Grimm 1.6: "The Three Bad Wolves"

I suspect I'm going to start sounding like a broken record when it comes to Grimm, because seriously can this team make a subpar episode? I'm starting to think the answer is no. *wink* This episode took as its basis the story of "The Three Little Pigs," and as you might expect it provided some tantalizing insight into one of my favorite characters -- Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell), the all too "refined" for his own good blutbad. But of course no straightforward retelling of such a familiar story would do for this show, and the story of pigs withstanding an onslaught of wolf attacks is transformed into a tale of vigilantism run amuck. The centuries old feud between the big bad wolves and the bauerschwein, a.k.a. the pigs, is about to explode in Portland.  

The opening sequence is a stellar example of the artistry that goes into framing each shot of this show. The close-ups of a rather menacing face have a suspenseful, film noir-like feel to them, until they pull back and it is revealed that the character in question is more oversized teddy bear than a baddie, as evidenced by the fact that post house explosion he's more concerned about his comic book collection. Hap the blutbad has clearly hit the booze or drugs one too many times in his past -- he's so not got his life together, Nick (David Giuntoli) is shocked to learn that Hap used to be a close friend of Monroe's. I never stopped to think about it, but Monroe has clearly been exercising stellar amounts of self-control in order to contain his inner wolf. I have not given the cuddly ol' clockmaker enough credit. :P

I was actually rather horrified by Monroe's ex-girlfriend, Angelina (Jaime Ray Newman) and her sociopathic tendencies. I mean I get the whole wolf/hunter/raw meat thing, but killing for fun...that's a whole other thing entirely. I suspect that this will increasingly become the crux of Nick's involvement in the fairy tale world -- the struggle to determine attackers versus victims, to reconcile his birthright as a Grimm with the responsibilities of his job as a police officer.While I liked the introduction of Monroe's past, and the stark differences between his life now and the life on the edge that we can imagine he lived with Angelina, I do so wish she'd been played by pretty much anyone beside Newman. I have never warmed to her as an actress -- couldn't stand her on Eureka as Tess, really couldn't stand her here. *sigh*

The whole wolf/pig feud had a very Hatfield/McCoy vibe to it, and despite my antipathy towards Newman as an actress she did an excellent job reminding me of what Monroe is capable of, should he choose to unleash the beast within. I thought it was interesting that the bauerschwein on the flip side of this feud turned out to be a police officer, and is the first fairy tale creature in several episodes that hasn't recoiled in fear when they realize Nick is a Grimm. (Aside: the mud bath at the end of the episode -- completely creepy and disgusting! LOL!) Similar to the mellifers in episode three, Nick's dedication to his job seems to be placing him in the position of alienating creatures historically friendly to Nick's kind -- I'm looking forward to seeing how that plays out over the course of the show.

Considering the rapidity with which Nick is encountering and being recognized as a Grimm by creatures in all levels of the fairy tale hierarchy, I have to think it is only a matter of time before Hank (Russell Hornsby) or Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch) start to question what is exactly is going on with Nick. In the comments section of my post on episode five, Tasha posited the theory that Juliette could be a member of the fairy tale world -- that is a twist I would LOVE to see, especially since her chemistry with Nick makes her role prime for expansion on-screen. Thoughts? Perhaps she's a princess or something, only she has amnesia!! *wink*

This episode gave some fantastic depth to Monroe's character, and since the door is open to a reappearance by Angelina I expect we'll see her again at some point, testing Monroe's resolve to stay on the straight and narrow. Nick's real life and Grimm life are getting increasingly messier and intertwined, and I am loving every second of this journey. Bring on the next installment! :)

White Collar returns January 17th!

Neal and Peter, I've missed you so. Best preview I've seen for White Collar's upcoming return yet!

Pan Am 1.8: "Unscheduled Departure"

Pan Am's eighth episode aired before Thanksgiving, but given ABC's sadly erratic scheduling of this gem of a show (not doing this one any favors ABC, just sayin'!), I held off watching it to review episodes eight and nine (which aired this past Sunday) closer together. This episode was thoroughly enjoyable and highlighted one of the main reasons I fell in love with this show -- its sense of adventure and possibility, There were no spy-related shenanigans, no characters I like hooking up with the wrong people (here's looking at you, Dean, with your stupid Ginny obsession and you, Laura, with your random sailor).

This time the Clipper Majestic is headed to Caracas, only there's more than one storm brewing -- the actual hurricane they're headed towards, and the drama that will erupt among the passengers when one unexpectedly falls ill. The substitute navigator, Chuck (Matthew Rauch), was endlessly entertaining with how he got on EVERYONE'S nerves, but especially Ted's (Michael Mosley). Ted can be a cocky jerk, but over the course of the show he's slowly revealed a heart beneath the bluster. Chuck is like Ted unrestrained -- BAH. *wink* It killed me when Ted tells Chuck that Laura (Margot Robbie) is off-limits because she's waiting for Mr. Right. Seriously, Laura, you had to start the whole sleep with a random sailor thing?? Ted is RESPECTING you for your restraint. (Excuse me while I go bang my head against the wall...)

