Yes, we’re getting too close to the end, and there will be hundreds of questions not answered.  That’s for another day. 

I enjoy sitting in front of the television set, and escaping to the Island for an hour, and I enjoy how the characters are progressing.

However, last night was really really REALLY mediocre, and totally exposed so many of the problems of the show. 

Okay, Lost is a fan of using contrived plot devices to have you learn about the characters.  Flashbacks into parts of a character’s past.  Flash forwards into their future that may be affected by their choices in the current episode.  The interweaving of the lives of the characters on the show. 

Last night was totally about satisfying the consistency required for the plot device.  And as such, it died on the vine.

First off, Jin and Sun, who were very interesting characters, two people who could show how a married couple can function in adverse circumstances.  How they can triumph over personal adversity and personal conflit.  And how commitment and love are very strong.

Separately, there was a sense of self-sacrifice from Jin, who was developing into a very strong character, establishing bonds with the other characters.  But Jin really became window dressing.  Jin doesn’t seem like a man who has been separated from his wife for the last three years, and never expects to see her again.  Jin just follows the crowd.  He starts to seem bad-ass at times, and other times, just is window dressing.

Sun, started off as a very interesting character when separated from Jin.  She took over her father’s company, raised her daughter, and sought out a path of vengeance against the person who separated herself from her true love. But then, when given a chance to reunite with her husband, she abandons her daughter (we have no idea where she is), abandons her duties as the head of Paik Industries, and abandons her vengeance against Ben Linus (a known liar who says he can get her back with Jin). 

So, these two characters, who were once VERY interesting, are now shades of themselves, and have lost all potential to be really interesting, are forced into the flash-sideways plot device.  And not surprisingly, it turns out to be a lousy effort.

Flash Sideways

Okay, so Sun’s father, Mr. Paik, is the head of a major multi-national corporation, Paik Industries in Korea.  He is not a stupid man, by all depictions.  He also has underworld and nefarious dealings in all worlds.  He is a learned worldly realistic businessman with a very good comprehension of the criminal world. This man, apparently forgot about United States (and most nations) Customs laws, and gave Jin $25,000 to hand-deliver to Keamy, who is a hitman.  Total idiocy.

In addition, this show is set in 2004… you would never send cash to a hitman in the United States in a bag… you would wire the money…  You would put it in an overseas account.  You would use your interests in the United States to have them supply the cash.  In what world would you send it in a bag on an airplane. 

Sun has a hidden bank account that she has kept money from her father.  Okay.  It’s very secret.  Her father doesn’t know about it.  But he has the authority to close it?  And leave his name on the transaction notice, that it is closed?   I can accept that Mr. Paik is powerful enough and intelligent enough to trace money he has given from his daughter.  And that he would be aware of any bank she placed the money in.  But that, he has the legal authority to close an account that his name is not on?  Sure, he might be powerful enough to close the account behind the scenes.  But to have his name as the man who closed an account that isn’t in his name.  And have the bank teller just mention it as if it’s normal.  Either Sun is stupid or the writers are, or the intelligence is on the cutting room floor.

And really?  $25,000 to kill someone?  I mean, it’s a lot of money.  Not that I know the going rate for murder.  But, still…  Seems kindof cheap.

Mr. Paik obviously doesn’t want his daughter killed, so how is she supposed to get back home?  The way that Keamy plays it, she’s going to know that he killed Jin.  She’s powerless to do or say anything about it?

Keamy gets Mikhail to translate for Sun and Jin. He has no stake in the outcome, sure he might get money from the deal.  But he doesn’t seem to be loyal to Keamy.  And for the most part, seems friendly to Sun.  So, he’s not going to drop his weapon and let Jin walk away?  He’s going to take a chance that he’s not going to get shot, for maybe $3,000 – $4,000.  Really? 

Keamy is going to kill Jin, but only if he gets his money. What the hell is he going to do, if he doesn’t get the money?  Kill him twice?  I guess threatening Mr. Paik with Sun’s life would be an option, but… then the money would have to get to Keamy in some other way, than two people bringing $25,000 in a bag from Korea!!!!!

Stupid all over

On the Island

On the island was better, not by much, but better.

Sun and Jin’s whole motivation has been completely reduced to finding each other.  Sun never mentions her daughter EVER.  Jin spent the last three years, learning English and having a life, but that is all reduced to, finding his wife.  Okay, I get it… but… a little more depth please.

Jack was so angry with being manipulated a few weeks ago by Jacob, that he smashed the lighthouse mirror. But now, he’s a follower/believer.  He’s now the man of faith. I get it, in terms of transformation, but there seems to be a missing piece in the motivation.  He’s now Mr. Relaxed, there’s all a purpose behind this?

Widmore sends a team to do recon on Locke’s group.  Apparently the Fake Locke has awesome powers, but can’t be bothered with sentries? 

They decide to take down the entire camp with tranquilizer darts.  The whole group.  No one is missed.  None of the kids.  Just to get one guy, and it’s Jin.  Obviously, the Fake Locke needs these people to get off the island, why not take them out? 

And, now it’s hard to figure out how many days the second plane has been on the island.  According to Lostpedia, they’ve been on the island 9 days.  And according to my memory, Desmond was with Penny on the boat, just 1 day prior to the plane taking off.  So, in 10 days, Charles Widmore has:

• Found and captured Desmond (and presumably Penny)
• Had a submarine in the west coast area
• Found a way to locate the new location of the Island
• Learned/realized that Jacob was dead (or was going to die)
• Packed up a sonic fence to repel the monster.
• Was fully aware that Jin would be on the island

That’s a lot of planning, or total crap.

Anyway, it’s still a good show, but this one really was disappointing in many ways.

Rob

In this blog post, I’m going to guess as to the position of the match on the card (barring last minute additions, and any Divas or Womens matches), and guess who will win, and any other results. So, let’s break this one down, as best as possible:

Opening Match – Money in the Bank: Christian, Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Evan Borne, Jack Swagger, Kane, Kofi Kingston, Matt Hardy, MVP, and Shelton Benjamin

Details: This is the sixth year for the “Money in the Bank” ladder match. In this contest, a ‘briefcase’ is hung over the ring.  The wrestlers can only get to the briefcase by using a ladder. The wrestler who gets the briefcase can challenge any WWE World Champion in the upcoming year.  In the previous five years, the briefcase has been used to crown a new WWE champion.  So, usually this is a game changer for the upcoming year, and usually leads to lots of spectacular stunts and damage.  This year, they have updated the number of wrestlers from 8 to 10, which means more candidates and more carnage.
Predictions: This comes down to who I think will win the ladder match, and be a challenger for the world title in the upcoming months. So let’s go through each challenger from bottom to the top:

10. Matt Hardy

Matt Hardy is a good hand, and certainly is suited for this type of match. But, Matt just isn’t really geared for being a world champion, as defined by the WWE. Additionally, you get the sense that the WWE doesn’t trust the Hardy family right now, as Jeff is in TNA. Matt and Jeff are different people, obviously. And Matt just isn’t as popular as his brother. So I would be shocked if Matt won the match. Field (30-1 odds)

