Scandal 2X17-Even the Devil Loves His Daughter

Hollis Doyle

Gregg Henry plays evil really well. Especially with Hollis Doyle, who is the worst. Although his daughter might give him a run for his money. Money-wise, wouldn't it make more sense to stay with your family? I'm sure if you stayed, he would give you more than 20 million over the course of your life. You may not be able to use it for drugs, but that is probably a good thing. The drugs clearly affected you badly, you cut off your own fucking ear. The case was interesting, especially having Quinn helping out, but I was fairly certain the daughter was playing Doyle from the beginning. It was the only twist they really had.

Girl, you're the worst

Huck and Quinn

I really love this pairing. I love that Quinn finally has something to do, because I spent the first season wondering why the hell she was even hired. And Huck makes an odd but compassionate mentor. He lets her make her own decisions in the case, rather than having her watch him watch other people. I like the respect the two seem to have for each other, it may be the healthiest friendship on this entire show.

Scandal is creating a bromance over stalking people. Yay?

David Rosen

Does anyone else think David is going to join Pope &Associates? He can't get his lawyer job back, but he's still part of the show. Joshua Molina plays him so well, I really enjoy the humor his character brings. Of course, he had an awkward meal with Abby and Harrison, who I totally think are going to get together at some point. Because A) There's a lot of tension there and B) watching Olivia deal with an office romance would. be. so. entertaining.

You're adorable. Please stay.

The White House

The First Lady yelling at the President for being an asshole was just the best. I have slowly grown to hate Fitz in the past few weeks, with his drinking and general grumpiness. He's a toddler who didn't get his way, please just get over it. You didn't even do anything illegal and you're more torn up about a fixed election than those who fixed it for you. But Mellie yelled and had a fantastic speech and maybe you will become a human being again. Also, I think Bellamy Young is the unsung hero of Scandal because she makes a potentially unlikable character really likable. I mean, her character is kind of evil, but I love it when she is on screen.

Feels

Olivia (and Jake)

We finally talked about it. If this show was to become a drinking game, there would be many rules. But number one was finally talked about.

Olivia only eats popcorn and wine. I don't think I've seen her eat anything else, and I LOVE that the show addressed it.

If I didn't know he was evil, I may have fallen in love with him at this point.

Okay, there's more important things. Jake is the mole?! I didn't really see that one coming, they did a good job of setting up the CIA Director as the mole. But now I'm nervous for what will happen to Olivia. I can't tell if Jake actually likes her or is using her. I mean, he knows that she and Fitz had an affair right? So what's his end game with her?

Scandal just keeps showing why it is becoming one of the best shows on television and I am excited for next week.

The Good Wife 4X18-Let's Do Some Shots

You know it's going to be a good episode when:

1) Alicia is wearing red

2)  John Noble is guest starring

I mean, Alicia wears red all the time, but she wears it often in conjunction with major emotional moments. Also, it's at a gala-type thing and Matthew Perry is also Guest Starring. Speaking of which, he plays psychopathic asshole really well.

The real OTP of The Good Wife is Alicia and her wine

"If you start clocking my alcohol intake, I'm going to do shots"
Oh snarky Alicia. Oh drinking Alicia. I love it when these two Alicias become one and just really stop giving a fuck. She tells Kresteva to "Die chocking on his own blood", compares him to Hitler, and calls his psychopath all while finding the bar. But first, Eli. He brings up her St. Alicia-ness, even though we all know she's not a saint. And that's okay. But, of course, Will shows up. He is the blemish on her St. Alicia record that no one knows about, other than Peter. Alicia escapes this awkwardness to yell at Kresteva and then be interrupted by the police.

The Good Wife always does special cases of the week really well. This proved to be an interesting case about who murdered Lockhart Gardner's client, played by John Noble. It was nice to see him not setting his son on fire (see: LOTR) or heading dangerous experiments.

