What I’m Watching: Dexter

Dexter: Season 4, Episode 7 “Slack Tide” (B+)

Dexter really is daring in his attempts to get to know Arthur, and constantly pushing him closer and closer to an outburst of rage is a dangerous way of living. Dexter’s wry commentary about two serial killers going into the woods was a nice breath of comic relief for an otherwise rather serious episode. Dexter’s discussions with his father about how he wants to learn something from the Trinity Killer before he does away with him is very intriguing, and it again cements Arthur’s presence as crucial to this season rather than distracting from the main serial killer. It’s fantastic that Dexter is trying to get his act together with his family, and his very direct question to Rita about how he’s doing begets an affirmative, satisfactory response for those who were concerned that she would be the downfall of this show. Dexter was surprisingly effective at finding something for the kids to do, though he should be careful not to take Arthur’s advice on being firm and unflinching with his children since that will lead to a darker side that Dexter doesn’t possess (when it comes to the people he loves, not the people he kills). His chaperoning nearly results in a devastatingly scarring story for the children, and he probably ranks with Adrian Monk as the week’s worst field trip guardian. Deb’s search for her father’s mistress isn’t that interesting, which leads into the notion that Deb just isn’t that interesting. The same goes for Batista and LaGuerta, though their quick, sharp responses to Deb and Quinn suggest strongly that they still really care about each other and that their relationship might actually be destined to survive. The lack of a concrete deathbed confession from Dexter’s target, played by Greg Ellis (“24”), was a red flag that maybe he wasn’t guilty, and his innocence may really get Dexter down in coming episodes. The important thing that Dexter should keep in mind is that, while he’s not a killer, he’s still not a good man. Dexter’s still doing his job, he just needs to expand his standards and amend his code to incorporate more than just one capital crime.

What I’m Watching: Desperate Housewives

Desperate Housewives: Season 6, Episode 7 “Be Careful What You Say” (B-)

I’m so glad that Andrea Bowen is back on this show. I thought she was incredibly strong in the show’s first season when she was only fourteen, and now that she’s grown up a bit, she’s even better. I also like the fact that the show brought her back after getting rid of her for a bit, and she’s been great this season, building to her terrific scene at the start of this episode. This show is actually doing much better this season than in the past few years, and while it isn’t anywhere close to the tremendous quality of its first season, some of its elements are doing very well and getting more interesting with every episode. Angie really comes out in full force this episode with terrific material, and several excellent scenes. Her attempts to appear dignified and presentable in front of her guests while her husband is pushing too hard and trying to find his New York accent were just the start. Her conversation with Bree about being good at hiding things was quite powerful, and her seemingly casual brushing off of Nick’s affair results in a fearsome release of her stress. Bree’s uneasiness with the idea of hiring another unknown quantity from the Wisteria Line pool of crazy women is understandable, and she had good comic and dramatic moments in this episode, with her massive, deceptive cooking and her outburst at Orson for trying to win her back despite her unhappiness. Lynette turning to Tom for support on Julie’s problem is a welcome thing, and it’s a good tribute to her that she’s a great mother figure. The threat Nick issues to her is reminiscent of the last time a neighbor confessed his true nature to her, when pedophile Art (Matt Roth) told her that his sister had been the only thing keeping his perversion at bay in the third season episode “The Miracle Song,” and her reaction is similarly stark and affecting. Susan has seen better days, and she’s had much more intriguing interactions with cops in the past. The fact that the episode’s closing note leaves her in jail is something new, and I’m not quite sure what to make of it, whether it’s trying to imply anything about Susan or not.

