A while back, IDW published a sort of crisis "event" storyline called "Infestation". For those unfamiliar with the company, IDW is an indy comic publisher that specializes in tie-in comics. They release original stories centered in pre-established universes like Doctor Who. I believe they also have a Dungeons and Dragons comic, as well in addition to a slew of other titles.
"Infestation" brings four of these franchises together into one mega-crossover. Those franchises being Star Trek, Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Ghostbusters. Sadly, I still haven't read it yet.
With such a mish-mash of franchises, you might be wondering what could possibly bring them together. The answer, is a multiversal zombie uprising. Oh yes.
Forget Watchmen, this now holds the title of greatest comic book ever written. It even manages to surpass Camelot 3000 as far as crack-tastic plot lines go. Some may be burnt out on zombie stories, as the walking undead have been a bit over-exposed, but more often than not, they turn out to be a lot of fun, and I see no reason to think that this would be any different.
I'm not sure if this is a true crossover in the sense that the characters will all interact or if the story lines will be self-contained with the outbreak just being the loose thread that holds them together. I will find out when I read this, and I will be reading it.
If you're a fan of these franchises, comics, or just geekery in general, this seems like a must-read to me. The concept alone is utterly glorious.
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Friday, May 29, 2015
Breaking Bad Season 3, Episode 1: No Mas
The third season kicks off as the town tries to come to terms with what's happened. After all, almost 170 people died in the mid-air collision and that isn't something that is easily shaken off. To the media's credit, they are rather sympathetic to Mr. Margolis' situation. They acknowledge that it was a simple mistake and that the guy was grief stricken over the death of his daughter.
Walt is hit especially hard for obvious reasons. He even goes so far as to attempt to burn his fortune. Honestly, it's a stupid plan. I can understand him not wanting anything to do with the money that he now sees as tainted, but he could have dropped that money off in poor boxes and done something with it. Even he realizes that it was a stupid idea as he tries to salvage it ten seconds later, getting himself lit on fire in the process.
Even some of the students in Walt's school voice concerns, though it doesn't stop one of them from trying to use it to his advantage. Isn't that whole "if a college roommate commits suicide you get straight A's" thing a myth? I suppose it doesn't matter as the kid has the mic snatched away instantly.
Walt himself doesn't fare much better when he tries to "look on the bright side". The fact that no one on the ground died is, in fact, rather fortunate, but citing other crashes that were worse doesn't really help.
Things aren't much better on the home front as Skyler hands Walt divorce papers. This on its own is dramatic enough, but the line that I've been waiting for comes to the forefront as Skyler makes it known that she knows that Walt is involved in drugs.
Walt does specify that he's a manufacturer, not a dealer, but that doesn't seem to help his case. You can't blame her, especially when he reveals that he makes meth (she initially thought pot, then cocaine).
I was underwhelmed by Walt's attempt to explain. Even if Skyler only gave him seconds, he could have done better than making vague reference to angles. How long would it have taken to say "I needed the money to cover the treatment costs and to make sure you and the kids would be taken care of"? You could argue that she wouldn't have listened, but it's something.
Heck, even Walt Jr. doesn't like what's going down. OK, he doesn't know the whole story and most of his frustration comes from not knowing why things went south so quickly. Marie is equally confused, leading to an amusing moment when she tries to get Skyler to open up about her problem. Considering how Marie handles her kleptomania, it is rather funny.
In any event, Walt decides to throw in the towel and tells Gus that he's done. While Gus does make a big offer, the money doesn't hold the same allure that it did. Even if Walt was interested in the money, couldn't he just sell Gus the recipe? That would allow Walt to walk away and Gus can keep raking in money off the product. Everyone would win, right? Strangely enough, the idea never comes up.
On the one hand, it's odd that Walt would sever the connection he struggled so hard to make so quickly, but he really doesn't have any reason to keep doing it. He has more than enough money (something Walt himself notes) and keeping his family together is the more important thing. I'd commend Gus for being so reasonable, but I have a feeling he's not done yet.
Speaking of not done, two menacing people are after Heisenburg. They don't really do anything except look scary for a majority of their screen time, though they do get homicidal in their final scene. It's a stark contrast from earlier scenes, when they generally left people alone.
I know the scene was supposed to show how bad these people were, but it was kind of ridiculous. First off, I'm pretty sure "Mythbusters" showed that bullets can't penetrate gas tanks, but then they followed it up with the pair doing the slow walk away as the truck exploded behind them. It came off more goofy than menacing, which is a detriment as the scene is played straight. Never mind the heat or the force of the explosion, how were the pair not maimed by shards of fiery debris?
Sadly, Jesse doesn't do a whole lot this time around. He finishes his rehab and says he's fine, though he still seems out of it. He apparently missed the point of the motivational speeches about self acceptance as he "accepts" that he's the bad guy.
Again, Walt doesn't seem to put up much of a counter-argument despite there being ample evidence to the contrary. He's concerned about the well being of others and is averse to violence. Besides that, if Jesse is going to accept his status as heel, shouldn't he ham it up a bit? Maybe that will come later.
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Walt is hit especially hard for obvious reasons. He even goes so far as to attempt to burn his fortune. Honestly, it's a stupid plan. I can understand him not wanting anything to do with the money that he now sees as tainted, but he could have dropped that money off in poor boxes and done something with it. Even he realizes that it was a stupid idea as he tries to salvage it ten seconds later, getting himself lit on fire in the process.
Even some of the students in Walt's school voice concerns, though it doesn't stop one of them from trying to use it to his advantage. Isn't that whole "if a college roommate commits suicide you get straight A's" thing a myth? I suppose it doesn't matter as the kid has the mic snatched away instantly.
Walt himself doesn't fare much better when he tries to "look on the bright side". The fact that no one on the ground died is, in fact, rather fortunate, but citing other crashes that were worse doesn't really help.
Things aren't much better on the home front as Skyler hands Walt divorce papers. This on its own is dramatic enough, but the line that I've been waiting for comes to the forefront as Skyler makes it known that she knows that Walt is involved in drugs.
Walt does specify that he's a manufacturer, not a dealer, but that doesn't seem to help his case. You can't blame her, especially when he reveals that he makes meth (she initially thought pot, then cocaine).
I was underwhelmed by Walt's attempt to explain. Even if Skyler only gave him seconds, he could have done better than making vague reference to angles. How long would it have taken to say "I needed the money to cover the treatment costs and to make sure you and the kids would be taken care of"? You could argue that she wouldn't have listened, but it's something.
Heck, even Walt Jr. doesn't like what's going down. OK, he doesn't know the whole story and most of his frustration comes from not knowing why things went south so quickly. Marie is equally confused, leading to an amusing moment when she tries to get Skyler to open up about her problem. Considering how Marie handles her kleptomania, it is rather funny.
In any event, Walt decides to throw in the towel and tells Gus that he's done. While Gus does make a big offer, the money doesn't hold the same allure that it did. Even if Walt was interested in the money, couldn't he just sell Gus the recipe? That would allow Walt to walk away and Gus can keep raking in money off the product. Everyone would win, right? Strangely enough, the idea never comes up.
On the one hand, it's odd that Walt would sever the connection he struggled so hard to make so quickly, but he really doesn't have any reason to keep doing it. He has more than enough money (something Walt himself notes) and keeping his family together is the more important thing. I'd commend Gus for being so reasonable, but I have a feeling he's not done yet.
Speaking of not done, two menacing people are after Heisenburg. They don't really do anything except look scary for a majority of their screen time, though they do get homicidal in their final scene. It's a stark contrast from earlier scenes, when they generally left people alone.
I know the scene was supposed to show how bad these people were, but it was kind of ridiculous. First off, I'm pretty sure "Mythbusters" showed that bullets can't penetrate gas tanks, but then they followed it up with the pair doing the slow walk away as the truck exploded behind them. It came off more goofy than menacing, which is a detriment as the scene is played straight. Never mind the heat or the force of the explosion, how were the pair not maimed by shards of fiery debris?
Sadly, Jesse doesn't do a whole lot this time around. He finishes his rehab and says he's fine, though he still seems out of it. He apparently missed the point of the motivational speeches about self acceptance as he "accepts" that he's the bad guy.
Again, Walt doesn't seem to put up much of a counter-argument despite there being ample evidence to the contrary. He's concerned about the well being of others and is averse to violence. Besides that, if Jesse is going to accept his status as heel, shouldn't he ham it up a bit? Maybe that will come later.
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Thursday, May 28, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: Duck Amuck
The other day, a movie station was airing a couple of the Looney Tunes "movies" (the ones that were really just a collection of the shorts) and we decided to watch them. One of the episodes featured was "Duck Amuck", an episode where Daffy is pit against his own animator. The result is brilliant hilarity. Really, there's not much more to say. The cartoon keeps you laughing from beginning to end and, while you'd think the bit would get old after a while, it manages to keep the humor going with solid gags through out. If you ever doubted the brilliance of Looney Tunes (and to be honest, there were some shorts that made me question its reverence) this shows you what it's all about. It's a classic, pure and simple.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 13: ABQ
Thus, we come to the conclusion of the second season. With the end of the season, comes the end of the bizarre openings surrounding the pool (or at least I believe so). I wondered whether or not all those goings on were a red herring and, sure enough, they were. Something does go down at Walt's house, though it is only tangentially tied to his operation.
