Happy New Year!

And PLEASE take a moment to vote in my WWE 2010 Year End Survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3HZ6G5M

Have a safe and fun night.

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CM Punk & Nexus - What's next?

Those of you who watched Raw last night caught CM Punk emerge as the new leader of Nexus, as Wade Barrett has apparently been ousted from the group. It’s GREAT seeing CM Punk in such a critical role on Raw, and I really hope that this feud lasts until WrestleMania. After his stellar work the past couple of years, he really deserves a high profile match. And Nexus is an established group that I think has a lot of fuel left in its tank, so I’m glad that they’ve figured out a way to keep them as a focal point of the show. I’m really intrigued with the possibilities, and I’m really anxious to see what’s going to happen next. However, there are a few things I really hope they don’t do:

DON’T reveal that CM Punk was the mastermind behind Nexus. There’s no need to rewrite history here. And, for that matter, going back and saying that Punk was behind it all would cause more headaches than necessary. As many of you recall, CM Punk was wrestling John Cena the night Nexus debuted, and they beat the tar out of Punk and the rest of the Straight Edge Society as well. Why would they do that if Punk was in actuality their leader? To simply say it was a ruse is lazy and unconvincing. Why bother pretending to beat him up? It certainly wasn’t to Punk’s benefit.

And that’s the other problem. While Nexus was dominating Raw, Punk was getting his ass handed to him by the Big Show on Smackdown. What sort of mastermind would CM Punk be if his underlings were garnering all of this success while he was struggling to stay afloat?

Basically, they’re better off just saying that Punk seized an opportunity and made a deal with the remaining members of Nexus while Barrett was out of commission. One of those “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” deals.

DON’T drape CM Punk in yellow and black N’s. Back when Stone Cold Steve Austin joined the Alliance during the Invasion angle, it was imperative that Austin wore the WCW logo t-shirt in order to establish that he’s part of this team. For a long time, he didn’t, and quite honestly the angle struggled. Austin was acting like his WWE personality and really didn’t seem like he was part of this group. Yet the whole angle was built on the premise of him being their leader.

However, I take the opposite stance with CM Punk. He has a unique and gravitating look and personality, and it would be a mistake to have him conform so that he’s just another member of this group. I don’t have a problem with him wearing the Nexus arm band (it would be strange if he didn’t), but I don’t think he should wear the logo t-shirt or replace the color scheme of his Chicago-inspired trunks. Nor should he ditch his current and recognizable theme music. As the expression goes, go with what brought you to the dance. Don’t change what made Punk successful.

DON’T turn Wade Barrett face. One of the biggest questions being asked is, “Where does this leave Wade Barrett?” Honestly, I don’t know. Does he stay with Nexus under Punk’s leadership? Does he distance himself from the group and drift into obscurity like Darren Young? Or does he return as a face, fighting against the group he once led? While the last option would be something different, I think it would be a mistake. Barrett is a natural heel, and there’s a lot more he can offer as a main event level villain. Why not move him over to Smackdown, where he can continue his routine with a whole new crop of Superstars? When Edge is finished with Kane, he’s going to need a new heel to feud with (after Alberto Del Rio, is there anybody left?) The WrestleMania possibilities are wide open, and I could easily see matches against Mysterio, Edge, Taker, or Big Show. Now is not the time for Barrett to turn face.

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WWE 2010 Year-End Survey

I hope everybody had a great holiday, and unlike me, I hope you're not snowed in! But with the year coming to a close, now is the time to reflect. So, please take a moment to fill out this WWE Year-End Survey!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3HZ6G5M

Check back for the results (as well as my thoughts) next week, provided I get enough feedback! Thanks!

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Merry Christmas!!

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Take a look back at what we expected from 2010

I'm going to post a link for a 2010 year-end survey for WWE and TV, but before I do that I thought I'd post the results of last year's survey:

http://acaseoftheblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/2009-wwe-year-end-awards.html

What did we expect for 2010? For one - a big year for Kofi Kingston. Did it come to fruition? Most would likely say no (at least not to the extent that we expected). I actually referred to it as a "no brainer."

Keep checking over the next couple of days for the new survey. Hope everybody has a wonderful Christmas Eve!

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Don't be a jerk, it's Christmas!

