More BANG Ready For Your Bucks

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'The Big Bang Theory - The Complete Tenth Season' on Blogcritics.

CBS’s The Big Bang Theory completed a full decade on the air last spring. The 24-episode Complete Tenth Season, now out on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital, brought some changes to the sitcom. Relationships matured and deepened, the family expanded, and scientific advancement came with some challenges. While perhaps not as fresh as it once was, the series does remain entertaining, and this was a pretty good batch.

The biggest changes in The Complete Tenth Season revolved, predictably, around Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Amy (Mayim Bialik). Early on, they move in together. Unsurprisingly, it takes an abnormal event to push such an overdue, big step in their union. And yet, Sheldon handles it a lot more gracefully and openly that he would have even a year or two ago. Which makes their subsequent coitus more genuine. Sheldon will always be the Sheldon we were first introduced to in many ways. More important than these steps are the ways in which we see Amy soften him in all aspects of his life, as well as how he has matured in handling disruption. This is key for a series that’s been on this long.

A little less groundbreaking is how the arrival of Howard (Simon Helberg) and Bernadette’s (Melissa Rauch) baby is dealt with. Yes, the inclusion of Raj (Kunal Nayyar) and Stuart (Kevin Sussman) in the plot make it a little more screwball. In general, though, there isn’t much difference in The Big Bang Theory‘s approach than how other situation comedies have done the same thing previously. The best parts are when we see Bernadette struggle with going back to work and Howard doubt his abilities as a father because of his own upbringing, and I’m glad they didn’t lean into either too melodramatically. Also, tying baby Hallie (Pamela Adlon, Better Things) to Howard’s departed mother is a great move. But I still wish they’d found a more original approach.

Rounding out the ensemble, Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) are feeling pretty solid and comfortable this year, especially after their second wedding. Raj slowly gets his love life and independent finances in order. These both show evolution, but like the above, they contribute to The Big Bang Theory‘s leveling out, with less departure from the typical fare in the genre every year. There are some truly funny bits, such as how the pregnancy is revealed to certain characters. But overall, it feels like it might be time to start looking for an end game. Or switch to shorter, more focused seasons like some of the revivals are doing these days.

As in the past, The Big Bang Theory – The Complete Tenth Season, has plenty of great guest stars. Besides the returns of Judd Hirsch, Laurie Metcalfe, Christine Baranski, Keith Carradine, Brian Posehn, Riki Lindhome, and the too-long-gone Brian Thomas Smith, we get Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), Katey Sagal (Sons of Anarchy, Married… with Children), and Dean Norris (Breaking Bad). The show stays focused on its leads, as it should, but it has done a good job of filling in other key roles with terrific and appropriate performers, some of whom viewers anxiously await the return of.

As far as extras go, the series brings back the charming #JustAskBBT segment, where cast members answer fans’ questions. There’s a featurette on family, which makes total sense, given the role relations played in several of the stories this year. There’s another on some of the more interesting props, one on the baby, and a humorous gag reel.

The Comic Con panel from 2016 is also included, too late as in most releases. But what’s cool about this one is that it’s the writers and other behind-the-scenes people being interviewed, not the actors, and Rauch serving as a very energetic moderator. That makes it more fun than some of the other panels I’ve seen lately.

The Big Bang Theory – The Complete Tenth Season is on sale now.

THE BASTARD EXECUTIONER Slays

Article originally published as THE BASTARD EXECUTIONER Review on Seat42F.

The Bastard Executioner -- Lee Jones as Wilkin Brattle. Cr: Ollie Upton/FX

THE BASTARD EXECUTIONER, premiering this week on FX, is the much-anticipated project from Kurt Sutter, whose Sons of Anarchy recently completed its celebrated run. This isn’t just another drama about bikers, though; THE BASTARD EXECUTIONER is a historical (fictional) drama set in 1400s Northern Wales, under the rule of King Edward II. If that description of a medieval period piece turns off those who enjoyed Sutter’s previous work, keep in mind the new show’s title, as it is every bit as brutal and violent as the former.

The titular Bastard Executioner is Wilkin Brattle (Lee Jones, Slut: The Musical). A soldier under Edward I, Wilkin has retired from the service and tries to live a nonviolent existence with a wife, starting a family and becoming a farmer. He wants to put his awful past behind him. But within the two-hour pilot, Wilkin is thrust into events beyond his control, as many great heroes are, and will find himself forced to wield a weapon once more, if he wants to go on living. His is the central struggle of the series, and he is an interesting, if familiar, character.

The entire story is complex and many-faceted. We have the characters in Wilkin’s village, including his wife, Petra (Elen Rhys, World War Z), his best friend, Toran Princhard (Sam Spruell, The Last Ship), and animal-loving (grown) orphan, Ash y Goedwig (Darren Evans, Galavant). We also have those of more noble birth, such as Baron Erik Ventris (Brian F. O’Byrne, Aquarius), his wife, Lady Love (Flora Spencer-Longhurst, Leonardo), and their chamberlain / adviser Milus Corbett (Stephen Moyer, True Blood). There are those that serve the wealthy, like Isabel Kiffin (Sarah White) and Luca Maddox (Ethan Griffiths), those who run in their circles, like Father Ruskin (Timothy V. Murphy, True Detective), and those who head up other factions, like Gruffudd y Blaidd (Matthew Rhys, The Americans.) Plus, society has a fringe in the form of witchy woman Annora of the Alders (Katey Sagal, Futurama, Sons of Anarchy, and Sutter’s real-life wife) and her protector, The Dark Mute (Sutter himself). So, as you can see, even if multiple of those mentioned don’t make it past the first two hours, there is really a lot going on. And this is not the full cast list by any means.

That actually makes it a bit hard to get into. I spent most of the pilot just trying to keep everyone straight and figure out what was going on. However, while dense, the script does lend itself to helping one along. The two-hour running time of the initial installment is welcome, providing plenty of opportunity to get to know people right away, and even the more minor characters have clear motivations, so they seem like a valuable part of the world, making you want to learn more about them. It took effort, but by the end of the initial offering, I was invested in the tale.

The setting is impressive. A village was built in Wales, and the production uses a mostly British cast for authenticity. This means you don’t have to worry about which part of California they tried to convert into a British locale. While it’s hard to nail all the details of such a long-ago time, and Sutter admits that’s why he didn’t even attempt to shape speech patterns, it does feel like a consistent, fully-realized world.