It should come as no surprise that the death of Jane takes center stage here. We have not one, but two characters who are left devastated by this development. Both Paul and De Lancie sell the grief and it makes the episode much more somber. While Jesse does get a couple of chances to shed tears, both of them are more or less sent into heroic BSOD's. Jesse is struck especially hard as not only is he contending with grief, but guilt as he believes that he's at fault. Looking back, this really wasn't his year.
On a brighter note, the money starts to get funneled in through Junior's crowdfunding endeavor. On the one hand, it would be a surprise to see strangers fork over hundreds of dollars, but at the same time, considering how much Walt has, the number seems rather small. It does have to trickle in to minimize suspicion, though.
In any event, Marie makes it a story by featuring it in the paper and even getting a TV spot. I have a hard time buying that this would make the news. Maybe they wanted it as a fluff piece or it's a small town that needs all the news it can come up with, but with all the crowdfunding going on, it doesn't seem like that big a deal. Nowadays, there are all sorts of Gofundme's, Indiegogo's, Kickstarters, Fundrazrs, and Patreons (ahem) so it doesn't seem like that big a deal. Walt Jr and Skyler should be impressed, but most people...probably not.
This episode is pretty light on the drug aspects. I'm not counting Jesse's use as an unhealthy coping mechanism. Hank does come to the conclusion that Heisenburg is still in action, even deducing that the guy they picked up was just a fall guy, as the blue Meth is popping up out of state.
Gus also pops up at the DEA's office as the fast food restaurant is involved in an event to combat drugs in the community. Irony aside, it does lead him to learn that Walt and Hank are related as Hank had a donation jar so that his fellow officers could chip in to help pay for the surgery. To both the officers' and to Gus' credit, they all chip in some cash. We're not given that total, but it still helps.
As season finales are known for their wham moments, and this one gives us a couple. While Walt's surgery goes extremely well, he does let slip that he has a second phone when Skyler asks him a question after he's anesthetized.
Even the "I was loopy from the drugs" defense doesn't seem to hold water as this small thread reveals the other lies that Walt had been telling (visiting his mother or how Gretchen was paying for the treatments.) Oddly enough, Skyler still doesn't know what Walt is up to. At the same time, it seems like she doesn't want to know. It's a legit stance as all she needs to know is that Walt is lying and that he has access to money that he really shouldn't. That's reason enough to want out and finding out would potentially prove to be more trouble than it's worth.
I'm curious if Walt's offer to open up about everything was legit. It's quite possible that this was another fake out where he "confesses" to something else as a way to cover his tracks. At the same time, you have to figure she's going to discover his secret at some point, it could be to his advantage to just let her in on it as opposed to tanking his marriage entirely.
The other wham moment comes courtesy of Jane's dad, whose shock over Jane's death results in him causing a mid-air collision. It wasn't intentional on his part. It isn't like he was lashing out at the world or attempting to use the debris to damage Walt's house intentionally (if that were the case, it would have been incredibly impressive.) Rather, it's a slip of the tongue that he wasn't able to rectify in time. The fact that it impacted Walt's house was pure coincidence.
Said crash also lets us know where the pink bear came from, as well as all the other "evidence". We still don't know who was taken away in the body bags, but I assume they were victims of the crash.
Overall, I enjoyed the season, though to be honest, I kind of liked the first season more. It seemed like more happened and there were more instances where I found myself leaning forward as I was gripped by what was going to happen next.
You wouldn't think that it would be the case as the plot is rolling and we had more episodes, but I still got that vibe. There was some solid character development across the board, but it led to a more low key season.
Next we dive into the third season, where we'll find out how Jesse pulls himself out of his depression, how Heisenburg's empire will continue to grow, weather or not the cartel will attempt to follow through on their threat, how Hank will cope with his PTSD about Tuco, and how the authorities take to an air traffic controller causing a crash.
I find it hard to believe that future episodes will be this calm as there is a lot of ground to cover. We'll see how things play out when we get to them.
It should come as no surprise that the death of Jane takes center stage here. We have not one, but two characters who are left devastated by this development. Both Paul and De Lancie sell the grief and it makes the episode much more somber. While Jesse does get a couple of chances to shed tears, both of them are more or less sent into heroic BSOD's. Jesse is struck especially hard as not only is he contending with grief, but guilt as he believes that he's at fault. Looking back, this really wasn't his year.
On a brighter note, the money starts to get funneled in through Junior's crowdfunding endeavor. On the one hand, it would be a surprise to see strangers fork over hundreds of dollars, but at the same time, considering how much Walt has, the number seems rather small. It does have to trickle in to minimize suspicion, though.
In any event, Marie makes it a story by featuring it in the paper and even getting a TV spot. I have a hard time buying that this would make the news. Maybe they wanted it as a fluff piece or it's a small town that needs all the news it can come up with, but with all the crowdfunding going on, it doesn't seem like that big a deal. Nowadays, there are all sorts of Gofundme's, Indiegogo's, Kickstarters, Fundrazrs, and Patreons (ahem) so it doesn't seem like that big a deal. Walt Jr and Skyler should be impressed, but most people...probably not.
This episode is pretty light on the drug aspects. I'm not counting Jesse's use as an unhealthy coping mechanism. Hank does come to the conclusion that Heisenburg is still in action, even deducing that the guy they picked up was just a fall guy, as the blue Meth is popping up out of state.
Gus also pops up at the DEA's office as the fast food restaurant is involved in an event to combat drugs in the community. Irony aside, it does lead him to learn that Walt and Hank are related as Hank had a donation jar so that his fellow officers could chip in to help pay for the surgery. To both the officers' and to Gus' credit, they all chip in some cash. We're not given that total, but it still helps.
As season finales are known for their wham moments, and this one gives us a couple. While Walt's surgery goes extremely well, he does let slip that he has a second phone when Skyler asks him a question after he's anesthetized.
Even the "I was loopy from the drugs" defense doesn't seem to hold water as this small thread reveals the other lies that Walt had been telling (visiting his mother or how Gretchen was paying for the treatments.) Oddly enough, Skyler still doesn't know what Walt is up to. At the same time, it seems like she doesn't want to know. It's a legit stance as all she needs to know is that Walt is lying and that he has access to money that he really shouldn't. That's reason enough to want out and finding out would potentially prove to be more trouble than it's worth.
I'm curious if Walt's offer to open up about everything was legit. It's quite possible that this was another fake out where he "confesses" to something else as a way to cover his tracks. At the same time, you have to figure she's going to discover his secret at some point, it could be to his advantage to just let her in on it as opposed to tanking his marriage entirely.
The other wham moment comes courtesy of Jane's dad, whose shock over Jane's death results in him causing a mid-air collision. It wasn't intentional on his part. It isn't like he was lashing out at the world or attempting to use the debris to damage Walt's house intentionally (if that were the case, it would have been incredibly impressive.) Rather, it's a slip of the tongue that he wasn't able to rectify in time. The fact that it impacted Walt's house was pure coincidence.
Said crash also lets us know where the pink bear came from, as well as all the other "evidence". We still don't know who was taken away in the body bags, but I assume they were victims of the crash.
Overall, I enjoyed the season, though to be honest, I kind of liked the first season more. It seemed like more happened and there were more instances where I found myself leaning forward as I was gripped by what was going to happen next.
You wouldn't think that it would be the case as the plot is rolling and we had more episodes, but I still got that vibe. There was some solid character development across the board, but it led to a more low key season.
Next we dive into the third season, where we'll find out how Jesse pulls himself out of his depression, how Heisenburg's empire will continue to grow, weather or not the cartel will attempt to follow through on their threat, how Hank will cope with his PTSD about Tuco, and how the authorities take to an air traffic controller causing a crash.
I find it hard to believe that future episodes will be this calm as there is a lot of ground to cover. We'll see how things play out when we get to them.
Stephen King bibliography: Nightmares and Dreamscapes
Dolan's Cadillac
The End of the Whole Mess
Suffer the Little Children
The Night Flier
Popsy
It Grows on You
Chattery Teeth
Dedication
The Moving Finger
Sneakers
You Know They Got a Hell of a Band
Home Delivery
Rainy Season
My Pretty Pony
Sorry, Right Number
The Ten O'Clock People
Crouch End
The House on Maple Street
The Fifth Quarter
The Doctor's Case
Umney's Last Case
Head Down
Brooklyn August
The Beggar and the Diamond
Click here to join our Patreon campaign
The End of the Whole Mess
Suffer the Little Children
The Night Flier
Popsy
It Grows on You
Chattery Teeth
Dedication
The Moving Finger
Sneakers
You Know They Got a Hell of a Band
Home Delivery
Rainy Season
My Pretty Pony
Sorry, Right Number
The Ten O'Clock People
Crouch End
The House on Maple Street
The Fifth Quarter
The Doctor's Case
Umney's Last Case
Head Down
Brooklyn August
The Beggar and the Diamond
Click here to join our Patreon campaign
Daily Dose of Awesome: 'The Omen' Theme
I rather enjoy movie soundtracks as they can make great background music, especially when writing. If you want something that's creepy and unnerving, you'd have a hard time finding something better than the theme song to The Omen. You don't even need images to accompany the song, the melody alone will send chills up your spine. The song just drips with evil and it's all the more magnificent because of it.
