2017 TV Season Sneak Peek

It's time to talk about the fall TV season and the new shows I'm interested in watching. Last year there were 17 new shows I wanted to check out. Of those 17 shows, there's only one that I will watch for a second season. This new season there are 10 shows this year I've planned on giving a chance. We'll see if there's more than one that I will like.

ABC
Marvel's Inhumans

What it's about: After the Royal Family of Inhumans is splintered by a military coup, they barely escape to Hawaii, where their interactions with humanity might prove to not only save them, but Earth itself.

My thoughts: Ever since Skye/Daisy became an inhuman on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., inhumans have played a large role in the direction of that series. I think it has taken the show in a more interesting direction, as they have focused on how humans react to and act around inhumans. Now, ABC will have a series specifically from the point of view of inhumans, and I'm interested in seeing where the series will go and what new ideas will be brought to the table. I also wonder if there will be some cross-over between Agents and Inhumans. Since there haven't been many character cross-overs between the television and cinematic Marvel worlds, it will be nice to have another television series where cross-over can happen with Agents.

Inhumans will actually debut in movie theaters on IMAX screens on Sept 2, 2017. It will then premiere on ABC on Sept 22. 

CBS
Young Sheldon

What it's about: It's 1989, and nine-year-old Sheldon Cooper has skipped four grades to start high school, along with his less-intellectual brother. His twin sister, who's happy to stay in the fourth grade, has a better sense of what awaits Sheldon than he does. Young Sheldon may understand Newtonian physics, but his blue-collar, church-going family only care if that knowledge will help them win a football game.

My thoughts: When I first started watching The Big Bang Theory, I thought Sheldon's character was very unique, and I found his quirks quite funny. There was no other character like him on television. But after 10 seasons, I've grown tired of seeing very little change in his character. What used to be funny has now just become annoying. I'm tired of everyone pandering to his quirky needs. However, it could be funny to see some of his unique quirkiness in a young boy. I just hope they don't make young Sheldon a mirror image of older Sheldon. It takes years to grow into a "Sheldon," and I hope the writers realize that.

I am excited to see Laurie Metcalf's daughter, Zoe Perry, play Sheldon's mother, Mary. Mary Cooper is such a great character, and it will be fun to see Zoe play a younger version of the same character her mother plays on The Big Bang Theory. That was a great choice in casting, and it's lucky for the producers that Laurie Metcalf has a daughter who is also an actress. 

CW
Black Lightning

What it's about: Jefferson Pierce hung up his suit and his secret identity years ago, but when his star student daughter, hellbent on justice, is recruited by a local gang, he is pulled back into the fight as the wanted vigilante and legend, Black Lightning. According to network executives, Black Lightning will not take place within the Arrowverse (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow).

My thoughts: Another comic book adaptation, you say? Aren't there enough already? If it's good, I say no. If it isn't good, then I say yes.

FOX

Gifted

What it's about: A suburban couple's lives are rocked by the sudden discovery that their children possess mutant powers. Forces to go on the run from a hostile government, the family joins up with an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive.

My thoughts: Sounds a little familiar, no? Now we'll have inhumans, meta-humans, and the gifted. Although this series is being produced in association with Marvel Television, I'm not sure if it's based on a comic book or not. With three new "superhero" series that I'm interested in watching, let's see if I'll watch all three through the whole season. If they're all distinct enough, and introduce characters that I care about, I don't see a reason not to add all three to the other five comic book-based shows I'm already watching. 

The Orville

What it's about: Set 400 years in the future, this live-action, one-hour, ensemble comedic drama follows the adventures of The Orville, a mid-level exploratory spaceship, as its crew, both human and alien, face the wonders and dangers of outer space, while also dealing with the familiar, often humorous problems of everyday life.

My thoughts: This is one that could be either really good or really awful. I don't think there will be much a middle road here. I love a good spoof, but unfortunately, what most people find to be funny nowadays, just isn't funny to me. I think that Seth Macfarlane can be quite clever sometimes, and then again, he can be quite crass and vulgar. We'll have to see which way this one goes. If it's anything like the film Galaxy Quest, then I'm all in.

Thursdays at 9:00

NBC

A.P. Bio

What it's about: A philosophy scholar loses doesn't get his dream job and ends up working as a high school Advanced Placement Biology teacher. But he's made it clear he won't be teaching biology. He recruits his students to help him mentally break his job-stealing nemesis and win back the position he thinks is rightfully his.