9. Kane

Kane has credibility, as both a former WWF World Champion (only a single day, but still) and a former (WWE) ECW Champion. So he has the pedigree, but that’s almost against him here. If the WWE wants to push Kane as a world title contender or a world champion, they can just push him. He doesn’t need the boost and he doesn’t need the excuse. Additionally, Kane had chances in the Main Event scene 7-8 years ago, and the WWE never pulled the trigger on him as a long term champion. There’s nothing that has changed for Kane that would lead me to see him capturing the briefcase. Field (25-1 odds)

8. Evan Borne

Okay, the WWE does treat Evan Borne as an ‘attraction’ of sorts, and hype him as a very exciting high-flyer. But at the end of the day, I don’t think I have ever seen Evan Borne defeat any larger sized opponents. So for the WWE to pull the trigger on Borne as a serious threat to a WWE World Champion would be a significant surprise. Borne is here to establish some acrobatic moves in the match. Field (20-1 odds)

6. (tie) Dolph Ziggler/Drew McIntyre

I mostly watch Monday Night Raw, and little of SmackDown!, and my sense of both of these wrestlers is that they are young ‘up-and-comers’, but they just aren’t ready for a major program with a champion. Good to get their faces on a major PPV, and I would expect one or both of them to be drafted to RAW (at the draft). A nice start and stepping stone for these two, but I think the briefcase goes elsewhere. Field (15-1 odds)

5. Shelton Benjamin

I just don’t get what the WWE is trying to do with Shelton Benjamin. My only guess is that they are keeping him on the roster, because he would be too strong of an addition to TNA. But every year, the fans of this guy get a tease that maybe the WWE will pull the trigger on a upper main event run. But sadly, I think we have to look to history. Shelton has been in all six MITB matches, and hasn’t won it yet. And the WWE has given us no reason to think this will change at WM26. Chance of winning 3% (10-1 odds)

4. Jack Swagger

Swagger has a decent chance at winning this thing. The WWE is very high on him, and he has gotten a decent push this past year. He just doesn’t have any momentum at the moment taking him into the match. They could go with him, just to push someone different, but I think there’s fresh faces in this match, that are more likely. Very interesting to see how he fares. Chance of Swagger winning 5% (7-1 odds)

3. Christian

In one sense, Christian falls into the category of Matt Hardy and Shelton Benjamin, a lifelong WWE midcarder. And, deep down, I still think this is true. But there’s too much that makes sense. First off, I think that his former partner is going to walk out of WrestleMania with gold around his waist. And Christian has always had good chemistry with Jericho as well, both in the ring and verbally. And the WWE gave Christian a very nice match against Sheamus a few weeks ago on RAW, better than most midcarders get against a current champion. History says that Christian won’t win, but situationally, it might be enticing enough. Chance of Christian winning 10% (5-1 odds)

2. Montel Vontavious Porter

MVP has had a good 2009, where he started to show you signs of greatness. A nice verbal feud with The Miz in early 2010 definately had the Internet buzzing with his poise and attitude. And really, the time is now for him to go to the next level. He’s held the US title, and there really isn’t much left for him at the midcard level. The one knock against him is that I have not seem him have a strong wrestling match yet. If he wants to face the Ortons, Cenas, Jerichos, Edges, and Triple Hs, he definately needs to increase his game. And I think we’ve seen all that MVP has to offer in the ring. But I can still see them pulling the trigger on him. Chance of MVP winning 20% (3-1 odds)

1. Kofi Kingston

Post Royal Rumble, I started thinking about who would win the 2010 MITB match, and there were three candidates: Punk (going for his 3rd), Morrisson (getting push with the DVD), and Kingston. And the only one in the Money in the Bank match is Kofi. After giving him an extended feud with Randy Orton where Kofi dropped the Jamacian accent and really started to shine, Kofi showed the look and intensity of a champion. The image of Kofi standing ontop of Orton’s race car, definantly triumphant showed me that he has the look of a champion. And his in-ring work is very solid. It needs some work, but it’s definately solid. I think Kofi is most likely to win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Chance of Kingston winning 35% (2-1 odds)

Second Match – WWE Unified Tag Team Championship Match: ShowMiz (The Big Show & The Miz) vs John Morrison & R-Truth

Details: In some ways, this match was just thrown together kindof haphazzardly.  And in other ways, this match has been brewing for about 10-11 months.  In 2008/2009, the hottest tag team was Miz and Morrison.  Even though, they were regulated to SmackDown!, the two wrestlers made a lot of buzz with The Dirt Sheet, where the pair would trash pop culture, movies, and wrestlers.  Eventually, the pair would become tag team champions.  In April of last year, The Miz was drafted to Monday Night Raw.  The Miz attacked Morrison once he was drafted, and the pair were never given a significant blow-off match.  The Miz really shined on his own on RAW, and Morrison continued his climb up the ladder.  The Big Show & The Miz won the tag team titles earlier this year, becoming ShowMiz.  Morrison & Truth won a triple-threat qualifying match to challenge ShowMiz at WrestleMania 26.

Prediction: I like Morrison, and there’s part of me that wants him and Truth to win the titles.  But, there’s little else for The Big Show to do right now, and placing him in a dominant tag team with a great talker, like The Miz, is really a good fit for him.  Additionally, I think the other two titles are changing hands at WrestleMania, so it’s always good to have a defended championship remain with the defending champions. 

BUT, I think there certainly is a chance that Daniel Bryan gets involved in this match.  And if so, that could turn the tide towards Morrison & Truth.  Tho, I’m not quite sure that Bryan is ready to play at that level.  Seems a bit of a jump to go from the WWE “Rookie” show to WrestleMania, but that might get buzz for WWE NXT.   

Chance of ShowMiz winning 55% (3-2 odds)

Third Match – CM Punk vs Rey Mysterio

Details: Rumors for this match began last fall, I think, when Punk said (in some interview) that a dream opponent of his would be Rey Mysterio.  Either this was foreshadowing or the WWE capitalized on a good idea, especially with both wrestlers not having obvious dance partners for WrestleMania.  CM Punk has been riding high with his Straight Edge Society mission, that mirrors his actualy lifestyle.  His ‘crusade’ has taken him in the path of Rey Mysterio.  Recently it has gotten personal, with Punk confronting Mysterio when celebrating with his family.  Recent stipulations state that if Mysterio loses, he must join the Straight Edge society.

Prediction: A very tough one to call.  Punk has really captured something with his Straight Edge society group, and since losing the World Title to the Undertaker, he might need a win to re-establish himself as a major player.  And Mysterio could perhaps use a character change, as he has been the same character since he arrived in the WWE, and never even has turned heel (I don’t think). However, I see this feud between Punk and Mysterio lasting a few PPVs, and to have Mysterio become straight edge, seems to defeat that purpose.  So I’m predicting a victory for Mysterio, but I can see Punk winning.

Chance of Rey Mysterio winning 60% (2-1 odds)

Fourth Match – Triple Threat Match: Randy Orton vs Ted Dibiase vs Cody Rhodes

Details: When a stable or tag team is formed in professional wrestling, one of the obvious questions is, who turns on the leader first.  The break-up of Legacy has been teased for quite some time, most recently when Randy Orton turned on Dusty Rhodes when he guest hosted Monday Night Raw.  We all predicted that it would be Dibiase who turned face against Orton, with Rhodes in the middle.  But, seemingly, it is Orton who has turned face against Rhodes and Dibiase.  This is billed as a triple threat match, and not a handicap match, even thought Rhodes and Dibiase are seemingly on the same side.  There is no way that can last in a match like this.  I think Rhodes defects early and attacks Dibiase, and then expecting a warm reception from Orton, gets taken out. 

