Review: Jessica Jones - 1.04 "AKA 99 Friends"

I've been trying to think of a theme that ties this episode together. I want to say "paranoia," but I've already used that for last episode. So I'm just going to go with, "Boring."

Review: Jessica Jones - 1.03 "AKA It's Called Whiskey"

This is a story of watching and being watched. From Jessica's "I see you, asshole," to Kilgrave's "See you later," an elaborate cat and mouse game is unfolding, where anyone could be a player.

Review: Jessica Jones - 1.02 "AKA Crush Syndrome"

"It's better. Being alone. It's safer." The second episode revolves around the isolation and loneliness Jessica Jones has surrounded herself with. She's protecting other people. She's also protecting herself. But the premise of being alone is called into question as people are continually being thrust into her life as she begins her search for Kilgrave.

Review: Jessica Jones - 1.01 "AKA Ladies Night"

Who is Jessica Jones? The pilot episode of Marvel's newest neo-noir superhero venture deftly asks this question in a story that is both twisted and compelling, leading you through the dark, labyrinthine streets of New York City, where sordid affairs appear around every corner, and the nightmares of your past haunt you in your waking hours.

Most Moving Moments: Everwood, 1.02 "The Great Doctor Brown"

Quick Recap:

Andy and Ephram are still trying to figure out how their lives will function without Julia. It's hard for Andy to not revert back to his old ways of putting his patients before his family, skipping dinner on his children in order to take care of the Dudleys, a family living in unfortunate circumstances. Ephram takes Andy to task, knowing how unfair it is to Delia that she will have to grow up without a mother. Both of them realize that they are all Delia has now.

Amy continues to befriend Ephram; however, Bright warns Ephram that she won't give him the time of day as soon as Andy helps Colin recover from his coma. Confirming his fears, when he lies to Amy and says that Andy won't help Colin, Amy gives him the brush off. Ephram feels like a giant douche for lying to Amy and squashing her hopes of helping someone she cares about, as he should.

We also get a glimpse into Harold and Edna's frosty relationship. Harold himself is a product of grief, holding a grudge against his mother for remarrying so quickly after his father died. He admires and loves his father so much that he wants to be just like him -- a beloved town doctor. Unfortunately, warm and friendly is not in Harold's nature, and he's got to reconcile his love for his father with his acceptance of who he can and cannot be.

List: Things That Worry Me About the Gilmore Girls Revival

When I first heard that Amy Sherman-Palladino was reviving Gilmore Girls for four, 90-minute episodes on Netflix, I'm pretty sure I squeed at the top my lungs along with the rest of America. But as someone who believed that Gilmore Girls wrapped up rather neatly at the end of season seven, I gradually started to fill with dread at the thought of new story lines that could unravel everything I enjoyed about the show. Here are some of those things I worry about.

Review: Veronica Mars - 1.03 "Meet John Smith"

This episode explores the lies we tell ourselves and others in order to survive -- the delusions that can protect us from truths we may not be ready to face, but can also lead to our downfall, if we're not ready to fully commit to them.

Review: Tig

I'm generally not a huge fan of stand-up comedians. Their shtick is usually stale: sexist jokes about dating, lazy jokes about stereotypes, and the obligatory jokes about what city they're currently in. Maybe that's why I find myself becoming more and more enamored with Tig Notaro: she's not a typical stand-up comedian. After listening to her legendary show at the Largo and watching the documentary, "Tig," on Netflix, I fully believe she has earned her rise to comedy fame in these past few years.

Most Moving Moments: Everwood, 1.01 "Pilot"

I've been thinking a lot about how to write about Everwood. I've tried liveblogging, I've tried recapping, but none of those formats were really able to capture what it was that I wanted to convey about this show -- how I felt while watching it, and how I wanted readers to feel when reading about it. I concluded that this was the best way to accomplish that.

When you get down to it, the main reason I love this show so much is for its realism in emotional drama, often stemming from the basic tragedies of life. So many of the characters' conversations have mirrored my own in my life, and while there are some plot lines that may seem a little unlikely, the reactions and growth of the characters are always organic. Everwood is really a show about death, and how people in all walks of life deal with that simple truth of mortality. Some find in themselves a spirit of resilience; others, just brokenness. Death is what really motivates us all in the way we choose to live, affecting our relationships with everyone around us. And with just a hint of snowy magic, the sleepy mountain town of Everwood, Colorado leaves us with a sense of hope, and an understanding that, too often, tragedy and joy go hand in hand.

After my own mother passed away, this show became all too relevant, and watching grief being handled with such pathos and elegance on this show was, for me, a cathartic experience.

Liveblog: Veronica Mars - 1x02, "Credit Where Credit's Due"

Welcome to episode two, or as it's more widely referred to, "That's the one with Paris Hilton, right?" Rough times.

Liveblog: Chuck - 1x02, "Chuck Versus The Helicopter"

Time for another fun-filled episode, this time centering on Chuck and Sarah's trust issues! I bet their trust issues get resolved by the end of this episode and NEVER appear again for the rest of the series!

(Note: this is a rewatch so minor spoilers abound)

Review: Supergirl, "Pilot"

I finally sat down and watched the premier of CBS's Supergirl, television's latest foray into the superhero universe. While there were a lot of positive things about the show, cheesy dialogue, trope-y characters, and nonsensical plot points ultimately weighed down the show's first episode.

Liveblog: Veronica Mars - 1x01, "Pilot"

Disclaimer: These liveblogs are written from the perspective a Logan and Veronica shipper (or "LoVe" for those of you in the know), and someone who adores season one and loathes season three. I expect these liveblogs to go something like this: lavish, endless praise for all things big and small during season one, then criticisms gradually pop up more and more, until we get to season three, where I will be red in the face, foaming at the mouth, ENRAGED at how awful the shell of a great show has become. It'll be fun!

Things I Loved About New Girl Before It Got Horrible

"Before it got horrible" more specifically referring to everything that happens after Season 2.

When I first started seeing trailers for New Girl, it looked like a typically mundane sitcom replete with wacky characters and annoying one-liners. But after watching the first few episodes, the show slowly started to reveal something very endearing, almost special, at its heart. These unique qualities quickly imploded Season 3 and on, but let's revisit the beginning and talk about what I found so lovely at the start.

Liveblog: Chuck - 1x01, "Chuck Versus the Intersect"

Liveblogging Chuck's pilot episode! Enjoy feelings of nostalgia as we relive Chuck's freakouts, Sarah's sexy spy outfits, Casey's glaring, and Morgan being Morgan. This is a rewatch, so minor spoilers abound.