My thoughts: This one sounds a bit like a cross between To Sir, with Love and School of Rock. (without the music, I'm thinking). And then again, it could be nothing like either movie. It just sounds like it could be interesting.

Reverie

What it's about: A former hostage negotiator and expert on human behavior is brought in to save ordinary people who have lost themselves in a highly advanced virtual-reality program where you can literally live your dreams.

My thoughts: The virtual-reality program brought to mind the "framework" from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and I really enjoyed those episodes that took place in the framework. If this series is anything like that, and can sustain the same kind of suspense Agents did, I think I might like this.

Rise

What it's about: A teacher takes over a school's lackluster theater department.

My thoughts: This show sounds like the kind of series that I would write if I ever wrote a TV series. I'm really looking forward to this one. I hope that there will be more "theater" than outside drama. I also hope there will be lots of staged musical numbers.

Will & Grace

What it's about: It's about Will and Grace and Karen and Jack, 12 years later.

My thoughts: The original show was very funny. I'm a bit wary about reboots. Yes, it's nice to visit familiar characters years later, but sometimes it's hard to bring back the original magic. We'll just have to wait and see. Until then, it will be fun to watch the trailer a few more times.

World of Dance

What it's about: This isn't actually a new fall show. This dance competition series premieres on May 30th. 

My thoughts: One of my favorite shows is So You Think You Can Dance, so you can probably guess that I like dance competition shows. I am looking forward to a lot of talented dances and some great dance routines.

2016 TV Fall Season Sneak Peek

This new TV fall season is a first for me - there are more new shows I'm interested in than shows I'm not interested in. If I end up liking all of the new shows I've decided to check out, my DVR is going to be full all of the time. However, the chances of that happening are pretty slim - based on the past.

So, below is a list of the new shows whose pilots I'm interested in watching. It will be interesting to see how accurate my predictions of which shows I'll keep watching will be. I'll keep you posted - in about six or seven months. *wink*

New Shows
CW

No Tomorrow

What it's about: Sarah, a risk-averse quality-control assessor who falls for Xavier, a free-spirited thrill seeker who believes the apocalypse is coming and helps her learn the true meaning of "seizing the day."

My thoughts: I’m all for watching TV shows about seizing the day. Since I don’t do it enough in my own life, the next best thing is watching others seizing it in a TV series. I’m curious if the show will last long enough to make it to the day of the apocalypse because I’d like to see what the end of the world looks like, or what Xavier looks like when he realizes the world didn’t end. 
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

Frequency

What it's about: Set in 2016, Detective Raimy Sullivan discovers that she is able to communicate via a CV radio with her long dead father, who is speaking to her from 1996. Raimy takes advantage of the opportunity and warns him of his impending death, but when she is able to save his life, she also changes her own history. Based on the 2000 film of the same name, starring Jim Caviezel and Dennis Quaid. 
My thoughts: Frequency is one of my all-time favorite movies. The preview for this series looks really good, and seems to follow the movie very closely, other than changing the main character to a woman. I don’t know what they will do to stretch the premise out for an entire season, let alone additional seasons if it gets renewed, but I’m interested in finding out. I hope it will deviate enough from the movie to add some surprises.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: High

CBS
Bull

What it's about: Inspired by the life of Dr. Phil before he became a favorite of Oprah, the series follows Dr. Bull, head of a trial consulting service that analyzes juries to help develop defense strategies. 
My thoughts: I’m glad this series is about Phil McGraw’s career prior to his TV career, because the whole idea of analyzing juries sounds very interesting – more interesting than a series about a psychologist who has his own daytime series.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

Macgyver

What it's about: A reboot of the popular 1980's television series, if you don't know what this one is about, then you probably won't be interested in it. Just think of bubble-gum and paperclips.
My thoughts: Macgyver was one of my Dad’s favorite TV shows. I never watched it, but I knew what it was about - bubble-gum and paperclips. I’m going to check this one out for my Dad. And if I feel like he would have been disappointed in it, I will be too. 
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

Fox
Pitch

What it's about: Pitch is about a young pitcher who becomes the first woman to play in the major league when she's chosen to play for the San Diego Padres.
My thoughts: It’s surprising to me that I’m interested in a show about baseball. But I am. It would be nice if this show became prophetic.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

