Memories of Childhood...Deborah Raffin, Model and Actress, Dies at 59

An important part of my childhood died on November 21st. Deborah Raffin may not be a household name in 2012, but when I was a kid, she was a model, actress and someone I looked up to. She was only 12 years older than me. I never even knew that. It's kind of upsetting that it took me six days to hear of her death.

When I was ten, she starred in the film version of Jacqueline Suzanne's "Once is Not Enough." I was so intrigued by the idea of the movie that I got the book. The movie was rated R, and I was only ten, so it took a while for me to catch the movie on television. But it was Raffin as the star that got me interested. She was the face on my Teen and Seventeen magazines!

Thanks to Raffin, I also fell in love with reading, because the discovery that the movie was based on a book lead me to search out Suzanne's other books. Granted, not exactly literature, but after reading ghost stories and teen novels, starting somewhere was the point. In the history of great, juicy romantic and sexy story writing, Jackie Suzanne wasn't a bad start.

Deborah Raffin also went on to star in "Touched by Love" starring Diane Lane about a girl (Lane) with Cerebral Palsy who had a crush on Elvis Presley. Encouraging her to write to her favorite singer was emotional tug of the movie, and Raffin played her caregiver. I can still remember my sister and I sobbing, uncontrollably, at the end of that movie.

I never even knew she was the beginning of Dove Audiobooks, but it makes sense that she'd keep on doing interesting and exciting things as time went on. She had that spark that made girls want to be her, of course she was making changes.

As a model and actress, Raffin filled my world throughout the 80s, and I've never forgotten her. Death from leukemia at 59? She takes with her some of my childhood dreams.

Deborah Raffin, Actress and Audiobook Entrepreneur, Dies at 59 - The Hollywood Reporter:

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Is Morley Safer Still Breathing? Go Ahead, Curse My Name

The story with David McCullough wasn't bad. That Morley Safer was still in front of the camera should have been the real story. As he attempted to speak through what sounded like a mouthful of crab apples, about what had to be his compatriots in 1776, I wondered whether he was going to come to life and start chewing on poor Mr. McCullough. Sunday night. The Walking Dead. Right?

I'm sorry Mr. Safer has passed on, err, passed the age of what is considered appropriate for an on-air reporter. But, it's unpleasant to listen to him. His stories and interviewing capabilities are better left to the written word. Would a woman be accepted as an on air personality if her eyeballs were nearly falling out of their sockets? Highly doubtful.

Yes, the double standard bothers me, but if an otherwise capable woman was showing the same physical wear as Mr. Safer, I'd prefer she stay behind the desk, too. 

Seroiusly, if you're cursing my name and saying what a horrible person I am, watch some of the video first. Then remember that when I do interviews I stand behind the camera and take the fruit out of my mouth. Just sayin.

Journey through history with David McCullough - CBS News:

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Year to Year Ratings: Changes 666 Park Avenue vs Pan Am - THIS MAKES ME HAPPY

 "-15.79% - 666 Park Avenue (vs. Pan Am)"

Yep. It's the little things that make me happy. Pan Am was a great show and nobody can convince me otherwise. It had a lovely setting, superb acting, convincing character development and compelling stories. Yet it was cancelled after 13 episodes. Don't be surprised when I am doing the happy dance upon the grave of 666 Park Avenue.

It was a very small consolation that Pan Am had a very fitting and rewarding final episode as they rang in the new year of 1964. One year (and a half!) before I was born. I could have happily watched Pan Am for seasons to come, but ABC thought they could do better. Nice gambles were taken first on GCB (which suffered the title curse, but I otherwise enjoyed immensely) and now 666. The latter certainly fits the bill, doesn't it?

If you want to relive just how much I loved Pan Am, revist my reviews at TV Fanatic. You can do that right HERE.

Ratings - Sunday's Broadcast Ratings: FOX, NBC Share Top Honors with World Series, NFL | TheFutonCritic.com:

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Private Practice Preempted Tonight!

This is just for your information -

Private Practice will be pre-empted tonight due to A Special Edition of 20/20 (The Perfect Storm)

Feel free to watch a show on another network, such as Vegas on CBS or whatever NBC is airing in the place Parenthood. ;-)

Another helpful tip from ModwildTV!

TEASE: Spoiler! Who Dies on The Walking Dead 3.04 "Killer Within" TVOvermind

It says spoiler for a reason, and my friend Jon ain't playin' games kids. I'm not going to ruin his Halloween fun by taking away his moment in the sun, but wanted to put a barrier between you Dead Heads and what lies ahead just to make sure you don't come back and bit me in the ass saying I didn't give you plenty of notice of what's to come. Because what's to come is GREAT BIG GIANT NEWS delivered in very plain words.

Mark mine, heed my warning. Be all scared because it's Halloween. Then, if it gets the better of you as it did me,  get your ass over to this link and read the article to see what all the fuss will be about on Sunday night. Play guess the ratings. THAT should be fun!

Spoiler! Who Dies on The Walking Dead 3.04 "Killer Within" TVOvermind:

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Revolution: Blah Blah Bad Guy Blah

When the world falls apart, the general outlook is that we will have a never ending supply of ordinary, misogynistic bad guys at our disposal. They won't have much to offer other than annoyances and wasted time while we trek on our way toward some important mission in the hope of saving the world. At least that's what I've come to expect by watching Revolution.

These baddies share so many similar traits that it's not only difficult to tell them apart, I don't really want to take the time to differentiate them or learn their names. The only multi-faceted character on the wrong side of the law is the leader, and I'm not so sure he isn't actually a good guy, and the jackasses under him completely misunderstand the mission.

I don't really have a lot to say on the episode, because it played out like so many before it. What I do wonder is this: Where is the influence of Eric Kripke? Through at least six seasons of Supernatural he managed to keep the good guys ticking with a hint of evil and the bad guys alive with their touch of merit. Sure, every once in a while someone would pop up that was just despicable, but overall characterization ruled. The subtle nuances that kept the world gray was what made the show (and continues to this day) so damned interesting.

Revolution doesn't have enough gray. Aaron is so good that when he asks to be shot, he deserves it. I honestly don't know if he was being heroic by shooting himself or if he just plum forgot about the flask. He's always so sure he's useless that he is particularly just that. He even left his wife for lack of guts.Eric Kripke doesn't write characters like that. At least he didn't on that other show.

So what gives? Is this a show for simpletons? Are we to believe that if the characters were deeply cut and made complex choices that the regular network viewer wouldn't be able to follow along? Snippets of Monroe, the amulets, working computers, what caused the blackout, Rachel and how she ended up with Monroe....there is hope for a more interesting tale here.

