Greetings,
So it's Memorial Day and it would probably be appropriate for me to do a moving tribute to the brave men and women we have lost over the decades. While I am grateful for them, I cried enough watching the National Memorial Day Concert last night and I just can't do it. However, one of the hosts of that fine program was Gary Sinise, my all time favorite actor. In case you don't know, he has done so much for our troops, past, present and, no doubt, future, it is overwhelming. I know some celebrities claim to support the troops and perhaps a couple of them do, but Gary Sinise truly does. So what better than to pay tribute to him and his film career.
Now I have to give a little disclaimer. A lot of his movies would not be considered "Gary Sinise movies". By that, I mean he is rarely the front and center star. He has been, but he tends to be something of a team player or a side man. Of course, he is. Come on, he's in a band, and he plays bass. And, yes, you will listen to that bass solo in the middle of the song, and you will enjoy it! And sad to say, he, like, many actors, has done a couple of movies that were not all that, let's just say it, good, but he is always good in them. So . . . it's all good. Here we go.
First - Honorable Mentions
The Forgotten - Believe it or not, from the moment I chose him as my favorite, it took about ten years for me to finally see him at the theater. For a lot of reasons, it just never happened. But it was this movie where I first saw him on the big screen. I was determined, and that time I made it happen.
Reindeer Games - Yes, I do call this my favorite Christmas movie. I mean, why the heck not? And P.S. If you're going to watch this one, get the director's cut!!
Okay, I feel like I'm cheating, so, really this time, here we go.
#10 Impostor - Yeah, to be honest, this is one of those movies where I can't decide if I really, really like it or really, really don't. It literally changes from minute to minute. But you have Gary Sinise and, yay!, Vincent D'Onofrio in this one, and they have some good scenes together, though it was a lot of Gary running away from D'Onofrio. I don't get that. Why did he run? Looking at those two guys standing next to each other, you'd think Gary could have just taken out D'onofrio with his slingshot and one of the five smooth stones he gathered from the river. Anyway, while it has flaws, the good parts are so good, I have to give it a place.
#9 Mission To Mars - I bet a lot of people are on the fence about this one, too. I'm kidding. A lot of people are not fans of this one, but I find it rather interesting and entertaining. I refuse to give away the ending. Still, I love the fact that what is revealed in that ending probably made a lot of people who have made Jeff Foxworthy rich say "I knew it!"
#8 George Wallace - The problem with having a very likable actor play a real man who was pretty despicable is that, as you watch, because we all like Gary Sinise, we hear him speak the words of George Wallace and have the danger of slipping into thinking "Well, he kinda has a point." Though most of us would immediately retract that with a resounding, "NO! No, he does not!" But he did an amazing job portraying him from those early days to the time of his life where he actually wanted to seek redemption.
#7 Truman - Okay, I have to admit that I technically like the George Wallace movie better, but this one has a major advantage - no Angelina Jolie. Long story about that woman, but I just cannot deal with her anymore. But when it came to truly embodying the "character", the performance here by Gary was stellar. There's one scene where he is making a statement to the American people on television, and, as he speaks, the camera closes in on his face and you almost forget that you're looking at Gary Sinise. He became Truman in that moment.
#6 Apollo 13 - I know everyone thinks Tom Hanks where this movie is concerned, but I loved Gary's performance in this. He really played well to the roller coaster of emotions that the man he portrayed probably lived through. And, let's be honest, he ended up being one of the heroes of this story.
#5 Ransom - Wow, this movie was difficult to make decisions about. I mean, I obviously love Gary, but I also love (yes, I still do) Mel Gibson. It was like, "Who do I side with here?". Good news for Mr. Sinise, I am not that big of a fan of kids. Okay, yeah, his character took it to the extreme with dislike, but he did it so amazingly well. Therefore, his pure evilness was so appealing, this role had to be included.
#4 That Championship Season - I don't think a lot of people have heard of this one, which is a shame. Yet again, Gary Sinise is teamed up with Vincent D'Onofrio along with Terry Kinney, Tony Shalhoub and Paul Sorvino. I know, right. Calm down, people. This is the story of four guys getting together to celebrate their - what! - championship season of high school basketball with their coach. It takes place mainly within the confines of one house, so it, in my opinion, is reminiscent of a 12 Angry Men type of movie. You don't need anything flashy. You just need to get some phenomenal actors, lock them in a room together and let the magic happen. And here it certainly did.
#3 The Stand - And here is where it all began for me. This is where I first saw Gary Sinise. What were the odds? I was about 13 years old and in no way interested in anything Stephen King-ly, but I found myself watching this, nonetheless. Clearly, it was destiny, so this one always holds a special place in my heart. Even though it is still super creepy.
#2 Of Mice and Men - Not only do we get great acting here, but great directing. Yes, Mr. Gary Sinise pulled a Clint and did the behind and in front of the camera thing. Masterfully. And what a perfect choice it was to put him alongside John Malkovich in probably one of my favorite roles from him as well. And we also get a little Ray Walston here. Always a pleasure, sir. Hard to retell a classic story like this, but they did it.
#1 Forrest Gump - Duh, right? Well, I'm sure this is his most famous character and everyone knows it. He knows it. He named his band after this character, so obviously, it has been embraced. Look, there is no doubt that this is one of his finest roles to date and it is totally unforgettable. Everyone loves a lovable jerk, and that's what Lt. Dan was. And if Forrest liked him , how bad could he be? The best thing is that he has used this character to parlay into all the fine work he has done with the troops. Though I'm sure he would be doing it anyway.