Prediction: Very difficult, as Randy Orton is the most likely candidate. Rhodes and Dibiase are being pushed as teaming against Orton, giving Orton the momentum.  But Randy does not need the victory.  And I don’t think a victory would help Cody Rhodes enough.  After the Legacy break-up is complete, I think Cody needs a relocation to SmackDown!  But I see three scenarios:

1. Randy Orton uses experience and dissention between Dibiase and Rhodes to win the match.
2. Ted Dibiase is able to get a victory where all three men are exhausted, and Dibiase is able to get a war of attrition pinfall.
3. Cody Rhodes takes advantage of the battle between Dibiase and Orton, and captures an opportunity and gets the victory.

But, I’m going with Ted Dibiase to win the triple threat match. 

Chance of Ted Dibiase winning the match 45% (3-1 odds), Chance of Randy Orton winning the match 35% (4-1 odds), Chance of Cody Rhodes winning the match 20% (6-1 odds)

Fifth Match – Sheamus vs Triple H

Details: This is an interesting match, in one specific way.  Triple H and Sheamus are training partners, and typically Triple H has good matches with his training partners: Michaels, Orton, Batista, etc. This is a throw-away match of WWE Championship contenders, who have nothing else to do at the match.  This made more sense if Sheamus had the title, but less sizzle for a Wrestlemania championship match. The question is, does the WWE booking committee want to keep Sheamus as a top contender, or are they looking for some change of pace for him in the months following WrestleMania (face turn, tag team/stable, or drafted to Smackdown!).  Could be a good power match.

Prediction: In a tough call, I’m going to go with Triple H to win the match.  I don’t see these two continuing their battle into April and May, and I don’t see Triple H losing a WrestleMania match to someone who has been in the WWE for less than a year.  Call it a consolation prize for not having the title this year. 

Chance of Triple H winning the match 65% (5-2 odds); Chance of Sheamus winning the match 35 % (5-1 odds)

Sixth Match – World Heavyweight Championship Match: Chris Jericho vs Edge

Details: Another match which has been a long time in the making.  Jericho and Edge won the Unified Tag Titles back in June of 2009, but Edge suffered an achilies-tendon injury. Immediately, Jericho started blasting Edge, setting up the beginings of the feud. When Edge returned as  a surprise entrant and won the Royal Rumble, the Rated R Superstart had a focus on winning the world title at WrestleMania, and if he could do it by defating Jericho, all the better.  Since Jericho won the title at No Way Out, Edge has stalked him, making him fear the Spear.  At WrestleMania, the ultimate opportunist, takes on Jericho.  Could potentially be a great match between two wrestlers who know each other very well.

Prediction: Not a tough call at all.  Jericho only captured the title, to give some extra sizzle to Edge vs Jericho.  Jericho is a fine champion, but there’s no way he makes it out of WrestleMania with the title.  Since 1993, when the prize for winning the Royal Rumble match has been a world title match at WrestleMania, the royal rumble winners are 11-5.  So I think Edge wins it in a good match.  I mean, they may keep it on Jericho, just to tease it out a bit more, but all signs point to a Jericho victory.

Chance of Edge winning the match 85% (1-3 odds); Chance of Jericho winning the match 10% (20-1 odds)

Some are predicting that Christian wins the Money in the Bank match, and cashes in against Edge here.  Personally, I don’t see it.  Just because you don’t do that at WrestleMania (due to casual fan interest).  But, IF Christian wins the Money in the Bank match, then I definately would keep my eyes open for it.

Seventh Match – No Holds Barred Match: Bret Hart vs Mr.McMahon

Details: Bret “The Hitman” Hart was a five-time WWF World Champion.  When Bret Hart refused to drop the title to Shawn Michaels before heading to WCW, Vince McMahon called for a false/shoot finish to the match.  The title was awarded to Shawn Michaels in the event known as the Montreal Screwjob. Since then, Bret Hart had a tumultuous time in WCW, leading to him having a stroke, ending his wrestling career. Vince McMahon became a very strong in-ring character, known as the Chairman of the WWE, Mr. McMahon.  This past year, Bret Hart and the WWE mutually agreed to come together to do business.

In the storyline, Bret came to the WWE looking to put the past behind him, when Mr. McMahon gave him a low blow and spit in his face (returning the favor to Bret Hart from the Montreal Screwjob). Bret Hart attacked Vince in later weeks to get his revenge.  Bret Hart then had an accident, breaking his leg, during Monday Night Raw.  Vince confronted Bret a fourth time, goading him into having a match with McMahon at WrestleMania.  At the contract signing, Bret asked for the match to be a No Holds Barred match, which McMahon agreed to.  After both had signed the contract, Bret revealed that his leg wasn’t broken, and that he was 100% and ready to fight McMahon at WrestleMania

Prediction: While I suppose it is possible that McMahon wins, but Hart gets full revenge.  And it’s possible, that due to interference from Cena and Batista, the match becomes a no contest, and flows into their championship match.  I just can’t imagine why Bret Hart would have agreed to come back to the WWE to lose to Vince McMahon at WrestleMania.  Doesn’t make much sense.  I see some revisiting of the Montreal Screwjob, but Bret (due to himself or other interference) getting the upper hand and winning the match, using the Sharpshooter.

Chance of Bret winning the match 80% (1-2 odds); Chance of no-contest 10% (20-1 odds); Chance of McMahon winning the match 10% (20-1 odds)

Eighth Match – Career vs The Streak: Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker

I thought that maybe this could be the main event. But you usually want the fans to go home happy.  And if Shawn is retired by this match, then there’s a definate sadness that occurs during the match.  And if The Undertaker loses, then the heel-like tactics of Michaels would end the show.  Only two WrestleManias have ended with an unhappy ending: WrestleMania 2000 and WrestleMania X-7 (and even 17 is debateable).

Details: Last year, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker put out one of the best WrestleMania matches ever.  An incredible 5-start contest, that challenged the immortal matches for Best Match Ever.  In that contest, The Undertaker won, keeping his undefeated streak alive.  Both wrestlers took time off following the match, already scheduled, and came back not mentioning the results….

Until Michaels out of nowhere challenged the Undertaker for a rematch at WrestleMania 26 at the end of 2009.  Undertaker refused, making Michaels obsessed with the match.  Eventually, Michaels cost The Undertaker the title at The Elimination Chamber match at No Way Out.  The Undertaker then granted the match with Shawn Michaels, on one condition, that Michaels put his career on the line.  Michaels agreed.  Later, the two of them agreed to a no disqualifications and no count outs match. 

Prediction: I have been thinking about this match for months.  The only thing that made sense is that Shawn Michaels wants to go out with one last great match at WrestleMania, and become a part-time superstar.  It makes no sense for The Undertaker to give the rub for ending the streak to a wrestler who is basically the same age.  At 44, Michaels doesn’t need to prove anything.  But, why would Michaels want to have a rematch, where he would lose a second time?  I understand that a wrestler rarely loses his last match, but even so.  In wrestling philosophy, it leaves open the idea that Michaels can’t beat The Undertaker. 

