Category: Television

Henry Doherty

Contributing writer

“Breaking Bad” never disappoints. This week’s episode, “Granite State,” started out with Jesse being forced to cook by Todd’s Uncle Jack, even though they promised Walt they would kill him. With Hank dead, Skyler, Flynn, and Marie are all a little scared and angry. Skyler just got her daughter back from Walt, and Walt had just gotten into the van which we learned is how to get off the grid for good.

The episode begins with Saul Goodman walking out of the van. We can see that this is after Walt got in the van (we see Walt in a cramped dorm-style room figuring out his next plan). Saul is forced to share a room with Walt, which leads to a heated argument between the two about what the future holds. Luckily for Saul, he holds his ground and refuses to help Walt. This is naturally the smart choice, considering whatever plan Walt comes up with will probably get Saul killed. As sad as it is, I feel like this was our goodbye to Saul Goodman, unless Breaking Bad is yet again tricking us.

“Breaking Bad” wouldn’t be what it is if they didn’t think outside the box. This late in the series, Vince Gilligan is developing a new love interest between Todd and Lydia. We start to see Todd’s interest in the previous episode “Ozymandias,” but now we see him protecting her at all costs, exhibited by him breaking into Skyler’s home to make sure she does not mention Lydia to the cops. This could have been pretty stupid considering Skyler probably forgot about Lydia at this point. Now it’s on her mind, and something could slip to the DEA considering the pressure they are putting on her.

Even though Jesse ratted Todd out, Todd made sure Jesse lived just so he could cook with him and impress Lydia. When Todd and Lydia met in the restaurant, Lydia was coming to tell him that she’s out. But when Todd mentioned that the last batch was 92 percent and blue, she got interested. I honestly have no idea where Gilligan plans on taking this story line. All I’ll say is that I will be extremely surprised if Todd and Lydia both survive this next episode.

For Jesse, he is captured and being forced to cook. He takes advantage of Todd’s generous mood and gets the top of his cage left open to the stars. Thinking ahead, he stole the picture of Andrea and Brock that had a paper clip attached to it, and used that to escape the handcuffs. Unfortunately, he doesn’t escape. Being as evil as they are, Todd says they will threaten Brock if he tries to do that again. To prove to him that they are serious, Todd kills Brock’s mom, Andrea, right in front of Jesse. Poor Jesse can’t catch a break. First Jane, now Andrea. It’s unfortunate to see a character we love suffer this much.

For Walt, the van driver drops him off at a log cabin in snowy New Hampshire in the middle of nowhere, secluded from all communication and the real world. There is a town a few miles away, but Walt made a deal with the van driver that Walt would get food and supplies delivered by the van driver once a month if he doesn’t go into the town. For the first time, Walt actually listened to him. Even though he went to the gate shortly after the van left, he stopped and walked back inside.

The next scene is slightly eerie. Walt is more rugged looking, after what we can assume has been a few months, and still has not left beyond the gate. Here, we see Walt desperate and alone, trying to find peace and comfort in the van driver during his monthly visits. It’s a side of Walt we aren’t used to. We’re used to Walt being power hungry, but we see him in a state of weakness.

Walt finally finds a way into town, which we all knew was bound to happen eventually. He finds a payphone and discretely calls Flynn, who surprisingly told Walt off when Walt offered him money. Go Flynn! One of the few times he did something that the audience agrees with. Anyway, if we thought Walt was in a bad state before, this threw him over the edge. At this point, he’s given up. He calls the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from the bar phone to have them find him. While sitting at the bar waiting for the DEA to arrive, he sees his old friends and business partners Elliot and Gretchen on TV being asked about him. She said two things in particular that really seemed to anger Walt. The first was that the only contribution Walt had to the company was the name and the second was that the blue meth, Walt’s signature formula, was still being sold. From this, Walt knows that Jack and his gang have not killed Jesse, since he is the only one besides Walt who knows how to cook it. By the time the cops showed up, Walter was already gone.