I'm not even a Sponge Bob, but I found this hilarious. Enjoy!

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LIVE Raw Smackdown thoughts

11:06 - I know Cole is pro-Cena, which is fine, but his sudden anti-Vickie-ness is extremely strange. He goes on and on about how hot and gorgeous she is, but is now calling her fat and proclaiming that Cena "has guts" for kissing her?

Great seeing Punk again, and YAY!! He's wearing some snazzy new blue trunks. Will miss him on the Raw commentating team, though.

Overall, a lackluster show and a waste of WWE Week.

10:55 - Great, now Michael Cole is chiming in with the fat jokes as well.

10:50 - Between his stellar matches with Daniel Bryan, his lengthy Intercontinental Title reign, and his competitive battle with John Cena, Dolph Ziggler has been getting a lot of attention lately. Notably, with the main event of this highly hyped edition of Smackdown. This attention is well deserved. I wasn't a big fan of Dolph when he debuted with this new character, but over the past couple of months he's really flourished and improved. Bravo to him.

10:32 - Has any Superstar ever relied on the drop toe hold more than Rey Mysterio? Talk about having a go-to move!

10:15 - Can you claim that something is the first time ever when it's an encore showing?

10:11 - Another curious segment. Kaval is a really entertaining and unique Superstar. Why waste him in a segment such as this? Fans are already familiar with McIntyre, so they didn't need to showcase him in such a dominant fashion. A disappointing show so far.

10:09 - Am I the only one who thinks that Smackdown feels a bit more like Raw than usual? Granted, I don't see Smackdown every week, but don't they typically not show the Superstars' entrance videos on the big screen? Instead, the graphics that appear near the entry take up the entire screen. And there's also graphics on the ring from the lights above. Instead, we see the usual Raw routine.

9:58 - Believe it or not, it's been over a year and a half since Edge has been World Champion.

9:51 - I'm glad they're at least using the Cobra as a distraction so that he can transition into a roll up, opposed to a legitimate finishing maneuver that puts somebody out, but it's still a little TOO silly. If nothing else, why not use it as a distraction so he can use that Stunner-esque move?

9:40 - Doing a Raw Recap, which in and of itself includes a Slammy recap, is like a dream within a dream.

9:32 - How does Cody attacking Hornswoggle mean that he doesn't believe in Santa Claus? That was an awful segment. Terrible way to use this opportunity to hold onto viewers who might be tuning in for a change.

9:15 - I know people find Michael Cole's heel spiel annoying or unwatchable (I love it), but I appreciate the fact that he's bringing up the very valid point that the Miz didn't do anything that every other MITB winner didn't do as well (except RVD, which Cole didn't mention).

9:06 - Visiting WWEShop.com, I come to see this new item, which continues Edge's trend of wearing mismatched wristbands:

http://www.wweshop.com/item/edge-rated-r-ockstar-wristbands/edge/50-07267

9:02 - Welcome to a special Smackdown edition of my ongoing LIVE thoughts. Quick observation - I find it curious that Smackdown seems to get a new theme music, intro video, and graphics theme every 6 months or so. Yet Raw constantly gets into these funks where they use the same theme and intro video (altered slightly to acknowledge debuts/departures/roster changes) for numerous years. Like, 4+ years. Possibly why Smackdown always seems younger and fresher.

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Random, for your enjoyment...

While perusing YouTube this afternoon I came across this clip, which I believe is the greatest scene of The O.C. in the series' history. No surprise, but it also features my favorite person in the whole world (that I don't actually know). ENJOY!:

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A Case of the.... Smallville - Episode 10-11

So are the holidays kicking anybody else’s arse as well? I promise, once we return with new episodes in January, I’ll be better about getting these reviews up in a timely fashion.

Anyway, before moving onto last week’s episode, I wanted to respond to the comment Wally Kovacs left regarding the prior episode. I’ve really come to enjoy Wally’s insight, as he certainly knows a great deal about the various comic book allusions (a lot of my knowledge is limited to what is commonly known), so I hope he continues supplementing my reviews with his comments. Here’s what Wally had to say:

It was bit interesting as they used Ultraman despite most of the rest of the universe being different seemingly only because of a single difference (Lionel got to Clark first) while the Ultraman of the comics is from a universe where everything is reversed (Evil tends to win instead of good, etc). However, they do sort of allude to that in that alternate universe Lionel is right handed instead of left.