Only the last two weeks have there been hints that Michaels is planning on retirement.  Usually when a wrestler wants to retire, the internet is abuzz with the information.  It buzzed for Flair, Foley (the first time), Funk (yeah right), but there was no word from Michaels.  A hint from an interview that he has a plan for when he will retire, and recently bookings for post-WrestleMania that don’t include his name.

So, I’m going with the Dead Man, by a nose.  I barely believe it.  But I think that’s the way it goes, and Michaels comes back around Royal Rumble of next year, becoming the Roger Clemens of the WWE (joining a team late in the season… not the proposed steroid usage, not that he hasn’t)

Chance of Undertaker winning the match 60% (2-1 odds); Chance of Michaels winning the match 40% (4-1 odds)

Main Event – WWE Championship Match: Batista vs John Cena

A tough call, but I think this match has to go on last.  You can go with Edge winning the title as the end.  You can go with a Shawn Michaels celebration to end the show.  But I think you go with this match.

Details: John Cena and Batista both won world titles at the exact same day, WrestleMania 21, five years ago.  Since then, John Cena has gotten a decent amount of backlash as being the corporate stooge and pushed too hard.  The two of them have mostly been on different brands, Cena typically on RAW, Batista typically on SmackDown!.  They had a single match, at SummerSlam 2008, where Batista won and damaged John Cena’s back. 

Recently, John Cena took to championing the return of Bret Hart to Mr. McMahon.  During that time, Batista emerged and attacked both Bret Hart and John Cena.  Batista then attacked John Cena at the end of the Elimination Chamber match at No Way Out, sanctioned by Mr. McMahon to win the WWE Championship.  Since then, Batista has attacked John Cena’s character like no other contender ever has.  And he has attacked John Cena’s will, stating that Cena cannot defeat him.  It has built up to hyping a championship match, that is almost a dream match (I knew those bastards were ruining a future WrestleMania Main EVENT!). 

Prediction:

It’s very hard to imagine John Cena not winning the WrestleMania blow-off match.  If you wanted Batista to win, then you’d have him challenge Cena, I would think.  And the storyline is pushing that John Cena can’t beat Batista.  If Batista wins, then that statement basically becomes true.  Doesn’t make sense for the uber-popular John Cena to not be able to find a way to defeat The Animal.  I see Cena defeating Batista using some sort of ‘shortcut’ or something, enough to give Batista cause to run Cena down having used it, and set up a rematch.

Regardless, I see Cena winning the match, winning the title, and closing the show arms raised in victory.  (Tho I must admit, I don’t know how Batista leaves quietly…)

Chance of John Cena winning the match 65% (3-1 odds); Chance of Batista winning the match 35% (5-1 odds)

Overall:

Looks like a stacked show.  Best show on paper since WrestleMania 17, and if two or more matches flirt with a five start rating, then could be one of the greatest WrestleManias of all time.

Well, I’ve been abandoned. You make your vows, saying that you’ll be there in sickness and in health, good times and bad, richer and poorer.  But they never make you vow, that you will watch a television show with your spouse, unless both of you agree to stop watching.  That should be in the nerdy/genre fan wedding vows. My wife, for no reason at all, has said, “she doesn’t want to watch Fringe anymore.”  So, I must tread along, in solo form.

Anyway, let me continue my review of old Fringe Episodes, and hopefully catch-up to Season 2. 

Basic Plot:

 A woman is riding a Boston Transit Bus, when a man releases gas into the bus.  He puts on a gasmask and takes the woman’s backpack and leaves the bus, as it solidifies trapping everyone immobile inside (like flies in Amber). In another part of town, Roy McComb is confessing to a Priest of having visions of horrible events (Fringe Events) happening.

Charlie and Olivia are talking at John Scott’s funeral, when they get called by Broyles to investigate the bus. Peter and Walter are eating breakfast, when Peter confronts a man following him. Following the altercation, Walter says that they’ve been called about a bus.  They investigate the crime scene where Walter deduces that the assailant released gas that solidified.

The assailant and an unknown man realize that the woman’s backpack does not contain what they are looking for. 

At the lab, Olivia identifies the woman as an undercover DEA agent, Evelina Mendoza.  When Olivia talks to her partner, Grant Davidson, who says that she was scared of something called “The Pattern”, mentioned by the drug cartel. He asks to spend time alone with the body, after identifying Evelina.

Two other developments in the case:

• The substances identified from the bus, were created using chemicals developed by Massive Dynamic. Olivia goes to talk to Nina Sharp about the chemicals.  She informs Olivia of additional attacks using the substance, and that Massive Dynamic has already helped with the investigation.
• The Priest who was talking to Roy in the beginning contacts the FBI, so Charlie and Olivia go to investigate. After interviewing Roy, he is placed in an MRI chamber, where his veins show metal fragments.

Walter supposes that an old experiment of his, called The Ghost Network, has been redeployed, allowing people to talk to each other mentally.  Roy was a former test subject of Walter’s, and is receiving the transmissions accidentally. Peter obtains a neural stimulator in his old house to shift the noise to his ears.  Roy is able to tell the team that the exchange is happening at the bus station, and that the object they wanted was in the hand of Evelina Mendoza all along.  So Grant Davidson is the culprit.

At the bus station, Grant Davidson is killed and the man (from the bus) takes the object.  Olivia confonts him, and throws himself in front of a train. They recover a glass disc, that is linked to The Pattern. Roy is sent home, with the Ghost Network, no longer being used for communications.  After Broyles talks to Nina Sharp giving her the glass disc, it is revealed that Massive Dynanmic was still trying to download information from John Scott’s brain.

Great Quotes (Mostly from Walter)

CHARLIE: As far as John’s mother knows, her son died a hero serving his country.

OLIVIA: A hero. He used me, Charlie. And he told me he loved me.

CHARLIE: I wasn’t gonna tell you this… but he said he loved me too.

 

BROYLES: Forgive me Doctor Bishop. I like to think I have an open mind. But I have a hard time accepting that that man is hearing another person’s thoughts.

WALTER: So do I. Which is why I would like to prove it.

PETER: And here we go.

BROYLES: And how would you do that?

WALTER: Am I required to keep him alive?

OLIVIA: That would probably be best.

WALTER: Taking any medications, prescribed or illicit? You can be truthful. I won’t judge. In fact, if the answer is no, I may encourage some drug use.

ROY MCCOMB: No, none.

PETER: When I was nine years old, I think I wanted to be a brontosaurus. (finds an old hiding space) You know, they say the psych profiles of cops and criminals are pretty much identical. Ever consider a life of crime?

OLIVIA: No dental.

WALTER: Oh, my god.

ROY MCCOMB: What’s wrong?

WALTER: I believe with proper demodulation, you could receive satellite television for free.

PETER: Okay, fun time’s over. Astrid, let’s get him unhooked.

Analysis

 Not quite a filler episode, but Fringe was just getting on its feet, and really needed to establish a (pardon the use of the word) “pattern” in their episodes: Crazy Phenomenon, Team Investigates; Traced back to initial work by Walter; Find Innocent Bystander; Confront Massive Dynamic; Team Does Something Fringe Sciencey; Track Down Bad Guy; More questions than Answers.

