Some Random Thoughts for a Monday Morning:

1. We went to see Warm Bodies and Gangster Squad this weekend. (The Latter doesn't have a review up yet, but soon) And I have to tell you, the previews had me either really excited or really underwhelmed.... with the exception of The Call. I don't know how I feel about that one, or if I'll end up seeing it.

2. After a month of living in the apartment, it is certainly looking lived in. I think my work is cut out for me when it comes to getting everything perfectly in order before the end of this month. But everything is fitting well. Dropping 300 sqft was a bit of a worry, especially since we have more furniture now than we did before....

3. I'm not a Superbowl person. I don't even care about the commercials. In fact, all I can tell you about it this year was how annoying it was to have it extend past 8pm and mess with watching Elementary.

4. I had the most incredible headaches this weekend... I'm pretty sure they were all neck tension related, but still.

5. It rained a little this weekend. a small favor I'm always happy for. I love rain. I miss it. I want to sit by a rain pattered window snuggled up in a warm blanket with a cup of tea and a good book. However, it's already getting warm again.

6. Lu got a haircut Friday night and looks like a completely different dog. She goes from ewok to falcor in about an hour.

7. I think Ripper Street on BBC is a keeper. I'll probably be talking more about that later....

Sherlock Season 2, Episode 3: The Reichenbach Fall

Feeling Sherlock has become too complacent, Moriarty stages a robbery of the Crown Jewels and tells him he’s created a computer code that would access anything and everything the internet has to offer – claiming its how he pulled off his crime.

When two children go missing, Sherlock solves the case – in a way only he could – and suspicion starts to mount that perhaps he is providing crimes to solve. With his reputation shattered, and the lives of his friends on the line. Sherlock must make the ultimate sacrifice.

My Thoughts:

It’s sad how easily people cling to the hope that someone’s got a dark mark hiding underneath their varnished exterior. How quickly people accept the bad, and are willing to explain away the good. But that is the way of things. As a whole, humans need to feel that those who perform exceptional tasks have some sort of leg up, or that they cheat. We tend to assume that others can’t possibly be able to do something, for no other reason than that we ourselves cannot do it. Humanity is a very blemished species.

Here we have proof that being mean doesn’t help you. Sherlock may be antisocial (perhaps even asocial) but a little kindness would have saved him a load of trouble. He may be the master of unraveling plots, but he has yet to understand the power of common courtesy. Perhaps he has it harder than the rest of us, because he can see our faults well before the good bits have a chance to shine through. And that is a pitiable thought.

In the category of things I didn’t expect: Moriarty shooting himself to screw Sherlock over. Seriously didn’t see that one coming – and it kind of proves how deeply psychotic Moriarty was.

I absolutely adore how mad Mrs. Hudson is with Sherlock at his grave. It’s adorable and a completely natural reaction to grief. And it makes her feel even more real than she did before.

Sherlock Season 2, Episode 2: The Hounds of Baskerville

When brought a case that has threads of the supernatural involved, Sherlock and Watson head to Dartmoor to investigate the claims of a man who feels the Baskerville government research station is breeding mutant animals. As they tour the facility, they find nothing concrete, and the admission of local town-folk to a hoax with a large-breed dog seems to be the end of it. In the end, it may likely be a foe posing as friend who’s behind it all.

My Thoughts:

This take on the original story is quite intriguing. I like the idea of a military cause behind the hounds. And that the main clue to who the culprit is was in the slip up of calling a mobile, a cell. Also, why do we Americans have to get all the rubbish terms for things? The Brits always have better names or pronunciations.

I love that we get to see Lestrade out of his usual element. I also love that Sherlock has no clue what his first name is.  And that Sherlock is forced in this episode to admit that he doesn’t have friends… just one.

The part where Henry Knight is at home, alone and freaking out, was admittedly rather creepy. The worrisome part about that lay more in the fact that he was alone, than the idea that there really was a ravenous beasty out to get him.

The idea of vegetarian inn owners buying loads of meat for a dog to drive up business is oddly fanciful to me. The poor blokes. I also love that one of them tries to claim he’s fallen off the wagon and has been eating meat, and that Lestrade doesn’t fall for it. It’s actually a rather comical scene.

