ONCE UPON A TIME Suffers Huge "Fall" in Quality

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Review Season 4 Episode 9 Fall on Seat42F.

In the antepenultimate episode of ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME autumn run, “Fall,” the residents of Storybrooke race against time to find a way to stop the spell of shattered sight, knowing it will cause them to turn on one another. Anna (Elizabeth Lail) may be the key to that, but she’s still missing. Elsewhere, we witness what happens to Anna after she is unfrozen from the Snow Queen’s (Elizabeth Mitchell) spell.

The spell of shattered sight had got to be the slowest spell ever. Ever. It takes an entire day to hover over Storybrooke before covering it? It’s not like it’s slowly advancing across the town, as everyone becomes affected at once. How effective, exactly, is a spell that is seen long before it becomes relevant, giving its would-be victims ample time to plan a defense?

I also don’t understand why the Snow Queen’s spell on Arendelle melts when it does. Clearly, all of her ice doesn’t dissolve because her wall stays up and Marian stays frozen (or so we can assume). These Storybrooke ice sculptures exist at the same time as the Arendelle ones for at least awhile, so it’s not because the Snow Queen has moved realms or over-extended herself. What’s going on?

Please correct me in the comments if I’m wrong, but Anna has to have been frozen more than the thirty years that “Fall” claims, no? When she visits David in the Enchanted Forest, that’s only three decades before the present? That doesn’t seem to me to gel with the already established events in that realm shown over the past few seasons. The coincidences that follow, with Hans, (Tyler Jacob Moore), Blackbeard (Charles Mesure), and the trunk being pulled from the sea at the last moment are equally ridiculous.

Though the sisterly reunion is sweet, and I’m very glad that loveable Kristoff (Scott Michael Foster) gets to come to Storybrooke, too. There has been more than enough separation between loved ones. What’s up with that mysterious bottle that somehow tags along?

Worse than these weird plot elements, though, is the absolute and total ruination of Rumplestiltskin’s (Robert Carlyle) character. This has been a frequent topic of complaint for myself and other ONCE UPON A TIME fans recently, and “Fall” just piles on. Rumple makes a deal with the Snow Queen to leave the town and take Belle (Emilie de Ravin) and Henry (Jared S. Gilmore) with him. That she agrees isn’t surprising, since he is somehow immune from her spell and can cause trouble for her. But thinking Belle and Henry will stay with him after fleeing is a leap Rumple is smart enough never to make. He knows they have big hearts and care about others, so abandoning everyone else will surely make them turn against him.

Also, Rumple has never been shown to be power-hungry. He’s addicted to magic, sure, but mostly learned his lesson long ago, one that has been reiterated time and again. To abandon all of his growth and his hard-found knowledge with some generically evil scheme is far beneath this role, and one that the series should never have attempted to do with him.

Why does Belle, who won’t leave the diner with Rumple when he first shows up, suddenly agree to do so just before he locks her in the shop? A few words from him about not trusting fairies and she changes her mind? Not to mention, Belle is a hero, not a coward or submissive wife. It’s very frustrating.

I find it very odd that, as the spell finally does come down, Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Charming (Josh Dallas) worry only about themselves, locking each other in jail cells. They are supposed to be leaders for the community, but do nothing other than send a messenger to tell people what’s happening. Shouldn’t they be making arrangements to help their people get through it, rather than leaving themselves helpless (and stupidly next to each other) and ignoring the townsfolk? Plus, giving Emma (Jennifer Morrison) the task of defeating the Snow Queen and taking care of her baby brother at the same time makes no sense.

I don’t believe Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) would betray everyone quite as severely as he does. Sure, he’s a pirate who wants to save his own skin, so working for Rumple is a conceivable bit, up to a point. But knowing he’s about to lose everything, Hook still doesn’t find the heroic side that the show had been cultivating in him? Dumb.

This episode isn’t without its moments. Regina (Lana Parrilla) and Robin Hood (Sean Maguire) have a touching scene that, while a bit repetitive, is moving. Watching the Blue Fairy (Keegan Connor Tracy) be taken down, surely temporarily, is dramatic. Emma has some emotional stuff that works for her.