So there it is, people. I could go on forever talking about how wonderful Gary Sinise is, and not just as an actor. He is an incredible man and a hero to heroes. I hope God will continue to bless him in all he does. And they better not cancel CSI:NY ever, because, if that was a movie, Mac Taylor would have made this list.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, May 28, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
For Robin
Greetings,
Yesterday was a tough day for me. We've lost someone else, and, this time, it was someone who I held even closer to my heart, Robin Gibb. I'm almost at a loss for words. It's difficult to express just what an impact this man made on my life, but I'll do my best.
Like everyone my age, I grew up knowing who the Bee Gees were. Some of us liked that, while others probably did not. It wasn't until I reached the age of sixteen that I truly embraced how wonderful and even inspirational they were and actually still are. After learning all the ins and out, ups and downs of their lives and career, I also learned a valuable lesson from them. You can't really give up on your passion. Sure you can hit roadblocks and fall for them, but if you are meant to do something you will do it. Even if the whole world is against you, you will not quit. As an artist, of course there have been moments where I thought it would be easy to just stop, but there was always something about the Brothers Gibb that kept me going. Something that I may have mentioned before, but I should do it again, nonetheless. I think of any time in their lives that they could have stopped, and then I think of all that they did after that point. I never want to think that I have the potential to do something great, but I never get to it because I gave up.
Now, while I do love all of them, I held a special place in my heart for Robin, for a lot of reasons. Maybe it was his voice or the fact that he sang my favorite song, I Started a Joke. Not just my favorite Bee Gees song, but my favorite song period. I had distanced myself from him and my memories of the group since Maurice died, since that turned everything very bittersweet. But I still loved them and him, and this is quite devastating for me.
I remember clearly when Maurice died and that was difficult as well. Mostly because it was so sudden. I mean, it was like two days and he was gone. Too fast and shocking. With Robin, at least, we had some time to prepare, since he had been so sick for so long. You pray and hope for the best, but you always prepare. It doesn't make it that much easier though, and since it has been scarcely a day, I'm still dealing with the loss.
I suppose I can take comfort in the fact that, despite a falling out in the years since Maurice died, he and Barry had made amends and as far as I know they were on good terms. Sometimes God gives us time as a blessing. Of course, I regret that I never got to say thank you to him for all he did, but I hope that he knew. I'm sure he did. And, despite what anyone tries to tell me, I knew my prayers did not go unanswered. They never do.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Yesterday was a tough day for me. We've lost someone else, and, this time, it was someone who I held even closer to my heart, Robin Gibb. I'm almost at a loss for words. It's difficult to express just what an impact this man made on my life, but I'll do my best.
Like everyone my age, I grew up knowing who the Bee Gees were. Some of us liked that, while others probably did not. It wasn't until I reached the age of sixteen that I truly embraced how wonderful and even inspirational they were and actually still are. After learning all the ins and out, ups and downs of their lives and career, I also learned a valuable lesson from them. You can't really give up on your passion. Sure you can hit roadblocks and fall for them, but if you are meant to do something you will do it. Even if the whole world is against you, you will not quit. As an artist, of course there have been moments where I thought it would be easy to just stop, but there was always something about the Brothers Gibb that kept me going. Something that I may have mentioned before, but I should do it again, nonetheless. I think of any time in their lives that they could have stopped, and then I think of all that they did after that point. I never want to think that I have the potential to do something great, but I never get to it because I gave up.
Now, while I do love all of them, I held a special place in my heart for Robin, for a lot of reasons. Maybe it was his voice or the fact that he sang my favorite song, I Started a Joke. Not just my favorite Bee Gees song, but my favorite song period. I had distanced myself from him and my memories of the group since Maurice died, since that turned everything very bittersweet. But I still loved them and him, and this is quite devastating for me.
I remember clearly when Maurice died and that was difficult as well. Mostly because it was so sudden. I mean, it was like two days and he was gone. Too fast and shocking. With Robin, at least, we had some time to prepare, since he had been so sick for so long. You pray and hope for the best, but you always prepare. It doesn't make it that much easier though, and since it has been scarcely a day, I'm still dealing with the loss.
I suppose I can take comfort in the fact that, despite a falling out in the years since Maurice died, he and Barry had made amends and as far as I know they were on good terms. Sometimes God gives us time as a blessing. Of course, I regret that I never got to say thank you to him for all he did, but I hope that he knew. I'm sure he did. And, despite what anyone tries to tell me, I knew my prayers did not go unanswered. They never do.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, May 18, 2012
Endless Summer
Greetings,
Forgive the kitschy title, considering the serious topic of this post, but there is no better word than "endless" to describe my love and admiration for the great Miss Donna Summer.
As everyone knows, we just lost this best definition of a diva and I am extremely saddened by this news. It could be the shock since none of us knew she was sick, but I think it takes someone leaving us to truly remember how amazing they were. Sure, none of us ever doubted her talent. Yet now that she can no longer share it with us and since we are being overwhelmed with the sound of her music, all I can think is "Wow, she really WAS one of the best."
Now sadly, I missed the firsthand experience of her disco days. Actually, there's a chance that many people my age will only remember her as Steve Urkel's Aunt Oona from Altoona. No seriously. But thank God she had a very good career beyond that disco era. That persistence to never give up on her passion was what kept her around for all these years. I must say that, as a writer, I love the fact that she was not merely some "do what she's told" pop singer. No, she was a songwriter who kept control of her publishing. Yeah, that makes her way smarter than some people I could mention. It's just one more thing to add to her pro list. Most importantly, she was apparently not scared to say she was a Christian. Now, of course, one way or another, I don't know what is truly in a person's heart. No matter what, though, I do hope that she is now in a much better place.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Forgive the kitschy title, considering the serious topic of this post, but there is no better word than "endless" to describe my love and admiration for the great Miss Donna Summer.