Sherlock Season 2, Episode 1: A Scandal in Belgravia

While investigating a bizarre rural murder, Sherlock is pulled to Buckingham Palace where he’s asked to deal with Dominatrix Irene Adler. Adler claims to have compromising pictures of a member of the royal family and while she’s not asking for anything and isn’t making any threats, they don’t trust her. Upon meeting with her, Sherlock is intrigued, and finds that she possesses secrets more dangerous than the one he’s been called in to retrieve when a CIA team bursts in and tries to remove the information from her possession. As events unravel, Sherlock tries to figure out if Irene can be trusted… or if she’s in league with Moriarty.

My Thoughts:

Irene’s strategy is balsy, and I kind of love her for that. I also enjoy how it confuses the heck out of Sherlock. I think there’s some degree of shock to his inability to read her – more than the idea that reading her requires her to be clothed. I’m sure he could tell something from the way she put her hair up, or some lines or marks or bruising. But it is fun to see him stymied all the same.

I appreciate that she’s not traditionally gorgeous. She’s pretty, but her attraction comes from her power and her intellect. It’s nice to see a female in that sort of position.

Seriously, CIA douche. NOBODY hurts Mrs. Hudson. That sort of behavior calls for the deepest pits of hell and the longest death to get there.

And once again, here I am feeling terribly sorry for Molly. I just want to jump in the TV, give her a hug and gently pet her hair.

I was a little sad when I thought, at first that she might actually have been playing him the entire time. I do greatly appreciate that he’s put one past his brother and Watson when he goes to her rescue at the end.

Downton Abbey Season 2, Episode 6

 

When a badly burned Canadian soldier arrives at Downton to recuperate, he reveals himself as Patrick Crawley, the heir to Downton everyone presumed dead after the Titanic sank. However, with no proof (and a Canadian accent) no one but Edith believes him. He leaves Downton with his true identity uncertain and nothing left behind but the memory and a small note for Edith.

Daisy is dealing with her guilt over marrying William in the eleventh hour and refuses to take her widow’s dues – though the new maid (a war widow herself) is persistent.

Carson discovers Mrs. Hughes is feeding Ethel and brings the matter up with Cora who approves, and decides to write the father’s parents to invite the young man to Downton, with the intention of impressing on him the honor he has thus far lacked. They receive word that the man was killed in battle and seemingly ends that train of thought.

Mary is devoted to the invalid Matthew and Richard decides to bring Lavinia back into the picture to separate them. When that doesn’t work as he’d hoped, he threatens to ruin her if she considers throwing him over.

Bates travels to London to talk with his estranged wife, and returns earlier than expected with a scratch on his face. Later, he receives a letter explaining that Vera is dead – an unfortunate turn of events, since he did previously say to the Earl of Grantham that he wished her so.

My Thoughts:

I had a feeling Richard Carlisle would eventually morph into a less than likable character – just because Iain Glen rarely plays characters I like. I do feel like it’s taken him quite a while to show the very disagreeable side of himself in this series though and I appreciate that.

Once again, John and Anna have come up on a road block in their relationship. Seemingly this should clear a few things up for them, but I have no doubt it will be written awry and we shall see our star-crossed lovers once again in turmoil.

I definitely feel like the rest of the staff needs to get off Daisy’s back, and I was really happy when she snapped at them. The poor girl was just forced through a very difficult thing and even now, after William’s gone, they won’t let it rest. Someone needs to whack them all with wooden spoons!

Honestly, Matthew’s “I felt something” at the end wasn’t a shocker for me. I was waiting for them to restore the story’s upstairs hero to his former glory  (okay, he might not go back to former glory, but at least it looks like he’ll be walking again at some point.)

Downton Abbey Season 2, Episode 5

Cousin Matthew and William the Footman are both injured in the war. Their injuries make life at Downton bleak. William’s Lungs are irrevocably damaged, and Matthew appears to be paralyzed from the waist down. The loss of use of his lower body leads Matthew to break off his engagement with Lavinia to save her from a childless future.

Ethel, having had the baby is being kept in food by Mrs. Hughes, and is trying to get the father to own to it – something that doesn’t look as though it is going to happen any time soon. Due to the severity of his wounds, William asks Daisy to marry him so she’ll receive his widow’s pension. In light of pressuring from most of the staff she agrees and seven hours after they’re wed, William succumbs to his injuries.

Vera Bates returns, and she’s going back on her deal. Promising to ruin the Crawley family and Bates along with them, she leaves intent on selling her story to the papers. When Anna reveals this to Mary, the eldest daughter visits London and confesses to Sir Richard Carlisle and asks that he save her – which he does, buying the exclusive rights to the story.