*Sobs*

 Even though he was only shown during flashbacks, he pulled off a wonderful performance and I found myself liking his character even though he was a huge ass. Or maybe I just miss Fringe. Anyways, Alicia spent most of her time at the police station, 'helping' them find his killer. Laura Hellinger shows up for some potential BFF/crime-solving time. Or, to get advice from Will. I think Laura either already suspects or will know about Alicia and Will by the end of the season. The night gets progressively weirder as Alicia is threatened by the murderer. It also gets weirder through the drunk man singing and the growing noise in the station.

So much snark. So little time.

Back at the gala, Kresteva is spreading lies about Alicia's son. And of course, Peter has no time for that. Peter gets Kresteva and (awesomely) punches him in the face. Great editing at this part, cutting to commercial after the punch. Then, he spills his glass and makes it look like Kresteva is a drunk, violent man. I'm not always a fan of Peter, but in this moment I was.

Die choking on your own blood, please

Also, Diane is offered a Supreme Court seat IF Peter wins. This makes me think Peter isn't going to win, and he'll go for a Senate seat instead. Also, the Good Wife is at it's best when there's a campaign. But I don't think Diane will leave Lockheart Gardner at least when the show is still on. Maybe a series finale? Diane and Will are way too good together and I love Diane as Alicia's mentor.

A shocked Diane

Grandma brings her grandchildren to a bar. And then tells all the family secrets. Okay, I kind love Alicia's mom, she's a whole lot better than Jackie, but seriously why did you think this was good grandparenting?

Kalinda to the rescue! Alicia calls Kalinda for help, and she ends her date early to do so. When are these two going to admit that they are BFFs again? Soon I hope. Also, I think her and Cary slept together a few episodes ago. There have been a few weird looks, more touching, and a tad bit of awkwardness since then.

Alicia calls Will. This scene is why I love her and Will. Her offer to come, not because she can't handle it, but because he cares about her. He doesn't need to step in and save the day, he is fine watching her do it, but he wants to be there for her. This reminded me of a scene in season 2, episode 20 where Will watches Alicia kill it on an interview for Peter. His affections for her are not selfish, whereas Peter's are. But I loved Will coming to Alicia and their discussion, no matter how hard it was.

How can you not love this face?

Alicia rarely gets a moment alone. She is constantly on display, whether Eli is trying to make her appear more "Good Wifely" for the campaign, other lawyers identifying her as Peter Florrick's wife constantly, and Lockhart Gardner eyeing her for partner. She is even on display for her kids, especially Grace, who want to know if their parents are going to fix things. But she had Will. Even if she had to hide her relationship with Will, she did not have to be on display when she was with him. And I don't believe what she told Grace at the end of the episode. I mean, I think Alicia loves Peter on some level. But really, she loves Will. But everyone else is watching her, and to be the Good Wife she has to stay with her husband.

"All I can tell you is go fuck yourself"

Of course, the episode ends with Alicia swearing. Because why not? I love how this show gets by the sensors. Also, the only other episode Alicia's mom was in ended with swearing also. And bathroom sex. 

Next week? Sweeney and Morena Baccarin. I. Love. This. Show

Lost Girl 3X10-I Think the Tales of My Romantic Heroism Have Been Slightly Exaggerated

"Lost Girl" is such an apt title that goes beyond just Bo. Even though she is the girl the title is referencing, it applies to Kenzi, Lauren, and Tamsin this season. Kenzi was literally lost earlier this season, Lauren has admitted to losing herself over her whole journey with the Fae, and Tamsin seems lost as to what she's supposed to do with Bo and how she feels about her. I don't know if these feelings are romantic for friend-based, I'm pretty sure that whole kiss thing only affected Bo.

I'm so glad Bo and Dyson talked. I'm not a huge Dyson fan to be honest, especially if he is with Bo. I'm generally annoyed with Dyson as a werewolf, I think he follows too much of a stereotype. I don't like the whole wolf who is super masculine and possessive and hairy. Give me Oz from Buffy the Vampire Slayer any day. And his whole "I can love only one" thing reminds me too much of (God help me I'm referencing Twilight) the wolves imprinting on women. Also, the show falls into more heteronormative interactions when they're together. I'm not saying that every heterosexual relationship is heteronormative, I don't believe that at all, but the show becomes that in regards to the whole relationship. But I do like his friendship with Kenzi.

