Episode 1, Fall Season 2013

With the exception of SCANDAL, all my fall tv shows have started their new season. Here are some of my thoughts:

CASTLE - Castle is about bestselling author Richard Castle observing a NYD station for his book. In return, he gets to help the department solve their cases, be friends with Esposito and Ryan and get involved with Det. Beckett.
This season opens with Beckett no longer in the police force (now with FBI) and no longer in NY. And she's also engaged to Castle. With this scenario on the season opener I wonder:

• Where does Castle fit into this FBI set-up, when he can no longer actively participate in solving crimes.
• What will happen to Esposito and Ryan?
• Will Beckett eventually move back to the police force to be near Castle?

Likewise, will there be storyline for Alexis (Castle's daughter) now that she's off to college and bringing boys home?

PERSON OF INTEREST - I must defer my thoughts and comments on this show for another time. I need to rewatch the premier because for some reason I was multi-tasking when I saw it and didn't get hold of the gist of the show.

ONCE UPON A TIME - One episode is not enough for me to tell where which direction this show is going. I am fully aware that there is a spin-off called ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND, I don't know if somehow the two shows will intersect again, like in the past. One thing I know is that Sunday's premier was not powerful enough to catch my full attention.

THE GOOD WIFE - The writing continues to be good. The acting is solid as usual. I feel that this show will continue to gather good ratings and the writers will throw us a curve ball. What will happen with Alicia. Will she leave with Carey. Is Carey still leaving with the group? I am excited to see the rest of the show this season. Good job on E1.

REVENGE - Jack knows Emily Thorne is really Amanda Clark. Nolan refuses to be geek god after brief stint in the slammer. Ashley is finally shown the door out. Will Amanda get her revenge soon? Who shot Emily Thorne?

HAVEN - This Syfy mainstay opened ahead of network shows. It has plenty of questions to answer, like where is Audrey Parker? Is she stuck in purgatory-like niche? How will she find her way back to Haven? Well for that matter how will she regain consciousness of her Audrey Parker identity? If she remembers who she really is, which one of those personas will she remember? Is there going to be a happy ending for her and Nathan? What about Duke? So many questions, awaiting happily for answers.

HOSTAGES - This is a new one this season, despite the fact that I have no more room in my evenings for another serial to follow. The preview attracted me. I like Toni Collette and Dylan McDermott, they are both good actors. And I like any show that has something to do with the White House or the POTUS. So far, the first show was meaty. I hope the writers are able to sustain this kind of writing the whole season.

Are You Ready For Fall?

Three more days and we're officially in Fall Season. Well, when kids returned to the classrooms and the freeways got jammed again, it felt like Fall Season, but our weather here has been more summer like, very typical of our Indian summer.

Anyway, I'm trying to digest this fact. I'm not ready yet. All summer long I have been telling myself to pull out the box in the garage where the fall (halloween and thanksgiving) decorations are stored so that I can decorate on time.

But it's only three days and I haven't located the box yet. I know I am disorganized like crazy.

But I am ready for fall.

With Fall, comes cooler weather, boots, jackets, sweaters, scarves. Hot chocolate drink before bedtime. Soothing jasmine tea. Piping hot coffee.

Likewise, my fall shows are coming back. Person of Interest, Revenge, Once Upon a Time, The Good Wife, Castle, Haven, Big Bang Theory.

I'm also very ready to move on from summer. Summer has been a heartbreaker for me and I'd like very much to just leave all the aches and pains of summer with summer.

What are you looking forward to this fall?

Fall TV

WAREHOUSE 13
The explosive season finale gave way to the story line this season, as Artie diligently goes to collect the artifacts lost. Two episodes into the new season and I'm enjoying it so far. I don't know how far into the season it will take for Artie to get all the artifacts in the warehouse.

ALPHAS
Its long hiatus made it difficult to pick up where the show ended last season. The actors' appearance have changed in a way, older. It's like watching a brand-new series. It's on DVR.

HAVEN
Finally, it's here. Haven is another one of those that seem to take forever to return. The premier was a great starter for the season. Explosive, with a hint of romance and a sprinkling of intrigue. We are getting to know more and more the origin of the leading character, Audrey Parker or whatever her real name is.

CASTLE
So they're hooked up and Beckett is no longer in the force, but they're still pursuing the case of her mother's death, which seems to be getting more and more complicated and involving more and more people in high places. She's getting her job back, I'm sure of that.

GREY'S ANATOMY
The storyline is getting tired, despite the interest the season finale garnered. Upon their return, they killed off Mark Sloane and amputated Arizona's legs. They have new sets of interns. Cristina Yang no longer works for Seattle Grace. Dr. Bailey is getting booty calls. Where is this show going from here? I suggest this be their last season. Go out with a bang. It's no use rehashing the same old tired story lines they used few seasons ago. I am getting weary of it as well. All last year, I watched it on ON DEMAND, whenever I had time to see.

BIG BANG THEORY
I enjoyed this show so much last year, when I discovered it. I voraciously watched it on syndication all through the winter, spring and summer months. My fear is that they might not find new and interesting direction for the characters to explore. They definitely have to find someone for Raj and maybe give a bigger role for Stewart as well. How about push the limit on Sheldon and have him "man up" to Amy?

PERSON OF INTEREST
Towards the end of last season, its first season, I discovered this show. It is a very interesting show, very techie but cool. At the finale last season, the main character was abducted, fooled into believing that he was saving this person, who was in trouble. Turned out she made the whole thing up so she can smoke out main character from hiding. The premier showed the continued search for him. Getting interesting. DVR this because it's in the same time slot as Grey's Anatomy.

*Still waiting for the premier of REVENGE, ONCE UPON A TIME, THE GOOD WIFE, and SMASH, the latter I learned will be making its appearance midseason.