However, this is overshadowed by all of the weaknesses in the hour. It’s true you could argue some of my points and we could agree to disagree on motivations. What there’s no denying is there are a TON of plot and character inconsistencies. When added together, this makes for a very disappointing and uneven episode, and the sheer number of them defies defense. I’ve mostly enjoyed the fall run, other than the decline in quality of Rumplestiltskin, but things are coming completely apart at the end and that’s not a good sign. ONCE UPON A TIME has almost always been uneven. “Fall” is some of the worst of that.

ONCE UPON A TIME airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

"Jolly" Time for ONCE UPON A TIME

Article first written for Seat42F.

In the latest installment of ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME, “The Jolly Roger,” we catch up to what Captain Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) is doing during the Lost Year. He’s reformed his pirate band, Smee (Chris Gauthier) having turned human again when they came back to the Enchant Forest, and they’ve become land pirates, or common robbers. A chance run-in with Ariel (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) gives Hook a clue as to where his ship is, and he sets off to find it.

Hook is yet another bad guy the series is trying to redeem, at times unevenly. “The Jolly Roger” is his relapse, if you will, a return to the way he was before meeting and falling for Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison). Yet, we can tell right away that it’s a hollow existence for him. He turns away a whore and pines mightily over the hole in his heart.

Hook can be forgiven for, at first, thinking his ship might fill that void. That’s why when he and Ariel storm the deck and Black Beard (Charles Mesure, V, Desperate Housewives) tells Hook he can choose between The Jolly Roger and Ariel’s missing Prince Eric (Gil McKinney), Hook chooses the boat. He’s not trying to be cruel to the mermaid; he just wants to be happy again. He has convinced himself that he loves the vessel. Even killing Black Beard doesn’t seem so evil, despite the wasted guest star, because we know the pirate deserves to walk the plank.

However, because Hook is redeemed now, he carries a heavy guilt over not helping Ariel. This comes back up in Storybrooke when Ariel enlists the extremely reluctant Hook to help her track Eric. Hook could get away with what he’s done, but is instead moved to confess, yet another sign of his growing maturity and goodness. Hook may have done the wrong thing, but at least he owns up to it.

“The Jolly Roger” is a terrific character study episode. While it does pause the main arc of the spring run temporarily, it doesn’t feel like stalling because the writers really delve into the psyche of this man. O’Donoghue proves his acting chops, delivering his best hour to date, and the whole thing comes together nicely.

There is another missing chapter, though. We’ve now seen why being a pirate doesn’t work out for Hook in the Enchanted Forest. We don’t yet know what ultimately happened to The Jolly Roger and how Hook escaped the realm before the second curse, thus remembering what everyone else has forgotten. If the second Hook flashback this spring is as good as this one, sign me up!

The twist at the end, that Ariel is already reunited with Eric and that this is Zelena (Rebecca Mader) in disguise, using Hook to bring down Emma, whom Zelena sees as a threat, is great! ONCE UPON A TIME really keeps the secret well, Zelena playing a convincing mermaid, and thus surprises us at the end, always a good thing. Add to that the heart-breaking choice Hook is now faced with – make the woman he loves vulnerable or see those she cares most about hurt – is a rough one for the pirate, and more compelling pathos are a sure thing.

There are a couple of side stories this week, too. In one, Regina (Lana Parrilla) tries to teach Emma to harness her power without resorting to the cruel methods Rumple (Robert Carlyle) used on Regina. In the end, though, Regina gets an idea of what to do from Rumple, and helps Emma tap in through peril. This works and it proves Regina is smart, but did anyone else not buy Regina allowing Emma to actually plummet to her death. Where was Regina raising her arms, prepared for a last-minute save?

Secondly, the Charmings (Josh Dallas and Ginnifer Goodwin) are disappointed to learn their grandson-who-doesn’t-know-he’s-their-grandson, Henry (Jared Gilmore), finds them boring. While they shouldn’t try to compete with Hook for the boy’s affections, the sequence where David allows Henry to try driving, taking out a mailbox in the process, is funny. David and Mary Margaret are often the least interesting characters on the series, but give them more like this to do and they can be interesting again yet.

While some may consider “The Jolly Roger” filler, and technically it is, it is filler of the best kind, rich material that adds depth to current events and illustrates the journey of a lead character. If only all filler tasted this good, no one would have reason to complain.