I may be completely off base and missing the very thing that I think makes this show for the thick-skulled. My skull could be too thick to understand the more sophisticated threads holding Revolution together. If that's the case, please tell me about them. With sincerity, I want to know what I'm missing. With one of the shows I was most anticipating, I'm not yet ready to give up, but I wish the stories were a bit deeper as our intrepid survivors make their way to Monroe.

Homeland: Who Was Issa?

Yeah, that question could have been what tripped him up. But despite his pointed face-aimed exclamations at the camera that Carrie was a nut-ball, he had just a little trouble holding back his O-face when Peter opened his super-duper tuff laptop (every notice as soon as we little people go for the super slim lightweight crap, the spies go for the hearty, can't break if you toss it crap?) and started playing the video Saul discovered. Uh oh.


Did Peter have the stuff to interrogate Brody? Oh yeah. And more. He broke him, got information on Issa, made him cry and then impaled his hand on the table with a pocket knife. Check this scream out to see if you think Brody was faking the pain.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

I wish I felt sorry for him, even a little bit, like because he was in a war we shouldn't have been in or he was captured and tortured, but I didn't. He betrayed his country, so he betrayed us. U.S. No matter the fact that it's pretend, I still don't want any U.S. soldier betraying my country, no matter how much I want to scream to the rafters that it's a bunch of crap and we deserve better. I'd like to think I wouldn't (I doubt that to be true...note I only said I'd like to think I wouldn't betray my people).

That's why I have so much respect for the character of Carrie. Even with everything she's been through, she keeps fighting for what she believes is right. Her country kind of betrayed her by not believing in her and tossing her into a nuthouse, but her foundation remained true. That's amazing.

How she questioned Brody about the suicide tape, and if it was tossed in the trash how it possibly ended up in a Hezbollah's commuter's house in Beirut. To think, we always thought our trash floated out to sea. See how wrong we were?!

"I know that you think that he was kind to you, that he saved you. But the truth is, he systematically pulled you apart, Brody piece by piece, until there was nothing left but pain. And then he relieved the pain and he put you back together again as someone else. He gave you a boy to love, and then that other monster, Walden, took that boy away. Between the two of them, they made your life a misery. Wouldn't it be a relief to stop lying?"

Was that not one of the most inspired pieces of writing we've heard on Homeland? Followed by her proclamation of love to Brody, and telling him he was a good man, only to have him repeat, again, that he wasn't wearing a vest. I would love to see flashbacks to the scenes that finally turned Brody against his country. What he underwent must have been absolutely atrocious.

But Carrie? She was beyond good. If she wasn't bipolar, and we didn't see her fall apart and get treatments, I'd wonder whether she was telling the truth when she spoke with Brody. The way she could go from tears back to actively questioning Brody, and getting answers was simply amazing. Claire Danes and Damian Lewis knocked that scene so far out of the park they would have beaten the Giants four game sweep. SHUT UP!

Last week it was my belief that Brody would end up right back where he started. As a spy for the other side.  If he actually goes through with it, he's back on our side, spying on Nazir in return for immunity against the charges and guaranteed prison sentence for his traitorism. If he thought the stakes were high being a spy against his own country, trying to fool the likes of Nazir, a man who doesn't give second chances, will be a damned nightmare. He's going to have to tread very lightly and carry a very big stick to make this work.

Given the touch from Brody at Carrie's suggestion they use their "affair" as cover with his Nazir contact, that cover won't take long to be more than a mere cover. Where will that leave Brody and Jess? She always gets the short end of that very big stick.

In last week's TV Fanatic Round Table, a question was which boy was better for Dana. My answer was that the boys better run as far as they can from Dana. Seems I was right again. Her desire for "a little fun" ended with Finn mowing down someone on a deserted street. That should play out well, right?

PS - Carrie, just pour more wine into that big glass and you won't have to tip the bottle so many times. Just another helpful hint from ModwildTV!

Walking Dead - How's About A Hug for Old Merle?

I haven't even finished watching The Walking Dead yet (duh, you can see where I am from the awesome screen capture above), but I just had to ask...was I the only one who thought this was a groovy little nod to none other than Ash from Evil Dead?? What the hell else would Merle do with his stumpy arm? Create a lovely little Zombie killing machine, of course! Ahhh...Such lovely memories.

What is up with Andrea? Before she was lost and left for dead, she was kind of becoming a hard ass, but now she's become a little soft. She fainted at seeing Merle? That just seemed out of character to me. Well, at least the Andrea I knew way back when. This new Andrea who is taken care of by Michonne, much like the pet zombies Michonne is so fond of (until they need their heads chopped off) is completely new to me. I found it interesting how Michonne and Andrea seemed to switch power positions once inside Woodbury. Michonne was completely at odds inside of a structured society, whereas Andrea began to find herself again. 

Speaking of those pet zombies, what did I miss while I was multitasking (yes, I'm guilty of doing that while watching show and then having the nerve to blabber about them on the interweb...but only when I'm not being paid!)? Why were they chained up and dragged along anyway? Did they somehow keep other zombies away? As usual, I'm one of the freaks that felt sorry for them. Armless, jawless, useless, bumbling creatures who unwittingly ended up in that shitty position just because they died.  They crap of it is everyone who dies will end up one with some sort of effective method of death to keep them from coming back to life.

Who decided a town leader should be called The Governor? Not Mayor or official or any other number of things that would be more fitting than what was deemed appropriate for an entire state in the not-so-distant past. Call me crazy, but I'm a sucker for tradition. 

Who the hell was the guy, anyway? (Andrea's gonna find out from his dogtags, I just know it!) What made him kill everyone connected to Wells? Was it to ensure nobody would track them to Woodbury? I guess a part of their survival is their anonymity. If they aren't ghosts, they're likely to be infected. The track record so far spoke pretty highly of his unorthodox methods, even if it meant killing living people when there are so few left in the world (at least as far as we can see...across the ocean? Who knows? Or do we, and I missed THAT multitasking, too??) I do know one thing. Lying to your constituents is never a good thing, and it will come back to bit him in the ass. Maybe quite literally.

Showing up on a second Sunday night hit show (this one by far the more successful) was Dallas Roberts as Milton, who seems to be doing experiments on the zombies in Woodbury. His other Sunday gig is as Owen Cavanaugh, Alicia Florrick's brother on The Good Wife. Too bad he hasn't been the guest star this season instead of Kalinda's annoying husband. But, wrong show. Kudos for snatching a role on the devastatingly successful The Walking Dead instead. Bravo!

The introduction of Woodbury gave me a distinctive Jericho feel. Was it filmed on the same lot with only a minor restructure, or am I thirsting (no pun intended) so much for a revival of that show that I'll grasp at any straw for a nice long schlurp? The streets were wider, but that vibe...

As for The Governor's Halloween display in his apartment? Nice. He goes all out for the holiday, doesn't he?

Me and Mrs. Jones on BBC1 - Worth a Look?

