Review of The Vampire Diaries, Season Three Episode 17: Break on Through

This episode opens with Alaric taking an MRI.  While in the machine, he sees his reflection grinning at him. It seems that Meredith might have a point about Alaric being out of touch with reality. As they are leaving the hospital, Damon promises to take care of him. Elena is not in the least bit pleased about Damons role in encouraging Stephan to feed on human blood, but Damon rightly informs her that Stephan is a vampire and this is what vampires do.  Elena reminds him that for a time, Stephan subsisted on a bit of her blood, but Damon tells her that is simply setting him up to fall off the wagon.  I have to say that I agree with Damon on this and Elena needs to accept the fact that this is what vampires do.  How can she even feign surprise after finding out that Stephan is the ripper?  It is also worth mentioning that Elena is 18 years old and just for once I would like her to acknowledge that maybe, just maybe, she does not know what is best.

When the scooby gang shows up for the re-dedication for the Wickery bridge, the Mayor Lockwood asks Alaric for the sign, but he shurgs and simply says that he has been busy. It is here that Damon runs into his former vampire mentor Sage.  It seems that Sage is back in mystic falls because she has learned that Fin is finally free of his coffin.  Sage has been waiting on Finn for almost a thousand years.  Rebekah is not pleased to see Sage and they engage in some catty ridiculous banter.  How can these women actually be as old as the writers claim they are.  I have seen 16 year old girls behave in a more mature manner.

Together Damon and Sage plot to get into Rebekah's head to find out why she is still in Mystic Falls.  Damon flirts with her and invites her to a party.  When she arrives at Damon's she is put off to discover only Sage and Damon.  As the two begins to dance, Rebekah wonders off to sulk and take a drink from the piano player.  Okay, small break to say, it's a good thing that Ian does not get paid for his dancing ability. When Damon finally approaches pouty Rebekah she asks about Sage, and he responds, "I don't want her, I want you."  Typical needy Rebekah falls for it and the two end up in bed together.

After Rebekah falls asleep, Sage sneaks into the room and reads Rebekah's thoughts and discovers that she is looking for the ash tree that survived. Damon gets up and looks through the records and surprise, surprise, the wood was used to build the Wickery bridge.  Would it have killed the writers to do something more inventive? Damon lets Sage in on his plan to kill the originals but Sage is not at all happy because the wood represents a threat to Finn.  Damon promises not to use the wood to kill Finn, only Rebekah.

When he returns to the room to get dressed, he discovers that Sage is gone.  He heads to The Wickery Bridge to find that she has set it on fire.  They argue and Damon threatens to suck her dry, but Sage points out that she is 900 year old vampire and that he does not have what it takes to kill her.  It turns out that she read Damon's mind and discovered that now that the originals are all linked, what happens to one, happens to them all.

Game of Thrones, Season 1, Episode 4: Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things

I will begin by again linking to HBO’s most excellent guide to the 10,000 characters on this show, to help people keep up with who is who.

We begin in Bran’s dream, following a raven with a third eye, before he wakes up in bed with his Dire Wolf, Summer and his aged nursemaid. Theon Greyjoy comes up to see him and, after disrespecting the old woman, he orders Hordor to carry Bran down to visit Tyrion who has arrived down from the Wall. While Robb’s hospitality is rather lacking (and Tyrion, always ready to sharply correct people) notes it, Tyrion has a design for a saddle that will allow Bran to ride. Yes, Tyrion beings the awesome yet again.

Tyrion denies the hospitality and decides to retire to – yes, a brothel. He also takes the chance to poke Theon Greyjoy – the poking allows a skilllfully inserted infodump on Theon’s origin’s – the last surviving son of the Lord of the Iron Isles, their rebellion against Robert was put down and as part of the peace, Theon was handed to the Starks as Squire/Ward/Hostage. Tyrion also, astutely, realises

Up on the wall with the Night Watch, a new character arrives – Samwell Tarley. Far from an adept warrior – he is saved from bullying by the master of arms by Jon. We learn more about Sam and his history – and his father who drove him to take the black because he was deemed unfit to succeed his title. Jon decides to protect Sam and works with the other recruits (and coerces one with his little doggy) to stop anyone hurting him on the practice fields – which everyone does much to the annoyance of the trainer.

