BLACK LIGHTNING Strikes The CW

Article first published as TV Review: BLACK LIGHTNING on Seat42F.

If you’re a big fan of the CW’s Arrowverse, a collection of television shows based on DC Comics properties that connect with one another, you may have mixed feelings about new series BLACK LIGHTNING. Although it joins the network with like source material, it is tonally quite different than the other series, and for now at least, it isn’t connected into the bigger picture. But if you just like superhero shows, this one is a fine addition to the genre.

BLACK LIGHTNING centers on Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams, Hart of Dixie), a metahuman who used to fight crime as the titular hero. Nine years ago, urged by his now ex-wife, Lynn (Christine Adams, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Jefferson hung up the mantle and focused on making a difference in his troubled community as a high school principal. Now, however, gang violence is on the rise. After his younger daughter, Jennifer (China Anne McCalin, House of Payne), gets pulled into the mess, Jefferson decides to go back to his previous vigilantism. This is much to the delight of Jefferson’s dear friend and helper, tailor Gambi (James Remar, Dexter), who has an upgraded suit ready to go for him.

The central gang are known as the 100, headed by Jefferson’s former arch-nemesis, Tobias Whale (Marvin ‘Krondon’ Jones III, Harry’s Law). Whale is a lead character, which indicates something hinted at in the pilot, “The Resurrection” : BLACK LIGHTNING will not a villain-of-the-week procedural. Instead, it is about the environment of one city, with past playing into present, and the situation is more complex that can be boiled down to a sound bite or trailer.

We see this most prominently in Jefferson’s friend, William Henderson (Damon Gupton, Criminal Minds). William is a detective on the force who thinks law enforcement should handle the situation. But clearly, the cops aren’t doing enough, as the 100 operate relatively openly. Even Jefferson has been complicit in their activities, working out a truce to keep them out of his school. So as BLACK LIGHTNING jumps back into the fray, the balance will be upset, which will likely give both good guys and bad reasons for concern.

This is also very much a family drama. Jefferson wants nothing more than to get back with Lynn. While Lynn pressured Jefferson to give up the crime fighting, when their children are put at risk, she doesn’t raise objection when he does what he has to to bring them home safe. Jennifer is rebellious, but seems to have a good heart. Older daughter, Anissa (Nafessa Williams, Twin Peaks), the more obedient and politically active young adult, will be involved in multiple aspects of her father’s life, revealed in a twist at the end of the hour that comic fans will see coming. So there’s a lot going on here.

There will be inevitable comparisons of BLACK LIGHTNING with Marvel’s Luke Cage on Netflix, especially as this series focuses on the larger neighborhood and the past relationships of the characters, making for a similar premise. BLACK LIGHTNING suffers by comparison, not taking its time as much, nor going as deep. But it is a solid series on a non-cable network, which, because of easy access, has the possibility of reaching a different audience. And the lead characters are separate enough in makeup, having some very significant differences, so there’s certainly room for both on the air at the same time. Thankfully, the CW DC shows all go for something a bit different from one another and their competition.

While I love the world building, I think it is smart not to immediately connect BLACK LIGHTNING to the other Arrowverse properties because it is more grounded, more serious than its fellows However, I do hope someday to see the worlds collide, as it’s a cruel tease to fans to have the crossovers so close to reality and not seem them to fruition. If it happens, though, I do hope care is taken to keep Jefferson true to the soul of his own series, and not sanitize him down just to involve him in the larger group.

BLACK LIGHTNING airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on the CW.

THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES Impresses

Article originally published as THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES Review on Seat42F.

MTV becomes a player in the modern television landscape with THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES, premiering this week. Sure, the network has had some modest hits, such as Teen Wolf, and some quality programming, such as the first few seasons of Awkward. But THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES is a turning point because it’s a big budget epic with complex characters (who aren’t all teenagers) in a sweeping, fully developed world. Based on the trilogy by Terry Brooks (well, mainly the middle volume), this is the first show MTV has aired that I could easily see one of the higher quality networks carrying.

THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES is set in a geographically small area on a future Earth in which mankind has died out. Elves control the height of civilization, with trolls and roamers on the fringes, all living in the ruins of once-great cities and technology, now nearly eroded away.

That’s where this main action begins, but it’s not where this story does. There is a lot of backstory revealed in bits throughout the two-hour pilot (from the first book) that set the stage for this world, and plays into the crisis at hand. Magic, thought to have died out with the Druids, is making its return as demons seek to escape their imprisonment and conquer the planet for good. Can they be stopped?

THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES introduces us to a pair of heroes who may or may not be up to the task. Princess Amberle Elessedil (Poppy Drayton, Downton Abbey) is a headstrong young woman who refuses to accept her place in society, and is formidable enough to make waves, earning a position in a male-dominated force. She is joined by naïve Wil Ohmsford (Austin Butler, The Carrie Diaries), a half-elf with heroism and magic in his blood, though Wil is ill-prepared to follow in those footsteps at present.