ONCE UPON A TIME airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Desperate Housewives final season now available

ABC's Desperate Housewives finally came to an end last May after eight years on the air. The final batch of episodes is now available on DVD in a five-disc set, collecting all 23 episodes, plus bonus features.

As season eight begins, the four titular housewives, Susan (Teri Hatcher), Bree (Marcia Cross), Lynette (Felicity Huffman), and Gabi (Eva Longoria) are covering up the murder of Gabi's abusive step-father, Alejandro (Tony Plano), by Gabi's husband, Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira). They each handle their part in the shared secret burial in different ways. Carlos wants forgiveness from God, Susan becomes withdrawn. Bree is nervous because her detective boyfriend (Jonathan Cake) is on the case. Lynette just wants physical comfort, made difficult by her separation from husband, Tom (Doug Savant). Gabi, alone, is at peace, knowing first hand the atrocities Alejandro committed against her, and feels only peace with his demise.

Much of season eight, like other seasons before it, is about a mystery surrounding a murder. One by one, others begin to learn of the housewives' dastardly deed, including the men in their lives. Making this killing so personal, with all of them involved in the coverup, forces more strain and stress between them than in previous stories, in which they could present a mostly united front against whatever danger came to Wisteria Lane. It is fitting that they are tested so severely in the end, allowing them to come out the other end stronger than ever.

That's not to say that there are not costs to this act. There are, as the truth comes out in peaces, and eventually certain things are exposed. Others die. Secrets can never stay hidden for long on Desperate Housewives, and that's what makes it such soapy fun.

Of course, not all twenty-three hours are about Alejandro, as each housewife has additional challenges, one even losing a spouse well before the closing credits. Lynette has a marriage she'd like to save, and along with Susan, faces becoming a grandmother when their grown children hook up. Bree battles depression and suicidal thoughts, egged on by a stalker and the return of her ex, Orson (Kyle MacLachlan). Carlos must kick his alcohol habit. Neighbor Renee (Vanessa Williams) senses sparks between herself and Ben (Charles Mesure), but after he gets involved in the Alejandro story, the lies he tells Renee makes it hard for her to trust him. Plus, Ben is in bed with a loan shark. Fan favorite Karen McCluskey (Kathryn Joosten, who passed away in real life last spring) goes another round with cancer.

These are just some of the big stories in the final year. Each of these characters has shown so much growth, and as they overcome these latest hurdles, there is also a sense of finality, growing stronger near the end of the season, that reminds us that their story is almost over. Up until that point, yes, there are some weak spots, as has plagued Desperate Housewives sporadically over the years. Season eight is not the strongest season. But there are enough gems to satisfy most fans, and that includes the last installments.

I won't spoil the ending, but I thought it was a fitting tribute with the return of many familiar faces, and it concluded exactly how it should have. Wisteria Lane is a hot bed of betrayal and intrigue, and no one who remains there will ever find true happiness.

The DVD is a bit sparse on features, sadly. There is a featurette with those involved reflecting on the time they spent making this show, which is definitely the best inclusion. Creator Marc Cherry does provide an audio commentary for the series finale, and there are bloopers and deleted scenes. These are nice, but I would have liked to have seen more.

Desperate Housewives The Complete Eighth and Final Season is available now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published as DVD Review: Desperate Housewives The Complete Eighth and Final Season on Blogcritics.

Desperate Housewives are "Putting It Together"

     ABC's Desperate Housewives is done with its fall run, as "Putting It Together" sets up a cliffhanger for the rest of the final season. Chuck (Jonathan Cake) is closing the noose around the girls, calling each in for questioning, except Bree (Marcia Cross). Chuck now even knows that Alejandro (Tony Plana) is Gaby's (Eva Longoria) stepfather. The friends begin to turn on each other under the pressure, and they all abandon Bree. Lynette (Felicity Huffman) asks Tom (Doug Savant) not to go out of town, which may cost him his girlfriend, Jane (Andrea Parker). Susan (Teri Hatcher), on the other hand, considers fleeing the city by taking an amazing job in New York. Bree turns back to alcoholism, and speaks to the dead Mary Alice (Brenda Strong), who says she isn't unhappy on the other side. And Chuck is hit by a car, driven by someone yet to be revealed. 

