I’m Baaack! Unfortunately?

I say “unfortunately” because I much prefer not being obsessed with a television show.  During its hiatus, I’d lost my obsession with Outlander.  That always makes me happy because it makes life much more normal.  But the show returned this past week, and after just one episode, I find I’m immersing myself in the videos, chats, and podcasts I’d come to know last year.

The Frasers arrive in France.

You may realize I haven’t been excited enough about this season’s television shows to write about them.  I still watch the same shows,  The Flash, iZombie, Agents of SHIELD, Arrow, and Supernatural , but I’ve taken to deleting episodes immediately after I’ve watched them.  The one exception is Supernatural, of which I still have nine episodes on my DVR to rewatch.  (And yet I haven’t rewatched them.)

I know I’m in trouble with Outlander because yesterday I charged up my wireless headphone and earbuds in order to listen to various podcasts with freedom of movement.  But I knew I was really in trouble when my Outlander thoughts kept me from falling asleep.

I’d just seen an interview with Sam Heughan being asked if he could take away one prop from season 2, which would it be.  He replied, “The bump.”  (If you don’t know what he’s taking about, watch the Starz offical season 2 trailer.) That got me thinking about which props I’d want to have; and I started going through each episodes, one by one, trying to decide which prop I’d take.  I’ve made a list, but you’ll have to wait until next time.

Also next time?  What I liked and didn’t like about Outlander‘s season 2 premiere.  And then, maybe, those Supernatural episodes waiting to be rewatched.

Where are those recaps?

I blame Downton Abbey.  And February.  Gosh, I find all sorts of things to blame for my laziness.

Downton Abbey: blessing or curse?

Actually, I’m making a few changes.  First of all, I won’t be covering Merlin anymore.  I’ve had a hard time getting interested in the story this year.  So after a few weeks of trying to get up the energy to even watch an episode, I’ve decided to drop it from the lineup.

Secondly, I’ve been on a Downton Abbey kick.  I’m not sure why, given that I think it’s quite overrated.  But like many things that aren’t good for you, I’ve become hooked.  And like that car wreck on the highway, I can’t look away.

So, this is just a long-ish way of saying I’ll be back with reviews for Supernatural and Dragons: Riders of Berk later this week.  And next week I’ll get caught up with Once Upon a Time.

One other thing.  You may have noticed I changed my rating scheme from 5 stars to 4 stars.  I found 5 stars gave me too many choices, not a good thing for someone as indecisive as I.  Also, sometimes the star ratings are not properly sized.  If that’s the case, just refresh your browser.  (In the meantime, I’ll be troubleshooting.)

Last Resort: Damn the Torpedoes (111)

Full steam ahead.  (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

Sam is mean.  Chaplin is mad.  Admiral Shepard is out!  Ernie Hudson is in!!

Merlin: Arthur’s Bane, Part 1 (501)

This is to be Merlin‘s final season.  There could be much to look forward to, but unfortunately I read comments from the UK viewers, who’ve already finished the series.

King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, and the Round Table

Season 5 opens three years after the end of season 4.   These have apparently been Camelot’s golden years, which I guess means this season will deal with the downfall of Arthur. I suppose it makes for more drama, but I’d like to have seen at least a smidgeon of paradise.

I don’t care for these “epic” two part season openers and finales that have become the norm for Merlin in the past three years.  But I suppose it’s fitting, given the darker course the series has taken.

The Five Most Facinating Characters

The end of the year brings with it a plethora of “best of” and “worst of” lists, and SciFi Chick(s) is not above such frivolity.  But instead of the mundane “best and worst of,” how about a look at some of the most intriguing characters on sci fi television?

Rating Dragons, part 2

[We still have no votes for Once Upon a Time‘s Who’s Your Baddy poll. 😦  C’mon, I know there are fans out there!  Don’t be shy.]

Now, let’s continue our rating of the Dragons: Riders of Berk episodes.

In Dragons We Trust (105)

The dumbest members of the “Dragon United Monitoring Brigade” (DUMB)

There’s a rash of vandalism on Berk, and that pesky Mildew blames it on the dragons.  Hiccup gets proof that Mildew, using dragon-like accessories, is actually the real culprit, but Mildew throws away all the evidence before Hiccup can make his accusation.

Once Upon a Time: Who’s Your Baddy?

In a world gone mad bad, who’s the baddest of them all?  With Cora and Captain Hook arriving in Storybrooke, there’ll be no shortage of baddies.  So, who will you be cheering for come 2013?

Rating Dragons, part 1

Toothless is happy the show is rated PG.

Hmm, I haven’t rated any of the Dragons: Riders of Berk episodes.  (Maybe I figured every one would be 5 stars.  But some are better than others.)  So, lets rectify that situation and give the episodes their due.  Here’s a look at the first 4 episodes, complete with stars, mini-synopses and comments.

Last Resort: Blue Water

Sam and Sophie?  So much more interesting than Sam and his wife.

It may be time to take down my Last Resort Catch-up page.  The show has only three more episodes when it returns in January, and I can’t really recommend it to anyone after the last few episodes.

“Blue Water” was a bit all over the place.  XO Sam Kendal and SEAL James King head off to Manilla in search of Sam’s wife Christine.  With the help of James’s friend, a former Navy SEAL named Wes, they find her.  This leads to  sappy love-happy Sam/Christine scenes.  Sam’s acting out of character, willing to give up everything to run away somewhere with Christine.  These two have to be the most boring couple ever.  (Yes, even worse than James and Tani.)

Last Resort: Cinderella Liberty

“Cinderella Liberty” features James King’s memories of the Pakistani mission.

This had to be one of the most distressing hours of scripted network television I’ve ever watched.  I can’t give it a rating because, by some standards it was a taut, emotional, well-acted episode.  But it was hard to get past the shock of innocent lives lost.  I’ll give the Last Resort creators credit, they aren’t afraid to push envelop.

The episode begins with the SEAL team in Pakistan, 72 hours before their rendezvous with the USS Colorado (in the series premiere).  King and Hopper are preparing to extract a nuclear scientist whose report proves there are no nuclear weapons in Pakistan.