When I saw that Sarah Alexander, a favorite from the brilliant series Coupling was heading up a new comedy project in the vein of Cougar Town, I couldn't wait to see it. Before I had a chance to see even a minute of the premiere, I was told to lower my expectations. That did not make me happy.

Here's what I think so far. I like Gemma. She got me in the first episode when she was attempting to put on a dress and said to her friend, "I'm confused." Not because I would ever attempt to put on a dress like that, but because I collect dolls and can't even manage to get the damn things onto artificial people let alone myself. Styles have come a long way since I was jamming myself into them!

Gemma's ex-husband, Jason, has somehow managed to score a super hot young girlfriend. He has the worst bangs (fringe) I've ever seen on a man. His lady friend reminds me of an older, stupider Phoebe Tonkin. That's just not right. Nothing he has accomplished through episode two has helped me to understand how he scored Gemma and had three children, let alone Inca.

Gemma has a suitor named Tom who, to put it politely, has odd attractions. On their first date he mentions her marmite mustaches (she could NEVER bleach her upper lip and not be considered to have even a mild shadow) and lovely teeth. What the hell? He seems to be the catch of the school yard, although Jason and Tom himself generally consider him a knob. If he didn't look so much like Ciaran Hinds he'd be insufferable, but that's his one saving grace.

Finally, Gemma's son arrived home from a trip abroad four months ahead of schedule bringing with him his buddy, Billy. Billy is played by none other than Robert Sheehan of Misfits fame. Once he left Misfits I left with him. He has that something. Something about him that refuses to allow you to avert your eyes. As he gently falls for Gemma, he is everything you would have wanted him to be in his most vulnerable Misfits moments as Nathan. Irresistible. 

Bottom line? Not the best show, but as a woman over 40, the prospect of having a Billy in my life is more than enough to keep me tuning in. Shallow? Sure. But haven't there been enough shows about men in the same circumstances to alleviate my embarrassment? 

Plus, I like that it isn't afraid to allow Gemma to be the "cougar" that Jules wasn't allowed to be in Cougar Town. All that fuss over a title. It's just sex. Men do it all the time. It's time a woman gets a choice, too. Whether she chooses the young man is beside the point. That the choice takes more than one episode is what's intriguing. 

The Birds | 2012 Starz Denver Film Festival | Alfred Hitchcock | USA

I just bought tickets to this. If you read my post on The Girl, then you know how extraordinarily excited I am about the event in general, as well as the timing of of it. Hurray!!

The Birds 
Presented By The Watching Hour

USA, 1963, 119 Minute Running Time
Programs: Contemporary World Cinema, The Watching Hour
Language: English

DIRECTOR: Alfred Hitchcock
Producer: Alfred Hitchcock
Editor: George Tomasini
Screenwriter: Evan Hunter
Cinematographer: Robert Burks
Principal Cast: Tippi Hedren, Suzanne Pleshette, Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Veronica Cartwright

Primarily known for her roles in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds and Marnie, Tippi Hedren is a true Hollywood legend. Hitchcock discovered her in a television commercial for Sego, a diet drink. She was the very essence of the sophisticated, self-assured, cool-blonde sex appeal that made many of Hitchcock’s leading ladies famous.

Ms. Hedren has since appeared in nearly 50 films, and she makes cameo appearances in two new feature presentations during the festival—Free Samples andJayne Mansfield’s Car. In addition, we are proud to present a special screening of theThe Birds, where Ms. Hedren will be presented with the Mayor’s Award for Career Achievement.

Join us in welcoming Tippi Hedren to the 35th Starz Denver Film Festival—it doesn’t get any better than this! 

The Birds (Presented by The Watching Hour) | 2012 Starz Denver Film Festival | Alfred Hitchcock | USA:

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Homeland - Thoughts on Bury the Hatchet

When a television show refuses to play by the rules, we get the ultimate in entertainment. On a night when we had one character literally burying a hatchet (Rick Grimes on The Walking Dead), we had the arrogant Nick Brody trying to do the same with our battered heroine Carrie on Homeland. Poor Brody never knew what hit him.

On another program, we'd still be fighting through the damage done to Carrie's reputation by her breakdown last season when she was caught being bipolar. Like she had committed the worst of the two crimes, mental illness got her locked up with bi-weekly ECT treatments, while domestic terrorist Nicholas Brody was acclaimed and made congressman. Too bad we can't just toss it off with an "only on television" remark. Somehow, I'd venture to guess this would be more than likely the way it would go down in real life.

In these times of political correctness, it's more of a sin to label someone as a terrorist than it is to out someone's medical history, even when the government has put into law HIPAA to ensure privacy for all healthcare matters. She's a nutter! Good God, working for our government? Lock 'er up!

Mr. Brody is being accused of terrorism? Our damned government. Always with the allegations! He has the right to ..... ack. Whatever. 

The brilliant part of what happened was we weren't subjected to overdrawn episodes forcing what happened to Carrie down our throats, and once she came back to us, she was strong and certain of what needed to be done. Not about to let what happened previously recur, she ignored all advice to the contrary and outed Brody when she felt he made her during their meeting.

The facial expressions that flooded Brody during that confrontation were so telling. He wanted to be angry, but he knew he was caught. He looked around the room, wondering who else was listening and what they had heard. Before he had a chance to even register an answer to one of his questions, the door slammed open, he was thrust to the floor and his head was bagged.

Ordinarily, I'd wonder where in the hell this would lead, but I foresee Brody right back where he started. Forced to decide on what side he wants to work. Where his loyalties lie and for whom he wants to stand. Once he was talked into turning on his country. Will he be as easily turned on his new allegiance to Abu Nazir? Will the fate of his own family do as much to shape his future as did the fate of Issa? 

That's just my guess on a possible path to investigate. As Homeland has proven, they have plenty of tricks up their sleeves and guessing is just that. But damn it's entertaining and a great task for the brain.

AMC and Dish Reach a Deal! #DishNetwork #AMC

I watched The Walking Dead live, during the second airing, tonight. Yes, that's right! AMC and Dish Network have put aside their differences and come to a peace accord. Not just that, but as the show went on it was even in HD!

I don't know if it was the phenomenal ratings The Walking Dead brought in last week that finally made Dish Network realize just how highly regarded the channel was by viewers or if they had been diligently at work behind the scenes without our knowing about it, but I am a happy customer.

Thanks to both networks for working it out, and thanks for putting the first episode of The Walking Dead On Demand for those that missed it.

That is all. Sometimes I just want to express my appreciation and make no political statement whatsoever.

The Girl - My Thoughts as A Fan of The Birds

I'm not writing about The Girl as a fan of Hitchcock, per se, or Tippi Hedren, or as an advocate or what he said or she said. The Birds has been, since my very first viewing, one of my all time favorite movies. The three ingredients that made it so were, in order, Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor and the birds. 

