Undercovers, new season of USA

I came a little late to the J. J. Abrams show Undercovers. But, thanks to there not being much else on in the time slot that interested me, I decided to give it a chance even though I had missed the first couple of episodes.

It is interesting that it does what Abrams' other show Fringe was supposed to do, be a show that the casual viewer could watch. He realized that as Alias went on, the show became so continuity heavy that if viewers didn't watch it from the beginning or missed part of a season, it was too dense to get into. Fringe was supposed to address that, be a bit like The X-Files in that there was an over arcing back story and continuity but succeeded on the individual week to week individual menaces. However, more and more the back story and continuity of Fringe became important to the point that this season is completely impenetrable to anyone that wasn't already following from the previous week. It's a great show, but I am one of the people watching from the beginning.
Undercovers has an easy back story that is easy to pick up and there is an underlying subplot but one that so far has not highjacked the easy to follow self-contained missions each week. This week, we actually get to see the side-kick Hoyt show he has a little more secret-agent training than just being a tech geek. It's also a fun smart show that doesn't require you to check your mind at the door such as half of the story elements of Covert Affairs.

I think what's also important is that the characters of Samantha and Steven Bloom are an attractive, smart and charismatic couple who just so happen to be African-American. Nothing about the show dictates they have to be, the show isn't written to be about race or to attract just one racial demographic. Instead it crosses boundaries, it's written to appeal to anyone that likes the genre of the show. The actors have a great chemistry together on screen and come across as a likable couple who are trying to make a marriage work but happen to carry a lot of baggage from their past and previous relationships. Only in this case it's because they both were at one time spies and have pasts that they aren't always at liberty to divulge.

So, you have a smart and action packed show that crosses boundaries. Naturally, it's been canceled with no new episodes ordered. No attempt at trying the show in a different slot, maybe airing it at two different times to see if it would do better on a different night or different time. A shame, because we could use more shows like this one. But, good shows get canceled all the time. I still miss Life.

USA's fall season has started. Last night with Psych and tonight with Burn Notice. While Psych has become more of a farce and parody than the light-hearted mystery it started off as, it is still an immensely enjoyable show. Cary Elwes was excellent reprising his role as an extremely capable gentleman art thief and a delight to watch. "Skydiving Judy Denches" indeed. More importantly was the forward movement on the possible romance between Shawn and Juliet. In some shows, such a movement is the kiss of death. But, others with shows that have extremely strong supporting casts like Friends and the recent Big Bang Theory have proven that it need not be. In fact, it can be just as dangerous to continually skirt the issue, losing all momentum and become a caricature of itself as it constantly plays out the exact same beats week in and week out. Covering new ground can help keep the show fresh just as much as it can become a jump the shark moment. In fact Friends also showed that as well with the character of Ross as he ultimately became a parody of himself, with one doomed relationship after another, never getting past the influence of Rachel on his storylines. Characters sometimes need to be allowed to grow some, and we're getting that chance with Shawn in Psych. The relationship may not work out, but it's an aspect of the characters that need to be worked out so that the story lines can move on. Now, if we can get a little bit more back to the whole solving mysteries with the illusion that it's him being psychic with light touches, a mystery show with comedic touches vs a comedy with a mystery backdrop, I'd be a very happy camper. And, I've long given up on spotting the pineapple. I never see it. Won't be until January for the return of Royal Pains unfortunately.

Hawaii 5-O has been the surprise hit for me this season. The power and chemistry between the actors and characters has really worked so I don't mind it's a total re-imagining/retconning of the original series. I don't mind that Grace Park is yet again playing a character that was originally a guy. One of the big plusses is that it makes Hawaii a part of the character of the show. It's not just simply the backdrop, but an integral part of the show. It has its own culture, history and racial mixes and the show tries to get a bit of that across. The import and impact of Pearl Harbor is part of the character of Steve McGarrett as his grandfather was (and is) on the Arizona as is his growing up there, though still considered a bit of an outsider while Danny is still a fish out of water, the mainland cop newly arrived to the island. It's more of an action show than a cop show, but it is a good and fun action show. Wish we'd see a bit more for Daniel Dae Kim to do than to be given some information gathering task that takes him off screen for most of the show. And, there are some subplot elements from the first episode that haven't been touched on since, it would be nice to see some followup there before it's all completely forgotten.

Smallville, Vampires in Hawaii?

Smallville: For the 2ooth episode, James Marsters will return to the show but not quite in the role he originally played. When before he was the recurring character of Milton Fine/Brainiac, he will now appear as Brainiac 5. As Brainiac 5 is of the Legion of Superheroes (first seen at the start of last season) and Marsters is obviously not a teen, this must be even further along the Legion's future.

For non-comic book fans, Brainiac 5 was a descendant of sorts from the Superman villain Brainiac. Only this time, he was a teen and a hero, serving with the Legion of Superheroes. Which set up an interesting time-travel wrinkle as it meant in the comics Superboy would meet Brainiac 5 before he ever heard of Brainiac. Supergirl, also a member of the Legion, would have known the villain first and recognizes the resemblance to the villain her cousin fought. The two would have a long history of time-crossed crushes.

Last week's episode with the re-appearance of Kara/Supergirl and the introduction of Glorious Godfrey was a lot of fun. Although, Godfrey was hardly glorious and flamboyant. The character should have been more along the lines of Kenneth Branagh as Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, only not as a buffoon but charmingly insidious.