Were those the only two principal players, this would be a typical MTV series. Instead, there’s actually quite a few others. Allanon (Manu Bennett, Arrow) is a druid awoken from a multi-decade slumber who takes Wil on as his apprentice. King Eventine (John Rhys-Davies, The Lord of the Rings) is the ruler who has swept the horrors of the past under the rug, and now struggles to hold onto his legacy. Heir-to-the-throne Ander (Aaron Jakubenko, Neighbours) has a different idea on how to handle current events. Younger Arion (Daniel MacPherson, Neighbours) enjoys the perks of royalty without the responsibilities. And roamer Eretria (Ivana Baquero, Pan’s Labyrinth) wants freedom from her clan’s leader (James Remar, Dexter).

Now, while this is not a top-tier cast, it is a group of performers who hold their own in this Lord of the Rings-type fantasy. Together, they make up a varied ensemble who’ll likely face death nearly as often as those on Game of Thrones, though being on basic cable, THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES pulls back slightly on violence, disregards all profanity, and only flirts with nudity. Though it does the latter quite often.

Filmed in New Zealand, THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES feels epic and sweeping, and likely owes a lot of that to the novels it is adapted from. There is no need for the show’s writers to develop a world as they go because one has already been clearly laid out ahead of time. That being said, the source material isn’t enough to keep this show going for more than a couple of years, so the written work is likely to be a jumping off point, rather than the sole inspiration.

I liked THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES a lot. It feels more sophisticated and well-made than the typical MTV fare. It may not win any awards, but it signals that the network isn’t just going to keep churning out sexy teens doing scandalous things as their only programming, and I look forward to seeing if their viewers embrace it, or maybe even earn the channel a new audience.

THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES premieres Tuesday at 10 p.m. on MTV.

DVD Review: ‘Wilfred – The Complete Third Season’

Article first published as DVD Review: ‘Wilfred – The Complete Third Season’ on Blogcritics.

FX’s Wilfred doesn’t like to give us answers. A weird ‘comedy’ about a man, Ryan (Elijah Wood), who sees his neighbor’s dog, Wilfred (Jason Gann), as a guy in a dog costume; the show has never yet attempted to explain its premise. They dance around the issue, sure, but only the tiniest progress has been made in tying everything together.

The Complete Third Season, now out on DVD, starts to push the show in that direction, though. Serving as the penultimate batch of episodes, this run begins with Ryan probing Wilfred’s roots for information. Then, as per usual, most of the rest of the installments ignore the bigger picture entirely, providing interesting side adventures and character development without giving much away, before touching on the mystery again at the conclusion of the year.

I don’t have any predictions for exactly what the end of Wilfred, whose final season is airing right now, will be. What does seem certain is that the answer has as much to do with Ryan as Wilfred. The Complete Third Season looks into our human protagnoist’s past as well. His relationship with his father (James Remar) helps bring Ryan to this place on the edge of sanity. And while there is a heck of a finale that seems a huge setback, with Wilfred’s owner, Jenna (Fiona Gubelmann), forbidding Wilfred and Ryan to spend time together, it’s easy to figure out that the new rule can’t last, the fates of the two leads closely intertwined.

There are two types of fans of Wilfred: those fascinated by the enigma and who long for answers, and those who just enjoy the buddy comedy of two friends, no matter that one is dressed as a dog, getting high and getting into trouble. The Complete Third Season strives to satisfy both those sets, though gives more screentime to the latter. The installments in this release are almost uniformly good, but as someone who definitely falls more in the former category, I am disappointed by the incremental movement forward on the mystery front.

Among the elements of the third year are Ryan finding a new roommate (Kristen Schaal, Bob‘s Burgers), Ryan’s crush, Jenna, now living as a married woman with Drew (Chris Klein), Ryan finally trying to get to a good place with his sister, Kristen (Dorian Brown), Bruce (Dwight Yoakum) making a return appearance, and a handful of half hours where Ryan doesn’t know if Wilfred is sinister or not. These are all solid, entertaining stories, even if they don’t quite get into the meat of what I’m looking for. At least the plot is serial, with the events of one week affecting the others, and the character of Ryan undergoing much examination and reflection, rather than just participating in stand-alone stories.

Wilfred also seems to attract a terrific array of guest stars. Besides those mentioned above, which include several recurring characters, season three boasts the likes of Angela Kinsey (The Office), Zachary Knighton (Happy Endings), Gina Gershon (Rescue Me), Barry Watson (What About Brian), Lance Reddick (Fringe), Mary Steenburgen (The Help), and more. I feel like when a short, thirteen-episode cable season can assemble a guest list that rich, it says something about the quality of the show. Wilfred deserves to be included on such a list.

Sadly, like other recent Fox releases, Wilfred  – The Complete Third Season has no bonus features whatsoever. I’m not sure why the studio is doing this now, but it’s a huge disappointment. While not everyone makes use of the extras, some of us do, and to ask us to buy a set that includes no fresh material, having already watched the episodes as they air, is kind of a jerk move, in my opinion. I hope this company reverses course on this decision in the near future.

Wilfred – The Complete Third Season is available now.

