TV Reviews

True Blood – Mine

Sookie is rescued from being taken by the vampires when Bill declares that she is mine! Not all vampires are polite as Bill. Another girl that Jason slept with dies the same day. Sam and Tara sleep together because they are both lonely.

Sookie seems a little shocked by the reality of her situation. She is one brave girl but despite her protests she does seem pretty naive. She has great dreams though. I loved the bit with the cat purring and she yelled at him to stop and he did.

What’s with the dog and Sam? Tara heard Sam bark in his sleep. Is there a connection there somehow. The dog looks perfectly healthy yet doesn’t seem to belong to anyone. Tara and Sam sleep together because they are lonely and miss having sex for a long time.

No vampire glamor seems to work on Sookie which shocks the vampires no end. Despite his best efforts Jason is getting pulled into more and more vampire things. First the sex with girls that have been with vampires and now he is going to use the V. Tara sees him doing the online dance. That has got to come back to haunt him!

It seems that anyone Jason sleeps with is found dead the next day or so. Sookie found Dawn and I assume she is dead. I don’t know for sure though. What a waste! Well the cliffhanger involved Sookie but at least it wasn’t related to Sookie getting killed. This time she finds the body and screams ending the episode.

Finally we are learning a little about vampire politics within the vampires of the world. The hierarchy if you will. The older you are the more pull you have. It seems some vampires are not OK with treating human beings as equals.  Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

True Blood – The First Taste

Bill comes and saves Sookie from the Rattray’s. Bill feeds her some of his blood to save her life. The next day the Rattray’s trailer looks like it was hit by a tornado and the Rattray’s are crushed underneath. Bill comes and meets the family.

I take it that we are going to have a cliff hanger to end each week. Last week it was the Rattray’s killing Sookie. This week is a bunch of vampires killing Sookie. I hope this is not a sign of things to come.

Jason gets cleared of the murder in the first episode “because he just isn’t that smart”. He beds another lady and finds a vampire bite on her as well. This seems to be a coming theme. Sookie invites Bill to her and her Grandmothers house for “dinner”, and Jason and Tara crash the party. Of course you get the standard you’re a vampire so we don’t like you either speeches or innuendo.

Jason was in jail to end the first episode and now he is tied up in bed at the end of this episode. Another theme?

Another coincidence… maybe… is that people are dying in weird circumstances. The Rattray’s died when their house fell on them? A renowned Professor and his family died on the highway in a freak accident right after he was on a program arguing with a vampire who is working for equal vampire rights. Another theme?

One thing we learn that I believe will be important is not only can’t Sookie read Bill, but Bill can’t glamor Sookie with his vampire charms. Interesting!

I liked this episode a little better than the first as it had a little less mystery and a little more meat to the story. It looks like this could get really good. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

True Blood – Strange Love

Sookie Stackhouse is a Southern Girl that lives in a small town in Louisiana. She is telepathic and it can drive her crazy on occasion. Life has been the same for Sookie until along comes Bill Compton a vampire who she cannot read.

I have read Charlene Harris. Excellent opening to the story with that piece at the little road shop. True Blood is the Synth Blood that was invented by the Japanese and makes it possible for Vampires who have come out of the closet to not have to drink human blood. It is interesting that it is marketed like beer!

Sookie is telepathic in that she can if she doesn’t block it out hear peoples thoughts. What a curse! I would have to think that would be a terrible burden.

These books have been out a long time and the theme of a forlorn male vampire with a human female has been played out in many stories from Twilight to Moonlight to True Blood. Because this is on HBO the material seems to be a little more edgy in nature. You can see the true violence and ugliness of both the humans and the vampires.

The scene with the couple who is trying to bleed Bill out is quite graphic and probably plays better that way overall. Sookie is something else. With no thought of her own safety she goes after the two of them. Of course retribution is at hand but I think with the way the episode ended Bill will be around soon.

Nice first episode with some superfluous characters and strange happenings, but I have a feeling they will become important in the long run. I personally liked Sookie, her Grandmother, Bill, and Sam the most so far. We’ll see how it all goes forward…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

Justified – Long in the Tooth

Raylan and Rachel are sent to LA to track down a former fugitive playing Dentist who has surfaced. Rachel is sent as the lead investigator. Raylan has a history with Roland Pike the man they are looking for and he knows there are others out to get him.