There was something so feminine and yet so strong about Tippi Hedren. I adored the way she spoke, the way she moved and swung her legs out of her little sports car. She was all the things I wished I could be. Critics of The Girl have said she was a mediocre actress, pointing to Sienna Miller's correct portrayal of her wooden performance. I'd like to consider it understated and sly. 

As a fan of the movie, knowing what Tippi went through to accomplish those scenes, especially the attic scene, brings tears to my eyes. Why Hitchcock did it is beside the point. That he did it and that she suffered through it and gamely finished the film is what intrigues me. Would today's actresses do the same? I'm not so sure.

We have no way to know if what was portrayed as the relationship between Hitch and Tippi was true, but Tippi hasn't made a point of pointing fingers at him and blaming her lousy life on what she experienced. Quite the opposite, actually. She has noted that she was ashamed at how happy she felt when he died, and has learned not to carry a grudge. She's not supportive of a remake of The Birds because she can't imagine anyone can do a better job at it than Alfred Hitchcock. Essentially, she gives the devil his due. 

The Girl may have overstated and dramatically implicated Hitchcock in things he didn't do, or made Tippi look more put upon than she was, but I also enjoyed the nuances that Toby Jones brought to the character of Alfred Hitchcock. If he was using live birds to punish Tippi for spurning his advances, Toby used his eyes to show that Hitch took little pleasure in the results of his abuse. If nothing else, what I took away from The Girl was how very complicated the relationships were between the players, Hitch, his wife, Alma and Tippi. There were no real winners on the inside, but on the outside we were treated to The Birds which, despite knowing the agony that took place during filming, remains one of my favorites.  

Ratings: 'Hunted' Remains Steady With 3.4 Million Viewers in UK via TVWise

This is good news indeed! Looking forward to seeing what the US Cinemax numbers add to the BBC1 mix, but it would appear that this news could be a good sign for renewal talks, that were started shortly after the dramatically higher premiere episode.

Hunted itself remains intriguing, but lost a little bit of it's jaw dropping tension with episode three. Having just tried to successfully complete a maze about a month ago, I do admit to being quite chilled at the prospect of being hunted down inside of one!

Sam had a map; I did not. She also had a gun. ;-)

Anxiously awaiting episode four!

Ratings: 'Hunted' Remains Steady With 3.4 Million Viewers, Wins 9pm Time-Slot:

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'Revolution': Check out a map of North America 15 years after the blackout -- EXCLUSIVE | Inside TV | EW.com

Amazingly, I'm NOT living in the Wasteland of America. I could have sworn I was. Thanks, Revolution, for proving me wrong. Apparently I'm in the Plains Nation. Whatever the hell that is. How many years before we get to Denver? Or have I missed it when I've been snoozing? Cuz, yeah, I've not paid the greatest attention.

However, I don't think they could possibly move that quick, so I wonder who my president is. I'm voting Brody from Homeland. Sick bastard probably survived it all and headed straight to the plains since they were most like his adopted homeland. Or, maybe he's in the Wasteland.

I need to shut up now.

'Revolution': Check out a map of North America 15 years after the blackout -- EXCLUSIVE | Inside TV | EW.com:

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Homeland Is Addictive! A Review of State of Independence.

I just can't be quiet about Homeland.

The "State of Independence" was simply spectacular. I have no deep analysis to give, but these are the standout moments for me.

When Jess and Brody finally started to make out and Brody's first reaction was to make it porn style, the way Jess changed the pace was authentic and intimate and almost made me feel as if I was intruding. It was the first time I've felt as though they may actually feel something for each other. That was a very hot scene and cutting it short so abruptly was such a let down! Given the actions from the remainder of the episode, that may be the last chance we had to see what they could have done together. What a shame.

I cannot believe Brody can continue his behavior, running around at the whims of Abu Nazir, forsaking the wishes of the current vice president to run through the woods snapping the necks of people he's attempting to protect for Nazir. He will have to be caught, and not just because the CIA is looking into him. He's a public figure now. How long until someone spots him some place he isn't supposed to be, and with unsavory company to boot? He's a war hero. His face has been plastered everywhere. I don't imagine anyone wouldn't recognize him. He's not being smart, and that's what could get him killed.

Carrie showed how easily a bipolar brain can be tipped based upon the actions of others. She went from riding high after finishing her report to a suicide attempt when they carried on the meeting based upon her findings without her, and gently reminded her that she wasn't getting her job back.

Of course, that was before Saul came back to town with the bombshell evidence. Why in the hell didn't Brody destroy that video? How is there a copy? What's funny is that not only did Brody manage to convince the CIA that one of their greatest agents was a complete nutter in accusing him of being a terrorist, he did the same to the viewers, many who came into season two still wondering whether he was or was not a domestic terrorist.

It's pretty clear now, isn't it? He's completely of the rails. The CIA will now have to suck lemons and admit Carrie back to the CIA. I doubt they will do it with the fanfare necessary to make me feel better about it, but she doesn't need reinforcement to jump back in head first. She is the job. She loves her country and will put her own life on the line every time if it means she might make a difference to the safety of our citizens.  She's so amazingly written, that you can't help but take her side.

Finally, Morena Baccarin stole the show. Not only during that uber sexy scene noted above, but at the dinner. She did, as Mike said, kick ass with her speech. She found some strength and pulled out a win. she also failed to back down when Brody showed up with his smart-ass comments at the end of the night. Now we know she doesn't believe Brody, and it will be interesting to see if she starts to keep a closer eye on his activities.

That's about it. That's a hell of a lot more good television than you get with 90% of the other programs on the tube, isn't it?

Hunted..coming soon to Cinemax. Watch it!

The second episode of Hunted didn't do as well as the premiere on BBC1, but I hope the results pick up as the premiere nears here in the US.

There is something about Hunted that I really enjoy. It's a spy thriller and not necessarily anything we've not seen before, but the characters are wildly intriguing.

I'm really interested in a man named Goebel, played by Scott Handy. For a good portion of the premiere episode, "Mort," I was uncertain if it was a man or a woman. He gives me the same sort of androgynous impression that I get from Tilda Swinton. In fact, they would make a terrific brother and sister pair as their features are quite similar. He's spooky and crafty, the kind of character whose entrance you notice into a scene because you know all bets are off once he's there. 

Equally mysterious is although the viewers know where Sam Hunter has been for the past year, she hasn't let anyone else in on the secret. It wasn't incredibly noteworthy, but I can understand why she might want to keep her private place just that. She did have time to hone her skills, and I don't think anyone realizes just how far she can push herself. She's come back to the job a better version of herself. As it was, they all knew she was their very best. What does that make her now?