Sam and Jon get are alone and talking – and the subject turns to… prostitutes. And the fact they’re both virgins (really? Not the most expected of discourse). Can we not have 5 minutes pass without the subject turning due prostitute? Jon doesn’t have casual sex because he’s an illegitimate son and he doesn’t want to inflict illegitimacy on other children. They’re interrupted by the fighting trainer – an unpleasant man but making it clear how hard it will be up on the wall when it’s winter, with severe storms after 10 years of summer against the Wildlings who are hard, tough men.

Meawhile, Daenerys has arrived at Vaes Dorthrak, the horselord’s city to which Viserys responds with disdain and contempt – which Daenerys objects to which is very nice to see. Daenerys also discusses how the Dorthraki could fight the Seven Kingdoms – if they could cross the sea. Ser Jorah believes the Dorthraki would win in open combat, but they have no ability to siege the castles of the Seven Kingdoms

Viserys is enjoying a bath with a female attendant (obligatory Game of Thrones breast shot) and take the opportunity for an info-dump. Now normally when I say “info-dump” about a book or series it’s a bad thing – it means clumsily recounting world building without any good reason for the telling. However, Game of Thrones is extremely good at weaving the info-dumping into the narrative. Here he tells of the dragons the Targaryens rode when they originally conquered Westeros. After a moment of bonding, Viserys reveals himself to be the vile man he is, yet again

Daenerys invites Viserys to dinner where, yet again, he shows how repulsive he is, refusing to accept questions or requests because they may be seen as commands, refusing to accept gifts and striking out in petulance. Daenerys has grown a lot though, smacks him back and makes it clear he’ll kill him next.

She’s confides this with Ser Jorah and he makes her face a lot of truth about her brother –how he is a shadow of what his forbearers were, how Viserys could never reconquer the kingdoms and has no ability as a ruler – he can never take them home. And the solid truth that the common people do not care who rules the kingdoms, don’t care who is in control or who the king is.

Back to Kings Landing, Sansa is being given a tour of the throne room by Septa Mordane. With Sansa threating because Joffrey doesn’t like her and worrying what she’d do if she had no sons – only daughters. Every time Sansa’s character appears I cringe. But we also get some history recounting – including the death of Ned’s father and elder brother at the hands of the last Targaryen king, the act that spurred King Robert and the Starks to rebel. Sansa is also still not happy with her father over the death of Lady.

Ned has his own problems as Hand of the King. The expensive tournament the kingdom can’t afford is causing the city to fill with adventurers causing brawls and similar problems. Ned has a solution and of course prostitution and brothels are mentioned in the conversation. It’s nigh on an obsession  on this show. Ned also has the chance to talk to grand Maester Pycelle about the very sudden illness that killed him. Ned learns Jon Arryn was after a book – a dull tome on noble houses’ lineages. Jon  Arryn also died with the last words “the seed is strong”.  

We see Ayra with her sword training and discussing what will become of Bran now he’s awake with Ned – and more gender roles pushed on Arya. She can’t be a lord, she will be defined by who she marries and the sons she has. Something Arya rejects – that isn’t her.

Being Human (US) sneak previews!

The Secret Circle, Season 1, Episode 17: Curse

So we begin with Cassie and Adam (Wet Lettuce) in bed being all twee. And John Blackwell (Cassie’s dad, Evil Parent#3) arrives to find many many many dead crows around the house. Yes the teen-sexing has killed the birds – well that’s one way to try and do away with teenaged sex.

Turns out the whole “written in the stars” thing Ethan liked to go on about is actually a curse should the two families ever actually get it on. And the dead birds are a sign that the curse has been activated – a curse that Amelia (Cassie’s mother) was very very afraid of. There’s only one person who could know more – Cassie’s grandmother, Jane (who we never ever see any more).

Going to see Jane in what looks like a residential home, it’s clear that the spell the Evil parents used to block her memory has taken a severe toll. Still while she thinks Cassie is her mother – the curse will cause a member of their Circle to die.

