AHS: Freak Show Review – “Edward Mordrake, Part Two”
With the second half of its Halloween two-parter, American Horror Story: Freak Show continues its exploration of its characters backstories, before arriving at a conclusion that seems to signal, at last, the “real” beginning of this season. The major flashbacks this episode focus on Elsa and on Twisty the Clown. While these feel serve to…
Sons of Anarchy Review: “The Separation of Crows” (7×08)
“Do you understand what an accident is?” Technically speaking, 'The Separation of Crows' is better than last week’s “Greensleeves.” There is one genuinely great, tense dramatic centerpiece, and many of the scenes surrounding that are also good, creating mood, developing character—in other words, doing a lot of the work that, on occasion, Sons can forget…
Boardwalk Empire Review: “Eldorado” (Series Finale)
Television is a tricky medium, especially in its current form. A series evolves over time, takes detours, scenic routes, tantalizing tangents, flights of fancy with supporting characters that, for even a moment, hold more interest and more promise than the stars of the show. Things change in a television series. But in the era of…
Sons of Anarchy Review: "Greensleeves" (7×07)
As we get started this week, I’d like to offer Verizon’s summary of this episode: “SAMCRO makes an unlikely partnership in order to undermine a powerful club enemy.” I am not inspired with confidence. And sure enough, “Greensleeves” suffers from the same issues as earlier episodes this season, the same issues that have plagued the…
Why Alt-J’s "This is All Yours" isn’t just mindless noise
Alt-J’s sophomore effort “This Is All Yours” has been brutally criticized as a tuneless, unimaginative record of unearthly sounds, which is surprising for a band that has been dubbed “the next Radiohead.” Reviews say thae lyrics mean nothing, the music isn’t quite there and none of it really means anything. I say, take another listen. Check out…
"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" remains a must-see Halloween treat
In the spirit of Halloween, I found it fitting to discuss one of the greatest horror cult classics of all time: The Rocky Horror Picture Show. If you haven’t already been exposed to this ostentatious parody now is the time. With exceptional music and campy feel, Rocky Horror is the perfect flick for movie-lovers and…
Parenthood Review: “The Scale of Attraction is Fluid” (6×05)
On a weekly basis, Parenthood has to juggle so many characters and stories that individual episodes can feel less like cohesive story units and more like a selection of scenes required to advance each storyline, without regard to how well the scenes fit together. There are so many characters to serve that, even when some…
American Horror Story: Freak Show Review: "Edward Mordrake (Part 1)"
In what’s become something of a tradition for American Horror Story, Halloween marks a two-part episode delving into the supernatural or superstitious (Coven broke with this tradition, but then, Coven also broke with the tradition of being a good television show). This time it’s Edward Mordrake, a deceased carny with two faces, a la Harry Potter’s…
Scandal Review: "The Key" (4×05)
While this episode is ultimately a step down from last week, by the final scenes, I can confidently say that the Scandal I know and love is finally back for a while. “The Key” is by no means a perfect episode, but whatever missteps it takes, there’s no denying just how exciting its final third…
Boardwalk Empire Review: \"Golden Days for Boys and Girls\" (Season Premiere)
Boardwalk Empire opens its fifth and final season with a flashback to 1884, wherein a young Nucky is shown swimming, poorly, in an attempt to earn some of the coins that the Commodore tosses into the ocean. He competes, poorly, with several of his peers. It’s a case of the show going back before it…