Son of Zorn

What it's about: Son of Zorn is a hybrid live-action/animated comedy about an animated warrior from a faraway island in the Pacific Ocean, where everything and everyone is animated. He returns to Orange County to win back his live-action ex-wife and teenage son.
My thoughts: I It looks like a cross between Enchanted and He-Man, and I have to admit that this shows looks hilarious. This coming from someone who has never seen He-Man, nor has ever had an interest in seeing He-Man.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: High

ABC
Conviction

What it's about: The brilliant, but rebel daughter of a former President (Hayley Atwell) is blackmailed into taking a job as the head of Los Angeles' newly created Conviction Integrity Unit. She, along with her team, works to examine cases where the wrong person may have been convicted of a crime.
My thoughts: I like Hayley Atwell. I’m sorry Agent Carter was canceled, but I’m glad she has another part. 
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

Speechless

What it's about: Minnie Driver stars in this comedy about family dealing with the challenges of having a special-needs child. 
My thoughts: Minnie Driver is really funny in the preview. I like her quirkiness. 
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

Notorious

What it's about: This series is based on the true-life stories of famed criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos and cable news producer Wendy Walker, and explores the interplay of criminal law and the media.
My thoughts: No real thoughts about this one. I’m just interested in checking it out.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

NBC
Timeless

What it's about: A criminal steals a secret state-of-the-art time machine, intent on destroying America by changing its past. A soldier and a history professor use the machine's prototype to travel back in time to critical events, hoping to stop him. They must make an effort not to affect the past themselves as they try to stay one step ahead of the dangerous fugitive.
My thoughts: This is the first of three series about time travel. I don’t know why the sudden interest in time travel, but I’m interested in the series for the history aspect of it. I want to see what historical events they will be a part of, and if and how they will change anything.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: High

This is Us

What it's about: This dramedy centers around a group, several of whom share the same birthday, and follows them as their paths cross and their life stories intertwine in curious ways.
My thoughts: I’m curious to see how the lives of these very different people intertwine. I just hope it won’t get too “soap opera-ey.” We’ll see.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

The Good Place

What it's about: The Good Place follows an ordinary woman (Kristen Bell) who enters the afterlife, where she comes to realize she hasn't been a very good person. With the help of her afterlife mentor (Ted Danson), she is determined to shed her old way of living and discover a better person within.
My thoughts: This show looks like it could be very funny. I like Kristen Bell.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

Midseason Shows
Fox
Making History

What it's about: This series centers on three friends who find a way to travel through time in search of truth, justice, and riches, which complicates their lives in 2016. They visit some of the greatest moments of the past as they try to resolve their personal problems, while history and pop culture comically collide.
My thoughts: Another time travel series. More history. These characters aren’t traveling to save the world (or America), they are traveling for a more personal reason – the resolve their problems. We’ll see how much different this will be from Timeless.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: Moderate

CW
Riverdale

What it's about: Betty Cooper likes Archie Andrews, but isn't ready to tell him, Archie wants to pursue his music and figure out how to repair his fracture friendship to Jughead Jones. New student Veronica Lodge feels a spark with Archie, but doesn't want to risk her new friendship with Betty. It all sounds like typical teenage drama. However, the town of Riverdale is still also reeling from the tragic death of Jason Blossom during the summer. Riverdale may seem like a quiet town, but there is darkness hidden underneath the shadows.
My thoughts: Comic book adaptations are big nowadays, so why not Archie? I’ interested in checking I out, but I am a bit annoyed that they’re trying to make this series something the comic is not – a murder mystery. They’re making Riverdale the next Twin Peaks.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: High

Still Star-Crossed

What it's about: This period series picks up where Romeo and Juliet left off, charting the treachery, palace intrigue and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers' tragic fate.
My thoughts: Even though this series looks interesting, I do have a question to the writers of Still Star-Crossed. Have you read Romeo and Juliet? The play ends with the Montagues and Capulets making peace with each since it was their feud that killed the young lovers. I hope this isn’t just another story of Romeo and Juliet with different characters. I would hope that their families learned their lesson and made progress. However, I’m interested in seeing if this story can bring anything new and surprising.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: High

