The Dark Age

Mark here... this next episode of Buffy is called, "The Dark Age".  This one delves a little into Giles' past.  Apparently, Giles and some friends from high school conjured a demon back in the day for kicks and now the demon is back for revenge.  The demon takes hold of dead or unconscious people. In the course of events he possesses Jenny Calendar.  In the end, Willow realizes the best way to defeat this demon is to have it possess Angel, who already has a demon inside him.

It's a fun episode I thought. We get a bit of Giles' past.  He dropped out of Oxford and abandoned his destiny as a Watcher for a time.  Falling into a crowd of rowdy occult-loving punks in London, as you do.  Also, he had the nickname "Ripper" during this time...a bit more punk rock than Rupert.

Otherwise, there's not too much else for me to say about the episode, except that I thought it would've made a better Halloween episode. The Halloween episode first introduced us to Giles' former friend Ethan Rayne as a villain, but here he shows up in a way that's much more integral to the plot. Also, he represents Giles' past as a bad boy.  In the episode, Ethan attempt to sic the demon on Buffy but fails and disappears...

Hey Laurel here..not much to add except about how much Jenni Calendar sucks.  Mark and I have talked about this at length, she is horribly miss-cast.  They really missed an opportunity here to cast a unique, smart, funny, off the beaten path woman, which is what Joss Whedon seems to be into, but instead we get Melrose place.  Her character could be so much more interesting, but alas, it is what is is.  Wah wah.

Overall, this episode gets 4 stakes, on the basis of fun Giles character development...

Wildfire

Mark here...we're on to the next episode of Beverly Hills 90210 Season 2.  I made us a variation of Jamie Oliver's Potato Latke Breakfast.  I substituted sausage for smoked fish and arugula for watercress.  Laurel made us Orange Aperol Sun cocktails that are fantastic and have the perfect color for a brunch cocktail!

On to the episode!  Emily Valentine shows up!  This adds a bit of excitement.  The summer episodes were a bit of a slog, aside from the camping trip and so Emily definitely adds some spice to the group.  She shows up in bad girl attire on her motorcycle and instantly makes dates with Dylan AND Brandon.  Clearly she's a slut according to the girls, who behave like a trio out of the movie Heathers.  Anyway, turns out Emily isn't a slut and just wants to make friends...although we're a little skeptical, she could tell Brenda was upset at her dating Dylan before she knew everything.  The girls make up and we're forced to endure perhaps the worst rendition of "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do".   One funny note is Andrea's pained reaction every time Emily shows up and peaks Brandon's interest.

Plotline 2 involves Scott (who we forgot about) from Season 1 showing up for the first day of school. He and David were friends, but David has become cool, and Scott has become, frankly, crazy.  Yes, apparently a summer in Oklahoma can turn you gun crazy.  I can't say I'm surprised.  It's also not the least bit subtle as Scott now wears a cowboy hat to school every day and listens to country...obviously a cry for help...

Hey Laurel here...not much to add except if Emily is trying to make friends maybe she shouldn't date the same girl's brother and boyfriend her first 2 nights in town!  Oh, and date two guys back to back nights who are best friends!

This episode is chock full of great outfits!  The style award for me is a toss up between Brenda's (men's) shirt and tie first day of school outfit and Emily Valentine's lacy bike shorts/leather daddy hat/pearls ensemble she wear to preform the aforementioned torturous rendition of "breaking up is hard to do".

I think our cocktail moment was anytime David and Scott refer to guns, the sat of which is when David says to Scott "Hey man, ease up with the guns ok?"  Not enough David, not enough.

Our favorite quote is a Brenda gem...Emily Valentine tells the girls that her mom has scheduled her an appointment at the Gynocologist to get some birth control pills.  Apparently her older sisters have had to make some hard choices.  Later when Brenda sees Emily in the hall they get into a little tif which Brenda ends by saying "Have a GREAT time at the gynecologist" and storms off.  Way to burn her Brenda!

Final Cut

Mark here... Laurel and I are watching the next episode of Battlestar Galactica, "Final Cut".  I've made us some Bow Tie Carbonara courtesy of Jamie Oliver.  Laurel has made some garlic bread and Broccoli Almondine.