Pattern shows are fine.  CSI, House, Star Trek, X-Files, Alias, and Buffy all have patterns.  Sometimes an epsiode rises above its pattern, and sometimes its drowned in it.  This episode is closer to the second, but at only the third episode, it is very forgiveable. 

The things that work here are:

• The team quickly analyzes the craziness of Fringe Science, and doesn’t spend too much time, saying that things are impossible.
• The Walter drug humor is hilarious, and very apropos given the age of the character.
• The interaction between Charlie and Olivia.  Charlie being Olivia’s rock.
• Nina Sharp being unphased by Olivia’s suspicions.

 The main thing that doesn’t work is the side plots with Peter’s shady past.  It’s very ham-handed, and cliche.

Basic Questions

• Mention again of Broyles having to deal with political pressure regarding Fringe division. 
• Massive Dynamic is still trying to access John Scott’s brain.  For their own purposes?  Were they funding/controlling John Scott to begin with?
• Is there a single entity/group trying to use these “Pattern” events, or merely groups of cells, operating similarly?
• Nina Sharp recognizes talent in Olivia Dunham.  What does she see.  What is it about Olivia?
• Why does Broyles give Nina the glass disc. 

Character Development

Olivia: I guess the writers find it refreshing to have a ‘dedicated’ female agent, who is never satisfied with results.  This is a part of Olivia that I never really get.  You either do your job every day, and never look for the checkered flag, or you find small accomplishments to keep you going.  They set her up to never be satisfied with her work and thereby her life.  Not her best episode.

Peter: As I said before, I don’t like Peter’s shady past coming to find him.  The whole, man on the run, people out to get him.  I mean it might as well be Boba Fett who has a contract on his head, or else they’re going to put him in carbonite.  More signs that Peter is a prodigy of some kind.  Almost makes him more boring. 

Walter: There is an interesting dynamic when they play to Walter’s impatience.  It’s something I want to see more of, but you get the impression that the impatient Walter is not pleasant to be around. And his sense of slight disappointment in his son, is interesting, but it’s very detached.  You can tell that Peter still feels it, but doesn’t want to rebel, just to rebel.

Astrid: She’s fully fluent in Latin.  Sadly still under-utilized as a character.

Broyles: A wall of professionalism and hidden emotions.  Not much more here.  He is interesting.  It’s fun that they play off that Broyles and Nina have a hidden agenda, but that the agenda is not necessarily a malevolent one, but it’s aside from the government’s agena.

Nina: Still wonderful as a woman who cannot be fazed by any words or scientific development or idea.  Always helpful, and never devious when dealing with Olivia.  She could be so sinister, but much more interesting as a betweener.

Overall Grade

A solid C+.  Likeable.  Laying ground work.  Interesting concept.  But adds very little to the overal show and future.  I prefer a more, embedded in show mythology.  But, served its purpose well. 

Related Links

http://fringepedia.net/wiki/The_Ghost_Network

http://fringepedia.net/wiki/The_Ghost_Network/Transcript

http://fringe.wikia.com/wiki/The_Ghost_Network

http://fringewiki.fox.com/page/Episode+1.03+The+Ghost+Network

http://www.fox.com/fringe/recaps/s1_e3.htm

I have very mixed emotions about the show.  Initially, I thought it was the greatest show of all time.  The show that broke all boundaries of episodic television.  The show that rewarded their devoted followers more than any other.  And the show that finally achieved the crossover success and broke down the barriers between what is normal television and what is genre/sci fi television.

It has done that, but it lost me as a devotee along the way.

Now, don’t misunderstand me, I haven’t missed an episode of the show.  (Once or twice, it’s remained in my DVR for a while, but that’s due to my domestic unit… aka my son and my wife… not the show) But for most of the first two seasons I thought it was the greatest show anyone had ever created, and I lost that feeling somewhere between Michael killing Libby and Anna Lucia and Mr. Eko being killed.

Somewhere during those 10 episodes, the idea that this was an orchestrated piece, where the whole puzzle would be revealed at the end, even greater than the sum of the already great parts.  And it became a very good action/genre show, with characters I cared about, that was no different than Buffy, Alias, Deep Space 9, Doctor Who, X-Files, Farscape, Fringe, and others. 

What happened to change things?

• A season and a half of convincing us, teasing us of the implication of the hatch, and pushing the button every 108 minutes, and then Desmond turns a key and pushes a button, and everything is fine.  Seemed like the writers just said, “We’re bored with the hatch, let’s blow it up.”
• A whole season introducing us and having us like, Anna Lucia, Libby, and Eko.  1 year later, all three of them are dead, and the creators have the audacity to say that it was part of the plan all along.
• Michael got really annoying; Walt got abandoned (yeah, who knew that a 10 year old boy wasn’t done growing); and all of the interesting Others were pushed aside so they only one left interesting was Ben, who is interesting, but shouldn’t come at the expense of Ms Klugh, Tom, Isabel, and Mikhail.
• The constant back and forth between Locke being a man at peace with the world and having a special connection to the island beyond almost all others, and that Locke is a dreamer/patsy who believes things that just aren’t true.  Pick one!!!  Locke is an Adept or he is a Fool, not both. 
• Basic questions not going answered: what are The Others doing on the island; Do they care about the old Dharma Stations?; Why do some join The Others?; etc.

After a year of this, I realized that I didn’t feel the way about Lost like I had previously.  And as people raved about the 3 seaons, to me they were still a pale reflection of where we had been.  And the show was moving into new territories before resolving the issues it had already created.  And I remained dissatisfied.  Despite my enjoyment of the show, my dissatisfiation remained.

And now we are at the beginning of the end.  I still am interested in the show.  I still want to see how it ends.  I know I will be disappointed in many things this season.  And I know that there will be questions that I do not get answered. 

Let me offer my personal wish list for questions to be answered… questions that don’t seem to be at the top of everyone’s list (i.e., what is the smoke monster).:

1. Is Locke Special, or has he been guided by the Man in Black all along, and manipulated by coincidence?
2. How did Jack, Kate, Hurley, and Sayid end up in 1977, when Sun, Ben, Frank, Ilana, and Bram ended up in the present?
3. How did Ben become leader of The Others, if he has never seen/met Jacob?
4. What is up with Christian Shepherd? Alive/Dead? Smoke Monster Incarnation/Jacob’s prophet? 
5. Thousands of questions regarding the Psychic who advised Claire.  He was fake for Eko but real for Claire? Did he know Claire would crash on the Island? He said Claire must raise the baby or great evil would be unleashed upon the world?
6. Why can’t Widmore or The Man In Black or any of the other return to the Island.  Ben said he couldn’t come back, but he did. 
7. Lists!  Explain the lists!  Why are some abducted?  Why are kids taken? 
8. The damn whispering and Others apperance.  Who can do it (my guess is native born to the island)?  What does it mean? 
9. How did Locke’s father get on the island.  Ben mentioned the magic box which brought Anthony Cooper to the island.  Explain!
10. What is special about these people?  Jacob visited them all (Jack, Kate, Sun, Sawyer, Jin, Locke,

Okay, let’s see more about it all tonight.

Cheers!