As everyone knows, we just lost this best definition of a diva and I am extremely saddened by this news. It could be the shock since none of us knew she was sick, but I think it takes someone leaving us to truly remember how amazing they were. Sure, none of us ever doubted her talent. Yet now that she can no longer share it with us and since we are being overwhelmed with the sound of her music, all I can think is "Wow, she really WAS one of the best."
Now sadly, I missed the firsthand experience of her disco days. Actually, there's a chance that many people my age will only remember her as Steve Urkel's Aunt Oona from Altoona. No seriously. But thank God she had a very good career beyond that disco era. That persistence to never give up on her passion was what kept her around for all these years. I must say that, as a writer, I love the fact that she was not merely some "do what she's told" pop singer. No, she was a songwriter who kept control of her publishing. Yeah, that makes her way smarter than some people I could mention. It's just one more thing to add to her pro list. Most importantly, she was apparently not scared to say she was a Christian. Now, of course, one way or another, I don't know what is truly in a person's heart. No matter what, though, I do hope that she is now in a much better place.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, November 7, 2011
Top Ten Jem and the Holograms Episodes
Greetings,
So, about a month ago, my favorite cartoon was released in its entirety on DVD. That cartoon would be Jem and the Holograms. Yes, I am a grown up, but who cares? I still love it, and, as I've been re-watching these episodes, I've realized how complex and interesting this show was. It seems as though they really planned on keeping their fan base well into adulthood. I can say they did a wonderful job. And you can certainly see that there is, in fact, an art to slipping in "adult" subject things that will go over the heads of children. Hopefully. Yeah, that happens a lot in this show.
This cartoon tells the adventures of the band the Holograms, led by Jem, who is in actuality also their manager, Jerrica Benton, and consisting of Kimber, Jerrica's little sister, Aja, Shana and eventually Raya. With the whole Jem/Jerrica thing, you may be thinking Hannah Montana style, but go further. The persona of Jem is created by a hologram projected onto Jerrica, with the help of Synergy, an anthropomorphic computer created by her dad, which could project all kinds of holograms, and that often came in handy to get them out of certain situations. See what I mean about things being too tricky for the kids to get? Even now, I am thinking to myself that this whole thing was very complicated. But, hey, it was the 80's, the time of excess, even in our own imaginations. Anyway, besides that aspect, we are also entertained by their rivals, the Misfits, whose members include Pizzazz, Roxy, Stormer, and eventually Jetta (not their real names) and their manager Eric Raymond, who, when you think of all the shenanigans/vicious crimes they committed, should probably have been in jail for the majority of the series. Then, we had several orphans, known as the Starlight Girls, of whom Jerrica took care. Okay, I don't like to say mean things about orphans, even hand-drawn ones, but sometimes they were written as these total brats. I cannot stand that, but I'd say the good outweighed the bad enough. And, of course, there is Jerrica's technically two-timing, yet still lovable (apparently) boyfriend, Rio. Remember, girls, just because your man is cheating on you with yourself, doesn't mean it's not cheating, especially if he doesn't know the other person is also you. Okay, you really had to have to seen the show to understand that. And we also got a myriad of other characters. to whom I will probably refer in this post.
Now that you know what's up, I'll share with you my favorite episodes of this great show, since that is the task at hand today. Again, this list is best for people who know the show and the characters, but read it, whoever you are. It may pique your curiosity.
#10. "The Rock Fashion Book" - Jem and the Holograms are asked to do, you guessed it, a rock fashion book. And, you guessed it again, the Misfits try to sabotage it. Or, you know, almost straight up murder them. Not that they'll go to jail for it. Anyway, I'm guessing that this episode is probably why I watch America's Next Top Model. Although, no one on that show ever got nearly forced off a cliff by a swarm of bats. I think. That would be wild to see, though.
#9. "The Jem Jam" - Here we have one of quite a few two-episodes. Here, Jem stages a huge concert with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Tina Turner, Mick Jagger and Stevie Wonder, albeit with different names again, of course. Because...copyright? And we also get to hear some of the Starlight girls sing. Why the heck not? Also, this is also the FIRST time little Ba Nee, one of said Starlight girls, pulls a "Who's my Daddy?" And in order to make the guy she thinks is her dad prove his love, what does she do? I'll just say it involves bears at the zoo. It's called The Maury Povich Show, kid. Look into it. Oh, and a little heads up to all the guys with red hair out there, if she hasn't already, Ba Nee will most assuredly, at some point, assume that you are her father. It's a character trait of hers. Just a warning.
#8. "The Stingers Hit Town" - Another two-parter where we are introduced to one of the most egotistical and hottest characters ever drawn, Riot. Yeah, I had a crush on a cartoon character. So what? I actually think this guy is why I ended having a thing for Sawyer on Lost. Anyway, Riot is the lead singer of a new band, the Stingers, which also includes Minx and Rapture (again, not their real names). Pizzazz falls for him, he falls for Jem and they both refuse to get back up. Mayhem ensues, and it lasts far beyond this episode. And yes, The Stingers do wear a crap load of black and yellow, because...get it? GET IT?! Okay, maybe some of this show didn't go over the kids' heads.
#7. "A Father Should Be. . ." - The final episode, which should have made me sad. It kind of did, but it also gave me permission to criticize a little orphan girl. Again. Good times. The story here features the aforementioned Ba Nee, who still desperately wants to find her father. Sympathetic enough. But she actually uttered the phrase, "Everybody has a father but me!" Hello?!?!? You live in an orphanage! I'm pretty sure that's not true! But, still, this was a fitting and heartfelt finale.
#6. "The Treasure Hunt" - I won't give away too much here, but, let me just say, this episode makes sure that people know how valuable books are . . . especially if they're first editions. I love when television tells us that.