Now to tell the rest of their Circle that one of them is due to die because they knocked boots. That’s a fun conversation. Y’know they could just keep doing it until they get to Faye, I’m just saying. Faye does have some of the best lines though – abstinence education at work. Unfortunately, Faye does just dismiss the whole thing focusing more on her loved life.

Cassie goes to check Jake to see if he is dying –m and he is hearing eerie whispers. He has a fever and his veins are turning black. Cassie and Adam get to tell Jake the good good news. John Blackwell knows an elixir that can stop the curse that Amelia found  - but it needs rare ingredients. Time to talk to Calvin Wilson who runs the antiquities shop – except Jake, in his witch hunter loving days, killed him. Though you can be forgiven for forgetting since we’ve never had any ramifications for this murder.

At the shop they find Calvin’s niece telling them Calvin has been missing for months. Naturally she has all of the ingredients except on – a root that they need to go nature rambling to find. And Jake starts hallucinating Calvin in reflections – some consequences perhaps? Jake also decides to wander after them to search for the root (that’s great for the sick guy, really, it’s not like it’ll slow them down or anything). Of course the disease/curse catches up with Jake and he starts by taunting Adam about he and Cassie together before having more hallucinations.

He continues to hallucinate more about Calvin and ends up attacking Adam causing Cassie to go all black magic  - but Adam yells at her to focus on him and he uses magic to throw Jake clear. But the secrets out, they know Jake killed Calvin.

Back to the cabin, Diana, Melissa and John are making the elixir and we discover Melissa is good at growing the magic herbs. And John talks about Melissa’s mother (we finally have confirmation about which parent Melissa lost!) who was also a herbalist. The elixir is made but the only way to destroy the curse is for Adam and Cassie to drink it. And the Lefe root will make them forget the love they have for each other. More angst and crying! But, no, worse! Adam has forgotten his love for Cassie – but Cassie is too strong. She hasn’t forgotten her love and she still loves Adam – turn the angst dial to the max.

And John gets to give Jake a pep talk about how he matters and how that pesky murdering thing is all in the past. Because, y’know “it’s in the past” and “a man can change” is such an appropriate response to murder.

On other, side plot lines:  Faye goes to see Lee (who has been zombied by Eva) and runs into witchy Eva and thinks she threw something at her (but used magic by mistake). Diana, Faye and Melissa have a meet up for Faye to figure out what happened to Lee. Yes these 3 seem to have set up their own little team and storyline.

They gather together to go search Lee’s car and police turn up. Diana does the explaining and Melissa decides to unbutton Diana for the “sexy card” yeah doesn’t work. But Eva explains things and it’s all brushed under the rug. That was pointful.

Faye goers back later and confronts Eva – and discovers Eva has her powers. Eva needs help – to save Lee, to bring him back to life after what Eva did to him. Faye doesn’t think she can help raise him from the dead – but Eva starts to lose it, forcing Faye to try and help. There is much scuffling and magic before Faye breaks the totem, stops Eva’s magic and seems to bring her back to her senses. Lee is still dead, of course. Plot line done now? I do like the three of them actually as friends, I think they work much better together than the old good vs evil groups.

In more pointless plot lines, the Evil parents Dawn and Charles meet up so Dawn can tell about John Blackwell being back. The Evil parents aren’t exactly on friendly terms, but Dawn is determined to get John on side and not finging out about Jane and Henry (the two Grandparent Circle members they took out) and threatens to tell John about Charles killing Amelia (Cassie’s mother). They both decide to go and see Jane in the hospital and Charles uses the crystal to hypnotise Jane to tell them about John Blackwell.

But Charles has his own plotting and comes back later in the evening to help Jane so they can destroy John Blackwell

Game of Thrones, Season 1, Episode 3: Lord Snow

I will begin by again linking to HBO’s most excellent guide to the 10,000 characters on this show, to help people keep up with who is who.

We start in Kings Landing where the whole party is arriving – and instantly Ned is summoned to a meeting of the Small Council. But first he gets to spar with Jaime Lannister who also gives some insight into the actions of the last king – how cruel and sadistic he was. Ned doesn’t approve – he hated the last king, but Jaime was a Kingsguard (personal bodyguard of the king). He gets to meet the rest of the council, Varys (who wishes for Prince Joffrey’s recovery – but Ned Stark is more concerned for the murdered butcher’s boy) and Renly Baratheon, King Robert’s younger brother and then lord Petyr Baelish who once loved Catelyn (Ned Stark’s wife) and grand Maester Pycelle. Yes more new characters, but they’re fairly easy to keep track of – with the guide anyway. And it does do an extremely good job of introducing and setting the world building without infodumping.

