Puntabulous

Science Fiction Friday Night

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

What happened to this show? It used to be a fun little show about running away from evil terminators. Yes, it was a bit formulaic, but each episode led to a cool showdown between Cameron the good terminator and an evil terminator of the week, or Cromartie, the ongoing evil terminator. This season started out as strong as last season, but has quickly devolved into overwrought nonsense that’s difficult to follow and increasingly boring to watch. I can’t even remember the last terminator showdown, and what’s the business about UFOs (which I’m assuming are terminator ships from the future)? It’s just not working for me. I think the writers have a plan in progress, but they need to give us a bit more satisfaction during individual episodes to keep me watching.

Dollhouse

I was so disappointed by last week’s premiere. I want this show to be amazing since it hails from my lord and savior Joss Whedon, but last week’s just didn’t do it for me. (Except for Tahmoh Penikett’s kickboxing scene which was delightful.) However, this week’s was a vast improvement. Echo’s mission was really fun and exciting, and the Alpha storyline, which appears to setup a season long arc is creepy and intriguing. The show could use a bit more of Whedon’s trademark witticisms, but overall I’m more hopeful than I was last week. Let’s just hope Fox doesn’t pull a Firefly and cancel it before it can reaches it’s full potential!

Battlestar Galactica

What a disappointing episode after last week’s awesomeness! I expect more from you [former Buffy the Vampire Slayer writer] Jane Espenson! You’ve written some stellar episodes, but this was just a total dud. I can accept the fact that Ellen Tigh is back to her boozy ways, but did she have to go so far deep into her old habits? There wasn’t even a hint of her wise Mother of Cylon Creation that we saw last week. And to cause such strife between Tigh and Six was just so petty, compared to what we saw last week. And exactly how many scenes did we need of Adama walking around the belly of the ship inspecting the Cylon’s work? It added absolutely nothing to the story. And I’m sick of his drinking. He needs to follow Roslin’s example and pull himself together the way she did. Also, what’s with his pill popping? Does he have a sickness the writers aren’t letting on yet? Is he going to be the dying leader? And Gaius. Oh Gaius, your storyline bores me! You were so much more interesting in your white lab coat. Guns? Seriously? Didn’t we put the civil unrest to bed? We already had a military uprising, we don’t need a civil one as well! I probably wouldn’t be as bothered by this episode if there weren’t so few left, but do we really have time for such episodes? Aren’t there more important stuff to attend to? Here’s hoping next week gets us back on track!

TELEVISION | Craig | February 21, 2009 10:50 am

16 Comments

By Enrico, February 21, 2009 @ 11:54 am

I haven’t watched Dollhouse or BSG yet. Did you hear that the original Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton or something?) is coming back for the new Terminator movie?
By Mark, February 21, 2009 @ 12:54 pm

I have 11 episodes on my Tivo that I haven’t watched yet. Looks like I’ll be having a marathon tomorrow.

And last time I saw a pic of Linda Hamilton she looked like she was hopped up on Roids. I can’t wait to see her if she’s in the new movie.
By Ryan R., February 21, 2009 @ 3:12 pm

One of the problems with Terminator is that they broke the rules of the universe by giving Sarah Connor prophetic dreams and giving Allison memories. It also has lost its sense of immanent danger. The danger they encounter comes because they seek it out. They haven’t had to defend their home or pack up and leave for a long time. I do like the Riley-is-from-the-future subplot, but it feels like its underdeveloped. This is probably because the UFO main plot is less compelling.

I haven’t watched Dollhouse. I like some of Whedon’s work, but he can get full of himself. Reviews by members of the cult of Whedon are entirely unreliable.

I can’t see Tigh and Ellen living in the same ship for centuries. They need space. The Baltar’s harem subplot would be a little more believable if it was happening somewhere else. I know Galactica is severely undermanned, but they should be able to keep armed gangs from forming.
By polt, February 21, 2009 @ 3:33 pm

TV on Friday nights? Arent all the cool kids out showing off their angst, or whatevah, on Friday nights? Not that I would know, I spent the night with my mom watching Jeopardy and catching up on the family gossip.