#5. "Hollywood Jem" - And yet another two part episode in which Jem is nominated for an Academy Award. Oh, no, not for a song she wrote. That would be too easy. Plus, Kimber writes the songs, so... No, she got an actress nomination. Hey, I'll buy that. This is the same decade where Pia Zadora won a Golden Globe for the same role she also earned a Razzie. Anyway, the best parts of this episode have to be all the "celebrities" who showed up. Ya know, like the "celebrities" who showed up for "The Jem Jam". Examples: Meryl Saint, Michael J. Badger and, my personal favorite, Flint Westwood. Yeah, that's right. He looked pretty darn good in cartoon form. And, thank you, show, for not beating to death a joke involving the infamous "Go ahead, make my day" line. Oh, wait. There are also these other plots of Jem making a new movie, and Kimber having trouble deciding between two guys, but then agreeing to marry one of them. So, anyway, does Jem win the Academy Award? Does her new movie get made without incident? Does Kimber go through with her wedding? Guess you'll have to watch.
#4. "Out Of the Past" - Okay, we're gonna call this a big tear-jerker episode. It still hits me right in the feels, even to this day. It's all about the Holograms finding the diary of Emmett Benton, Jerrica's and Kimber's dad, which leads us to getting a ton of backstory on the characters and finding out about their mother as well and her own music. They start a quest of sorts to track down that music and that, in turn, provides us with some seriously emotional scenes. Good times. Also, I need a tissue.
#3. "The Day The Music Died" - No, not THAT day the music died. Calm down. Where do I begin with this episode? Well, first, there's a lot of fourth wall breaking. A LOT! Right from the opening theme song. No bull crap! Basically, all the bands implode and then reassemble as something of a super-group. And all of this because my beloved Riot has to get his way. But come on. Look at him. Look at that face. He clearly deserves to get everything he wants. But perhaps not in such an untoward manner. Just a little life advice there.
#2. "Britrock" - Explosions, foxhunts, poor folks pretending to be rich, and cutely drawn boys with British accents. This episode really has it all.
#1. "Riot's Hope" - And here we have an episode centered around my animated future husband, Riot, whose real name is Rory Llewelyn, by the way. I bring that up because here we find out his back story, including his major conflicts with his strict father, his loving relationship with his sympathetic mother, and his struggles to make it as a musician. It all makes his somewhat jerky behavior seem forgivable. I guess having daddy issues can cover a multitude of sins. So can having awesome hair. Good for you, Riot, you have both.
And there they are. My Jem Top Ten. This should make people nostalgic or eager to be a first time watcher. If you don't wanna get the DVDs, there are other ways to watch it. Either way, it's Truly Outrageous! Yeah, I said it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
So, about a month ago, my favorite cartoon was released in its entirety on DVD. That cartoon would be Jem and the Holograms. Yes, I am a grown up, but who cares? I still love it, and, as I've been re-watching these episodes, I've realized how complex and interesting this show was. It seems as though they really planned on keeping their fan base well into adulthood. I can say they did a wonderful job. And you can certainly see that there is, in fact, an art to slipping in "adult" subject things that will go over the heads of children. Hopefully. Yeah, that happens a lot in this show.
This cartoon tells the adventures of the band the Holograms, led by Jem, who is in actuality also their manager, Jerrica Benton, and consisting of Kimber, Jerrica's little sister, Aja, Shana and eventually Raya. With the whole Jem/Jerrica thing, you may be thinking Hannah Montana style, but go further. The persona of Jem is created by a hologram projected onto Jerrica, with the help of Synergy, an anthropomorphic computer created by her dad, which could project all kinds of holograms, and that often came in handy to get them out of certain situations. See what I mean about things being too tricky for the kids to get? Even now, I am thinking to myself that this whole thing was very complicated. But, hey, it was the 80's, the time of excess, even in our own imaginations. Anyway, besides that aspect, we are also entertained by their rivals, the Misfits, whose members include Pizzazz, Roxy, Stormer, and eventually Jetta (not their real names) and their manager Eric Raymond, who, when you think of all the shenanigans/vicious crimes they committed, should probably have been in jail for the majority of the series. Then, we had several orphans, known as the Starlight Girls, of whom Jerrica took care. Okay, I don't like to say mean things about orphans, even hand-drawn ones, but sometimes they were written as these total brats. I cannot stand that, but I'd say the good outweighed the bad enough. And, of course, there is Jerrica's technically two-timing, yet still lovable (apparently) boyfriend, Rio. Remember, girls, just because your man is cheating on you with yourself, doesn't mean it's not cheating, especially if he doesn't know the other person is also you. Okay, you really had to have to seen the show to understand that. And we also got a myriad of other characters. to whom I will probably refer in this post.
Now that you know what's up, I'll share with you my favorite episodes of this great show, since that is the task at hand today. Again, this list is best for people who know the show and the characters, but read it, whoever you are. It may pique your curiosity.
#10. "The Rock Fashion Book" - Jem and the Holograms are asked to do, you guessed it, a rock fashion book. And, you guessed it again, the Misfits try to sabotage it. Or, you know, almost straight up murder them. Not that they'll go to jail for it. Anyway, I'm guessing that this episode is probably why I watch America's Next Top Model. Although, no one on that show ever got nearly forced off a cliff by a swarm of bats. I think. That would be wild to see, though.