What I’m Watching: Curb Your Enthusiasm

Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 7, Episode 8 “Officer Krupke” (B)

This episode is considerably more far-fetched than usual, which is really saying something for the societal-convention-defying Larry. It’s a mostly effective and generally quite funny installment, but at times it reaches. Larry’s gleeful encounter with Officer Krupke was a nice start, and it was obvious that his specific noting of “Officer Krupke, krup you!” to the police officer wouldn’t turn out well for him in the end. The sheer silliness of the tragically-named cop wouldn’t have ever heard of his “West Wide Story” doppelganger clashes wondrously with Larry’s perceived perception that the world revolves around him and that anyone who doesn’t get his references must be deranged. His refusal to take off his pants after the store doesn’t open up is a typically Larry thing to do, and it’s entertaining as far as he’s able to take it. The culmination and intersection of Larry’s pants and Jeff’s panties problem was actually truly lever, and it’s nice to see Larry do something to help someone else out, for once. The ending shot of Jeff telling Larry to say that they were in a car accident is a bit of a stretch, especially considering its similarity to Jeff and Susie’s car accident after trying the sex act that was mentioned over and over again in the episode “Vehicular Fallatio” earlier this season. Larry’s befuddlement at Cheryl’s casual consideration of Dennis and Virginia’s threesome proposal took up a big chunk of the episode, and didn’t allow either portrayer of the spouses much opportunity to contribute to the show. My family man image of John Schneider after watching him for years on “Smallville” has really been corrupted with his marriage-opening policies on this show and “Dirty Sexy Money.” It’s about time the Seinfeld reunion got started – let’s cast this thing already and get it rolling.

What I’m Watching: White Collar

White Collar: Season 1, Episode 3 “Book of Hours” (B)

This show continues to be fueled by the relationship between its two leads. Neal and Peter are so comfortable with each other that their interactions are unguarded and infinitely amusing. Peter seems to have gotten past Neal’s invasion of his personal life and now feels completely fine with having him in his home, speaking to his wife and developing a bond with her. It’s also great to know that Peter isn’t totally letting Neal run his own show, and that he’s keeping tabs on Neal and his associates, also known as Mozzie. Teaming up with, or rather subtly working against, the FBI unit which includes Kirk Acevedo ("Fringe") and Sharif Atkins ("Hawaii," "ER"), doesn’t create as much fodder for hilarity as perhaps it could, but that’s not this show’s greatest strength. It’s Neal’s continual delight at playing the system and breaking the rules. His delight at taking Peter’s FBI jacket and giving it to Mozzie to wear so that he’s not the one impersonating an FBI agent is supremely clever, and watching him get such a kick about it just enhances its effectiveness. What’s even better is that Peter lets him get away with these small acts of mischief. The key guest star of the week is Callie Thorne, who starts off with as a subdued intellectual possessing the same normalcy as her overworked chef on “Royal Pains,” but the crazy comes through in the end, far more reminiscent of her wild “Rescue Me” role. It’s great to see this actress making the rounds on different shows and making the most of her time off from her regular series while it’s on hiatus.

What I’m Watching: Monk

Monk: Season 8, Episode 12 “Mr. Monk Goes Camping” (B+)

The notion of Monk going camping seems like exactly the kind of thing the erstwhile detective shouldn’t do. It’s a setup that could result in familiar antics of Monk cleaning everything obsessively and being unable to function in the wilderness setting. Instead, his behavior, while unproductive, is absolutely entertaining, including spraying bug spray as a smokescreen in front of him, sleeping standing up, and screaming like a girl when the bear approaches. It’s fun to have Randy leading the charge in the middle of the woods and mentoring the kids in his own different way. His refusal to check his watch because he wanted to estimate the time by using the sun was both in character for the somewhat odd cop and someone who’s looking to educate kids on the value of appreciating nature. Monk’s reinstatement hearing starting out a bit slowly but came through as much more intriguing in the end. The stubbornness of the third decision-maker, played by Wade Williams (“Prison Break”), was an unfortunate hiccup for Monk, who spent the entire day in the courtroom to prepare for his hearing. Monk’s ability to win over the third guy by unexpectedly saving his life was a nice small victory for him, but the best surprise was saved for the decision hearing. The about-face of the other two was fantastic, and Monk’s inability to process the situation and actually hear their refusals to approve his reinstatement was amusing. Monk’s doing well enough as a consultant, so there’s really no need for him to be reinstated. I suppose it’s something the show had to touch on before the series clocks out for the last time in December, and this is a good way of sealing up that plotline.