This episode has Lucy Lawless guest starring as a reporter in the fleet covering a story of an incident that happened while Col Tigh was in charge of the fleet.  The episode plays out as a "filler" episode at first.  It's still interesting but we are lead to believe that D'Anna Biers (Lucy Lawless) is simply an overeager reporter in the fleet. In the footage she shoots we see the overworked soldiers on Galactica and how Roslin and Adama want to show a "warts and all" view of them, no matter what.  At the same time we see the guilt Tigh feels over the incident.  The catch though is that Biers can't show the pregnant Caprica-Sharon.  We think all is good as the end shows Biers' report as a inspirational portrait of Galactica's crew.  Fake out! D'Anna Biers is another Cylon! The end of the episode shows another D'Anna viewing the footage back on Caprica with the other Cylons!

Hi Laurel here...nothing to add really, but what a twist!  We think Lucy Lawless is a sympathetic human reporter showing the human side of Galactica, but it turns out she's a Cylon?!?  She has clearly built some trust with Roslin and Adama by making her piece show Galatica in a positive light, I wonder how she will use her newfound trust?

Crossing the Line

Hi Laurel here...pretty good episode!

We find out a little more about Tim and his brother.  Apparently their parents are still alive but have run off someplace.  Tim and Billy get into a huge fight because they can't see eye to eye about their relationship...Billy seems to feel unappreciated because he is trying to fill in for Tim's parents...looking out for him, going to his games, paying the bills, etc.  Tim seems to feel that Billy is being overbearing and trying to be his father when that's not his place, and doing a shitty job of it at that.   I feel like it's one of those things when they get older they will both see that both of them are a little wring and a little right.  Tim will see that Billy really was trying to make a huge effort on his behalf, and Billy will see that he was just too young and dumb at the time to do a good job of it no matter how good his intentions.

Also this episode there is a lot of progress with Jason's situation.  Against his physician's advice (because his spinal fusion is still healing) he participates in his first game if murderball and does pretty well.  I have to say it even though it was clearly a bad idea it was good to see him playing sports again, since it has been a super important part of his life.  He really looks alive and shines while he is playing.  On the flip side Tim and Lyla both come to his game, and he confronts them at he end about having an affair while he was in the hospital...he ends up clocking Tim which obviously he deserves.  Part of me wishes Jason had never found out about the affair and could just go on being friends with both of them like normal, but part of me is glad that he knows and that he stood up for himself.  Like his friend in rehab (whose name escapes me, update to follow) told him "Just because we are cripples doesn't mean we have to take the crumbs"

Mark here...I agree with what Laurel said.  I'm glad that the situation with Lyla-Tim-Jason is on the table.  Earlier in the episode we see Tammi Taylor giving Lyla advice not to tell Jason what has happened.  This is actually good advice, despite the instinct to tell the truth.  Given Jason's condition, the truth would only serve to make Lyla and Tim feel better.  That said, It's good to see Jason unwilling to let himself be the victim.  He suspects something and is not going to just be silent because he feels sorry for himself.  On a side note, Tim hooks up with his ex, Tyra in this episode and coincidentally Lyla stops by the next morning.  Tyra is on to them both instantly, though only with a passing glance.

We also get to see a bit of Smash's descent into steroids.  He clearly is desperate for money to support his habit and goes to his mother, pretending he needs money for SAT prep classes.  When this doesn't work he asks Saracen to get him a job where Saracen works.  He is not exactly the best employee and at one point Saracen catches him about to steal money and calls him out on it.  Next, we see him at church where his mom has asked for donations to help with his "SAT classes".  I sort of thought this would be the point he realizes what he's doing is wrong, but no! He takes the money and goes straight to his steroid dealer (who happens to be a buff looking lady, going against stereotypes!)

The Hobo Code

Mark here...we're on to the next episode of "Mad Men," called "The Hobo Code."  This one was very interesting.  It opens with Don getting a $2500 bonus from his boss.  He promptly goes to his mistress with the idea of whisking her away for a weekend in Paris.  She however already has people over for a beatnik pot party.  Don indulges in this and we get to see flashbacks of his youth.  The story shows a young Don on the farm when a traveling hobo comes looking for food and shelter.  Presumably this is a flashback to Depression-era times.  His father (stepfather?) is cold and uncaring to the man while his stepmother offers the man shelter and a coin.  The man takes a liking to young Don and teaches his his hobo code of marking houses based on what a traveler can find there.  When Don's stepfather refuses to give the man the coin he was promised, he marks the house "dishonest man lives here" with a symbol.  This is clearly a formative moment for young Don.  Back to the beatnik party where the other men are dismissive of Don and his advertising career.  Don is unfazed by the goings on yet annoyed with them.