I will warn you, this is definitely not for children. I mentioned brutal violence in the first paragraph, and I probably undersold it. There are multiple disturbing, gruesome scenes that go further than anything I’ve ever seen on a basic cable series. There is nudity, too, and not just a butt, as FX is occasionally known to do, though it doesn’t occur nearly as often as on an HBO show. So please, watch this after your kids go to bed.

The one thing THE BASTARD EXECUTIONER is missing is a solid hook. Wilkin is interesting enough, and there are not any obvious weak points in the cast. But neither are there a lot of stand-out characters, save perhaps Annora and The Dark Mute. Game of Thrones, for instance, has personalities like Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Cersei Lannister, Brienne of Tarth, Daenerys Targaryen, and many more that suck one in and motivate viewers to come back. Wilkin and Milus are intriguing, but they don’t have the same level of magnetism, and because of that, I’m not really excited about the show. This can develop in time, though, and overall, it is well made, so I’ll give it a chance.

THE BASTARD EXECUTIONER premieres September 15th on FX.

A TO Z Tells Complete Story

Article first published as A TO Z Review on Seat42F.

2014 is shaping up to be the fall of rom-com sitcoms. NBC joins the party with A TO Z, which I mistakenly hoped to be the long-awaited original Star Trek spin-off following librarian Mr. Atoz, but is instead a charming tale of two people destined to be together, saddled with a slightly clunky premise.

In the pilot, we meet Andrew (Ben Feldman, Mad Men), a hopeless romantic who works for an online dating website because he actually believes in helping people find love. Unfortunately, his choice of companies may be misguided because his boss, Big Bird (Christina Kirk, Along Came Polly), would prefer her employees help people hook up, not find a spouse, since the latter costs them customers. Before Andrew’s spirit is killed, though, he meets the one he’s been searching for, Zelda (Cristin Milioti, How I Met Your Mother), a lawyer who works in the next building over who doesn’t exactly believe in dating.

A TO Z is the most obvious heir-apparent to the recently ended, popular How I Met Your Mother. It features a narrator, Katey Sagal (Sons of Anarchy, Futurama), telling a finite tale (she says in the pilot that Andrew and Zelda date for a little over eight months and this series is the story of that relationship) about a guy’s search for “the one” and some kooky friends.

But there are differences. I mean, could A TO Z really make nine seasons our of an eight-month timeframe? Well, admittedly, HIMYM stretched one weekend into an entire year. More likely, though, the narration refers only to the first season of the show, and then the couple will go from there in one of several different directions. Those could be a break up and restart in a seconding dating run or an engagement. Probably the former, knowing how network television likes to stretch things out.

I’m glad to see Milioti back on the small screen so soon. She really made an impression in HIMYM, and is pretty much the perfect girl for a sitcom such as this. Feldman is equally well-cast, not being as creepily obsessive as his Mad Men character, but still exhibiting some of the same traits that seem natural to the actor. Their parts are the more modern version of a couple, the emotional guy and the trust-troubled girl, the type I find relatable, even if the fact that they are together is a tad unrealistic.

So far, the other cast members are more punchlines than complex individuals. There is little impression made by Andrew’s co-workers, Dinesh (Parvesh Cheena, Outsourced) and Lora (Hong Chau, Treme), hopefully not in place just to make the group diverse, though that is certainly a benefit of their casting. Zelda’s friend, Stephie (Lenora Crichlow, the UK’s Being Human), and Andrew’s pal, Stu (Henry Zebrowski, Your Prety Face Is Going to Hell), have an unlikely history that is mined for laughs and forced drama. But presumably they will have to become full-fledged personalities if the show goes on for long.

Yes, destiny and coincidence are linchpins of A TO Z, which is what stretches believability more than anything else. In episode one, Andrew claims to have once seen Zelda across the room at a bad concert and fell head over heels at first glance, picturing a future together including children. It only temporarily sends Zelda scrambling for the hills, but it should do more than that. It’s a nice story if true, but whether or not it is, the fact that Andrew fixates on it so immediately and strongly seems more warning sign that sweet gesture.

Perhaps that’s the cynic in me, having once been like Andrew, but finding the world a little less idealistic. Ridiculous as some twists are, they don’t totally ruin my enjoyment of a show that is sure to be entertaining and heartwarming, if nothing else, and will probably get a season pass on my TiVo.

A TO Z premieres Thursday, October 2^nd at 9:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Blu-ray Review: ‘Futurama Volume 8′

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: ‘Futurama Volume 8′ on Blogcritics.

Finally, the last episodes of Futurama have hit Blu-ray. No, seriously. The series, which was canceled on FOX, found new life on DVD and in four straight-to-disc movies, and was resurrected for a few more years on Comedy Central, has been canceled again, and Futurama Volume 8 has the very last 13 episodes of Futurama that will ever be made. For now.

Most of Volume 8 is good. Better than the other Comedy Central episodes, hands down. Something that plagued the series all during its reboot was an inability to stick to continuity in terms of character relationships, and because Futurama is more heart than laughs, that’s important. This batch, in keeping with the trend, is amusing, but not overly so. More importantly, though, even though Fry (Billy West) and Leela (Katey Sagal) finally get together just prior to the start of the CC run, the show can never seem to make up its mind if they are a couple of not. Until at the end of this set, the matter is (mostly) settled, making for better installments near the conclusion.

The episodes on the two DVDs are presented in production order, not broadcast order. This means that the two that aired first, “2-D Blacktop” and “Fry and Leela’s Big Fling,” are episodes two and four on the discs, respectively. Though, as Futurama rarely has plot that extends from week to week (with returning threads coming back much later, not in consecutive installments), that shouldn’t matter.

The best episodes in Volume 8 include: “T.: The Terrestrial,” in which Fry is left behind on Omicron Persei 8 and lives out E.T. as an alien’s pet; “Saturday Morning Fun Pit,” a take off of traditional weekend cartoons in a trilogy of minisodes; “Calculon 2.0,” in which Bender tries to resurrect deceased ham-of-an-actor Calculon (Maurice LaMarche); “Game of Tones,” a mission back to 1999 and the series’ pilot, and Fry visits his mother; “Murder on the Planet Express,” where the crew are killed off on the ship, a la Alien; and “Stench and Stenchibility,” in which Zoidberg (Billy West) finally finds love.