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: Legends of Tomorrow Trailer
This came out a few days ago, but it is still a fun teaser. I already talked about "The Flash" and this looks like it's going to be another strong entry in the "Arrowverse" or DCW as some call it. I'm really looking forward to it.
Friday, May 22, 2015
Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 12: Phoenix
While the deal goes off without a hitch, Walt ends up missing the birth of his daughter. This is actually impressive as Skyler later says that she ended up going through a natural childbirth as opposed to the C-section. It makes you wonder just how slowly does Walt drive? More importantly, Skyler is surprisingly forgiving about the fact. Just a quick reminder that we're two seasons in and I've only got one legitimate strike against the character so far.
Suffice it to say, Walt isn't too happy with Jesse (who actually forgot that Walt sold the supply and thought that they were robbed). Tensions increase and Walt ends up holding Jesse's cut of the money hostage, as he doesn't trust his druggie partner anymore. While Walt raises some good points (Walt doesn't want to fund an overdose), and you could chalk some of it up to being angry about missing the birth, I do wonder why he's suddenly drawing the line now. He knew Jesse used drugs from the beginning, but now all of a sudden it's a deal breaker.
It takes Jane blackmailing him, but Walt does eventually deliver the cash. While it seems like the business relationship is done, Walt does make a last ditch effort to appeal to Jesse. It falls on deaf ears, but it does show that there is still some loyalty there.
With a small fortune, the couple decide to get clean and start a new life. It almost has you believing that they'll be able to ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after. It's a nice idea, and you do find yourself rooting for this future to come to fruition, but in the back of your mind, you know that it is just foreshadowing for something bad to happen, and sure enough, it does.
Walt's pulled some stuff before, but I think the end of this episode marks his coldest act to date. I mean, that's messed up. Even killing Krazy-8 comes off less ruthless as that was more in desperation than this. Walt may not have gotten along with Jane, but she didn't deserve what she got.
While all the uplifting talk foreshadowed Jane's passing, the episode did add another bit as the idea of choking on vomit is brought up twice. At first, I figured it was just a funny gag as the preventative tactic that Jane employs is the same one that Walt used with his newborn daughter, but the end takes it to the next level.
This episode actually had a few funny bits, most of them just quick one liners like Jesse asking if New Zealand was in Australia. Saul also adds a fair bit of humor to the scene where he appears. Again, he proves resourceful as he knows a guy (who knows a guy who knows a guy) who can use the crowdfunding website that Walt Jr sets up to siphon the drug money into Walt's accounts via anonymous donations without raising suspicion.
I also rather enjoyed the scene between Walt and Jane's father. It was a great character moment, but the two got on rather well, even though they remain unaware of the fact that they are linked. I don't know if the two characters will run into each other again, but it would be interesting to see the friendship grow.
This was a strong episode. It managed to showcase several characters and move things forward on several fronts. Jane's father in particular got a lot more to do and I think it helped the episode. Not only is it good to see John De Lancie get more screen time, but it fleshed out Jane's character a bit more as well.
Not surprisingly, the most resonating moment is that final scene. With a show like this, I think it works best that way, especially when you're coming up on the season finale.
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And yes, I'm aware of the irony in posting the Patreon link here given Walt's views on crowdfunding.
Suffice it to say, Walt isn't too happy with Jesse (who actually forgot that Walt sold the supply and thought that they were robbed). Tensions increase and Walt ends up holding Jesse's cut of the money hostage, as he doesn't trust his druggie partner anymore. While Walt raises some good points (Walt doesn't want to fund an overdose), and you could chalk some of it up to being angry about missing the birth, I do wonder why he's suddenly drawing the line now. He knew Jesse used drugs from the beginning, but now all of a sudden it's a deal breaker.
It takes Jane blackmailing him, but Walt does eventually deliver the cash. While it seems like the business relationship is done, Walt does make a last ditch effort to appeal to Jesse. It falls on deaf ears, but it does show that there is still some loyalty there.
With a small fortune, the couple decide to get clean and start a new life. It almost has you believing that they'll be able to ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after. It's a nice idea, and you do find yourself rooting for this future to come to fruition, but in the back of your mind, you know that it is just foreshadowing for something bad to happen, and sure enough, it does.
Walt's pulled some stuff before, but I think the end of this episode marks his coldest act to date. I mean, that's messed up. Even killing Krazy-8 comes off less ruthless as that was more in desperation than this. Walt may not have gotten along with Jane, but she didn't deserve what she got.
While all the uplifting talk foreshadowed Jane's passing, the episode did add another bit as the idea of choking on vomit is brought up twice. At first, I figured it was just a funny gag as the preventative tactic that Jane employs is the same one that Walt used with his newborn daughter, but the end takes it to the next level.
This episode actually had a few funny bits, most of them just quick one liners like Jesse asking if New Zealand was in Australia. Saul also adds a fair bit of humor to the scene where he appears. Again, he proves resourceful as he knows a guy (who knows a guy who knows a guy) who can use the crowdfunding website that Walt Jr sets up to siphon the drug money into Walt's accounts via anonymous donations without raising suspicion.
I also rather enjoyed the scene between Walt and Jane's father. It was a great character moment, but the two got on rather well, even though they remain unaware of the fact that they are linked. I don't know if the two characters will run into each other again, but it would be interesting to see the friendship grow.
This was a strong episode. It managed to showcase several characters and move things forward on several fronts. Jane's father in particular got a lot more to do and I think it helped the episode. Not only is it good to see John De Lancie get more screen time, but it fleshed out Jane's character a bit more as well.
Not surprisingly, the most resonating moment is that final scene. With a show like this, I think it works best that way, especially when you're coming up on the season finale.
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And yes, I'm aware of the irony in posting the Patreon link here given Walt's views on crowdfunding.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
The Flash Season 1 review
DC fan that I am, I'm not too well versed in the Scarlet Speedster. I've read a few Flash comics and he's a Justice League staple, but most of my knowledge comes from the DCAU. While I didn't watch "Arrow", I was still interested in checking the show out and that interest paid off in spades.
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The show is so entertaining that it won me over by the first episode. The characters are great, brought to life through a combination of good writing and a fantastic cast. Grant Gustin's Barry Allen makes for an incredibly charming lead. You sympathize with him and admire his resolve to help people. He is also much more upbeat than a lot of hero depictions, which makes for a lighter show that is more focused on fun.
The show also has a strong supporting cast. Jesse L. Martin was a surprise, but he worked out well. He gets to show off a lot more range than he did on Law and Order (though amusingly enough, he still plays a cop.)
While Danielle Panabaker and Carlos Valdes bring charm and heart to their characters, I think the show stealer is Tom Cavanagh as the enigmatic Harrison Wells. He's clearly having fun with it, though I do think that his performance was pretty understated all things considered.
Where the 90's live action Flash didn't really feature any big villains, this one showcases as many as it can. We see Captain Cold, the Reverse Flash, the Trickster, and even Gorilla Grodd. It embraces its comic book roots and makes for a more entertaining show.
As I said before, I didn't watch Arrow, but as it is a spin off, some Arrow characters do show up. It doesn't leave new viewers in the dust, however, and it does help build up the shared universe.
Actually, this show is so good that I'm far more invested and excited for this universe than I am the one that DC is attempting to build with the movies. The show is so good that I am actually going back and watching Arrow because I want to be up to speed on everything that is happening. I'm sad that the season is over, but it was a very fun ride. It was the television highlight of the week for me and I'm really looking forward to see where it goes from here.
The DVD/Blu Ray box set is not out yet, but I will be buying it to be sure. I want to support this, though I have a feeling that the extra features will also be entertaining to see. If you are a superhero fan, this show is definitely worth a watch. It has heart, humor, and can be rather inspiring at times. There are times where it can get heavy on the angst, but honestly, those times felt few and far between to me. It juggles all of the elements well and is a home run in my book.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Murder by Death
Sadly, the great Peter Falk passed away. While he is most well known for Columbo and The Princess Bride, I thought I would showcase one of his, possibly, lesser known works. It's a comedy called "Murder by Death" that pokes fun at the mystery genre.
The story follows five detectives as they are invited to a wealthy recluse's house. He explains that someone is going to die and challenges them to figure out who is responsible.
From there it just gets zany with crazy plot twists and characters. It's very well written, not surprising considering it was penned by Neil Simon, and the cast is solid as well. In addition to Peter Falk, the movie also stars Alec Guinness, Truman Capote, Peter Sellers, and David Niven.
