The 100, Season Three, Episode Two: Wanheda: Part 2

Lexa is back.  I for one am not overly excited about this given that the last time we saw her, she was  breaking her agreement with Clarke, thus forcing Clarke to make an impossible decision. Yeah, I'm old fashioned and want Clarke to settle down with a nice girl. I'm totally team Niylah. Don't mind me, I know I'm in the minority. I really should have seen this coming, particularly given that when Roan had the chance to hand Clarke over to the Ice Nation, he chose to hide her.

Okay let's start back at the beginning.  The crew is out searching for Clarke having learned from Indra that Clarke is in danger.  They follow the trail but end up in an ambush and are quickly over powered by you guessed it, their own people.  It seems that the ark people that they were looking for have not only landed on earth, but had made quite a go of  surviving.  What I want to know is why team rescue Clakre were ambushed in the first place given that the Grounders don't have the kind of technology to run that vehicle.  It's a bittersweet moment for Monty, who is reunited with his mother, only to learn that his father died in an attack by the Ice Nation. We also got a new character of colour in the form of Pike.  I absolutely love Michael Beach and think he's an awesome actor.  I do however wonder how long he will live given how much he hates the Grounders and refuses to make any distinction between the various factions?

An injured Nyko makes his way to  Arkadia. Despite Abbie's best efforts, she is unable to save Nyko without the advanced technology of Mount Weather.  It's a risk to take a Grounder to the mountain given their history with it but with the only option being allowing Nyko to die, Lincoln makes the call.  Abbie for some reason  decides to take Jasper along for the ride. I suppose this is meant to be a confront your demons sort of moment.

Jasper has more manpain over the loss of Maya. The whole thing is well acted by Deven Bostick but I'm not really sympathetic.  Jasper has known Maya for a New York minute and as a viewer, I was never particularly attached to this character. Abby takes the opportunity to warn Jasper that if he doesn't get a grip, he is going to end up like Finn. Jasper however counters that Clarke killed Finn as well. Ooooh mega mega burn; however let's all remember, Finn was responsible for a mass murder and by killing him, Clarke saved him a shit ton of pain.

Then we have Jaha, who has totally embraced the City of Light where there's no pain and no death. I love that Murphy wants no part of the kool aid.  Murphy makes his escape with Emori, who I expect will betray him again at some point, even if she is momentarily thankful that Murphy saved her life when she tried to steal ALIE's tech. My big guess right now is that all humans are going to become avatars and that will finally solve ALIE's Malthusian obsession with the over population of the world. That Jaha has bought into this shows how far gone he is.  When he finally arrives back at Arkadia, Jaha is going to be a problem.

I don't think Wanheda Part 2 was nearly as polished as the first episode of this season. The point seemed to be the big reveal that not only is Lexa still alive, she wants something from Clarke.  It's clear that Lexa needs Clarke's help because the Ice Nation is on the move.  It's also clear that as much as Clarke doesn't want to help Lexa, she will have no choice because the Ice Nation will pose a threat to Arkadia.  Clarke didn't kill three hundred Mt. Weather people to turn around allow the Ice Nation to kill off her people.

Lost Girl, Season 5, Episode 12:Judgement Fae

That sound you heard was the tortured Lost Girl cannon finally screaming and giving up any attempt at coherence.

Anyway through a random dead Black person, the gang learns that Zeus hasn’t actually been banished (y’know, there were a literal 10,000 ways they could possibly have revealed this without a random Black lady dying but of course it had to). Everyone has a bit of a panic especially since she’s gone to see Hephaestus for a shiny new weapon.

This, naturally, worries everyone so they need to go see Hephaestus themselves (conveniently Zeus-depossesses Elizabeth so she can be both annoying and give everyone lost and lots of guidance on how to do this).

This involves some kind of weird test that means Bo has to play lawyer in the weirdest court room ever. This convoluted test basically is meant to be a big life lesson about how you need to support the people you love rather than “protect” them by making decisions for them. It’s so clumsy as to make Bella Swan look like an elegant ballerina.