The best part about “Breaking Bad” is the fact that we are almost completely done with the series and yet viewers are still unsure as to what will happen. Even though we’ve seen a snapshot what is to come, we’re still left with the mystery of how it will happen. We know Walt is at a Denny’s on his 52nd birthday with a new car and more importantly a giant gun. We know that he goes back to his house in order to get the ricin that he had hidden away. While we want to guess about the future, there’s really no point because even if you’re close to right, “Breaking Bad” will take your prediction and completely turn it on its head. At this point, even though Walt and Jessie hate each other, it seems like they both share a common enemy whom they both hate more.

Ben Kaufman

Editor-in-Chief

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT. If you are not up to date on Breaking Bad, you should stop reading this piece now.

Just when you think that Breaking Bad was reaching points of no return and complete ridiculousness, Vince Gilligan takes your mind and plays with it just a little bit more.

It’s hard to say if is the most exciting episode of Breaking Bad this season, considering that every episode since its return a few weeks ago has kept me on edge more so than any other TV show. However, this episode brought along a new twist that I was not expecting. Before I get to the most important part of the episode (the ending), I want to touch on a few things that led us to that part.

First of all, Dean Norris as Hank has been outdoing himself this return. Hank started out beginning of the series as the classic jock character. He was the guy who was overly confident in everything he did. He was succeeding in his job at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and he had a solid group of friends and a strong family bond. He had all the right to be cocky, and therefore one of the more annoying characters on the show. Especially when the viewer’s focus is meant to be on their sympathy for Walt, then Hank looks particularly worse in the beginning of the show because he comes off as an unlikeable guy. Now, however, Hank has been on his game. As much as I want to root for Walt as the protagonist of the story, the moral and ethical part of me wants Hank to succeed.

Now on to Jesse. He has been on an emotional roller coaster for this entire season. He essentially has nothing at this point. He lost Jane; he has no contact with his parents. He has Andrea and Brock to a certain extent. He has them in the sense that it is clear he still has some connection to them, but on screen that is very rare. But now, Jesse has been using any intelligence he can think of to try to outsmart Walt. Again, even though we are meant to root for Walt as the protagonist of the story, Jesse is a more appealing character. The fact that he has teamed up with Hank helps with our moral compass in that Jesse is prepared to do the right thing despite Walt’s approval.

Hank and Jesse had a great plan to get Walt too. Not surprising that they had such a smart plan, but still worth acknowledging on the writers part for their ability to create this story line. The part where Huell was shown the picture of Jesse was an incredible addition and well done on every part. It was a simple idea that brought together Walt’s biggest failure.

Walt fell into the trap. As unexpected as it is that Walt fell for it, Hank and Jesse’s plan was very well thought out and it makes sense that Walt would fall for it. It is unfortunate to see a character we loved so much in the beginning fall to such a level. His main redeeming quality of the episode was when he tried to call off Todd’s uncle from coming to kill Jesse. That was the Walt we once knew and loved. The Walt that we understood in the beginning of the series for getting into the cooking business in the first place.

Bryan Cranston, as usual, is phenomenal in this entire episode. Especially at the end, when you can truly see how torn Walt is between his personal safety and victory as opposed to that of his family. You can see how difficult that decision was for Walt to hang up the phone on Todd’s cousin. For the audience, this seemed like a redeeming quality for Walt. It reminds us that at his very core, Walt is a good human being. He wants what is best for his family, and did not want to destroy the family that he had already caused so much harm to.

After some minor banter between Walt, Jesse, Hank, and Agent Gomez, guess who comes to join the party? Todd, his uncle, and the entire gang of hitmen come as Walt had originally intended. At this point, Jesse and Walt are in their respective cars, and there is nothing that Walt can do because he is handcuffed in a car from which he cannot escape.

Naturally, the shooting begins. After a solid two minutes of just hearing gunfire, we are left to wonder about what will come next. Who is dead and who is alive? I think it’s obvious that Agent Gomez is dead. He didn’t serve much substance as a character, and it was be an easy cop out for the writers if he was killed off. Considering Gilligan and the rest of the writers really don’t like when people have a happy ending, it would be logical that Hank also ends up dead from the shooting. Also, in the event that Hank does die, the amount of drama to pursue from that is going to be ridiculous. How will Marie react? Will she try to console in Skyler, or flea away?