What I’m Watching: Ugly Betty

Ugly Betty: Season 4, Episode 5 “Plus None” (C+)

There are a lot of relationship-changing revelations in this episode, and most of it isn’t good news, and hardly surprising or shocking. We knew already that Claire and the elder Hartley had an affair once, and the existence of another Meade sibling isn’t necessary. Other shows like “Brothers & Sisters” and “Grey’s Anatomy” introduce newfound surprise siblings to try to take the show in a new direction, but less Meade drama would probably be a good thing for this series. It would be much better to simply have Alexis return to the show, and it would be good for Rebecca Romjin to get out of “Eastwick” fast since that show is really awful. The Meade brother currently on the show needs to wake up and realize that he sucks at picking assistants, and Natalie’s standoffishness to Betty’s efforts to be helpful comes as a bit of a shock and certainly not a welcome surprise. It is good to see Matt back in his role as philanthropist and great lover of everybody, most especially Betty and Amanda, though his obliviousness of their feelings is extremely frustrating. Amanda’s attempt to cushion what she thought would be her very public date with Matt were funny, and as I always articulate, more of Amanda is always a wonderful thing. Wilhelmina’s storylines have always been better when they weren’t quite that outlandish, and the fact that there wasn’t even a murder committed at all is crazy. If Wilhelmina proclaims that she doesn’t have money to pay the blackmail amount demanded by Nico’s boyfriend, why does Nico think that she does? This can’t possibly work out well. The episode did go out on a great high note - Betty dancing with herself.

What I’m Watching: Smallville

Smallville: Season 9, Episode 7 “Kandor” (B-)

It’s as if there are three separate Smallvilles this season, and none of them are really connected at all. One or two of them are featured in each episode, and they’re hardly consecutive, in the same way that the third and fourth seasons of “Lost” featured certain characters in one episode that thereafter weren’t seen or heard from again for weeks at a time. The best of the three different directions is that of Lois and Clark, while Oliver and the Kandorians aren’t as promising or fulfilling. References to the unseen Lois from Clark, Chloe, and Oliver simply won’t cut it, and their relationship can’t be expected to progress if she doesn’t even appear. The show was doing well enough with the notion of Clark as the Red-Blue Blur, his budding reporting career, and his courtship of Lois, and would have been well served to go pursue just those angles this season. The presence of the Kandorians has always been a big strange, partially because of its incongruity with the timeline of the show. While it is great to see the great British actors Callum Blue (“Secret Diary of a Call Girl,” “Dead Like Me”) and Julian Sands (“24,” “Leaving Las Vegas”) share the screen, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense that they’re actually in the present, roaming free with seeming super-strength but no powers otherwise. Having Jor-El meet Chloe and barely even speak with Clark is a bit of a disappointment, though it’s good that he didn’t stick around for too long to disrupt the space-time continuum too much. The most intense and gratifying scene was Clark’s business-only approach to interrogating Tess, shorting out much more quickly than usual and grabbing her by the throat. Her joy at having him all but confirm his true identity as a Kryptonian was truly striking, and it’s nice to see that the character is following very well in her LutherCorp president predecessor’s footsteps.

What I’m Watching: 30 Rock

30 Rock: Season 4, Episode 4 “Audition Day” (B-)

Seeing Jack squirm as he’s cast off by society is fun, but the way it starts out is a bit silly. Bed bugs as a major issue in New York City, as far as I know, isn’t something that’s currently happening now more than ever. Perhaps it’s supposed to serve as a euphemism for swine flu, the current disease that can be perceived of as an epidemic and which has instilled panic in its citizens. In any case, Jack’s frequent scratching and sad sack attitude doesn’t really fit him, and the way that Kenneth and the cab driver so quickly recognize his symptoms doesn’t feel right. Jack’s subway ride was somewhat amusing but also quite over-the-top and preposterous. The same can be said for the horrible mess that the Hornberger system warped into, pulling together too many wild and wacky personalities and putting them in one place. Jenna and Tracy are pretty entertaining when they’re together, but they’re also loose cannons who really cannot be controlled. It is great to see DotCom break out his more theatrical side, and Jenna’s failure to differentiate between Grizz and DotCom was funny. The audition process was hit or miss, performer-to-performer, and the highlight was probably the return of Josh, who identified himself as a former cast member, only to have no one care. Pete’s quick grab off the street of the robot was pretty zany, but good for a quick laugh. The fact that Jack actually chose him in his state of delirium seems like a serious misstep for the show that could have detrimental effects in the coming episodes. The revelation that Liz’s choice for the new cast member was actually manipulative and a complete liar was somewhat amusing, but sort of came out of nowhere. This show has become a bit unhinged, and it seems as if the addition of the new cast member won’t be as show-saving as I had hoped.