WILFRED Gets More Serial in Final Season

Article originally written for Seat42F.

FX’s WILFRED, which is beginning its final season on sister network FXX this week, is a show about a man who sees a dog as a man in a dog costume. It’s a weird concept, to be sure, that allows the writers to explore not only mental illness and fantasy scenarios, but also some primal human emotions. After four years, the program is wrapping up with a ten episode run, the first two of which air this coming Wednesday.

As a quicker refresher, season three ends with Ryan (Elijah Wood) mourning the death of his father, Henry (James Remar), who sought to get Ryan help, then fell down some stairs. Following a clue discovered in his late dad’s office, Ryan goes out to the woods where he discovers a statue of Wilfred (Jason Gann) on the ground.

Season four picks up right at the moment where Ryan is looking at the statue, and only gets weirder from there. WILFRED occasionally does trippy, reality-bending episodes where fans can’t take anything they’ve seen for granted, breaking the rules of even this rule-lite world. The season premiere, “Amends,” is one such installment, being one of the more confusing, weird installments of the series to date.

I can’t go into the specifics of “Amends” without spoiling anything, but suffice it to say, this not only gives Ryan pause, bringing into question the reliability of the show through his perspective and his health, but also touches on the greater mythology. WILFRED has long avoided stating exactly what is going on, but prefers to drop obtuse hints on a fairly rare basis, hinting at the promise of a full explanation in the end, but never bringing us anywhere close.

The good news is, both “Amends,” which is mythology-heavy, and the second episode, “Consequences,” begin tackling that larger mystery. WILFRED is not the type of series that can reveal some cosmic explanation at the last minute and leave anyone satisfied. These first two episodes back promise a season-long journey of discovery, something we’ll get a piece of in each fresh adventure, likely culminating in the master plan WILFRED has kept hidden all along. Viewers who have been yearning for those secrets will probably get them.

But there is another camp of WILFRED viewers, those who don’t value the bigger picture so much and just prefer the give-and-take between Ryan and Wilfred. That type of fan should be satisfied with “Amends” and “Consequences,” too. Admittedly, “Amends” does spend a lot of time on brain-bending, but there are still some rich, obnoxious exchanges between the leads. “Consequences” has more of that as Wilfred sets himself up to be the god Ryan should turn to and obey, while Ryan resists such a rearrangement of their relationship.

And for those who consider themselves ‘shippers,’ wanting desperately for Ryan to end up with the literal girl-next-door, Jenna (Fiona Gubelmann), well, there’s some movement on that front, too. “Consequences” finds Drew (Chris Klein), Jenna’s husband, yearning to spend some time with his buddy Ryan. Not only does Drew consider Ryan a good friend, but he thinks Ryan might be able to shed some light on what’s going on between Drew and Jenna, with Jenna pulling away after kissing Ryan last season, which Drew does not yet know about.

I won’t reveal how “Consequences” ends, of course, but I really like the Drew / Ryan scenes, in this episode and others. Drew has an ugly streak, but he’s almost always been good to Ryan. Ryan never quite feels comfortable with Drew because he can’t be honest about his feelings for Jenna, making for a tension-filled chemistry. Thus, one never quite knows what will happen when the two get together, and that’s sort of a shame because they could have a solid friendship if only Jenna were not between them, but it’s a positive when building an entertaining half hour of television.

“Amends” and “Consequences” are two terrific, very different installments of a pretty good show. They check off the various boxes that differing viewers want, while staying true to the themes and story of the show itself. With only ten episodes left for the program, it’s off to a strong start, and it should leave viewers very curious to see how it all will end.

WILFRED now airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on FXX.

"Stand Up" and Take a Bow, GREY'S ANATOMY

Article first published as "Stand Up" and Take a Bow, GREY'S ANATOMY on TheTVKing.

ABC's Grey's Anatomy completed the first half of its tenth season this week with "Get Up, Stand Up." It's the day of April's (Sarah Drew) wedding, but her co-workers and friends are distracted with their own problems. Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Cristina (Sandra Oh) are still fighting, Alex (Justin Chambers) isn't sure he can come to terms with his father, Jimmy (James Remar), Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) turns down yet another job offer, Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) is upset that Callie (Sara Ramirez) still doesn't understand her, Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and Ben (Jason George) bicker over why Bailey had issues at work, Ross (Gaius Charles) continues to overstep his boundaries, and Jackson (Jesse Williams) considers taking a big risk.

If that sounds like a lot, it is, and I didn't even mention everyone in there. There are smaller stories about Owen (Kevin McKidd) urging Derek to serve his country, Bailey getting back to being a teacher, Webber (James Pickens Jr.) beautifully handling a staff member's break down, Alex pledging to spend his life with Jo (Camilla Luddington), Edwards (Jerrika Hinton) being out of sync with Jackson, and Leah (Tessa Ferrer) deciding to back away from Arizona, some of which tie into the more central bits, and some that don't, plus patient stuff, too.

Grey's Anatomy has built a tapestry of a lot of different strands, and in this structure, in which all of the arcs from the fall run must come together, they somehow manage to serve just about the entire cast without feeling rushed or crowded. It's a delicate feat, to balance so many varying plots, and yet, they do it expertly, delivering yet another fantastic installment.