I see a few problems with this show in the long run. This guy pulls his gun and shoots more people than probably all of the Deputies in The US Marshall’s Service put together. It’s been so many in four episodes you could have trouble remembering everyone. I think the other problem was the stagnant location of Eastern Kentucky each week. They did an episode this week that does a little to solve that problem, but that main location could get old after a while. The other thing is why does every crook he runs in to know who he is? Is it that small a world that they are all involved in one way or another with some experience he’s had. How many men has he shot in the past?

I’m still enjoying the character. He is cool as a cucumber and has an angle for everything. The little discussion he had with the Grandfather was very interesting from a psychological standpoint. I think Rachel has a little more respect for his methods and is learning from him as well.

How many shows has Alan Ruck made an appearance in the last month or so? Besides this show since the first of the year he has been on Rules of Engagement, Numb3rs, CSI: Miami, CSI, and I remember him being on an episode of Cougar Town as well if I remember correctly. I liked Michele Nordin as Mindy in this as well as Alan Ruck’s Roland Pike.

The theme of this series really seems to be that people will challenge him like the gunfighters of old and at the same time he is not the perfect US Marshall. He does manage to screw up every once in a while.

I found this episode interesting and well produced. Nothing overtly bad about the plot line and the acting passable. I certainly wouldn’t pass it off as a bad series or episode. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

Justified – Fixer

When Gutterson gives Raylan an informant to speak to he meets with the man and is amused by him. The tip he gave them comes through and when he tries to pay him the reward he gets suspicious investigating the mans “fixer” and another con-man.

Justified continues to impress. Timothy Olyphant as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens gives one wonderful understated performance after another supported by a solid supporting cast of regulars that is well put together. Especially Joelle Carter as Ava Crowder who has turned some heads. I think there has been some shuffling of episodes and her part is getting a little more play based on viewer response.

Justified – Riverbrook

When a prisoner escapes from prison with just three months left on his sentence after serving fifteen years, the Marshall’s figure something has triggered the move like the mans ex-wife or the money he had hidden from his robbery that sent him up.

Another solid effort from the cast of Justified. This time we see Raylan doing some of the many tasks US Marshall’s are given such as accompanying prisoner transfers to tracking escaped convicts.

I said last week that this show was the first since True Blood to really blow away my expectations. This week I started to notice some subtle similarities to the shows. The way they are shot and the look and feel to the shows are very similar. The opening music and credits are shorter than True Blood, but have somewhat of a similar feel. Finally we get a lot of that same country charm that pervades True Blood in this series as well.

This weeks episode involved an escaped con who is out looking for the money he had hidden in a house under construction. His ex-wife is shacked up with a “cousin” who is not the brightest light on the tree and they’ve been searching for the money as well. A lot of things happen, but they all lead to a confrontation in the end.

A powerful series with some interesting characters and great action. Well acted with fascinating stories. I’m really looking forward to where these characters take us each week. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

Justified – Fire in the Hole

U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens is transferred back to his home state Kentucky after he justifiably shoots a suspect who pulled a gun on him first. When he gets home he finds a friend who is on the other side of the law and a woman who wants him.

Terrific! Not since True Blood have I seen such a show with promise deliver above its expectations. Justified is one helluva ride and Timothy Olyphant as U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens is the conductor.

Olyphant plays the character like he was born too. Here is a revival of the old Western Marshall fighting outlaws in the badlands. One on one or one against many doesn’t seem to make a difference. Olyphant is confident, cocky, and truly the definition of a man on a mission. He tells it like it is and then backs the talk up. It seems that he doesn’t ever make a promise he can’t keep as he follows through even when it may be going a little beyond the law. The supporting cast is strong with Nick Searcy as Chief Deputy Art Mullen, Raylan’s boss and former partner at as an instructor. There’s Erica Tazel as Deputy Marshal Rachel Brooks. On the other side of the law there is Walton Goggins as Raylan’s former partner in the coal mine Boyd Crowder. Crowder has become a White Supremest and uses his position to reek havoc on the countryside blowing things up and killing people. That is coming to a very quick end now that Raylan is back in town. Finally we have Joelle Carter as Ava Crowder, Boyd’s sister-in-law who is being tried for justifiable manslaughter for killing Boyd’s brother who was beating her regularly. She’s cute and has had a thing for Raylan since she was a little girl. There are a few other characters like Raylan’s former wife we meet for a fleeting moment, but I’m sure we’ll get to know her better as time goes by.