Separately, Peggy comes in early to work and runs into Pete Campbell, and both end up having sex in his office before anyone arrives.  She interprets this as much more than him.  She also is congratulated by the staff for her copywriting efforts and they all decide to go out for drinks after work.  Pete shows up, but once he sees her dancing and having a good time, disappoints her by telling her "I don't like you like this."  Peggy is clearly upset and its not hard to see why.  She's clearly invested more in this relationship, thinking her self the "other woman" who understands Pete.  Meanwhile, Pete is an asshole who has bought into his life only to be disappointed.  Peggy is just a bit of instant gratification to him.

One more interesting subplot is with Salvatore, the art dept. head.  He makes plans to show up at the bar with everyone else.  A new, young girl working the phones has shown interest in him, but along the way he meets another man at the bar. He clearly loses track of time as both are enjoying each other's company, but once things veer towards the romantic he freaks out.  Its interesting because he was clearly ok with the scenario until it became a reality.  Once it did, he had to go back to the facade life he had constructed.

Hi Laurel here, I once again agree with Mark on all counts.  Not much to add except I really love this particular episode.  We get to see some inside scoop on the agency (with the Peggy stuff and the Salvatore stuff) AND we get some info about Don's secret past.  I just would also like to mention it becomes clear in this episode that while Don has a secret past, he seems to acknowledge his secret self in some way...he seems to acknowledge that his current life is a smokescreen while he still lives out his true self (even though we don't really know who that is yet) by having a beatnik girlfriend, a slovenly boss, a drunken dysfunctional workplace,  and he's fine with it.  Salvatore on the other hand is so into living his lie that he cant even acknowledge that when another man hits on him it might be something that he's into...

I also thought the "hobo code" was especially poignant in this episode.  The fact that the eloquent hobo from Don's youth left the mark of a dishonest man on his family farm's front fence is obviously a very important moment in Don's formative years.  The hobo also treated him as if he was part of the hobo brotherhood, which to this day he has obviously taken to heart.

I Robot...You Jane

Mark here...This episode is called "I Robot...You Jane" and it's a cool concept.  There's a demon who's been trapped inside a book.  He is inadvertently released onto the internet when the gang is scanning books in the library.  He seduces certain students, one of whom happens to be Willow.  The gang eventually catches on to what's going on and catches the demon again.  As I said the episode plays well...up until the end.  The demon finds his way out of the internet and into a conveniently ready demon shaped robot.  Its a bit of a stretch and after an otherwise interesting episode, its kind of corny and low budget.  Also, this episode introduces us to Jenny Calendar.  She's the new school computer science teacher and is clearly meant to be a bit of a foil for Giles.  She's also "hip" to the supernatural world, a "techno-pagan".  I seem to remember her being a popular character, but I never really liked her.  She's a bit too "Melrose Place" to come across as a cool nerd.  In any case, her computer skills help save the day here in the end.

Laurel here...I thought this episode had a really interesting concept, of the demon escaping into the internet.  I feel like it was a real sign of the times.  In the late 90s the internet was still super new, remember how people used to be afraid of shopping online because they had to enter their credit card numbers?  Anyway I thought it was an interesting idea to have a demon escape into the internet and wreak havoc.  In the show even after the demon incident the gang still seems to be ok with technology, except for Giles of course just wants to be alone with his books.

Another note about this episode.  Poor Willow!  The demon pretends to be an 18 year old boy from a town 80 miles away and seduces willow through online chat.  She thinks she has met the man of her dreams on the internet and he turns out to be a crazy, ancient, ugly monster turned robot.  wah wah.  This is why I don't do online dating!

I agree with Mark about "Jenny Calendar".  A of all, worst name ever, B of all I feel like as the teacher who is a computer expert and a pagan, she should be a little quirkier.  It's an opportunity for a really interesting character and she is just too normal and boring.