#9. "The Jem Jam" - Here we have one of quite a few two-episodes. Here, Jem stages a huge concert with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Tina Turner, Mick Jagger and Stevie Wonder, albeit with different names again, of course. Because...copyright? And we also get to hear some of the Starlight girls sing. Why the heck not? Also, this is also the FIRST time little Ba Nee, one of said Starlight girls, pulls a "Who's my Daddy?" And in order to make the guy she thinks is her dad prove his love, what does she do? I'll just say it involves bears at the zoo. It's called The Maury Povich Show, kid. Look into it. Oh, and a little heads up to all the guys with red hair out there, if she hasn't already, Ba Nee will most assuredly, at some point, assume that you are her father. It's a character trait of hers. Just a warning.
#8. "The Stingers Hit Town" - Another two-parter where we are introduced to one of the most egotistical and hottest characters ever drawn, Riot. Yeah, I had a crush on a cartoon character. So what? I actually think this guy is why I ended having a thing for Sawyer on Lost. Anyway, Riot is the lead singer of a new band, the Stingers, which also includes Minx and Rapture (again, not their real names). Pizzazz falls for him, he falls for Jem and they both refuse to get back up. Mayhem ensues, and it lasts far beyond this episode. And yes, The Stingers do wear a crap load of black and yellow, because...get it? GET IT?! Okay, maybe some of this show didn't go over the kids' heads.
#7. "A Father Should Be. . ." - The final episode, which should have made me sad. It kind of did, but it also gave me permission to criticize a little orphan girl. Again. Good times. The story here features the aforementioned Ba Nee, who still desperately wants to find her father. Sympathetic enough. But she actually uttered the phrase, "Everybody has a father but me!" Hello?!?!? You live in an orphanage! I'm pretty sure that's not true! But, still, this was a fitting and heartfelt finale.
#6. "The Treasure Hunt" - I won't give away too much here, but, let me just say, this episode makes sure that people know how valuable books are . . . especially if they're first editions. I love when television tells us that.
#5. "Hollywood Jem" - And yet another two part episode in which Jem is nominated for an Academy Award. Oh, no, not for a song she wrote. That would be too easy. Plus, Kimber writes the songs, so... No, she got an actress nomination. Hey, I'll buy that. This is the same decade where Pia Zadora won a Golden Globe for the same role she also earned a Razzie. Anyway, the best parts of this episode have to be all the "celebrities" who showed up. Ya know, like the "celebrities" who showed up for "The Jem Jam". Examples: Meryl Saint, Michael J. Badger and, my personal favorite, Flint Westwood. Yeah, that's right. He looked pretty darn good in cartoon form. And, thank you, show, for not beating to death a joke involving the infamous "Go ahead, make my day" line. Oh, wait. There are also these other plots of Jem making a new movie, and Kimber having trouble deciding between two guys, but then agreeing to marry one of them. So, anyway, does Jem win the Academy Award? Does her new movie get made without incident? Does Kimber go through with her wedding? Guess you'll have to watch.
#4. "Out Of the Past" - Okay, we're gonna call this a big tear-jerker episode. It still hits me right in the feels, even to this day. It's all about the Holograms finding the diary of Emmett Benton, Jerrica's and Kimber's dad, which leads us to getting a ton of backstory on the characters and finding out about their mother as well and her own music. They start a quest of sorts to track down that music and that, in turn, provides us with some seriously emotional scenes. Good times. Also, I need a tissue.
#3. "The Day The Music Died" - No, not THAT day the music died. Calm down. Where do I begin with this episode? Well, first, there's a lot of fourth wall breaking. A LOT! Right from the opening theme song. No bull crap! Basically, all the bands implode and then reassemble as something of a super-group. And all of this because my beloved Riot has to get his way. But come on. Look at him. Look at that face. He clearly deserves to get everything he wants. But perhaps not in such an untoward manner. Just a little life advice there.
#2. "Britrock" - Explosions, foxhunts, poor folks pretending to be rich, and cutely drawn boys with British accents. This episode really has it all.
#1. "Riot's Hope" - And here we have an episode centered around my animated future husband, Riot, whose real name is Rory Llewelyn, by the way. I bring that up because here we find out his back story, including his major conflicts with his strict father, his loving relationship with his sympathetic mother, and his struggles to make it as a musician. It all makes his somewhat jerky behavior seem forgivable. I guess having daddy issues can cover a multitude of sins. So can having awesome hair. Good for you, Riot, you have both.
And there they are. My Jem Top Ten. This should make people nostalgic or eager to be a first time watcher. If you don't wanna get the DVDs, there are other ways to watch it. Either way, it's Truly Outrageous! Yeah, I said it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Top Ten Law and Order: Criminal Intent Episodes
Greetings,
It's been two weeks since the final episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Now there was no episode on last week and there will be no episode on tonight. So, I'm starting to think they were serious about this show going off the air. Well, so be it. I should have known. Two things proved that this show is over. One: they had a montage in that final episode. Two: I made my top ten episode list. Teardrops are falling.
This was difficult. This show was and is amazing, and we had so many great adventures with Detectives Bobby Goren and Alex Eames and all the other people. It was so hard to only pick ten, so maybe I'll do an honorable mention list someday. Until then, here are the winners.
#10. "The Faithful"(Season 1) - Here is where we first see the depths of Goren's theatricality when it comes to the interrogation room. He is the only person I think we would let get away with having that much fun with a schizophrenic, homeless guy. I'm not saying it's right; I'm just saying it's entertaining. And the donuts!? Talk about a nice blast from the past for D'Onofrio. What do you mean what do I mean? Go watch Full Metal Jacket!
#9. "Eosphoros"(Season 4) - No, I never tried to find out what that title means, but I'm sure it's relevant. For real, though, I did actually do a little research. Turns out that in Greek mythology, Eosphorus (spelled differently, but I think it's the same) is the Morning Star, which is what we also call Lucifer. Yes, there might just be a religious angle to this one. Anyway, this is a "ripped from the headlines" episode about a famous, old lady atheist who gets kidnapped and murdered. As someone who does believe in God, I venture to think she may have changed her mind about Him after the fact. Oh, and also, Frank Whaley was pretty enjoyable in this as one of the guest stars.
