Fringe: Season 4 Episode 3 - Alone in the World

Hello Fringe freaks and welcome back!  We got another solid episode last night, but I'll admit that it was a little weirder than usual.  I know, calling a Fringe episode "weird" is actually a compliment, right?  The mythology advancing material was great and we got a nice tidbit of information of what caused Peter to not exist in this world, but the case of the week was just flat out bizarre!  I can see where they were trying to tie this to the current themes running through the show, but it was still weird!  That all being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed myself and I'm going to enjoy every moment of Fringe while I can.  I'm just not sure how FOX is going to respond to the ratings it's getting.  The ratings did increase 8% this week, but had dropped 20% the week before, so we're still down.  The 2 things it has going for it is that it's not alone with suffering in the ratings (they're down across the board) and the show is still a critical/cult favorite with strong DVR numbers.  (So maybe that's 4 things??)  I think most of us would agree, it's time to get Peter back on the show.  Based on the final moment of this episode, they seem to be promising that it's going to be in the imminent future!  So with all of that said, let's get on with the recap!

Terra Nova: Season 1 Episode 3 - Instinct

Hello prehistoric bird watchers, welcome to Terra Nova - Comedy Edition!  I can't even sugarcoat it folks. That was one painful episode of television to endure.  I know, you don't usually hear this coming from the "I love everything I write about!" blogger.  But, I never had to endure the first post-pilot episode of Terra Nova before tonight either!  I guess they realized that they spent all of their budget for 2 seasons worth of episodes in that pilot, and this is what we get in return for the 3rd hour?  Yikes.  A lot less action and a lot more of the cheese that we were willing to overlook last week.  Don't get me wrong, I was laughing the entire hour, but it was for all of the wrong reasons.

The minute that Jim and the Mrs. were getting interrupted from their "night-time festivities", I think we all could have figured out how the episode was going to end!  But, don't let me spoil the big twist ending for you guys! We'll get there in due time.  A fair warning to all of you hardcore Terra Novians out there, there is no way that I can recap this episode in any kind of serious way.   I am aware that there are going to have to be episodes like this scattered across the 12 episode order of season 1, and I am optimistic that they will counter-balance episodes like this with more mythology expanding episodes.  But when we stumble upon a stinker like this one, there is only so much that I can say!   So, with that in mind, let's get to it!

Fringe Season 4: Episode 2 - One Night in October

Hello Fringe freaks!  Welcome back as we continue to delve into season 4.  The 2nd episode, for me, was no less awesome than the premiere.  In fact, I think it gave us a better look at how season 4 is going to continue to play out.  Both universes working together on cases, relationships developing between alternate selves and of course figuring out what is going on with Peter Bishop!  What I find continuously awesome about this show is that the episode's case of the week will often seem to be a stand-alone case but then by the end the overall theme of the case ties strongly into the current overarching themes of the show.  And surprisingly, the show didn't get overly cheesy having Anna Torv playing two roles against each other for a majority of the episode.  Gotta love having a nice special effects budget!  Anyway, the episode gets another WOW from me and let's move on to the recap!

Terra Nova: Season 1 Episodes 1 & 2 - Genesis

Hello friends and welcome to the next blogging experiment!  That's right kids, we're gonna give this crazy Terra Nova show a shot right here at the TV Addicts Blog.  We're going to see how everyone responds to the show in the ratings, on the blog and judge my personal enjoyment of the show on a week to week basis and see if it is indeed worth the trouble.  But, right out of the bat, I gotta say that I highly enjoyed the 2 hours we got to spend in Terra Nova and with the Shannon family and crew.  There is no doubt that the production levels are right on par and probably exceed those of the pilot of our favorite show LOST.  Both had similar high budgets and fancy locales to shoot in (Hawaii vs. Australia).  I won't compare the acting just yet, as we need to see if this cast evolves over time!  Anyway, Terra Nova's pilot was a high octane drama that planted the seeds for some crazy conflicts, big reveals and opened the doors to a family audience.  Yes, this does mean that there were plenty of opportunities for intentional cheesy dialogue.  But, the lines never went past a chuckle for me and my eyes remained unrolled for most of the 2 hours!  My worry is that they spent so long on this pilot episode (2 years was it?) that they won't be able to keep the thrills up on a weekly basis.  But maybe most of that time was working out the kinks in order to be able to provide the thrills consistently.  We'll just have to wait and see.  But for the Series Premiere, I say bravo and bring me some more!