April's wedding should be the focus. It's her big day, one that will potentially change her life forever. She does get a nice moment when Owen tells her how much of the staff showed up, but other than that, she's constantly battling for attention. April has learned to stand up for herself over time, and she attempts to in "Get Up, Stand Up." However, there are just too many things going on for her to grab the spotlight for more than a moment at a time, unfortunately, which means this is not her perfect wedding.

Jackson's proclamation, which almost doesn't happen, is inspired by his patient, who loses the ability to speak, as well as some advice he once received from Mark's mom. It's cool that these bits are tied together, with events in Grey's Anatomy rarely standing alone, built from much precedent. "Get Up, Stand Up" ends without April answering Jackson's declaration of love, but no matter which way she goes, at least Jackson made his feelings known. Which, consequently, surely destroys Edwards.

Arizona and Callie and Bailey and Ben have problems in their own relationships, and in both cases, it stems from not being on the same page. While this episode is one of revelations and discussions, neither member of either couple that is suffering manages to really make themselves understood in the hour. I want both unions to survive, but the only way they can do so is if Bailey and Arizona take some inspiration from Jackson and speak up for themselves. Then, their partners can decide if they can accept those feelings, or if it's time to move on.

Shepherd is likely going to throw a wrench into his own marriage when the President of the United States calls and asks him to accept an assignment. He has been the good husband, allowing Meredith a turn to be first, but how can one say no to the country's leader when he literally calls? Surely, Meredith will have to understand the extenuating circumstances, but something tells me she won't take it so well, especially with her study floundering.

At least Meredith should have Cristina again to fall back upon. Cristina and Meredith are best friends, so it's been rough watching them at odds. But it's also understandable, as their lives have diverged in important ways recently, forcing them to grow apart. I think they'll always have affection for one another, and now that they've aired their gripes, they can work past them. However, I don't think they'll ever be what they once were. They served purposes in one another's lives that they no longer can, and by necessity, that's going to change things.

Ross acts like a total jerk, speaking over Cristina at a press conference and insisting on doing a surgery that he can't handle. This pot has been brewing for quite awhile, ever since Heather's death in the season opener, as Ross becomes driven and overworks himself, and it cannot help but boil over. He's put too much stress on himself and he inevitably breaks. While we can see how this comes about, it's regretable and sad. Now, he needs rest and healing. Whether that happens with a reduced workload on the job or Ross being fired, he has to stop for awhile.

Is Ross finished being taken down, though? His mistake could very well cost Jimmy his life. Alex doesn't like Jimmy and is ready to be done with him, but Jimmy is still Alex's father. Alex will feel something about Jimmy's death, and should be angry at the man that killed him, or almost killed him, if that's how this plays out. Just as Alex thinks he's out of the family drama, this could very well pull him back in.

All of these things are wonderful character moments, expertly acted and extremely well written. I am constantly in awe of how the show maintains momentum and quality year after year, but it has. What's more, it has earned the right to tell stories that took a very long time to develop, paying off the fans who have stuck with it for a decade, and growing characters in ways shorter-running series do not have the opportunity to do. It does not squander this privilege.

It's one of the few shows I make effort to try to keep up with on a weekly basis, rather than marathoning it some weekend right before a finale. "Get Up, Stand Up" proves just why Grey's deserves this type of devotion, just as most of the episodes throughout the past couple of seasons have done, too. Series should go out on top, but this one still seems like it has a lot of life left in it.

Grey's Anatomy will return in February on ABC to air sans reruns through the spring.

For 200th Episode, GREY'S ANATOMY is "Puttin' on the Ritz"

Article first published as For 200th Episode, GREY'S ANATOMY is "Puttin' on the Ritz" on TheTVKing.

ABC's Grey's Anatomy has been on for a long time. Four episodes into the tenth season this week, they hit the important milestone of 200th episode, "Puttin' on the Ritz." To celebrate, the writers mostly give the characters a break, sending them to a fun-filled circus-themed fundraiser, rather than making then suffer serious disasters, psychological breakdowns, or cheating partners. It's kind of nice, for a change.

The event is far more elaborate than it needs to be, since Jackson's (Jesse Williams) party planner doesn't seem to understand what to do. This is supposed to be to get big donors to give generously to the hospital, which needs the cash, but a lot of expense is poured into the night itself, which makes one wonder how effective the plan will be.

Not to worry. Jackson takes the donors to the gallery and has them watch a surgery being performed. It's a little odd that everyone is so impressed by seeing doctors do what doctors do that they whip out their checkbooks and fork over thousands of dollars, presumably; after all, what did they think was going on in the hospital? But it's a feel-good moment for Jackson and the staff, proving their jobs are worthwhile, so it can be overlooked.

Derek (Patrick Dempsey), Meredith (Ellen Pompeo), and Cristina (Sandra Oh) aren't the type to just go along and enjoy a fancy party, especially the former two, off of work at the moment for maternity leave. It's not in a surgeon's nature to make idle chitchat, they need something real to occupy their time. Knowing this, Owen (Kevin McKidd) wisely plays on their natures, making the night a competition to see which department can earn the most.