     Desperate Housewives is really going to a dark place here, putting Bree in similar shoes to Mary Alice in the "Pilot." Will Bree follow in her former neighbor's footsteps and take her own life? One would think, after everything that Bree has been through, and knowing how Mary Alice's suicide hurt everyone so long ago, that she will know better. And yet, Mary Alice, who must be a projection of Bree's own mind, tells her that death isn't unpleasant. This means Bree is considering permanent, drastic measures. Bree is pretty alone right now, with only Ben (Charles Mesure) showing her kindness. If she were ever going to do it, this would be the time.

     But the wives will surely pull back together again. "Putting It Together" doesn't even mark the halfway point of this season. With so many more hours to go, it's not yet time for anyone to get caught. And while various characters have falling outs over the years, they never fail to reconnect when times are tough. Never have times been more tough than they are right now.

     A saving grace for the girls is Chuck's accident. Whether he is dead or just out of commission for awhile, having Chuck get hurt eases the pressure. Clearly Chuck isn't working as part of an investigative team, as he is allowed to toy with the housewives, rather than just arrest them. If other cops were involved, they would not allow such a thing. Chuck is operating on his own personal vendetta against Bree, seeking to hurt her as she hurt him. Which means that all of the important facts of the case that he has, he probably hasn't shared with anyone.

     Renee (Vanessa Williams) catches Ben giving Bree a sympathetic ear in "Putting It Together," and does not take kindly to it. Bree is single, so it might be understandable that Renee would get jealous, seeing her boyfriend gab with the pretty neighbor. And Renee and Bree aren't too close, the murder isolating the four main Desperate Housewives from their other friends to some degree. Ben is in the know, which might hurt his budding relationship with Renee, if she doesn't ruin it herself.

     It's about time that Lynette lets Tom is on the secret in "Putting It Together," as he is the last husband to be in the loop. Her intention is to make sure that someone is around for their kids, but it might also bring the couple closer together, considering that Tom staying in town likely ends things between him and Jane. The problem here is, Ben now helps cover up the murder, Mike (James Denton) buries the body, and Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira) is the killer, so adding Tom expands the list of vulnerable people in Desperate Housewives. There are now eight people involved in the conspiracy. If the police ever learn the truth, half of the lane stands to go down for the crime, and no one's children will be taken care of.

     Desperate Housewives continues its final season in January on ABC.

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Article first published as TV Review: Desperate Housewives - "Putting It Together" on Blogcritics.

"Witch's Lament" saddens Desperate Housewives

     "Witch's Lament" is the Halloween installment of ABC's Desperate Housewives, and thus is spooky, containing ghosts and dark woods. In the episode, Bree (Marcia Cross) enlists Lynette (Felicity Huffman) and Gaby (Eva Longoria) to help her move Alejandro's (Tony Plana, who also directed this episode) body before Ben (Charles Mesure) disturbs the area with his new condos. Meanwhile, Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira) tries to deny his alcoholism, which is triggered by his murder of Alejandro, and growing worse. He meets Allen (Scott Lawrence, JAG), who is willing to be his sponsor, if Carlos will let him.

     Alejandro's murder is the slow-simmering mystery of the final season of Desperate Housewives. It's not a question of who killed the guy, as that is known by viewers and several characters alike. However, when will the other shoe drop? When will Alejandro be found? Will the wives or Carlos pay for his death? Will Chuck Vance (Jonathan Cake) be the one to catch them, or is there something he can do to help? Would he even want to help anymore?

     In "Witch's Lament," this plot takes a huge twist when Bree, Lynette, and Gaby discover that someone has already dug up Alejandro. Many questions remain, such as who found the body? What did they do with it? Will Alejandro be turned over to law enforcement or used as blackmail? Is there any solid evidence to connect the main characters to the crime? Who is the man chasing them near the grave site?

     Of course, Carlos should have just called the police in the first place. The circumstances and witnesses, his friends, would have likely been enough to clear him on the ground of self-defense. Yet, he didn't, and now it's far too late. Once the truth comes out, and at this point it seems almost certain that it will, someone will pay. Whether it will be just Carlos, who actually killed the man, or all of the wives, too, for helping to cover it up, remains to be seen.