Time After Time

What it's about: This drama promises a fantastical cat-and-mouse adventure through time when famed science fiction writer H.G. Wells is transported to modern day Manhattan in pursuit of Jack the Ripper. Once H.G. arrives in New York City, he finds a world he never thought possible - and a young woman who captivates him. But then there's still Jack, on the loose in Manhattan. 
My thoughts: Time travel – again. But this time the main character is the “king of time travel” – H.G. Wells. I’m really interested in this concept. H.G. Wells traveling to our time trying to catch Jack the Ripper. I wonder if he will be traveling to other times as well as our own modern day.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: High

NBC
Emerald City

What it's about: In the blink of a tornado's eye, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale and a K9 dog are swept into a world far removed from our own - a mystical land of competing realms, lethal warriors, dark magic and a bloody battle for supremacy. As Dorothy navigates this dangerous world, we'll see there's no place like... Oz.
My thoughts: Another reimagining of a classic story. I’m all for mystical realms, warriors, magic and battles for supremacy (not much one for blood, however). I’d like to see familiar Oz characters, and it would be nice if they have characters from other Oz books also. (Ozma is one of my favorites.) One last thought, I just can’t imagine a K9 dog being named Toto.
Chance I think I'll keep watching: High

1986 Fall TV Season Sneak Peek

Here's a blast from the past.

The major networks have announced their new fall season. I've watched previews of many of the new shows on the internet, and I'm interested in many of the shows. In fact, I don't know when I've been interested in so many new shows in a long time. (That's another post for another day.)

Thinking about the 2016 fall season, I thought it would be fun to take a look at another fall season, more specifically the 1986 TV season - 30 years ago.

When I was young, I never knew what new TV series were making their debut in the fall until the Fall Season TV Guide issue came out, usually a few weeks before the new season started. I was always excited to see what shows would make their debut that year, and wonder which shows would become hits and which ones would fade into that black hole of canceled shows no one would remember in years to come.

In those days there was no internet where you could watch preview of the pilots. You only had a synopsis of each series with a picture of the main characters. From those few sentences, and one picture, I would decide which shows I would be willing to take a chance on.

Here is a list of the shows that started 30 years ago, the fall of 1986, See how many of these shows sound familiar to you (these were only on the three major networks: ABC, CBS and NBC):

• Valerie (with Valerie Harper and Jason Bateman)
• Perfect Strangers (with Bronson Pinchot and mark Linn-Baker)
• You Again? (with Jack Klugman and John Stamos)
• The Heart of the City (with Christina Applegate)
• Life with Lucy (with Lucille Ball, who else?)
• Downtown (with Mariska Hargitay and Robert Englund)
• The Ellen Burstyn Show (with Ellen Burstyn, Elaine Strich and Megan Mullaly)
• Amen (with Sherman Hemsley and Clifton Davis)
• Our House (with Wilford Brimley, Deidre Hall, Shannen Doherty and Chad Allen)
• Easy Street (Jack Elam and Loni Anderson)
• Alf (with Alf)
• My Sister Sam (with Pam Dawber and Rebecca Schaeffer)
• Designing Women (with Delta Burke, Jean Smart, Dixie Carter and Annie Potts)
• The Wizard
• Matlock (with Andy Griffith)
• Crime Story
• Jack and Mike (with Shelley Hack)
• Together We Stand (with Elliot Gould and Dee Wallace)
• Head of the Class (with Howard Hesseman)
• Better Days (with Raphael Sbarge)
• Kay O'Brien 
• Side Kicks (with Gil Gerard)
• Sledge Hammer!
• Starman (with Robert Hays)
• L.A. Law (with Jimmy Smits, Harry Hamlin, Corbin Bernsen and Jill Eikenberry)

As with any new TV season, a few shows were renewed after their first season, a few had a good run before being canceled, a few are still in syndication, and the majority of them have been lost in obscurity.

Do you remember watching any of these shows? Did any of them become a favorite?

2014 TV Fall Season: Preview

The 2014 TV fall season has been announced, and I'm excited to see what the networks have in store for us this season.

Last year there were nine new series I was interested in seeing (Sleepy Hollow, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Reign, Crazy Ones, Ironside, About a Boy, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, The Tomorrow People and Star-Crossed). Three of the nine I never ended up watching (Crazy Ones, Ironside, and About a Boy). Two of the series I started watching and then quit (The Tomorrow People and Star-Crossed).  I watched every episode of Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, but I almost stopped watching it in the middle of the season when the story didn't seem to move quickly enough for me. I did enjoy the few final episodes, however. Three out of the nine series have been renewed, and those are the three that I actually watched every episode (Sleepy Hollow, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Reign). I plan on continuing to watch all three of them next season.

