24

Despite a lackluster past few seasons, the creative team behind 24 pulled out all the stops in what became the shows final season. Moving the locale to New York City
(something as a fan I’d wanted since season 5), we joined Jack Bauer as he’s brought in to provide his usual assistance on the eve of the signing of a historic peace treaty.

The producers admitted recently that they didn’t make too many changes the way the season was going to play out despite it being Jack’s last outing on television. However, it certainly did feel like at least in the last 6-7 episodes, they pulled out all the stops. Jack became even more vengeful then he’d ever been, out for blood, to hurt everyone responsible for the death of his friend and now lover, Renee Walker.

In the series finale, we watched Jack, despite wanting nothing but to kill everyone responsible, be talked down by his long time friend Chloe O’Brien. The most touching moment of the finale came in its last moments, when Jack, having been saved once again by Chloe’s intervention, Jack thanks Chloe for all her dedication, and friendship over the years. It was a great moment in television, and we watch Jack run via a drone feed.

The finale is a total set up for the film, but, I’m ok with that, I think it was a classy way to end the show.

Lost

The debate behind this has been raging, people either love it, or are frustrated by it. I’m 100% completely satisfied with how everything played out, and I’ll tell you why.

We’ve had a season full of answers, what the deal is with the smoke monster, what the island is, who is jacob, what the “numbers” represented. From day one, showrunners and exec producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have said that ‘Lost’ has always been a story of the characters. Flawed, but at the same time, special, the passengers of Oceanic Flight 815 were brought together by fate, to a mysterious island. They’ve traveled through time, they’ve been shot at, attacked by polar bears, drowned, kidnapped. You name it, these guys went through a lot.

This last season started with what we eventually called a “sideflash,” where the plane never crashed. What we learn in the finale is, this “alternate reality,” is a purgatory of sorts. A world created by them, which gives them a chance to relive their lives the way they wanted, the ideal way. Of course, there is no happiness either, and realizing that they were in a false world, helped them “pass on” or “move on.”

It was beautifully put together, sure people are upset at the pile of things they didn’t explain, but to be anymore detailed would have been dumbing down the show. I applaud them for sticking to their vision, and like I said, I’m completely satisfied with this finale (albeit, sad, but I know I’ll be rewatching from season 1 soon). I think the episode was the best of the season, cinematically epic, and the best 2 hours and 30 minutes of TV (with commercials) I’ve seen. Ever.

So, now what am I watching? The Summer is here, so I’m going to have to play some catch up, maybe I’ll finally pop in ‘The Wire’ box set thats been sitting next to my TV for weeks. Here’s hoping for some great new shows this fall, anyone watching V?

Set in the fictional nation of Sangala in Africa, we join Jack as he is working at an American school, giving local boys a chance for a decent education. Unbeknownst to Jack, a military coup is forming, and the militia is kidnapping boys to use in their army. Back in the states, Allison Taylor is being inaugurated, taking the reigns from President Daniels.

When the school is attacked, Jack sets out to save the boys and bring them to the American Embassy, despite the fact that he will be detained immediately, as he has been summoned for an investigation into CTU’s interrogation tactics.

It would have been very easy for the story-line, no doubt inspired by events in Rwanda, to come heavy-handed and a little preachy, but it was far from that, the show not only entertaining, but informing. No matter what he does, Sutherland will forever be remembered as Jack Bauer, its a character he knows inside out, and never, ever fails to disappoint. Also worth mentioning was the appearance of Robert Carlyle as the head of the boys school, and Jon Voight as what appears to be the next “villain.”

I tried not to be excited for this, but I was, and I was not disappointed. If you’re a fan, you’ll be happy to know the DVD will be out this Tuesday, with an exclusive 17-minute intro to Season 7 (as if these 2 hours weren’t enough). ’24′ is back, and Jack Bauer is kicking ass and taking names.

I say yes.