     Carlos is taking the murder harder than anyone, which is to be expected. He is, at heart, a good guy and a religious man, which causes him to feel deep guilt. Although the alcoholic plot has already been covered by Bree in an earlier season, it feels fresh when repeated under these circumstances. Anyone in his position would need some kind of escape from the pain and feeling of responsibility plaguing him, and alcohol is a handy balancer.

     Now there is simply a wait to see what will happen. Can Carlos ever start to feel better without confessing? Alcohol may hurt him, but he is also seeking some sort of punishment. Not as blatantly as Susan (Teri Hatcher) does for her involvement, but the self-destructive path makes sense. If the law doesn't catch him, then he will make sure he pays in another way. This story isn't going away anytime soon, so much is still very up in the air.

     Susan is completely oblivious to all of the major developments this week. She, instead, interns for Andre (Miguel Ferrer, Crossing Jordan), which basically means she has to watch his kid, Jasper (Mason Cook, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D). Susan is trying to get Andre to like her, so she does whatever he asks. But after seeing how he doesn't even like his son, she makes it her new mission to bring father and son closer together. This fails, too. Susan's intentions are good, but she can't change Andre. He is a personality that she just does not understand at all, which makes it impossible for her to reach him.

     More importantly, though, Andre warns Susan that, to be an artist, she will have to be like him, and there may not be anything she can do to stop it. He seems to scare Susan a little bit, but he's just talking crazy. Susan has been an artist since long before the series began. Even though she is pursuing the interest with renewed energy now, that doesn't mean her approach will be drastically different than it has been all of these years. For Andre to suggest that she's going to lose herself and her family because of an artistic drive at this point in her life seems highly unlikely. This is a plot better suited to someone just out of high school, not close to middle age.

     Lynette also has family problems. Jane (Andrea Parker, The Pretender, Less Than Perfect) offers to make Penny (Darcy Rose Byrnes) a Halloween costume, making Lynette feel like she is being replaced. And she sort of is. Tom (Doug Savant) is getting serious with Jane, who wants to be there for their kids. Lynette scrambles to find Penny a costume, pretending to make it. In the end, Jane must save the day when the costume Lynette gets, giving it to her daughter without first inspecting it, is too slutty.

     Predictably, there is a nice bonding moment between Lynette and Jane as they understand each other, and Jane shows sympathy. But then things take a darker turn as Lynette tells Jane to stop trying to steal her family. Lynette's accusations, at first sounding mean, prove founded when Jane vows to fight for Tom. Tom and Lynette are separated, so it's understandable that Jane would think Tom is available. But she has never tangled with Lynette before, so she doesn't realize just how fierce this mama grizzly can be. Lynette and Tom will probably end up back together in the end, but Jane brings a new threat that will not be easily shoved aside, and is far more interesting than expected.

     Lastly, Renee (Vanessa Williams) makes a fool of herself when taking Chinese sex drugs before a date with Ben. While the pair get off to a rocky start this season, they are relatively solid now. Ben accompanies her to the hospital when Renee has a reaction to the drug, and obviously isn't too bothered. The feelings they share are growing, and won't fall apart without good reason. With this being the final season, and both not being as central as other characters, look for the couple to not have too many obstacles to overcome. Everyone likes a happy ending.


     Watch Desperate Housewives Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     To buy Desperate Housewives DVDs or streaming episodes, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: Desperate Housewives - "Witch's Lament" on Blogcritics.

Desperate Housewives keeps "Secrets That I Never Want to Know"

     The eighth and final season of ABC's Desperate Housewives kicks off with "Secrets That I Never Want to Know." The burden of keeping Carlos's (Ricardo Antonio Chavira) murder of Alejandro (Tony Plana) weighs differently on each of the five individuals that know it. Bree (Marcia Cross) is nervous as she probes Chuck (Jonathan Cake) on what he might know. Lynette (Felicity Huffman) goes to Tom (Doug Savant) for physical comfort. Susan (Teri Hatcher) can't bring herself to speak with her friends or Mike (James Denton). Carlos looks for absolution. Only Gabi (Eva Longoria) seems at ease.

     And why shouldn't she be? Alejandro abused and terrorized her. She lived in constant fear of him, made worse with his latest visit to the neighborhood. Carlos did her a favor, taking away such a real threat to his wife. Now she only has to worry that no one will tell, as she wants her husband around to care for her and their daughters.