This does get Bo to see Hephaestus and Zeus drops in – now possessing Lauren to basically say that Hades is super terrible awful and not to be trusted (in case we never realised this) and that the fae-conduit thing in Lauren is totally not good for her health (she’s also been forgetting things throughout the episode to prove the point). Hera makes a brief appearance to possibly kill Bo but then she and Zeus decide not to and instead to return to eternal banishment in Myth. But not before having Hephaestus make Bo a horseshoe and embracing Bo as her niece. Because that’s useful. I suppose we all have that one relative who buys weird presents we end up putting in the loft and dragging out once a year so we don’t offend them.

I honestly can’t even begin to grasp what Zeus is up to at this point. Even Tamsin’s motivations have been more stable. She wanted to take over the world, then not. Unleash Nyx, then kill Bo now save Bo and who even knows any more? And now she’s decided to banish herself and Hera? Why? What sense does this make? Hera’s even saying “hey we hated it in there!” but Zeus just says “trust me” because she can’t possibly explain her complete lack of anything resembling motive. Or sense.

So Bo has her shiny horseshoe which, I’m sure, will be so very important at some point.

Time to hit some relationship drama – but don’t worry, they also have the same utter lack of anything resembling common sense as well.

Sense8, Season One, Episode Eight: We Will All Be Judged by the Courage of Our Hearts

In the aftermath of watching the coma patient killing himself, Nomi and Amanita sit watching the sunrise.  This is a moment of dissonance for Nomi because the sunrise is so beautiful yet she is very much haunted by what she experienced in Metzger's apartment the night before.  We move right to another moment of dissonance and this time, it's Kala crying at a movie in a theater while her entire family is crying.  Kala excuses herself to go to the washroom and it's there that she sees Wolfie. Clearly, Kala is feeling Wolfie's sadness.

Kala and Wolfie move to a hospital in Germany, where Wolfie is sitting by Felix's bedside.  Wolfie blames himself for what happened to Felix, saying that he wanted to prove something.  This is clearly a reference to Wolfie's daddy issues.  Wolfie talks about how he met Felix in detention.  Felix was a regular and for Wolfie it was his first time.  We learn that Wolfie and Felix used to cut school as kids to watch movies together.  As a Russian, Wolfie was the kid everyone hated but Felix always stood by his side.  Felix even protected Wolfie from his drunk and abusive father.  Wolfie calls Felix his brother "and not by something as accidental as blood but by something much stronger." While this conversation is about Wolfie and Felix, it also speaks to the relationship the Sense8s have to each other. It's something which they cannot define which connects them though they have no blood relationship and come from different places, just like Wolfie and Felix.

Lito awakes to a call from Daniela, who is calling to say that everything is okay now and that he doesn't have to worry.  It's telling that Hernando's concern is about whether or not Daniela is coming back and Lito wants assurances that the problem has been handled.  Hernando questions if Daniela agreed to stay with her abuser while Lito can only fixate on what he perceives to be good news.

Capheus pays a visit to Jela and is not given a warm greeting by Jela's wife.  When Jela complains that his marriage is strained because he is home, Capheus suggests that it's time for Jela to come back to work.  I suppose seeing a man's hands shopped off in front of you is reason enough to understand that it's time to leave before the same thing happens to you.  Capheus wants to do clean work. Jela's wife is excited to be rid of her husband when she learns the news.

Sun continues to struggle with sewing and so her helper turns to aid her.  Sun notes that the woman will never get to go outside if she continues to offer her aid. The bully attempts to take Sun's teachers finished work and is tripped by Sun.  Oh it looks like things are going to get rough in prison. Finally finished her sewing, Sun is let out into the yard where she sees her teacher painting a mural of happier times.  Sun is offered a paintbrush and is told that sometimes it feels good to remember.  Sun paints herself and her mother but its quickly ruined by the bully who is not happy about being tripped. The bully accuses Sun of thinking that she is better than she and quickly attacks.  Sun gets the upperhand and asks the women and her henchmen to stop fighting because she doesn't want to hurt them.  Sun is stabbed for her trouble but manages to take out the bully before the guards arrive and separate the women.  Sun is placed in solitary and a prisoner delivers her some food in thanks for what she did for her teacher.  Among the utensils, Sun finds a paintbrush.  Will this be a new form of expression for Sun?  In many ways she has been so crafted by her father.

