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Dracula: Let There Be Light (2014)
Let There Be Season 2
This is an episode fitting for a season finale. Oh, and what a surprise . . . it is a season finale! This season finale beautifully covered each character and their end destinations after we saw each character development all season. It concluded each story arc that was covered, and it gave us fans enough good closure as well as some bad ones too.
I would have to say the acting performance here is splendid. Jessica De Gouw deserves a round of applause in this. She was just so darn cute! haha. But honestly though, she captured the right emotions in her scenes, and she delivered powerful performances without overacting. I loved all the scenes that she was in. She is my MVP for this episode! Victoria Smurfit gave us good emotion as well, bringing the journey for Lady Jayne from denial to full realization.
From the beginning, until probably a little bit halfway (or more), I was actually on edge throughout the episode. The feeling that everything is going to crash and burn (due to events from the previous episode), and then having the protagonists be excited and optimistic was just so painful to watch. You know that Grayson's geomagnetic machine is going to be sabotaged, and then there's the fact that Lady Jayne has just summoned the whole army of vampire hunters (aka Twilight haters) to hunt him down and his coven. Actually, I am somewhat disappointed that with all those vampire hunters, we didn't get too much action. It would have been interesting to have a little bit of vampire hunter history, or some ranking in skill or experience as well. It's not really necessary, but it would've been an added bonus.
So for most of the episode, I was waiting for when all things would go wrong. Unfortunately, each tragedy occurred one by one, slowly but surely, which made accepting the next one even more difficult. However, this isn't all filled with sadness, we experience some joys in this finale. One of which includes the irony of Browning's future.
All in all, I am very happy with this finale. It concluded things nicely but opened new doors for the future. Of course there are some things that were left open-ended (status of Renfield, what happened with Lucy and her mom, etc.) I am excited to see what season 2 could bring, if there will be one. But most especially, I would like to see: 1) How Lucy Westenra's character copes with being a vampire (knowing that she already has "monster-y/Morgana-y" tendencies from her human form. 2) What the remaining vampire hunters (aka Jacob black spawns) will do without the leadership of Lady Jayne and Browning (and who will take over. . .) 3) Will Van Helsing turn into Hugh Jackman and go after Grayson fully. and 4) Will Jessica De Gouw marry me? hehe Wonderful finale. Give us season 2 please NBC.
Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia (2012)
Not Calling this A Movie would be a Scandal!!
I am absolutely in shock at how well written and well executed this episode is! Actually, I probably shouldn't be since season 1 was impressive. But this season opener is just glorious! Firstly, just the fact that Oona Chaplin was in this episode (unfortunately she doesn't stay long) gave me a smile. But the casting of Lara Pulver was epic. She was the perfect opposite to Sherlock, a woman that can actually go toe-to-toe with the great one. She pulled off her character flawlessly. Playing her so well that she never gave away anything, but just enough to keep us asking about her motives and character.
I love the character interactions in this episode. After a 1st season in the bag, the characters have pretty much been set as far as their nuances, personalities, etc. It's wonderful that the writers added more depth to the characters, and demanded more out of the actors, by developing their relationships with each other. The relationship between Mrs. Hudson and Sherlock is just beautiful. I like how the writer's used their relationship to give us more of a glimpse inside of Sherlock's head and actually prove to us that he is human :).
The wonderful character interplay between the Holmes brothers, as well as Watson was masterfully played. Each character contributing, filling each hole or weakness that there is.
Of course, who cannot forget about Sherlolly. To be honest, I was torn in this episode. I love Molly, but Lara played Irene Adler so well, and her character was so fitting that I may have been unfaithful a bit. But I love all the small Molly jealousy moments. Look out for those moments :) Then there's the high concept storyline. Each scene is masterfully planned and brought to a conclusion very cleverly. Each event is accounted for, and the premise and occurrences are pretty intertwined. I believe that I am just in so much shock because of how everything came together in the end. Especially in the end. I really don't want to say too much since I would want the same experience for all viewers.
This episode/movie is simply amazing. The character acting is impeccable, the plot line is inventive, and the script is just beautiful. I would have to say that one of the best TV episodes I have ever seen in a while.
Frozen (2013)
Disney Doing it Right
I came into the movie not knowing much about it. I've actually never seen a trailer for this movie beforehand so I had no predisposition about the movie. But after seeing it, I would have to say that this film is a Disney classic.
The story is full of depth and not once did it feel dragging at all. The story flowed fluidly with enough attention to detail that enriched the plot-lines fully. It did not fail to bring the right emotions to each scene.
One thing that stood out are the characters (which is essential to an Animation film). Character development is solid as we got to see the main casts' backstories and premise. Also, Disney provided us with good character balance. This is not a simplistic protagonist vs antagonist story, but a complicated mixture of issues and resolutions that each characters provide. There's the outgoing, carefree Anna, who's personality brings warmth to any room; there's the caring, protective, and reserved older sister Elsa, who's gift/curse has not been cared for or addressed properly; there's the cool, good-hearted Kristoff, who provides a good balance of heroism and susceptibility; there's the suave, gentlemanly Prince Hans, whose smile and persona can gain your trust; and there's the pure-hearted and kind Olaf, who never fails to say what needs to be said, balances the tension, and provides the occasional, well needed comedic relief. Each character brings something to the table, which is what made this movie beautiful.