     Gabi tries to make Carlos feel better by expressing that to him, but it doesn't do a lot of good. Nor does Carlos talking to his priest help, as, without knowing the details, the priest advises that Carlos turn himself into the cops, exactly what Gabi doesn't want him to do. Can he live with himself after this, or will it be a relief when it finally comes out, even if that means spending years in jail?

     Despite not doing the deed herself, Susan feels almost as guilty as Carlos does. It is not in her nature to cover up such a dark act, and she tells Mike everything. When she is finally able to talk to her girlfriends, after Mike worries that she is shutting him and them out, they make her see that telling her husband could only get him into trouble. It's nicer to leave him in the dark, as then he bears no responsibility if the truth comes out. If, in their minds, more likely when, in reality.

     If one was a betting man, the smart money might be on Lynette talking first. Susan wants to protect Mike, much as Gabi wants to protect Carlos, but Lynette and Tom are separated. And they have been together a lot longer. She has no problem going to him for physical comfort, so perhaps she will seek emotional reassurance as well by getting the secret off of her chest. It's clear that Tom still loves her, so he probably won't blab. But it could be a mistake to bring him in on the secret, considering what might happen when it blows up in their faces.

     The thing is, the Desperate Housewives seem to come to an understand at the end of "Secrets That I Never Want to Know" that they will not be sharing the dark truth. Which is good, because a whole season of them going crazy over hiding things will do no one any favors. Thus, for now at least, it is likely to stay buried. But equally likely is that things will begin to spiral out of control before season's end. After all, as this is the final year, anything could happen.

     There is also a subplot that has nothing to do with Carlos being a killer in Secrets That I Never Want to Know." An attractive new man named Ben (Charles Mesure, V, Street Legal) moves onto the street, and Renee (Vanessa Williams) calls dibs. Too bad Ben doesn't get the memo, though, as he is quick to turn Renee down. Knowing Renee, this isn't over, as she will take the rejection as a challenge. Can't wait to see what her next move is!

     Watch Desperate Housewives Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     To buy Desperate Housewives DVDs or streaming episodes, please click here.

V celebrates "Mother's Day"

     What an exciting finale ABC's V delivered! While the show is frequently uneven, and suffers from major plot holes, more so than almost any other show on television, when things work, they really work. The second season finale, entitled "Mother's Day", has few problems. In fact, it is probably one of the strongest episodes to date. Considering the steadily increasing quality, I am really holding out hope for season three, as the series may hit its stride given one more chance. Plus, with a cliffhanger like this, we just need to see more!

     The culmination for control of the V race came to a head. Lisa (Laura Vandervoort) lures Anna (Morena Baccarin) into a trap, intending to kill her. Anna sees what her daughter is about to do in a conveniently located reflective surface, and fakes emotion convincingly enough to stop Lisa. I can see why Lisa gives her mother the benefit of the doubt. Lisa has developed emotions, and so would want to think the best of her mother, no matter what past experience has taught her. Despite Erica's (Elizabeth Mitchell) anger at her, I think Lisa is justified in her actions.

     Sadly, that justification comes with steep consequences. Anna kills her mother, Diana (Jane Badler), whose friends have helped her escape, then installs Lisa in Diana's former dungeon. Anna's backup queen egg hatches, and Anna has her new daughter made to look exactly like Lisa and given her memories. Lisa 2.0 mates with, and kills, Tyler (Logan Huffman), whom Lisa is in love with, while Lisa watches helplessly on a video screen.

     This series has proved to me that Vandervoort's bad run on Smallville was either a fluke, or she has improved greatly in her acting ability. This episode gave her an even bigger chance to shine, as we got to see her as the Lisa we've grown to love AND a ruthless, cold blooded killer more chilling than even Anna. If for no other reason, V needs a third season pick up so we can watch Vandervoort work her magic in the duel role. From what we've seen so far, she is good, like Nina Dobrev in The Vampire Diaries level good.

     The really scary thing about this episode is that Anna finds the true nature of her evil. Up until now, Anna has fought against human emotions, even as they threaten to overwhelm her. The human skin the Vs cover themselves with somehow plays on them, making them more susceptible to feelings. When Anna fights against those emotions, it weakens her. Now that Anna discovers emotions can be used as a weapon, which she wields extremely effectively, she is more dangerous than easily imagined. This is the real consequence of Lisa's failure.