Seeing Derek and Meredith, especially, compete with one another is fun, and doesn't happen often enough. They are professionals and they are in love, but they also enjoy working together and beating the other. "Puttin' on the Ritz" gives them the chance to get out of their home and the hospital and enjoy themselves, which of course ends up with them back at work. It's touching and light.

It's the combination of seeing the characters all grown up, and also knowing they are still young at heart, that works really well. As the interns grew into residents and beyond, they have become the staff members they once looked up to, the experienced elders, and they've actually earned that place. It's really rewarding to reminisce now, especially with the numerous references to the past in "Puttin' on the Ritz,"  and enjoy reliving that journey, seeing how far we've come.

Not that everything is perfect. Owen is finally listening to Cristina and moving on, something she is not happy about, no matter how much she encouraged it. Stephanie (Jerrika Hinton), mad that Jackson didn't invite her to the party, lets Ross (Gaius Charles), heady from his shark behavior, kiss her, which Jackson walks in on. Callie (Sara Ramirez) lies about her wife being dead, which she then feels guilty about. Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) can't even bear to be at the party, leading to hilarious and unexpected bonding with April (Sarah Drew) as they get drunk in a supply closet.

Bailey (Chandra Wilson) has the biggest challenge of the episode, trying to convince Webber (James Pickens Jr.) to live. Webber has given up, and he has lots of reason to, but that doesn't mean it should be over for him. I think Bailey's decision to pair Webber up with a roommate (Justified's Raymond J. Barry) should work, though, in changing Webber's mind.

Lastly, Alex (Justin Chambers) is shocked when his druggie father (Dexter's James Remar) is admitted. Alex is a rich, layered character, but relatively little about his family and his past has been explored in depth. Now, at the precipice of happiness with Jo (Camilla Luddington), said past comes roaring back, threatening to derail Alex.

I don't believe it will, though. Alex is tough, shaped by his experiences, and he now has too much to lose to be reckless. Confronting his father may shake him, but it won't break him. He has friends, a girlfriend he loves, a support structure. I'm glad Grey's brings him this challenge because it should be rich drama for Chambers to play with, and he deserves it, having made the once-grating character beloved. Good development.

"Puttin' on the Ritz" isn't the best episode of Grey's Anatomy ever, and certainly not the "big" episode I assumed the show would do for it's 200th. But in a way, it was exactly what fans need at this point, and definitely has some good development. It's hard to be disappointed at another solid hour.

Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

DEXTER's Last Murder

Article first published as DEXTER's Last Murder on TheTVKing.

It's always sad when a beloved, long-running television series comes to an end. This is the case in Showtime's Dexter, with this week's episode, season eight's twelfth, "Remember the Monsters?," serving as the last episode ever. In it, we see the final chapter of the story of the serial killer with a moral compass. Sadly, the last thing to be killed is fans' hopes for an amazing conclusion.

Dexter is about a psychopath with no emotion. In the final year, the titular character (Michael C. Hall) finds feelings for his family and friends, to his great surprise. It's been a slow build to this triumphant moment, the point where his lack of empathy has been cured and he can actually love and miss and grieve and have compassion. What a fantastic note to go out on!

Except, Dexter doesn't enjoy these things. It may be because he finds his heart just in time to have it broken, as Oliver Saxon (Darri Ingolfsson), the Big Bad of this year, murders Dexter's sister, Debra (Jennifer Carpenter). Faced with losing her, Dexter rethinks what he wants out of life, and decides the best thing he can do is end it.

Dexter's death is seen coming from a mile away. He begins acting erratically, killing Oliver in police custody, turning off Debra's machines and stealing her from the hospital. He's always been so careful and so sneaky. To act irrationally, out in the open, is a turn for him, and that's why it telegraphs the sad climax.

The fact that nobody notices Dexter's behavior is "Remember the Monsters?"'s first mistake. I don't expect Quinn (Desmond Harrington), who has just lost the woman he loves, or Angel (David Zayas), rationalizing the behavior of a friend in pain, to pick up on Dexter's coldness in the video of him slaying Saxon, barely putting up a tiny bit of effort to make it seem like self defense. But surely someone notices his actions of killing Debra, stealing the body, and sailing out to sea in the middle of a hurricane.

Mistake number two comes when Dexter undoes the sacrifice. As much as I hate to see Dexter commit suicide after dumping his sister's body, deciding that Harrison (Jadon Wells) and Hannah (Yvonne Strahovski) are better off without him, there is a way to understand Dexter's twisted reasoning. It doesn't quite gel with what the show has been building towards, but people do weird things when they're upset, and while this installment doesn't really spend much time on Dexter blaming himself for Deb's death, it is mentioned.

Then we get a glimpse of him working as a lumberjack. There is no explanation as to how Dexter escaped his wrecked boat in the middle of the storm, nor do we find out anything about his new life, such as if his dark passenger and Harry (James Remar) have returned and he has gone back to killing. A look in his eye says that might very well be the case, but it's left ambiguous.