Kate (Kelli Garner) appears to have made something of a recovery from losing Niko to spying -- but curiously enough it is a kindly older passenger who gets her to thinking about what she wants from life. Henry (Harris Yulin) is flying to Caracas to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of his marriage to his beloved late wife Blanka. Henry's passion for his wife's memory seemed to suggest to Kate that her earlier passion for spying at the expense of her personal life was too costly a trade -- but maybe I read her reaction wrong? Either way, it was refreshing to see Kate as just Kate, not the spy, not the woman with the secret agenda, just someone making a meaningful connection with a passenger.

Henry's heart attack and eventual death is the stuff high melodrama is made of, but when it comes to this show I can't fault its predisposition for soap opera. For my money Pan Am does a decent job balacing the soapiness of some of its storylines with real humanity, because for all the characters may frustrate me occasionally, they are so dang likable and genuine and real. In a desperate attempt to save Henry's life, Dean (Mike Vogel) makes the call to land the plane in hurricane- and revolution-ravaged Haiti. It's a dicey situation as they run the risk of a plane full of passengers being taken hostage. Since Colette (Karine Vanasse) is a native French speaker, she and Ted take off to find a doctor -- and instead come across a desperate refugee. This sequence highlighted a couple of things I want to mention -- first, Ted can't shut up when he's nervous -- hilarious! Second, Colette is by far (at least so far, anyway) the classiest and most interesting member of this team. Her childhood under Nazi rule makes her particularly sensitive to the refugee's plight -- and her insistence on trying to save one life is admirably portrayed.

Maggie (Christina Ricci) is relegated to the background in this episode, and I can't say I mourned the loss of focus for her character. However, it is worth mentioning that I loved how the wealthy passenger (Aaron Diaz) she's charmed by at the beginning of the flight turns out to be a total, selfish, cowardly LOSER. And she recognizes his lack and calls him out on it -- the zingers she flings his way are pretty humorous.

And third -- and most important to me (HA!) -- this episode brings the electric attraction that has been simmering below the surface between Dean and Colette to the surface. Yes, FINALLY. After the plane leaves Haiti and is safely diverted to Miami, the stewardesses pull an "I am Spartacus" routine to save Colette from taking the blame for smuggling a refugee into the United States. It was a very nice touch have Kate call Richard (Jeremy Davidson) and insist that he arrange the girl's immigration papers (speaking of characters I'd like to see together, forget Niko -- ultimately I am all about Kate and Richard!). This whole episode gave Dean a chance to return to pre-Ginny form. He really is a good guy, he really is capable of being a leader (see Ted defending his decisions to Chuck!), and when Colette finally, finally kisses him at the end of the episode I may or may not have cheered. :)

Hopefully I'll have a post about episode nine up soon!

Grimm 1.5: "Danse Macabre"

Grimm is a show that is just MADE of one awesome thing after another, isn't it? Seriously, this show rocks. After being sadly absent and sorely missed due to the Thanksgiving holiday, Grimm returned last night with the first of two new episodes this week. This episode took its cue from "The Pied Piper of Hamlin," which is another fairy tale that has always rather creeped me out (hello?? charismatic stranger luring away children by the truckload??), and the Grimm writers translated the gist of the Piper's story just brilliantly into a modern-day setting. The episode opens with the murder of a strict music teacher at an exclusive prep school -- and the whole getting eaten by rats while trapped in your car thing is easily the show's grossest case yet. I'm talking Bones levels of grossness. But that aside, this show starts to depart from the formula of previous episodes, and in doing so introduces Nick (David Giuntoli) to a whole  new aspect of his life as a Grimm, namely how Grimms are perceived by those they have historically "hunted."

Prior to this episode, the fairy tale creatures Nick encountered were almost always baddies, guilty of perpetrating crimes against other creatures or regular humans who, unlike Nick, can't recognize their true nature. In this episode Nick meets Reinigen, ratlike creatures who are among the lowest of the low on the fairy tale creature "food chain." Roddy is a bullied teenage musical prodigy, kicked out of his exclusive prep school after being framed by fellow students who looked down on his blue collar antecedents. Roddy is a reinigen, from a family of the same, who all just happen to be rat catchers -- of course. I loved how the show transformed rats into social outcasts, complete with the edgy mannerisms you'd expect from...ahem...rodents. I was fascinated with the idea of making Roddy as a human "Piper" an underground DJ -- of course it is completely beyond my capacity to understand how calling yourself Retchid Kat while wearing a giant pink cat head to raves makes you cool, but whatever.