HUGS…
By ExAstrisScientia, February 21, 2009 @ 5:26 pm

When I watch Sara Connor I get all upset about how this doesn’t fit in the time line or that doesn’t fit, but then I remeber something Kathryn Janeway once said, “Oh, the almighty Temporal Prime Directive – take my advice, it’s less of a headache if you just ignore it.”
So I just go look for cookies.
By Enricky, February 21, 2009 @ 6:21 pm

I watched the second episode of Dollhouse and really enjoyed it! I’m excited for the series even moreso than before. I think the end was a little too… soon though. She did the shoulder thing showing that she didn’t lose ALL of her memory, but I think it might be a little dangerous that things are already going wrong on episode TWO! There’s nothing better than a long, drawn out problem. A lot of shows try too much drama at once (i.e. Nip/Tuck) and it drags it down. So lets hope that Echo doesn’t find out her identity or anything until the season 6 finale or something.
By Tam, February 21, 2009 @ 6:33 pm

I missed my Friday night Supernatural two weeks in a row. Stupid traveling. Sometimes I let BSG continue to play after I finish Supernatural but I don’t really watch, except to occasionally note Canadian actors who’ve been in other shows I’ve watched.
By DancerinDC, February 21, 2009 @ 6:59 pm

RE: BSG – I agree 100%. This was a real disappointing week. Perhaps the writers felt we needed another week to digest the complex Cylon/human history lesson from last week!
By Enrico, February 22, 2009 @ 10:27 am

Umm…. who is that to the left of Echo? Anyone know? Did I miss him on an episode?
By FDot, February 22, 2009 @ 12:13 pm

Enrico: His name is Enver Gjokaj. He played the mobster? that Ballard attacked in the man’s room in the pilot episode.

Battlestar was disappointing this week. I guess they needed a week to take a breather after the coup attempt and the background information spill to set up the pieces for the endgame: Baltar and his armed group, Boomer’s return, Starbuck and the piano, the blending of Galactica……it’s just too bad it was done in such a meandering way.
By DLRnATL, February 22, 2009 @ 1:04 pm

Just watched BSG today. What a load of crud. I was glad for the return of head Six. If that story line does not get tied up neatly, I’m going to be really miffed. It annoyed me so much in the first season and now I’m always wondering where she is…much like head Baltar. Oh, also caught a repeat where Laura has the visions when the baseship jumps away with Alea (sp?? and I think that is her name). Toward the end of the episode, after Laura has learned her lesson and they are wrapping up, she is talking to her outside of a jump. Is she a “head” Alea? Anyway, you are completely correct–I was in love with Ellen for how strong and nuanced the actor’s ability with that character and it was all destroyed by the wishy-washy-ness of it. /sigh I guess we need a “Black Market” in every half season.
By David, February 23, 2009 @ 10:37 am

Who’s the hottie in the red t-shirt?
By Craig, February 23, 2009 @ 10:45 am

His name is Enver Gjokaj.

http://z.about.com/d/tvdramas/1/0/F/c/doll-enver.jpg

http://www.dollrific.com/august_promo_photos/enver_gjokaj_dollhouse_fox.jpg
By Tracy, February 23, 2009 @ 1:08 pm

I agree that BSG was totally blah last week. One thing I did really like was when Starbuck was grossed out by Saul and Ellen making out–”It’s like watching MY PARENTS…” Foreshadowing to how I am SO RIGHT! (As per my comment on your last BSG post.)
By Bart, February 23, 2009 @ 5:22 pm

I thought the BSG episode was disappointing too.

Does Ellen just turn into a drunk the minute she gets around Tigh? And she was mean during the rest of the episode too!

And where is Xena? We haven’t seen her since the white terry cloth robe episode.
By Ryan, February 23, 2009 @ 5:33 pm

Bart: They left Xena on Earth.