Please become a regular thing!

My heart. I love Lauren, she's my favorite character. And I love her and Bo. I think this show does non-heteronormative so well, and I hope that their break doesn't lead Bo back to Dyson. Although, maybe Dyson and Lauren will become BFFs? Who drink a lot? I would love to see that. Anyways, Lauren deciding that she and Bo should take a break was right and sad. Both Anna Silk and Zoie Palmer are fantastic actresses, their scene together left me in tears. This show treats their relationship to be just as complicated as her relationship with Dyson, I think if Lauren and Bo got together and everything was sunshine and rainbows forever would be too flat. Heartbreak aside, I'm glad the show addressed the recent disconnect between our two lovebirds. Hopefully they can figure it out.

All of the feels

What side is Tamsin going to side with? It seems as though she's after Bo, but will she change her mind? Or will she lead Bo's father straight to her? I wasn't a fan of her at the beginning, but she's grown on me. Basically, if you give me a snarky female character, I will eventually love her. And that's what Lost Girl did. I hope she sticks around for the next season.

Apparently Dark Fae don't teach you how to hug.

Overall, this episode discussed what it should and broke my heart a bit with an entertaining mystery. I'm nervous to see what Bo's father will bring. More pain and misery? Please, no, my heart can't take it.

Revenge 2X17- The Power of Forgiveness

I did not see that coming.

Mostly, it's because the characters are generally easy to read. You may not know what they're going to do, but you know who they're after. Eli came off as going after Amanda/Emily, but did a...well it wasn't a complete 180. I don't know, a complete 90? He didn't attack the Graysons, which would be a 180. I..I..I have nothing. Whatever it was, it was entertaining as hell.

I have my concerns about Daniel. Sometimes I think he won't follow in his family's footsteps, but other times I feel they make decisions for him and he is too in the dark to do anything. Like Victoria stalking him and Emily to dissuade him from seeking Emily's help. I do appreciate Daniel for this; he seems to be the most genuine person on the show. At least for someone so in the middle of things, Jack, Charlotte and Deacon are pretty genuine. But Daniel is the CEO of Grayson Global, shouldn't he be more...scheme-y? I mean he seemed to be catching on last week by getting rid of the clock the Initiative was spying on him with. I guess I simultaneously want him to fight back but also be an honest character. So basically, Jack then? But back to Grayson Global, I'm interested to see how the company will be manipulated in the future. Is Aiden really going to go down for Grayson Global? I have a feeling he will weasel his way out of it.

Poor Nolan. First Padma was betraying him, now she may be dead. In a show of people lying about their emotions and manipulating others, Padma and Nolan were a surprise. They managed to work past the betrayal to actually care about each other. But, of course the Initiative had to get involved

I really love the role reversal that this has brought. Nolan has been the voice of reason for Emily throughout her revenge plans. Emily has needed calming down after large emotional occurrences, just last week he was comforting her while she was furious and emotional about Fauxmanda's death. But Emily was able to do that for Nolan. An emotional wreck, she came up with a plan for his revenge and will help him. I'm looking forward to that as a storyline, I like seeing Nolan not so under control.

I also really want Nolan and Jack to become BFFs again. Nolan explained away most of it, but I think Jack is still suspicious. I'm never sure how I feel about Emily and Jack, but Nolan and Jack are one of my favorite pairings. Emily and Jack have too many lies. Although, I wish she would tell him a half truth about some of the questions he brought up to get their friendship back together

The biggest question I have so far is: who is Falcon? I think it's the new Initiative liaison dude, but Revenge never takes the most obvious path

Next Episode: Masquerade Ball. Because what show, other than Pretty Little Liars, is more appropriate for people dressing up in costume and pretending to not be themselves.

Grey's Anatomy 9X18- Going to the Carnival

This was a quiet, but good episode of Grey's. The special guest star of this episode was the new scanning machine, which pulled off a wonderful performance as we tried to find Mousy's marble.