I did not include series finale “Meanwhile,” on the list because it deserves its own paragraph (or more). Perhaps knowing their time was at an end, the Futurama writers sought to match the stellar previous series finale, “The Devil’s Hands Are Idle Playthings.” Knowing that the element of the show serious fans are most invested in is the relationship between Fry and Leela, “Meanwhile” seeks to finally make good on that romance as much as can be made.

The result is a bittersweet world in which Fry and Leela are the last two people on Earth. Their friends (and everyone else) are frozen in time, and the pair spend an entire lifetime together, traveling the globe by their lonesome, happy to share each others’ company. It’s incredibly sweet and moving, and we get to see them find the ending they deserve at long last. Plus, there are cameos from most of the beloved recurring characters through their journey, a nice capper.

The end of “Meanwhile” is a bit of a cheat, leaving the door open to make more episodes or movies, should the series have the chance to do so (please let it be so). Yet, at the same time, it also pays off for the marriage, too. For a full review of the episode, click here.

Volume 8 boasts audio commentary on all 13 episodes. I can’t remember the last time a series did that, and it’s certainly welcome. There’s also a second commentary for “Game of Tones,” the second best episode in this set after “Meanwhile,” featuring the animators. Plus, deleted scenes are included, as well as a look at both the writers’ room and the animation process. It’s a satisfying bunch of extras.

I have found that animation that was originally made in high definition (as Futurama is) pretty much always looks great on Blu-ray. More than film, cartoons have the ability to shape the image exactly how they want, and there’s little better than watching sharp, finely detailed, well-drawn shows like this. Futurama doesn’t typically break new ground in effects, but the quality is high and consistent throughout the episodes. The sound is equally clear, even without many frills, providing a very pleasing viewing and listening experience.

Futurama Volume 8 is available now.

FUTURAMA Canceled, "Meanwhile"...

Article first published as FUTURAMA Canceled, "Meanwhile"... on TheTVKing.

After resurrecting it for a scant few years, Comedy Central recently canceled Futurama. This week's episode, "Meanwhile," in which Professor Farnsworth (Billy West) invents a button that can send a person back in time ten seconds, will serve as the second series finale. Thank goodness it ranks among the most memorable and best written episodes of Futurama ever produced.

Futurama is supposed to be an animated comedy, but it has always been strongest when it tugs on viewers' emotions. Sure, sometimes it delivers funny jokes, but it rarely fails to jerk a tear when it tries. If one thinks back to the stand-out installments in the original run, episodes such as Fry (also West) giving up his hands to the Robot Devil in order to play a sweet song for Leela (Katey Sagal), or Fry's dog faithfully waiting back in 1999 for him to return home (he never does), are at the top of the list.

Which is why the Comedy Central run, taken as a whole, is inferior to the FOX airings. FOX, and the subsequent straight-to-DVD movies, get it right. On Comedy Central, Fry and Lee's relationship is never certain and rarely touch on, and most half hours go for the gag, rather than continuity or story.

That is, until these past few weeks. Perhaps knowing their time is up, the writers delivered a string of episodes done right. We see Zoidberg (West again) finally find love, Fry pledge to love Leela even as she grows into a mutant, and Fry going back in time to say goodbye to his mother. These are what we are longing for, and they finally arrive.

"Meanwhile" continues that proud tradition. After a near-death experience, Fry decides that he cannot live without Leela and must propose. He stages the perfect way to pop the question, but because he doesn't adjust his watch for the time travel he engages in, believes Leela doesn't want him. Distraught, he jumps to his death, only to realize his mistake and see Leela coming to accept the proposal on his way down.

From here, Fry, using the ten-second button (that takes ten seconds to recharge), becomes stuck in a time loop, always falling, but never landing. This is such a bittersweet moment. He will get to experience the joy of knowing Leela loves him over and over again, but also face death if he forgets to hit the button every ten seconds (like a fast-track Lost). Leela, meanwhile, only sees Fry falling to his death repeatedly.

The time loop is broken unexpectedly, thanks to teamwork from the rest of the Planet Express delivery team, but in the fixing Farnsworth is seemingly killed and time freezes for everyone but Fry and Leela.

I am disappointed Leela and Fry don't take a moment to grieve the professor, or say anything about missing their friends. However, watching them stage a wedding (with their frozen pals in attendance) and travel the world growing old together is enough to overcome these flaws. We finally get to see their happy ending, what it would be like for them to truly together. Without any of the distractions of the world around them, they are able to focus on each other, and the result is lovely taken to the extreme.

Also, while they walk through the frozen world, we get cameos by a number of Futurama's recurring characters, a tribute to what the series has been over the years.

In the end, though, Farnsworth isn't dead and visits them in their old age, ready to reset time back to before he invented the button. Though they won't remember their lives together, Fry and Leela agree to go back, too, giving themselves the opportunity to do it all over again.

This is cool because there is no doubt on the part of the happy couple. They are both certain they will be together and find joy, even if they don't remember this particular proposal and scenario. This solidifies what we suspect, that the pair are meant to be man and wife, and that they will share love no matter what happens. Given the depressing state of their romantic entanglement in earlier adventures, this is the way Futurama must end, giving fans exactly what they want.

Though it also opens the door for further episodes of the type we're familiar with, should anyone else decide to rescue it again. (I'm looking at you, TBS!)

Blu-ray Review: ‘Sons of Anarchy: Season Five’

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: ‘Sons of Anarchy: Season Five’ on Blogcritics.

FX’s Sons of Anarchy Season Five, now available in a three-disc Blu-ray release, is an exciting one for the Northern California biker gang at its center. Much is thrown up in the hour because of new leadership and new alliances. Some major players enter into the mix in a big way, relationships fall apart, violence has never been more prevalent, and betrayals are revealed. For fans of FX’s most popular series, this batch of thirteen episodes is great.

As Season Five begins, Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) now has command of SAMCRO, but this certainly isn’t an easy job for him, especially when trying to get the guys involved with prostitution, on top of their gun and drug sales. His son’s mother, Tara (Maggie Siff), doesn’t adjust well to being “queen” of the gang, and would prefer Jax give up his dangerous activities. Clay (Ron Perlman), Jax’s step-father and the former president of SAMCRO, is still around, and would like his old position back. New character Nero Padilla (Jimmy Smits) is bedding Gemma (Katey Sagal), who can’t quite let go of Clay, much as she might want to. A brutally vicious man named Damon Pope (Harold Perrineau, Lost), who has business-like precision, shows up looking for revenge.

