The message of this week’s Fringe?  Talent runs in the family.  ‘The Bishop Revival’ is more or less an episode dedicated to the Bishop family tree.

Air Track

The case of the week is not one of my favorites.  For some reason, the various traits of the toxin reminded me a great deal of last week’s case.  Perhaps it is the similarities, but the episode felt more procedural than ever before.  Somehow, the crime, the investigation, the follow-up and the resolution has slightly decreased in entertainment over the past few weeks.  In any case, Fringe has had much more interesting cases in the past.

Interestingly enough, the case does provide an Easter Egg for fans still paying attention to the symbols during commercial breaks.  The sea horse has officially made its way into the show.

Walter Bishop

Aside from the regular investigation, the episode does show a darker side to Walter Bishop, one that is reminiscent of the original Walter Bishop before his hypocampus was removed.  For cutting edge science, the ethics behind experimentation is always explored on Fringe.  So many villains on the show agrees with the philosophy that the end justifies the means.  It is surprising that Broyles would let Bishop’s murder go so casually.

It is another day as usual on Fringe this week.  Despite my lackluster reception of ‘The Bishop Revival’, what does excite me is the promo for next week’s episode.  Once again, Fringe comes back with another mythology-driven episode right as I am about to be bored.  Good riddance.

Rating: 7/10

Popularity: 10% [?]

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 still retains its infamy with the underhanded dealings of Patty Hewes.  However, the dosage and extremity of everyone’s actions are significantly toned down in this episode.  No, it doesn’t mean they are innocent in the long run (the flashforwards implicate pretty much every cast member to some very form shady business), but the introduction feels much more character-driven rather than plot-centric.

Therefore, viewers are no longer barraged with a constant sense of corruption.  Instead, ‘Your Secrets Are Safe’ develops a sense of pause and evolution, especially for Ellen and Patty, who seem more human than ever before.  The introduction of the new cast also establishes their personality rather than their guilt.  While there is a prevailing sense of secrecy at every turn, it is not the focus, at least not this week.

Is it possible the show is allowing viewers to care about the characters?  This is the biggest twist of all.

Time Relativity

There is also a noticeable difference in the usage of the time jump.  The previous two seasons employ the time jump to discombobulate viewers.  By showing a past that bares no resemblance to the inevitable future, the intrigue is figuring out how the characters get there over the course of the show.  The premiere still retains this relationship, but also establishes several key elements six months earlier that is later seen in the flashforwards (i.e. the purse, the homeless man and Tom Shayes).  Given their connection to a mystery yet unknown, it is not simply our job to be thrown off course, but to put together the pieces of the puzzle in a much more deliberate manner.  Thus, the relationship between the present and the future is not only seeded in the characters, but a Lost-like commentary between two disparate time periods.

Talent

I won’t mention this every week, but the immense talent Damages attracts continues to impress me.  With a stellar cast that includes Lily Tomlin, Reiko Aylesworth, Martin Short, Campbell Scott, and of course, existing powerhouses Glenn Close and Rose Byrne, it is not only a trust in the writing that keeps me returning.  With a group like this, they can do the chicken dance and still manage to get an emotional response from me.

All in all, ‘Your Secrets Are Safe’ delivers in an unexpected yet understated manner.  After two seasons, it seems like a guarantee that the third installment if Damages will continue to surprise viewers.

Rating: 9.6/10

Popularity: 10% [?]

Chew, an American comic series by John Layman and Rob Guillory, is one of those rare treats where you truly feel like you’ve never read anything quite like it.  The result is an interesting blend of comedy, mystery and an over-the-top tale of violent, futuristic crime drama.

Cibopathy

The story centers around Tony Chu, one of few cibopaths in the world.  With cibopathy, Tony can eat anything and recall its history.  With the illegalization of chicken, Tony’s position at the FDA makes him a member of one of the most powerful organizations in the world.  It is with this crazy premise that the series begins, and it only gets more insane as it continues.