Just kidding. Kind of. It was actually Anette O'Toole, who was wonderful as the teacher who discovered she was dying. Grey's Anatomy usually finds a way to make me cry with these cases-of-the-week, and I admittedly teared up as she was talking to all of her students about her death. Meredith discovered that she's having a boy! It was adorable to watch her and Derek so happy after Meredith talking about all the horrible things that could go wrong with the baby. Which, she does have a point. If it's going to happen to someone, it will be her. I hope this happiness continues, but it is Grey's Anatomy. Speaking of Derek, he was totally McDreamy this episode. Half the time he is a huge ass, so it was nice to see him step in and help out his intern.

Oh April. She spent most of the episode comparing her sex life to a carnival and then the new x-ray machine. Her conversation with Meredith was particularly hilarious, because why would April expect anything other than Meredith saying "go for it"? 

While these metaphors were entertaining, I think her new relationship isn't going to last. Girl is totally ending up with Jackson at the end of this season, or at least not with Cute EMT (I don't know his name and I don't think he'll be around long, so I don't remember his name). He's going to find out she had sex with Jackson and lied to him about it, and that will be that.

Alex's patient wanted to help Alex torture Jo's boyfriend. Watching Webber get involved was also entertaining, as was watching her boyfriend run around the hospital. But he figured it out, and told Alex that he was going to be the one having sex with her in the bar bathroom, so now I officially hate him. Asshole.

Bailey and Christina. I love that Bailey is getting the research she wants. She honestly should be chief, and I'm mad she has been passed over a few times. Also, watching her and Christina talk to baby Grey was hilarious. And Christina's master manipulation was so wonderfully done. Christina gets what she wants, and the other surgeon trying to use her was not going to work.

And now, the highlight of the episode: Callie and Arizona. They are my favorite couple and two of my favorite characters on the show. It was great to see them finally figure out all their sexytime issues. And Shonda Rhimes has handled this so wonderfully, having a gradual progression to their happiness from the dark place they started this season at. 

I loved that Callie realized that's she's being an ass by wanting sex from her wife before Arizona is ready, but also standing up for herself in regards to Arizona's health. I get Arizona's point about her wife not being her doctor, but Callie's status as an orthopedic surgeon gives her a unique way to help Arizona through her pain as her wife. It would be inappropriate for her doctor to be massaging her that way.

Pretty Little Liars 3X24- All Things Truly Wicked Start From Innocence

All in all, a great finale. Yes, I knew Toby was alive, so that wasn't a huge reveal, but we got enough answers as to "Who" this whole A thing is and next season can move into the "How's" and "Why's" of it. I'm gonna break this down by character.

Spencer:

"She wanted to break me so she could put me back together, like her own Humpty-Dumpty."

Spencer's complete breakdown this season has been one of my favorite storylines on this show and possibly all of 2013. Which isn't saying much, because it's March, but whatever. I love it. It makes so much sense that Spencer would be the one to lose it. I mean, if I were any of these girls I would have locked myself in a mental institution a long time ago (as Aria points out), but they haven't. And Spencer's intensity makes her the perfect case study in crazy on this show. So when Spencer revealed she was working for A in the last episode, I was slightly worried. If any of the girls would turn, it would be her. But no, she's back to her Spencer investigating ways, which I was glad for.

"Mo" (a.k.a Mona) watches over Toby and Spencer. I love the mis-en-scene in this show.

I'm not entirely sure she should trust Toby, I have far too many questions for him. When did he join the A team? What has he been doing for Mona. Because Spencer did point out a few episodes ago, only Toby could have tried to steam her to death. Maybe he sent Aria a text to go to her place? I don't know, if I were her I would have punched him in the face instead of having all the sexytimes. As much as shirtless Toby is the greatest, Spencer made really good points. How did Toby stand by and watch her fall so hard without any indication he was on their side? 

Hannah:

"Are you thinking shock treatment?"