Too much geekery to talk about, the two major topics for my universe is the Doctor Who finale and the ‘Monday Night Wars’ that kick things off tonight with the WWE’s Monday Night Raw going up against a special 3 hour TNA Monday Night Impact.  I can only talk about one in the post, so let’s talk about the future rather than the past:  TNA vs WWE.

Now, the truth is… I will most likely be asleep on the couch as my son watches Phineas and Ferb instead of either wrestling show tonight.  But, realistically I can only record one program on my DVR.  So, which one is it going to be.

It’s really an easy choice.  When I was growing up, Bret Hart was my favorite wrestler, and Hulk Hogan was one of my least favorite wrestlers (usually Hacksaw Jim Duggan would take the nod there).  So, a chance to see Bret return to the WWE and get a chance to interact with the WWE stars of today, even if only as a character, that’s exciting.  There are about 10 potential storylines here, with Shawn Michaels, The Hart Dynasty, Vince McMahon, Triple H, and even “Legend Killer” Randy Orton… it’s a great sense of the unknown here.

On the other side, there’s TNA.  Now, in terms of talen in TNA versus the WWE, it’s no contest.  TNA has wrestlers I love watching in Angle, Daniels, Styles, Joe, Sabin, Shelley, Team 3D, Doug Williams, Wolfe, etc.   The WWE has Jericho.  I love Michaels, Cena, Triple H, Orton and the like when they bring their A – game on PPV, but rarely on a weekly basis. 

But TNA already has Vince Russo and they are bringing in Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, and potentially Scott Hall and Sean Waltman.  None of these men have done ANYTHING in the last 10 years that I have enjoyed (other than X-Pac match against Guerrero, Jericho, and Benoit at No Way Out 2001).  I have tried to like TNA, and it just has never worked out for me.  I love the talent, but I hate the decisions.  The constant pushing of WWE rejects, the stupidity of angles, the hiring of veterans whose best days are 10+ years behind them.

I’m sorry, but the Hulk Hogan signing seems more of the same to me.  I’m hopeful it isn’t.  I’m hopeful that Hogan wants to rewrite how he is perceived in the wrestling community.  But somehow I doubt it.  The last time we saw Hogan as a constant in professional wrestling was 4 ½ years ago when he refused to put over Shawn Michaels. 

Now, I’m going to review the results from tonight’s show, and most likely tape the Thursday replay of TNA Impact, hopeful that TNA makes the necessary change to integrate Hogan’s sense of big event feel, and timing, and slow burn.  But I have my doubts. 

Top Signs of TNA’s Destruction Under Hogan

• If Hulk Hogan is booked to win the TNA World Title in the next 4 months.
• If any of the following people are brought in as wrestlers: Brian Knobbs, Jerry Saggs, Brutus Beefcake, Jim Duggan, or the Honky Tonk Man.
• If Hogan does a heel turn that creates a new stable that also includes Nash, Hall, and Waltman.
• If Brooke Hogan shows up as a major player/character in TNA.
• If Mark Madden is brought in to do anything whatsoever.
• If Jimmy Hart shows up with Hogan.
• If a Ric Flair versus Hulk Hogan match is teased for a PPV.

I’ll wait for the fallout to see if this is worth my while.

Cheers,

Rob

When it comes to television shows, you can count on several things. The first, is that the episode after the initial pilot will be a fairly straightforward ‘easy’ story, that further establishes the characters and re-emphasizes the general premise, without major trauma to the characters.

The second, is that eventually all sci-fi/genre television shows hit the same cliched plotlines. And filed right in-between the ‘amnesia’ episode and the alternate reality episode is the investigating a baby that becomes older (or dies an old man) quickly.

And here Fringe does it, in Episode 102: The Same Old Story

WATF Review: Fringe – Episode 102: The Same Old Story

Most of the help remembering this episode comes from: The Fringepedia

Basic Plot

The tease has a stripper in a hotel with someone she met. He is about to inject her with something, when she starts seizing. He drops her off at the hospital, where the doctors tell her that she’s pregnant. The doctors perform an emergency c-section, and they are horrified with what they see.

The first scene is Broyles in a committee, introducing his group. Nina Sharp from Massive Dynamics raises objections about every member of the group. Broyles seems to be briefing this group, and not seeking their approval. Though, he mentioned that he hopes this group will be more successful.

Olivia, Walter, and Peter are called to the hospital to investigate the stripper, who died because the child she was giving birth was aging so rapidly that it ripped her apart. The baby rapidly became an old man, and died shortly after birth.

Olivia and Peter head to the motel to review the scene, and Olivia determines that she’s investigated this murderer before, and that the perpetrator removes the pituitary glands from his victims, and the victims always number five.

Walter retrieves his files and remembers working on a similar project for the government to create ‘instant soldiers’ from embryos, but they kept aging until death. Olivia goes to interview a professor at Boston College, who worked with Walter, Dr. Claus Penrose.

As this is happening, another victim is being injected in a warehouse.

Olivia and Peter interview Penrose, who claims to know nothing, and feels only regret as to the experiments that he and Walter did years ago. Peter thinks that Penrose is not telling them all the truth. At that moment, Charlie calls to tell them that they found another body.

Later the killer is revealed to be Christopher Penrose and is the ‘son’ of Claus Penrose (but most likely a clone). Chris is in pain, and requires five pituitary glands to relieve the pain.

**SECOND FRINGE SCIENCE ALERT**

Whoo hoo, two in one episode. Walter theorizes that he could use a device to capture the last electrical images from the victim’s eyes to determine her last visual memories. To do this, they need an electronic pulse camera from Massive Dynamic.

Olivia interviews with Nina Sharp when she gives her the camera. Nina seems to be probing Olivia for something, or pushing her, or testing her, about the details of Agent Scott.

The team uses the camera to capture the last images from the dead girls eyes. Eventually an image from the girl’s eyes appears on the monitor, and it’s a bridge in the Boston area. They pinpoint the location where the girl would have seen the bridge, and move out.

At the warehouse, Olivia and Peter find another victim. Olivia gives chase to Christopher, and Peter stays behind to revive the victim rather than chase after Claus. Olivia catches Christopher, who is now aging, says he was a failed experiment, but Claus refused to let him die out of love.

Olivia returns the camera to Nina, who offers her a job at Massive Dynamic. Olivia refuses. Broyles tells Olivia after her conversation, that she should keep case details private, even to those who have clearance like Nina Sharp. Additionally, Walter talks to Olivia asking her to keep the details of Peter’s background hidden from Peter, but Olivia doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

Great Quotes

Not that many this week:

WALTER: I’ve never seen a feature like this before. It warms your ass. It’s wonderful. Have you tried it?

PETER: This is your car? Of course it is. So what, you got cars stuffed with papers all over town?
WALTER: Not just cars. You have no idea where I’ve hidden things.
PETER: Friend of yours? (displays severed hand in jar)
WALTER: Oh… I certainly hope not. Come on, boy, we need to get these file boxes back to the lab.

PETER: Walter, I’m with a woman in her mid-20s. She is going into cardiac arrest due to an overdose of anesthesia. Her heart just stopped.
WALTER: Do you have any cocaine?
PETER: Cocaine? No, I don’t have any cocaine.WALTER: Oh, then too bad. You’ll have to shock her heart.