     Also scary? Anna now has a way to bliss mankind, effectively making us her slaves. Little Amy (multiple actresses, as she is rapidly growing), a human / V hybrid, is able to easily deliver bliss to humans, and she loves Anna. While I have viewed Amy mostly as a distraction, and have not at all liked the affect she has had on her father, Ryan (Morris Chestnut), clearly she is something more. Should the series be renewed, I would expect an adult actress to be cast to play a fully grown Amy, and stop the rotation of children. Anna and Amy together may just be unstoppable.

     Of course, humanity does have hope, however slim. Erica Evans began the series with a small cell of people she just met. Earlier this year, she found out how vast a net the Fifth Column casts, before taking over the group. Now, in the finale, she (and we) learn of Project Aries, (led by Marc Singer, like Jane Badler, a cast member in the original V) an international group determined to take out the V. It's interesting, because Erica thought she was fighting alone, and keeps finding larger and larger circles of people who already have the same goal. My question now is, given the scope of anti-V organizations, why didn't they do something before now? Why has Erica been the only one to really strike a blow against the Vs?

     As mentioned above, the body count last night was very high. We lost Tyler, who was mostly an annoying distraction to his mother. We lost Ryan, who has become annoying while being distracted by his daughter. It was only slightly surprising that Dianna died, because Anna had to overcome her somehow, and what transpired is far more exciting than Anna hiding and plotting quietly to take out Diana as she rules in peace, as next season could have been. As such, I don't see any really big losses to the cast, other than possibly Diana, but for the reasons above, I'm OK with it. If anything, the writers did a good job pruning. Time to bring in some fresh blood.

     Thankfully, Chad (Scott Wolf), who used to be annoying, but it just getting started in his usefulness, is merely captured by the Vs, not killed, though why not, I can't imagine. Unless Anna just plans on blissing him and doesn't want to bring in a new reporter to train all over again. I would also like to know where Hobbes (Charles Mesure) has gone, but I am hoping that his character will return to his roots, freed of the burden of Erica. I like the two of them together, but she did tame the beast, so to speak.

     Which just leaves Jack (Joel Gretsch). I really saw a love triangle developing between Erica, Hobbes, and Jack, now that Jack has lost his priesthood collar. It is incredibly ironic how Jack talks of looking to the sky, meaning god, for answers, and that's how Erica finds him at the end of the episode. Only instead of looking at god, he's being blissed by Amy.

     V is on the bubble, but I urge you to write and e-mail ABC asking for its renewal. There is also a facebook site set up for just such a purpose.

Article first published as TV Review: V - "Mother's Day" on Blogcritics.

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V Getting Past "Birth Pangs"

     While I have mostly enjoyed ABC's V, it has had wild swings in quality. At times, the episodes flow nicely and make a lot of sense. Other times, there are gaping plot holes a whole fleet of invading V ships could swarm through. This season has been a bit more even than the first, but the show has gotten to a point where it is exciting enough to overlook some of the flaws. Just some, mind you. If they start to swing too far back the other way, it won't take long to turn against the show once more.

     Erica Evans (Elizabeth Mitchell) is series heroine. The last couple of weeks, Erica has been taking a turn towards bada**, which is welcome. It's about time. For too long, Erica and her friends have been hiding in the dark, barely fighting back against the V invaders. They've done a few little missions, but nothing that meant all that much in the larger scheme, other than slaughtering the eggs at the end of last season. However, after the death of international Fifth Column leader Eli Cohn (Oded Fehr), Erica now finds herself in charge of a vast organization, and she decides to use it.

     At first, though I love seeing Erica in that position, I was resistant to the change. What a coincidence that the worldwide leader just happened to be in Erica's neighborhood! And after only a week or so of knowing each other, he hands the whole thing over to her, rather than the people he has been working with for years. Then I stepped back and tried to view it from his perspective. Erica is a very formidable woman, and has huge stakes in what is going on. Additionally, she has ins and connections that the other followers do not. As such, I began to accept that twist. Eli's top lieutenants doubting her until she could deliver to them progress and a plan also helped with the transition, though I'm not sure that what she accomplished this week would really have been enough to win over her skeptics, converting them into enthusiastic followers.