Great idea by Hannah to make sure A can't hear them. I really love how her character is never dumb, she gets a few funny dumb lines but then has good ideas. Also, the fucking car. In a show of creepy things, the car covered in lake stuff playing the video on repeat is scary.

Really Ezra? Judging Hannah for inappropriate comments?

I really enjoy that this show gives all the girls their turn at being super-sleuth. Spencer is definitely the one who mostly drives the mystery, but there is equal opportunity knowledge seeking. Hannah trying to Veronica Mars her way into an answer about who picked Malcolm up was entertaining, and I loved that Spencer planned for her to receive that text message.

Aria:

"I mean, Radley is looking better every day. I'm actually ready to check-in. "

Okay, I'll admit it. I hate Ezria. They're boring, he's boring and kinda creepy, and their relationship is just too complicated. Now I don't mean all stable couples are boring, I'm a huge fan of a well-written couple that isn't breaking up every few weeks. Look at Caleb and Hannah for example. They have been together for awhile. They face their problems together and are clearly supportive of one another. Ezra and Aria don't have very many problems, other than their forbidden relationship that no one seems to care about other than Aria's parents. Ezra having a child was the biggest problem and Aria is being the most mature about it. Good riddance I say.

Ezra looking sad his girlfriend is more mature than him.

But, I really enjoyed how the hallway scene paralleled the scene in the Pilot at Ali's funeral because I love me a good parallel (see:all of Fringe). Also, of course he's her sub. I really hope he doesn't just stare at her with his deer-in-the-headlights look (you know what I'm talking about. The one where he looks surprised a girl is talking to him).

Emily:

"If you don't know who she is, that means you're still one of us."

Emily had a brilliant plan to figure out if Spencer is still on their side. But other than that, Emily had very little to do in the episode except spy on Jenna-Melissa-Shauna and fawn over Toby. Emily and Toby are best friends, apparently, even though they like haven't spoken since season 1. So yay Toby being alive? Also, Shauna is creepy as fuck and I'm starting to get worried for Paige. 

Mona:

"I'm never gonna know who she was!"

I love that Mona is now a victim instead of a perpetrator. It's going to change the dynamic of the show and the girls in a fresh and interesting way. But I do wonder how much the girls will trust her. Will she be apart of their meet-ups to discuss A or on a need-to-know basis? Will Spencer tackle her again (please, yes)?

Questions:

Who is in the trunk? It's either Jason or....I don't know. And there's a body in the morgue that might be Jason cause it's not Toby. Also, all the girls gasped, so that makes me think it isn't anyone too important to any of them

Melissa-Jenna-Shauna? WTF? Okay, this was done well. Melissa had to be involved in this whole thing somehow, but Jenna shocked me. Her disappearance this season felt more like the actress wanted to leave, so they just had one of the girls mention she left. Also, she's been a suspect for so long that I thought she was completely innocent

Are Jenna and Shauna together? What was this?

Who set the fire? If red coat, or Ali  saved them, who did the fire setting? Because I thought the plan was for red coat to kill all the girls with the fire. Or, was she going to meet them and MJS team decided to set shit on fire? Is this going to become Team A versus Team MJS? And Toby is so going to be blamed for every fire set on this show because of that lighter. 

Introduction

Welcome to Pop Culture Binge!

This post is going to explain how I plan on running this blog. Things might change if this doesn't work. So here it goes:

-I will be updating either the night of or the day after a show airs with a review. 

-Movie reviews might take awhile, I either see movies 2 weeks after they come out or at midnight premiers. There is no in-between.

-Book reviews might be years late. I have stacks of books that I've had forever and haven't read, but I have authors I follow that are currently releasing books. Also, if the book is more than 20 years old, I'm won't tag spoilers.

-Games reviews: Okay, here's the thing. I bought a PS3 about 6 months ago and haven't gamed in about 10 years, so I am WAY behind on games. Some might be new, some might be old. New games make take awhile to come out, I'm a slow player.

This is the official starting point, and I shall be commencing with something fitting: The season finale of Pretty Little Liars.

Stay Tuned!