“Living your myopic lives? Okay, cool.” – Andy
Pop Thruster
Your pop culture afterburner – fueling obsessive pop culture projects and deeply opinionated coverage of TV, movies, and music.
Weeds, “Synthetics”: high time for crime
“I’m sorry, you might want to go away because I don’t like you, and I have a bad habit of losing things I don’t like in fires.” – Zoya
Weeds, “Qualitative Spatial Reasoning”: Botwin versus Botwin
“Demitri makes me nervous. He makes me feel short, and sleight. I kind of want to touch his bicep – like once – why is that?” – Andy
Weeds, “Pinwheels and Whirligigs”: love is like a roller coaster, baby, baby
“I could be a carny.” – Doug Wilson
Weeds, “Only Judy Can Judge”: family dinner, round two
Nancy’s recovery seems to set the tone for the final season of Weeds.
Weeds, “Object Impermanence”: ganja garden
“You’re in Humboldt, now – where property laws say I can defend my land against any and all aggressors, trespassers, and interloping-nightmare-b—-es from the past!” – Heylia James
Weeds, “Gentle Puppies”: squandered potential
Not even Zack Morris can save this.
Weeds, “Game-Played”: try again, fail better
“I can be a real person, I can, I’ve been one before. It was… good.” – Nancy
Weeds, “From Trauma Cometh Something”: the Botwins and their drama momma
“Sure, maybe she possibly, let’s say probably, fled from us. Who in this room hasn’t fled? It’s a family flaw.” – Andy
Weeds, “Fran Tarkenton”: last minute change of travel arrangements
“Who killed Pilar Zuazo?” – Vaughn
Weeds, “Fingers Only Meat Banquet”: dig up roots, replant
“Gather ye balls! Don’t just sit on ’em, show ’em to the world!” – Charles
Weeds, “Do Her/Don’t Do Her”: fade-out. gunshot.
“He had it figured out; only thing that was important to him was the happiness of the people he loved. And he had a mini-fridge — he was a visionary. Or a possible diabetic.”
— Andy
Weeds, “Dearborn-Again”: Mr. Holland’s dope-us
“Ohhhh, a strip club. I’ll put my sweatpants on!” – Doug Wilson
Weeds, “Cats! Cats! Cats!”: plans up in smoke
Deep into Season Seven, the many machinations play out.
Weeds, “Bags”: learn to trust, then you’ll adjust
Seeds of success are being sown for what could the show’s final season.
Weeds, “A Hole in her Niqab”: trapper keeper of broken dreams
“I can do freaky. Am I getting old? Did I die in Copenhagen? I did, I couldn’t speak the language, I died.” – Andy
Warehouse 13, “The New Guy”: America’s attic
“A world of endless wonder.” – Mrs. Fredrick
Warehouse 13, “Shadows”: the Bechdel test
Not only is “Shadows” a good episode, it also passes the Bechdel test.
Warehouse 13, “Insatiable”: a cluttered Chekhov’s closet (sometimes)
Warehouse 13 has a cluttered Chekhov’s closet, but good character development makes up for it.
Walter White: the ultimate anti-hero
Why do we care about Walter White? It’s in Bryan Cranston’s performance, in the writing, and the overall craft of a brilliant television show.
V, “Welcome to the War”: viva la 5th column
“The resistance is growing.” – Marcus
V, “Red Rain”: filling plot holes
V returned with not a lot happening, and I wish they’d plug those plot holes.
V, “Pound of Flesh”: who is 5th column and who isn’t
I’d almost rather have the camp and rag tag adventurous spirit of the ’80s original, though maybe I’m simply steeped in ’80s V nostalgia?
V, “John May”: one day you’ll understand
“I want those bodies on this ship.” – Anna
Up All Night, “Working Late and Working It”: it’s hard to get both
It’s all about the art of getting what you want.
Up All Night, “Pilot”: a comedic trifecta
“Oh my God, there’s a baby in there.” – Reagan
Up All Night, “Parents”: leading by example
“Get out of my way nerds.” – Reagan
Up All Night, “Mr. Bob’s Toddler Kaleidoscope”: a PhD in peek-a-boo
Working mom vs. stay-at-home mom.
Up All Night, “Cool Neighbors”: a second opinion
“I know what this baby’s problem is. Clearly, she has never been around a person of color before.” – Ava
Up All Night, “Birth”: in the beginning
There are some things you just can’t plan for.
Unsupervised, “Pilot”: Beavis and Butt-Head copycat? Not so much
“I wanna ride bikes, and catch snakes, and do kid stuff forever.” – Joel
Unforgettable, “Pilot”: that’s what you are
An ex-detective with autobiographical memory helps solve a murder with her old boyfriend.
Undercovers, “Pilot”: great characters, lame plot
Many great ingredients for success but there’s a lack of the complete recipe.
Under the Dome, “Pilot”: different paths, same destination
The pink stars are falling in lines.
TV Series Finales: A Deep Dive
A deep dive on TV series finales, from the TV Geek Army archives.
The Walking Dead: A deep dive
A lengthy roundtable deep dive into The Walking Dead, from the TV Geek Army archives.
TV Masterworks: The Corner
The Corner is an uncompromising and at times harrowing look at people at the epicenter of the drug trade.
TV masterworks: Homicide: Life on the Street
In this TV Masterworks article we take a look at one of the classic greats of the crime drama, Homicide: Life on the Street.
TV Masterworks: Firefly
This time on TV Masterworks we travel to the farthest reaches of television drama (and the universe) to take a look at the brightest burning bug that has ever graced the often clumsy science fiction genre.
Arrested Development: A TV Masterwork
In this series, I’m going to take a look across the past few decades of television and focus on the greatest shows to have ever graced our small screens.
True Blood, “You Smell Like Dinner”: I can eat who I want
Let’s check in with everyone in the gang, vamps and humans and others alike.
True Blood, “She’s Not There”: something wicked indeed
I often see True Blood as a distorted fairy tale anyway, and the ferocious faeries fit in well in this tale.
True Blood, “If You Love Me, Why Am I Dyin’?”: Bon Temps fatigue
Lots of storylines in this week’s True Blood episode, with no real developments.
True Blood, “And When I Die”: Sunday, bloody Sunday
Marnie is finally defeated, and the residents of Bon Temps try to move on with their lives.
Treme: “Shallow Water, Oh Mama”: Davis can save us
“I’m not trying to be the spokesman for the city. New Orleans speaks for itself.” – Creighton
Treme, “Wish Someone Would Care”: take that walk
“Sometimes the battles worth fighting are the ones you know you’re gonna lose.” – Albert
Treme, “Smoke My Peace Pipe”: with or without benefits
“Man, you could hide a dead hooker in here and no one would know.” – Morial on Davis’ disheveled house
Treme, “Shame Shame Shame”: second line and feeling fine
“This is for New Orleans in her hour of need.” – Davis
Treme, “Right Place, Wrong Time”: FEMA trailer gating
“There’s no place like New Orleans.” – Jazz musician
Treme, “Meet De Boys On The Battlefront”: pride on Bourbon Street
“Are we entering some sacrificial realm here?” – Davis McAlery