As always, the acting is amazing. Sagal delivers an even more complex performance than before, and adding veterans like Smitts and Perrineau to an already excellent cast only raises the bar. Hunnam also shines in his character’s increased role, deftly playing the man trying to keep a delicate balance of semi-peace. As much as the gun fights and avenge killings may draw viewers in, so many wouldn’t stay without these truly memorable characters, wonderfully and fully created here.

Things get even worse when a gun battle with the One-Niners erupts in the premiere. This attack, brought on as an attempt to balance scales that will never be balanced, threatens deals that SAMCRO has, and also attracts the attention of law enforcement, which may be a bit more eager to catch the bikers than ensure justice.

Once again, I am struck by how sympathetic these characters, who are basically criminals, are. They have their own codes and rule structure, and at least some of their motivation is altruistic, protecting the town of Charming. Yet, even as they work in the seedy underbelly of illegal organizations, fans will still root for Jax to succeed or Gemma to triumph. They are truly well-written, well-rounded individuals.

The momentum this season is intense. Conflict builds and situations grow more complicated from week to week. The tension mounts in organic ways, always heading towards something, never floundering. Each episode gives another layer of plot, while simultaneously serving larger goals, which satisfyingly come to a head at the end of the year in the most unpredictable of ways. And, of course, a major player bites the dust.

Blu-ray is definitely the way to go on this one. Sons of Anarchy has a very dark color scheme, with a lot of blacks and browns. The contrast when viewed in high definition is great, with plenty of detail in the shadow and layers clearly visible. Similarly, the motorcycle roars and ambient noise of the many outdoor sequences are best experienced in HD, and the Blu-ray boasts an excellently mixed soundtrack.

Sons of Anarchy: Season Five is well-packed with bonus features. There are roughly fifteen minutes of deleted scenes, a couple of very cool audio commentaries, and extended episodes. The gag reel is pretty amusing, and series creator Kurt Sutter talks about how he keeps the show from growing stale. “Opie Winston” is exactly what one would expect it to be if they’ve watched these episodes, and “Fan Concert at the Club House” is a twenty-minute featurette documenting fans visiting the set and hearing great music, including the lovely voice of Katey Sagal.

Sons of Anarchy Season Five is available now.

FUTURAMA "Fling" With Comedy Central Almost Over

Article first published as FUTURAMA "Fling" With Comedy Central Almost Over on TheTVKing.

Futurama, which Comedy Central resurrected years after its cancellation by FOX, is near the end again. Last night, the first two episodes of the back half of season seven, which will be the show's last, aired. Like much of the cable run, they were very mediocre, occasionally funny, and still bitter sweet, with the ending in sight by fans, though not the players.

The first half, "2-D Blacktop," is part Fast and Furious parody, part adventure in two dimensions. Not liking the car racing flicks, the first part of the episode, where Professor Farnsworth (voiced by Billy West) soups up the Planet Express ship and joins a drag racing gang, feels kind of flat. Yes, we see Farnsworth behaving in an amusing way, but it's not the type of story that really fits his role, nor does it tie into much that we've seen from him before.

Worse, there is a supporting character tossed into "2-D Blacktop" who complains about being emotionally abused by her father, who apparently didn't say certain things to her. This is a recurring plot throughout the half hour, culminating in her seemingly getting a call from her dad that makes it all right. It's not funny, doesn't fit, and makes little sense in the scheme. We'll probably never see the character again, thankfully, but she is pointless here.

Then the Planet Express ship crashes and Farnsworth, Fry (also West), Leela (Katey Sagal), and Bender (John DiMaggio) are transported into a literally flat universe. Ironic, considering that that's the part of the episode that jumps up and gets interesting. I wish more time was spent in this realm, as playing with the physics and rules of the new universe is enjoyable and part of what Futurama does in its best days - geeky humor.

"2-D Blacktop" would have been redeemable has the new Planet Express ship stuck around past the end of the thirty minutes, but inexplicably it has disappeared by the next episode. Why?

Part two is entitled "Fry and Leela's Big Fling." The characters mentioned in the episode's moniker take a romantic vacation where they encounter Leela's penny-pinching ex. Many long-time fans of the show love to see the pair together, and wish the relationship would be handled with more care and consistency during the rebirth. Granted, it's not much different than in the original episodes, but that's kind of the point, since the filler movies, released after the cancellation, mature and grew this into something beautiful that has since been squandered.

Unfortunately, it's not handled super well in "Fry and Leela's Big Fling," either. At first, the pair are sneaking around, trying not to show their co-workers that they are intimate. Then, they don't care. Once on the trip itself, they seem completely stable and comfortable together, then things get awkward and tense, and it's not just the interloper that causes this, and then they go back to being solid again. It's like the entire inconsistency of the past couple of years is condensed and replayed in a half hour.

The fact that their vacation spot ends up being in an ape-run planet's zoo, with primates surreptitiously watching them make love, is absolutely perfect! I adore the Planet of the Apes take-off, a return of old characters, and tying Fry and Leela's story into several other characters' scenes. It's well crafted in such a way where one can admire the storytelling, and there are some gags that land. I especially admire the revelation that Leela and her ex are manipulated into running into one another.

The only thing that doesn't make sense are that the monkeys have old-style cameras. There are cell phones mixed in as well, but as much as the future portrayed in the show mimics today's world, having cameras there is just dumb and doesn't belong.

What's most disappointing is that nothing will likely pay-off. Animated shows take awhile to make, and going into this batch of installments, no one knew it was ending. Futurama sets itself apart from others of its ilk because the characters can actually be dynamic and there is continuity. As such, it deserves a true bookend, not just a handful of typical entries. Lackluster these past couple of years as it may be, it'll still be sad to see it go without the ending it deserves. Maybe some more films can be made?

Futurama airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on Comedy Central.

Glee Not So "Wonder-ful"

Article first published as TV Review: Glee - "Wonder-ful" on Blogcritics. 

Regionals are fast approaching, so in this week's installment of FOX's Glee, titled "Wonder-ful," Will (Matthew Morrison), still inexplicably sans Finn (Cory Monteith), has the New Directions sing the music of Stevie Wonder. Which also carries over to characters not at McKinley, for some reason, and no one gripes about it, even though a frequent concern among the students is that the music Will likes is too old.