My Thoughts:

Yay for Richard Carlisle being sneaky sneaky! I can see her admission of this to him going badly… but so long as she doesn’t break off the engagement, I’m sure it’ll work out.

I really just want Vera to go away. But I’m pretty certain at this point in the progression that there is no potential for a happy ending with Anna and John (Did George R. R. Martin have a hand in writing out their bit?)

Honestly, every time I see Ethel, I figure it’s her own fault. Her plight has not made her any more a likable character than she was before.

Wallowing Matthew is not fun. He’s never been a particularly chipper chap, but this severe downturn in his health is (understandably) a total downer. Lavinia does a good job of deer in the headlights in her portion of this and I find her portrayal of this range of emotions wonderful – even though they’re sad ones.

Also, and a side note, not being able to use your legs, does not mean you can’t have kids. I feel like they would have know that, even in 1918.

Downton Abbey Season 2, Episode 4

With Tensions still high at the house, Cora and Isobel but heads for the final time as schedules are changed without notice and without discussion. After a heated argument. Isobel leaves, destined for France where she’ll be needed.

With Isobel gone, Mosley makes a play for the now vacant Valet position at Downton Abbey, and Mrs. Bird starts a soup kitchen for unemployed veterans. Soon, Mrs. Patmore and Daisy offer to help and though she tries to put a stop to it, Mrs. O’Brien ends up being roped into helping as Cora finds the idea a wonderful one.

When Matthew and William go missing, the whole house is on edge, but with no definitive word, they’re forced to push on as though life is normal – or as normal as it can be when you live in a convalescence home. After an episode of worrying, they turn up in the middle of a concert to boost the patient’s spirits.

Ethel is discovered in bed with one of the convalescing officers and Mrs. Hughes dismisses her immediately. But she returns and reveals that she’s pregnant, giving Mrs. Hughes pause about turning her away again.

My Thoughts:

Matthew’s disappearance is somewhat of a false conflict. The characters don’t know he’s coming back, but as an audience, I think it’s safe to say we do. So, you have to make me care not about whether or not he’s going to make it back, but how the people affected by his disappearance will act while he’s gone. I did want Mary to break with her normal propriety for once and just run straight at him… but that’s mostly because I don’t feel like she’s truly admitted how much of a cow she was about the whole situation in the first season’s finale.

I believe when Ethel came back on screen I immediately texted a friend “What do you expect when you’ve been a wonton hussy?” And I appreciate anything that allows me to text the word hussy. I’m still not sure how I feel about Ethel’s character – especially since I keep calling her Edith and that just gets confusing – so it should be interesting to see what develops from this situation.

I feel a little bad for Mosley, getting jerked around so much, but as Anna is my favorite, I can’t help but enjoy her having a modicum of happiness again.

Downton Abbey Season 2, Episode 3

With the house preparing to become a convalescence home, the medical staff and those living in the house find themselves continually butting heads as Isobel attempts to place the staff under her iron rule.

When Cora – at the nudging of O’Brien – convinces the doctor to let Thomas be in charge of the management, Isobel is upset, but hopeful that the position open above Thomas, but below the doctor will be given to her.

Edith, still sullen over the loss of her tractor-driving, finds her place in keeping the officers comfortable and making sure their needs are met.

Matthew brings General Sir Herbertt Strutt  to Downton to observe the convalescent home and see the men there. But his visit is almost disastrous when Branson, the chauffer who planned to step forward as a conscientious objector is turned down for service because of a heart murmur, and plans to make his point known by dumping a pot of swill over the general’s head. Luckily, Anna finds the note he wrote Sybil in time to have him stopped.

While in London, Violet learns why Lavinia and Richard Carlisle are acquainted and is shocked at the news. While Daisy is trying to keep up appearances – and William’s spirits – by accepting his proposal before he leaves for the war.

My Thoughts:

I did not expect Mr. Bates back so quickly. And I feel like he should have been gone longer. I know he’s not exactly back, but I think it would have been a more impactful absence if they’d had him actually gone for another full episode.

The whole debacle with Branson and the smelly soup had me really nervous! It’s a credit to the series/episode writing that I care enough about this whole thing to be stressed over the possibility of Branson so irrevocably embarrassing the family.