While we know where she went, we don't know exactly why she went. Even she doesn't know why, but somehow the cases she gets involved with all lead to clues about who wants her dead and why. I'll be pretty pissed off if I don't learn by the time it's over who first attempted to wipe her off the map.

There are some brutally violent bits of torture spattered throughout the show, but nothing we haven't seen before. If anyone watched American Horror House on SyFy this weekend, you've already seen the likes of it without the gritty reality behind it. One particular performance ended with the persecutor taking a deep breath, showing the he neither liked nor enjoyed his particular task. It's those little things that set Hunted apart from other shows on television. 

Make sure to tune into Cinemax on October 19th (check your local listings!) for the premiere, and then be kind enough to go back for more the next week. Trust me. It's worth it!

Stephen Amell: New Shirtless ‘Arrow’ Posters! | via Just Jared

I don't think there is anything to say here. Just look. Gaze. Enjoy.

Okay, so there were a few words.

Stephen Amell: New Shirtless ‘Arrow’ Posters! | Arrow, Katie Cassidy, Shirtless, Stephen Amell, Willa Holland : Just Jared:

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‘Teen Wolf’ Season 3 spoilers: Colton Haynes to exit Beacon Hills - Zap2it

So Colton Haynes is leaving the infectiously popular Teen Wolf and won't be returning for the third season, but he will be involved in 12 of the 24 episodes? Color me confused. If there wasn't information in the Zap2It article about how the finale of season 2 was filmed, then I would figure they had some scenes they could use in their pockets.

As it stands, if he's not coming back, then he's not coming back. So maybe he'll just be hunted and never found? He'll be another mythical creature that remains elusive and then they'll just kill him off via an overly made up stunt double?

Hell, I don't really care how the do it as I trust Jeff Davis. That sucker made me lose an entire Saturday sucking down season one of Teen Wolf and if he could do that against my will, I'm absolutely certain he can do anything.

With or without Colton and, yes, he will be missed, the show will go on. Just don't mess with my Stiles and the passes will continue to be free!

‘Teen Wolf’ Season 3 spoilers: Colton Haynes to exit Beacon Hills - Zap2it:

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BBC One/Cinemax Eyeing Second Season Order For 'Hunted' - TV Wise

I'm really looking forward to seeing how Hunted is received in the US. Having seen the first episode, it's fast pace, familiar faces and frenetic story should make it a booming success on Cinemax. While it doesn't have all of the sex and nudity of their other hit, Strike Back, I think the writing is superior and the tale more compelling.

Melissa George is a natural for the spy business and picks up where she left off so many years ago in the much loved Alias. Only now she's the lead, kick's a lot more ass and has nothing to lose.

Costars Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is best known for his roles on Lost as Mr. Eko and OZ as Adibisi and Dhaffer L'Abidine is easy on the eyes and has had roles in Strike Back and Britain's hit Casualty among others.

I'm really pleased with the choices Cinemax is making in their partnership programming, and as long as they continue down this road it will continue to be a staple on my satellite package. 

BBC One/Cinemax Eyeing Second Season Order For 'Hunted', Adds Ben Harris To Writing Team:

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CW's Beauty and the Beast - Leftover Video Clip

I might as well keep up the videos as I have them, right? They run out quickly! Here's just a short tidbit with the stars of Beauty and the Beast, which premieres this coming Thursday, October 11 just after Vampire Diaries. Check your local listings for times.

For now, Kristin Kruek (Catherine Chandler) and Jay Ryan (Vincent Keller) - take it away!

Enjoy the show while it lasts, because if it lasts longer than a month I'll be one surprised chicky. Despite the pleasant nature and enthusiasm of the series' stars, the show itself is awful. It's rare that I use the word awful, but in a season filled with extremely lackluster choices, this one is on the bottom rung. 

Feel free to disagree and let me know what you think once it airs!

Fringe "The Recordist" Preview

You know what it means when Fringe is onto episode 503? It means there are only 11 episodes left. We need to enjoy every second! As always, I'll be posting a review of the episode once I've had time to digest what happens over at TVFanatic.com. Make sure you drop by and share your thoughts about "The Recordist."

In the meantime, we posted a new Round Table today for "In Absentia." If you head over, play along with your own answers the questions we pondered. And if you think I should have come up with better questions, please let me know. Those buggers can be tricky. I'm always open to feedback!

Can't wait for Arrow? CW's Arrow Press Room SDCC 2012....

Stitched together for your viewing anticipation are all the folks who graced the Arrow press room at this year's Comic Con in San Diego. Be sure to watch the season premiere tomorrow!!

Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Nutter, Andrew Kreisberg and Marc Guggenheim

Ugh! NBC Pulls 'Community' & 'Whitney' From Fall Schedule - TV Wise

Is Community cursed? Every time crazed fans catch a break with the excitement of renewal and look forward to more from their favorite community college scholars, there's another swing and all hope is dashed.

A great idea might be to bomb the college and have them all back as ghosts, confused and gaffing their way through non-existent classes. Or maybe add zombies? An Apocalypse occurs and they're stuck inside fighting off the dead while still on a quest to better their noggins?

Seriously, if I were a fan, I'd want to give up. It has the Chuck syndrome. It also starts with the letter C and airs on NBC. Doomed, I tell you. Doomed. 

I'm singing out to you Community fans a nice dose of Celine Dion, "My Heart Will Go On." 

NBC Pulls 'Community' & 'Whitney' From Fall Schedule:

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Homeland: I'm on the outside looking in...

So, I finally watched the second episode of season two of Homeland. After about 5 glasses of wine and sitting through Revolution, Hawaii 5-0, and a few other catch up shows that I barely paid attention to, there was Carrie. Claire Danes, you had me at My So Called Life.

I have absolutely no idea what is going on, but I know that she was right last year. Brody is a traitor and watching Carrie struggle thinking that she was so wrong about him is downright painful. The more I see Brody with his family, the more I want them together.

Saul's lack of faith in Carrie was so disappointing, and certainly not vindicated by what he saw on the micro SD card at the end of the episode. If anything, it made me angrier that after all she had given he had so solidly betrayed her due to her illness. 

If you've ever known someone who suffered similar symptoms as Carrie (artists, musicians and architects are among some of those who do), then you know she more than likely can see far more than the average individual because her brain doesn't let her see the emotional side first. It's initial reaction, her gut and then the wishy washy rethinking of your own thoughts. 

The best season two would be Carrie going rogue. Taking her illness and leaving the bureau. Taking on Brody on her own. After all, she's already proven he's willing to take chances with her he might not normally take with others. Thinking she's a nut would only let his defenses down; defenses that are already compromised in his own head as he struggles with his newly developed loyalties from his severe case of Stockholm Syndrome and the reintroduction of his family to his sensory input. 

Simply put, he has no fucking idea what he's doing.