"Wonder-ful" provides a lot to complain about. From giant plot holes, to confusing character developments, to a pretty boring soundtrack, there is little about this episode I liked. "Wonder-ful" is great in small doses, but the further into the hour we go, the less interesting the songs, which include "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours," "I Wish," "Higher Ground," and "For Once in My Life," become. Also, theme weeks worked when the character were all together, but now that series has multiple settings, it's time to stop them.

Also, I know Finn's absence is out of the control of the show's creators, Monteith having been in rehab, but can't we get a line of dialogue that establishes why he's no longer around? It doesn't make sense for the story that he's just gone.


That's not the only thing that doesn't add up in "Wonder-ful." Kitty (Becca Tobin) suddenly takes an interest in Artie (Kevin McHale), getting Artie's mother (Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy) involved in helping him choose a college. Why is Kitty doing this? Isn't she with Puck (Mark Salling)? And there is no chemistry between her and Artie, so it's hard to believe that she might be interested in him.

Artie has been accepted into a film school in Brooklyn, which all but guarantees he'll be joining the New York crew next year. This is very disappointing because Artie is one of those characters who I am anxious to see depart the series. It was bad enough he seemed to do senior year twice, now he's sticking around after high school? He has never had an interesting story, and he tends to drag down the episodes that focus on him. Glee would be better served letting him wheel off into the sunset, rarely, if ever, to be seen again.

Speaking of those who should move on, Mercedes (Amber Riley) comes back to Ohio to film a music video, intending to use Mike Chang (Harry Shum Jr.) and Jake (Jacob Artist) as her back-up dancers. As much as I miss and love Mercedes, are we really supposed to believe she already has a record deal, and enough influence to move production of said album to a small town in Ohio, as well as pick her dancers? She must be the most sought-after artist of her generation!


Except she's not, as we quickly find out, when she loses her deal because she refuses to act sexy in the album's cover shoot. I understand holding onto one's morals, and it's a good message for Glee to promote, but it's not realistic. It's not like Mercedes is asked to go nude. What's wrong with showing off a little shoulder or cleavage to get a career off the ground? She makes a big mistake walking away over something so minor. If they aren't going to be used properly, it's time for Mercedes, and Mike, to move on.

The one good thing Mercedes does during her visit is to encourage Marley (Melissa Benoist) to find her inner diva, as we see happen when they perform "Superstition" together. I hope this is something that sticks because Marley has slowly been coming out of her shell, and she's very good. I'd like to see her take over as leader of the group next year. She can handle it. Combined with Jake's dancing, they are our new power couple.

Kurt (Chris Colfer) also returns to Ohio, but he has a valid reason to visit, as his dad, Burt (Mike O'Malley), has an appointment to learn if his cancer treatment has been working. It has, thankfully, and Burt's disease is in remission.


I love Kurt / Burt stuff, but as far as father / son moments go, Kurt singing "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" just fails to deliver. It's not the right forum to be sweet; most of the group isn't involved, so it doesn't feel right in the choir room in front of everyone, and Burt's enthusiasm for it is just a little too over the top.

Also, why does Kurt exhibit bad OCD when he is worried, but this is almost immediately dropped, without Blaine (Darren Criss) even getting a chance to bring it up? Blaine clearly notices the odd behavior at the coffee shop. Why doesn't this go anywhere? It doesn't seem like the type of thing that will be addressed next week in the season finale, and with so little time left this year, it likely will not be mentioned again.

Something that may or may not make it into the finale is Blaine's desire to propose to Kurt. Blaine has a terrific scene with Burt, asking for Burt's blessing. Burt shoots him down, but not unkindly, basically telling Blaine that the boys are too young. Blaine later chickens out asking Kurt, but that doesn't mean he won't screw up the courage later.

I applaud Glee for allowing Burt to view Blaine's request merely as an age issue, rather than a legal one, with Burt establishing he vocally supports gay marriage. This is the mindset we need to have, as a society, in order for equality to take root.

But Burt's right, Blaine and Kurt are too young. Not to mention, they haven't been dating since early fall. Going from barely being in each other's lives to getting married, skipping the romance steps in between, is a horrible idea.

In New York, Rachel (Lea Michele) must ask Cassandra July (Kate Hudson) to move a midterm for her so that she can attend a 2nd callback for Funny Girl on Broadway. To her surprise, Cassandra not only agrees, but leads the class in singing and dancing "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" with Rachel, telling the student that she will succeed.


I'm sorry, but I don't buy Cassandra's about-face. It comes out of nowhere, and is in stark contrast to the way she has treated Rachel all year. There has never been a hint that Cassandra's sternness might be covering up a soft heart, as the film trope goes, and Cassandra has been downright petty. She has to be up to something, hoping to sabotage Rachel. If not, this is a pretty poor turn of events.

Other complaints about this episode include Will's sudden re-engagement to Emma (Jayma Mays), with no explanation or reconciliation shown, and the continued absence of Joe (Samuel Larsen) and Sugar (Vanessa Lengies). At least where Brittany (Heather Morris) is this week is explained, but the other two are just gone, and have been for far too long.

So what can we expect from next week's season finale? There's a lot to get through! Sue (Jane Lynch) must be re-instated and Becky's (Lauren Potter) story resolved, the New Directions have to go to Regionals, Will will marry Emma, and Rachel has her audition. If we're lucky, Glee will have time to jump forward and show the graduation of the seniors, but that seems to be stretching things at this point, especially as I haven't heard anything about a two-hour finale, which feels necessary. Maybe they could wrap up this school year next fall? Doubtful, but it seems like they sort of need to.

Glee, which has already been renewed for two more reasons, concludes its fourth year next Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

Futurama builds "The Six Million Dollar Mon"

In the latest installment of Comedy Central's Futurama, "The Six Million Dollar Mon," Hermes (Phil LaMarr) is disgraced after being rated the least valuable employee at Planet Express and fired, replaced by a machine. It doesn't matter that he is the one who does the firing to himself, it still hurts. Adding insult to injury, Hermes is almost mugged by crazy Roberto (David Herman). To cope with these events, Hermes begins getting robot implants, until there is nothing human left about him.

"The Six Million Dollar Mon" is, overall, a very good episode. It really focuses on the characters of Hermes and Zoidberg (Billy West), exploring their relationship, and their personalities. Futurama is at its strongest when it takes the time to work with what it already has, which are fully developed, complex characters. Adventures are nice, but character exploration is what makes good television great.

