Tag Archives: tv

Continuum – Season 3 (PWTVR00011)

The Writing Life of a Tadpole
September 18 2020

Overview

At the end of Season 2, Alec had to make a choice, and it created consequences for everyone. Now there is semi-evil Alec and semi-good Alec, although it isn’t always clear which one is the good guy and which one is the bad guy. And other entities are interested in time travel for their own purposes.

Episodes That I Liked

The episodes that stand out for the season are E01 where Keira is looking for any sort of connection with anyone, feeling lost and alone; E09 where a new time traveller appears, feeling much like John Connor from Terminator; E11, where you see that the “real” future isn’t really as great as Keira might have been deluding herself into believing; and E13 where the two Alecs have to face off against each other. But are they changing the future? Or merely fulfilling it?

Episodes That Were Watchable

I rated 5 episodes as 4 stars (E2, 3, 6, 7, & 8), mostly ones having fun with double the Alecs and double the Keiras, and the introduction of the Gleaners as one of the other entities.  » Read the rest

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Continuum – Season 1 (PWTVR00009)

The Writing Life of a Tadpole
September 18 2020

Overview

Keira Cameron is a police officer. It’s a pretty advanced time, the year is 2077. While she is overseeing the execution of 8 domestic terrorists, they activate a time travel device that sends them all back to the year 2013. She arrives with a bunch of her high-tech police tools — a special suit with lots of functions built into it, weapons that are keyed only to her DNA, and communications equipment to allow her to connect directly to her HQ. Except her HQ doesn’t exist in 2013. Nevertheless, she is a police officer and sworn to apprehend the 8 suspects aka Liber8, so she infiltrates the local police to work with them in combating whatever mayhem Liber8 is going to start as they try to change time and prevent a future ruled by corporations…which would also inconveniently wipe out all of their timelines, including Keira’s son and husband.

Episodes That I Liked

The first episode, A Stitch in Time, sets the show up almost perfectly.  » Read the rest

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Castle – Season 8 (PWTVR00008)

The Writing Life of a Tadpole
March 15 2020

Overview

There is an episode near the end (E19) that is one of the best of the series…it is funny, it is interesting, it is vintage Season 1 and 4 all together in a big bowl of mystery with comedy sprinkled on top. A complete palate cleanser from all the EPs filled with angst. Yet by the time I got there, the first half of the season was almost making me wonder if I would continue watching. Definitely near the bottom of the seasons.

Episodes That I Liked

There are some pretty good EPs in the second half of the season, with diplomats and spies (E11); an escape room (E12); ESL (E13); the Great Detective Society (E14); Esposito’s ex-girlfriend (E16); a lamp and a genie (E17); and Hayley’s past in Britain (E18). However, there are two EPs that are vintage Castle at its best — the return of Slaughter (E06) is funny throughout, but then E19 brings out the best lines of the series with a victim who won’t stay dead.  » Read the rest

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Castle – Season 7 (PWTVR00007)

The Writing Life of a Tadpole
March 14 2020

Overview

As I watched the episodes, I frequently felt, “Okay, last season”. Quite a few EPs seem like repeats of story ideas they’ve used before or promising ones that go nowhere. I was initially skeptical of the “Castle as P.I.” plot device, but it isn’t completely batty in its execution, and it does work for the most part. Washington? Not so much.

Episodes That I Liked

The best episode of the season is near the end, with Alexis and Castle on a plane to London (E21) and trying to solve an Air Marshal’s murder. And there are some other good ones — Castle becomes a private investigator to let him keep working on cases (E11); an astronaut gets killed in a habitat simulator (E16); and some movement on 3XK (E14, E15). Ryan and Esposito get to lead on an episode each, with Ryan working as a night security guard leading to work with the Secret Service (E18) and Esposito dealing with a bomb on a subway car (E08).  » Read the rest

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Castle – Season 6 (PWTVR00006)

The Writing Life of a Tadpole
March 14 2020

Overview

The season starts off with Beckett working in Washington, and the whole dynamic just doesn’t work. I like the 3XK stuff, and a Carrie-like prank. I’ll even accept the wedding episode. But not a great season overall, one of the lower average scores so far.

Episodes That I Liked

They have some good plots for single episodes — Castle might be dying (E01), dead hackers and Daddy (E012), brawling models and wedding planning (E14), and skateboarders (E21). Beckett going undercover as a Russian is better, but not quite there overall (E17). 3XK comes back around with some clones (E09) and the truth is out there on Beckett’s mom’s murder (E22). But there are three EPs that shine…time travel (E05), a Carrie-like prank (E15), and wedding bells (E23).

Episodes That Were Watchable

Despite the ten episodes I like, there are nine that are merely okay…a repeat of D.O.A. (E02, second part of E01 that was better), monks and treasure hunters (E06), diamonds and gorillas (E08), baby whisperers (E10), and teen divas with decoys (E13).  » Read the rest

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