

She'll win, and be the best.  She has a great voice, can dance, and takes charge.  Yes, she can be abrasive and annoying, and her storm outs are ridiculous, but she'll grow out of that (hopefully).  She's a girl who's not afraid to take charge...and therefore, hero!

Kate Austen - Lost

Yeah, she was a fugitive, but she is so awesome!  After the crash she was right there with Jack et al. taking care of everyone and exploring the island for new places to live...and she still somehow manages to look pretty after weeks and weeks and weeks of no real showers and dirty clothes...I don't know about you, but I'd be a mess.  And then again it is fiction, but that doesn't take away the inherent awesomeness!

Sydney Bristow - Alias

She was able to do the whole able to be anyone thing a lot better than Echo and she doesn't have to have her memory wiped all the time or be somewhat of a prostitute doing it!  Yeah, she's awesome...shutting down SD-6 and finding all the Rambaldi artifacts and stuff...what a great little CIA agent!

Robin Scherbatsky - HIMYM

She's got sass, confidence, personality, she's pretty, and she can be totally butch without seeming overly manly!  She was Robin Sparkles, with her Canadian pop music and music videos, she gave Ted a chance even after he blew it with the opening line of "I love you", and she has been the only woman to get Barney Stinson to actually settle down and have a girlfriend...that's one powerful girl!

Sarah Walker - Chuck

Besides being perfect for Chuck (which would in and of itself be reason for me to put her on this list) she is another AWESOME CIA agent.  She can do practically everything, she takes care of Chuck, she can beat the heck out of Nichole Richie (as well as any other foe that comes her way)...Agent Walker is pretty darn awesome!

River Tam - Firefly

I almost put Kaylee, Zoe, and Inara on here too, but I thought I'd just stick with the most iconically Joss Whedon girl-power chica and that, hands down, has got to be River!  Not only is she so crazy it makes you smile (and occasionally feel chills from the creepy factor) she can FIGHT!  She's a crazy genius with some mad martial arts skills...the scene where she kills all the Reavers at the end of Serenity......WOW!

Chloe Sullivan - Smallville

If you read my post on Valentine's Day you'll know that I have this crazy soft spot for Miss Chloe Sullivan!  I've always loved the Lois Lane-y girl reporter thing...and Chloe epitomizes it...maybe even better than Lois.  First of all, she dresses soooo sharp!  Second, I like her hair.  Third, she has powers.  And fourth, she helps the pre-Justice League.  Yeah, she's a pretty awesome lady!

Penny - The Big Bang Theory

PENNY!!!  So, I just found out that her last name hasn't ever been revealed...that's weird!  But she is so cool!  She loves her nerdy neighbors, and that makes me so happy!  I love how when she feels dumb it doesn't exactly make her uncomfortable...she's pretty much always comfortable in her own skin.  I also love how she time and time again realizes that when it comes to real life, she's the genius!  Penny rocks!

Cyd Sherman aka Codex - The Guild

Well, first of all she beat Axis of Anarchy!  K, so she's not the epitome of anything but a gamer.  But she's so awesome!  And she's a favorite of mine even if she's not a real role model in any way, shape, or form...she's Codex, and that makes her awesome!

Olivia Dunham - Fringe

I think agents are cool.  Olivia is no exception.  This FBI missy is so smart and level headed.  She tries nearly everything, and never stops until the job is done.  She seems like a very quiet, level-headed person, which happen to be very admirable qualities to me due to the fact that I am loud, easily obsessed, and easily distracted.  Plus, she has those subconscious powers which is really kind of awesome!

Dana Scully - X-Files

Like I said, I like agents!  Scully, also FBI, has the same quiet level-headedness of Agent Dunham, but with a healthy dose of skepticism and an over abundance of realism.  Even after alien autopsies and massive amounts of evidence that would lead even the least "take me to your leader", "I've been abducted by little green men" types to begin believing in extra-terrestrial life.  But not Scully (for the most part...pre-no Mulder), she sticks to her no supernatural and no alien lifestyle pretty darn well! 

Kara Thrace aka Starbuck - BSG

I almost published this post without adding her for one major reason: she's not quintessentially pretty or girly.  But she does rock, and that means she belongs here.  She's butch, in a more manly sort of way than Robin, she shoots guns, drinks, smokes cigars, pilots Vipers, hits, kicks, etc. etc.  She's Starbuck!

So yeah, those are my top picks...tonight anyway...I think I'm getting tired now, so adios personas!

~Manda