The episode uses these individuals and their quirks to be funny. When Zoidberg thinks Hermes's meanness towards him is Hermes's way of showing affection, it's sweet. When we learn that Hermes really does hate Zoidberg, it informs on the way their characters interact, and is tragically amusing. Zoidberg building the Hermes puppet continues this trend, simultaneous making us laugh at the visual gag, but also feel sorry for poor, pathetic Zoidberg, knowing this is his way of coping with not truly having any friends. Many people can relate to this.

Add to that, Professor Farnsworth (also West) acting as a mad scientist, and Scruffy (also Herman) refusing to fix anything that is not a boiler or a toilet, and there are some truly classic moments. Best of all is Bender (John DiMaggio) being fascinated with a machine that bends, and appearing jealous of Hermes's shiny metal ass, a trademark catchphrase of Bender's.

There are a couple of smart plot twists in "The Six Million Dollar Mon." Once Roberto is executed, and then Mecha Hermes wants a robot brain, it's fairly predictable what is going to happen. Still, it seems clever, even if it's a trope used in other fiction, because of the sincerity it is played with. Ditto for Zoidberg rebuilding Hermes piece by piece. One can see where the writers are going, but it's still fun to be taken along for the ride. It's the seamless way it all ties together that kicks the story a notch above the norm.

Plus, Futurama really delivers the references in this episode. From the title, a play on the television show of almost the same name, Hermes getting a Cylon eye, and seeing Helper's grave in the robot cemetery, "The Six Millon Dollar Mon" has goodies for geeks galore, whether one is a fan of The Venture Brothers or Battlestar Galactica. These are more than just cut scenes, a la Family Guy, but actually add to the value of the plot here.

That being said, it isn't a perfect episode. The sequence where LaBarbara's (Dawnn Lewis) curry drips through a number of different places, finally burning the Robot Devil (Dan Castellaneta), is a throwback to the other animated shows that lack the ingenuity and cleverness of Futurama. Worse, Leela (Katey Sagal) and Amy (Lauren Tom) invite a distracted Fry (West again) to shower with them in a cheap joke that is totally out of character for all involved.

Still, Futurama delivers more consistently than most, and remains a must-watch show, even after the many years of episodes that have come before this one. Catch Futurama Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on Comedy Central.

Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com.  If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Article first published on TheTVKing

Futurama returns with "The Bots and the Bees" and "Farewell to Arms"

Futurama TM and © 2012 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Comedy Central's FUTURAMA returned with two new episodes last night to kick off the season. Having been resurrected for a couple of years now, the show has gotten back into the groove that made it so great before being cancelled by FOX. Both episodes that aired last night are funny, somewhat ignoring of continuity, and have a heartfelt arc. So, they are classic FUTURAMA.

The first half hour is called "The Bots and the Bees." Bender (John Di Maggio) doesn't take a shine to the new soda machine, Bev (Wanda Sykes), very quickly. But after she kills his night with two slutbots, they end up fighting, which turns into lovemaking. Shortly thereafter, Bev gives birth to a son, whom Bender names Ben. While Bender tries to abandon the lad, as is completely in character for him, Bev does so first, leaving Bender to be a single parent.

Bender seems like he usually gets the least amount of emotional development of any of the major characters because he is so callous and self-centered. But "The Bots and the Bees" takes the rare side trip of exposing Bender's soul. The mechanics of how the baby is made and grows might not make much sense in reality, but the feelings and attachment feels authentic, and that's far more important. Bender sacrifices everything to be a good dad, even allowing Ben's memories of his father to be wiped so that Ben can fulfill his dream of being a bender.

It's sad that Ben will probably not return to the show again. In its infancy, FUTURAMA added new recurring characters frequently, and brought them back repeatedly. Since the re-launch, no one notable has joined the cast, making it seem like Ben is probably destined to be a one-shot player. This is too bad because there are plenty of stories that could still be mined from Bender's fatherly role, and it would be fun to see Ben interact with the other Planet Express employees' children. If the plan is, indeed, to abandon Ben as surely as Bev does in the episode, would the creative team please reconsider?

Even in the funniest FUTURAMA stories, the level of depth exposed in the characters raises the series a notch above most of its peers. Other animated shows might touch on the heart, but only FUTURAMA embraces it so completely, developing dynamic, fully realized characters. Yes, this episode is very funny, with lots of laughs, especially during Fry's (Billy West) B story, where he drinks so much Slurm that he turns bright green, so much so that he becomes a sort of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. But that isn't all there is to it. It's this combination of humor and emotion that makes FUTURAMA so great.

It must also be said that the opening of "The Bots and the Bees," with the Planetary Express symbol instantly bringing the crew back together, even when some of them are battling for their lives against a giant space spider, works beautifully. FUTURAMA likes to go big in season openings, and this one certainly brings the fans back in cleverly, delivering a great bit immediately.

The second half hour, "Farewell to Arms," is even better than the first. Fry finds some ancient Martian writings under New New York, which Amy (Lauren Tom) is asked to translate. She says that the world will end because of some solar flares. Electronics stop working, so mankind cannot flee the planet in their spaceships. However, near the writing there is a stone rocket ship that can save 30,000 people. A computerized selection process occurs, and certain people are chosen, a varied sampling from which to continue the human race. Upon arriving on Mars, the "survivors" discover that the prophecy actually foretells the destruction of the red planet, not Earth.

Yes, the 2012 story is an obvious target, and changing Mayan to Martian in 3012 in a thinly veiled parallel isn't exactly brilliant, nor does it feel original. Yet, "Farewell to Arms" works because FUTURAMA so fully commits to the conceit. It's almost a commentary on the craziness of the 2012, with several characters making comments about how silly prophecies are. In this, it works very well. While many outlets of pop culture have tackled the 2012 story in a number of ways, FUTURAMA has top writers who deliver a high quality episode.

Like "The Bots and the Bees," soul is at the center of "Farewell to Arms." This episode returns to the Fry and Lee relationship, which is routinely ignored for long stretches of time. Fry keeps making romantic gestures, but in keeping with his character, they always go wrong. Fry gives up his seat to Mars to save Leela, who is not one of the chosen, and then Mars is almost destroyed. It's so bad that Leela almost doesn't let Fry try to save her from Mars, which happens to pass extremely close to New New York, and when she finally does, they both end up with their arms torn off, hence the title of this installment.

