The Office (7): Please No Jan Babies!

I have been under whelmed by Season Four of The Office. The hour-long episodes are tiresome; the plots are exposed as thin when prolonged past half an hour. While I am one of the five Karen fans out there, I am glad the Jim/Pam storyline has moved forward. But I feel like they are no longer characters; as if now that they are in a relationship neither of them have any personality or aspirations. All of Pam’s desires for a more fulfilling career really stemmed from her unhappy engagement to Roy? Jim will be perfectly content to work at a desk next to Dwight as long as he goes home to Pam? In real life when people begin a new relationship they have a tendency to insulate themselves, not wanting to share their happiness with friends, keeping all of themselves for each other. Real life is one thing, but when this is the prospective of fictional characters towards an audience then the show suffers.

Furthermore, I wish the episodes would be more confined to the office. Last night’s episode demonstrated how necessary the supporting characters are to the overall effectiveness of the show. This episode basically concentrated on the principle characters (Michael, Dwight, Jim, and Pam), with only a few subordinate characters (Jan, Angela, and Andy). The whole episode seemed to be a showcase of Jan’s lunacy, but no amount of Jan can replace the brilliance of Creed’s disturbing stories, Kevin’s giggle, or Stanley’s utter disinterest.

Despite the problems I see with this season of The Office, I am still really excited to tune into the new episodes. There is still nothing quite like The Office on TV. And there is no character as self-deluded as Michael. How could he have told Jan that he and Pam dated? How could Jan have believed that? It is like Jan has been brainwashed because she knows from personal experience that Michael exaggerates everything. Could it be that she is using her candle business to hide another habit? It was kind of sweet that she tried to fix the Dundie she broke, but considering that the cops tried to take Michael into protective custody, the end looks to be near for Jan and Michael. I can only hope that arrives before any bundle of joy. But after three operations Michael’s, um, potential may be too severely diminished for any little Michaels.

And one last question: was Jim really going to leave Pam at that dinner party by herself?

The TV Girl

Samantha Who? (6): Why Is Everyone Calling Her Mean?

I only know one other person watching this show, but it is not a bad half-hour of entertainment. Sam (Christina Applegate) lost her memory due to a car accident. The more she discovers about herself, the more she realizes she was a terrible person, so now she is trying to be a better person. Complicating matters further are her mom Regina (Jean Smart), who has shading of a suburban Lucille Bluth, her best friend Andrea (Jennifer Esposito), who wants the old Sam back, her childhood friend Dena (Melissa McCarthy), who wants to help her change, and her ex-boyfriend Todd (Barry Watson), who has started dating someone else, but with whom Samantha is still in love. It is kind of a charming little show; sweet without being syrupy, awkward moments do not devolve into unwatchable embarrassment, and aloof doorman Frank (Tim Russ) is the perfect straight-man to balance all the crazies. I like it.

Last night I had a chance to catch up with the episode that aired on Monday (the first new episode since the strike). Regina and Dena's make-over/drinking party that ended with graffiti and stolen statues was immensely funny. (Who hasn't gotten drunk and stolen a neighbor's lawn art?)

But I am a bit confused that Todd is supposed to be this really "nice" guy. I am not saying he is a bad guy, but he lives in Sam's apartment (presumably rent-free, because she owns) and he asks her if he can move his new girlfriend in. Why is Sam competing with Chloe (Kiele Sanchez) for the affection of a guy who does not recognize that having your new girlfriend live with you in your ex-girlfriend's apartment is just a kind of schmucky thing to do? It is rude, selfish, and inconsiderate to both parties. Todd's fallback position seems to be that no matter what he or anyone else does, Sam has always done something worse. While I happen to find such an attitude juvenile it is kind of understandable when you see some of the things this girl has done. But this episode shows that Sam may have been worse at times, but Todd has been better.

Shout-Outs: Little Things To Know That Make Watching Better
I could possibly be the only one who remembers this, but once upon a time on a network called The WB there was a single-season show called Related, which stared both Jennifer Esposito and Kiele Sanchez as two of four very close sisters. Even though I do not think they have shared a scene on Samantha Who? it is funny to see them in opposite camps.

The TV Girl

Random Question: Should The Past Be Left There?

What I am about to say is much more about my life than a specific TV show, but I have some things on my mind and I thought I would share. Let me tell you a couple of stories.

Recently, via MySpace (or as I like to call it, "un-fun Facebook") I reconnected with my best friend from high school. For various reasons she and I had lost communication. I joined MySpace to talk to my first college roomate (who refuses to be on Facebook) and in addition to finding MM, there was NC, and I couldn't have been happier. She is still one of the most loving, talented, funny women I have ever met, and she was an amazing friend to me during some very difficult times.