#8. "Untethered"(Season 7) - Over the years, many people believed that Goren should have been put away in some kind of facility for those who aren't exactly right in the mind. Because of...reasons. Well, this time, he put himself there. His intentions were noble, though, as he was trying to help out his nephew. Too bad it just made the people he worked for think he actually was crazy. Yep, it took them about SEVEN YEARS to figure out that he was maybe a little out of the ordinary. Don't know if I want those people in charge of the police department. In my opinion, as someone who also likes to think outside the box, strange, eccentric, even crazy is always better than dumb.
#7. "Rispetto"(Season 10) - This episode was alright, but the fact that it was the first one with Goren and Eames after over a year without them, I had to mention it. And Jay Mohr did a great job playing Charlie Sheen. No, wait! I mean, he did a great job playing a drug addict celebrity who goes insane...who is totally not Charlie Sheen...at all. Okay, my lawyer says I've done enough. Still... P.S. No one makes a prank phone call like Goren.
#6. "Anti-Thesis" (Season 2) - How could I not include the episode that introduced us to Goren's greatest nemesis, Nicole Wallace. She is played by the wonderful Olivia D'Abo, who acts this part brilliantly and will do so again in many subsequent episodes. She just knows how to get to Goren like no one else and it is so entertaining to watch. And, in regards to this episode, shout out to another guest actor here, Daniel London. He's not terribly well-known, but I always enjoy his work. Especially here.
#5. "In the Wee Small Hours"(Season 5) - This is one of only a few two part episodes in the series, maybe the only one, so they had to use both the teams of Goren and Eames as well as Logan and Barek from the "other" Criminal Intent. If you're a fan, you know what I mean. All of them together made it exceptionally good, and we were reminded of what a mama's boy Goren is. Not that there's anything wrong with a single man at that age being one. Seriously, though, he's just very, very protective of her, as any good son should be. Besides all that, this episode also feature a cameo by someone from my number one episode. Stay tuned.
#4. "The Unblinking Eye"(Season 4)/"Self-Made"(Season 7) - I had to make it a tie on this one, mainly because the reason they are so good is due to an actor who is in both of them. They feature a guy named Pablo Schreiber (yes, Liev Schreiber's little bro!) who played two totally different characters. But he did both of them so well that he practically stole the show, or should I say shows. Plus, I think he was the only person ever to guest star who is taller than Vincent D'Onofrio! I know it's not much, but congratulations to him. Oh, and there's also apparently an off-screen voice cameo by Matt Damon. No lie. The first episode is about actors; the second episode is about writers. So, if I had to pick which one is better than the other, I'd go with number two, because I'm a writer and narcissist. So, there you go. But it's still a tie.
#3. "Frame"(Season 7) - Where do I begin with this episode? I suppose with a major spoiler warning. We start with Goren's brother dying, then we finally become rid of his ultimate nemesis, the aforementioned Nicole Wallace, or as I call her MoriAdler. What? People compare Goren to Sherlock Holmes all the time, and Nicole Wallace is clearly a combo of Moriarty and Irene Adler. Hence, the nickname. And then, we have Tony award winner John Glover, playing what seems to be a polar opposite of the Smallville character for which he has become best known. It seems that clothes really do make the man. And of course, we get a little crazy from Goren. Need I say more.
#2. "End Game"(Season 6) - While investigating a murderer of the past, Goren manages to dig up a few disturbing secrets from his own past. We have here the beautiful Rita Moreno returning for her final performance as Goren's mother, and Roy Scheider as the jailed serial killer. And, no, he was not imprisoned for killing a lot of sharks. That's right. Jaws humor for one and all. Can it get any better than this? Well, I guess so. This is only number two.
#1. "Sound Bodies"(Season 3) - I won't go into huge detail here, but this episode is the best because of one fine young actor who I'm sure not enough people know about, and one scene that will go down in Law and Order history. The actor is named Billy Lush who I have seen in several different roles, including my number five pick on this list, but this is his best moment. Long story short, and not to give anything away about the plot, he has to make a little trip to the interrogation room. A lot of people do; it doesn't mean they're guilty of anything. While he's there, as usual, Goren starts pushing buttons. Most people would back down from him at this point, and I thought this kid was going to do it. But he did not. He did not, big time. What he did was slap Goren right across the face! He slapped Vincent D'Onofrio! And he lived to tell about it. Not many people can say that. And not many people will ever forget Goren's response to that infamous slap. His response, you may ask? One word: "Ouch!" Genius!!
So there it is. It's all over. I'm sad, but thanks to reruns and DVD, this wonderful show will last forever. I certainly will miss all the great actors and the characters that they brought to life, especially my beloved Bobby Goren, who, I am convinced, is my soulmate in some parallel universe. Anyway, I just hope that now Vincent D'Onofrio will have time to make some more great movies for us all to enjoy. And if he gets bored with that and wants to return to TV, there's always SVU.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
It's been two weeks since the final episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Now there was no episode on last week and there will be no episode on tonight. So, I'm starting to think they were serious about this show going off the air. Well, so be it. I should have known. Two things proved that this show is over. One: they had a montage in that final episode. Two: I made my top ten episode list. Teardrops are falling.
This was difficult. This show was and is amazing, and we had so many great adventures with Detectives Bobby Goren and Alex Eames and all the other people. It was so hard to only pick ten, so maybe I'll do an honorable mention list someday. Until then, here are the winners.
