Daily Dose of Awesome: Save the Date

While preparing the "save the date" notices for his upcoming wedding, groom to be, Ben decided to have some fun and snuck a little Easter egg into the photo that they used. You might not catch it at first glance.  I didn't, though that was partly due to the fact I wasn't sure what I was looking for.  Once you notice it though, it becomes rather obvious to the point where you wonder how you didn't spot it immediately.

I came across this image from an article on io9.com.  If this particular image is too small for you to notice the addition, the site itself has some bigger versions of it that should make the surprise easier to spot.

Daily Dose of Awesome: Van Canto or A Capella Metallica part 2

Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 4: Down

This episode could have easily been called "It Sucks to be Jesse Pinkman" as he gets put through the ringer here.

His money has been seized and he has no way of making more as Walt wants to wait until things cool down as he is under too much scrutiny.  When Jesse tries to get more, Walt shrugs it off and only gives him $600.  I can see why asking for half is unreasonable, but I think that the extenuating circumstances should get him a bit more wiggle room.  I mean, that won't last long, even if Jesse did spend it responsibly.

To add salt to the wound, his parents kick him out as we learn that he doesn't really own the house.  While you can't blame Jesse's parents for kicking him out after finding his lab, you do still feel bad for the guy.

I do wonder how sincere Jesse's offer to turn his life around was.  His later attitude suggests that he was just blowing smoke, but I could see the idea of being homeless scaring him straight.  On top of that, the ordeal with Tuco would also make the drug life that much less appealing.  It's a moot point as his mom doesn't buy it anyway.

None of Jesse's friends are willing to put him up, so Jesse has to break into the junkyard to get to his RV.  The fact that Jesse's life is in the crapper takes a literal turn as he falls through the roof of a porta-potty.

Not surprisingly, the yard owner isn't too crazy about having Jesse living there and demands more money which Jesse doesn't have.  Why Jesse doesn't give the guy some of the $600 he does have as a show of good faith is beyond me.

It does give Jesse a nice "comeback" moment as, after being chased out, he jumps the fence again and steals his RV back.  I have a feeling that this beef isn't settled yet, but it was a great moment for the guy.

Oh, right, stuff happened with Walt too.  Jesse's plotline was the stronger section this time around, but there is still fodder for discussion in regards to the White family.

Walt attempts to make amends, but Skyler starts becoming evasive and repeatedly leaves for lengthy periods of time without telling Walt where she's going.  While Walt could use this to his advantage, the state of his marriage is more concerning.

Walt tries to make amends to no avail.  He makes breakfast and even apologizes for being distant.  It doesn't cut it as Skyler wants to know what's really going on.  It's good that she is able to see through his poorly constructed lies.  Walt's line about the ringing phone being an alarm probably would have worked had he said it when she first asked him about it, but trying to throw that to her long after the fact? There was no way she was going to buy that.

Skyler's actions here are a mixed bag.  On the one hand, this doesn't really make a strong case for her, but at the same time, it's pretty obvious that she is doing it to give Walt a taste of his own medicine.  What's good for the goose is good for the gander, and all that.  It's passive aggressive and not the best way to handle the situation, but you can see what she's going for.

Actually, Skyler's action at the end of the episode marks the first legit instance where Skyler comes off as a bad person.  Normally, her craving for a smoke to cope with a stressful situation would be understandable, but don't forget that she is several months pregnant.  Even a dirty look from the woman in the next car isn't enough to deter her from lighting up.  Not only is this deplorable on its own, but it also paints Walt Jr's condition in a whole new light.  I don't know if the anti-Skyler camp cite this in their arguments, but it does seem like a point that can't be painted as "teh sexism". It is an objectively awful thing that she did.

The real highlight of this episode is Jesse's arc.  It's very Peter Parker-esque as the guy can't catch a break.  You can't help but feel bad for him as things get progressively worse, culminating in a rather vicious speech from Walt.  Said speech does lead to another good moment for Jesse as he finally fights back and attacks Walt.  The fight doesn't last long, but I have no doubt that it was cathartic.  It also marks a turning point as Walt eventually does give Jesse some of his cash stash.

There wasn't any drug scheming, but the episode had enough character drive to keep things interesting.  Both characters are dealing with crises on the home front and their struggles still manage to make for compelling television.