We have more of the tiresome Clark's destiny to do this and not do this. Meanwhile, we see other heroes actually leading the way with Oliver going public with his identity and Kara performing superheroics in public. We need less talk about seeming pre-ordained destiny. We, as viewers, already know what Clark's destiny is, so we don't need literalizing it in the stories themselves. We're interested more in the obstacles and growth.

The end with seeing Kara in her "Linda Lee" look was a nice nod to the comics, but it manages to sabotage it as well. One, Laura Vandervoot was too made up in her disguise, too glamourous looking for a disguise that is supposed to be making her fit in. Two, Clark recognizes her right away, highlighting the ineffectiveness of such a disguise. Another nice nod was Lois trying to come up with a name for her and the first two were Supergirl and Powergirl. Powergirl is the identity of a Kara from an alternate history.

Erica Durance does a good job as Lois with what they give her. A pity it's someone that is too often a goofball and love-sick school girl instead of a competent and driven journalist. In this one episode, she violates journalist rules right and left. As they are looking back at the early seasons for the upcoming 200th episode, the writers and creators need to look at how Chloe Sullivan was written and portrayed. That passion for seeking and reporting the truth and fighting against cover-ups and corruption, that needs to be Lois Lane.

Hawaii Five-O: Finally caught these on the In-Demand channels as it normally airs opposite something else we watch. I don't remember much of the original series other than the opening theme and Jack Lord. So, I was surprised to see this is more along the lines of an action series than a cop drama set in Hawaii.

It's a fun show, with plenty of fast moving action. I've always liked Daniel Dae Kim as an actor and Grace Park is always a delight. More importantly, their characters as cousins, with Kim as the experienced but disgraced cop and Park as the fresh out of academy and surprisingly tough rookie are fun to follow and have a chemistry together that works well. Likewise, the bickering and chemistry between military intelligence McGarrett and experienced cop and father Dano Williams as played by actors Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan play well.

The only real groaners are the attempts at working in the classic "Book 'em, Dano" in every episode and how they gain the Hawaii Five-O name.

An interesting trivia, James Marsters (shown as Brainiac above) is the villain in the first episode and we see him fight against O'Loughlin's McGarrett and ultimately is set up to be possibly dead but open for a future return. Marsters' big claim to fame is his role as the initially villainous vampire Spike in the tv series Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and Angel. O'Loughlin played the heroic vampire Mick St. John in the tv series Moonlight. Maybe, we'll see other television vampires pop in.

No Ordinary Family: Still enjoying this look at a family trying to cope with powers. But, each episode tends to have a scene that bugs me. Last week it was Julie Benz running at superspeed in high heels. No wonder she tripped

This week, we get several that just throw me out of the show. Chiklis throws a man off the top of a top building and he lands on his back on top of a police car and not only does the guy survive, but he's up and walking with no problem within 24 hrs.

The the whole use of superspeed to break into a high security building, the sorta thing that works in a comic but not really when you have to portray it. And, at the end, her swapping the blood vials shows a little blurring on the security tape on just the vial swapped but not the fact that she was standing there. If it's because that particular vial was swapped, instead of a little blurring for a second, we'd just see it suddenly "jump" as its position was changed between frames.

The humor was also a bit over the top at places, with characters doing just stupid things. The stars of the week that salvaged it were the kids just trying to navigate the world of teenagers and generally acting like teenagers. The angst and humor there felt spot on and natural without being over-wrought.

Supernatural: We have the return of Misha Collins as the angel Castiel. He's not quite his charming self with the new responsibilities and restoration of powers though.

Doesn't look like Sam came back from his prison completely intact. If not for Cas not seeming to notice, I'd wonder if it was Sam at all and not a copy. In several places, it implies that Sam went to Hell like Dean did, but that wasn't really the case. We're not exactly sure what kind of place Sam went to. But, the future previews suggest an explanation is in the offering. And, when did Jared Padalecki get so buff?

Had a few problems with this episode, mainly that they seemed to forget their mission, to get the Staff of Moses, and the fact that other weapons from Heaven were stolen. They got one piece of the staff and freed one soul, but that was it after all the hoopla and build-up of how dangerous that multiple people had the pieces and other weapons were out there. I'm sure we'll see other weapons pop up, but it seemed off kilter that the reason they were there was all so conveniently forgotten at the end of the episode.

Interesting, at the Supernatural listing at IMDB, their car is listed as a character/actor.

Other shows shows: After watching two episodes of The Event, I bailed. I wasn't a big fan of Lie to Me but at least it gives something else to watch. Plus another channel has started showing this season's Bones as a second run which is great as it is on opposite other shows I like plus being on a channel that doesn't have their shows on In Demand for later viewing. $#*! My Dad Says continues to be surprisingly enjoyable and not the one-note show it so could easily have been. I wonder about the return of Tim Bagley's character and establishing him as house-keeper though. The actor and character are a riot but it's a sign of a show still trying to find itself when it adds new characters to the status quo. Hopefully, he'll be kept to a minimum and not wear out his welcome. Law & Order: UK is a worthy addition to the franchise and had more of the feel and pacing of the original than the first episode of Law & Order: Los Angeles did. Realized one of the problems I have with really getting into and keeping track of the characters in SGU Stargate Universe is that they don't use each others' names very often and add to it that there is an omnipresent brown-ness and dimness to the sets, costumes and lighting, and a whole lot of secondary and tertiary characters who are often there in scenes episode to episode but not used much. Look at other shows, you'll notice that there is usually a steady use of calling people by name, reinforcing the characters' identities throughout a show as well as references to a tag that describes the role of the character. They need to work more on truly differentiating the various characters, making each memorably stand out.