What I’m Watching: The Office

The Office: Season 6, Episode 7 “Double Date” (C+)

This show has always been at its best when it utilizes its fantastic ensemble and gives all of them something to do. Usually, this show does that well, evidenced by the wedding episode from earlier this season which was really spectacular in its use of characters like Kevin and Oscar. Jim’s promotion seems to have shifted the focus onto the primary five characters, with Andy replacing the still-credited Ryan as the fifth, and away from any of the other office workers, who now serve as observers only and, if they’re lucky, get the opportunity to emit one funny comment in the span of an episode. It’s actually Pam, interestingly enough, who’s been at the center of the majority of the plotlines recently, and while it’s great to see as much of Jenna Fischer as possible, they’re not always strong, and the episode feels unfinished and incomplete when there’s only one big event per episode. It’s always important to note that Dwight and Andy will never be Dwight and Jim, and their attempts to constantly be the last to do the other a favor were funny a few times, but not as the only supporting storyline in a whole episode. In this episode, Pam’s discomfort and disgust at Michael’s affection for her mother was quickly done away with, and perhaps it’s the way that Michael never changes that’s so frustrating. His delayed realization of Helene’s age feels so expected from Michael, and also seems like such a both minor and predictable thing to end his highly buzzed-about relationship. It’s not as if their encounter allows Jim much to do, and Pam’s ultimate decision to punch him as the way of getting back at him is sort of dumb. Toby’s eagerness to show her the proper form and the subsequent panicked look on Michael’s face was fun, but nothing great. This episode isn’t using its best assets, and needs to realize that and correct the error.

What I’m Watching: Flash Forward

Flash Forward: Season 1, Episode 7 “The Gift” (B-)

So here’s where the show gets really interesting – trying to determine whether the future can in fact be changed. This episode deserves credit for actually taking on that question, even if events aren’t ultimately affected. The Blue Hand club, while some of what’s going on there seems rather depraved, is quite interesting in concept, and especially in how the three FBI agents look at it in terms of what it represents. Gough’s decision to pull the trigger during Russian roulette without a moment’s hesitation was superbly intense and a great way to incorporate the recurring character that hasn’t had a major part in events up until this point except as Demetri’s partner. He’s obviously plays a major part in this episode, and his suicide may be a game-changer for both the investigation and the show itself. I was absolutely expecting him to get saved by a safety net or scaffolding in place somewhere, but the definitive picture of him lying motionless on the ground indicates that this really happened. The fact that he was actually able to end his life is a monumental step and was quite a shocking event. The identity of the Blue Hand key figure was a nice revelation as well, showcasing actor Callum Keith Rennie ("Battlestar Galactica," "Californication"), who’s simply perfect for this role. Bringing babysitter Nicole back into the fold should hopefully be interesting, but it seems a bit random and her spontaneous spurting of Japanese feels a bit too convenient. Aaron’s entire storyline and the end-of-episode reappearance of his daughter isn’t connected to a single thing, and while it’s gratifying for him, it’s should be hardly a surprise, for him and for the audience, and just doesn’t relate to anything on the show, which makes it feel very…unimportant.