I’ll admit that I don’t know much of anything about the comic book Ultraman, but that’s an awesome catch with Lionel being right handed instead of left. Bravo, sir!

Lionel was (nearly) redeemed near the end of the series because of a combination of Jor-El’s influence, Martha Kent, and Clark. In the alternate reality, Clark wasn’t influenced by the Kent’s (and thus couldn’t have a positive effect on Lionel). Similarly, without the Kent’s finding Clark as a child, they never entered into Clark’s circle and thus couldn’t impact Lionel that way. Also, in that universe, Lionel went out of his way to supress Jor-El, so he was never “enlightened” as he was in the real world.

I agree with Wally’s assessment that Lionel reformed because of Clark and the Kents’ influence. To clarify on my comments from last week, I don’t have an issue with the fact that Lionel was completely evil in the alternate universe. That made sense to me. My problem was with Clark’s revisionist memory of Lionel. Clark condemning Lionel as something poisonous and vile discounts the close relationship they had developed over the last few years of Lionel’s life. Like I said, when Lionel died, Clark’s funeral scene quite purposefully mirrored the scene when Clark buried Jonathan. Clark was impacted by Lionel’s death and for him to view him as this completely malicious sociopath discounts the story of his character.

Similarly, it seems that Lionel isolated Clark from most of the positive influences of his life … not only was he not with Kent’s, nor able to learn much of his Kryptonian history and responsibilities from Jor-El, but he also never went to Smallville high, so he didn’t have Lana, Pete or Chloe … If anything, it makes sense how Clark Luthor would be even worse than Lex, as basically he was raised much like Lex was, but without the positive influences that Lex ended up encountering.

So, while the idea of “Lex was the way he was because of Lionel” is a bit of a cop out … ultimately Clark was calling Lionel evil one way or the other in terms of nature vs. nurture argument he made earlier. He realizes that, even he and his parents weren’t enough to disuade Lex off his path, Lex was his father’s son. Even with Lionel changing near the end, the damage was done.

Lex in Smallville is set as a tragic figure, simultaneously trying to escape his legacy but being defined by it either way. Although, even while rejecting his father, he didn’t really reject what his father taught him, only really how his father treated him. He wasn’t really able to walk away from the Machiavelian mindset that pretty much drives him constantly.

To be perfectly honest, my issues with Clark being swayed by the darkside were relatively minute. And it also occurs to me that one of my favorite modern comic books (although I admittedly don’t read them much) is the Superman/Batman Absolute Power story in which Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne are raised by evil time travelers, turning both heroes into murderous killers. This is essentially the same story, so I don’t really have much of a problem with it.

Anyway, onto last week’s thrilling episode – the last before a long hiatus (damn you, CW!)

Continue reading "A Case of the.... Smallville - Episode 10-11"....

The episode kicked off with a bang, as Clark proposed to Lois. I wish I could say I was surprised, but the scene was spoiled by a recent edition of Entertainment Weekly. Sure, they wrote “Spoiler Alert” in bold, but that didn’t stop them from plastering the photo of Clark on his knee presenting Lois with a ring on half of the page. Actually, this isn’t the first time EW has spoiled a major plot point. They nonchalantly revealed the killer of Monk’s wife weeks before the series finale. Nice, real nice.

Anyway, I thought it was a sweet scene and I’m glad they didn’t wait until the final episodes to have them take this plunge. As I’ve said a number of times, this is their final season and they have A LOT of big moments to cover. Not all of them have to wait until the last couple of episodes. Space them out a bit. They’ve done a nice job of this so far.

I also really enjoyed the brief Chloe cameo. At first I wasn’t sure if I was seeing a flashback of footage we’ve seen before. When it became clear it wasn’t, it made me pay even closer attention to what was being said. I loved Chloe’s genuine smile when she put together the pieces that Lois had figured out Clark’s secret. However, I could have done without the Lana mention. For one, we don’t need to tie every significant Clark/Lois moment to Lana. Second, it wasn’t really historically accurate. Lana was willing to let Clark be the hero he needs to be. The problem was that she became so consumed with hate and revenge that she was forced to make decisions that ultimately cost her her relationship with Clark. It was a sweet enough moment that it didn’t need the obligatory and awkward former lover mention.