I will warn you that one of the characters is something of a cartoonish racial stereotype, but, hard as it may be to believe, it actually works. The character actually walks that fine line and manages to pull it off without making it uncomfortable for the viewer.
I wasn't sure what to make of the movie going in, but I found myself laughing quite a bit. It's an older movie, but it holds up well over time and can still be enjoyed by someone who isn't well versed in detective stories. Those who are more knowledgeable will notice that each character is a pastiche of another well known detective from literature, likely making it that much more entertaining for you to watch.
Either way, this movie was a blast to watch and it definitely deserves more love. As such, I happily encourage you to go check it out if you haven't seen it. It's very entertaining.
The story follows five detectives as they are invited to a wealthy recluse's house. He explains that someone is going to die and challenges them to figure out who is responsible.
From there it just gets zany with crazy plot twists and characters. It's very well written, not surprising considering it was penned by Neil Simon, and the cast is solid as well. In addition to Peter Falk, the movie also stars Alec Guinness, Truman Capote, Peter Sellers, and David Niven.
I will warn you that one of the characters is something of a cartoonish racial stereotype, but, hard as it may be to believe, it actually works. The character actually walks that fine line and manages to pull it off without making it uncomfortable for the viewer.
I wasn't sure what to make of the movie going in, but I found myself laughing quite a bit. It's an older movie, but it holds up well over time and can still be enjoyed by someone who isn't well versed in detective stories. Those who are more knowledgeable will notice that each character is a pastiche of another well known detective from literature, likely making it that much more entertaining for you to watch.
Either way, this movie was a blast to watch and it definitely deserves more love. As such, I happily encourage you to go check it out if you haven't seen it. It's very entertaining.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 11: Mandala
The operation hits a snag when one of Jesse's dealers gets shot. Badger's already laying low and Skinny Pete (who did make it out of the desert) decides to throw in the towel. It puts Walt and Jesse in the bizarre dilemma of having a ton of product, but no way to sell it.
Luckily, Saul knows a guy (who knows a guy who knows a guy) that is more experienced in this endeavor. Unlike Tuco, the guy (later named Gus) is on the level, relatively speaking, but is very cautious and rather skiddish about who he works with.
Speaking of work relationships, Jesse doesn't take the death of his friend very well. The episode tries to contrast this with Walt's supposedly callous questioning of which one died. To be fair though, Walt only met the group once for about a minute and they didn't really exchange names. You can see why Jesse would get mad at hearing that, but it comes off more as poor tact more than callousness.
To her credit, Jane does what she can to console Jesse, but in the process, she ends up relapsing. It's a shame as I would have liked to see her provide the consolation and emotional support without falling back. It does happen, though. It also makes for a stealth pun (Jane's Addiction). I have no idea if that was what they were going for, but it's hard to imagine otherwise.
On the health front, both Walt and Skyler seem to be doing well. The prior is now able to have the tumor removed surgically (though at a cost of $170,000) and the latter opts for a C-section in lieu of the traditional child birth. While it isn't scheduled for several weeks, Skyler ends up going into labor.
This puts Walt into the old Spider-Man dilemma as he has to deliver his product to his new distributor in a very narrow window of time (it's made clear that if he misses this window the arrangement is done forever) just as he gets the message about the coming baby.
I don't know how long C-sections take. Were it regular labor, there wouldn't be a problem as those go for hours. I can't imagine that it is a particularly quick process, though. Couldn't Walt make the deal and get back to the hospital in time? I guess it depends on how far out the drive is. In any event, he chooses the deal (which makes some level of sense as he needs the money to take care of everything).
On the other hand, Gus' conditions are more than a little unreasonable. An hour to retrieve that much product and move it to another location for purchase? I mean, come on, give him an hour and a half or two hours at least. I don't think it would kill him to provide a realistic deadline to deliver a product that is going to make him a lot of money.
It was good to see Saul again. While he is a comedic character, he is quite shrewd and it seems like his involvement is beneficial to Walt's endeavors. I do wonder why he only has one guy who can fill the role that Walt needs. You'd think he'd have a few on his metaphorical rolodex, but it's a moot point.
After the wham moment of the opening scene, the episode was surprisingly quiet. I guess they want to save the escalation material for the season finale, which draws ever closer.
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Luckily, Saul knows a guy (who knows a guy who knows a guy) that is more experienced in this endeavor. Unlike Tuco, the guy (later named Gus) is on the level, relatively speaking, but is very cautious and rather skiddish about who he works with.
Speaking of work relationships, Jesse doesn't take the death of his friend very well. The episode tries to contrast this with Walt's supposedly callous questioning of which one died. To be fair though, Walt only met the group once for about a minute and they didn't really exchange names. You can see why Jesse would get mad at hearing that, but it comes off more as poor tact more than callousness.
To her credit, Jane does what she can to console Jesse, but in the process, she ends up relapsing. It's a shame as I would have liked to see her provide the consolation and emotional support without falling back. It does happen, though. It also makes for a stealth pun (Jane's Addiction). I have no idea if that was what they were going for, but it's hard to imagine otherwise.
On the health front, both Walt and Skyler seem to be doing well. The prior is now able to have the tumor removed surgically (though at a cost of $170,000) and the latter opts for a C-section in lieu of the traditional child birth. While it isn't scheduled for several weeks, Skyler ends up going into labor.
This puts Walt into the old Spider-Man dilemma as he has to deliver his product to his new distributor in a very narrow window of time (it's made clear that if he misses this window the arrangement is done forever) just as he gets the message about the coming baby.
I don't know how long C-sections take. Were it regular labor, there wouldn't be a problem as those go for hours. I can't imagine that it is a particularly quick process, though. Couldn't Walt make the deal and get back to the hospital in time? I guess it depends on how far out the drive is. In any event, he chooses the deal (which makes some level of sense as he needs the money to take care of everything).
On the other hand, Gus' conditions are more than a little unreasonable. An hour to retrieve that much product and move it to another location for purchase? I mean, come on, give him an hour and a half or two hours at least. I don't think it would kill him to provide a realistic deadline to deliver a product that is going to make him a lot of money.
It was good to see Saul again. While he is a comedic character, he is quite shrewd and it seems like his involvement is beneficial to Walt's endeavors. I do wonder why he only has one guy who can fill the role that Walt needs. You'd think he'd have a few on his metaphorical rolodex, but it's a moot point.
After the wham moment of the opening scene, the episode was surprisingly quiet. I guess they want to save the escalation material for the season finale, which draws ever closer.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Mind Heist
I rather liked Inception. I can see how some would find it over rated, but it was a film that was very well put together and while the characters were a bit flat, I found myself engaged in the narrative anyway. Regardless of whether or not you liked the movie, I doubt anyone would argue that the trailer music, composed by Zack Hemsey was freaking awesome.
I love trailer music, especially epic trailer music and this fits the bill perfectly. The slow buildup in the beginning is really effective, though I do love the climax of the song as it perfectly captures that epic blockbuster spirit. Even though I have nothing that warrants a trailer, hearing music like this makes me want to make a trailer for something, just for the fun of it.
I love trailer music, especially epic trailer music and this fits the bill perfectly. The slow buildup in the beginning is really effective, though I do love the climax of the song as it perfectly captures that epic blockbuster spirit. Even though I have nothing that warrants a trailer, hearing music like this makes me want to make a trailer for something, just for the fun of it.
Monday, May 18, 2015
Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 10: Over
As we saw at the end of the last episode, Walt isn't taking the good news about his condition as well as a person in his situation should. Things only seem to get worse as he decides for force his son to drink tequila and gets pissed off at Hank when he tries to put a stop to it.
Judging by his tirade, Walt's turmoil comes from a lack of control. He no longer has the drug trade as he and Jesse decide to end their venture after selling off what they have (it is the logical decision and even Jesse seems OK with calling it quits) and he needs the sense of power. To Walt's credit, he does channel this energy more productively as he starts fixing up the house: replacing the water heater and putting in new floors after discovering rot.
On the other hand, maybe he was just bored. Skyler wouldn't let him go back to work (though I was surprised when she asks him if he's going back to work later on in the episode as if she were pushing him to do so all along) and there isn't a whole lot to do around there. I mean, it isn't like he can spend the day binge watching "Breaking Bad".
I was surprised by how handy Walt is. He seems up to the task of doing all of this by himself. Granted, they were tasks that needed to be done (the floor and the water that comes out of their faucet is quite gross) but most newbies would call in professionals. I guess the DIY aspect masks some of the expense. At least with the water heater, he could justify it as it would lower energy costs. The floor is a bit harder to dismiss.
On Jesse's side, his romance with Jane is moving along nicely. The two really are quite adorable together. It warms the cockles of your heart..or maybe it's below the cockles in the sub-cockle area. Jesse makes her breakfast and shares some old drawings of superheroes that he drew a while back. He's actually a pretty good artist though his ability to come up with useful superpowers leaves a lot to be desired. Moving backwards really quickly? At least the gun-toting kangaroo/human hybrid had some goofy potential.