Flesh and Bone

Hi Laurel here..This episode focus on a captured cylon (my favorite cylon Leonben) and the episode hinged on a bomb that has been supposedly planted in the galactic fleet somewhere and it fell on Starbuck to question him and find out where the bomb was...

So Adama was ordered to send someone to question the cylon who was the least likely person to allow the prisoner to get into their head...Starbuck seemed like the perfect person for the job but as the episode unfolds both Starbuck and us as viewers find ourselves questioning his motives.  I think we are all prepared to believe he is a cylon because we have seen the same model of him as being confirmed as a cylon in the past, but he does such a good job as being seen as a charismatic human that we all question our own judgment.

Also of note in this episode we learn that the president's cancer is progressing, and that her medication is causing her to have hallucinations...hallucinations or premonitions?  We still don't know...

Mark here...I think this episode was much better than the previous.  As Laurel said, Starbuck is sent to interrogate a Cylon (Leoben) who is known because he is the same model Adama encountered in the pilot.  He succeeds in getting in Starbucks head a bit, despite her torturing him (water torture in a nod to current politics).  She goes in thinking he is a machine but he is able to show human feelings, which causes her to doubt herself. As this happens, Roslin storms in, having grown frustrated with the lack of information.  She immediately breaks off Starbuck's interrogation.  In a quick moment, Leoben is able to grab Roslin and whisper "Adama is a Cylon" in an attempt to plant a seed of doubt.  Roslin is unmoved however and in an awesome scene, orders him thrown out the airlock..which at that point seems drastic to Starbuck (who had been torturing him).

Separately, Sharon, who is the Cylon who only suspects she's a cylon onboard Galactica...she is strangely drawn to the Cylon raider that Starbuck brought aboard.  So much so she goes to Baltar for a Cylon test.  He claims the test isn't ready yet, but then tests her.  When the test confirms her being a cylon, he lies to her and keeps the truth to himself...confirming his shadiness, and treason I guess!

The 17 Year Itch

Mark here, this episode is called, "The 17 Year Itch" and seems to be more about Jim and Cindy's marriage. Cindy's high school old boyfriend shows up to tempt her with the path not taken. Brenda is onto this from the beginning, Brandon is a little clueless. The funniest part I like to call Cindy's big adventure, where the old boyfriend, Glenn, takes her on a trip to scenic Venice beach to show her the "other side" of LA. Meanwhile, no one would want to see this stuff over age 18. But Cindy's reaction is though she's not left the house EVER.... The episode goes on to show Cindy's continued temptation. Yet she still manages to dress in the grumpiest outfits I could imagine, while working a banana clip in the hair. Brenda of course is suspicious the whole way through and at one point is a master of concealing her contempt. Before school Cindy suggests she eat something or she'll get nauseous with an empty stomach....Brenda's deadpan response, "I'm already nauseous" as she storms out of the house...

Cindy and her fling...It's like the first time she's ever been in a car!

Laurel here...nothing much to add, except I think it's noteworthy that the show attempts to make Cindy a more complex character, which I appreciate...she's not just the boring mom from Minnesota, she actually has had a life of her own in the past.

Also Mark and I were both wondering...later on in the series we both remember that the kids end up living in the Walsh house when the parents move to Hong Kong. Cindy and Jim are both so hell bent on teaching the kids lessons all the time about everything we are wondering how they resolve the kids living there with a free pass? Maybe they are paying rent? Or maybe the kids buy the house somehow? It will be inetersting when the time comes to see how the show resolves this.

Cocktail moments from this episode...Cindy MAKES OUT with Glenn, her crush from the past. She then later exclaims to him that they have been "emotionally cheating" on Jim. Go Cindy! Or shame on Cindy? I'm not sure.

Another cocktail moment is the appearance of Mrs Teasley, the actress who plays her that is. Here she is playing a psychiatrist who is randomly doing a study on twins...and we get to see a set of super nerdy identical twins as a counter point to Brenda and Brandon.

Also Donna raps...ummm

Style award this episode goes to.........Jim! He is putting on his pajamas, showing full crazy chest hair, AND he pulls his Jammie's up so high there's no way that any man or woman would not have given themselves crazy camel toe.