All the Right Ingredients

It is not simply the original premise that sets Chew apart, but the writing as well.  Despite Tony’s habit of biting his way through crime, the witty writing helps alleviate some of the more unappetizing scenes.  The cast of characters never experiences a dull moment, especially since they are as off-kilter and they come.  In terms of tone, Chew has a wide array of tools at its disposal.  At times, it has the airy, fairytale-like delivery of Pushing Daisies.  Other times, it is reminiscent of the bloody carnage of a Quentin Taratino film.  Couple that with its crime investigation and out-of-this-world assassins, there is something for everyone.

The Mythology

The series starts off with a bang and never looks back.  It does so convincingly because the creators have a distinct plan for the show.  Every element introduced in the series feels decisive and with a purpose.  Don’t let its premise fool you; Chew has plenty of meat to its mythology.

This is a series that has found incredible success recently.  After reading a few issues, it’s clear why.  In addition to originality, Chew has the artistic flare and witty writing to back up its crazy story.  You won’t want to put this bad boy down.

Popularity: 11% [?]

‘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 end of Izzie and Alex is really more of a blessing for Alex.  After all, he is a man who stayed with his cancer-ridden wife, and that is after all the crappy childhood.  Alex is finally starting to realize his worth and it is all thanks to Izzie, but it also means goodbye for Izzie.  In truth, her character has been in decline since season 3.  Despite the magnificence of the Izzie/Denny storyline, her time on Grey’s Anatomy is over, and her parting gift is a better, healthier Alex Karev.

Mark and Lexie

As the cute, sometimes comical couple of the show, the sudden tone change is very damaging for the couple.  When you mix an immature, emotionally stunted man with a woman still growing out of her youth, it’s tough to take their problems seriously.  Since they rarely dish out serious problems for the couple, their potential break-up does not resonate as much as some of the stronger couples on the show.  Once upon a time, Mark and Lexie seemed to be an escape from the other melodramatic couples on the show.  Those were the good days…

Callie and Arizona

Is it me or are they far healthier than the heterosexual couples on the show?  What Arizona and Callie does so well is their ability to entertain without falling into the patterns of other couples.  They retain a sense of excitement and youthful giddiness without looking childish.  They are healthy and in love; let’s hope it stays that way.

Derek and Meredith

The shocking thing is that they seem incredibly real this season.  Their maturity and their constant battle to balance their professional and personal life is both familiar yet intriguing.  After all, this is Derek and Meredith.  In this episode, they play a complicated mindgame with each other in order to legitimize their ambitions and their commitment to each other.  No longer do I have the creeping feeling that they will break up in the near future.  Instead, Derek and Meredith can finally be a couple who overcomes their problems.

Cristina and Owen and Teddy

With the cooling down of Alex/Izzie and the growing maturity of Derek/Meredith, the iconic couple of the show right now absolutely falls onto the shoulders of Cristina and Owen.  Thanks to a little dose of Teddy Altman, Cristina and Owen retain the sexual tension that made Derek and Meredith so popular in the olden days.  They are the couple who has many, many obstacles in their way, yet nothing seems more passionate than their final embrace.  Of course, Teddy’s involvement in this strange love triangle is what makes the entire storyline so fascinating.  This is what Grey’s Anatomy attempted to do with Izzie/George/Callie but failed miserably.

‘I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked’ challenges every couple on Grey’s Anatomy and for the most part, delivers.  Sure, these characters are no longer the floundering, confused and adolescent children from Season 1, and the transition is very clear in this episode.  However, I am starting to see the payoff of such a change.

Rating: 8.8/10

Popularity: 18% [?]

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-the-top spirit of the show, the flashback is a nice and quick reminder of just how funny The Office is.  In essence, the episode’s worthiness comes down to the loyalty of the viewer.

The New Year

The downside to this is that after a long break, the last thing people want is a clip show to start off the new year.  While the new footage still retains the humor and dysfunction of The Office, viewers are left with only a sample of what they’ve missed rather than the full entree.  Add to the fact that Jim and Stanley are missing in the new footage, the episode suddenly feels crippled by the bad timing.

While I laughed heartily at the flashbacks, ‘The Banker’ is throw-away episode with little value in the long haul, especially since fans have to wait another week for new material from The Office.

Rating: 6.5/10

Popularity: 8% [?]