*The three shows mentioned in the last paragraph had their premier last night and they are all awaiting on DVR for me to watch them.

Fall TV Schedule

Here it is, I'm rolling out my 2010 Fall TV schedule. This only covers network tv - haven't checked the cable schedule yet.

Monday:

8:00 House.
I saw it's premier episode last night and it didn't hold my attention as it did in previous years. On it's 7th season, I don't think I would be hellbent on watching this every single time. A DVR must I would think for now. I don't think the show has just enough legs to last this season, unless of course something major comes up with the plot.

10:00 Castle.
My favorite new show last season. Conflicts big time with my daily devotion schedule. Last night's premier is on the DVR, might see it tonight if there isn't anything lovely to see.

Tuesday:

8:00 No Ordinary Family.
A new show that intrigues me. The plot is: the Powells a typical American family who gained powers/abilities after their plane crash. Sci-fi on ABC? Yes, why not, after Lost there isn't one on tv about plane crash. Hope I like it. Will check it out tonight.

10:00 The Good Wife.
Another favorite from last year. I'm sure the writing will be good again. I plead no new characters. The bane of these promising tv shows is that they keep adding characters that muddle the plot.

Wednesday:

Nada

Thursday:
9:00 Grey's Anatomy.
I feel a sense of loyalty to this little show I discovered 6 years ago. And while I was dismayed at all these characters being added to the core cast, I held my ground and continued to earmark my Thursday nights to see the characters swap kissing partners, etc. But with the explosive finale last season that saw a few of the characters being killed, I think the creator/writer has sensed that the show only needed core characters.

10:00 Mentalist.
This is on the list, but I may not be able to tune in. I like this show, about another cop procedural show, however, this one's based in Sacramento. And Simon Baker is such an eye candy.

Friday:

Nada

Saturday:

Nada

Sunday:
9:00 Desperate Housewives.
I have no strong desire to follow this show faithfully, but what else is there to do on Sunday but relax and get ready for work the next day.

10:00 Brothers and Sisters.
I am hoping good writing this year. I still feel loyal to this show.

Looks like I have plenty of time to blog this fall. And tonight I may have to watch Glee as well since Filipino sensation Charice is set to guest star.

TV Talk, Etc.

Let's talk TV. I know I've been terribly remiss with my tv talk/postings. It's not that I stopped watching. Oh no! Not I. That would be horrible. The reason is not quite clear to me. However, I have wanted so much to vent on the upcoming LOST finale. But I can't get my thoughts and opinions squared away for posting. There is too much emotional involvement on my part to take on an impartial reporting.

So let's talk tv and their finales.

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES: It must be habit that makes me tune in to this aging show, because the stories have really been lackluster this season. In order for it to pull in new watchers or renewed interest in its old faithfuls, it must shake it up a little bit. I kind of see the end of Angie Bolen and her family's stay in Wisteria Lane. I never really liked the addition of them in the show. The season finale did not give the viewers enough incentive to eagerly await for the fall season to arrive.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS: So Robert McAllister died. That's the Rob Lowe character who is married to the Calista Flockhart character. News of his departure on the show circulated a few months back and like everyone else I wondered how his character would be written out. Now we know. I thought this character, which is a late addition, can be done without. I thought that Kitty's character right now does not need a man. Let her do the single mom thing.

Uncle Saul has AIDS, Rebecca took the job, Saul and Scotty are opening a restaurant, Sarah is depressed, Justin wants to go to Haiti - none of these really say "tune in" for next season, does it?

GREY'S ANATOMY: I am guessing that the finale will be this Thursday. This season was prosaic (boring - just using a less boring word than boring). So Katherine Heigl left, so what? I think there's way too many characters in the show. I suggest paring down the cast so the main cast could get meatier roles and also I am hoping the writing to step up to the plate next fall. The musical chairs on sexual partners can be very tiring and old, change the formula, that worked in the past. Doesn't work now. I don't want to see Owen and Teddy and most of the new casts they got when Seattle Grace and another hospital merged.

CASTLE: A newbie, on its first season and I'm totally in love with this show. It's a permanent DVR fixture. I love the interplay of Castle and Beckett's character. Since this is on its first year, I am sure that the writers are still hungry to write fab episodes. What about a new character next season? Some "other" lady for Castle, as there is some other man for Beckett. I can't wait for the season finale, which I am guessing is today - tonight?

THE GOOD WIFE: I love Julianna Marguilles, been a fan from ER. That is why I tuned in to the premier show. This too is another freshman on the tv block. I'm still sorting out my feelings towards this show, but this year, it's a good show to watch after LOST (another channel).

AMERICAN IDOL: So they are down to three. Crystal, Lee and Casey, three of my faves. I would think Crystal should win. She's the most talented of all the contestants this year. She deserves it.

LOST: I know we've been inundated with guesses on how LOST will end. It started its run with a bang (plane explosion, remember fellow Losties?) and I am expecting it's ending in a bang as well. This Tuesday - tomorrow - it airs its last new epi before the series finale on May 23, Sunday. Channel 7 is airing I believe the show from 7 pm to 11 pm. Two and a half of finale and the lead in hours they probably give us an enhanced epi or something, like they always do.

I can't pass up this chance to share how I think the show will end. Here it is.

"An attendant at the sanitarium is seen wheeling Hurley - on a wheelchair - back to his room. Hurley was sitting under that massive tree - the same spot where the dead Charlie showed himself to Hurley in the past season - and too much sun, too little medication, and a very active imagination has all contributed to a Hurley's contrivance of the whole thing. After six seasons, we find out that it's all in Hurley's head, his imagination."

Ha ha ha. I know that's farfetched, but hey it's LOST and anything's possible, right? Wanna share how you think LOST will end?