They do hit a snag when Jesse meets Jane's dad. There doesn't seem to be any tension, though Jane doesn't say anything and merely introduces Jesse as a tenant. You could justify this if she saw this as more of a casual fling and wasn't aware of how Jesse felt. Actually, that could have been an interesting route to go, though the way the two are together, it would be a bit hard to buy. In keeping with the tone of the couple, Jane does make an adorable gesture to make amends.
While it was a given fact that Walt would get back into the drug game (his retirement would mark the end of the show if it did stick), they don't even let things settle for an episode or two as Heisenburg makes his return in glorious fashion. It starts off funny as Walt gives constructive criticism to a druggie who is trying to collect supplies, but then he asserts his dominance, confronting said druggie in the parking lot and telling him and his cohort to stay out of his territory.
A part of me is surprised that they backed off. The other guy was twice Walt's size and while Cranston's snarl was impressive, the other part of me wonders if it would be enough to scare off a guy rocking those kinds of biceps. I guess Heisenburg's reputation carries some weight.
I do wonder how long the whole "pool" thing is going to go on. I know it's building to a finale, but it seems like there isn't much else to say on that front. I'm also curious if this is leading to the season finale and there is some amount of misdirection or if this pertains to the end of the show as a whole.
It's hard to believe that we're already coming up on the end of the second season. It won't be long until we hit the halfway point of the whole show. It really does go quite quickly. I'm looking forward to where things go from here.
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Judging by his tirade, Walt's turmoil comes from a lack of control. He no longer has the drug trade as he and Jesse decide to end their venture after selling off what they have (it is the logical decision and even Jesse seems OK with calling it quits) and he needs the sense of power. To Walt's credit, he does channel this energy more productively as he starts fixing up the house: replacing the water heater and putting in new floors after discovering rot.
On the other hand, maybe he was just bored. Skyler wouldn't let him go back to work (though I was surprised when she asks him if he's going back to work later on in the episode as if she were pushing him to do so all along) and there isn't a whole lot to do around there. I mean, it isn't like he can spend the day binge watching "Breaking Bad".
I was surprised by how handy Walt is. He seems up to the task of doing all of this by himself. Granted, they were tasks that needed to be done (the floor and the water that comes out of their faucet is quite gross) but most newbies would call in professionals. I guess the DIY aspect masks some of the expense. At least with the water heater, he could justify it as it would lower energy costs. The floor is a bit harder to dismiss.
On Jesse's side, his romance with Jane is moving along nicely. The two really are quite adorable together. It warms the cockles of your heart..or maybe it's below the cockles in the sub-cockle area. Jesse makes her breakfast and shares some old drawings of superheroes that he drew a while back. He's actually a pretty good artist though his ability to come up with useful superpowers leaves a lot to be desired. Moving backwards really quickly? At least the gun-toting kangaroo/human hybrid had some goofy potential.
They do hit a snag when Jesse meets Jane's dad. There doesn't seem to be any tension, though Jane doesn't say anything and merely introduces Jesse as a tenant. You could justify this if she saw this as more of a casual fling and wasn't aware of how Jesse felt. Actually, that could have been an interesting route to go, though the way the two are together, it would be a bit hard to buy. In keeping with the tone of the couple, Jane does make an adorable gesture to make amends.
While it was a given fact that Walt would get back into the drug game (his retirement would mark the end of the show if it did stick), they don't even let things settle for an episode or two as Heisenburg makes his return in glorious fashion. It starts off funny as Walt gives constructive criticism to a druggie who is trying to collect supplies, but then he asserts his dominance, confronting said druggie in the parking lot and telling him and his cohort to stay out of his territory.
A part of me is surprised that they backed off. The other guy was twice Walt's size and while Cranston's snarl was impressive, the other part of me wonders if it would be enough to scare off a guy rocking those kinds of biceps. I guess Heisenburg's reputation carries some weight.
I do wonder how long the whole "pool" thing is going to go on. I know it's building to a finale, but it seems like there isn't much else to say on that front. I'm also curious if this is leading to the season finale and there is some amount of misdirection or if this pertains to the end of the show as a whole.
It's hard to believe that we're already coming up on the end of the second season. It won't be long until we hit the halfway point of the whole show. It really does go quite quickly. I'm looking forward to where things go from here.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Marathon Running Dog
A dog found some people jogging and decided to join them. As it turns out, said joggers were participating in a half marathon. The dog managed to make it the entire run after joining in at the five mile mark. The dog was, obviously, tired, but vets checked him out and he was OK. The race officials later awarded the dog a medal for finishing the race.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 9: 4 Days Out
Thinking he doesn't have much time left, and not having a whole lot of money to show for his efforts, Walt recruits Jesse for a marathon cooking session out in the desert. Oddly enough, Jesse isn't all that excited about the prospect as he'd rather spend time with his new lady friend. If you think about it though, Walt's idea would work to his benefit. Make all the product in one go, and then just kick back and let the money roll in while he spends all his time with his new paramour.
Still, the resentment does lead to some amusing banter between the two. Walt's criticism of Jesse's diet was funny, though to be fair, that is generally the sort of stuff you would feed on during a road trip. By that same token, feasting on salty snacks when you're out in the desert is somewhat counter-intuitive.
Still, things seem to go well as they manage to cook up over 40 pounds of product, with supply left to spare. As it is, they have enough to make over $600,000 each. As many times as things have gone awry and as frequently as the two get on each other's nerves, it was nice to see the two genuinely celebratory over their feat.
As is often the case in life, and especially this show, pride comes before the fall as things start to plummet downhill soon after. The RV's battery dies because Jesse left the keys in the ignition for two days and the two are left stranded.
I have a feeling that the phone calls that Jesse made on Walt's phone are going to come back. Had they just called once, Walt could pass it off as being a good samaritan letting a stranger use his phone to make a quick phone call, but calling the number again? That's going to draw Skyler's attention for sure.
Did anyone else wonder what happened to Skinny Pete? He makes the effort to get them, but he gets lost somewhere and ends up near a river. I guess he just turned around and went back home? It would be sad if they just left him out there in the middle of nowhere with no idea of where he was or how to get him back.
As has often been the case, the two show themselves to be rather resourceful, attempting to use RV fuel to keep the generator powered so that they can use that to jump the battery. It doesn't work and the battery catches fire.
Walt chides Jesse for using their drinking water to put out the fire, but doesn't pouring water on a gas fire generally just make things worse? You could say it was still stupid as the battery is ruined and they are going to dehydrate, but the fact that the fire went out at all was incredibly lucky.
Confronted with their own mortality, the two adapt very different mindsets. Walt more or less throws in the towel. I guess he figured he was dying anyway, so whatever. Jesse, on the other hand, is more determined to survive. It was actually rather admirable how he was unwilling to throw in the towel. He even went so far as to declare that he would just walk out into the desert and hope to get back to civilization in time. Granted, Walt points out why it wouldn't work, but still, the fact that he refuses to give in is impressive.
While Jesse doesn't have the smarts that Walt does, I did like that he was responsible for the eureka moment that ended up saving the day. Sure, all the other suggestions that Jesse made were stupid and inane, but he was just shooting off the cuff. Who knows, maybe the simple reminder that they have a lab at their disposal would have been enough to inspire Walt to assemble a makeshift battery. It was a cool moment, in any event.
As if surviving and having enough product to earn a small fortune wasn't enough, Walt gets more good news as he learns that his cancer is in remission. While the doctor makes a point to say that "in remission" doesn't necessarily mean what the popular perception implies, he goes on to say that the treatment has worked much better than they could have hoped and that the tumor is almost completely gone. It was a nice moment to see the family revel in the good news.
The ending shows that Walt isn't pleased as he beats the hell out of a towel dispenser. It's not what you would expect, but there are more than a few reasons I can think of as to why Walt wouldn't be happy.
There was an episode of Scrubs where Elliot diagnoses a patient with terminal cancer and tells him how much time he has left. Later on, the patient goes into remission and sues Elliot for misdiagnosing him. His explanation was that he was ready to die and that going through that process is an ordeal not easily negated. Maybe Walt is in the same boat.
Another possibility is that Walt no longer has the excuse he had to deal in his particular trade. Even when he was given multiple options, he always had the justification that everything he did was to make sure his family was OK. Now that line is off the table. He can't even say they need the money anymore as he has the stash, his teaching job, and his wife's income on top of that. Maybe he doesn't want to admit that he's where he wants to be. Only time will tell.
For those who find the bits with Walt and Jesse to be the best part of the show (and a quick reminder that I am one of those people) this is the episode for you. They take center stage and it works really well. They continue to have a strong dynamic and seeing them pull themselves from the brink makes for good viewing as it has before. It also ends on a resounding moment that leaves you intrigued to where Walt's journey is going to take him next. I might actually mark it as one of the better endings as it catches you off guard and leaves a lasting impression.