So of course based on the pattern of previous episodes, and knowing the Pied Piper storyline, I expected Roddy to be some sort of sociopath rat. I was pleasantly surprised by the way the show subverted those expectations, by making those who'd bullied Roddy the guilty party, having staged the disgusting prank that (accidentally) killed their teacher. It brought to mind the warning from Nick's aunt, that as a Grimm he as to hunt down the bad ones. The reinigen are textbook examples of creatures who are easily victimized in the creature world. As are the hamsters, or whatever it was the refrigerator repairman transformed into when he saw Nick at his home (that was a hilarious scene!). Both encounters introduce Nick to the reality that some of the Grimm-creatures he's going to meet will fear him just because of who he is, not because of anything he's done. I hope the show reveals either more Grimms or delves into Nick's family history -- that could be fascinating!

This episode was a nice break from the more mythology-heavy introductory episodes this season. It was chock-full of the humor and chills I've come to expect from this show, and a great example of how Grimm can deliver an enjoyable, interesting hour featuring an investigation that  is turned on its head by a fairy tale, sans the Grimm mythology the show has been working to establish. (And I've enjoyed that, just to be clear -- but this episode is a great indicator of the longevity the show's concept is capable of sustaining.)

My favorite part of this episod was when Nick asks Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) to meet with Roddy, creature to creature, to try and convince the teen that despite the fact Nick is a Grimm he doesn't mean Roddy any harm. Any scene with Monroe is guaranteed to be an episode highlight, and Mitchell delivers in spades here. I like how Monroe seems to really enjoy shocking fellow fairy tale creatures by revealing that yes, he IS in fact on friendly terms with Nick the Grimm. His "pep talk" to Roddy is an exercise in self-help hilarity -- the blutbad and the rat whisperer. LOL!

I also thoroughly enjoyed the continuing "buddy chemistry" between Nick and Hank (Russell Hornsby), especially when Nick surprises Hank with a rubber rat squeaky toy in their pizza box -- that moment had me rolling. I think it is interesting how Hank subtly envies Nick's relationship with Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch). His longing for a relationship opens the door for Captain Renard (Sasha Roiz) to send the witch woman Adalind Schade (Claire Coffee) in his path. Which brings up the whole question again of who the heck is Renard? Some sort of hexenbiest pimp (ewww, right?)?? ENQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW. And speaking of Juliette, this episode starts to play with the idea that given Nick's "Grimm aura" she's going to start suspecting that something is up with her boyfriend -- all that remains is to figure out when she'll start asking serious questions, and will Nick own up to his secret life or lie, blowing up his happy home life?? Oh the possibilities... :)

Grimm returns tonight with another new episode -- NBC is seriously spoiling fans this week! I'd love to hear your thoughts on Grimm's return!

Oskar the Blind Cat

My uncle sent me a link to an article and video about a kitten and its owners in his area that have become something of a internet sensation. Oskar the cat was born without eyes, but that certainly hasn't stopped this little guy from living life to the fullest. I am such a cat person, I have to admit that watching these videos brought tears to my eyes -- this little guy is amazing! Click here to read the news article about Oskar and his owners, and here are some of his videos --

Oskar and his first toys:



Oskar versus the hair dryer:



Oskar and the Christmas tree:

Review: Single Sashimi by Camy Tang

Single Sashimi (Sushi Series #3)
By: Camy Tang
Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN: 978-0-310-27400-1

About the book:

Venus Chau is determined to start her own game development company and launch the next Super Mario-sized phenomenon. However, she needs an investor to back her idea. When Drake Yu, an old nemisis, approaches Venus with a contracting opportunity at his sister's startup, the offer tempts Venus to think the unthinkable.

Venus would rather throw away her PS3 than work for Drake again...but then Grandma bribes Venus to do this favor for Drake's wealthy family. With the encouragement of her three cousins, Lex, Trish, and Jennifer, Venus discovers that even a wounded heart can undergo a beautiful transformation...

Review:

Venus, the business-minded, career-driven "sushi" cousin, has a life most people would envy - she's drop-dead gorgeous, makes good money, and is brilliant to boot. As her close-as-sisters cousins begin to find love and settle down, her life on the career fast-track begins to feel as though it's lacking something. It doesn't help that her devotions time has become rote, just one more item to squeeze into a packed day. Venus has struggled for years to be taken seriously in the male-dominated gaming industry, since she's often overlooked for promotion or seen as only "eye" candy, particularly since her dramatic weight loss. When Drake, a charismatic former boss, offers her a high-profile, temporary job plus help starting her own gaming company, Venus is torn. If she can overcome her latent insecurities and give Drake a chance to prove himself, she might just discover that this God appointed chance at love is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity she can't micro-manage or schedule...