This year there are six new series that have caught my interest. There aren't any that I'm really enthusiastic about (there doesn't seem to be a Sleepy Hollow in the bunch), but some look promising.

The one new series I was really excited about, Galavant (as you may have read in my post of two days ago) isn't even on the fall schedule. I suppose it's meant to be a mid-season replacement.

ABC

Selfie
Description: After being the subject of an embarrassing viral video, a self-involved 20-something enlists the help of a marketing expert to revamp her image in the real world.
My thoughts: This series is being touted as "loosely based on My Fair Lady." I think the two main characters names certainly give that away. Karen Gillan plays Eliza Dooley, and John Cho plays Henry Higgins. I don't know how George Bernard Shaw would feel about his characters thrown into the world of modern social media. *wink* It's interesting to me that Scottish actress Karen Gillan is committing to an American TV series. She has made a few movies since she ended her era as Amy Pond ended on Doctor Who, and I guess she decided American television would be a good next step in her career. I'm not into the world of "selfies," Instagram, or Twitter, so I'm not in the demographic that this series would appeal to, however, I'm interested to see Karen in a comedy. Who knows, I may like it. It's interesting to note that another Doctor Who actor, David Tennant (who actually was the Doctor), is also tackling American television in Gracepoint (a remake of the British miniseries, Broadchurch, which also starred David Tennant).

Forever
Description: A 200 year-old man works in the New York City morgue trying to find a key to unlock the curse of his immortality.
My thoughts: Two words - Ioan Gruffudd (I met him at Comic Con a few months ago, and that is one beautiful man). I just hope that his curse of immortality has nothing to do with drinking blood. *wink*

How to Get Away With Murder
Description: A group of ambitious law students and their brilliant, mysterious criminal defense professor (Viola Davis) become entangled in a murder plot that will shake the entire university and change the course (great pun *wink*) of their lives.
My thoughts: The premise to this series reminds me of a TV movie from 1991 that starred Pierce Brosnan called Murder 101. In the TV movie, Brosnan is an author who teaches a writing class to college students on how to write a novel that involves the perfect murder. Brosnan is framed for killing a colleague, and the mystery begins. I don't know how similar this series will be to the TV movie, but I'm interested to see where the show goes.

NBC

Constantine
Description: A man struggling with his faith is haunted by the sins of his past but is suddenly thrust into the role of defending humanity from the gathering forces of darkness.
My thoughts: I'm on the fence about this one (mainly because I can't quite grasp what it's really about), but I like Lucy Griffiths, who played Marian in BBC's series, Robin Hood. Another series based on a comic book.

Fox

Gotham
Description: The origin story behind Commissioner James Gordon's rise to prominence in Gotham City in the years before Batman's arrival.
My thoughts: I have enjoyed many series and movies based on comic books, and I'm willing to give this one a try.

CW

The Flash
Description: Barry Allen suffers a freak accident that turns him into a superhero with the power of incredible speed.
My thoughts: Arrow is one of my favorite series - especially after its second season, which exceeded my expectations - and I liked Barry Allen's character when he was introduced at the beginning of this season of Arrow. Given those two facts, I'm looking forward to this series. I hope it lives up to my expectations.

As you can see, there aren't any series on CBS's new schedule that I want to check out. It would be interesting if one of those CBS shows is a big hit and I just happen to give it a chance and love it. I doubt it, but it would be interesting.

What shows are you looking forward to in the 2014 Fall season?

Reign: Preview

I really don't know what I think of this preview. Unfortunately, it looks like a poorly written CW soap opera with the main character masquerading as Mary, Queen of Scots.

I don't know if it will bear any resemblance to the real life of Mary Stuart. I'm not betting much on this series.

New Series and TV Casting News

 The BBC has a few new series  in the works that I'm excited to see. Atlantis is based on Greek gods and the mythologies surrounding them. I love mythology, and I hope this is a good show. Jamaica Inn is based on the novel by Daphne Du Maurier. I've read the book, and I really liked it. I wonder what part of the book they'll concentrate on to make it an entire series not just a movie or mini-series. The third series is Death Comes to Pemberley, based on the novel by P.D. James, which is based on the novel, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, which is based on... well, Austen's imagination. *wink* I have not read James's book, but now I'm curious to check it out.