Plus, she was my first TV buddy. In our separate homes we talked on the phone during Dawson's Creek (only during the commercials, but the line was open the whole episode). Lunch periods were spent discussing the finer points of Felicity. We both actually read the "Roswell High" book series. Dr Doug Ross' departure was an event for us. We took opposite views on most issues: she was a Dawson girl, I was Pacey all the way; her heart was with Noel, I knew Ben was the one; I embraced sci-fi, she tended more towards the romantic drama. Interacting with NC again has put a point on some nostalgia I had already been feeling because of another old friend I saw recently.

On my recent vacation I was lucky enough to spend some time with an friend from college JKY, who happens to be a huge Dawson's Creek fan (okay, maybe this post is about Dawson's Creek). JKY and Jennie were in the process of rewatching the series, so one afternoon we all settled in for an episode or two. It was the "Breakfast Club" episode from Season One, and between the music, the clothes, and Katie Holmes' shoulder shrug/talking out of the side of her mouth combo I was in memory lane heaven. I was inspired to start from the beginning and relive every amazing/agonizing moment.

Reconnecting with NC has only increased this desire, but as of yet I have not made any steps towards fulfillment. And a huge reason why is that I am wondering if I go back now to something I loved when I was such a different person, will I destroy all the good memories? Great TV shows stand the test of time (if not the test of fashion taste); Battlestar Galactica and Arrested Development with be coming to the nursing home with me. Even the good can hold up. Felicity was a highly successful (except for the last six episodes) series rewatch for me a couple summers ago, and when in doubt I will still throw in an episode of Buffy (different post would be needed to decide if I think this show is great or good) to keep me company on a Saturday afternoon.

But if you have that feeling inside that the show you loved so dearly may not be quite as good as you remember should you just leave well enough alone?

(Adding even more complication to the particular case of Dawson's Creek is the fact that my beautiful Jensen (aka Dean Winchester) is in a few episodes towards the end of the series. This disposes me in favor of a rewatch, but I can just watch Supernatural. Very complicated.)

Any thoughts?

The TV Girl

The Hills (3): On The Immensely Trivial Side of Life.

I know that I am way too old, and way too smart to care about the "exploits" of a bunch of self-absorbed, under-educated, party girls, but what can I say? It is like watching the slowest moving, societal train-wreak in recent American history. I feel like an anthropologist of the moronic while I watch.

As dumb as these girls are, the guys they date should be studied as examples of the missing link. If you need proof that it requires more than physical beauty to find a decent, let alone a good, partner look no further than Heidi and Spencer. No amount of fame is worth even pretending to agree to marry this a-hole.

So imagine my distress when watching the first of last night's two episodes in which Spencer harmed not only those idiotic enough to remain in his path of destruction, but also innocent human being like myself. My stomach turned when Spencer said he needed his sister's TV to watch 24! Freetards like him are not allowed to watch good shows. They should be limited to watching the crap shows that they star on! 24 is for adults who are able to form a complete sentence, not the mentally sub-par who graffiti the inside of their apartment.

Why, oh why is Jack Bauer fictional? He could fix this situation with two fingers (and then go work in Scranton).

The TV Girl

Battlestar Galactica (9): What If It Had Been Zack?

I did little fist pumps in the air when Lee said that because I had been tossing around ideas with some friends that it would be an amazing twist if Zack turned out to be the last Cylon. So, as my sister asks: is the door now open to bring the other Adama son back to life?

But let us have a Quick Recap: After some bewilderment, Kara and Lee join the battle. Tigh has a vision of shooting Adama, but then follows orders and commands anyone who can fly to suit up. Anders is unable to fire his weapon, and a Raider scans him. His eye turns red, the Raider turns away, and the entire Cylon offensive jumps away. Kara is brought onto Galactica, says she was only away for six hours, and that she has pictures of Earth. Despite passing Doc Cottle’s test, Roslin does not believe she really is Kara, the ship Kara returned on is in mint condition, and Kara cannot give any definite information on the location of Earth beyond her feeling, so the fleet continues to jump based on the path of the nebula. Baltar is being protected by a cult living in a storage container on Galactica. While he is willing to get it on with one of his “followers,” he tries to leave, but stays to pray over a sick boy to the one true god. While shaving away his icky faux-Jesus look, he and one of his followers are attacked by Joe, whose son Kevin was killed on New Caprica. Baltar begs Joe to kill him, proving to Unseen Six (this is how I am going to refer to the Six only Baltar can see) that he would be willing to give up his life for the sick boy. When he escapes Joe, he finds that the young boy is miraculously healed. Adama offers Lee his wings back, but Lee tells him that even though he took them off for the wrong reasons, he is going to accept a position in the civilian government. Kara confronts Anders in front of her picture on the Remembrance Wall, and she starts to doubt what she is. He tells her that even if she is a Cylon he still loves her, but she does not reciprocate the sentiment. While they talk, the fleet jumps again, and Kara decides she has to convince Roslin to listen to her. She attacks he guards and Anders, makes he way to Adama’s quarters where Roslin is sleeping, and the episode ends with Kara raising a gun to the President. Got all that?