Click here to join our Patreon campaign

Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 3: Bit by a Dead Bee

After two fairly tense episodes, we get something of a breather as Walt and Jesse try to cover their tracks.

Walt has the far easier job as he merely has to come up with a reason for why he disappeared.  Even this proves to be a problem as his plan to feign going into a fugue state ends up keeping him in the hospital far longer than he had intended. He's actually surprisingly naive about how they'd react.  Even when he insists that he's fine now, they (being doctors) want to find a root cause and address it so that it doesn't happen again.  The mixing of prescription drugs story was a nice try, but I get the sense that the doctors know the potential side effects of what they're doling out.  Judging by the looks on their faces, they don't buy it either, though they do say that they'd look into it.

As Jesse's car was at Tuco's house, he has a bit more explaining to do.  As such, he cleans out the basement, moves all the gear into the RV, has it towed, and then lets himself get arrested.  The fact that he's a nobody works to his advantage as no one thinks that he's capable of shooting Tuco.  As a result, his cover story that he was with a sex worker ends up being the more credible story and he is let go, although he does lose the bag full of cash

Speaking of cash, Walt realizes that keeping his in a half open diaper box is a really stupid plan and moves it back to the superior hiding spot he was using before.  I'm not sure what he was thinking, but that may be addressed later.  I wouldn't be surprised if Skyler saw the money and the gun while he was out.  It was a crummy hiding spot to begin with, and it would give her further reason to be suspicious of Walt and his recent goings on.

Although, from what we see, she is more fixated on the secret cell phone.  The episode ends with her confronting Walt about it.  He feigns ignorance, but it clearly doesn't work.  I can't say that I'm surprised. That was a thin cover.  Honestly, Walt could have done better.

The return of Tio was an interesting twist.  I was convinced that Jesse was screwed as Tio had every reason to rat him out.  It turns out that there is honor among thieves (even those who hate each other) and Tio remains silent.  Though he does crap his pants, charming.

While quieter, this episode did still have some rather gross moments.  In addition to the...anal leakage, Walt can't seem to keep his clothes on as he once again strips (in a grocery store, no less, which squicks Marie out) to help sell his "fugue state" and seeing him attempt to reinsert his own IV will make you squirm in your seat like it's nobody's business.

This may not have had the edge of your seat tension that its predecessors had, but it did move the plot in key ways on the domestic front.  I did appreciate the breather and it does help keep Walt grounded for the time being.  It may not be the episode that everyone raves about, but it did the job that it set out to do.










Click here to join our Patreon campaign

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones

You can read my review of the film here.

Pros

- Very likable characters who you can both empathize and sympathize with

- The seemingly out of place injection of humor does a lot to make the movie a more entertaining watch.

- Does a better job of building up tension and dread than the last two entries in the franchise.

- Tries to change things up as opposed to just rehashing the established formula.

Cons

- Still heavy on the jump scares

- It takes a long time for anything scary to happen.

- Doesn't advance the story as much as one might hope


Overall


After the almost worthless fourth entry, this takes steps in the right direction.  I won't go so far as to say that it saved the franchise, but it shows glimmers of hope that there may still be a little spark left.




Click here to join our Patreon campaign

Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 2: Grilled

The last episode ended on a very grim note as both Walt and Jesse were taken by Tuco at gunpoint after their business venture seemingly imploded.  While things aren't exactly good, the situation is not as dire as one would think.  Tuco is still rather interested in doing business with Heisenburg, but does say that he needs to relocate due to DEA pressure.

As this isn't an option, the two revert back to coming up with a way to kill the dealer once and for all.  While the episode largely thrives on the tension of having the main characters in the grips of a violent psychotic, their attempt to come up with a plan does lead to one of the episode's more humorous moments.

Between Walt's shooting down Jesse's idea of bum rushing Tuco by pointing out that the only viable weapon in arm's reach is a fly swatter and Jesse trying to use Walt's cancer to suggest that he should be more willing to lay down his life, there's quite a few laughs to be had.  The latter is rather messed up, but when you're backed into a corner like that, you have to play whatever card you can.

I do wonder how the two were able to have their conversation without Tuco picking up on anything.  I mean, he was only a few yards away and the house had an open layout.  Heck, they weren't even whispering that quietly.  He really should have heard them.  I guess you could chalk it up to the drugs.