What I’m Watching: Modern Family

Modern Family: Season 1, Episode 7 “En Garde” (A-)

Bringing the whole gang together is a wonderful way to produce a terrific episode where all elements are in fine form. Seeing the extended family all in attendance at Manny’s fencing match is fun, and it’s a great way to get them all together that’s not uncommon in families that live close together and try to support each other. Jay’s affinity for making T-shirts is the first kindly characteristic he’s exhibited yet, and this is a fantastically fun one. If you were paying close attention, you may have caught a shot of Claire wearing a “Claire and Present Danger” shirt clearly designed by the family patriarch. Gloria’s speech to Manny and Jay in which she completely rips him apart for not wanting to fight a girl was entirely hilarious, as was their horrified reaction to the revelation that Manny’s sparring partner could really have used a win. Usually those kinds of scenes are far too awkward and uncomfortable, but in this case it’s played out perfectly. Claire and Mitchell revisiting their figure-skating past was great, specifically in the way that it allowed those two characters to interact. The most amazing part of the episode was incredibly subtle and I’m very happy I caught it. Phil’s rendition of the ABCs of closing wasn’t merely a restatement of the classic Alec Baldwin scene (“Always Be Closing”) from “Glengarry Glen Ross,” but a crucial misunderstanding of the adage and foolhardy attempt to utilize the full alphabet to shed light on some methodology about effective sales. The funniest thing about it was that it actually made a bit of sense.

What I’m Watching: Sons of Anarchy

Sons of Anarchy: Season 2, Episode 9 “Fa Guan” (B+)

If things were headed for a breaking point, that time is here. The death of the show’s most arguably despicable character, Darby, signals a monumental change in climate in Charming. The season started off with a brutal act that left one character devastatingly alive, and last week really took a dive off the deep end with the murder of Otto’s wife. The tension leading up to these deaths and the steps that SAMCRO took represent a recent violent shift in their behavior. The way that the club sharply decides that Darby needs to be exiled from Charming results in an intense confrontation which shows even the relatively nice and non-violent Half-Sack angrily punching one of his crew who tried to flee. The most stunning and powerful interaction is the second big blowout of the season between Clay and Jax. This verbal sparring is even more effective than their fistfight. The crazy, furious smile on Jax’s face while he’s speaking makes his words resound even more strongly, and when he drops his line, “Do you really want to talk about blame for getting a wife’s member killed,” sets the stage for what could have been a brutal beating from Clay. Instead, Jax’s response of laying out his gun and giving Clay the opportunity to kill him right there in front of anyone was superbly intense. It also looks like Bobby, for whatever reason, is firmly in Jax’s camp and will likely be the one who ultimately protects, and possibly even saves, him from Clay’s wrath. Jax’s final proclamation of “I’m going nomad” means things will be really out of control next week, but I’m completely and totally hooked.

What I’m Watching: NCIS: Los Angeles

NCIS: Los Angeles: Season 1, Episode 6 “Keepin’ It Real” (B+)

It’s truly entertaining and awesome how often the members of this team go undercover. It’s especially great that more than one of them seem to need to assume an identity each episode. It’s a good way of utilizing Kensi, who’s become a better character than she originally started out. Callen does it naturally, and the nervous look he conveys suits his cover identities and makes him seem all the more believable. Their speedy deep immersion into the world of counterfeiting was impressive, and they really seemed to know their stuff. Callen’s constant echoing of every process that was occurring while the counterfeiting operation was in progress was both valid and amusing. LL Cool J continues to own this show, making every scene he’s in either hilarious or intensely dramatic. The conversations between Sam and Callen are truly terrific, and they’re nearly as enjoyable as any of the team’s interactions with Hetty. This episode’s investigation into the validity of a presumed suicide proved intriguing, and shows like this are always at their best when they reveal that someone is leading a double life. There’ so much to be uncovered about a regular person after their death, and when there are two lives to be examined, it’s even more interesting. Though it’s hardly a show worthy of comparison, “The Forgotten” showcases this idea well, and generally speaking, it’s much more intriguing when a nameless victim had not one but two names during his life.