Tonights episode opened in the Office, the teaser had the gang doing a last minute overtime job from corporate, only to find out it was Michael’s ploy to get Jim and Pam over for a dinner party hosted by Jan and himself. Hilarity and awkwardness ensued, clearly, Jan isn’t the best mate for Michael. Did I want more Creed and Stanley? Of course I did. Did this episode leave me satisfied? Yes.

‘The Office’ returned with a bang, but the reminder that there are only three more episodes left in Season 4,  leaves me with a tinge of sadness.

Catch the remaining three episodes of the office on NBC, Thursday nights (check your local listings).

The miniseries begins with John Adams’ defense of the British soldiers that killed 5 American’s in the infamous Boston Massacre, and follows to his death. The production design and cinematography found here are excellent, and the period convincing. Paul Giamatti is well cast here. He plays John Adams as one pictures him, a great person that stands for his beliefs and values, a family man, and a man who puts the interests of his own state at the forefront. The series also stars Laura Linney as Abigail Adams, Tom Wilkinson as Ben Franklin, and an unrecognizable David Morse as George Washington.

At times, the epic statements made by some of the characters, hero shots with exclamations like “Independence is the only way,” etc. were received with a wince. But, it’s still entertaining and informative, and the performances found were all excellent.

You can catch the first two episodes on HBO-On Demand, the series will be on Sunday evenings.

Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and a multitude of celebrity guest stars return for the Extras Movie wrapup entitled Bloody Merry.

For those who aren’t familiar with the series, the previous installments consist of 2, six episode seasons that portray Ricky Gervais’ character, Andy Millman, as an extra on the sets of movies and TV shows. The first season consists primarily of his characters’, attempts to do something more than just be an extra to pay the bills, but to create a show of his own. The second season expanded upon that and saw him achieving his own sitcom that gets blasted by the critics, but seems to draw the ratings anyways, thus giving him a degree of fame. The movie basically picks up where the second season leaves off, with Andy becoming increasingly disillusioned to the fact that all of his popularity is based off of an annoying catch phrase and whiny voice (which I am officially dubbing Urkel-itis). He’s constantly trying to do what he considers to be “respectable” work while also attaining more fame and fortune—oh, plus he starts acting like dick towards his hapless agent Darren (Stephen Merchant) and down-on-her-luck fellow extra/best friend Maggie (Ashley Jensen).

The real draw of Extras lies in the celebrity guest star(s) they enlist for each episode. Throughout the first two seasons they were able to rope in people such Patrick Stewart, Ian Mckellen, Robert DeNiro, Orlando Bloom, Samuel L. Jackson and many others for some utterly hilarious extended cameo appearances. The movie was no exception, with my two favorites being George Michael tying to elude the paparazzi while off for some, um, “bad behavior” in the bushes at a park, and Clive Owen-who in one scene, which I don’t want to ruin for anybody, but can only describe it as about the most mean spirited discussion I’ve ever heard, yet it had me rolling on the floor laughing…….”Oh Fuck off, I’m Clive Owen”.

I have mondo respect for team Gervais/Merchant, because I absolutely dug the hell out the Office, and Extras was a more than worthy follow up. My only nitpick was that even though the overall arc of the series was wrapped up by the end of the movie, several of the individual characters, like Darren for example, didn’t seem to get quite the closure that they deserved—and others, like Maggie only seemed to get a partial wrapup. Perhaps this was just the nature of the beast for this particular story versus the more definitive feeling the Office movie finale left us with (which I hate to draw comparisons to here since it IS a totally different story but damnit, I’ll do it anyways), but it seemed to be missing just a little something that another 10 or 15 min might have added.

Other than that though, everyone –fans of the series and newcomers alike- will find something to thoroughly enjoy here and should certainly check this one out.

-side note- I’d just like to also comment here on the way that HBO video has oficially won my nomination for “ass-hats of the year” based on the way they decided to release this dvd. Originally it was available about a solid month ago, but only as part of a complete set of both seasons and the movie. Well if you’re like myself and anyone who was previously into the show, you had to either effectively purchase the two seasons you already owned over again, or wait until February 26th to buy it separately. Thanks a lot HBO…