The two do attempt to use the ricin to poison Tuco, first by telling him that it's a new product and then by discreetly sprinkling it in his burrito after he cooks them dinner.  Neither one works, but they were valiant efforts nonetheless.

The entire episode keeps you on the edge of your seat as the two walk on egg shells trying to make it out.  There are several points where it seems like Tuco is done with them, which does a great job of building tension.

It all culminates in a final showdown after Tuco's uncle rats them out.  While it would have been nice to see Walt jump into the fray for a 2 on 1 fight (he may not have been able to get a clear shot, but he could have knocked Tuco out with the butt of the rifle), I think it worked better that Jesse was the one to get in the last blows.  He had taken the most punishment (even taking a beating here) so it gave him a chance for some payback.  If anything, I'm surprised he didn't get in a few more kicks for good measure.

I was certain that Walt's decision to let Tuco bleed out was going to bite them, but Hank arrives and manages to finish the job after a big shootout. Again, we have a situation where a character should have picked up on something going on close by as Walt and Jesse run away, but maybe the cameras made the two look closer than they were supposed to be.

Speaking of Hank, we come to the home front, where Skyler enlists Hank to track down her husband.  All things considered, she does well.  She's clearly concerned, but manages to keep a cool head, providing a recent picture of Walt to an officer and even checks with the credit card companies to see if there was any recent activity.  She rips into the officer at one point, but it's fairly justified as she has brought a lot to the table (literally as they are sitting down at one when talking) and all she gets is more questions she doesn't know the answer to.

They do try to do what they can by handing out flyers, but it doesn't seem to bode well.  Hank does discover that Walt has acquired a second cell phone after realizing that the call that Skyler heard wasn't registered on his regular phone.

This actually ends up being what saves them as it leads Hank to try to track down Jesse, and it is through this that he stumbles on Tuco's hideout.

I loved this episode.  It might rank as one of my all time favorites to date.  You could cut the tension with a knife and the climax felt like an appropriate payoff.  All of the characters had a chance to shine, which is impressive as there were a lot of things to juggle.

This episode goes to show you why the show is as revered as it is.  It really is fantastic television and while the ending doesn't pop as much as its predecessor in terms of leaving you hanging, I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here.












Click here to join our Patreon campaign

Daily Dose of Awesome: Weird Al "interviews" Kevin Federline

Daily Dose of Awesome: Freddy Krueger in Mortal Kombat

Things like this make me happy I'm such a nerd.  They should have put this in the DC vs. Mortal Kombat game and gone for the nerd trifecta. Oh well, it's still freaking awesome, I mean it's Freddy Krueger in Mortal Kombat, you really can't go wrong with that.  This alone could very well make the game worth buying, I hope they continue to do stuff like this because it's made of squee.

Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 1: Seven Thirty Seven

Whatever business relationship that Walt and Jesse were attempting to develop with Tuco goes right down the toilet in rather quick order.  One minute they're all about to make a lot of money and then the next the pair are calculating how much they would need to get out for good.  It isn't long before they find themselves being followed, forcing them to come up with a plan to take Tuco out.

I'd comment on how there's no reason for the downturn, but overreacting to minor offenses is kind of Tuco's thing.

While Jesse gets a gun, Walt has a more subtle plan in mind.  I do so love watching him scheme.  He's quite good at it and it's fascinating to watch.  I kind of wish that we had seen his plan come to fruition because it would have made for a great sequence.

We do get a scene where Walt nearly assaults Skyler.  This new career path was always linked to a sexual awakening, but where it had been shown as a good thing before; it's presented in a much darker light.  Had Walt kept his head on straight, he might have been able to vent some of that pent up pressure.  I mean, Skyler wasn't even averse to the idea until he got too intense.

On a lighter note, we see that Hank gets an odd kick out of his job.  I enjoyed seeing him heckle the security footage of Walt and Jesse's heist.  He's both impressed with their resourcefulness but makes a point to mock them for attempting to carry a heavy barrel that would easily roll.  His humor even extends to gruesome crime scenes as he poses for photos with the corpses of Tuco's associates after they turn up dead.  Even then, the character has an odd charm to him.  It's a compliment to both the writing and Norris' performance that Hank remains as likable as he is despite his obvious and glaring character flaws.