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Still, the resentment does lead to some amusing banter between the two. Walt's criticism of Jesse's diet was funny, though to be fair, that is generally the sort of stuff you would feed on during a road trip. By that same token, feasting on salty snacks when you're out in the desert is somewhat counter-intuitive.
Still, things seem to go well as they manage to cook up over 40 pounds of product, with supply left to spare. As it is, they have enough to make over $600,000 each. As many times as things have gone awry and as frequently as the two get on each other's nerves, it was nice to see the two genuinely celebratory over their feat.
As is often the case in life, and especially this show, pride comes before the fall as things start to plummet downhill soon after. The RV's battery dies because Jesse left the keys in the ignition for two days and the two are left stranded.
I have a feeling that the phone calls that Jesse made on Walt's phone are going to come back. Had they just called once, Walt could pass it off as being a good samaritan letting a stranger use his phone to make a quick phone call, but calling the number again? That's going to draw Skyler's attention for sure.
Did anyone else wonder what happened to Skinny Pete? He makes the effort to get them, but he gets lost somewhere and ends up near a river. I guess he just turned around and went back home? It would be sad if they just left him out there in the middle of nowhere with no idea of where he was or how to get him back.
As has often been the case, the two show themselves to be rather resourceful, attempting to use RV fuel to keep the generator powered so that they can use that to jump the battery. It doesn't work and the battery catches fire.
Walt chides Jesse for using their drinking water to put out the fire, but doesn't pouring water on a gas fire generally just make things worse? You could say it was still stupid as the battery is ruined and they are going to dehydrate, but the fact that the fire went out at all was incredibly lucky.
Confronted with their own mortality, the two adapt very different mindsets. Walt more or less throws in the towel. I guess he figured he was dying anyway, so whatever. Jesse, on the other hand, is more determined to survive. It was actually rather admirable how he was unwilling to throw in the towel. He even went so far as to declare that he would just walk out into the desert and hope to get back to civilization in time. Granted, Walt points out why it wouldn't work, but still, the fact that he refuses to give in is impressive.
While Jesse doesn't have the smarts that Walt does, I did like that he was responsible for the eureka moment that ended up saving the day. Sure, all the other suggestions that Jesse made were stupid and inane, but he was just shooting off the cuff. Who knows, maybe the simple reminder that they have a lab at their disposal would have been enough to inspire Walt to assemble a makeshift battery. It was a cool moment, in any event.
As if surviving and having enough product to earn a small fortune wasn't enough, Walt gets more good news as he learns that his cancer is in remission. While the doctor makes a point to say that "in remission" doesn't necessarily mean what the popular perception implies, he goes on to say that the treatment has worked much better than they could have hoped and that the tumor is almost completely gone. It was a nice moment to see the family revel in the good news.
The ending shows that Walt isn't pleased as he beats the hell out of a towel dispenser. It's not what you would expect, but there are more than a few reasons I can think of as to why Walt wouldn't be happy.
There was an episode of Scrubs where Elliot diagnoses a patient with terminal cancer and tells him how much time he has left. Later on, the patient goes into remission and sues Elliot for misdiagnosing him. His explanation was that he was ready to die and that going through that process is an ordeal not easily negated. Maybe Walt is in the same boat.
Another possibility is that Walt no longer has the excuse he had to deal in his particular trade. Even when he was given multiple options, he always had the justification that everything he did was to make sure his family was OK. Now that line is off the table. He can't even say they need the money anymore as he has the stash, his teaching job, and his wife's income on top of that. Maybe he doesn't want to admit that he's where he wants to be. Only time will tell.
For those who find the bits with Walt and Jesse to be the best part of the show (and a quick reminder that I am one of those people) this is the episode for you. They take center stage and it works really well. They continue to have a strong dynamic and seeing them pull themselves from the brink makes for good viewing as it has before. It also ends on a resounding moment that leaves you intrigued to where Walt's journey is going to take him next. I might actually mark it as one of the better endings as it catches you off guard and leaves a lasting impression.
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Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: Bernadette
I thought that we would sample one of the classics today. I always really did enjoy this song. The lyric content itself can be unsettling, what with the obsession and jealousy, but the medley is superb and the singer puts a lot of power into his words so that you feel it. It's good stuff.
Monday, May 11, 2015
Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 8: Better Call Saul
Walt and Jesse face a problem when Badger gets arrested. Credit to the dealer, though, he doesn't go down easy. He immediately marks the "customer" as a cop and even notes that the nearby vans are dead giveaways that its a sting operation. Sadly, he falls for the "I have to tell you honestly whether I'm a cop or not if you ask me directly" line and gets busted.
Enter Saul Goodman, a defense attorney who stumbles into the operation and manages to take the case. This marks the character's debut episode and I can already see why he got a spin off. Yeah, you can say he's just a sleazy defense attorney, but Bob Odenkirk manages to turn him into a real standout character.
This episode is actually a throwback in many ways. It falls more into the "black comedy" arena, similar to many episodes from the first season. A lot of this does come from Saul's persona and antics, but it is still very much present.
I also highly enjoyed the last few minutes of the episode as Walt and Jesse scramble to save Badger from screwing things up by setting up the wrong person as their fall guy.
The show seems to be at its best when Walt and Jesse are backed into a corner and they are forced to think on the fly and improvise a solution. Not only is it fun to watch, but it benefits the characters as they get to shine in ways that most circumstances don't allow.
Still, the fact that the two are rookies is clear and Saul uses that to sway Walt into letting him in on the operation. On the plus side, he does seem more well versed in this and points out that Badger won't be the last dealer to get busted, so having him on call will come in handy.
Sure, it'll hinder Walt's progress in saving enough, but as Jesse notes, this is the cost of "exponential growth". Saul does note that they can make (and keep) more money as a result of his involvement, so it could very well turn out to be a sound investment.
Were Saul not such a fun, well written character, I don't think that the episode would have worked nearly as well as it did. As it is, I think that this is one of the more memorable episodes of the season.
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Enter Saul Goodman, a defense attorney who stumbles into the operation and manages to take the case. This marks the character's debut episode and I can already see why he got a spin off. Yeah, you can say he's just a sleazy defense attorney, but Bob Odenkirk manages to turn him into a real standout character.
This episode is actually a throwback in many ways. It falls more into the "black comedy" arena, similar to many episodes from the first season. A lot of this does come from Saul's persona and antics, but it is still very much present.
I also highly enjoyed the last few minutes of the episode as Walt and Jesse scramble to save Badger from screwing things up by setting up the wrong person as their fall guy.
The show seems to be at its best when Walt and Jesse are backed into a corner and they are forced to think on the fly and improvise a solution. Not only is it fun to watch, but it benefits the characters as they get to shine in ways that most circumstances don't allow.
Still, the fact that the two are rookies is clear and Saul uses that to sway Walt into letting him in on the operation. On the plus side, he does seem more well versed in this and points out that Badger won't be the last dealer to get busted, so having him on call will come in handy.
Sure, it'll hinder Walt's progress in saving enough, but as Jesse notes, this is the cost of "exponential growth". Saul does note that they can make (and keep) more money as a result of his involvement, so it could very well turn out to be a sound investment.
Were Saul not such a fun, well written character, I don't think that the episode would have worked nearly as well as it did. As it is, I think that this is one of the more memorable episodes of the season.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Meteor Swords
Those who have watched "Avatar: The Last Airbender" will likely remember Sokka's meteor sword. It was just freaking cool to have a weapon forged from a rock that came from space. Well, apparently, they are actually a thing.
You can read more about it here.
You can read more about it here.
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Friday, May 8, 2015
Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 7: Negro Y Azul
It turns out that seeing someone get an ATM machine dropped on their head stays with you for a while. Once again, you can't help but feel bad for Jesse. He locks himself away and just wants to hide from everything. Oddly enough, even after learning what happened, Walt doesn't seem too sympathetic.
On the contrary, he soon learns that it could work to their advantage. While Jesse is upfront about the fact that he didn't kill anyone, word on the street is that he did. That makes him a feared figure who customers don't want to cross.
More than that, Walt wants to use the opportunity to expand. He wants to bring in more dealers and even suggests moving outside their territory. Apparently, he forgot what working with other dealers was like and now wants to work against them. To his credit, Jesse points out the flaw in the plan, but Walt doesn't seem to listen.
Instead, he gives Jesse a bizarre motivational speech and compares him to a blowfish. Thus, I have decided that Walt's nickname should be changed from Heisenburg to Hootie.
Couldn't they split the difference and bring in more dealers, up the price, and just stay in their territory? I mean, as demand rises, they would have to bring in more people anyway, right? Then again, Walt can only cook so much in any given amount of time.
On top of that, Heisenburg is now a figure of international repute and Mexican cartels aren't too pleased with it. While he doesn't know it, having more people would also help should other dealers want to move into Walt's turf.
Oddly enough, the operation turns into a bit of a pyramid scheme. The way Jesse describes the expanded setup is very much in that vein. Maybe they were going for corporate hierarchy, but it came off more like pyramid scheme to me.