Will is dressed and ready for work but finds himself in Riley's childhood home.  Riley gives him a tour, stopping to point out Gunnar's piano.  Will notes a picture of Riley's mother, Riley reveals that her mother passed away.  Gunnar delivers a coffee to Riley and Will learns that they take their coffee the same way.  Will questions why Riley stayed away so long given how nice her home and how nice Gunnar seems.  Riley isn't interested in answering and simply says that a lot of things are hard to talk about. Now it's Riley's turn to visit Will in his apartment and he invites her to come to Chicago, promising to show her around. Riley returns the favor offer to show Will around Reykjavik.  Will wants to see  Eyjafjallajökull in particular.  Riley is overwhelmed when she sees a train go by. Their mutual fascination with each other's homes turns to attraction and the two kiss. Unfortunately for Will, Diego walks in and to Diego, it looks like Will is just kissing air and not a person because he cannot see Riley. Will does not even try to make an excuse.

Kala sits with the wedding planners who believe that the horoscope for the new date is even better. The planners ask about holding the wedding at the temple of Ganesha and Manendra is clearly not impressed. It's not surprising given that he sees everything Indian as backward.

Shiro is feeling much better and is up on her feet cooking for Capheus. Shiro teases Capheus about being far too thin.  Shiro knows that something is wrong and Capheus explains that he won't be able to get the medicine anymore but Shiro simply says that troubles like this don't seem so bad over a full stomach.  Githu bursts in and interrupts the family moment. Githu explains that he had a sister and they were as close as Shiro and Capheus, that is until Silas killed her.  This is another example of the men in in Capheus's circle connecting to their humanity by the women in their lives.  When Githu points his gun at Shiro, Capheus stands in front of his mother.

Divinity Circuit (Senyaza #5) by Chrysoula Tzavelas

Corbin and Marley circled around a relationship – until he disappeared without a trace for a very long time.

Now he’s back – and he’s changed. He’s consumed by rage and anger and hate against his family and the Senyaza corporation he worked for. That same corporation also wants Marley to bring him back into the fold… while quietly hiding why they may deserve his scorn

It doesn’t help that Senyaza is also suspected of shenanigans by the government organisation  Branwyn’s sister works for – which would be enough to enrage Branwyn – if it weren’t for another her creations in the hands of a potentially murderous angel which will lead to more of her morals being compromised.

This world is vast and strange and huge and original. With the celestial beings (angels and Kaiju), the fae, the various offspring of these beings and their myriad powers, a very original magic system, celestial machines with a will of their own and even sentient buildings – there’s a huge amount there

And none of it is simple. It would be easy to create a vast world and then have the good creatures and the bad creatures and the naughty organisation and the nice one. But it’s not that simple because everyone and everything is scrabbling to hold their corner while the whole world is changing with the recent revelation of the supernatural. It leaves no organisation necessarily evil and none necessarily good – but all of them doing things that are… unpleasant and dubious as they try to keep up with the newly changing world. Whether that’s the government agency that Bronwyn’s sister works for weaponising her inventions, working with dubious angels and trying to set up magical-people registers or Senyaza callously risking the life of one of their own for an advantage and, again, perverting one of Branwyn’s creations way beyond her expectations

And our protagonists aren’t immune to this – making deals with Senyaza, making deals with Kaiju, working with beings that were once their sworn enemy. It’s hard to stick to your morals when family and loved ones are involved.

Supernatural, Season 11, Episode 11: Into The Mystery

This week we had a monster of the week episode which was kind of fun. I think that Supernatural does well to have some of these on a regular basis even if I would call it filler on most other series. Supernatural is so damn long – 11 seasons now – and so often uses GREAT BIG META that it really needs these random monster missions in order to remind us that the brothers are hunters, to hold on to the core of the show. They are hunters, not people who come back from the dead so often they could start a thousand new religions in between saving and imperilling the world. These stories remind us they are hunters, they are doing good things and are generally out there fighting the good fight

It leaves me little to say about the plot – the standard happens: monster, red herring, research, kill.