Truly one of the best premieres in a long time and a rock solid program. If you like lawmen and shoot’em ups then this is the show for you. Action packed and always moving. You’re just waiting to see what Raylan does next. I’ll be watching for sure. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

Archer – Job Offer

After capturing a thief and losing the collar to ODIN, Lana gets an offer to come to ODIN and Archer thinks it includes him. We find out Lana has a history with one of their agents as well. They hire Archer and Malory blacklists him in a drunken stupor.

Archer gets himself fired by his own mother and then goes and gets a job at ODIN. Of course the same inane antics ensue at ODIN that always do at ISIS except the “employees” are a lot more willing and able. Especially the French woman who is the head of HR!

The offer for the job actually was from Barry Dylan to Lana. Barry is one of Lana’s ex-partners. Len Trexler voiced by Jeffrey Tambor at ODIN can’t resist hiring Archer though to get Malory’s goat. You see they’ve had a relationship before and it’s Len’s goal to get at Malory whenever he can. Matter of fact Len sets up Archer with the French HR person not knowing his main agent Barry was engaged to her!

Lana shows up looking for a job with Cyril in tow. He had “secretly” followed her to Paris where ODIN is headquartered. In the end things all seem to go a little hay-wired and Lana and Archer are headed back to ISIS minus Cyril.

Sassy, offending, and wonderful as always. One of the best episodes so far of the first season. I was glad to see the show get renewed despite falling numbers. It’s an outrageous animated comedy action thriller. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

Archer – The Rock

Archer and Lana must steal a diamond for the second time after Mallory gets into a fight with the head of ODIN just after ISIS had just made all the security upgrades for a client ODIN then stole. The drones go on strike for a cost of living raise.

This episode sort of took a wrong turn at some point. I’m not sure what the point of this episode was really when it all seemed to go kaboom. Obviously Mallory and the agents take the rest of the workers for granted. There were a few funny moments. When the strikers started to get bottles thrown at them for picketing the cleaners. The fact they couldn’t say what they were striking against because it’s a “Secret” organization. When Archer and Lana were trying to find equipment for their “mission”. “I think the goggles yes, but no on the shovels!” When Archer was blinded by the lights because he insisted on wearing those stupid goggles. Once again Lana has to save his butt!

The thing with his Mom is getting to be rather a theme. Is there any one man or woman for that matter that Mallory hasn’t had a relationship or history with?

The show has been renewed for another season. It is just plain funny at times, but sometimes it does go a little overboard. Will Archer ever really be good at spying? He is sort of a cross between James Bond, Maxwell Smart, and Inspector Clouseau. Quick, funny, and always entertaining. Another bumbling mixed up plot and we’re on to next week! Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman

Archer – Skytanic

The whole ISIS team ends up taking a ride on a Rigid Airship taking a cross Atlantic Cruise. Mallory was contacted about a bomb threat and Sterling and Lana were sent to stop the threat, but the rest of the team stows aboard for one reason or another.

The whole team is on as we sort of continue some of the antics from the past episode. Carol is still getting Cyril to take care of her as she plays on his fears about Lana and Sterling. Lana is just trying to do her job and keep her relationship with Cyril. Sterling is his usual bumbling self as he convinced that the airship will blow up any minute. He refuses to understand that Helium is not flammable unlike Nitrogen which is what they used on the Hindenburg.

Lots of stereotypes like the person with the turban being Arab even though he isn’t and the German with a patch being the bad guy automatically. The usually things you come to expect with this show in general. Ratings seem to be getting slightly better so we’ll see if they renew this show or not. I for one am enjoying it while it’s on. Thanks for reading…

Jeffery Yarter
The Lizardman