That's bound to get him in trouble. Carrie, at the very least, knows what she's in for, being aware of her condition. Brody, the poor bastard is completely blind. 

My Homeland has Carrie going rogue, enticing and engaging Brody and trying her damndest to get him to flip and share information. Of course, in the middle of this, she will suffer her own condition and a constant battle of wills will ensue. That would mean unending desire to watch and rewatch the show to find the intricacies of their relationship and the mind-fuck that is Carrie and Brody. 

As an American, I can't side with Brody. I don't give a shit about Issa. I can't. My people come first. But who are Brody's people? His family lives in his own target zone. As time progresses and the farther away he is from Abu Nazir, his loyalties will have to become fuzzy. No amount of pretty reporters whispering nothings in his ear can replace his family. Can they?

Homeland is and will be one hell of a ride. Long may it live.

As-Salamu Alaykum

BBC One Sets Premiere Date For 'Me And Mrs Jones' - via TVWise

BBC One Sets Premiere Date For 'Me And Mrs Jones':

I'm going to have to try to watch this. Surely it will be as easily available to us in the States as, say, Arrow, Elementary and Chicago Fire are in the UK. NOT. Where there's a will, there's a way, and dammit, I love Sarah Alexander. Watching her juggle all of the men in her life seems like a great concept; almost what Cougar Town set out to do before it was labeled poorly by idiots with 'titleism.' Yes, I made that word up and I'm sticking with it. Expect more usage in the future.

Hmmm...now that I wrote this, I'm wondering how Elementary will go over "over there." Ha! I feel like I'm talking about an alternate universe in Fringe for crap's sake. But, really. Elementary showing in the country that gave us Sherlock? That will be a really interesting premiere to follow. Jonny will be showing in his home country. Surely that should help, eh Sherlocks?



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Copper "Le Tempete" Review

Not that it matters, but it's my review so I can say what I want. My sister and I haven't talked for months. We finally did and the one thing we had in common, the best thing, was our love of Copper. Frankly, I was shocked that she was watching it, let alone that she had seen the last episode, and it was a great coming together moment for us.

"Le Tempete" was the darkest episode of Copper to date.

I don't even feel as though there is something good that I can say about it, and that is difficult.

Annie is a very frightening little child. Leaving her with Elizabeth Haverford, her inability to see what has become of this ten year old girl, seems to be a grave mistake. No matter what the circumstance, Annie will take it and twist it into Elizabeth's worst nightmare.

Annie is a product of two completely horrid worlds. Not only did she lose the love of her family and her sibling when she was killed, but she was forced to pretend to love grown men for their favor. Did Morehouse lay with her? I doubt we will ever know. The look on his face was certainly suspect, but even if it wasn't, would she really have the sense of mind to understand what it would mean to be with her? I have to hope to God not.

To even imagine a child of ten experiencing sex with the confusion of what they thing love should be at such a young age is more than we in this 21st century can handle. The truth is it wasn't so far in our past that we can erase it, nor should we. Within these past 200 years we have let ten year old women be wed and abused for payment. Our own guilt at this thought is what keeps us from talking about it.

Annie makes us talk about it. She must be saved.

Equally as disturbing this week was what Uncle Marcus did to Sarah Freeman. Please let her history come to us soon. While I don't mind the present coming before the past, we need to know who she was to understand who she is. Her character is owed this.

Francis "engaged" to Mary was completely out of left field. He didn't even take time to mourn for Molly. Even though she was whore, she certainly deserved to be honored if even for only a minute. Kevin was in the right in trying to tell Francis the realities of marriage and that its forever. Just because he wanted to be married forever doesn't mean it's the best choice for him.

I'm concerned that something Francis does in the next few episodes does will be done as a result of his false engagement and will risk everyone we've grown to love.

Yet, that's the best thing about Copper. We never know what's coming next.

Has Syfy Renewed 'Haven' For Fourth Season? - TV Wise

Exclusive: Has Syfy Renewed 'Haven' For Fourth Season?:

In yet another possible exclusive, poo-pooed by the powers that be over at SyFy, it would appear that SyFy has  as much faith in Haven as we faithful viewers do. If the season is as good as were the first two episodes I sampled of season three, and the third season finale as fantastic as the cast made it out to be in a recent teleconference, then I see no reason to think SyFy would let this wonderful gem go anywhere.

I will have a recap of the teleconference soon over at TV Fanatic, and you'll notice some interesting talking points from the actors and the producer during the call. Without taking that call, it's a pretty good bet that the WWE viewers will be tuning in to watch their buddy Edge exercise his acting chops and that the two shows will make for a formidable viewing block for that audience.

The content of the show is just goofy and gruesome enough to catch the eye of the WWE viewers, even if they haven't been fortunate enough to have jumped onto the Haven bandwagon prior.

Follow @ericbalfour, @emilyroseLA, @davehaven, @vincehaven and @theguardhaven on Twitter for all the latest news and updates for Haven!

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Syfy Picks Up 'Rewind' To Series? - TV Wise

Exclusive: Syfy Picks Up 'Rewind' To Series?:

TV Wise is one of my new favorite television news sites. They have such interesting tidbits and a lot of "leaked" information, such as this news of a potential new series called Rewind, about military and civilian forces working together to travel back in time to stop future terrorist attacks.

Every year SyFy finds new ways to immerse us in the impractical and illogical and just hope they keep the ideas flowing. From the looks of it, Rewind would start in the summer of 2013 (assuming Armageddon doesn't occur in December and finish up its freshman run in October.

Looking forward to it!

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Copper Review: Mind Your Employer - TV Fanatic

Copper Review: Mind Your Employer - TV Fanatic:

Hi kids! It's another week where I covered for the regular critic over at TV Fanatic so you don't get my ramblings here. Just to entice you, here's a snippet of what you're missing by not heading over for a read!

Speaking of that locket, with as often as it had been ripped off of women's throats since we've seen it, I'm uncertain as to how Molly kept putting it back on her neck. If any necklace is so fragile it can be ripped that easily from the neck, it's going to take some time to get it back in wearing order. Yes, little things like that bug me. For as long as I've watched television I've wondered who goes around just ripping chains off of women's necks. 

Annie sure can sing a great off-color nursery rhyme! Check out the Copper Quotes to see what I'm talking about. It's a laugh out loud one for sure. It was her innocent pretty little liar-ish demeanor that set off a series of events she could have never dreamed. Once she set her tongue to wagging there was pretty much nothing she wouldn't tell anybody willing to listen. She managed to let loose to Eva that Molly and Corcoran were together. Eva didn't seem to take it all in right away, but it certainly set her mind spinning.