Edith is finally finding her way back into the realm of decent person again. I appreciate that, since I liked her so much in the first episode and she just went downhill from there. Hopefully this upward trend will last for a while.

All I have to say about Daisy’s situation is – Poor girl. I can’t see it getting any better – in fact, I see it getting a hundred times worse.

Downton Abbey Season 2, Episode 2

The Crawleys have a rather full house with the return of Matthew – about to start his assignment at home to boost recruitment – and his fiancé and mother; Mary’s guest, Mr. Carlisle, a newspaper man and clearly interested beau; and cousin Rosamund comes at Violet’s behest.

Overworking himself because of the lack of footman to wait in the dining room, Carson succumbs to stress at their dinner and as if that weren’t enough excitement for those living at Downton Abbey, Rosamund finds that Matthew’s fiancé is much better acquainted with Mr. Carlisle than anyone could have guessed.

Edith finds her calling to help others by driving a tractor for a local farmer, but unfortunately her mutual attraction to the married man results in a kiss seen by the farmer’s wife who quickly puts a stop to her aide.

With the suicide of a depressed patient after learning he must leave Downton Cottage Hospital, Cora and Robert agree to let their home be turned into a convalescent home, threatening to disrupt everyone’s lives.

My Thoughts:

I did not expect Mr. Bates back so quickly. And I feel like he should have been gone longer. I know he’s not exactly back, but I think it would have been a more impactful absence if they’d had him actually gone for a full episode.

No matter how many times Thomas shows himself to be remotely human, I won’t believe it. The scene in which the patient kills himself rather than be sent away and Thomas is shown weeping felt off to me. I won’t say that Thomas has no capacity for sorrow, but I don’t feel that particular moment was built up enough to make his grief feel real, especially since he goes back to being the same old arse he was before.

I really do love Iain Glen in just about anything he does. He can take characters I’ve hated in other formats or adaptations and make me seriously consider liking them. I don’t get much of a feeling for his character in this episode, but I am hoping to see more of him!

Downton Abbey Season 2, Episode 1

With the war in full swing, life at Downton is less than cheerful, and when Matthew returns during leave with his new fiancé, Lavinia Swire, for a concert to benefit the hospital, Mary does her best to hide her disappointment. Edith is her usual catty self, and Sybil feels useless, so she decides to go to a nursing collage, much to her mother’s immediate dismay and eventual pride.

Downstairs, Miss O’Brien tortures the new housemaid, Ethel, because she’s being a twit about making more of herself. Mr. Bates returns from his mother’s funeral with news of his wife’s return and the possibility of divorce and proposes to Anna, but her happiness is short-lived as his wife arrives shortly thereafter and forces Mr. Bates to return to London with her, else wise she will scandalize the family.

My Thoughts:

The sisters haven’t changed much in between seasons. I’m sad for Mary, now that Matthew seems lost to her. Though, she did do this all to herself, I can’t help but feel bad for the girl – especially when Edith won’t take a moment to stop being a bitch. Sybil of course is just wonderful in all of her wanting to help and realizing she’s utterly useless. And I do love just how proud their mother is when she watches Sybil in the kitchens.

I think Anna is my favorite character in the entire show, so to make her so happy and then dash her hopes on the rocks was just heartbreaking. I’m interested to see how this all plays out in the end. I have a feeling they’ll leave Mr. Bates out of a few episodes to prolong the suspense, but who knows?

I’m really annoyed that O’Brien doesn’t seem to have changed much – if at all. I realize time has passed since she screwed Lady Crawley over with the soap, but I don’t feel any more remorse from her, as though that’s been forgotten. Now that she doesn’t have Thomas to be snippy with she seems less of a twit, but I think that’s just because we don’t get her being a harpy on smoke breaks.

Luther Season 2, Episode 4

With the identical twin on the loose, Luther tries to make a deal with the devil to get one step ahead, but the dice don’t land in his favor. As he tries to track down the next move of his suspect, he also must help Jenny dispose of Toby’s body and dodge Toby’s bludgeon man. When they realize this is really just a game for the brothers, it’s too late, and the loose one walks through London proper with a bomb strapped to his chest, and Luther will have to put himself in the line of fire if he hopes to save them.

My Thoughts:

The shaky cam chaos in the beginning is pretty fun. It almost feels like found footage, but at the same time, it’s clean enough not to fool anyone. And can I just say, Good on that guy for going after him. I know it didn’t do him any good in the end, but that’s the sort of person you should be… and if there had been more like him, he probably would have survived.