Adelaide Kane has been cast as the young Mary Stuart in the CW's fall season series, Reign. I have never heard of her, nor have I seen her in anything, so I don't know what her acting range is. I read that she was on the Power Rangers. I am happy to say that I never watched the Power Rangers. I'll be curious to find out what kind of accent she will have because she's Australian, playing a Scottish princess who was raised in France. Hmm. She definitely has the look for a CW series leading lady. I still have high hopes for this series.

Oliver Jackson-Cohen has been cast as Jonathan Harker in the new series, Dracula. Oliver played Phillip White, Laura's boyfriend in the first season of Lark Rise to Candleford.

And Victoria Smurfit has been cast as Lady Jayne in Dracula. Victoria was in one of my favorite British mini-series, Berkeley Square. She also played Rowena in the BBC's version of Ivanhoe. She was also in the film, About a Boy, which a new series is being based on. Small world, isn't?

I mentioned a new CBS pilot, Super Clyde, in my 2013 Fall Season Preview, Part 2 post. For those of you who are fans of the Harry Potter films, Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, will play Clyde. I hope the series is good, and that it's successful, especially for Rupert. I like him.

Arrow: The Odyssey

I would say that this is the best episode of Arrow so far. It furthered the story of how Oliver learned to fight on the island, and made me want to see more flashbacks from the island. We got to see more of Felicity, which is great, and she is given the opportunity to join Oliver and Diggle in their crusade. I'm so glad that we'll see more of Felicity, and for a long time.

Observations:

Felicity doesn't have to figure out that Oliver is The Hood. Oliver reveals it to her himself, pretty much because he doesn't want to die. I would have liked to see how Felicity would have figured it out, and how long it would have taken, but this way worked too.

Diggle says, "He's been a lot worse than this," and then of course there is a segue to the island and we see how much worse he's been through.

Wouldn't Oliver have more facial hair if he's been on the island for six months?

I like seeing Oliver with Wilson. I like Stephen Amell's acting when he's not so sure of himself. He has more personality.

I love how Oliver puts the gun down like he might catch a disease from it.

Oliver read The Odyssey in college, and it sounds like he memorized it. I've read a lot of books, and I never memorized any passages from the books. It's funny that Oliver would remember something so specific from reading it. But maybe it's because he only read one book in college, and it's easier to memorize just one than many. *wink* It is apropos that the passage would be from The Odyssey since it's about a man trying to get home.

Six months on the island has changed Oliver already. He doesn't want to be selfish anymore or take people for granted. Now there's nothing left for him to do but keep learning how to fight and use a bow. *wink*

Oliver asked Wilson to contact his family if he doesn't make it out alive. It's a good thing that the Queens are well known so Wilson won't have a hard time contacting them, since Oliver didn't give him any contact information. *wink*

Felicity asks Diggle one of the questions that I'm curious about. She asks him if it bothers him that Oliver kills so many people. I'm glad they addressed the question, because Oliver has killed people who were just in his way of following out his father's vendetta. Some of those people were probably innocent. How can he sleep nights with that on his conscience?

Wilson mentions that someone hired Fyers. Could that person be someone in Starling City? Someone that Oliver may know? Or someone on The List?

Fyers calls Oliver Yao Fei's "young castaway," and Oliver's new friend is named "Wilson." Very fitting.

What's happening on the island is getting more interesting. Yao Fei has more at stake than we knew - a good reason why it looks like he's on Fyers side. When you throw in the fact that his daughter is being held captive by Fyers, it makes sense. However, if that's the only way to win a person's loyalty, you probably won't have it for long.

It's a nice moment when Oliver holds out his had for Felicity to shake it, just as Wilson did to Oliver.

Oliver has the same tattoo as Yao Fei's daughter. Hmm.

Quotes:

Felicity: Oliver. Oh, wow. Everything about you just became so unbelievably clear.

Felicity: You're bleeding.
Oliver: I don't need to be told that.

Felicity: Can you help me? He's really heavy.

Felicity: I'm guessing "how" and "why" are Oliver Queen's least favorite questions.
Diggle: Yea, there's also "where" and "when" he's not too fond of.

Diggle: Did you ever play operation when you were a kid?
Felicity: Yes, and it never made me want to throw up.

