Chronicles of a Writer

Damages 3×01 ‘Your Secrets Are Safe’

While a reboot does not feel necessary for a young show like Damages, its Season 3 premiere feels exactly as such.  Despite the presence of several familiar elements, the show has mysteriously shifted gears in more subtle ways to once again catch viewers off guard. Bad Bad Better The show is notorious for its morally corrupt, self-serving set of characters.  Yes, they are intelligent and intriguing, but a day without lies is nonexistent in the world of Damages.  In this sense, the premiere...

Grey’s Anatomy 6×12 ‘I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked’

'I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked' is a very, very relationship-heavy episode, even for Grey's Anatomy.  While some might consider this fact to have a negative impact overall, the episode actually retains the emotional truth that I find so attractive on television. Alex and Izzie I'll say this, the writers did the best they could given the circumstances.  In a way, Izzie has been highly capitalized as a mystery that viewers need to come back in order to figure out.  However, the...

The Office 6×14 ‘The Banker’

As the first "best of" episode for The Office, they've certainly earned quite a roster of hilarious, dysfunctional and touching moments to compile.  For the most part, 'The Banker' is nothing but a rehash of this show that I love. The Summary While I usually hate flashback episodes, this one was somewhat tolerable simply because of the nature of the show.  When you start to add up the Dwight moments, the Jim/Pam moments, the Creed moments, the sexual harassment moments and the general over...

Fringe 2×12 ‘What Lies Below’

In terms of scientific validity, the latest episode of Fringe--'What Lies Below'--may be a stretch, but it does still retain the tension and mystery that is typical of a Fringe episode. The Virus Before Time Although the symptoms of the virus is reminiscent of rabies and similar viral diseases, Walter's sudden extrapolation of a possible explanation for its dormant state seems like a stretch to me.  Indeed, it is not all the scientific flair around him that gives him the ultimate solution,...

Modern Family 1×13 ‘Fifteen Percent’

In playing the 'gaydar' game, a lot of awkward moments can arise.  It's only natural for Modern Family to take advantage of this and produce a hilarious episode like 'Fifteen Percent'. Change While the episode deems to deal with a person's ability to change, the essence of the comedy comes from misunderstandings and misdirections.  Take Cameron, for example.  While he remains on the sidelines in the storylines, his good timing and infectious personality charms not one, but two characters l...