What I’m Watching: NCIS

NCIS: Season 7, Episode 6 “Outlaws and In-Laws” (B+)

It’s really a great thing for a show like this to have recurring characters it can call upon whenever it feels like it and who’s ready at a moment’s notice to pop up. He’s an especially important one because he was present at Jenny’s death, though the show has all but forgotten about her with Vance around recently (does anyone even remember the beloved Kate?). Tying him in, along with Gibbs’ boat, to the storyline was fun, though it’s obvious from the start that the good-hearted Mike Franks, who has oozed parental coddling for Gibbs ever since he appeared on the scene. It’s almost too easy to know how the case is going to play out, with Gibbs seeming shocked at first and then eventually harboring Franks’ family and proving that Franks is guilty of nothing other than being a devoted family man. The tangential plotline of the mother-in-law searching for her family was intriguing in what it started to suggest, and this series is always able to be powerful when it showcases either Franks or a grizzled Gibbs rocking slowly on a chair outside that beach house. Abby’s hesitation and subsequent delight at disassembling Gibbs’ boat was amusing, and it’s also fun to see how uncomfortable McGee gets upon visiting Abby’s lab. It’s unlikely that any other investigative agency has a great a tie pursuing their cases and interacting with witnesses and suspects as these guys do.

Pilot Review: V

V (ABC)
Premiered November 3 at 8pm

The arrival of the visitors has certainly been promoted quite extensively, and it would be difficult not to have been by this point that they were coming. Much of the actual arrival sequence was shown in teasers, but the impact of the appearance of the monstrous ships is staged effectively. It’s comparable to the similar scene in “Independence Day,” a superb compliment, but the homage is undercut when characters actually compare it to the film, which apparently exists in the fictional world of the Visitors. The arrival is at times dramatic and intense, and at others comical at best. The human characters on this show are mostly laughable and poorly written, each one more contrived than the next. Counterterrorism agent Erica Evans (Elizabeth Mitchell) is hopelessly paranoid and takes every moment too seriously, trying to make deadpan jokes accompanied by alternately steely and panicked expressions. This is hardly a character fit for Mitchell, who before her transformative season five portrayal of Juliet on “Lost,” used to be typecast as the insanely creepy villainess (see “Running Scared” to see how terrifying emotionless she can be). Morris Chestnut is also given little to do as a man with a mysterious past who has more of a connection to things than it initially appears. Logan Huffman is the most unfortunate character on the show, Erica’s son Tyler, who, when he’s not saying something stupid, is just getting himself way too obviously close to the Visitors. Scott Wolf is typically unremarkable as a TV reporter who cites his occupation as a journalist as a reason to be uptight and obnoxious. The dialogue is tragic and painful, and the stories aren’t much better. Alan Tudyk’s one-shot role was evidently going to be so short-lived from the start of the episode, and his betrayal of Erica can be seen coming from his first moment onscreen. The Visitors are at least a bit more intriguing, and sci-fi series vets Morena Baccarin (“Firefly”) and Laura Vandervoort (“Smallville”) instill them both with an enticing but subtly creepy demeanor. Beyond the cast and the writing, the show’s attempted incorporation of modernity and technology ruins the dated feel it could and probably should have, like with the ambassador program Tyler applies to, and the show will likely be a victim of its own attempt to be hip. Still, I’m interested enough to see what’s going to happen, and I suppose the show deserves credit for that.

How will it work as a series? There’s a lot to be sorted out, and Erica’s investigation and the Visitors’ integration into society should provide interesting material for a while. This show may likely follow the trajectory of “Flash Forward,” which, after a far more awe-inspiring pilot, seems to have gotten caught up with its conspiracy theories and the doggedness of its lead investigator’s search for the truth. If the focus remains equally on the Visitors themselves, the show may stay fresh, but it can only go on so long before the Visitors become truly acclimated to society.
How long will it last? The way ABC is rolling out the show isn’t a strong start, airing four episodes in November and then saving the rest of its episodes for midway through 2010. Nonetheless, the pilot drew strong ratings, though I suspect that it will plummet week-to-week as the show’s novelty wears off. My prediction is that it won’t survive its hiatus and will find itself pulled from the air before the end of its initial run, though it could surprise me and make it to a second season.

Pilot grade: C-