Wilson: How did you survive here for six months? I know Girl Scouts who have more fight in them.
Oliver: Fighting Girl Scouts now, Slade, huh?

Wilson: Obviously you were never a Boy Scout.
Oliver: Yea, what tipped you off?

Wilson: We'd better hurry. The wolves come out at night.
Oliver: There are wolves here? Right. Of course there are, because what would the worst place on earth be without wolves?

Wilson: Everybody is in their life for themselves.
Oliver: You learn that in Australian spy school?

Felicity: I always wondered how I'd react if I found my boss shot and bleeding inside my car. Not that I helped because he's my boss. I'd help anyone who was shot... and bleeding in my car.

Felicity: I may be blonde, but I'm not that blonde.

Diggle: Hard as it probably is for him to admit, even Oliver needs help sometimes.

Felicity: You didn't say "clear."

Felicity: What do we do now?
Diggle: Pray we don't have a heart attack ourselves.

Oliver: They picked the one book I read in college.

Diggle: Ahh! It's less stressful when he's jumping off rooftops.

Oliver: I'm not a hero.

Wilson: A man in pain is unreliable. I was afraid I might kill you.

Oliver (laughs): I dropped on an island, and my only friend is named "Wilson." So.

Wilson: That dumb kid that I trained, he would never have made it, but you... you just might have a chance.

Oliver: I guess I didn't die. Again. Cool.

Felicity: Your system looked like it was from the 80s, and not the good part of the 80s - like Madonna and, well, leg warmers.

Oliver: Does that mean you're in.
Felicity: You mean "in" as in I'm going to join your crusade?
Oliver: Well, you're practically an honorary member of the team already.
Felicity: So Mr. Diggle said. [pause] No.
Oliver: Then why did you upgrade my systems?
Felicity: First, because seeing that we're poorly set up hurts me in my soul. And second, because I want to find Walter.

Oliver: We don't always know why people do what they do.

Bonus:

Click here for an interview with Stephen Amell, as he talks about "The Odyssey," working with Emily Bett Rickards (Felicity), and the villains he let get away (among other things).

Reign: A Series about Mary, Queen of Scots

The CW has announced it will pick up a new series about the young Mary Stuart, who became Queen of Scotland when she was six days old. At 16 she married the Dauphin of France. At 17, she became Queen of France, and at 18 she became a widow for the first time.

According to Deadline.com, the project, Reign, is described as Game of Thrones meets Marie Antoinette - if Mary Antoinette had a girl posse and was coming of age as a warrior queen.

I am so excited about this series! I love history, especially history of Scotland and England, and Mary Stuart had such an interesting life. I hope it's good, and that they don't make a mess of it.

New Series: Beauty and the Beast

This is a remake of a TV series that I loved, so it’s hard not to compare it to the original. However, the first part of this review will be about the show itself, with no comparison to the original.

The premiere episode wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. I didn’t hate it, and I didn’t love it. It just felt like another procedural series with nothing new.

Kristin Kruek is not very believable to me as a detective. Maybe it’s because she looks so young and inexperienced. It's interesting how much in common she has with another New York detective on TV who is trying to solve the murder of her mother. Does the name Kate Beckett ring a bell? Except I believe Stana Katic as a detective.

I wasn’t very drawn to Vincent. He was nice looking, but that isn’t the point. He’s supposed to be a beast. This first episode didn’t really give him much to do in the area of character development. We know that he’s a doctor who lost brothers in the Twin Towers, then enlisted. While he was in Afghanistan he agreed to be involved in some kind of experiment (that resulted in his bouts of “beastliness”), and now he is believed to be dead. That’s about it.

I wanted to see more of Cat’s personal life. Why didn’t we get to meet her father? We just see her hug him at the end. I would like to have seen Cat in a scene that didn’t involve her job or the beast. Who is Catherine Chandler? Why should we care about her?

I thought the dialogue was a bit stilted. There were some lines that were okay, and many that were just plain bad.

I wonder why Vincent would tell Cat the whole story about the experiment even though he says it’s dangerous for her to know, and then not tell her why he was there the night her mother was killed. Seems strange.

I did like Vincent’s roommate, J.T., and Evan, the medical examiner. It’s not good when you like the supporting characters better than the two leads.