     That being said, Erica has already uncovered more about the V in the last few weeks than she has all season. She and Hobbes (Charles Mesure) have a rousing sequence in the apartment complex, and her video chat with her original cell is pretty inspiring. With Sid (Bret Harrison) on board, real progress is being made on understanding the V's DNA tampering. As Erica gathers more and more people working for her, I get more and more behind the belief that Erica can topple the technologically-superior aliens. And now that her son Tyler (Logan Huffman) is not around, she has a bit more focus.

     On the subject of Tyler, why the heck doesn't Erica tell him the truth? She should have done so a long time ago. I can't believe that she can't stop him from going to the Vs if she just explains what is going on. Tyler's true loyalty to the aliens is bonded mostly through one particular V, Lisa (Laura Vandervoort), who is on Erica's side! If Erica doesn't want to inform Tyler, can't Lisa? She cares about him, too, so she should stage some sort of break up to keep him safely away. Instead, both Lisa and Erica, who are supposed to care about the boy, let him be pulled into Anna's plans, in which, by the way, Tyler is expendable. Great job, you two!

     Erica has a chance to succeed because of the V uprising brewing against Anna (Morena Baccarin), the series' other leading lady, only on the opposite side of the fight. While thus far the show has shown a two woman battle of the wills between Anna and Erica, every week Anna's daughter, Lisa, is growing more formidable. Yes, Anna is beginning to suspect that Lisa's loyalty isn't with her mother, casting suspicion on her actions. But Lisa has the support of her imprisoned grandmother, Anna's mother, Diana (Jane Badler), which I am thinking may give Lisa the power that she needs to take over the fleet. But if she does that, the show will be over, so I'm not expecting it anytime soon.

     Diana, on the other hand, is simply mysterious. I know she stands against her daughter, but Badler's sly looks make me think that Diana is not just going to stand behind Lisa, either. She must have her own motivations, and while Diana does exhibit emotion, I'm not convinced she suddenly developed feelings for her just-reconnected with granddaughter. I worry that once Lisa gets Diana free of her prison, Erica and the others may suddenly be battling two formidable enemies.

     Luckily, all of these power struggles have been the most interesting part of the show. On both sides of the line, leadership is being questioned and changed, in sometimes action-packed ways, like buildings blowing up and fierce shoot-outs. Honestly, as much as I like the personal drama side of things, V can be a little weak with the writing, so a focus on big action and betrayals is probably the smartest way to go to keep an audience. Know your strengths and your weaknesses, and play to the former.

     I am pretty unnerved about Anna's new hold over Hobbes, supposedly having his wife prisoner. It feels like this has already been done before with Ryan (Morris Chestnut) and his daughter. I think it's lazy of the writers, having lost Ryan from Erica's central group, to just do the same thing to another one of her friends. Unless they play it quite differently going forward, this was a bad move.

     As to how Ryan may or may not be relevant to the story anymore, I don't really see his place. His daughter is more attached to Anna than him, and she's the subject of Anna's latest experiments. The only place story-wise I see to go with Ryan is to have him rescue his daughter. In which case, he will need to find a hiding spot and be a father. I don't see how Ryan could re-enter the fight, unless his daughter is aged to at least teenager before he rescues her (a possibility, I know). Then perhaps they could get into the Fifth Column together. As such, I wonder why Ryan even survived the explosion last week. I think it may have been more dignified than what is character is about to become to the show - a drag.

     Then there's Father Jack (Joel Gretsch). While he has pledged to be a soldier now that he's been kicked out of the church, I can't imagine that means he'll be fine with a killing spree. Will he be Erica's moral compass, letting her know when she's gone too far? I hope that is how he will be used, as if he's not willing to step up in a violently aggressive manner, and I don't see that as a realistic choice, that's his only real purpose.

     Lastly, we have Chad (Scott Wolf), who is just a courier right now. I'm glad that he was swayed from V-supporter to a member of the Fifth Column. But now what? Will he just be a message relayer from Lisa to Erica? I don't see him excelling in combat. His access is limited, at best. Anna uses him, but doesn't really trust him. His place in the series confuses me.

     We're definitely more in the middle of a story arc than at either end, so now is mostly just the time to wonder. To see what comes of things, watch V on ABC Tuesday nights at 9 p.m.


Article first published as TV Review: V Getting Past "Birth Pangs" on Blogcritics.

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