What is the point of that final scene? To let viewers know that Dexter is alive? If so, why doesn't he show remorse for abandoning his son? Or something that proves he has stopped caring? Are we expected to believe all of the emotional stuff earlier in the hour was an act? It really doesn't make sense.

Not to mention, there is no closure for Quinn, whom is told by Deb she loves him just before she dies, no wrap up of the Masuka (C.S. Lee) and his daughter (Dora Madison Burge) arc, no revelation about Dexter's secret life by Miami Metro, not even of a glimpse of how Harrison might take the news when Hannah breaks it to him. There's just no ending to speak of for most of the show's players.

Now, there are a couple of wonderful bits in the finale. I love Dexter beating his instincts at the end of the penultimate episode, and how that carries into the last one. I love the flashbacks of Dexter and Deb shortly after Harrison's birth. I love seeing Hannah outwit Elway (Sean Patrick Flanery) and escape. I love that both Eric Ladin (The Killing) and Amy Pietz (Caroline in the City) guest star. I love seeing Matthews (Geoff Pierson) not act like a total jerk.

But those things aren't enough to make up for a terrible handling of the main character. I totally agree that a show runner has the right to end their series the way they'd like to, without worrying what fans will think. On the other hand, I do think it should be fitting for what has come before it, and "Remember the Monsters?" is not. In the end, Dexter's finale is one of the worst series finales in recent memory. If that's not sad enough to make a serial killer cry, I don't know what is.

WILFRED Has Few "Regrets"

Article first published as TV Review: 'Wilfred' - "Regrets" on Blogcritics.

FX’s Wilfred is an odd series. Most episodes take the fact that Ryan (Elijah Wood) sees Wilfred (Jason Gann) as a man in a dog suit, while everyone else sees Wilfred as a normal dog for granted. But the ones in which the mythology of the show is explored – what is Wilfred and why does Ryan see him differently – are what make it special. Season three, which culminated in “Regrets” this week, explores this mystery much more than the first two years combined.

A long-standing clue plaguing fans is the drawing we now know Ryan’s sister, Kristen (Dorian Brown), made as a child, depicting their family with the human Wilfred in the background. Kristen remembers the character as “Mr. Floppyears,” even though the resemblance to Wilfred is uncanny. But she doesn’t remember why she drew it.

At the end of “Regrets,” Ryan finds a broken statue in the foliage of Wilfred / Mr. Floppyears. This explains what Kristen drew, and it also might provide the origin of Ryan’s hallucinations, if in fact Wilfred is a hallucination, which seems likely. There is some connection to the family’s past in this statue, and it will certainly combine with the drawing to merit further unraveling next year.

It’s really cool that Kristen is part of this now. Although she doesn’t know Ryan’s secret, she clearly has an important role to play. Since she originally appears as an unnecessary side character, this is gratifying to see her interwoven with the family’s thread, along with their mother, Catherine (Mary Steenburgen), who had a cat similar to how Ryan sees Wilfred.

The odd person out, and by “odd” I mean sane, in the family is Ryan’s father, Henry (Dexter‘s James Remar), who thinks Catherine and Ryan are just plain crazy. This season has focused on Henry trying to get Ryan back in his life after a two year separation, and “Regrets” brings that to a head. Henry confronts Ryan with footage that makes Henry think Ryan is talking to a dog like a person. But instead of locking Ryan up right away, as he did Catherine, Henry offers Ryan the chance to work in his office, where Henry can keep an eye on him.

Henry is not a bad person. His concern for his son is understandable, and while he does resort to secret video taping and blackmail, his end goals are kind. He doesn’t want to hurt Ryan; he wants to help him. Henry is hoping that working together will refocus Ryan, and maybe Ryan won’t need to end up as Catherine has. This is a noble gesture, proving Henry is not a bad father, and I found myself hoping Ryan would take the deal.

Sadly, this is not to be, as Henry falls down a staircase and dies. I must say I am disappointed by this turn of events, even as it neatly solves the corner Ryan is backed into. I wanted to see Ryan have help struggling with his sanity, something lacking from the show so far, and was hoping Henry could either understand or explain what is going on. Instead, removing Henry means Ryan can continue as he is, preserving the basic story of Wilfred, but taking away a very interesting, potentially major change to the tale. I do love that Henry’s story ties in Anne (Kristen Schaal, Bob’s Burgers), who was utterly wasted this season.

With Henry dead, Ryan’s more pressing issue, since he doesn’t have to worry about hiding any more, is how to resolve his relationship with Jenna (Fiona Gubelmann). After a shared kiss, Jenna pulls away, wanting to avoid further infidelity, since she is married. Ryan respects her wishes, stopping short of confessing his feelings, but the real victim is Wilfred, who doesn’t get to hang out with Ryan all the time any more.

Whatever Wilfred is to Ryan, the dog helps Ryan work through his issues. Maybe Wilfred is a symptom of Ryan’s craziness, but the way Wilfred pushes Ryan and Jenna together all season, despite seeming Wilfred’s disgust at the pairing, is part of Ryan trying to assert himself. Should Ryan be the one behind Wilfred’s actions, as many viewers suspect, this year is about Ryan trying to take a chance with Jenna, despite her marital status, and Wilfred is key to that movement.