Read more tv spoilers at: http://www.tvfanatic.com/2012/09/copper-review-mind-your-employer/#ixzz262hhHq50

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ZDF Enterprises & Content Television To Distribute BBC Two's Drama Series 'The Fall'

ZDF Enterprises & Content Television To Distribute BBC Two's Drama Series 'The Fall':

I don't see in this article anywhere details about the possibility of this running in America, but from the first time I heard of it I've been crossing my fingers. Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan and Archie Panjabi and we wouldn't want the series to run in the US because?

Speaking of acquiring distribution rights for The Fall, Alexander Coridass, President and CEO of ZDF Enterprises said: “We are delighted to secure The Fall for launch to our international buyers. The Fall is an outstanding piece of crime drama — something that has not been made before. We are known for presenting state-of-the-art crime productions likeThe Killing andThe Bridge. The Fall clearly belongs in this category. Gillian Anderson leads an incredibly strong cast in a complex and suspenseful drama that delivers compelling viewing for global audiences and perfect flagship drama for international primetime schedules.”
While Greg Phillips, President of Content Television and Digital, added: “We are very pleased to work with ZDF Enterprises on the distribution of this new BBC Two primetime drama, following hot on the heels of our ratings-winning series Line of Duty. The Fall offers all the elements of a classic murder thriller with a strong character driven element that will draw in the viewer as the investigation intensifies. The distinctive story, combined with a fantastic line-up of talent, promises a stand-out series with huge international potential.”

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Notes from Arrow Panel, Live at The Paley Center

The Paley Center for the Performing Arts has been sponsoring some new fall previews with question and answer sessions afterward. Yesterday the broadcast the Q&A live. Notes are below. The photo to the left is courtesy of the Paley Center, as well.

Attending the session were Marc Guggenheim, Stephen Amell, Greg Berlanti (pictured) and Andrew Kreisberg.

Tell us about the casting process. What did Stephen bring to the character?

Kreisberg: He was the first person to audition. Period.

We were like, you need to meet this guy, he's not going to be available for very long. It was funny. He was like, "Really? This guy? Five minutes?" We watched multiple actors and always said, that guy's not Stephen.

It's not just about being good looking and in shape, and Stephen is both, but he's also a tremendous actor.

Stephen: I was a wrestling guy in school. I had never read the comics. I thought the pilot was all encompasssing and I didn't need to know more than was on the page. Once we wrapped the pilot, I read everything.

I started with the basics of fighting, literally the wax on wax off stuff like you see in the Karate Kid.
I said, if you need me to come to Vancouver a little early, I can do that. I thought maybe a week, and they asked for me in two days.

As for the archery scenes, we actually have a bow that is drawn and held in that shape. I'm not a fan, but I understand why it has to be like that.

What percentage of stunts do you do yourself?

Stephen: I am young and niave and bull-headed and wanted to do a lot of them. I'm doing less now because of logistics. If I can't be vetted by everyone then I can't do it. Simon Burnett, my stunt double, is incredible and makes me look wonderful.

I'm super competitive, I want to do it!

The ladder, is that you?

Yeah, that's me. It's like a chin-up with a dance move thrown in. I remember being embarrassed in the gym, knowing I'd have to be shirtless in the pilot.

Did you get any advice from any other people who have played super heroes?

No, but I was working on Private Practice when I got the part, so I asked all of them. It turns out that right before Tom Welling booked Smallville he was playing Amy Brennaman's love interest. She now states her love gives birth to superheroes.

The advice from the entire Private Practice team was this: Lunch time is for napping.

What do you think about the costume?

It's hot. That's good, because sooner or later you're going to see me without the hood and it's good to be sweaty and look like I've been active.

When we first started designing it, I went to Colleen Atwood's house to start the process. I remember seeing stuff on the wall and thinking, oh, those are plaques for academy awards over there. THOSE ARE ACADAMY AWARDS OVER THERE!

It's been said there are essentially four characters within Oliver that you play in Arrow. What is your favorite role to play?

Stephen: Oliver on the island. Young, vulnerable, scared Oliver.

Guggenheim: In episode 5 he'll need to be shirtless on the island, and will have to de-ab. He didn't always have those abs!

Kreisberg: There really are two series. One on the island and the other. Very cool. The last scene of the series should be Oliver seeing that boat. You can erase all of the present day scenes and have a five year series only on the island.

So what about Sarah. Is she dead?
Kreisberg: Yes, she's dead. People also ask "is Jamie Sheridan dead?" He shot himself in the head! You don't walk away from that.

There are so many characters in the DC universe, and we're excited to bring some of the lesser known of them onto the show.

What's in store for the future of Laurel? Such as, might she be The Black Canary?


We have plans, and we'd love to share them with you fine people. She's the love of Oliver's life and a public interest attorney, and we'll have easter eggs about what might be her future in coming episodes.

What about her mother? There must be some reason why she's still in the picture.

Guggenheim: Moira has her own motivations and justifications for doing things. It's not just because she's sitting around saying, "I'm so evil this week because I'm EVIL! "

Other things of note as my transcription got shoddy!!

The kinds of shows we love, Homeland, Breaking Bad have jaw dropping moments at the end, so we're trying to do that. It's part of the fun of the show.

Marc Guggenheim is dying to do a fun cameo with Justin Hartley (who played Green Arrow on Smallville).

There is a lot of behind the set crossover from Smallville, but nothing with the characters.

John Barrowman! Even a little tease of him and how he'll relate to the world?
Kreisberg: No, but it will be worth the wait. I am a life long Dr. Who fan, so to have him on the show is a dream come true.
He has a very large public persona, and is every bit as funny and warm as he is.

So no Capt. Jack and Oliver going at it?
That's for fan fiction. Type away!

Stephen, you're great on twitter. You said yesterday, "there are so many cool ways to go through a window."
I like to go through without anyone knowing.
"There's no good way to be thrown in a pit." 
There isn't. I never lie in my twitter account.

Is the costume comfortable?
Stephen: The worst thing for me is my wrists get sore from wearing handcuffs.
Kreisberg: They want to hear about when we're shooting.
Stephen: Well, I teed that one up!

He talked about his last trip through the halls of Comic Con as unrecognizable.

Stephen on archery: Before my trainer let me touch a bow and arrow, she showed me a 45 minute video of all the ways it was done wrong. You have to be relaxed in the one spot where everyone holds tension. It forces you to breathe and think.

Berlanti: You can see live twitter feeds, etc.. When I started they wrote letters. We do listen.

Spoilers?
Berlanti: Oliver shares his secret pretty early on, which makes it easier on us.

Bones Season Premiere - What's With the Horrid Wig?

Screenshot from Fox.com/Bones video link below

The tagline is "She's been missing for three months and only chemistry can bring her home." But I watch the clip below and feel like she has cancer. What's up with that wig? Certainly she could have found a better one. Yikes!

