What I’m Watching: Legends of Tomorrow

Legends of Tomorrow: Season 6, Episode 10 “Bad Blood” (B-)

I did not particularly care for Constantine’s adventure with Spooner, and that’s partially because he’s far from my favorite character and I’d rather this show focused more on superpowers than on magic, though I do admit that they’re not all that different in concept. The notable takeaway, of course, is that Constantine didn’t succeed in finding what he was looking for, and when Spooner tried to point that out to him, he transfixed her so that she won’t be able to tell anyone about it. That’s sure to have negative consequences down the line, but of course we may not see those right away. The vampire that Constantine casually invited into his house seems to have put him in a more precarious position than the one that he tricked her into entering, and that’s another can of worms that will surely follow Constantine and the legends. Aboard the ship, I enjoyed the antics of Mick being pregnant and having to be told by his daughter that he’s not making responsible choices. His resistance to even being examined by Gideon was the first real obstacle to making sure he was doing what he needed to, and I have a feeling that he and Lita are going to go on this baby journey together, which could be entertaining if decidedly a bit far-fetched since pretty much everything involving Mick is. I wondered whether Gary losing his glasses was a long-term thing and if actor Adam Tsekhman was leaving the show, but naturally it’s just another example of Gary being Gary, or in this case, being his alien self.

What I’m Watching: Will and Grace

Will and Grace: Season 10, Episode 15 “Bad Blood” (B)

This episode was relatively entertaining, but it was hardly the best example of execution for comic storylines on this show. Marty and Marilyn showing up to share that they don’t fight was never going to end well, and Marilyn refusing to hear anything Grace said when she started the sentence with “Mom” was the least of their issues. Though he’s incredibly intolerant, Marty at least knows what he doesn’t want to confront, acknowledging the “me too” moment that he and Grace had, and not wanting to be held accountable for another area in which he wasn’t being progressive. Rejecting Will’s blood and then still telling Marilyn that he had taken it wasn’t a nice move, and it was good to see Marilyn spring to Will’s defense. She even secretly told Grace that she could call her Mom when no one else was around and if she was reading her mood properly. Will stood up for himself to Marty too, which was affirming, and it was a refreshing treat to see him stand up for something where he was totally right and didn’t have to worry that someone would judge him for it. Jack, on the other hand, was completely subservient to a dominant Karen, who tried to take over both his wedding and his play by injecting her influence because she was paying for everything. This show has always been risqué, but I’m curious how they’re going to incorporate this fountain that everyone seemed so excited about it, which has already been the subject of a few unsubtle double entendres.

What I’m Watching: Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll

Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll: Season 2, Episode 4 “Bad Blood” (B+)

It’s nice to see an episode with a bit more of a dramatic kick than the usual admittedly entertaining silliness of threesomes and all that. What was crucial about this episode was that it demonstrated how self-involved Johnny is, but, more importantly, that he has absolutely no sense of that. Piping up in the meeting to speak for Ava instead of letting her talk for herself was just the tip of the iceberg, and it says something that Ava didn’t even bring it up to him and instead had Gigi do it for her. As his daughter, Gigi possesses a lot of the same gusto and unfiltered energy as Johnny, but she’s able to perceive how what she does affects others. Telling him that he’s being fired wasn’t easy for her, but when he reacted in the way that he did, she had no trouble going in for the kill. Ava defiantly refusing to listen to him was telling, and it’s not going to get better anytime soon. Things started off on a less serious note with Flash trying to figure out why Gigi got him this ruby-filled tongue and whether she was seriously thinking about getting married and spending the rest of her life with him. But even that conversation had Flash confronting Johnny about the way that he was talking about his daughter, not confident that any of the women in his life that he’s supposed to be holding dear can actually accomplish success on their own. It’s a real shame, and I hope he’ll be able to come back from it.

What I’m Watching: True Blood (Season Premiere)

True Blood: Season 3, Episode 1 “Bad Blood” (B+)

Wow, it’s great to have this show back. Taking nine months off makes some of the supporting plotlines, like Eggs getting killed, harder to fully recall, so it’s good to have a lengthy “previously on” segment to get back into the swing of things. This is a strong premiere because it launches into a number of arcs for the different characters, some of which are sure to be resolved quickly, like Bill and Sookie being reunited, and others, like the werewolves, which will likely be focal points for the entire season. As a clearly annoyed Sookie tries in vain to find someone to go look for Bill, it’s interesting to learn that someone else got to him before Eric did. That someone was played by Grant Bowler, familiar to me as Connor on “Ugly Betty” and freighter commander Captain Gault on season four of “Lost,” truly indulging in his evil side here as an apparent representative of the werewolves. Bill calling out to Jessica for help and glamoring that kindly old woman are two elements of the show that I absolutely love, and I’m very glad to see him do both again. Sam having sex dreams about Bill just like Sookie has about Eric is more than a bit strange, but I suppose it’s an entertaining subplot. Sam’s own search for his family isn’t quite that engaging yet, but I imagine it will get there soon. Tara’s anger and suicidal urges could easily become too much of a distraction, but what’s most entertaining in this episode is her interaction with others. Yelling at Arlene was a completely new thing that ended up making for a terrific scene, and anything that gets Lafayette riled up enough to yell at people is worth it. Lafayette did retreat to that same kind of terror that Eric instilled in him when Pam got mad at him, and that was just as intriguing to see. Andy ordering Jason to go out and sleep with women was funny, and the idea of Jason and Hoyt as roommates is very entertaining. Their first foray into double-dating didn’t work out so well, and Hoyt saying “nice to meet you” after his girl has left to join the other two and they have both left because Jason talked about seeing bullet holes in their heads was hilarious. The vampires in this episode were stellar, starting with Eric standing naked in front of a determined Sookie after spending six hours getting to know his new dancer. Both the queen and the magister showing up together made quite an impression, and I must say that I’m infinitely more impressed with Evan Rachel Wood as the vampire queen than I was last time she appeared on the show. Her two best lines are worth repeating: “isn’t moral anarchy kind of the point” and “hell hath no fury like a vampire queen broke.” While I don’t really care about Jessica’s first kill, I do love that Sookie is being so proactive and smart in her search for Bill. Her talk about respecting your elders to Bud was especially impressive. Since I haven’t read the books, I don’t really know what to expect regarding these werewolves, but I like where it’s headed based on the ending of this first episode, featuring Bill facing off against a pack of them and saying “I should warn you, I’ve fed.” Can’t wait for the next episode.