I also enjoyed the surprise engagement party. Many of these characters only come out to play when it comes time for an epic battle, and even then their relationships seem professional. Sometimes even competitive and abrasive. It’s nice to see that they actually like and care about one another, and that they can also share their happiness with one another. To paraphrase what Clark said to Oliver when he asked him to be his best man, they’re out there together for their worst moments, so they might as well be together for their best too. It was nice seeing everyone happy.

Of course, the happiness didn’t last as this episode also saw the demise of Hawkman. I was really saddened to see this happen, as Smallville portrayed him as a genuinely bad ass character. He looked cool, he talked tough, and unlike virtually every other character on the show – where their costumes take a modern, realistic turn – he looked exactly like he does in the comics. Except even more awesome – with the helmet and wings and everything.

Then again, I probably should have seen it coming. Hawkman got the traditional action movie hero send off. He had a sweet, bonding moment with somebody he never quite saw eye to eye with (Oliver) and an exciting, epic fight scene in which he got to display his abilities (in this case, fight and flight) before succumbing to his dirty fighting opponent. And while I was disappointed to see him go, I loved the way the scene played out. I really enjoyed the fact that he was the one who rescued Lois, despite his debilitating state. And his dying line of “it can’t always be you, Clark” was poignant in its simplicity. Clark can’t be everywhere at all times, so there is a need for all of these other heroes.

The final scene, with all of the heroes in their respective costumes paying their respect to Hawkman was rather great, as well. Honestly, I just love seeing them all in their costumes. And hey, Oliver actually decided to wear the hood and sunglasses.

Anyway, that’s it for me. Sorry again for taking so long to post this. I hope everybody has a great Christmas, if you celebrate, and a safe and happy new year. See you guys in 2011. Until then, be sure to visit my blog and follow me on Twitter! Be well!

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LIVE Raw thoughts (Slammy Edition)

11:10 - So I wasn't completely off the mark on Nexus turning on Otunga. However, the ending to this match made me realize that a Chairs match is probably the least enjoyable of any match being offered on Sunday (for the competitors, anyway). There's very little give with a steel chair, and with the competitors not allowed to hit each other in the head (something I agree with), there's not really a chairshot that'll truly excite the audience. In many ways it's a no win situation.

But I did love Punk saying, "Stay down David!"

11:00 - I don't have a problem with Cena winning Superstar of the Year. If this recent angle with Wade Barrett showed anything, it's how immensely over John Cena truly is.

10:41 - Bravo to David Arquette for taking a powerbomb through a table. Apparently David Arquette donated 100% of the money he made during his time with WCW to Owen Hart's widow (or perhaps it was Pillman's widow), so as far as I'm concerned he's a stand up guy.

10:29 - Glad to see HBK win. And once again, a wonderful video package for the nominees.

10:24 - CM Punk looks like Abe from Clone High.

10:14 - Edge's wrist bands don't match (one is the classic Rated R Superstar logo, the other one is the "sleazy" one) and it bothers me.

10:06 - Divas Tables Match? Interesting idea. They at least seem to be doing more with the TLC gimmick this year than they did last year.

10:04 - Quite honestly, LayCool does deserve the Divas of the Year award. But did they forget to turn Melina heel?

9:46 - I find it interesting that Raw gets the ladder match, table match, and chair match. Or is Mysterio/Del Rio a chair match also?

9:43 - I liked Sheamus' leather crown more. It was something different and unique.

9:39 - Isn't it a conflict of interest for Edge to be presenting for an award in which he's a nominee? Also, Edge needs to grow his crazy beard back. And bring back the sunglasses.

9:38 - EDGE AND CHRISTIAN REUNION!!!! YAY!!!

9:29 - A bit surreal seeing Punk assist Mysterio (by preventing Cole from interfering), eh?

9:21 - We missed out on a great opportunity to see Miz/Kane vs. Rated RKO tonight. Too bad.

9:19 - Awesome that they got the girl to actually appear. Cool for her. And actually, after hearing Miz's accolades for the year (WWE, US, Tag Team title holder, and Money in the Bank winner), he actually is pretty deserving of the Slammy.

9:15 - I always have a little more respect for the celebrities that are willing to make themselves heels. Oh, and Miz girl is totally winning this.