The introduction of Eileen was good – she’s a deaf hunter who wants to bring down the Banshee who killer her parents (with requisite “revenge won’t save you” speech which we always always always got. Seriously the genre needs to just copy and paste that and stop pretending it’s new). She is physically capable (unusual for any representation of disabled characters), she is knowledgeable about Banshee ways (she is not only equipped but shows Sam and Dean some of the skills she has for taking down the Banshee) and she (aided by Mildred) is the one who actually kills the Banshee. It was also nice to see a capable, skilled female character who didn’t need to be taught by Sam and Dean

And she lives. Yes I did expect her to become a corpse. She was a good character, capable and on part with Sam and Dean.

I think Mildred was interesting. In general the media doesn’t do well with the depiction of a sexual older woman: they’re often shown as pathetic or comic relief. While I think Mildred was meant to be FUNNY, I don’t think she was meant to be comic – she was meant to be fun. If we laughed it would be with her, if she was funny it because she was playing and having fun; and while Dean started out obviously uncomfortable to begin with, he warmed into it without him being repelled or horrified.

But the flip side and why I’m uncertain is would this be seen as fun and cute if she WEREN’T seen as inherently sexless and completely non-sexually-threatening. If she was seen as a valid sexual person making advances on someone who was uninterested would it be seen as cute?

Doctor Who: The Stone Rose (Doctor Who: New Series Adventures #7) by Jacqueline Rayner

An excited Mickey brings Rose, The Doctor and Jackie to the museum because he has a surprise for them.  When Rose sees a statue of herself she cannot believe how the sculptor captured every last detail about her.  It's not long before she realises that this means that she has to travel back to Ancient Rome to sit for it.  In a blink the Doctor and Rose find themselves caught up in a search for a missing boy and trying to out think a Genie.

Often books based on television series tend to miss the mark in their characterisation but I am happy to report that is not the case with The Stone Rose.  Rayner gave us the Doctor's anger, his logic, his quick wit and more than anything else, his love and concern for Rose.  The banter between Rose and the Doctor was absolutely perfect and reminded how much I loved the two of them together.

As much as I thought that Rayner nailed her characters, the story itself felt confused and a bit all over the place.  When Rose and the Doctor first land in ancient Rome, they begin by looking for a young boy who has gone missing.  Then the issue becomes about a young man who has always wanted to be an artist and develops the ability to  turn living people into stone.  This quickly shifts to AI (artificial intelligence) genie which grants wishes and nearly destroys mankind.  If you can follow all of that then there are the paradoxes and the leaping around in time. Yes, Doctor Who is all about a clever man with a blue box travelling through time but it should be somewhat easy to follow. By the end of the story, I couldn't tell whether I was coming or going. In short there were too many paradoxes to make sense. 

Some of the characters also felt extremely extraneous.  Lucius Aelius Rufus exists simply to get the Doctor into the Colosseum to fight as a gladiator - a scene which essentially added nothing to the story whatsoever. Yes, the Doctor is always running around in an almost manic state and often takes on the bad guys in battle but it is supposed to fit into the framework of the story and not feel like an additive.  It's almost as though Rayner went into this determined to get the Doctor into the Colosseum and twisted the story to ensure that it happened.

Teen Wolf, Season 5, Episode 14: The Sword and the Spirit

Gerard and Chris are still around (and Gerard hasn’t been killed) exploring the tunnels under the town because that’s what everyone here seems to do when they have some down time. At least the Dread Doctors are there so they’re not just randomly exploring for funsies. They makes lots of foreboding noises about the Beast not being killable (except, apparently, by a young woman with a spear). I think Chris is supposed to be impressed and intimidated by this family story but, instead, he manages to convey “my granddad was really stoned if he believed that”

They don’t find the Beast. Gerard is not horribly horribly murdered – but they do find a whooooollllle lot of bodies: the Dread Doctors have been hiding the Beast’s kills.