Analysis

A keep things simple, give a few clues, but don’t change the game, episode. Decent, but MUCH better episodes to come.

The theme of every episodes always revolving around Walter’s previous experiments, begins here. Still unsure if its a good thing, but there you go.

Nina Sharp is very protective without being menacing. It’s a very interesting character. Not likeable or even hateable to be fun, but interesting. Almost like the X-Files Cancer Man.

Basic Questions
* Is Walter hinting at the end that Peter is a clone and not his own biological son. The conversation in this epsiode might suggest that, especially with Walter knowing what Peter’s abilities are.

* What side is Broyles working for. And why does he have to answer to a committee?

* Is Nina Sharp offering Olivia a job to protect her, to include her, or to keep her from being independent?

Characters:

Little or no character development this week. Olivia is a dedicated agent. Walter is crazy and had severe excesses in the 70s. Peter is the well-meaning maverick type. Nina is guarded. Broyles is very heavy in words and actions. Charlie is very loyal (to Olivia). And Astrid is undefined.

Overall Grade

It was an unspectacular episode, but that’s what it was trying to be… so… what can ya do… But as I said, better was to come. C+

And I’ve thrown in my favorite quotes from the episode, mostly from Walter…. what fun!

WALTER: Things like this used to happen in the lab all the time. Makes me nostalgic. Spirited, isn’t it?

This episode had Olivia rescue herself after being abducted and taking down Mitchell and Samantha Loeb, who she helped to heal in previous episodes.

Hints and Allegations:

• More fun with now Mitchell Loeb suggesting to Olivia that they are trying to stop a battle between two forces, and they have no idea which side anyone is on.  The question is, are they ever going to have to choose one side or the other.
• There is something special about Olivia.   One would have to think that Massive Dynamic knows that she has John Scott’s memories, but there was another reason that she was abducted by Loeb.
• I like recognizing songs in shows, even when it’s a cover… Apparently The Watson Twins did the cover version of The Cure’s Just Like Heaven used in the show. 

WALTER: My boy, I’m not even sure that we all exist on the same plane of consciousness. But yes, I believe so.

Other Fun Stuff

• Nice to see Olivia act all bad-ass on three occassions.  Tho the escape when she was bound was so telegraphed, it was stupid.  The showing the photo of Loeb’s wife was very well done.
• Walter trying to bud a romance between Peter and Olivia.  It is cute and so innocent.  I’m not sure whether I want them together, as it is soooo cliche.  But it was fun to have all three of them know that it’s there. 
• Nice to know that the team is actually called “The Fringe Team.”
• The use of the Magic 8-Ball was kindof forced there… but as I wasn’t sure how it would be used, I’m going to mark it up as fun.

WALTER: I concur, and in the category of ‘takes one to know one’… That man did seem disturbed.

Wait until the Verdict is In

• Disgruntled senior officer reviewing the alternative, side ops group, wondering if its best use of the government’s resources.  Very cliched.  And Broyles is supposed to have all of this power, and he cant’ even stop his ‘friend’ from taking over.  Poor poor and too easy plot device.
•  Broyles turned into Agent Skinner very quickly in this episode.  He’s supposed to be more in the know.  We’ll see how this plays out.
• The plot line with Olivia’s sister and niece seemed forced.  Like the writers were sitting around a meeting saying, “We need a tether for Olivia to connect her to the real world, to create false connection who needs to suggest that she’s losing herself.  Let’s add a sister and a cute niece.”  This may be used interestingly, but I’m guessing not, especially as the niece is used in a plot device NEXT WEEK… I mean don’t even wait and let us have a connection to her.

OLIVIA: (On cell phone) Peter, it’s me.

PETER: Olivia, thank god. Are you okay? how are you? Where are you?

OLIVIA: I’m on my way to you. So can you meet me outside in ten minutes? And bring your father. I think we’ll need him.

PETER: Do I have to?

Come On Now

• An agent comes in, gives a witness a drink of water, and just walks out…. no one sees, no camera shows this? 
• We still haven’t found anything useful or interesting for Astrid to do?
• A mutated cold virus can run across the floor so fast that they can’t catch it?  What were the CGI guys pissed off that their motion skills weren’t being utilized?
• Men’s shoes are unique, but not that unique, especially when drugged.  I can understand if there was ONE piece of evidence that she tied to it, but to just go “It’s Loeb” cause he wore black shoes with tassles?  A bit much.  (Fringepedia says there was  a white spot on the loafers… maybe I need a HD TV, but I didn’t see it, but if it’s there, then it isn’t in this group)
• Olivia, after being abducted, drugged, and given a spinal tap, is out searching for clues by herself the very next day.  Really?  There rules for injuries and hospitalizations in sports, but not with the FBI?
• Minor point, but aren’t we really past the point of Charlie going to Peter to do something outside the law.  After all this time, and working for FBI and Homeland Security? Seemed forced just to get Peter into the plot.

PETER: (walking-in) Walter – What are you doing?

WALTER: (sitting at work-station) I’m dosing a caterpillar.

PETER: Dosing? As in L.S.D?

WALTER: Well… it’s a special blend.

PETER: I see. Hey, guess what just happened.

WALTER: Hmmm?

PETER: Finding out that my father is giving drugs to bugs – somehow just became a typical moment in my life.

WALTER: It’s wonderful. Isn’t it?

Once again, I watched this several months ago, and am catching up to the Season 2.0

Well After the Fact Review
DVD Box Set: Battlestar Galactica Season 1
Episode 110: The Hand of God

As I said, it is one of my favorite episodes of BSG. I thought everyone was rather likeable, and it just came of very well.

Basic Plot

The fleet is running out of fuel, either general fuel or fuel to do space jumps. When scouting for the fuel, tylium, Boomer and Crashdown find an asteroid with the ore, that is heavily guarded by the Cylons. Instead of running and finding another source, Adama decides to attack the Cylons.

At the same time, President Roslin is having visions, specifically of 12 snakes. When she talks to Elosha (the religious advisor), she says that these visions were revealed in the book of Pythia, where the one who will lead the tribes of man to their new home will see serpents numbering twelve.

Adama comes to Starbuck to help hatch the plan, saying that this will required “out of the box” thinking to get it done. Starbuck’s plan is to pull the Cylons fighters away from the base with three decoy vessels, once the Cylons are pulled, Galactica will jump to a nearby location, and launch fighters to destroy the base. Additionally, Tigh and Starbuck consult Baltar to find the correct spot to target on the base to make it explode. Baltar, with Number 6′s help, picks a spot at random.

Starbuck is still injured for the run, and Apollo is scheduled to lead the fighters. On Caprica, Helo and Boomer are still on the run. Boomer starts to vomit after a meal, suggesting something… Later Helo spots another model of #6 who he had seen killed earlier, leading some Cylon Centurions.

During the attack, everything goes according to plan, until Cylon fighters pull away from the decoy ships and advance towards Galactica. All seems lost, when Adama orders the team of Vipers, hiding under the decoy ships, to launch and attack the base. The whole plan was a feint, supposedly by Adama who doesn’t like to tell everyone everything. Apollo leads the second squadron to the asteroid, and pulling a crazy “Starbuck-like” maneuver, destroys the base, using the random location selected by Baltar.