Quickly it becomes clear that things are not well. Not least of which because the king doesn’t bother to show up for the meeting – and rarely does. The King also wants a tournament to honour Ned’s arrival – an expensive one. And it turns out that crown is 3 million in debt to the Lannisters – and 6 million in debt overall.

We move to Cersei and her awful son Joffrey – and she’s teaching him well in the art of lying and using your rank to create a fantasy version of events. She also has lessons to teach about marriage and “fucking painted whores”. I swear the number one industry in the seven kingdoms is prostitution – dwarfing all the rest together. And Cersei shows just how far spoiling a child can go. But she also skewers his delusions when he dreams of conquering the north – showing that while Cersei has many flaws, being foolish is never one of them (though his idea about the standing army isn’t exactly wrong).  And she may encourage delusions but she has none of her own. And she encourages the manipulation of Sansa – and the idea that everyone who isn’t us (a Lannister) is an enemy.

Sansa and Arya are at dinner – Arya angry because the Prince had Micah killed and Sansa is a liar (both true) though Septa Mordane corrects her for her unladylike truth-telling. Sansa isn’t particularly happy either after the death of Lady and Ned doesn’t make things better by giving his teenaged daughter a doll to play with. Ned finds Arya’s sword Needle and Arya makes it clear, again, that she doesn’t want to be a lady. And Ned tells Arya the position Sansa’s in because she’s betrothed to Joffrey – and that the family has to stick together in Kings Landing since it’s dangerous.

In Winterfell Bran is bedridden and attended by his old nursemaid who uses stories to give us some good world building – the story of the years long winters (in this world, Summer and Winter each last several years) and the White Walkers beyond the Wall coming south to conquer and kill. Until Robb comes to visit (and dismisses their old nursemaid rather disrespectfully for a woman of her age – and a woman who raised them). He wants to know what Bran saw – because Bran never falls, but Bran remembers nothing. Bran is now paralysed from the waist down after his fall.

Meanwhile Catelyn has arrived in Kings Landing where she thinks she will be anonymous – but she is found and summoned in seconds by Petyr Baelish where he arranges to meet her in a brothel. Lady Stark is not pleased, bringing her to such a place – and lo, there is this episodes compliment of naked breasts. It wouldn’t be Game of Thrones without naked breasts and prostitutes. Lord Varys is a spy master and he already knows why Catelyn is there and when she was due to arrive. Petyr Baelish recognises the dagger that the assassin used – he says he lost it when he bet on Lord Jaime against the Knight of Flowers in a joust. And Tyrion won it.

Time to get Ned to meet Catelyn – and Ned isn’t best pleased with the location either. Petyr Baelish points out the dagger is no evidence since Tyrion can deny that he had the blade so they have no evidence against Tyrion. Catelyn knows it in her bones but they have no proof – Baelish will find proof for them, he promises, and Ned can take it to the King. Meanwhile, Catelyn can return to Winterfell.

Meanwhile to the real culprits – Jaime and Cersei. Cersei is panicking over Bran waking up, though he remembers nothing and the foolishness of sending and assassin.  Jaime doesn’t take, well, just about anything seriously.

Up with the Nights Watch, Jon Snow is training with the Night Watch and doing well – he’s been brought up with a sword and how to use it; most the rest of the Watch are peasants and criminals. He’s obviously much more skilled than them and easily beats them – but Tyrion is there to give some extreme lessons on class and advantages. Tyrion is, again, awesome.

Review of The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is expected to be the biggest block buster of the year.The movie is based on the novel by the same name, written by Suzanne Collins.  It's directed by Gary Ross and stars, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. Other notables include, Amandla Stenberg, Lenny Kravitz, Donald Sutherland and Woody Harrelson.