Sadly, he's not so good with the intermediating.  He does make an attempt to help Skyler and Marie mend fences after the prior cuts off ties only to get a verbal reaming.  I've stuck up for Skyler up until now, but I think this might be the seeds of the traits that lead to the distaste for the character.  I can see why she'd be frustrated, but I do think she overreacted and took it out on the wrong person.  I'll grant you, Hank could have worded his statements better, but it seems like she made a mountain out of a mole hill.

One of the things I've heard about the show is that it's immensely addictive.  While I've been enjoying the show quite a bit, I haven't felt that yet.  Lost was addictive.  I tore through the first season of that sucker in 2 days because every episode ended on a wham moment that made you anxious to find out what happens next.

With this episode, we get one such ending.  Tuco manages to nab Jesse and gets him to drive them to Walt's house.  When Walt comes out to find out what's going on, the drug lord forces Walt into the car and the trio drive off to locations unknown.  Could you imagine if this were the season finale?  That was a hell of a cliffhanger.

This was a quieter episode, but it kept things moving.  The episode did a great job of building up the tension that comes from such an imminent threat and while the family stuff may not be as gripping, it is still done well enough that it doesn't feel like a chore to sit through before you get back to Walt's shenanigans.  It was a very strong start to the second season.








Click here to join our Patreon campaign

Daily Dose of Awesome: Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice Retro Trailer

Daily Dose of Awesome: Metallica done A Capella Style

OK, we saw how Metallica would fare when played on the kazoo.  Now see how it would go when done a capella.  The drums seem to be legit so it is actually quasi-a capella, but it's still freaking awesome and will rock your socks.  Behold the glory!

Daily Dose of Awesome: True Survivor

Daily Dose of Awesome: Immediate Music

I love trailer music; I especially love epic trailer music.  E.S. Posthumus got the ball rolling, but I've also really gotten into a group called Immediate Music.

I've heard a few of their songs, but this one stands as my favorite.  It's one of those rare instrumental pieces that can make you bang your head because it rocks just that much.

They don't have an official CD release, but you can find their music online.  I definitely recommend checking their music out. I find it especially helpful for me when I'm writing as it sort of gets the creative juices flowing.  It's great stuff and it holds up to repeated listens.

Breaking Bad Season 1, Episode 7: A No Rough Stuff Type of Deal

The season ends on a serious high note.  It really was a delightful watch, balancing the serious ramifications of what the characters are doing with comedy to keep things interesting and fun.  Walt and Jesse are fantastic together.  The interplay between the two really makes their endeavor that much more entertaining.

I did get a kick out of Jesse commenting that Walt looked like Lex Luthor.  Granted, at the time, it was merely a shot at the fact that he was rocking a chrome dome, but after that rumor that he was set to play the character in the upcoming Batman vs. Superman movie, the line becomes what the tropers call "hilarious in hindsight".

This episode hearkens back to the earlier episodes of the season as Walt and Jesse scramble to keep up with troublesome circumstances.  From having to pull off a heist in order to obtain the chemical needed for a new, more easily produced recipe to deterring an open house from interrupting the production going on in Jesse's basement.  It may not be nail biting tension in its traditional form, but you do find yourself glued, wondering how they're going to get out of it.

As much as I enjoyed Walt's plot, I found Skyler's to be rather entertaining as well.  I'm not sure why her sister would give her a stolen item as a baby gift, but if Skyler's later confrontation is any indication, Marie seems to have a few screws loose.

Walt tries to subtly (to his wife not to the audience) compare her crime to his own, saying that she might be doing it for the family.  Skyler rightly calls him on it, but even putting her points aside, their situations are entirely different.  Marie's transgression is far more frivolous and she isn't backed into a corner the same way Walt is.

On another note, I was amused by Skyler faking going into labor to get out of being held by the store's security.  Considering she was innocent, I do wonder how necessary it was, but it was still funny and showed quick thinking on her part.

As was the case last episode, Tuco is a highlight.  Things get off to a rocky start as the pair aren't able to produce as much as he wanted, and it looks bad when they end up in debt, but by the episode's end Walt and Jesse end up straightening out.  While Tuco has put on a quasi-friendly front before, it was fun to see him genuinely excited about how much money they're going to make with Walt's recipe.