Assuming that, all that is left is Walt and Jesse. Walt is obviously alive, as we know from the moments they show us in the future. But is Jesse dead? On a personal level, I really hope not, because Jesse is one of my favorite characters. On a level that will create a lot of story and drama for the show, it is hard to tell what will come of Jesse’s character.

All I have to say is that Vince Gilligan continues to win at creating one of the best shows on TV, and I am excited to see what happens next week.

By Michelle Joline

Arts & Life Editor

Along with shows like “Mad Men” and “Playboy Club,” “Pan Am” is just another addition to 1960s-era shows dominating television this season.  With a bad economy and a lack of job security, today’s generation is looking for some much-needed comfort in a “simpler time.” We are living vicariously through these characters who travel the world in just one hour of network time.

There has been much media excitement over “Pan Am’s” premier, focused on whether or not it would meet expectations. It does not disappoint. The series premiered Tuesday, Sept. 25, and fans are already anticipating the next episode. Some predicted the show to be a flighty interpretation of the classic and stereotypical life of a Pan Am flight attendant, but within the first few minutes of its running time we realized this is not the case. There is mystery entwined into the lives of the stewardesses the show is pictured around, making the show more like a mini-series than the average sitcom.

Christina Ricci, the face of the new series, plays Maggie, an atypical hippie Pan Am flight attendant. The first episode is not entirely about Maggie, which comes as a surprise given Ricci’s importance in the show’s current promotional advertisements. This was a wise direction since the ensemble of characters makes for a more dramatic and satisfying adaption.

This is the type of series that will get you hooked and leave you waiting for next week’s episode to air.

Interested in “flying” with “Pan Am?” You can catch the next episode at 10 p.m. this Sunday.

By Courtney Flagg

Editor-in-Chief

The most anticipated season premiere of the fall was the fan-favorite and Ryan Murphy brainchild “Glee.” To be completely honest, the season premiere didn’t blow me away. Yes, it was cutesy and full of show tunes and Sue Sylvester’s hilarious and politically incorrect one-liners. But the episode had very little substance. It seemed to serve more as a filler and preview of promising things to come than a real great episode. So when Glee ended at 9 p.m. and I was left wanting more, I was pleasantly surprised by Fox’s new series “New Girl.”

The premise is simple: a freshly single Jess (Zooey Deschanel) becomes the new roommate to three bachelors who are not at all competent in dealing with women. The show starts with Jess riding in a taxi in only a trench coat, ready to engage in some surprise sex with her boyfriend, only to find out that he’s been cheating on her. After this traumatic experience, and sick of sleeping on her model friend Cece’s (Hannah Simone) couch, she takes matters into her own hands and moves in with three “guy’s guys,” Schmidt (Max Greenfield), Coach (Damon Wayans Jr.) and Nick (Jake M. Johnson).

I knew this show was a winner when Coach and Nick made Schimdt put money into their communal “Douchebag Jar” after he makes an arrogant and idiotic comment about how “ladies love the Schimdt.” The show also impressed me with its accuracy in portraying both the obvious and subtle intricacies of both male and female behavior. Of course this idea isn’t revolutionary. How many times have we seen TV shows where guy and girl roommates engage in various shenanigans? This show comes with something different. Like its main character, “New Girl” is quirky, funny and quite the breath of fresh air. The pilot showcases the witty writing and the actors’ clever performances, all of which add to the show’s culturally relevant theme of the sexual politics between men and women.

Congratulations, Fox, you’ve made a fan out of me.

By Ryan Costello

Writer

On Sunday we saw Vince and the gang of the popular HBO series “Entourage” fly off into the sunset for the final time. The series finale tied up some loose ends but also created a few new paths for fans to think about, possibly opening the opportunity for a movie.