Plus, Leela being grossed out about grabbing her own severed arm, which isn't bleeding and somehow must not hurt, is amusing in the context.

When will FUTURAMA just let Fry and Leela be a couple? The effort has been put in, and the DVD-released movies while the series was off-air took the time to make any relationship between them feel earned. "Farewell to Arms" reminds us of the love between them, which makes the episodes where this chemistry is absent seem a bit off. More follow up to this would be greatly appreciated.

FUTURAMA is funny about continuity, in that sometimes it is abandoned all together, while other times past events matter very much to the present. Let's hope Mars' new position, as a close moon to Earth, becomes permanent. After all, this heralds a fantastic Amy episode, as her parents live on Mars, should FUTURAMA pursue this path.

FUTURAMA airs new episodes Wednesdays at 10 PM ET on Comedy Central.

Futurama Volume 6 now on Blu-ray and DVD

     Now out on Blu-ray and DVD from FOX is Futurama Volume 6. The sixth volume contains the second half of season six, the batch of episodes that aired this past summer. Concerning the blu-ray edition, there are two discs with thirteen episodes, as well as some special features. The episodes are in production order, which is not the order in which they aired. For instance, the two episodes that originally kicked off the summer run are numbers 7 and 4 in this set. For Futurama fans, this latest release is needed to complete the collection.

     When Comedy Central ordered new episodes of the canceled animated series Futurama, many rejoiced. The sixth season, the first original one on cable, was twenty-six episodes long, split over two years. Volume 6 contains the second batch of thirteen. But it is far from the capstone on the series that resists death. Next year, Comedy Central will present another batch of thirteen installments, followed by the second half of "season seven" sometime in 2013. So there's plenty of life left in this series.

     The quality of Futurama to be found in Volume 6 lives up to the standard set by the show. Bender (John DiMaggio), certainly a fan favorite character, gets lot to do. In "The Silence of the Clamps," he is forced to enter a witness relocation program as he flees from the Robot Mafia. "Benderama" provides Bender will the ability to replicate himself in ever smaller copies, which eventually threatens to destroy Earth. After Bender's death in "Ghost in the Machine," his spirit haunts the Planet Express crew. "Overclockwise" sees Bender evolve into a god with very high processing power, looking down on the mere mortals he used to reluctantly call "friends."

     But, of course, there are other characters besides Bender, and Futurama Volume 6 should satisfy them as well. "Mobius Dick" is a wonderful parody of Moby Dick, with Leela (Katey Sagal) on the hunt for an elusive white space whale who can travel into a fourth dimension, while "Yo Leela Leela" casts the one-eyed beauty as the star of a children's series. "The Tip of the Zoidberg" delves into the Professor (Billy West) and Zoidberg's (also West) past, giving some background info that fans never knew before. "All the President's Heads" sends the Planet Express crew back to the American Revolution. "Cold Warriors" has Fry (also West) reintroducing the extinct common cold to mankind. And "Reincarnation" is particularly memorable, as the characters are shown in three different animation styles.

     This set has a handful of extras. Most importantly, all thirteen episodes have audio commentary available to them. Roughly fifteen minutes of deleted scenes are included, split between the two discs, some of which are fully animated, and some not quite finished.

     Three featurettes give more depth to the series. "Professor Farnsworth's Science of a Scene" takes a look at how the giant Bender inside-head set was created for "Overclockwise." But rather than get too technical or dry, much time is spent speaking with those involved in the show, who give an overview of their process, as well as share some musings on the show at large. Similarly, "Reincarnation Explained!" features Peter Avanzino, the director of the episode "Reincarnation," discussing the various animation styles featured, but also the impact of Futurama on him, and his take on animation in general. Funniest is "Futurama F.A.Q. (Frequently Axed Questions)," where those involved in the show answer fan questions, usually humorously. It's not clear if these are actual questions sent in by fans, but the short is very entertaining, though a little sparse on real responses.

     Overall, Futurama Volume 6 is a good buy, with some great content to hold fans over until season seven premieres this summer. Buy your copy today.

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Futurama is living proof of "Reincarnation"

     It's been over a year since Comedy Central began the first new season of Futurama since FOX's cancellation of the series. But with "Reincarnation" last night, season six comes to an end. In the episode, the Planet Express crew face three stories in different animation styles (Steamboat Willie era, 8 bit video game, and anime), each with some connection to a mysterious comet. While the connecting device is never fully explained, Futurama delivers its trademark humor, and gives fans a little something different than what they're used to with two really high level bits, and a final, plain fun one.

     The first vignette involves Fry (Billy West) trying to secure an engagement ring for Leela (Katey Sagal). Their romance is a continuing thread that was explored quite heavily in the straight-to-DVD films, and then barely touched on throughout season six, at least until last week's episode, which revealed that they would eventually have a happy ending. "Reincarnation" does what so many other Futurama episodes do, which is allow Fry to touchingly pursue his one-eyed crush, and she responds to it, but the story will have no lasting consequence to continuity. It's disappointing that the animated show refuses to take that bold move and give their two leads a real relationship after so many seasons. On the other hand, this stand alone story, which ends with Fry proposing to Leela, then the two getting froze in the moment, only to end up as a stone in an alien engagement ring a billion years later, is emotionally very satisfying. Not the ending the series will go with, but a nice plot, nonetheless.

     The second story has Professor Farnsworth (also West) discovering the final answer to science, thus leaving nothing more for mankind to pursue. Even Stephen Hawking (voicing himself, or rather, his own head in a jar) is impressed. Farnsworth brings a startling halt to progress, and to make matters worse, almost no one cares. While Farnsworth goes crazy with nothing to solve, his employees veg out in front of the TV. Then Farnsworth begins to wonder why the universe is the way it is, opening up a whole new avenue to explore. Which his loved ones think means he has wasted his life as a scientist, but Farnsworth sees it as quite the opposite.

     It's rare that a cartoon would delve into the inner workings of human motivation, and the nature of science, in such a profound way. While still being humorous, this is a really neat brain exercise, made even more ironic when presented in such a low-tech animation style. The addition of Hawking to the episode lends gravitas to the concept, and gives smarter viewers something to ponder long after the episode ends.