The Vipers destroy the remaining fighters. Galactica is able to take the fuel from the mine, enough to last them several years. And Baltar after hearing the same scripture (from #6) said to Roslin, realizes that he must be an agent of “God”

Analysis

Just a fun strategy episode. Didn’t like the ‘trick’… as the trick was mostly to make the episode more dramatic… rather than anything in the plot.

Fun Question: Did the Cylons know about the plan, due to Baltar, or is his Number Six working only with him.

The prophecy angle with President Roslin was somewhat unexpected. It’s a nice little twist. With Baltar using the same scripture, it brings an aspect of dueling faiths. And the ‘what is meant to be will be.’

Starbuck’s strategy planning in the face of Colonel Tigh is interesting as well, but I don’t think that will be followed up. Tigh is a straight by the books sort of leader. Regardless, this didn’t seem like something that was totally against ‘standard rules of combat’.

Boomer (on Caprica’s) throwing up is a huge red flag for any standard television watchers. As subtle as a freight train. I’m still waiting to see this develop into something interesting.

Baltar is so smarmy. It’s interesting and enjoyable. Nothing will ever replace John Colicos as the best Baltar, but it is a nice take on the character, and getting better.

Overall Grade

One of the two best episodes in this first season. Just fun and action packed. The show needs to get better quotes though, just way too dark.

A-

Liked

• Opened with the Dharma Training Video guy (yes, I can find his name on wiki if I want to), was  a great… ooohhh this is going to be good if they’re starting here.
• The conversation between Sun and Kate, was really creepy and could go in 100 different ways.  I like that. 
• Rose and Bernard return.  They are a delight on the show.  If these two are killed in a meaningless way, I will be very disappointed.
• The images of the flaming arrows was really really good.  It was either a good special effects technique or CGI, and I couldn’t tell.  That’s fairly impressive.
• The big reveal, even though you knew a big reveal was coming, that the Hawking Lady from Desmond’s time travel adventure, was the one helping Ben.
• Cheesy, but I liked Hurley’s mom (who I really haven’t liked in the past), say to Hurley… after his big recap:  “I believe you.  I don’t understand you, but I believe you.”  That was really touching.
• I did like Sayid choking Jack before realizing who he was.
• The image of the Foucault’s Pendulum (someone mentioned it’s name on the Pop Candy Blog).  Such a cool image. 

 Didn’t Like

• Okay Jack is on Ben’s side, but then it turns out that Sayid is no longer on Ben’s side, and Hurley is caught in the middle between them, and Ben seems to be on the good side, but then seems to be having his own agenda, and he still can’t let Jack in on the truth… I like the character of Ben, but this is getting old, the weaving of multiple threads and getting caught in them.
• The island moved.  If only the people were moving through time, then the island would still have been there for the chopper to land.  If the island moved and the people are shot through time, then when they get to the present they will be in the water. 
• There’s just no way, someone comes to your door, says they have a court order for a DNA test between Kate and Aaron, but they don’t have to divulge the client’s name.  Total bull.  I could see a lawyer coming and asking for a blood sample, and threatening with a future court order.  I could see the cops ordering it, but if so, a crime would have to be connected to it.  I didn’t like it, and it reeked of a ‘writer device’.

Questionable:

• Farraday suddenly becomes mister take charge guy, and Charlotte is the one who can’t remember things. That’s fine, but there should be an explanation and not just that the script demanded it.
• This is a warning, I really want the people on the island to have gone through three years of time passing, and not just have the island arrive three years after they were rescued. That would be very lame. If Locke is showing up, but still has no better idea of what is going on on the Island, I’m going to be pissed.
• There was a moment when Ben looked down at the ticket in the Deli, where he saw two of the number (412 I think), and I thought I saw a sigh… like… these damn numbers follow us everywhere.  If the numbers actually tie into the Island myth, and Ben knows about it, then this is a positive. 

Overall, I liked the episode, but I’ve lost that thrill of the first two seasons, and I guess I’m never going to get it back.  It’s still a very good show, but it’s just a show now. 

Cheers!

Robert

This is not some all-encompasing list, this is just a list of 10 questions that I would like answered before the show goes off the air next year.  Some are typical, but many are not.

1. Explain the “Others” ability to move without  being seen, and able to generate the “whispers” … Or even more specifically, who are these inhabitants who were here before the Dharma Initiative.  And why do they have these abilities?  Are these abilities magical or scientific in nature (or some combo).

   Expectations: Yeah, you’d have to think that this would get answered, somewhat soon.  At least who the Others are. 

2. Why did Dharma abandon the Island?  Or did they?  (dun… dun… dun!)  And if they abandoned the island, why did food get dropped near the hatch? 

   Expectations: For some reason, I don’t think this is going to be answered. 

3. Is Christian Shepherd just a form that Jacob or the Smoke Monster has adopted?  Or is there a pre-crash connection between Christian and the Island?  Or, has Christian Shepherd been reborn due to the powers of the island?

   Expectations: I would think this will be resolved, in some way.  Or at least Christian Shepherd will be talked to by someone who knows who he is.

4. What is Ben’s relationship with Jacob?  Is Ben acting of his own accord (like when he shoots Locke),  is this part of Jacob’s test, or is Ben rejecting Jacob’s orders and not wanting to relinquish control to Locke?

   Expectations:  Could happen, but might just be assumed with general knowledge of Jacob is revealed.

5. Why do “The Others” follow Ben from the getgo.  Why they follow Locke is more understandable, as he had been identified and targeted by Richard for a while.  But Ben arrives, and meets Richard, and then they follow him?  Did he get contact with Jacob from the beginning?

   Expectation:  Curious question, and it could happen.  But… hmmm….

6. Will we ever explore there being something interesting about Walt, or is that part of the story closed? 

   Expectation:  No, I think that won’t happen.  I think it’s one of those abandoned plot lines, due to their ditching of actors. 

7. Is there something terrible about Aaron?  Did the psychic see something?  Why did Claire have to keep the baby?   Did the psychic know that Kate would get the baby?  Did the psychic see that Jack and Kate would raise the baby.

   Expectation: No… my bet is that the psychic will never come up again.  Aaron may develop some abilities, or something.   But nothing has been suggested about Aaron since season 1.

8. Rousseau’s survey team contracted “The Sickness”.  The ship started to get weird affects.  Why hasn’t this happened to the survivors of 815?  All of them can’t be ‘chosen’ to be there, can they? 

   Expectation:  This will be revealed but it will be some silly throwaway.

9. Why did Whitmore create a fake Oceanic airplane?  How did he know that flight 815 crashed on the island, or was it part of something else?  Why would he care?  The search wouldn’t have taken them 200 miles away from the last known location of the flight?

   Expectation:  Really unsure.

10. Why do the residents of the island care about procreation, when it’s obvious that they don’t age.  They got an influx of kids when Rosseau’s boat crashed.  They can get to the mainland and invite people to come, like Libby?  So why do they care about procreation, only just cause they want to have babies?  Why not leave, go to the mainland, have babies and come back.  Or even just steal them? 

    Expectation:  Naaaah, they wouldn’t care.

11. Bonus question, what powers do “The Others” have when they are not on the mainland? 

Crackpot theory:  Eventually Jack and Kate become the Adam and Eve discovered on the island at the beginning of the series.