For those who have never seen “Entourage,” it is a series about the Hollywood life of A-list actor Vince and his entourage: Vince’s manager Eric, Vince’s half-brother Johnny Drama, and C-list actor Turtle, Vince’s driver and entrepreneur.

The guys all grew up together in Queens and are trying to find their way through Hollywood. The other main part of the show centers around Ari Gold, Vince’s agent and friend, and his rise to the top of his industry.  A main theme throughout the entire series is the friendship between the guys: no matter what happens between them, they always have each other’s backs.  The series takes place in Hollywood and is centered around the lifestyle of an A-list actor, so “Entourage” has featured many big stars in cameo roles as themselves.  Among the best appearances were Matt Damon throwing an uproarious temper tantrum and Turtle’s messing with Tom Brady.

The series finale had Vince getting married, Eric getting back together with his ex-fiancée, and Ari also getting back together with his wife who was about to divorce him. Overall, the series finale was a little rushed–everything happened too quickly and too conveniently. This episode lacked any real closure, but that is consistent with what the series has been. It has been mostly about  guys being guys in Hollywood, who that won’t change no matter where they go. The end implies that they are just going to keep on going, doing what they’ve been doing.

The series as a whole has been an inside look at how celebrities live on a day-to-day basis, and the types of problems they deal with. That is what has kept me tuning in to see the show, even in the last few seasons.  I wanted to see how the friendships between the characters change, even as some of the Hollywood elements have died out. After all, the guys seem just like normal guys thrust into the glamour of Hollywood.

While I did not find this episode to be indicative of the entire series, I’m glad the series ended this way. Entourage has been on the decline the past few seasons. I’m still sad to see Vince and the gang fly off into the sunset, but it was about time.

By Michelle Joline

Writer

MTV has fostered the birth of reality TV for the past few decades, with the fame of shows like “The Real World” and “Laguna Beach” feeding off popular demand. These programs have showed what viewers consider to be realistic portrayals of society, and MTV perpetuates this tradition with the hit show the “Jersey Shore.”

The final episode of the show’s third season aired this past Thursday. Viewers greeted the completion of the third season with sadness. Critics, who predicted the show to be a flop in its first season, remain surprised by its success.  The not-so-realistic portrayal of New Jersey’s shoreline features eight New Jersey “locals” spending their summer months in Seaside Heights, N.J. To the dismay of many fans, only two cast members, Sammi and Deena, are true New Jersey natives. The premise seems ridiculous, but the show managed to break records with 5.3 million viewers tuning in in its second season and 8.87 million in its third season. The reality show incorporates the lives of these eight people as they live and party at the shore for an entire summer, but what contributes to show’s growing popularity?

Perhaps the extreme personalities that cause the many catfights and blow-ups attract most of its viewers. Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi seems to have gained the greatest success since the premiere, becoming a New York Times bestselling author and a well-known character. She has consistently sold her image as a “Jersey girl” since the first episode and has successfully proven herself to be an entrepreneur. The fiery New Yorker brings comedic relief as romantic turmoil suffocates the greater part of the one-hour time slot, with Sammi and Ronnie’s romance crumbling throughout the past three seasons.

Ordinarily, a show based on “GTL,” or “gym, tanning, laundry,” would not seem like an interesting premise for a hit TV show to executives at production companies, but as the economy falls, the production of reality TV rises. After many network budget cuts, reality TV has become even more popular due to its economical production without a need for expensive sets and actors. Luckily for network executives, shows like “Jersey Shore“ are just as popular as other hit series that air on NBC and Fox.

MTV executives are not the only ones basking in the benefits of the hit show; it has attracted attention to New Jersey, but many natives don’t feel that it is the best representation of the Garden State. Despite complaints from shore locals, the rise in tourism the show’s fame has caused is a welcome relief during the economic crisis.

As the success of the show continues to heighten, so does that of the show’s cast members, who get to shoot their fourth season in Italy. The new location will be playing off of the show’s Italian stereotype, adding just a little more intrigue and plotline to their upcoming episodes. The airing date has not yet been set, but the time remaining before it airs leaves just enough time for its viewers to realize they can’t live without these reality stars.