On other fronts, Skyler goes to get her old job back to help cover expenses. While it's never brought up, I do wonder if the job would offer better benefits than the school. Maybe it's a moot point as it might not kick in for a while, but depending on how long Walt lives, it could even be beneficial on that front on top of the extra direct revenue.
Speaking of new jobs, Hank's doesn't seem to be going so well. He's out of his element and his methods don't seem to work as well as they did on his home turf. As such, he ends up on the receiving end of some mockery from his coworkers.
It's weird, the others belittle him for being a crass loudmouth, which wouldn't be an inaccurate criticism, but then they go and display similar crude mannerisms when a snitch ends up getting decapitated with his head placed on the shell of a tortoise.
I should note that said snitch was played by Danny Trejo. Sadly, he's only in one scene, but it was still amazing. It's a pity that he met the fate that he did, I would have liked to see him make more appearances.
While Hank's panic attacks get him more grief, they do end up saving his life as the cartel apparently loaded the turtle with explosives. It was a weird plan, but it worked as several of Hank's team are killed and one is severely wounded.
The episode isn't all grimdark, however. Jesse starts off the episode in a depressed funk, but he is soon brought out of it. He starts to open up with his landlady, revealing his full name. He doesn't tell her what he does, but she is smart enough to know that she doesn't want to know and doesn't really seem to care as long as he keeps it away from the house.
The two start to bond and by the episode's end, it seems like romance is brewing. It was a nice moment as the two hold hands while they watch a blank TV screen.
This episode had a lot going on. Several characters had their own arcs, but it was all balanced pretty well. It's not an easy feat. Often times, one sub-plot would feel undeveloped, but I think they all got a fair shake.
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On the contrary, he soon learns that it could work to their advantage. While Jesse is upfront about the fact that he didn't kill anyone, word on the street is that he did. That makes him a feared figure who customers don't want to cross.
More than that, Walt wants to use the opportunity to expand. He wants to bring in more dealers and even suggests moving outside their territory. Apparently, he forgot what working with other dealers was like and now wants to work against them. To his credit, Jesse points out the flaw in the plan, but Walt doesn't seem to listen.
Instead, he gives Jesse a bizarre motivational speech and compares him to a blowfish. Thus, I have decided that Walt's nickname should be changed from Heisenburg to Hootie.
Couldn't they split the difference and bring in more dealers, up the price, and just stay in their territory? I mean, as demand rises, they would have to bring in more people anyway, right? Then again, Walt can only cook so much in any given amount of time.
On top of that, Heisenburg is now a figure of international repute and Mexican cartels aren't too pleased with it. While he doesn't know it, having more people would also help should other dealers want to move into Walt's turf.
Oddly enough, the operation turns into a bit of a pyramid scheme. The way Jesse describes the expanded setup is very much in that vein. Maybe they were going for corporate hierarchy, but it came off more like pyramid scheme to me.
On other fronts, Skyler goes to get her old job back to help cover expenses. While it's never brought up, I do wonder if the job would offer better benefits than the school. Maybe it's a moot point as it might not kick in for a while, but depending on how long Walt lives, it could even be beneficial on that front on top of the extra direct revenue.
Speaking of new jobs, Hank's doesn't seem to be going so well. He's out of his element and his methods don't seem to work as well as they did on his home turf. As such, he ends up on the receiving end of some mockery from his coworkers.
It's weird, the others belittle him for being a crass loudmouth, which wouldn't be an inaccurate criticism, but then they go and display similar crude mannerisms when a snitch ends up getting decapitated with his head placed on the shell of a tortoise.
I should note that said snitch was played by Danny Trejo. Sadly, he's only in one scene, but it was still amazing. It's a pity that he met the fate that he did, I would have liked to see him make more appearances.
While Hank's panic attacks get him more grief, they do end up saving his life as the cartel apparently loaded the turtle with explosives. It was a weird plan, but it worked as several of Hank's team are killed and one is severely wounded.
The episode isn't all grimdark, however. Jesse starts off the episode in a depressed funk, but he is soon brought out of it. He starts to open up with his landlady, revealing his full name. He doesn't tell her what he does, but she is smart enough to know that she doesn't want to know and doesn't really seem to care as long as he keeps it away from the house.
The two start to bond and by the episode's end, it seems like romance is brewing. It was a nice moment as the two hold hands while they watch a blank TV screen.
This episode had a lot going on. Several characters had their own arcs, but it was all balanced pretty well. It's not an easy feat. Often times, one sub-plot would feel undeveloped, but I think they all got a fair shake.
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Wednesday, May 6, 2015
'The Babadook' Movie Review
You can read my review of the movie here.
Pros
- Essie Davis turns in a strong performance as both a sympathetic and horrifying character
- No jump scares. It relies on genuine spookiness to build up tension and suspense.
- When things get creepy, they get really creepy
Cons
- The kid is seriously one of the most annoying things you will ever come across. He was beyond insufferable and he makes the early portions of the movie a chore to sit through.
- The first 35 minutes or so are quite slow. You have to wait a while for the good stuff. I thought it was worth it, but some may not want to sit through it. This may especially be the case as a result of the above point.
Overall
It has notable flaws, but this was a rather effective horror movie. It is, in many ways, quite refreshing. I don't know if it warrants a purchase, but it is definitely worth checking out.
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Pros
- Essie Davis turns in a strong performance as both a sympathetic and horrifying character
- No jump scares. It relies on genuine spookiness to build up tension and suspense.
- When things get creepy, they get really creepy
Cons
- The kid is seriously one of the most annoying things you will ever come across. He was beyond insufferable and he makes the early portions of the movie a chore to sit through.
- The first 35 minutes or so are quite slow. You have to wait a while for the good stuff. I thought it was worth it, but some may not want to sit through it. This may especially be the case as a result of the above point.
Overall
It has notable flaws, but this was a rather effective horror movie. It is, in many ways, quite refreshing. I don't know if it warrants a purchase, but it is definitely worth checking out.
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Monday, May 4, 2015
Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 6: Peekaboo
In order to save face, Jesse is forced to deal with the people who had mugged Skinny Pete last episode. The fact that Pete was able to track them down was surprisingly impressive as I didn't think he had any names to go by. He even offers to take care of the matter himself, but Jesse says he'll deal with it, though it's clear he isn't cut out for it.
While things naturally go awry to some extent, it certainly could have gone worse. Even the reveal that the pair were actually violent criminals doesn't play as big a part as one might think. They do knock Jesse out, but aside from taunting him as he phases in and out of consciousness, they pretty much leave him alone.
It was fairly amusing seeing Jesse try to work up his anger, only to have it undercut by others. First, a mail lady comes up as he is waiting outside the house, and then Jesse comes across the pair's kid. While the mail lady was surprisingly cheerful and friendly, it is the latter that makes the biggest difference in terms of plot.
Jesse's softer side comes to the forefront as he forms a bond with the kid. It's especially impressive as the kid barely says a word. I'd point out that the kid is a bit old for peekaboo, but you could see it as Jesse not really understanding kids. Of course, the kid seemed to enjoy the game once he got the hang of it, so it could be a moot point.
When all is said and done, Jesse is able to get his money back (and then some from the look of it) and he doesn't have to kill anyone. That's not to say that there isn't a casualty. Honestly, the guy was practically asking for it. Taunting a person while you're under an ATM is just dumb.
On the Walt front, he returns to work after his medical leave. It was good to see him back in the classroom. Even though he laments his station, he is quite good at it. Sadly, he is still the butt monkey of sorts as his "fugue state" becomes the focus of some jokes at his expense. To be fair, that poster was kind of funny. It seemed like the sort of thing that he could laugh off, really.
He also runs into a problem when the scenario that I called way back in the first season comes to pass and Skyler talks to Gretchen. Luckily for Walt, she doesn't expose his deception and more or less covers for him. That isnt to say that she is too pleased with what he's doing. Granted, she doesn't know what he's doing, but she doesn't like it.
This does give us a bit more background on his history with the Gray Matter team. He says they cut him out, but I'm skeptical. They seemed more than willing to let him in before and even Gretchen says that he left them. It could just be sour grapes on Walt's end, but we only have a vague idea of what happened. In any event, he harbors more than a little resentment about the whole thing. Gretchen reiterating the offer to pay for Walt's treatment doesn't end up being an effective way of smoothing things over and he succinctly tells her off in an effectively seething fashion.
While Gretchen doesn't expose Walt's lie, she does bring it to an abrupt halt by telling Skyler that they can't pay for Walt's treatments anymore.
I did like that Walt and Skyler were talking again. Things aren't exactly smoothed over, but the two do seem to be communicating far more effectively than they were before.
This episode gives us another instance where Jesse's plot upstages Walt. The meal between Walt and Gretchen was plenty tense and did flesh out his back story, but Jesse's was more engaging. I also find him to be a more complex character, which is surprising as Walt is often hailed as one of the more complex characters in television.
Another solid episode, as expected. Looking forward to more.