I do like the "Because you love me," line from Temperance, however. It took them long enough to get together, and ripping them apart so quickly wasn't necessary to keep the show alive in my opinion. I've always been of the ilk that Bones and Booth have enough chemistry to overcome any of the old adages that becoming a couple on screen will kill the show. 

Do you agree? And more importantly, will you be tuning in for the premiere? Duh. Of course you will!! We didn't get nearly enough lovey dovey before they split and true fans are itching for more. Let's see these two get back together and resume their rightful place. Snarking their way through the workplace, in love and yet proving the simple act of being in love doesn't mean doom. Bring it Bones!

Go watch the clippy here:

CHEMISTRY

It's a REVOLUTION at NBC.com!

If you've been as excited as I have been to see NBC's new show, REVOLUTION, you need wait no more. They're screening it for the next couple of weeks on NBC.com.

I've watched, and I'm going to watch again. Associated with the show is the amazing Eric Kripke of Supernatural fame, so if we are treated to even a sliver of what we have had during the past seven seasons of that fabulous show, we are in for one hell of a ride. Who else is involved? Oh, only Jon Favreau, one of the best writers, directors and producers out there.

Pilots aren't the easiest time to show off something as spectacular as a new world, and this one spans a time frame of 15 years. From the time the electricity disappears to the new world that sprouts in its place.

Character development will take a bit more time, but by the end of the pilot, I had a distinct Fringe vibe, in that I felt they had taken me some place I wanted to visit again. It's been a while since I've had that desire, and I, for one, will be watching.

Considering it's NBC, that's a hefty commitment on my part. I don't have a lot of trust in them. However, with the success of Grimm, it's jut possible they may have found a formula for success they're willing to stand behind. Watch, and let me know if you plan on walking in the world of Revolution.

 

Copper Review: The Needle And The Damage Done - TV Fanatic

Copper Review: The Needle And The Damage Done - TV Fanatic:

This week, I covered my new favorite show for the regular critic over at TV Fanatic. Please head on over to see what I had to say about it and meet me back here next week to read more!

You know I'm not going to be quiet about this show.

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Sherman Hemsley Still Not At Peace

Thanks to a rather paltry dispute between a woman named in Hemsleys will and a fellow porporting to be his brother, Sherman gets to spend the beginning of his afterlife emballmed and on ice, as would we all if we were surrounded by jackwagons like these.

The irony here, the big flap if you will, is that we're talking about $50,000. By the time they decide on a course of action, the proceeds will have been spent on his internment. If the love him, let him go! It's too sad to think about.

Sherman Hemsley Still on Ice Thanks to $50k Will Despute

Vera Farmiga to Run the Bates Motel on A&E - TV Fanatic

Vera Farmiga to Run the Bates Motel on A&E - TV Fanatic

What worries me the most about this piece of news is the fact it's coming to A&E. I was initially a supporter of A&E series. I really enjoyed The Glades, for instance, in it's first season. But the network apparently found it too rough around the edges, Jim too callous and came back the next year with a softer, tamer version of the show I had fallen in love with.

While the idea of Bates Motel brings up all kinds of interesting, spooky and fun story ideas, the whitewashing it may receive merely by being on A&E tosses that excitement right out the window. Longmire was another show that had great potential with the promise of grit and dirty drama but fell short of promises. A&E produces the cable version of CBS procedurals. They're not as popular and just a tiniest bit more daring, but what's left untapped almost makes you more angry knowing fully well they're falling short of greatness.

What a waste it would be to bring back the Bates family and their infamous motel only to have them suffer the same fate.

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Copper: Double Murder, Double Cross

Photo Credit: Screenshot from Copper "Double Murder" BBC America

I admit I was pretty well taken with the premier of Copper last week. I thought it gave a great introduction to the characters, where they fall upon the moral compass of the show and a good amount of insight into their motivations. That's not something I'm normally impressed with in a series premiere, so to do it right out of the box was quite pleasing.

"Double Murder" took us deeper into the lives of our main characters and their struggles by solving some of the more troubling stories introduced last week, and giving them even more reason to interact as the season progresses.

We also had the satisfaction of watching ten year old Annie enact vengeance for all she has suffered in her young life and for that of her lost sister. Seeing a child so what she did should have been disturbing, and yet I knew that her life would be the better for having done it. Justice was done without the burden of a trial or messy mind trips that would have scarred her even further.

But I'm jumping ahead of myself. Copper makes me passionate, so please forgive me if I scoot around.

I was pretty surprised that Haverford was still looking for Annie. Unless I missed it, outside of him being a freak, they didn't make it clear his interest in ten year old girls. She obviously witnessed him killing her sister and wanted her out of the way, but he was clearly going to shag her prior to taking her out once he did find her. One can only hope that Elizabeth fell into an arranged marriage with him, because those two had no business being together.

I rather enjoyed the machinations of Robert behind Haverford's back and giving Elizabeth an opportunity to stick it to her husband. I can't read the exact relationship between Robert and his father, however. Does he truly wish to gain favor with him or was he just trying to ensure Haverford looked like an idiot? Either way, it worked out in the end.

I'm wondering how far out of town Dr. Freeman moved to try to provide Sarah with some sense of security. It would certainly be more convenient if he were closer to what is sure to become his "gang" of sorts, as Corcoran relies upon him and his expertise more than anyone who might be nearby. It was heartbreaking to see Sarah afraid to be in her own home, carrying a pistol, ready to raise it any time she saw a white man riding by. I look forward to seeing her grow and gain some faith in humanity through her husband's dealings with those he served with in the war. She needs to discover what he already knows, you can trust people despite their skin color.

And so we're back to Annie. Her inclusion in the series is brilliant. She brings out the best and the worst in everyone, and it's fairly cut and dry. Those that want to harm her are the bad guys, those that don't are the good guys.

When Corcoran finally gave in to Molly's advances, it never occurred to me his need for her services. Using my hypothesis above, I shouldn't have even questioned why Molly was dropping off Annie at the Contessa's, but for a brief second, I hesitated. Would she really do that to Corcoran? It was only brief, and assuaged by Annie's behavior. She wasn't showing the fear she would have if she hadn't been in on the plan all along.

What a plan it was. Haverford gone, Annie given the chance to wipe herself of any guilt associated with the death of her sister, the erasure of the Contessa and a proper home for Annie in the end. I was wondering how she would remain with the series, and Elizabeth adopting her was the perfect answer.

Finally, we left Kevin Corcoran having visions of his dead daughter. What originated as a morphine hallucination seemed to linger. Will his burdened conscience keep her around? Will he ever discover the fate of his wife? If he finds she, too, has been murdered, just how far down the rabbit hole will he go to ensure justice for Five Points?

I hope you're enjoying Copper. If this is the sign of things to come for BBC America in the realm of original programming, I'm ready to start pumping funds their way. I couldn't have asked for a better first.