By Laura Crowley

Arts & Life Editor

“The Biggest Loser” has gained immense popularity nationwide while raising awareness about the poor health of our nation. Now in its 11th season, trainers Bob Harper, Jillian Michaels, Brett Hoebel and Cara Castronuova are helping 24 more obese Americans shed hundreds of pounds with the hopes of inspiring the greater overweight American population.

Producers have designed the show such that these obese contestants compete for the $250,000 grand prize. As the show’s format fosters drama-laden episodes, it has raised controversy among health experts who question the intentions of the producers. One such expert, Dr. Charles Burant, finds the show “exploitative” as producers “are taking poor people who have severe weight problems” and shifting their focus towards “trying to win the quarter-million dollars.”

With the show’s competitive format comes painstaking game playing between contestants as they attempt to lose or gain weight to some competitive end. In episode 12 of this season, Kaylee “threw the weigh-in” by losing no weight because she felt it was her time to sacrifice her place on the show to protect heavier players, such as her father, who may have a better shot at winning the whole competition.

Such competitive strategy undoubtedly stokes drama between players and trainers. In week 12, Hoebel excited audiences by openly losing his temper as he reminded contestants that “game play” is not constructive toward achieving weight loss and long-term health.

While such actions make for exciting episodes, they paint over the heart and good intentions that try to shine through each episode. When Arthur was sent home at a life-threatening 390 pounds due to greedy game-playing in week nine, hopes of such “heart” were completely lost and a sense of injustice was left. Host Allison Sweeny expressed this injustice with her first tear shed in “Biggest Loser” history.

This sense of unfairness was expressed in the first contestant to be sent home. In week one, Ana was sent home when her nine-pound weight loss could not hold its ground next to the steep weight losses of her competitors. On the Today Show, Ana expressed that she felt her elimination was unfair as she left before she had any knowledge of diet and exercise. As a result of her elimination, she says has had very limited success at home.

Perhaps more frustrating than competitive game play is the advertisements that are forcibly interwoven into dialogue throughout the show. Any fan of the show knows well that Subway, Brita, Ziploc, Extra Gum and Gortons are all sponsors of the show from the several staged scenes that promote these brands. “Biggest Loser” fan Reilly Price ’13 says she knows advertisements are coming on “when the scene becomes brighter and cheesy music comes on.”

The promotion of health and well-being on “The Biggest Loser” is refreshing and relevant. In 2009, 63% of Americans were overweight or obese, and related health costs soared into the billions. In past seasons, Michaels and Harper have made this very clear with their catch phrase “Well America, you did it. You hit rock bottom.” It is my hope that this message is blunt enough to pierce through the show’s twisted design.

By Katie Monigan

Arts & Life Editor

This season of House is decidedly different from the last, and it’s a refreshing change.

Last season, House struggled with addiction issues, and the people around him were especially timid, even after he returned to work.

This season, he’s mostly back to his old, grumpy self, minus the Vicodin.  What makes things much more interesting is that House’s circumstances have changed yet again. He is finally sleeping with Cuddy (after season upon season of sexual tension) even though she now has a toddler. His addiction drama is gone, and it’s back to the usual medical oddities.

In the most recent episode, Cuddy asks House to help care for her daughter and has him babysit one evening. He orders Chinese food, and when he and Wilson argue outside for a minute or two, they come back inside to find her eating the change. In another medical case, a woman with two types of cancer passes it on to her newborn, but House is constantly concerned with whether or not his neglect will kill Cuddy’s daughter.

Earlier this season, Thirteen left work, claiming to be entering a clinical trial for Huntington’s disease. She never actually went, and the team has no idea where she actually is. House decides to replace her with a new female doctor but so far, none has been accepted.

The two main sources of conflict this season, House’s relationship with Cuddy and the disappearance of Thirteen, are much more entertaining than those of the past. The medical mysteries are as interesting as ever, and the writing is still clever. Despite the negative changes last season, the new season has a tone reminiscent of very early episodes of House, and considering its former success, this current season is sure to be successful as well.