V – 13:30

Smallville – 15:00

Legend of the Seeker – 18:40

Castle – 21:05

Flash Forward – 23:30

Supernatural – 28:00

Life Unexpected – 32:55

Chuck – 37:10

Renewed:

Chuck
V

Cancelled:

FlashForward
Scrubs
Legend of the Seeker

Likely Renewed:

One Tree Hill
Life Unexpected

Likely Cancelled:

Heroes

The latest Supernatural episode, “On the Head of a Pin,” is arguably the best episode of the series. This episode did more to further the season and the characters than any episode that readily comes to mind. We learned just how Sam has become so strong, how Dean had to learn to survive in Hell, how the Apocolypse began, how it must end, and just how tough Castiel and Anna can be. That’s a hell of a lot to ask from one episode, and this one did it beautifully. Ben Edlund, the writer of such classic Whedon episodes like Angel’s “Sacrifice” and Firefly’s “Jaynestown,” wrote this penultimate episode. Even the stunt casting of Christopher Heyerdahl in the role of Alastair added such darkness and dimension to the show that the viewer is left cringing.  Kripke and Co. showed exactly how to come back from a hiatus, and how to do it with a bang, both literally and emotionally.

Speaking of Joss Whedon, this week’s episode of Dollhouse was advertised as the best yet – the one to make you grab hold and not let go. And as expected, he did not disappoint. The latest episode, “Man on the Street,” added more intrigue, suspense, and action to the show than the previous six episodes combined. Dushku continued to amaze with her versatility from frightened housewife to deadly assassin. And we learn that Alpha is not the only one after the Dollhouse. This episode cemented my devotion to the show, and I strongly urge anyone who had given up on the show to treat yourself to a mini-marathon. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

As for disappointed, I’ve heard many say that they felt the Battlestar Galactica series finale was amazing, but overall, disappointing, even lazy. While I can understand that some might feel that way, I thoroughly enjoyed the culmination of four seasons of Ron Moore’s amazing vision for BSG. The show has always been steeped in mysticism and mythology, and I would have been surprised if they had ignored that heritage in the finale, especially since they had not addressed it much this back half of the season. I liked the ambiguity of it all. It made me cheer, it made my cry, it broke my heart and it inspired me – everything this series has always done. And one thing’s for sure: I will never hear “All Along the Watchtower” in the same way.

Legend of the Seeker has continued to impress each week. Every episode draws a little more from the original books, but does so in a new and refreshing way. And they always do it in such a way as to never undermine the integrity of the characters. Bridget Regan continues to impress with her portrayal of Kahlan. I  have to say that of all the actors, she is the most perfectly cast. The latest episodes, “Conversion” and “Bloodline” have masterfully incorporated such elements from the book as Kahlan’s Blood Rage and Richard’s Pristinely Ungifted sister, Jensen. Even the incorporation of the Mord Sith, though done slightly differently from the novels, is thoroughly engaging and true to the core essence of the characters.

And most recently, Heroes. This episode, titled “Cold Snap,” marked the return of Bryan Fuller to the series. Fuller worked on what is probably the best of Season One episodes, “Company Man.” So, did his return make for amazing television? He definitely made some major changes. From the reveal of who Rebel is to Angela being saved by an unlikely source, Heroes was undeniably compelling. And tragic. While I understand the need for whittling down characters, I am not entirely happy with who they keep knocking off. But I will continue to watch to see if these payoffs continue. Heroes is definitely heading in the right direction for greatness again, and I am definitely glad to see Fuller’s touch return to the show. He adds a poignancy that has been lacking for far too long.

So there, my fellow TV addicts, some thoughts on what has been some amazing television over the past few days. We’ve said farewell to an epic favorite, found a new Friday night addiction, and are encouraged by what is possibly shaping up to be some great Monday night storytelling, again. One thing is for sure, I haven’t enjoyed television this much in a long time.

And here’s to its continued success.

Now I have to admit, I’ve never watched an entire episode of Xena or Hercules. At the time they were on the air, I really just wasn’t interested. I’m sure I could enjoy them now, and perhaps one day when I have a little breathing room in my Netflix queue, I’ll give them a shot.

First let me say this: I am a die-hard fan of the novels. Wizard’s First Rule was the first fantasy novel I read. I was thoroughly hooked by Goodkind’s writing and characterizations. The story of Richard, Kahlan and Zedd immediately captured me and I was obsessed. It was the first novel I discussed with my husband in depth, and I think we both share an extra fondness for it because of that.

But I’m not here to talk about the novels. I’m here to talk about the television adaptation of the novels. Originally, the show was slated to be only the first novel. A twenty-two episode arc of Wizard’s First Rule. And I agreed that was the only way a visualization of that book could work. A two-hour movie or six-hour miniseries would never cut it. I kept up with the project by occasionally following the production website and keeping up with casting news, excited by what I was seeing come down the pipe.

Then in November 2008, after an excruciatingly long wait, The Legend of the Seeker aired. And as the first episode neared to a close, I was thinking, “Not too bad, the changes they made were necessary. I can live with this.” Then they literally and figuratively threw the book in the fire. And then, everything changed.

Ok, maybe not everything. But I now had to struggle with not to turning into a hysterical fan girl and saying, “but THAT’S not how it happened in the book!” Later, I learned in an interview with one of the show’s stars, Craig Horner (Richard), that the series is based on the characters from Goodkind’s book and the overall story arc, but with lots of episodic stops along the way.

And once I got over that disappointment and used to the episodic idea of it all, I did sit back and enjoy the show for what it is: a fairly predictable series, chock-full of eerily beautiful cinematography (the New Zealand landscape screams, “Epic!”), and an honorable attempt to bring those three beloved characters to life.

However, it doesn’t always succeed. Episode 5, “Listener,” is about as far away from portraying Goodkind’s story and characters as possible. I have to wonder if the writer, Stephen Tolkin, had ever bothered to crack open the source material. I’m assuming he has, since he was one of the three credited writers for the first episode, “Prophecy.” Apparently, at times, he just doesn’t care. And I was about to the point where I didn’t care either.

But I gave it another chance. And am I ever glad I did. Two weeks later, the episode “Identity” aired, and it brought back the essence of the characters and of the original story of the book. While it didn’t tell the story the same way that the novel did, it was done in an interesting way and I was excited again about the series.

I haven’t been disappointed by its return from the winter hiatus, either. The episode, “Denna,” and “Puppeteer” which followed, were everything I’d come to expect from the series, and a little more: faithful to the ideals of the original story and characters, with an interesting twist that makes me want to see where it is going.

So, will this series appeal to those who haven’t read the books? Perhaps. If you’re missing a sprawling fantasy epic of the likes of Xena or Hercules, you may like the show. Just don’t expect it to have that same campy tongue-in-cheek quality. The show does tend to take itself too seriously at times.

If you are a fan of the book series, I say give it a chance. We’ve all seen how things change when they go to film or screen (X-Men, Spiderman, Iron Man, etc.). For both camps however, new viewers and established fans, if you’re willing to be a little patient, I have a feeling the payoff is going to be worth some of the earlier, lesser quality episodes.