This could have been the crappiest episode in the history of Battlestar Galactica, and I still would be over the moon about its very existence. In fact, I had to rewatch the episode, because when I tried to think about what had happened, I realized that in my euphoria nothing had really stuck in my mind. Luckily for all of us, I realized on the second time around that “He That Believeth in Me” is a quality episode.

And one of the most quality moments: could Lee and Kara’s hug have been any more wonderful? She pulled away/pushed away from Anders, but she held onto to Lee, and boy did he hold onto her. I know that I am repeating myself and I do not need to point our every single time they show affection for each other, but Lee and Kara are a very important issue to me, and I just cannot help myself.

It has been too many episodes since we have had such a good battle scene. And it has been a long long time since a Fleet ship full of people was destroyed. For a while the Cylon/Galactica interchanges were skirmishes at most, stand-offs often, so I kind of forgot what an adrenaline rush it is when all the Vipers and Raiders are zooming around and shooting at each other. For the Cylons to launch such a large offensive I would think they were planning on destroying the Humans once and for all. But they turn back after scanning Anders, so were they looking for the Final Five? The Known Seven are not supposed to think about the Final Five, but the Threes did, and now the Sixes are, so it is possible they were fishing. There is something afoot on the Cylon side. Last season when the show starting taking place so often on the Cylon Baseships I was less than compelled, but now I want to know why they attacked and why they turned back, which only the Cylons can tell me.

I am not the only one wondering, but unlike the Galactica Cylons, I am not coming up with solutions. I have to question Tigh’s plan. I understand the principle behind it; he believes that his choices make him who he is, not whatever his DNA happens to be, so he will choose to end his life and/or their lives if it seems some sort of programming is taking over. His determination is a wonderful contrast to Anders’ crippling confusion. It would be unrealistic for all of them to simply “accept” that they are Cylons, and it is in keeping with Tigh’s character that he refuses to give up on the life he has lived. But even if they shoot themselves to prevent any damage they would do, aren’t there just other copies of their models? This leads me to another question: where are the other copies? This question can be absorbed into another question I have been pondering for a long time: is there a Cylon home world? There may be no answers to my questions, or they may be unimportant in the grand scheme of things, just something I have been tossing around in my head, re-prompted by this episode.

Tigh was not the only one resorting to gun-waving. Kara, whatever/whoever she is now, is not messing around. I do not disagree with Roslin’s wary attitude towards Kara reborn, but maybe she is a bit too presumptuous in thinking that Kara would just be ignored without fighting back. Normal Starbuck wouldn’t do that, so why would she return any less insistent or emphatic about something in which she believes? But Roslin is being rather persumptous in a related area as well. If I were sharing dreams with two Cylons and a Humalon baby, I would start to wonder if I were a Cylon. So concerned with what Kara might be, Roslin so far is not entertaining this (obvious) possibility. But maybe that is part of human frailty; it is always someone else, never me.

It is when you can no longer deny that it is someone else that things get complicated, and interesting. Lee couldn’t seem to care less what Kara came back as, and he asks his father if they could have Zack back would it matter that he was a Cylon. Lee is now facing a potential reality that the woman he loves is not human. He could be in the same situation Helo was two years ago, a situation to which Lee has been less than sympathetic. Now that it might be him, will he be more respectful of Helo and Sharon’s family? With Kara’s return Lee is in a position not just to change, but to grow.

Finally, and this may be highly trivial, but I love the new opening. I am usually hesitant when shows change their credits or intros, but I am a big fan. By concentrating on the issues of the Know Cylons, the Battlestar Cylons, and the Final Cylon, the intro focuses the viewers’ attention to be congruent with that of the characters. The general threat of the Cylons has been particularized over the years; it is not so important anymore what they are, so much as who they are.

The TV Girl