     Finally, the third bit involves a race that does not have mouths coming to conquer the planet after they are accidentally insulted. Our main characters can do nothing to stop them, until Zoidberg (also West) sheds his skin and does a very complex, but not shown, dance. This isn't a deep story, but it works on a funny level. Having the aliens (via subtitles) express that they have never heard of mouths, and so do not understand the humans' attempt to communicate with them is funny, as is Zoidberg's unseen movements, and Farnsworth's startlingly different voice. An obvious voice over of the word "English" when a character mouths "Japanese" also tickles. Not highly intelligent, it's OK to go light after two much deeper plots.

     Futurama will get a seventh season! Expect it to return to Comedy Central, likely next summer.

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Good news everyone! Futurama has returned!

    In 2003, after five seasons on the air (released in four DVD volumes; Wikipedia wrongly lists the four volumes as four seasons), Fox canceled Futurama.  Like so many bad decisions the network has made (canceling the amazingly awesome Firefly and Dollhouse and renewing the terrible Human Target spring to mind), this one was unacceptable.  However, luckily, the story doesn't end there.  In the last three years, four straight to DVD movies of the Futurama crew have been released.  And then Comedy Central asked for more episodes.  Last night, the culmination of that effort was gloriously realized when the first new Futurama episodes in nearly seven years premiered: "Rebirth" and "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela".


     Producers and creators Matt Groenig (The Simpsons) and David X. Cohen are back at the helm.  The voice cast, including Billy West (The Ren and Stimpy Show), Katey Sagal (Sons of Anarchy, Married With Children), John DiMaggio (Kim Possible), Tress MacNeille (The Simpsons), Maurice LaMarche (Pinky and the Brain), Phil LaMarr (MADtv, Samurai Jack), David Herman (Office Space, MADtv), and Lauren Tom (King of the Hill, Man in Trees),  has returned.  There were disputes over salary, and talk of recasting, but it all was worked out in time.  If it hadn't been, it may have killed the new episodes before they even got started.  The setting, the animation, it's all like it never left.  Fans of the show should not notice anything different.


     Plot wise, the first episode picks up right where the final movie left off: with the ship and all the main characters being sucked into a wormhole.  This was intended as a series finale, just in case nothing else was ordered, but the writers were able to transition it seamlessly into the new plot.  Unfortunately, the ship crashes almost immediately and almost everyone dies.  Luckily, the Professor has murdered a few adults and harvested their stem cells, so he is able to bring everyone back.  Someone explain to me how stem cells regrew Bender, a robot?  Not only that, but due to a comedy of errors, a Robot Fry and Robot Leela are created.  And there were the obligatory puns, acknowledging their new network.

     Loyal viewers know that Fry's love for Leela was always an unresolved plot, winding through each episode, and taking center stage in a couple of the movies.  The fourth movie had them together, and the new episodes thankfully continue that thread, rather than setting them back.  My sincere hope is that the two remain a couple, and I think it likely.  Although only the first of last night's two new episodes developed their relationship, in the second one they kissed goodbye as she left for a dangerous mission.  Futurama is the rare cartoon that allows it's characters lasting growth, and it's part of what makes it so special.  That aspect should be nurtured.


     Twenty six new episodes have been ordered.  If it's rebirth is like Family Guy's, we can look forward to even longer run than the original series, although since it has been resurrected for cable, that may be wishful thinking.  However, I know of no other show that was off the air for as long as Futurama was and then brought back, so this whole situation sprang from wishful thinking.  It gives you real hope to see that anything is possible.

     Futurama will be airing Thursday nights at 10pm on Comedy Central.

Lost leaving viewers more... well, lost

     Four hours of the final season of ABC's Lost have already been aired in the last three weeks, which is about a quarter of the season.  Despite being promised many answers as the season progresses, so far there is much more confusion than explanation.  We saw the island on the bottom of the sea, and as many expected, Oceanic 815 landed without problem at LAX in 2004.  However, our favorite castaways are also still on the island, clearly not at the bottom of the ocean, and I have no idea why.  Gone are the flashbacks, flash forwards, and time jumps, but here to stay is presumably either alternate realities or parallel dimensions.

     The people that landed in Los Angeles are clearly not the same ones we met throughout the series.  There are a number of differences in their lives from the ones we previously saw.  Hurley (Jorge Garcia) is lucky, not unlucky.  John Locke (Terry O'Quinn) is planning a wedding to his fiance, Helen (Katey Sagal, Married With Children, Sons of Anarchy, Futurama) and seemingly getting along with his father.  And the paths of our beloved characters keep crossing uncontrollably.  Kate (Evangeline Lilly) unwittingly kidnaps Claire (Emilie de Ravin) during her escape from the police.  Locke talks to Jack (Matthew Fox) at baggage claim, then after seeking work from Hurley and Rose (L. Scott Caldwell), he runs into Benjamin Linus (Michael Emerson) while substitute teaching.  Seemingly it is destiny that they meet.

     Also curious is that the episodes featuring certain characters are airing in the same order as in the first season.  First we had a hodge podge in the two hour premiere, then Kate was the first standard episode, and Locke was second.  Following that logic, Jack and then the Kwans (Daniel Dae Kim and Yunjin Kim) should be next.  Of course, not every character from the first season is still starring, and there are plenty of new ones, so it seems doubtful this pattern will last.

    Back on the island in 2007, the Smoke Monster posing as Locke showed Sawyer (Josh Holloway) a list of names of the survivors that Jacob (Mark Pellegrino) had written on a rock, and most were crossed out.  All the names left were people Jacob was shown visiting throughout their lives in last season's finale. Except he visited Kate, and she wasn't on the list.  And all six of Hurley's lottery numbers were taken, so it must be significant that she isn't there, not just a simple edit mistake.  Is she something special and different, or did Jacob just not find her worthy when he visited her?  And does Kwon refer to Sun or Jin, and if it is Jin, is that why Sun wasn't tossed back to the 70's with everyone else?  Not only that, Jacob had a thing for J names, as the numbers in question name Jack, John, James, Jin (maybe), and Jarrah (Naveen Andrews).  But that leaves out Hurley, though Hugo can be spelled with a J for Spanish names.  All are male, too.  Also, screen caps reveal Claire's last name as #313, Charlie's (Dominic Monaghan) as #195, and other last names from island characters, including Linus and Goodspeed, which could refer to several people.  Why?  Weird.

     Lots more questions and answers await, and Lost will continue to air Tuesdays at 9pm on ABC.