You know… I’ve never thought of driving ranges in London. I guess I just associate them with America too much. Not sure why. But that did distract me.

Luther 101: Disposing of a body – I called the trunk switcheroo rather early on. But I do like the plan there. I kind of feel like he’s taken some pointers from Alice in his handling of the situation.

I’m a little sad that Mark North is fazed out of this episode set. She could easily have gone to chill with him instead of her horrid mother. Also, Jenny’s apparently a big fan of gaudy eye makeup and atrocious sweaters…. But her hair is cute.

I’m really happy with how this season ended. I’m dying for season 3, but not staring into a black abyss waiting for the resolution of the last season. And I always appreciate that.

Luther Season 2, Episode 3

With Jenny at his flat, Luther leaves to investigate an incident in which, a roll of the dice seems to have determined the perp’s actions. As the crimes escalate, with the man entering an office building and killing/maiming dozens, Luther finds him trying to hide in plain sight. Seeming to have everything under control, Luther returns home to find Jenny’s killed Toby when he tried to rape her, and somewhere else in the city the perpetrator’s identical twin rolls the dice in a crowd.

My Thoughts:

This has to be the weirdest pre-credits scene to date for the show… It felt completely other, which was fine, because the main plot of this episode (the part not including Jenny) was extremely different from the feel of any of the other episodes so far.

I actually really love Jenny. I’d love to see her and Alice interact somehow (fingers crossed for season 3). Her snark is adorable and her mother is atrocious. I called her killing Toby – it wasn’t hard with the previous week’s previews.

Something I love about Toby – He’s proof that you don’t need to be big to be intimidating.

Luther’s posture is quite enjoyable. Hands in his pockets, hunched… like he’s self conscious. It seems entirely opposite of what it should be.

The perp is interesting. His notebook is really cool – and the intricacies of the game make me think it’s possible he could be brilliant. I do love how twitchy he gets when Luther rolls the dice in front of him.

Question for any science kiddies out there: Wouldn’t the acid erode the inside of the squirt gun?

Luther: Season 2, Episode 2

Having kidnapped Ripley, the killer tortures him, trying to find out what Luther and the police know about his final crime – a finale he’s planned intricately. Ripley manages to keep himself alive – though battered – by playing on the killer’s vanity.

Luther’s personal life crisis starts to affect his professional life when Baba, a woman who claims to own Jenny, forces him to intimidate a man in witness protection so he won’t testify against her grandson. 

Meanwhile, Schenk interrogates a master forger, who’s procured a large amount of supplies for the killer and they get wind of what he’s doing. Sadly, it’s too late for the bus of 14 primary school children, he’s already abducted.

They find the bus abandoned on the side of the road and it looks like they’ve lost again, until Ripley manages to crawl out of the sewer he was being kept in and with the help of Luther, they use the killer’s car’s GPS to figure out that he’s been to an industrial park 8 times in too short a time to be a coincidence, and with the amount of chemical he’s bought they’re not sure what he’s planning.

Luther and Ripley get to the industrial park in time to get the kids out of the van, the killer was gassing them in and because the kid he’s holding his knife to the throat of pulls off his mask, he can’t follow through with his threats, and Ripley takes him down.

Luther get’s Jenny back from Mark and takes her home to her mother, who tells him that they won’t leave, and that Jenny is her property, so she can’t go on her own, and Luther claims he’s done enough, leaving her there, though Jenny begs him not to.

Alice, broken out of the hospital (thanks to Luther, last episode) comes to see him and tries to convince him to come away with her. He tells her he can’t because he is who he is. And then he goes back and get’s Jenny.

***

I think this is the last we’ll see of Alice, at least for a while. I didn’t think I’d say this (back when we first met Alice in episode 1), but I’m going to miss her. I have a feeling they’re trying to put Jenny in as his next unlikely accomplice and I’m not sure how that will pan out if they do.

I enjoyed Mark as a sidekick, he’s a little too taciturn to show up often within the series, but I definitely like him, as an almost reluctant advocate for Luther.

There is something intriguing… and yet disappointing about the killer in these two episodes. I think it’s that his MO is absence… so I just felt let down by his grand finale. Even if he had managed to pull it off, it felt hollow, and I have a feeling that’s what they were going for, but I’m not sure how I feel about it.