Now there's only love in the dark

TV Commentary:

House- ( spoiler cut )

Coming out of the cut, I've been trying to figure out why Susan Sarandon's daughter looks weird. I mean, when they had that side profile of Eva Amurri's face in the beginning, the was something off about her nose and I think its not that she has a big nose, but she has weirdly shaped nostrils.

Gossip Girl- ( spoiler cut )

Chuck- ( spoiler cut )

Getting out of the cut so I can make a general rant, I hate when TV has some nerdy character at the gun range and he fires a gun and goes flying back or it flies out of his hands. Firing a gun is not gonna do that to you, all it does is make people not at all familiar with guns think they are these extremely dangerous tools that if you even touch them funny, you'll kill yourself. Yes, they're dangerous, but as long as you follow basic safety, you'll be fine. Respect them, but you don't need to be that afraid of them, and scenes like this perpetuate the fear.

I'm particularly annoyed since I have first hand experience with the particular scenario- so, they have Morgan trying out a Sig P-229. Now, I don't know whether it was chambered for .40 S&W or .357 Sig in that scene. But anyways, I've only fired the 229 in .357 sig, but that has a bigger kick than the .40 S&W version anyways, in my opinion. And I'm a skinny wimp, and I had no problems with it. And I would think I'm in the same boat as Morgan in terms of physical ability- if I can do it, a TV nerd can do it.

( back to the cut )

Oh, did the Jets change costumes recently?

TV Commentary:

OTH- You know, I don't if its this show or Secret Life that's more of a train wreck. Heh, I remember the British record lady showing up, but who the hell is the scruffy looking bartender dude? And why are he and her getting like actual plot lines?! This show has enough characters, and they're wasting time on folks who are beyond tertiary? Mia, Chase, Sam, they were kinda relevant, unless I'm missing some vital part of his bio, what the hell does he have to do with anything? Like Mia and Chase stuff, Mia is Haley and Peyton's protege, and Chase used to go out with Brooke, something just them isn't too weird. Even Sam and Kick-Ass' friend who was not Clark Duke, her thing with him would affect her relationship with Brooke. But British record company chick seemed to be barely more than a plot device, and she gets a significant storyline alongside some random? What in the world?!

HIMYM- Seriously, I could give Don a chance if they actually showed Robin and him doing stuff that would make you buy them as a couple. Show, not tell! I mean, the show can say they're a really great couple, but as it is, I only have their word for it. I understand its hard to do a relationship the audience can get behind when one half is only a guest star. But look at Phoebe and Mike on Friends (I don't know if they're gonna have Robin end up with Don in the end, I wouldn't think so, but some of the ways they've phrased things on the show they might be heading that way, which would be a terrible idea), they established him and the relationship well that her ending up with him worked and didn't feel forced. Or going the other way, where it doesn't last. Amy Ryan wasn't on too many eps of the Office, but you feel for Michael when Holly leaves. I guess you don't want to make some guest star one of your main characters falls for too likable, because if it is a passing fling, you don't want the audience to get to attached to the pair. (Even though it seems Jesse might have some nefarious plot going on given the look he gave Shelby when he first hooked up with Rachel in Glee, it seems a lot of the audience actually likes the two of them together) But HIMYM doesn't have to worry about that, because Don's such a boring non-entity. I think of that scene in that movie where Bobcat Goldwaith gets a talking horse (played by John Candy), and in the final horse race in the end, when people hear the horse is named Don, people are all "Don?" since racehorses have weird names like "middle aged housewife" and "there's a crazy woman on the tracks". Well, the other thing about his character I think of, is my favorite line from High Fidelity, "What effin' Ian guy?" I mean, I know who this character is, but since he's such a non-entity on the show, its like "who the eff is Don?" sometimes.

24- Oh, I forgot to complain last week, when Jack asked Michael Madsen for "two MP-5s", but they never show any amongst the arsenal he gets. He gets a couple of MP-7s, which while also made by H&K is a totally different weapon used for a radically different sitch. While the MP-5 was a good weapon in its hey-day, a very accurate and handy 9mm submachine gun, its kinda defunct nowadays since its only a 9mm submachine gun. Cut down carbines are where its at, and for CQB work, the MP5 has been all but replaced by compact assault rifles like the M4 since they provide for more stopping power and longer ranges. And while the MP5K-PDW version of the MP-5 is quite the compact little weapon when folded up, again, its obsolete compared to the MP-7. The MP7 is more compact, and its 4.7mm round is more effective against targets wearing body armor. That is prolly what Jack wanted, since it is easily concealable under his jacket, and was gonna use it against guys who were most likely wearing bulletproof vests. Get your weapons straight, show!

Speaking of weapon choices, Jack bringing a Taurus Judge was kinda a weird weapon choice. I mean, its somewhat compact, but I think in that sitch, there's a better backup weapon to take besides a huge revolver chambered for .410 shotgun rounds. I mean, it seems more a choice for style than actual usefulness. Like, why transition from his handgun to it to hold the other guys off? Its not like he was fighting off huge gorillas hopped up on PCP, with his training, he could put the guys coming down just as quick with his pistol. Or bring the aforementioned MP7? The automatic fire capability would be more useful in holding the guys off than firing a couple of .410 shotshells their direction, plus, since it did look like the PMCs wear wearing armor, the armor-piercing rounds would be more effective than the cluster of pellets from the judge!

Like the real usefulness of the Judge is to have a very compact and relatively concealable mini-shotgun to bring to bear in really close ranges- someone tries to jack your car or sneaks in your bedroom or some deal you have going with someone across the table with you goes bad. Within 5-10 feet, you pull fast, and you're not gonna miss, and unlike a pistol round, that's gonna put the guy down quick. But Jack had a tactical advantage, his pistol already drawn, using aimed fire to take out guys from 15-20 feet, there was no reason to switch to another weapon. Again, it seems more like a stylistic choice than a tactical one.

Oh, and the whole Starbuck being the mole thing still makes no sense. So of all the people the Ruskies would pick to infiltrate CTU, they decide to pick some random white trash girl fresh out of jail to laud a very good cover on? I mean, its not like they used any of her actual past, since that part was hidden from CTU, so why not pick someone more useful to place in there?

( spoiler cut )

Glee- Heh, so they just released versions of "Ice Ice Baby" and "U Can't Touch This", but seriously, how awesome does Lea Michele sound on "Total Eclipse of the Heart".

(And is there any other blog in the world where someone will be all giddy for some musical show version of TEoTH, complain about ships portrayed on TV shows, and rant about firearms choices? Sometimes I feel my interests don't line up)

(no subject)

TV Commentary:

24- A further weapons analysis. ( cut for your benefit )