Monday October, 4 2010

SPOILERS: House, Chuck, and Castle

Annnnd, it's October. Premiere's are over (except for Sanctuary on Friday October 15!) which means shows are focusing less on shocking us and having huge dramatic twists, and more on returning to formula episodes that make the shows consistently enjoyable. Not that this is a horrific thing, but it means I'm slightly less thrilled. 

Still, House pulled out an amazing episode, so episode of the day: House, "Unwritten"

House, "Unwritten": First off, let me talk about how much I loved this case. I don't mean what was actually wrong with her. I mean the story, the symptoms, the treatment in the end - but most of all, the creepy intro and the hallucinations of Jack Cannon. 


The whole thing was extremely "Next to Normal"; by the way, if you don't know the musical, you like both Fight Club and musicals (and this episode), and you don't mind something so tragic it makes Sweeney Todd look like it has a happy ending, Next to Normal is wonderful. Check out their brilliant performance at the Tony's in 2009 singing: "You Don't Know/I Am the One." The characters in this song are the mother, father, and the son (who's a hallucination of the mother) played by the wonderful Aaron Tveit.

Anyway, the case was fantastic. The author [below] is creepily observant (like with the perfume on her maid), which makes her an excellent match for House. Yet she still manages to be tricked into extending her stay when House pretends to offer her drugs in order for her to commit suicide. In the end, knowing her past and what her lies are doesn't make her any less wonderful as a character.

Plus, excellent Huddy in this episode (that's House/Cuddy for the less slang inclined) - by which I mean not too much, and not too perfect. The whole episode is easily summed up in the line "I need to find something we both like doing, besides each other." The go-kart scene was hilarious, of course House would get them banned, and I actually liked the return of Sam. Plus we found out that House secretly reads the Indiana Jones-Twilight hybrid written for teenage girls that goes by the name "Jack Cannon" - and he's just as neurotic as any fangirl when it comes to finding out what happens. Something tells me House wouldn't like the ending to Inception...

Anyway, the most adorable moment of this episode has to be Cuddy's comment about hopefully she makes House a better person. There's no implication of "I expect you to change", simply the idea that their being together could influence his perspective. In the end, even if he did it for selfish reasons, he lies and says Jack would've dies from an aneurysm anyway. And when he realizes that the books won't be finished anyways, House manages to see that nothing can be gained from revealing the truth - instead of lashing out, he lets her hold on to the lies he told her. It's nice to see something new.

And if you didn't see red flags when House told the author about the aneurysm because it was faaarrr too convenient, shame on you.

Chuck, "Chuck vs. the Cubic Z": Great premise for an episode, which results in funny dialouge, cute moments...but after two weeks of Chuck/Sarah issues this episode just was to repetitive to have the sparkle it deserved. Let's break it down, shall we?

Guest Stars: Nicole Richie was back as Heather Chandler [above] (which I didn't realize was a wonderful reference to the black comedy movie Heathers) and that other guy was back as that guy that Chuck fought on a plane. Honestly, didn't really remember him. But Nicole was excellent as a truly bitchy but smart enemy for Sarah, and boy does she know how to hone in on Sarah's issues. As for Gretta? I'm under-wowed. If you don't know, Gretta is the name of the CIA agent in the Buy More who's played by a different actor each week. This week's Gretta, Stacy Kiebler, basically got ogled by Morgan and KO'd by the big tough guy who's name I still don't remember. Old Spice Guy is my favorite so far.

Main Plot: Ehh, blah. How convenient that Heather worked with Frost. And Sarah's got issues with settling down. We know, we know, we know. Like I said, great fun snappy dialouge between Chuck and Sarah, but we've seen it before. Also, how did Volkoff, if he's so powerful, escape CIA/NSA notice for so long? Best moments - I loved Heather's jibe about the Tron poster in Chuck's room, and Casey threatening the voice activated computer with his firearm.


Buy More subplot: Return of Big Mike, Jeff, and Lester! Though I'm bummed Morgan didn't get to succeed at his first try as manager, preparing for the new release of a game that looks uncannily like Halo: Reach, it was nice to see Big Mike back in action. Plus, he's gonna be Morgan's dad! And who doesn't like a poetry slam combined with an epic speech: "Act all civil like - like you're a civilian."

Castle, "Under the Gun": Sorry guys. I could not follow this episode. I just couldn't. I was sleepy, and it was too twisty for me, I admit it. That being said, what I did follow was a lot of fun. I really liked the introduction of Beckett's training officer; which was kinda ruined for me when he turned out to be in on it. Castle was getting all jealous and we learned a little more about Beckett's past.

Still, the best part of this episode was definitely the funny exchanges. And Leo from Charmed making an appearance as  a priest. Plus I love [this] picture of the graveyard shoot out.

Favorite Quotes:

• Killed with a sharpshooter trophy - Ironic on so many levels... no wait only two
• Lying is not his strong suit - something I like in a priest
• Hispanic and cocky, you'd totally die first

Anyway, who else is excited that Castle is going steam-punk next week?! And if you don't know what that is, get to the googling!

~ Sarah