9:09 - So where were all of those Cena allies when Nexus attacked him? Also, I loved Otunga's sly smile when Barrett announced the match, knowing full well what the Nexus leader was up to.

9:05 - I'm guessing that Barrett rehires Cena, and Nexus turns on Otunga.

9:01 - I have to admit, Randy Orton should have won that last Slammy for that awesome RKO on Evan Bourne. Also, Vickie Guerrero has some immensely thick skin -- it's amazing she OK's all of these weight jokes, especially since she HAS lost a considerable amount of weight. Good for her for slimming down to a healthier weight.

8:46 - I'm going to have to agree with the popular opinion that Shatner was robbed. And man, how long was Pee Wee's acceptance speech? I also enjoyed the continued dissension between Nexus, however I think it would have been a nice touch by having Otunga and crew wearing a different Nexus t-shirt. It would have shown the division.

8:30 - Oh, I also loved Punk's big hug to Cole, and yelling "Tyson! I did it!" as he ran up the ramp.

8:24 - Still getting used to Punk without the mustache, but it was great seeing him with an open mic, uninterrupted, for an extended period of time. So.....who do you think he was talking about?

8:15 - I honestly don't know who should win Superstar of the Year. The Miz is the easy option, but I'm not really sure. 2010 was undoubtedly the Miz's year....but was it the year of the Miz? That is to say, this past year was the best year of his career, but when we look back at 2010 as a whole, is the Miz the person we'll be thinking of? Perhaps he is, I'm not sure. I just don't think it's as much of a foregone conclusion as we may think. Even though I don't particularly like him, a strong argument could be made for Randy Orton.

8:09 - I was glad to see Nexus win the Most Shocking Moment, because it truly was. Could anybody have expected that the rookies from season one of NXT would go on to become the focal point of the flagship program for the latter half of 2010? And those nominee videos are pretty damn sleek, too.

8:01 - Clever idea promoting the show as the Slammy Awards, instead of a typical Raw. I like. Although Punk ditched the mustache, which bothers me.

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A Case of the.... The Vampire Diaries - Episode 2-11

This past week brought us yet another strong episode of The Vampire Diaries – one that continued the season’s trend of answering some recently asked questions while retaining enough mystique and interest to keep us watching. In this episode’s case, we now understand why Elijah saved Elena from the prior week’s vampire attack.

I am intrigued by the possible ramifications of Elena’s new deal with Elijah. Is Elijah being completely truthful with Elena about his plan, which seems to imply that she’ll escape the entire ordeal unscathed? Let’s say Elijah does kill Klaus – will he really just let Elena go on her merry way? And how will less trusting characters like Damon and Rose respond to this uneasy alliance?

Continue reading "A Case of the.... The Vampire Diaries - Episode 2-11"....

For that matter, what do you think of Luka and his dad? A couple of episodes ago, when it was revealed that Luka’s father was working alongside Elijah, it seemed like they might be something unsavory. Now that it appears that Elijah is actually trying to protect Elena, I’m not sure. Then again, Luka’s father did want him to essentially use Bonnie, so they’re probably not “good” either. Personally, I’m leaning towards the side that says they’re going to end up being something of an antagonist – if only to ensure that Bonnie ends up with Jeremy by the end of the season.

And excuse my ignorance, but exactly what portion of the curse did Bonnie and Luka disable when they destroyed the moonstone? Did it just break the barrier so that Stefan could escape the cave?

Caroline and Tyler continue to bring the awesome in the season’s B-story. They did an absolutely wonderful job of showing us how dreadful the werewolf transformation can actually be. I was especially impressed with the visual effects, notably the bone crunching and unnatural manner in which his limbs would twist. And let’s not discount the actor’s performance. His screaming and wailing were believable and uncomfortable to watch. You really sensed the immense pain he must be experiencing. And while I hate seeing nice guys get overlooked, quite honestly I do enjoy the budding relationship between Caroline and Tyler, and wouldn’t mind seeing them end up together. It’s also nice that these two characters have developed to the point that they can carry their own story, especially one with such substance.

The arrival of a new, more experienced werewolf also adds some intrigue to the ongoing tension between the vamps and their furry foes, and it gives us yet another example of how Damon’s impulsive and volatile behavior can get him – and the those he cares about – in quite a bit of trouble. Although I did love how her skills are so honed that she can smell a vampire and a (date rape?) drug upon walking into a bar. And who do you think she was on the phone with?