The Hunger Games is set in a post apocalyptic North America, which has been divided into 13 sectors.  Each year, 24 tributes - 12 boys, and 12 girls are sent to fight to the death in the arena.  This is retribution for an uprising that occurred 74 years ago, and is supposedly meant to remind them of the horrors of war. When Katniss' sister Primrose is chosen, Katniss volunteers in her staid. Also chosen from district 12 is Peeta, the son of a baker.  Katniss and Peeta come from sector 12, which is a poor mining district.

They are provided with Haymitch, the only tribute ever to win from district 12 to train them.  Peeta understands immediately, that part of surviving is playing the game and being as likable as possible, while Katniss is only focused on the mechanics. Haymitch at first doesn't not seem very concerned with their well being and is only interested in getting drunk.

The capitol is very rich in comparison to the district. They have the latest in technology and the people seem to have time to groom themselves ridiculously. Katniss and Peeta prepare for the games, firm in the knowledge that only one of them will live, as there can only be one winner.  In the preparations, Katniss is stiff and it is only through the help of Cinna, the designer played by Lenny Kravitz that she manages to catch the crowds attention.

The novel is told entirely from Katniss' point of view, but the movie seems to tell the story without any introspection at all.  This gives the viewer no real reason to invest in Katniss or want her to win.  We know that she hunts for food, but we don't get any real sense of how hard her struggle is.  There is no background information on her relationship with Gale, and he could easily be her cousin, boyfriend or friend.  If I had not read the book, I would not have had any idea what their relationship was about.

Review: Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong, Book 4 of the Otherworld Series

Paige and Lucas are back, now having settled down in Portland after the chaos of Dime Store Magic that completely ruined Paige’s life

But Paige herself is feeling a little disconnected so far from her world – especially as Lucas’s life goal continues and often takes him away from her. It’s even more vexing that she feels pinned down by her duties as a parent for Savannah.

Then the in-laws get involved. Lucas’s father, Benicio Cortez CEO of the Cortez Cabal, is constantly trying to rope Lucas back into the family fold however he can – and Paige just became another way to reel him in. with a case that Paige and Lucas couldn’t possibly refuse, they’re recruited to find out who is killing the children of Cabal employees

Unfortunately, working for the Cabal is far from simple. Politics between the Cabals, the Cabals’ contempt for witches and the Cabals’ own, selfish way of dealing with things means they’re not nearly as driven to find the truth as Paige and Lucas –even as the body count starts mounting.

The story was a very good mystery – there were questions and clues that were followed, political problems to get round with Cabal infighting, to say nothing of the problem of working for the Cabals in the first place. The progression was logical, the discoveries entertaining and it never dragged or bogged down all the while the character interactions were fun and amusing. And the investigation was sensible – there were no radical leaps of logic or silliness, it just followed logical clue after logical clue, using magic but not relying on it to provide a woo-woo answer to all their problems.

I still love this world with the varying supernatural forces with their own powers, abilities and politics. The cabals, the Sorcerers, the vampires, the half-demons – they all work well together and ensure everything remains diverse and interesting and they all came together well.

I really like how the Cortez Cabal is presented and balanced here, in fact, I like how balance in general is shown. The Cabals aren’t great evil organisations, but nor are they even slightly altruistic. They are callous, unfeeling, greedy and very self-centred – but nor are they vast crime organisations grinding people beneath them either. And the Cortez Cabal is better than the others, but at the same time isn’t the “good” Cabal, with Benicio being just as ruthless and cruel as any of the other Cabals when required. The same goes for balance generally – the bad guy isn’t evil for the sake of evil, he has a legitimate reason to be furious at the Cabals, just as the Cabals had a legitimate reason to make him furious in the first place. Lucas’s brothers aren’t just selfish and awful, Benicio’s actions ensure they have a reason to be resentful and angry. The motives are human and reasonable rather than caricatures and overly dramatic.

Game of Thrones, Season 1, Episode 2: The Kingsroad

I will begin by again linking to HBO’s most excellentguide to the 10,000 characters on this show, to help people keep up with who is who.