While we didn't really forget how prone to violence Tuco can be, the episode ends with a grim reminder as he severely beats one of his subordinates for an offhand remark.  It's an odd note to end on as Walt and Jesse have a somewhat stable business model, but at the same time, are in league with a violent criminal with a hot triggered temper.

The episode is highly enjoyable, but it didn't feel like a season finale.  Even with the beat down, there didn't seem to be any big moment.  In some regards, the last episode felt more like a finale as Walt secured his fate and did something awesome by blowing up Tuco's HQ.  Maybe that was too obvious?

The first season went by quick, but it was a very strong start.  I'm looking forward to diving into season 2.














                




Click here to join our Patreon campaign

Daily Dose of Awesome: Line Dancing Horse

You can watch the video here.

Breaking Bad Season 1, Episode 6: Crazy Handful of Nothin'

With Walt and Jesse back in business, things really start cooking. Get it? Cooking..because they're making meth..and that's what they call it....it's a pun.

In all seriousness, this episode does kick things into a higher gear.  Walt begins his rise to power, donning his trademark shaved head and taking on the name "Heisenburg" as he starts to deal with the drug running crowd.

As Jesse can't move the goods fast enough, Walt decides that they need a distributor to fill the role that Krazy-8 once served.  As it happens, another kingpin named Tuco (played by Sanchez from The Closer) has taken it upon himself to claim the territory.

Tuco is a fun character.  He's intimidating and savvy, but he puts on an amicable front.  It seems like he's open to doing business, but things go south quick.  It's a little weird seeing someone get beaten so severely with a bag of money, but I suppose at that point, it's like getting hit with a bag of books.

Suffice it to say, Walt isn't pleased and his payback is rather glorious.  Kids often wonder when the things they learn in school will ever come up.  While I don't think that this is what teachers have in mind, it shows that knowledge of chemistry can be rather versatile when applied correctly.

I have no idea how they survived that explosion.  Characters are banged up, but given what we saw from the exterior shot, the repercussions should have been more severe.  In any event, Walt does earn some grudging respect from Tuco and even gets his money.

When Walt took the wad out and it was 5 and 10 dollar bills, I figured that he got ripped off and that's why Walt was doing...whatever it was that he did.  I think they were going for an adrenaline rush and not rage at being screwed over again.  That would have been an interesting twist to really cement the adversarial relationship between the two, but I don't think that's the case.

On the character front, Jesse learns about Walt's condition.  The fact that he's insulted shows that, while the two butt heads, they have formed a bond.  Jesse even empathizes as his aunt suffered a similar condition and offers some advice to make the treatment go a bit easier.

I think that the real highlight is the brewing conflict between Walt and Hank.  As Hank was a DEA agent, you knew it was coming, but this episode did such a good job of putting them at odds that you still find yourself engrossed.

Hank's entertaining as a crude jokester, but he's a shrewd cop.  He picks up on the trail quick and it seems like Walt isn't equipped for this match up.  His lies to Skyler and Gretchen about how the bills are being paid seems flimsy (seriously, how would this not come up if the two converse?) and we see that he hasn't covered his tracks as well as he thought, but he shows that he's made of sterner stuff in a friendly poker game where he bluffs his brother in law.  It was a great scene and it seems like the start of what could be a series long battle of wits.

Still have no beef with Skyler.  Even Walt Jr. didn't bother me as he even goes so far as to compliment his dad's new look, badass indeed.

It's hard to believe we're already at the end of the first season.  If this episode is any indicator, things are only going to escalate from here.










Click here to join our Patreon campaign

Daily Dose of Awesome: Nightwish Live Performance of Phantom of the Opera

Breaking Bad Season 1, Episode 5: Gray Matter

Once again we see a parallel between Walt's and Jesse's plot lines as both reconnect with old friends. It turns out that Walt was involved in the creation of a giant corporation, which leads to his old college roommate becoming quite wealthy.  It shows a stark contrast between Walt's state and that of his peers in the scientific community as they are all rather well to do.  While the party he attends does seem belittling, there is an upside as his wealthy friend offers him a job with top notch health insurance...which Walt promptly turns down.

I'm not going to lie, I don't understand Walt's thought process here.  I get that he doesn't want his health issues being discussed, that's legitimate, but he should still take the job.  He's qualified for it, the pay is better, and it has better benefits.  Even putting the cancer and the issue of whether he should get treatment or not aside, it seems like a boon.