As with most series premieres, I tend to not do a traditional recap as we are just being introduced to characters, there is a bit of world building and just hints of conflicts to come.  There isn't enough information to start the mad theorizing just yet.  Plus, it was 2 hours and I just can't see me writing a full fledged recap for a 2 hour series premiere of a show that none of us are THAT invested in quite yet!  So, let's see how the recap goes and we'll see what it evolves into over the coming weeks!  Join me after the jump!

Fringe: Season 4 Episode 1 - Neither Here Nor There

Hello Universe Hoppers and Alternate Timeline lovers!  Welcome back for another season of Fringe recapping!  I, for one, am thrilled that it's back!  I lifted the restrictions on the use of this word in last season's finale and I still feel confident that I made the right choice.  WOW!!!!  Fringe has returned and his not skipped a beat.  They left us with one of the most mind-boggling cliffhangers in TV history and it looks like they're going to keep us in a bit of suspense for a little while longer.  That said, they did alleviate some of the tension for fans who were scared that one of the cast members may have been erased from the cast permanently.  And they did this quite quickly.  It was never a question for me, for a lot of us.  Ever since that cliffhanger, I've been just trying to figure out HOW they'd bring him back.  Surely, there would have to be some loophole that would trigger memories.  And, while it's a bit more complicated than that, that would certainly seem to be the route they're going.

So, it's been a long summer and we're back in full force for the new blogging season.  If you missed some key announcements that I made that could affect future blogging in 2012, please take a look at this post.  And stay tuned to the end credits for information on my other blogging ventures this year!   Enough commercials, let's get to the recap!!

Fall 2011 Television Season is Here! My Blogging/Viewing Plans.

Hello fellow blog readers!  Welcome to the new television season!  An exciting time to be sure.  And, I have not changed in my commitment to provide in-depth recap/discussions on some of our favorite shows (and potentially comedic recaps on new shows that never quite captured our attention).  We have had some successes (LOST, Fringe, Walking Dead) and some blunders (FlashForward, The Event) but I think we've found a way to find the fun in all of our adventures.  I aim to continue that goal in our new television season.  There are tons of new shows to look forward to but I am only one person with growing responsibilities outside of blogging.  So, I have chosen a select few shows to venture onward with.  And I will list them very soon.  But first...a big announcement!!

ANNOUNCEMENT:
I thought the TV Addicts family would like to know that Mrs. TV Addict and I are expecting a Jr. TV Addict-in-training to arrive early this January!  As you can imagine, we are beyond excited!  And, I'm sure many of you are probably excited for us.  But, maybe there's a hint of worry about how this will impact the blogging come 2012.  And honestly, I can tell you that I have no idea but I can imagine DRAMATICALLY!  In the below blog entry, you will see I have committed to quite a bit of recapping.  That said, after my years of dedication to having TIMELY recaps maybe everyone will understand if there are some delays in the new year.  Afterall, I will be training my eventual blogging replacement!  In all seriousness, anyone that knows me by now probably knows that I will have a problem quitting discussing TV.  So, the timing of blog posts may change but I'm sure I'll find a way to talk about SOMETHING every now and then.  So let's approach that with a "wait and see" approach!  And for now, I'll accept your congratulations! (just kidding)

Okay, enough with the announcement of important "REAL LIFE changing" events, let's get on to TV discussion!  After the jump, I will discuss the new shows I will be recapping and the returning shows that I will be resuming the recaps.  And then, I thought I'd talk a bit about the shows that I will be watching and the shows that I love but just do not have time to blog (but would be HAPPY to discuss at any time).  Here goes nothing!

Highlights from Comic-Con 2011 for Fringe, LOST, The Walking Dead, Alcatraz

Hello TV Addicts!  How have you been enjoying your summers?  I've been resting my weary fingers from the onslaught of TV blogging last season.  I thought I'd be writing some tidbits here and there about Breaking Bad, Rescue Me and the other summer shows I've been watching but I always forget how much I enjoy taking these little hiatuses!  It recharges my batteries for the fall!  Anyway, one thing I do miss is the annual Comic-Con updates I used to post from the LOST panels.  Ironically, LOST returned to comic-con this year in the form of Entertainment Weekly's panel with a few pleasant surprises.  Fringe made a nice showing and I have found the videos on YouTube to share with everyone!  The Alcatraz pilot was premiered at Comic-Con and all of the JJ Abrams nuts showed up in full force and support.  (mostly positive reviews from what I can gather)   And The Walking Dead premiered a 4 minute trailer of the new season which will premiere in mid-October.  Lots of exciting TV coming our way!  Definitely much more at Comic-Con than these few shows but it's what I'll be focusing on below.  Hope you enjoy!