Random observation: I love that Cat drove a VW bug at the beginning of the episode. We can add her to the list of VW bug owners: Monroe (Grimm), Emma (Once Upon a Time), and me!

Now, on to comparing it to the original.

I blogged about the new series when I heard about it in January, and one of the things I said was that they needed to choose their Vincent well. Well, the jury’s still out on that. The new Vincent is just a man who, through some botched experiment, becomes a “beast” when he’s angry. He’s kind of like the Hulk. The original Vincent looked like a beast, but female viewers still fell for him from the beginning because of who he was – that was point.

I felt no real chemistry between Cat and Vincent. I don't feel like there was enough character development of Vincent. Yes, he does try to save people (other than Cat), but we’re only told that, we don’t see him do it. Actions speak louder than words in character development. Show – don’t tell. I liked that in the original they didn’t try to explain why Vincent looked the way he did, and it didn’t matter. Why did they think they had to explain why the new Vincent is a beast?

In the original, Cathy is brutally attacked and left for dead, and is found by Vincent. He takes her into the tunnels under Manhattan where he lives. Catherine comes to know Vincent before she ever sees his face. Not only does the attack change her life, but so does meeting Vincent. A bond is developed between the two that shapes both of their lives. She changes her job as a high-profile lawyer, and so to work with the DA’s office where she can help more people.

There just isn’t any kind of bond between beauty and the beast in this new version. In this version, Vincent saves Cat after her mother is shot, and then Cat doesn’t see him again for nine years. Her first encounter with Vincent doesn’t change her life. The death of her mother changes her life. So, there is no bond between the two. It feels like Cat is more interested in him because he was there when her mother died and might help her find out who did it.

The preview for next week’s episode looks interesting, so I’ll probably watch it.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog on TV This Week

Remember, Joss Whedon’s web-musical, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog, will make its TV debut on the CW this Tuesday, October 9, 2012, 8pm mountain time (9pm ET).

Dr. Horrible Comes to the Idiot Box

I mentioned in an earlier post that Joss Whedon’s web-musical, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog, would be making its television premiere soon. Well, “soon” now has a date. The hilarious short film will makes its debut on the CW on October 9, 2012, 9pm ET.

For those of you who haven’t seen it, here’s your chance to see why I think Joss Whedon is “the man.” His writing is hilarious, and he writes musicals! Oh, yea!

I would love to see what he could do on Broadway. I don’t know if it’s ever crossed his mind, especially with all of the projects he has, but if you’re reading this blog, Joss (hey, you never know), what about it? Big Broadway musical? If anyone can do it, you can.

Beauty and the Beast: A New Series?

Okay, I read something this morning that first made me excited, and then made me wary.

The CW is has ordered a pilot for an adaptation of the 1980’s television series “Beauty and the Beast.”

"Beauty and the Beast," is loosely based on the CBS series starring Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton, will deliver "a modern-day romantic love story with a procedural twist." Jennifer Levin ("Without a Trace," "Felicity") and Sherri Cooper ("Brothers and Sisters") will write and executive produce, with Paul J. Witt, C. Anthony Thomas, Ron Koslow and Bill Haber also executive producing. The pilot will be produced by CBS Television Studios.

I loved that series! It was one of my favorite shows in the 80s. It seemed so romantic to me when I was young.

Catherine is a corporate lawyer who is attacked one night, and saved by Vincent, a beast who lives in tunnels under Manhattan. He doesn’t live alone. There is Father, who saved his life when he was a baby; and there is a community of rejects and misfits living in the tunnels with them.

When Catherine is well enough to go back to her life, she quits her high profile job and starts working for the District Attorney's office. And somehow a psychic bond was created between the two, where Vincent can sense what Catherine is feeling, especially when Catherine is in danger (and because of the nature of her job her life is in danger often), and Vincent comes to her rescue.

I know many women fell in love with Ron Purlman’s Beast. They didn’t just make him ugly, he was definitely a beast. But that beautiful voice and caring nature made women fall for his character.

Very romantic.

I bought the DVD for the first season a while back, and I still enjoy it. And even though it was made in the 80s, it doesn't seem too dated (but that could just be my bias). I hope if they do remake the series they will keep the romantic aspect of it (after all, this is Beauty and the Beast), and the timeliness of the characters. If they make it as well as Once Upon a Time or Grimm, I will watch it.

I have one thing to say to CW: Choose your Vincent well.