Then there's the musical score and the songs. Well delivered, and on point with each word. The vocal performances are divine. It's wonderful how different Anna and Elsa's singing voices are. Disney found the perfect vocals to represent each character. It's so easy to differentiate them from the tone of their singing voice, and their tones betray the character they portray. I believe this was what made the singing numbers so great, it's that the vocals perfectly matched the characters.
All in all, this was quite a surprise. A Disney classic that will live on. A story with a purpose. Music that fits like a puzzle. Characters that will live on in our hearts.
The Big Bang Theory: The Creepy Candy Coating Corollary (2009)
Will Wheaton Conundrum
This is an absolutely hilarious episode. It has wonderful story depth, which covers several story arcs. The most important of which is 1) Wolowitz's potential love interest and 2) Sheldon's 6th all time enemy.
I would have to say that both story arcs are completely wonderful. We are able to delve deeper into each of the characters, to understand them better, as well as to be introduced to two new recurring characters and how the main cast will relate to the new characters. It's interesting though when new characters are introduced that their personality is not yet completely set in stone. I say this because of you see Bernadette and Wheaton in later episodes, you will notice a significant shift in their characters. Which is a testament to the character development that the show follows.
It is refreshing to see Wolowitz try really hard to impress Bernadette in a way that he's always thought was effective in women, but then to only realize in the end that it is being himself that he actually has a connection with her. One of my favorite lines has to be when Bernadette says "In a Camry." Then Howard retorts with, "Corolla!" Of course, how could we forget the Sheldon/Wheaton Conundrum. You will just have to watch it, but it's nice to see a character that can actually break the great Sheldon. His line of the episode will have to be his "Whheeaatttooonn!" angry cry.
All in all, another successful episode.
Dracula: Of Monsters and Men (2013)
Disjointed Plot, But Great Performances
Unlike most of the other reviewers of this show, I actually am drawn in and intrigued by this TV Series. The characters are interesting enough and the premise of the show is attractive enough. However, it still lacks solid plot flow and it is still riddled with disjointed character arcs.
I believe the problem is that each episode is doing too much. In this episode, multiple things are happening: 1) Van Helsing experiments 2) Everybody loves Mina arc 3) Harker and the General Shaw revelation 4) Grayson suspected as a vampire 5) Mina and the blood sample. It's all just a lot. Don't get me wrong, I love the direction of the show, just not the way it's presented. Note that I'm not saying that the story is not good, it's just told in a fashion that could easily lose or bore people. Which is unfortunate since this has so much potential.
However, the acting performance is splendid in this episode. There is good continuity in each character, in relation to the Mina Grayson waltz last episode. A round of applause to Katie McGrath (Lucy) for her performance. She successfully created the strong public exterior, and got me convinced, and then all of a sudden she plays the fragile side of her character that makes us all empathize with her. I mean come on, how can anyone deny that face?! Just goes to show you, NEVER LISTEN TO LADY JAYNE'S ADVICE! All in all, a better episode, mostly because the story plot has been advanced significantly and the acting performances were excellent. But please let's get some more focus in the future episodes. I want this show to make it to a Season 2!
The Big Bang Theory: The Countdown Reflection (2012)
Right in the Feels
This has been one of the better season finales for the Big Bang Theory. It's beautiful how this group of quirky and different characters are able to come together to support the "least intelligent" genius of the bunch.
The side stories for each character is still there, but the focus is on the Howard and Bernadette wedding. Even with his rugged exterior and devil may care attitude, Howard consistently shows us that Bernadette is the woman that captured his heart. I'm wondering if all the hints throughout the season, and especially in this episode, will lead us to Bernadette fully transforming to Howard's mother (if she hasn't already?) Being the first wedding in the TV series, I'd imagine that there would be a lot of imagination since it would've been a wedding planned by geniuses, and golly, they delivered! Of course Rajesh would be the one to come up with such a brilliant premise for a wedding.
Lastly, I come to the last scene of the episode, the real reason that I chose to write a review. All I could say is that I love how everyone's characters show the truthfulness and the purity in their relationships with one another. The Rajesh/Bernadette common love with Howard (I believe these two can be best friends), the Leonard/Penny on-and-off again love affair that you couldn't separate even with chlorine triflouride, and the ShAmy (sheldon/amy) can't really hide it even if you tried Sheldon romance (oh yes, Sheldon does have a heart).
To be brief . . . umm, too late now. This was a finale that didn't leave cliffhangers or any unnecessary junk just to increase ratings. This was simply an episode that provided good story fluidity and movement while developing each character arcs in a beautiful way.