Well, that’s it for me until the beginning of next year. Damn CW and their long hiatuses (although this isn’t as bad as usual). I hope everybody has a wonderful holiday season and a safe, happy new year! See you again in late January! Visit the blog (http://www.acaseoftheblog.blogspot.com) and follow me on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/acaseofthetwit) until then!!

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Dive Bar Shirt Club: Swallow at the Hollow

I received my third Dive Bar Shirt Club t-shirt, and it's my favorite one yet! First off, it's not within the tri-state area (where I reside), so it truly feels like something I wouldn't be able to get unless I exerted a lot of effort. Plus, I love the color scheme and design! It's just a really cool looking shirt. But, alas, it doesn't appear the bar has a website, so here's what the little mailer says:

They just don't make 'em like this anymore. Tattered wood paneled walls and chalkboard menus set the scene at this authentic watering hole. The place shows the years like we all do, with a little scuzziness here and there, but it will be forever young because the Loyola campus is nearby for better and worse. The regulars who have their favorite barstools don't take it too kindly when their space gets jammed by the Friday night college crowd. Oh well, such small prices for the comforts of perfectly grilled burger, the flattering effects of colored neon and the company of famous hometown birds.

Dive Bar Shirt Club: http://www.divebarshirtclub.com/Default.asp

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A Case of the.... Smallville - Episode 10-10

Continuing the trend of this season in which the story shifts between three different arcs, we had a very enjoyable Luthor-centric episode this past week. Best of all, the episode featured the return of the supremely talented John Glover, portraying the patriarch of the infamous family, Lionel.

The hour saw us travel to a (darker, bluer) universe in which Clark was raised by Lionel Luthor. As a result of his devilish upbringing, Clark was a heartless, seemingly promiscuous killer (one who apparently expenses prostitutes) that prowls the streets as Ultraman. Oh, and he hooks up with his not-blood-related half sister. At the Kent Farm, of all places (was THAT ever explained?) And he killed Lex. Long story short: He’s no Boy Scout (I’m sure some people were disappointed that we didn’t see more of evil Clark in the real universe, but to be perfectly honest the story didn’t call for that. It would have just eaten time, rather unnecessarily).

Continue reading "A Case of the.... Smallville - Episode 10-10"....

While the episode was loads of fun – and it really was enjoyable seeing a sinister Clark Kent (I love how nonchalantly he told Tess he’d kill her) – I wasn’t completely sold on the idea that he could be so supremely evil simply because Lionel had raised him. My problem with it is that it takes the impact away from the people Clark and Lex grow up to be. To say that Clark becomes Superman and Lex becomes an evil genius simply because of their upbringing is a bit of a tragic outlook. I prefer to think that Lex’s descent was something inevitable. Meanwhile, while the Kents were Clark’s moral compass, I’d like to think he’s a genuinely good guy that would have grown up into something noble and proud even without their guidance. But I guess that’s just nitpicking, because it was an absolute thrill seeing Lionel again.

And how typical is it of Lionel to lace Clark’s foil with blue kryptonite to prevent him from using his natural abilities while they fence? And despite being brief, how incredibly awesome was it seeing Lionel and Tess sharing a scene together? These two are so incredibly twisted and complex (and perhaps above all else, insecure about their nature and legacy) that seeing them trade barbs was a pure joy.

My one qualm with the episode was Clark’s complete condemnation of Lionel. Near the end of Lionel’s life, Clark reluctantly came to view him as almost a father figure (indeed, Lionel’s funeral scene mirrored that of Jonathan’s). And although his methods and even motives were questionable, Lionel literally sacrificed his life in order to protect Clark’s secret. Even in his final moments, Lionel wouldn’t give up the truth about Clark to Lex – and it cost him his life. Sure, there were reasons to distrust him, but the guy wasn’t pure poison, and Clark knew that.

It also appears that Lionel may be back, for good. I find this supremely intriguing. Sure, some might view it as a bit of a cheat, but c’mon. This is the final season, and it’s been years since the character has been on the show. This isn’t some desperate measure to save a sinking show. This seems like a legitimate twist that adds another layer to an already interesting story. And for what it’s worth, I don’t expect to see Lionel back in any regular capacity. I anticipate that this’ll be like much of the rest of the season – we’ll go several episodes without seeing a certain character or story point, and then it’ll abruptly pop up again weeks later.