The second episode begins with Daenerys, new Khalisi of the Dorthraki. Daenerys, as per contract, is wearing a slip of virtually nothing – in full sunlight with that complexion? The Dorthraki better have SPF50 on hand. She is clearly troubled by the new life she’s living travelling on horseback, eating dried meat. I actually quite like this – too many stories have pampered princes and princesses put on their Hero Gear and venture forth to a life of sleeping rough, scavenged food and constant peril (yet surprisingly meticulous grooming) without it being a massive culture shock. Of course, less ideal is that her brother, Viserys, is adapting far better – though is still as petulant and whiney as ever. Daenerys is comforted and reassured by Ser Jorah Mormont who is quickly settling in as a pseudo-father figure.

We move on to the best character in the series, Tyrion, sleeping off a hangover in Winterfell’s stable. And laying down a literal slap down to his despicable nephew Joffrey demanding he meet his social graces and for Joffrey to present his condolences to Lord and Lady Stark for Brandon, who fell (well, unknowingly) was pushed from the tower last episode. While I can’t approve of the violence against children, Tyrion is still so very awesome in so many ways and, despite being a Lannister, shows grace and compassion at least. He goes to breakfast and tell his siblings Cersei (the Queen) and Jaime (her twin brother, the kingsguard and the Queen’s lover) that Bran may well live (which troubles the Cersei and Jaime, naturally, since they pitched him off the tower to keep their little secret). Surprisingly, it appears that Cersei’s other children, Joffrey’s younger siblings, are quite pleasant children. Jaime expresses how Bran wouldn’t have a life worth living since he’d be “crippled” by Tyrion counters that in his usual awesome fashion

Cersei goes to comfort Catelyn Stark who is sitting vigil over Bran’s bedside and reveals that she herself lost her first child – a boy with black hair. It’s a very powerful, touching scene (with a big clue in the middle of it).

Jaime goes to taunt Jon Snow before he goes to join the Night Watch – clearly Jaime knows more about the state of the Nights Watch than Jon does. And Jon gives Arya a sword – a light little needle. I can really believe these 2 as actual siblings- and the person who realises how stifling the enforced gender roles are on Arya. Similarly I can see the same excellent acting and emotion in Jon saying goodbye to bran – and in Catelyn’s rejection of her husband’s illegitimate son. And yet more great acting and great rapport between Rob and Jon – and the clear separation Jon maintains by saying “you Starks” always an outsider in his own household. And then nicely redeemed by Ned Stark making it clear he regards Jon as a Stark, despite his name.

We see further emotion with Catelyn and Ned Stark –  yes broken record, but some incredible acting. And Catelyn wonderfully dismisses the “no choice” excuse that, as she says, so many women have had to swallow over the years. Further by Ned saying “you can, you must” showing who it is who truly lacks a choice here.

So the two parties set off – the party north to the wall and the King’s party back to Kings Landing – where the King continues to not be the most refined man in the world, talking about the women he’s known – as well as the Jon’s mother. The King and Ned do have a great relationship as friends, but Robert has few topics of conversations. Except the message he receives about Daenery’s marriage (and more reductive language of her) and Robert’s desire to have her killed. We get a nice bit of history about how some people see him as a usurper still – and a nice assessment of the Dorthraki power being limited by their lack of navy. It’s a really nicely done infodump that fits the story.

Switch to said Daenerys, we see her having sex with Drogo, crying and clearly less than enjoying the experience (and it wouldn’t be Game of Thrones if we didn’t see some breasts) – but smiling at her dragon eggs (that be foreshadowing folks. With extra breasts).  And her discussing with her attendants – including one who was an ex-prostitute in a brothel. Who, at Daenerys’s urging, teaches her how to please Drogo. Here was a brief discussion about dragons before we got down to discussing sex. On with the pseudo-lesbian scene – where Daenerys will be empowered by seducing Khal Drogo with her sexual wiles which she then uses on Drogo when he comes to force her into sex again.

And on to the party moving north. Jon Snow is less than enamoured with the criminals who are also going up to join the Night Watch (a choice they’re given instead of castration for rape) and Tyrion is there (going to look at the wall) and being awesome (as always). We get some more info-dumping, again very well done (Jaime killed the last king, his father served the last king and his sister became the new queen) – and he is awesome about his own strength and power using his mind and intelligence. And he does a fair job of puncturing Jon’s illusions.