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While things naturally go awry to some extent, it certainly could have gone worse. Even the reveal that the pair were actually violent criminals doesn't play as big a part as one might think. They do knock Jesse out, but aside from taunting him as he phases in and out of consciousness, they pretty much leave him alone.
It was fairly amusing seeing Jesse try to work up his anger, only to have it undercut by others. First, a mail lady comes up as he is waiting outside the house, and then Jesse comes across the pair's kid. While the mail lady was surprisingly cheerful and friendly, it is the latter that makes the biggest difference in terms of plot.
Jesse's softer side comes to the forefront as he forms a bond with the kid. It's especially impressive as the kid barely says a word. I'd point out that the kid is a bit old for peekaboo, but you could see it as Jesse not really understanding kids. Of course, the kid seemed to enjoy the game once he got the hang of it, so it could be a moot point.
When all is said and done, Jesse is able to get his money back (and then some from the look of it) and he doesn't have to kill anyone. That's not to say that there isn't a casualty. Honestly, the guy was practically asking for it. Taunting a person while you're under an ATM is just dumb.
On the Walt front, he returns to work after his medical leave. It was good to see him back in the classroom. Even though he laments his station, he is quite good at it. Sadly, he is still the butt monkey of sorts as his "fugue state" becomes the focus of some jokes at his expense. To be fair, that poster was kind of funny. It seemed like the sort of thing that he could laugh off, really.
He also runs into a problem when the scenario that I called way back in the first season comes to pass and Skyler talks to Gretchen. Luckily for Walt, she doesn't expose his deception and more or less covers for him. That isnt to say that she is too pleased with what he's doing. Granted, she doesn't know what he's doing, but she doesn't like it.
This does give us a bit more background on his history with the Gray Matter team. He says they cut him out, but I'm skeptical. They seemed more than willing to let him in before and even Gretchen says that he left them. It could just be sour grapes on Walt's end, but we only have a vague idea of what happened. In any event, he harbors more than a little resentment about the whole thing. Gretchen reiterating the offer to pay for Walt's treatment doesn't end up being an effective way of smoothing things over and he succinctly tells her off in an effectively seething fashion.
While Gretchen doesn't expose Walt's lie, she does bring it to an abrupt halt by telling Skyler that they can't pay for Walt's treatments anymore.
I did like that Walt and Skyler were talking again. Things aren't exactly smoothed over, but the two do seem to be communicating far more effectively than they were before.
This episode gives us another instance where Jesse's plot upstages Walt. The meal between Walt and Gretchen was plenty tense and did flesh out his back story, but Jesse's was more engaging. I also find him to be a more complex character, which is surprising as Walt is often hailed as one of the more complex characters in television.
Another solid episode, as expected. Looking forward to more.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Doctor Who Literal Music Video for "Total Eclipse of the Heart"
This is fun. Or, if you prefer, it's fantastic, absolutely fantastic.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 5: Breakage
The pendulum of Jesse's life starts to swing the other way. With the cash that Walt gave him, Jesse is able to patch things up with the impound lot owner, get a new car, and even rents a new place. All of that on its own is nice to see after everything crapped on him last episode, but he even starts to assert himself to a greater degree. He puts his foot down when Walt tries to boss him around and manages to sway some of his friends into selling on his behalf. I figured that the dealers' cut would be too small, but they seem more than happy with the rate. Credit where it's due, Jesse made a solid pitch.
I did get a kick out of the crew. They appear like stereotypical street thugs, but then they started debating the merits of LCD vs plasma screen TVs and even offered insight into Jesse's ideas about how he'd go about decorating the place. The contrast is obviously intentional, but it's still funny.
Sadly, things aren't going so well for Walt. Things with Skyler are still tense and the cost of treatment is starting to add up. The once huge pile of cash in the vent dwindles down to nothing as the first round ends up costing $13,000.
The domestic tension starts to boil when Walt discovers Skyler's smoking. He rightly calls her on it, though she isn't wrong in pointing out that Walt's behavior isn't exactly sterling. It was a battle of who could be more passive aggressive and it was a pretty even fight.
The development with Hank was interesting. A part of me can't help but think that Hank has been doing this for a while and shouldn't be so rattled by his having to shoot Tuco. I mean, he's gone on raids before, wouldn't it have come up then? In any event, he suffers a panic attack in the elevator.
There's a later scene where he hears something in his house while he and his wife are sleeping and he immediately grabs his gun. I feel like I'm supposed to take this as some sign that something's wrong, but I don't see it that way. He heard loud crashing noises in the middle of the night and his cop instincts kicked in. It turns out to be harmless, but I don't think he did anything out of line there. He didn't know what it was, so it was better to be ready for the worst.
While Walt and Jesse start to see a new surge in business, things do hit a snag when one of Jesse's dealers gets mugged. I do wonder why he followed the woman. If he thought the cops were in pursuit, wouldn't it make more sense to split up?
Despite Jesse's assertion that he needs to be payed no matter what, he is rather reasonable about the money loss. They still made bank, so he has no problem shrugging it off. Walt doesn't see it that way and says that they need to assert their dominance before people start pegging them as an easy target.
Walt isn't completely wrong, but emulating Tuco may not be the best route. OK, no one messed with him, but he wasn't exactly someone you want to work with either. They could give the dealers a weapon to protect themselves from future muggings and still solve the problem. Never the less, Walt wants Jesse to dish out some punishment.
It does put Walt and Jesse into conflict. I can't help but notice that the rapport between the two is quickly falling apart. It's a pity as they were rather entertaining together.
We had another character driven episode. It did make for a nice balance of humor and drama. I like that the prior is still present to an extent. I figured that it wouldn't last long once Walt really got cooking, but it still pops up.
We're already coming up on the halfway point of the second season. It's hard to believe, but it goes by quick.
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I did get a kick out of the crew. They appear like stereotypical street thugs, but then they started debating the merits of LCD vs plasma screen TVs and even offered insight into Jesse's ideas about how he'd go about decorating the place. The contrast is obviously intentional, but it's still funny.
Sadly, things aren't going so well for Walt. Things with Skyler are still tense and the cost of treatment is starting to add up. The once huge pile of cash in the vent dwindles down to nothing as the first round ends up costing $13,000.
The domestic tension starts to boil when Walt discovers Skyler's smoking. He rightly calls her on it, though she isn't wrong in pointing out that Walt's behavior isn't exactly sterling. It was a battle of who could be more passive aggressive and it was a pretty even fight.
The development with Hank was interesting. A part of me can't help but think that Hank has been doing this for a while and shouldn't be so rattled by his having to shoot Tuco. I mean, he's gone on raids before, wouldn't it have come up then? In any event, he suffers a panic attack in the elevator.
There's a later scene where he hears something in his house while he and his wife are sleeping and he immediately grabs his gun. I feel like I'm supposed to take this as some sign that something's wrong, but I don't see it that way. He heard loud crashing noises in the middle of the night and his cop instincts kicked in. It turns out to be harmless, but I don't think he did anything out of line there. He didn't know what it was, so it was better to be ready for the worst.
While Walt and Jesse start to see a new surge in business, things do hit a snag when one of Jesse's dealers gets mugged. I do wonder why he followed the woman. If he thought the cops were in pursuit, wouldn't it make more sense to split up?
Despite Jesse's assertion that he needs to be payed no matter what, he is rather reasonable about the money loss. They still made bank, so he has no problem shrugging it off. Walt doesn't see it that way and says that they need to assert their dominance before people start pegging them as an easy target.
Walt isn't completely wrong, but emulating Tuco may not be the best route. OK, no one messed with him, but he wasn't exactly someone you want to work with either. They could give the dealers a weapon to protect themselves from future muggings and still solve the problem. Never the less, Walt wants Jesse to dish out some punishment.
It does put Walt and Jesse into conflict. I can't help but notice that the rapport between the two is quickly falling apart. It's a pity as they were rather entertaining together.
We had another character driven episode. It did make for a nice balance of humor and drama. I like that the prior is still present to an extent. I figured that it wouldn't last long once Walt really got cooking, but it still pops up.
We're already coming up on the halfway point of the second season. It's hard to believe, but it goes by quick.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Batmobile vs. Batmobile
The iconic Batmobiles from the 1966 series and the 1989 movie face off in a race to determine which is better. Of course, there's a lot of talk before hand to build up the confrontation, in the same vein as "Deadliest Warrior". Oddly enough, as much as both guys boast about their respective cars, none of them talk about actual speed, which would be the primary factor in a race.
I've got to admit, I wasn't a fan of the whole "wager". Yes, Marisha Ray is very attractive, but the whole thing felt so pandering. Seeing the two nerds high five as she washed the car just made me face palm. The way it was executed ruined any sort of enjoyment I might have had seeing her in a two piece. I was honestly expecting the 89 to win, merely to subvert everyone's expectations and replace fetish fuel with nightmare fuel, but no they need to pander to the stereotypical nerds by showcasing a pretty girl in skimpy clothing, because apparently seeing two awesome cars race isn't enough.
While the video has its faults, it was rather cool seeing the two cars face off, so it is worth watching for that and that alone.
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