Jenna deserves the chance to make an informed decision. I am not in favor of wrecking a marriage, and Drew (Chris Klein) is a nice guy and better friend to Ryan than Ryan is to him, but Drew and Jenna don’t quite seem right together. They’ve made it work, as many do in the real world, but that doesn’t mean they should keep at it indefinitely. If it’s not right, it’s not right, and there’s nothing they can do about it.

Which is not to say that Jenna should be with Ryan. Ryan is mentally unstable, and a tad creepy at times. While most want him to have a happy ending, I just can’t see Jenna being part of that right now. However, Ryan must confront his feelings for her and work through them, rather than fighting against them, if he wants to move forward, and that’s what is regrettable that the writers don’t bring out fully.

Presumably, next year will find a way to get Ryan and Wilfred back together, Kristen will expound upon Mr. Floppyears, and Jenna will finally figure out what man she wants, if any at all. But the wait shouldn’t be too hard, as long as the series gets renewed (it has not been yet), because “Regrets” is an excellent half hour, answering and raising questions, and exploring the dynamics at the heart of the show.

Wilfred is done for the year, and will hopefully return next summer to FX.

"A Beautiful Day" Not Destined For DEXTER

Article first published as DEXTER Season 8 Premiere Review on Seat42F.

Grade: 93%

The title of Showtime’s DEXTER’s final season premiere is “A Beautiful Day,” which is misleading because there is nothing beautiful about the days in which the episode takes place, six months having passed. Dexter (Michael C. Hall) is in the darkest place he’s arguably ever been in, with Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) out of touch, off the grid as a renegade private investigator, taking the tough, dangerous cases. And from there, it only gets worse.

It’s not surprising that Deb has taken off. After killing La Guerta (Lauren Velez) to protect her brother, Deb finds she has trouble living with those decisions. The people that do kill in DEXTER tend to be psychopaths, and since Deb is a ‘normal’ person, she can’t find it in herself to accept such heinous crimes. As such, she flees from Dexter and her life as a cop, unable to move past what she has done.

Dexter, on the other hand, is a psychopath. He is someone who doesn’t value life or the feelings of others. He has been able to fake it all these years, but has never learned to truly care, except in very rare cases. With one of those exceptions, Deb, gone, Dexter has a hard time getting by.

Could it be that Deb is the one person that is holding Dexter together all along? Because he values his sister, the girl he is raised with, Dexter keeps himself in check to spare her. Last season, when he ditches the code that Harry (James Remar) taught him, it’s to protect Deb, proving that his feelings for her override pretty much everything else.

Now, with her gone, Dexter is going off the deep end. He snaps at work, says incriminating things, and even puts his son, Harrison (Luke Andre and Evan George Krunthcev), in harm’s way to save Deb’s life. His behavior is erratic and dangerous and he will get himself caught if Deb can’t forgive him and come back sometime soon.

It’s pretty unfortunate that just as Dexter is slipping up, Dr. Evelyn Vogel (Charlotte Rampling, Melancholia) comes onto the scene. Unlike past investigators, Vogel knows right away who Dexter is and what he is capable of. By the end of the first hour, she makes a move that may be either very smart or very dumb, but viewers and Dexter alike will not be kept wandering how close she’ll get all year. Instead, what remains in the dark is her motivation and what she wants.

It’s very likely Vogel has ties to Dexter’s past. She is acquainted with Captain Matthews (Geoff Pierson), and has relics from Dexter’s childhood. What is her connection to Harry, how long has she known about Dexter, and why is she doing what she is doing now?

Also, there is yet another serial killer in town. I can’t help but feel, giving Dexter’s penchant for twists, the fact that this is the final season, and the absence of seeing the killer in “A Beautiful Day,” that this particular murderer just may be someone we’ve seen before. Doakes and the Bay Harbor Butcher are elements of DEXTER that won’t just go away. Perhaps it’s all part of the same plot.

La Guerta’s death has shaken up the department in more ways than just running off Deb. Both Captain Matthews and Batista (David Zayas) have canceled their retirements and returned to the force in order to fill in gaps in the ranks. For Matthews, who was forced out, this makes total sense. But for Batista, who leaves the job after careful consideration, it’s kind of disappointing. I get what the writers are doing, wanting to keep him involved in the show, and given the way he is taking La Guerta’s passing, it makes sense. Yet, it also feels like an unnecessary step backward for him.

As many might have expected by the end last season, Quinn (Desmond Harrington) and Jamie Batista (Aimee Garcia) are now regularly hooking up. It seems mostly about sex, but they are definitely very into one another. I’m not really sold on this relationship, feeling like she can do better, and he should pick someone more age appropriate, but I’ll try to reserve judgment until we see how it all plays out.

We have a couple of new faces around in “A Beautiful Day,” too, as usual, but unlike past years, none of them stand out as well-known casting coups. That’s good, keeping the focus on the central players in the last year, which is important to end the series properly. There’s a good guest turn by Entourage’s Rhys Coiro, but he won’t be sticking around, so it doesn’t detract from this.