The episode hints that it is a matter of pride, but that doesn't make a whole lot of sense as Elliot (the aforementioned friend) just offers to pick up the check for the treatment anyway.  If anything, that's more of a charity case than just taking the high end job.  Walt turns that offer down too, so points for consistency, I guess.

It leads to an intervention which actually acts as the episode's highlight.  The scenario is largely played for laughs with things like the talking pillow, but the cast also turns in some top notch dramatic performances as well later on in the scene.

It is here where Walt gives some explanation for his actions, saying that he wants to make the decision for himself.  It helps a little, but it is still somewhat head tilting.

For Jesse's part, he attempts to get back into the cooking game after he realizes he's not really qualified for anything.  His one interview is for a job spinning signs.  Again, personal pride comes into play (adding another parallel to the two characters this episode) but this makes a lot more sense.

While Jesse has picked up some knowledge from his time with Walt, he still can't cook as well as his old partner.  I don't understand why he just scrapped what he made.  I mean, I guess we should commend his exacting standards and dedication to quality, but couldn't he still sell that at a lower price?

This episode had its strong points, but I might mark this as the weakest entry so far, largely due to Walt's inane thought process.  I get that there wouldn't be a story if Walt's rich friend just swooped in and saved the day, but then why bring it up to begin with?  The plot hook works much better when it seems like Walt has no other options, but it's clear he has options, he's just not taking them.

It does flesh out Walt's back story a bit and establish his scientific genius to some extent.  Maybe have Elliot point out that there aren't any job openings or that profits are down and that they can't afford to take anyone on right now?  It seems like there's a way around that.

The episode does a great job balancing comedy and drama.  It does flesh out the characters and it does bring Walt and Jesse back together.  It had its problems, but it does set things up for the couple of episodes that remain this season.






Click here to join our Patreon campaign

Daily Dose of Awesome: Link to the Future

'Home Delivery' Animated Short Film Review

You can read the article here.

Breaking Bad Season 1, Episode 4: Cancer Man

This episode takes a break from the drug antics to focus more on the family.  The crux of the episode centers around Walt's family learning the truth about his condition.  It's actually rather heartwarming as they all rally around him and try to come up with ways to deal with his situation.

I still have no problem with Skyler.  Actually, I'd mark this as her best episode.  You're able to empathize with her to a much greater degree this time around as she is distraught by the devastating news.  She also remains optimistic, reminding Walt that things aren't as bad as they first sounded and telling him that they will figure out a way to deal with the financial obligations.

If any character is coming off as unsympathetic, it's Walt's son.  This episode seemed to be doing a good job of giving the viewer something to connect to, but then he throws it all away with his last line.  I should feel sorry for him, but I don't.

Honestly, when I feel more sympathy for the two dimensional corporate douche character, you have a problem.  While I wouldn't call him a likable character, I do feel like Walt's reaction was a bit of disproportionate retribution.  Maybe a few more run ins would have helped in that regard, I don't know.  It does reinforce that Walt doesn't put up with any guff, but this seemed a bit of a stretch.  Being a little crude and taking a parking spot doesn't warrant destroying a car, maybe that's just me.

Speaking of crude, I still enjoy the hell out of Dean Norris' Hank.  He makes lewd jokes, but he seems like a fun guy to be around.  He also shows himself to be rather loyal, telling Walt that he'll make sure the family is taken care of should the worst happen.  At one point, Skyler suggests borrowing the money from him and while Walt shuns the idea, I have no doubt that he'd gladly do it if asked.

Last episode, I wondered how Walt was going to make it.  This episode gives us some explanation.  While things aren't ideal, his condition is treatable and the treatments wouldn't even necessarily be all that aggressive (though the effects vary from patient to patient.)

One surprising highlight was the glimpse into Pinkman's home life.  Just as Walt had, Jesse retreats to his parents' house.  It turns out that they are fairly suburban and Jesse's younger brother is something of a child prodigy.  It's a stark contrast with Jesse's persona and makes for some decent tension.  The parents manage to walk that fine balance between wanting to welcome their son home and being frustrated with his shenanigans.