#10. "The Faithful"(Season 1) - Here is where we first see the depths of Goren's theatricality when it comes to the interrogation room. He is the only person I think we would let get away with having that much fun with a schizophrenic, homeless guy. I'm not saying it's right; I'm just saying it's entertaining. And the donuts!? Talk about a nice blast from the past for D'Onofrio. What do you mean what do I mean? Go watch Full Metal Jacket!
#9. "Eosphoros"(Season 4) - No, I never tried to find out what that title means, but I'm sure it's relevant. For real, though, I did actually do a little research. Turns out that in Greek mythology, Eosphorus (spelled differently, but I think it's the same) is the Morning Star, which is what we also call Lucifer. Yes, there might just be a religious angle to this one. Anyway, this is a "ripped from the headlines" episode about a famous, old lady atheist who gets kidnapped and murdered. As someone who does believe in God, I venture to think she may have changed her mind about Him after the fact. Oh, and also, Frank Whaley was pretty enjoyable in this as one of the guest stars.
#8. "Untethered"(Season 7) - Over the years, many people believed that Goren should have been put away in some kind of facility for those who aren't exactly right in the mind. Because of...reasons. Well, this time, he put himself there. His intentions were noble, though, as he was trying to help out his nephew. Too bad it just made the people he worked for think he actually was crazy. Yep, it took them about SEVEN YEARS to figure out that he was maybe a little out of the ordinary. Don't know if I want those people in charge of the police department. In my opinion, as someone who also likes to think outside the box, strange, eccentric, even crazy is always better than dumb.
#7. "Rispetto"(Season 10) - This episode was alright, but the fact that it was the first one with Goren and Eames after over a year without them, I had to mention it. And Jay Mohr did a great job playing Charlie Sheen. No, wait! I mean, he did a great job playing a drug addict celebrity who goes insane...who is totally not Charlie Sheen...at all. Okay, my lawyer says I've done enough. Still... P.S. No one makes a prank phone call like Goren.
#6. "Anti-Thesis" (Season 2) - How could I not include the episode that introduced us to Goren's greatest nemesis, Nicole Wallace. She is played by the wonderful Olivia D'Abo, who acts this part brilliantly and will do so again in many subsequent episodes. She just knows how to get to Goren like no one else and it is so entertaining to watch. And, in regards to this episode, shout out to another guest actor here, Daniel London. He's not terribly well-known, but I always enjoy his work. Especially here.
#5. "In the Wee Small Hours"(Season 5) - This is one of only a few two part episodes in the series, maybe the only one, so they had to use both the teams of Goren and Eames as well as Logan and Barek from the "other" Criminal Intent. If you're a fan, you know what I mean. All of them together made it exceptionally good, and we were reminded of what a mama's boy Goren is. Not that there's anything wrong with a single man at that age being one. Seriously, though, he's just very, very protective of her, as any good son should be. Besides all that, this episode also feature a cameo by someone from my number one episode. Stay tuned.
#4. "The Unblinking Eye"(Season 4)/"Self-Made"(Season 7) - I had to make it a tie on this one, mainly because the reason they are so good is due to an actor who is in both of them. They feature a guy named Pablo Schreiber (yes, Liev Schreiber's little bro!) who played two totally different characters. But he did both of them so well that he practically stole the show, or should I say shows. Plus, I think he was the only person ever to guest star who is taller than Vincent D'Onofrio! I know it's not much, but congratulations to him. Oh, and there's also apparently an off-screen voice cameo by Matt Damon. No lie. The first episode is about actors; the second episode is about writers. So, if I had to pick which one is better than the other, I'd go with number two, because I'm a writer and narcissist. So, there you go. But it's still a tie.
#3. "Frame"(Season 7) - Where do I begin with this episode? I suppose with a major spoiler warning. We start with Goren's brother dying, then we finally become rid of his ultimate nemesis, the aforementioned Nicole Wallace, or as I call her MoriAdler. What? People compare Goren to Sherlock Holmes all the time, and Nicole Wallace is clearly a combo of Moriarty and Irene Adler. Hence, the nickname. And then, we have Tony award winner John Glover, playing what seems to be a polar opposite of the Smallville character for which he has become best known. It seems that clothes really do make the man. And of course, we get a little crazy from Goren. Need I say more.
#2. "End Game"(Season 6) - While investigating a murderer of the past, Goren manages to dig up a few disturbing secrets from his own past. We have here the beautiful Rita Moreno returning for her final performance as Goren's mother, and Roy Scheider as the jailed serial killer. And, no, he was not imprisoned for killing a lot of sharks. That's right. Jaws humor for one and all. Can it get any better than this? Well, I guess so. This is only number two.
#1. "Sound Bodies"(Season 3) - I won't go into huge detail here, but this episode is the best because of one fine young actor who I'm sure not enough people know about, and one scene that will go down in Law and Order history. The actor is named Billy Lush who I have seen in several different roles, including my number five pick on this list, but this is his best moment. Long story short, and not to give anything away about the plot, he has to make a little trip to the interrogation room. A lot of people do; it doesn't mean they're guilty of anything. While he's there, as usual, Goren starts pushing buttons. Most people would back down from him at this point, and I thought this kid was going to do it. But he did not. He did not, big time. What he did was slap Goren right across the face! He slapped Vincent D'Onofrio! And he lived to tell about it. Not many people can say that. And not many people will ever forget Goren's response to that infamous slap. His response, you may ask? One word: "Ouch!" Genius!!
So there it is. It's all over. I'm sad, but thanks to reruns and DVD, this wonderful show will last forever. I certainly will miss all the great actors and the characters that they brought to life, especially my beloved Bobby Goren, who, I am convinced, is my soulmate in some parallel universe. Anyway, I just hope that now Vincent D'Onofrio will have time to make some more great movies for us all to enjoy. And if he gets bored with that and wants to return to TV, there's always SVU.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Sunday, May 29, 2011
For Jeff
Greetings,
So it seems that tomorrow is Memorial Day. Ironically, today is a day when I always remember a particular person. Sadly, I am reminded of him because of his death. That person is Jeff Buckley.