By the way, I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who though that Lionel’s closing scene (where he essentially talks right to the camera) was rather hokey. It was on the cusp, but I like to think of it as an allusion to the old George Reeves series, where Superman would turn to the camera and acknowledge the audience. That’s how I’m choosing to see it, anyway.

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A Case of the.... The Vampire Diaries - Episode 2-10

I like to report when my shows are recognized by major publications, so let me congratulate The Vampire Diaries for ranking in at #1 on the Must List of the latest edition of Entertainment Weekly. Great job!

And Nina Dobrev continues to bring the goods in her dual portrayal of Elena and Katherine. I don’t want to sound like I’m going overboard with the compliments, but it is very easy to forget that the same actress is portraying both of these characters. She’s so deliciously devilish as Katherine. I loved the way she toyed with Jeremy when he was in the cave with her – the way she nonchalantly (and literally) tossed him aside as she noted that he can’t die, so she’ll just continuously feed on him. And I just loved her satisfied smirk when Stefan rushed into the cave to rescue Jeremy, thus trapping himself in there as well. She’s doing a really great job in that role.

Continue reading "A Case of the.... The Vampire Diaries - Episode 2-10"....

Meanwhile, she continues to play Elena with such softness and innocence. Considering that these two characters are identical, it would be easy to view Elena more negatively because of the monstrous actions of Katherine, but that doesn’t happen. In fact, it’s actually quite fun seeing the two characters interact with each other. They’re able to be “civil” – for lack of a better word – because Elena legitimately wants to understand why Katherine is doing what she’s doing. Meanwhile, Katherine just enjoys toying with Elena, and thus doesn’t need to resort to physicality or violence.

I could also sympathize and understand Elena’s desire to sacrifice herself in order to save those she cares about. Jenna’s near death experience should have been a real wake up call for her (in many ways, I feel like the rest of the characters haven’t reacted with the appropriate level of severity) – and unlike Katherine, it appears that these original vampires have no desire to “play” with Elena. They just want her. And that possibly makes them even more dangerous.

Speaking of characters not reacting to something properly, I’m glad Elena finally brought up the fact that Rose is not some friendly ally. She was perfectly willing to use and sacrifice Elena for her own benefit (ya’ know, the very same thing that Rose is condemning Katherine for doing). It seemed somewhat strange that Damon was willing to jump into bed with the woman that was so willing to harming Elena.

On the topic of Damon, his relationship with Stefan remains one of the true highlights of the show. I think back to the early episodes, where Stefan actually plotted to kill Damon, and I remind myself how much more enjoyable things are now. I enjoyed the way Stefan waited for Elena to leave before re-emerging from the cave, and having a nice heart to heart with Damon. Damon assured Stefan he would get him out of there, even though it didn’t benefit his chances with Elena. And Stefan made Damon promise to look after Elena, even though it could potentially bring them closer together.

I am intrigued by these new warlock characters. Initially the father seemed villainous due to his association with Elijah and his desire to pry into Bonnie’s life, but now I’m not entirely sure it’s that simple. I do think we will learn that they’re not traditional “good guys” – because, even though I don’t like the fact that they’re screwing around with him again, I do think Bonnie will eventually give Jeremy a shot – but I’m not sure they’re out-and-out bad either. For some reason, they want to protect Elena, even though the chance to abduct her was right there for the taking.

And it appears that, for at least the time being, Bonnie has shot down Jeremy. Like I said last paragraph, I think she’ll end up choosing him over this other guy, but I do think she’ll be drawn to him because of their supernatural similarities. So, for the time being, he’s being screwed over by a girl yet again. And in other relationship developments, it does look like they are moving forward with the Tyler/Caroline possibility. This could be interesting, and as the season draws on, Caroline continues to become a more likable character.

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No Shave November: A Look Back

November may be over, but join me in looking back in the month in which a razor didn't touch my face (incidentally, I didn't get a haircut either). I started off completely clean shaven, and, well, see how I ended up looking. But be warned, you're about to get A LOT of close up shots of my mug.

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