There may not have been much in the way of drug schemes, but this was a solid breather episode.  It allowed the characters to shine a bit more and gave us a better look at how they operate.  I think the reality check was actually rather beneficial for both the main characters as well as the viewers.

This was another strong entry.  Odd as it may sound, we're halfway through the season.  Sure, it's only been a few episodes, but the show has done a great job of hitting the ground running.






Click here to join our Patreon campaign

Daily Dose of Awesome: Puppy Plays Fetch by Himself

Breaking Bad Season 1, Episode 3: And the Bag's in the River

A couple of years ago, I started watching the much hailed series, Breaking Bad.  The plan was to go through and review each episode on Reviewstream as I had done for several series before.  Unfortunately, the site changed its guidelines and reviewing a show episode by episode no longer became feasible.  As I didn't have the monetary justification, I put the show watching on the back burner as I focused on other things.

Now that the blog is up and running, I figured that I could get back into it and just post the write ups here.  It would give readers some original content to break up all of the "Daily Dose of Awesome" posts and hold them over while I work my way through lengthy Stephen King books or long running anime series like Rurouni Kenshin.

As to why I'm starting with episode 3, it is because I already reviewed the episodes.  You can read said reviews here.  I also want to add that because it had been a while, I did go back and watch the episodes again just to make sure that everything was fresh in my mind.  As such, let's dive into the third episode.

The main focus is on Walt as he tries to figure out what to do with his hostage.  Pinkman insists that Walt live up to his end of the coin flip (which is apparently serious business), but Walt can't bring himself to do it.  He attempts to weigh his options with a pros and cons list, but it is to no avail.

I was a little surprised that Walt sat down to talk with Krazy 8.  It seems like getting to know your victim is counter productive.  It is explained, though, as Walt flat out says that he's looking for a reason not to cross that line.

It leads to a great scene where the two just talk and get to know each other.  It's enough to convince Walt to let him go.  On the one hand, you know what's going to happen, but Max Arciniega does such a great job in his performance that you can't blame Walt for thinking that he was being sincere.

It leads to a rather brutal scene as Walt proves Krazy 8's assertion that Walt didn't have it in him wrong and chokes the dealer to death with the bike lock.

You'd think that Walt would want to go for a ranged weapon.  He knew that 8 had the shard on him, yet he still went up close.  It's more tense, I'll grant you that, but the questionable decision does result in Walt's leg getting stabbed more than once as 8 desperately struggles to hit Walt with his improvised weapon.

There's a B-plot where Walt's son is suspected of smoking weed, leading to Hank being recruited to scare him straight.  It's not as engaging, but it isn't an illogical path for the characters to take.

On the plus side, it gives Dean Norris a bit more screen time.  While his character is very different from the manipulative, angry Big Jim Rennie, Norris is still incredibly fun to watch.  I did get a kick out of his DEA agent being dismissive about the dangers of weed.  He also shines later on after they discover the scene of the fiasco that went down in the last two episodes.

We're three episodes in and I still have no strong feelings about Skyler one way or the other.  While she does berate Walt a little, you can't exactly fault her for it.  He did quit his job and lied to her about where he was.  All things considered, you can't exactly blame her for being upset.  Of course, the show is still young so who knows what path her character may take later on down the line.

I do wonder how Walt is going to make it for five whole seasons.  He's passing out and sounds like he's hacking up a lung fairly regularly.  I'm guessing he'll eventually start getting treatment.  The episode ends with the implication that he's going to tell Skyler about his condition and it is the only way that he has any hope of making it long enough to become a major drug kingpin.

I'm glad I'm getting back into this show.  It has a nice balance of tension, drama, and humor.  Even this relatively quiet episode still advanced the plot quite a bit and moved Walt further down the rabbit hole.











Click here to join our Patreon campaign

Daily Dose of Awesome: 1960's Batman

Yes, you read that correctly.  I know to a lot of comic fans, Batman is serious business and they look at this series with shame, preferring the dark and gritty version that is more common today.  While I like that incarnation as much as anyone, that doesn't mean that this one isn't valid.

The show's glorious.  It revels in its comic book roots and aims to deliver a good viewing experience.  Is it goofy? Oh hell yes! That's what makes it so fun to watch.