Single Sashimi is chock-full of Camy Tang's trademark humor and spiritual insights that also made the first two novels in the Sushi Series such enjoyable reads. It's particularly fun watching the always proper Venus get taken entirely out of her comfort zone (like volunteering to work with a wild church youth group). As her life spirals out of control, Venus gradually rediscovers her identity in Christ and the joy of surrendering every aspect of her life to God. It's a hard call to make, but I think Drake is my favorite hero of the series - his reintroduction to Venus took my breath away. His transformation from driven, amoral exec to sensitive, growing believer is realistic and compelling. The tension between Venus and Drake practically crackles with electricity - she doesn't know what to make of him, and he's more than up to the task of overcoming her prickly armor.

Tang excels at creating very real characters. Over the course of three books, these four cousins are so real they've grown to feel like friends, and their journeys of faith and self-discovery are challenging and thought-provoking. The Sushi Series is smartly written and the characters are unforgettably real, the novels striking a delicate balance between thoroughly enjoyable escapism and life-changing, thought-provoking truths. I can't wait for Camy's next book!

******

My final review of Camy Tang's Sushi Series, originally published in September 2008.

Great Expectations trailer

Thanks to Gina from Dickensblog for posting this trailer! This new miniseries version of Great Expectations will be airing on Masterpiece in April.

Review: Only Uni by Camy Tang

Only Uni (Sushi Series #2)
By: Camy Tang
Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN: 978-0-310-27399-8

About the book:

Senior biologist Trish Sakai is ready for a change from her wild, flirtatious behavior. So Trish creates three simple rules from First and Second Corinthians and plans to follow them to the letter. No more looking at men as possible dates, especially non-Christians. Second, tell others about Christ. And third, she will persevere in hardship by relying on God. And just to make sure she behaves, she enlists the help of her three cousins -- Lex, Venus, and Jennifer -- the only Christians in their large extended family.

But Trish's dangerously tempting ex-boyfriend, Kazuo the artist, keeps popping up at all the wrong moments, and her grandmother, who has her eye on his family money, keeps trying to push the two of them back together again. Then there's Spencer, the hunky colleague at work who keeps turning Trish's thoughts in the wrong direction.

It just isn't fair! She's trying so hard, but instead of being God's virtuous woman, she's going nuts trying to stand firm against two hunky guys. Trish thought following her three rules would be a cinch, but suddenly those simple rules don't seem so simple at all.

Review:

Trish, next in line to inherit her family's title of "oldest single female cousin" now that Lex (from Sushi for One?) has a boyfriend, wants to take control of her life. Her wild, flirtatious behavior has left her unfulfilled and alienated her cousins and best friends, but most devasting of all has created a chasm between her and the Lord. Her desire for a turning point hits an all-time high when she discovers that her father's having an affair, her mother has a heart attack, and her control-freak Grandma keeps throwing Kazuo, her too-tempting (not to mention non-Christian) ex-boyfriend in her path. More than anything, Trish wants to feel pure before God again, but she doesn't know how He and her long-suffering cousins can possibly accept that her desire for change is real and genuine after witnessing so many failures. To prove her resolve, she creates three rules to follow from First and Second Corinthians - 1) no more looking at guys as potential date material, especially non-Christians, 2) witness to others about Christ, and 3) persevere and rely on God. However, her three simple rules turn out to be not so simple after all when Kazuo, bolstered by her grandmother's support, becomes temptingly considerate and attentive and handsome work colleague Spenser proves to be an irritatingly attractive distraction. With two temptingly handsome guys with vastly different motives pursuing her, can Trish ever hope to stick to her rules and transform her life?

I absolutely loved Lex's story in Sushi for One?, and couldn't imagine how Camy could possibly top that novel with a sequel - especially one that focused on cousin Trish, who I found to be rather self-centered and unlikable. However, Tang reveals that underneath Trish's bravado and occasionally flaky exterior is a heart full of hurt and confusion - having gone so far and given away so many pieces of herself, Trish doubts if she can ever be redeemed. Only Uni takes the strengths of its predecessor - the family dymanic, the snappy dialogue, the yummy food *wink*, and a sensitively handled spiritual thread - and deftly tackles the issue of a "backsliding" believer's journey into grace. Trish's desperate search for redemption and change, while liberally peppered with humorous episodes, is one of the most moving portrayals of God's grace that I've ever read. Tang's characters are so real they practically leap living and breathing from the page. Their emotions are so real you'll want to cry with them when they hurt, laugh out loud at their nutty escapades, and rejoice with their successes. Camy is one of the funniest authors I've ever read, but she balances humor like few can with healthy doses of real issues and emotional depth. I can't wait to read the prickly Venus's story in Single Sashimi, releasing in September. Bravo to Camy for delivering another winner!

******

This review is another one from the archives, originally written in March 2008.