Those bodies are brought to the hospital where it worries Parrish who has had ominous dreams about said bodies. It also has the Sheriff dish out the REALLY BIG GUNS to the police and then send them wandering around school (the police actually look no older than the students and this generally looks like a really really bad idea. Besides, isn’t like half the student body werekanimawendigos now?)

Liam and Scott also investigate the tunnels because this town just has nothing else fun to do on a weekend (and Malia told Liam to tell Scott to go there – and Liam being Liam he decided to go alone. AND STILL DIDN’T DIE! Really, a damn fool teenager goes into spooky tunnels alone, I demand they get brutally murdered for the sake of the gene pool!). Scott and Liam kinda sorta reconcile except Liam still has all kind of guilt. Which he totally should. Shaaaaame on the baby wolf! Shame!

They also run into Gerard and Chris (how does ANYTHING hide down these tunnels? Down a side passage they find the cheerleading squad and the chess club is meeting past the third storm drain) and Scott is every bit as much a fan of Gerard still being alive as I am. Still he apparently knows useful things. Except “useful” means “the beast is dangerous and kills people and also makes ominous murals!” which is not exactly news. One of those murals also indicates the big bad enemy of the Beast – a Hellhound

Yes, that would be Parrish. They decide to test his hellhoundness by trying to burn out his eye with a blowtorch (because Gerard is awful). I though his houndiness had already been confirmed before the break? This also comes with a story of Parrish as a soldier in Afghanistan (reminding us, again, that he’s far too old for Lydia) and how a bomb blew off all his clothes except the curiously resistant army shorts. They should make tanks out of that stuff.

Malia is still working with Braeden to find her mother, the Desert Wolf, and Deaton her belatedly remembered captive. She decides to accept Theo’s help

Anna and the Vampire Prince (Anna Strong Chronicles #9.5) by Jeanne C. Stein

Anna has finally found happiness and love in her romantic life with her shifter husband Frey. Unfortunately life often delivers the good with the bad and for Anna this means mourning the death of her mother. When Frey and her step son John-John return to the America, Anna decides to stay behind and help her father and niece adjust to their loss. 

Someone has been kidnapping young girls and even after the parents pay the ransom the girls are still murdered.  This new story goes from something awful to something close to home when Trish's best friend is abducted one day.  Deciding that poor Trish has suffered enough loss for someone so young, Anna decides that no matter she is going to find  Cecily but to do that she has to enlist the aid of one the world oldest vampires - Vlad.  With time quickly running out Anna learns that there's much more to this rash of kidnappings than what the human authorities think.

 Anyone new to the Anna Strong Chronicles will really not have a hard time following this story though it is 9.5 in the series.  Stein does a good job of telling her story without requiring readers to have a lot of knowledge about her world; however, this means that for longtime readers, there's really not much on offer except the fact that Anna has settled into married life which we knew at the end of Blood Bond.   That's not really a lot to offer readers after a three year hiatus, particularly when we were lead to believe that Blood Bond would be the last in the series. I understand that a short story is meant to be a vignette but this just felt shallow particularly given that Anna got her HEA at the end of the last book.

It really is not helped that at least a good portion of the plot is recycled.  Once again we were given the specter of vampires seeking to take over the earth and use humans as blood bags and servants.  This issue was already settled so the only reason to go over this territory again is perhaps a shortage of ideas on the part of Stein.  Fortunately, because this is a short story, it didn't last long enough for me to be completely bored but it reading it was about as exciting as watching we paint beige paint dry bland...bland...bland.

Where Stein did go right was the discussion of France's xenophobia and it's treatment of migrant workers.  Given recent world events like the murders at Charlie Hebdo, the Paris attacks, and the UN calling out France for its failure "to curtail the soaring trend of violence, hate and xenophobic speech against foreign communities", the plot line of Anna and the Vampire is at least on point when it comes to current events.  The problem is that something this series cannot even remotely begin to be discussed in one book, let alone a short story. It's reductive at best and fails to give the subject matter the seriousness that it deserves.  I don't object that Stein went there, I object to the fact it felt like she barely committed to the point she was trying to make, particularly when the last part of the book is filled with Vlad's abdication of power and his declaration of love for Anna.