People try to claim that the series nearly killed comics (on the contrary, it gave the characters a lot of mainstream exposure that introduced non-comic readers to these great characters and giving them a new found level of popularity), but really, it didn't do any harm.  Comics back then were written in a similar style, so you can't really say it's unfaithful.  It takes some potshots, having Commissioner Gordon be rather incompetent and having Batman's deductive methods become rather bizarre (not to mention his oddly specific gadgets that pull him out of any situation), but its clearly all in good fun.

That's the keyword here, fun.  I defy you to sit through an episode of this show and not crack a smile at least once.  It's not possible.

I highly recommend checking it out.  It's a fun trip down nostalgia lane and my roommate and I never get tired of watching it.





 



                                                     




                                                     

Steins;Gate

Episode 1: Turning Point

Episode 2: Time Travel Paranoia

Episode 3: Parallel World Paranoia

Episode 4: Interpreter Rendezvous

Episode 5: Starmine Rendezvous

Episode 6: Butterfly Effect's Divergence

Episode 7: Divergence Singularity

Episode 8: Chaos Theory Homeostasis I

Episode 9: Chaos Theory Homeostasis II

Episode 10: Chaos Theory Homeostasis III

Episode 11: Dogma in Event Horizon

Episode 12: Dogma in Ergosphere

Episode 13: Metaphysics Necrosis

Episode 14: Physically Necrosis

Episode 15: Missing Link Necrosis

Episode 16: Sacrificial Necrosis

Episode 17: Made in Complex

Episode 18: Fractal Androgynous

Episode 19: Endless Apoptosis

Episode 20: Finalize Apoptosis

Episode 21: Paradox Meltdown

Episode 22: Being Meltdown

Episode 23: Open the Steins Gate

Episode 24: Achievement Point











Pros

- Fantastic characters

- Not only are the characters themselves great, but the dynamics are so well done that they become the backbone of the show.  Episodes that barely advance the plot are still entertaining because the characters play off each other so well.

- As a result of the aforementioned points, the emotional moments resonate a lot more.  You connect with them and feel their anguish as they go through their respective ordeals.  Okarin, in particular, stands out as someone who you feel for, though Mayuri, Kurisu, and Suzuha are also strong contenders on that front as well.

- The show successfully runs the emotional gamut.  It can be funny, sad, heartfelt, and tragic with no mood whiplash or sense of inconsistency.



Cons

- The plot has a tendency to start and stop. Some episodes don't really advance the plot at all.

- As the show involves time travel, some issues do come up.  By and large, it follows its own rules, but there are hiccups and headscratchers here and there.  Okarin also goes about things in a very roundabout fashion when he really didn't need to.



Overall

This was a solid show.  When it wants to pull your heartstrings, it does an amazing job.  The characters are great and incredibly empathetic.  While they are a major strength, they do manage to make the show's actual plot something of an afterthought.  I do feel like there are elements that could have been fleshed out a bit more, but we do get enough.  I still liked it quite a bit and recommend checking it out.  This is also a show that lends itself to a rewatch as you can go back and try to look for new details that you may have missed the first time around.






Click here to join our Patreon campaign

Daily Dose of Awesome: 7 Year Old Reviews 1st Issue of Post-Reboot Justice League

It's been a while since the reboot, but this is still pretty adorable.

Happy Easter!

And, of course, a happy Passover as well.

Daily Dose of Awesome: Novelty Neckties

I always figured that my fashion sense leaned more towards the casual.  I was never a fan of formal wear and only donned it when it was absolutely necessary.  Lately though, I've had a change of heart.  You could chalk it up to all the Frasier and How I Met Your Mother reruns, but those merely planted the seed.  It was only when I saw all the awesome ties that were available that the idea of "suiting up" really started to appeal to me.  They have all sorts of novelty ties that cater to one's interests.  They have superhero ties, ties with cartoon characters, sports franchise ties, I even saw a couple of ties with religious imagery on them.  Not only does it make for a more unique look compared to the basic monochrome or striped tie, but it gives the wearer incentive to go through the trouble.  They can show off their interests while still being impeccably well dressed.  I have some affiliate links below to give you a broad sample, but if these aren't what you're looking for, I would suggest you browse around as there are all sorts of cool ties out there.

Daily Dose of Awesome: Big Blue Dress

Stephen King Announces Intention to Run for President in 2016

You can read my article here.


Click here to join our Patreon campaign