It’s too soon to tell if DEXTER’s eighth season will be more like its fantastic seventh or its lackluster sixth. However, with only a dozen episodes left to tell the story, there will definitely be closure. DEXTER feels like it’s moving into its final act, exploring the last corners of Dexter’s personality, making him desperate right before his triumph or downfall, depending on which direction the show goes in. It’ll be interesting for invested fans to find out which choice has been made.

DEXTER airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime.

Dexter, now with real emotions!

    Showtime's Dexter and it's title character have faced many challenges and changes over four seasons. Dexter (Michael C. Hall) the man grew into his role as a husband and father, and started using the ghost of his dad, Harry (James Remar), as a conscience-slash-debate partner. Dexter has gone from a psychopath with no emotions, to a devoted, caring provider. It has been so rewarding to watch the developments, and so it was disturbing when everything in Dexter's life was thrown so out of whack.

     The disappearance of Harry until late in the episode also raises some interesting questions, as it has never been clear why Dexter talks to his dead father, though since he started only after exhibiting the first signs on humanity, I believe that probably has something to do with it. His missing human side, until the breakdown in the bathroom, coincided with the absence of his father. It's a great replacement for the flashback scenes Remar used to be in, which had grown stale.

     Last season ended with Trinity (John Lithgow, in an Emmy winning performance) killing Dexter's wife, Rita (Julie Benz). Dexter returned home to find his baby son sitting in a pool of Rita's blood. Last night's fifth season premiere "My Bad" is an emotional drama, taking Dexter into inner struggles he wasn't aware existed. With real emotion comes the risk of real depression, and he feels that and more with the loss of Rita. Swallowed up by guilt at not having killed Trinity sooner, regretting that darkness he thinks he brings to people's lives, and feeling inadequate in his place in life, Dexter goes through things his character certainly never expected to experience. It was a truly memorable performance for Hall the actor, who was superb.

     It also leaves Dexter at a major crossroads. Clearly, he has to stop killing if he's going to keep his family safe. He now understands the consequences to other people if he ever gets caught, and he doesn't like it. As season four neared the end, it seemed that he might even try to give up his bad habits, though he insists that he has no control over them. His Dark Passenger won't go away, and he has to deal with it somehow. He clearly is a much better person than Trinity, but he may soon have to choose between the two personas he maintains. I think it might be pretty intriguing to see a non-killer Dexter at some point.

     Dexter truly loved Rita, and only in her death could he confess everything to her, and show her what he truly was. I found myself wishing that she took over as the ghost he speaks to. She will be missed, and her departure from the show will be painful to audiences, just as it is to Dexter himself. She brought out the best in him, and now that role will have to fall to someone else. It won't be easy to replace her.

     The rest of the cast got some meat to work with, too. Dexter's sister Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) has to deal with the brunt of the arrangements for Rita. At least that distracts her from her investigations, which had turned up Dexter's blood relation to the Ice Truck Killer from season one. Deb is too smart for her own good and if anyone does eventually catch Dexter for his murders, my money is on her. Love can only blind a person so much.

     With Dexter checked out, Deb is left helping with his baby, planning a funeral, and trying to get Dexter to speak with the F.B.I., which is investigating Rita's death. Dexter is numb from shock. He never has to process feelings before, and is overwhelmed by them, leaving Deb to worry at the lack of emotional display. It's no wonder that she has a bit of a break, culminating with her rolling around on the kitchen floor with her partner, Quinn (Desmond Harrington).

     Quinn joined the cast in season three, and I've viewed him mostly as a dull, unworthy replacement for his predecessor, Doakes (Erik King). That started to change late in season four, and Quinn actually has something useful to do this year. No one has really suspected Dexter of any misbehavior since Doakes was killed and blamed for the bodies Dexter had dropped into the ocean. Now as everyone in the department seeks to comfort the blood spatter analyst, Quinn is taking a hard look at him as a suspect. This is one murder that Dexter hasn't committed, but it can't possibly be a good thing for the serial killer to be investigated.

     There are plenty of other subplots, from the flashbacks to Dexter's terrible first date with Rita, to Rita's daughter, Astor (Christina Robinson), having to display acting talent, with her mother dead. While it isn't clear what will become of Astor and her brother, I'm assuming Dexter will take them in, as he has shown plenty of protectiveness towards them. But these are minor parts that enhance the whole, not drive the story.

     All in all, "My Bad" is a surreal experience of an episode, taking a break from ongoing story lines to delve deeply into a truly unique character's head. Taken as a stand-alone piece, it is truly a remarkable hour. Added to what's come before, it provides a splendid showcase of the best parts of a great series, as well as stretching the actors in new and exciting ways.

     Tune into Dexter Sunday nights at 9 p.m. on Showtime. If you haven't discovered it yet, it's one of the best shows currently on television. It provides more varied shades of gray than an old black and white television set

Article first published as TV Review: Dexter, Now With Real Emotions! on Blogcritics.