Unfortunately, I don't think many people know who he is. Certainly, not enough. He has been heard of in passing, I'm sure, and I know a lot of people who claim that they are fans because they have his cover of "Hallelujah" on their ipod. I, however, was so entranced by him that I learned as much as I could. Now I could sit here and list a bunch of facts about him, but that is not what he was about.
Jeff Buckley was all about a feeling. The feeling you get from his music, his words, his voice could overwhelm any person with a soul that appreciates art. He had such a story, such a life, and all of it could be known in one note from his mouth. I've heard him speak with that voice as well as sing, and it always sounded so soft and gentle, which was always the kind of man he appeared to be as well. It was as though he wanted to save that voice for each song. He didn't want to let us down. And he never did.
As inspiring as his life was, his death was just as tragic. I remember it well. And somehow drowning in the Mississippi River almost seems drenched in some mythological cliche of the rock legend that he has become. A source of another writer's inspiration becoming his funeral bed is almost too much to handle. But isn't the death of someone like this always that way? I know I still cry when I think about him dying. Thankfully, he was so full of life when he was still living it and sharing it that thoughts of his death manage to be held at bay when I listen to him sing.
I could go on for so long about him, but all anyone needs to know about him they can find in his music. So if you haven't yet, find it, listen to it, REALLY listen to it, then all will be clear. And you can all mourn along with me. It's a good thing, though, that, in this case, along with the mourning comes quite a bit of joy.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
So it seems that tomorrow is Memorial Day. Ironically, today is a day when I always remember a particular person. Sadly, I am reminded of him because of his death. That person is Jeff Buckley.
Unfortunately, I don't think many people know who he is. Certainly, not enough. He has been heard of in passing, I'm sure, and I know a lot of people who claim that they are fans because they have his cover of "Hallelujah" on their ipod. I, however, was so entranced by him that I learned as much as I could. Now I could sit here and list a bunch of facts about him, but that is not what he was about.
Jeff Buckley was all about a feeling. The feeling you get from his music, his words, his voice could overwhelm any person with a soul that appreciates art. He had such a story, such a life, and all of it could be known in one note from his mouth. I've heard him speak with that voice as well as sing, and it always sounded so soft and gentle, which was always the kind of man he appeared to be as well. It was as though he wanted to save that voice for each song. He didn't want to let us down. And he never did.
As inspiring as his life was, his death was just as tragic. I remember it well. And somehow drowning in the Mississippi River almost seems drenched in some mythological cliche of the rock legend that he has become. A source of another writer's inspiration becoming his funeral bed is almost too much to handle. But isn't the death of someone like this always that way? I know I still cry when I think about him dying. Thankfully, he was so full of life when he was still living it and sharing it that thoughts of his death manage to be held at bay when I listen to him sing.
I could go on for so long about him, but all anyone needs to know about him they can find in his music. So if you haven't yet, find it, listen to it, REALLY listen to it, then all will be clear. And you can all mourn along with me. It's a good thing, though, that, in this case, along with the mourning comes quite a bit of joy.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, May 16, 2011
Top Ten Smallville Episodes
Greetings,
So the weekend is over, and I have spent the last couple of days recovering from what happened on Friday night. It was a very bittersweet event, also known as the last episode of Smallville. I was not disappointed, mostly, because one of the great loves of my life, Lex Luthor, returned after a three year absence. But I thought it was a good ending, bringing together everything, and moving us on into the future that we knew we would get to from our past Superman experiences. A very good episode, getting honorable mention, though not exactly making my personal top ten. Those ones, which were difficult to choose, I will share right now.
#10. "Red" (Season 2) - When it comes to this show, I have obviously always been more of a Lex girl than a Clark girl. See, Clark is a good guy, which sometimes can translate into boring. Sorry. So there are moments of watching the show when we are at the Kent farm, where I yawn and think "Can we please go back to the Luthor mansion where something interesting might be happening?" In this episode, however, we are introduced to red Kryptonite, which doesn't hurt Clark or take his powers, but simply takes a way his inhibitions. In other words, it turns him into an awesomely awesome bad boy. So, after this episode, instead of requesting a change of scene venue, I could just ask for some red Kryptonite to spice things up.
#9. "Rosetta" (Season 2) - When most of us think of Superman and his legacy, our minds immediately go to Christopher Reeve. So I had to have this episode on my list. Here, Mr. Reeve is introduced as Dr. Virgil Swann, a scientist who somehow knows more about Clark's origins than anyone. The two meet and the doctor tells Clark many of the things he always wanted to know about himself, including, I think, his real name. Even though Christopher Reeve died a few years later after one more appearance, this character plays a huge part in years that followed. So it was an excellent introduction. And if you get the DVD, give this one a whirl with the commentary going. Oh, my poor, sweet Kristin Kreuk. Those boys barely let you get a word in! But we still love you.
#8. "Labyrinth" (Season 6) - I usually hate when shows steal ideas from other shows, which is what kind of happened here. Still, it's so good, it must be counted. Clark is locked in a mental institution having everyone tell him he is not a hero, but crazy. (Hello! Buffy, season six, "Normal Again". I guess James Marsters wasn't the only thing Smallville snatched up.) Anyway, he escapes, only to find the world outside is way lopsided. His mother is married to Lionel Luthor, Lana is living at the farm and in love with Clark, and, the best part, Lex pulls a Lt. Dan being in a wheel chair with no legs and blaming Clark for it! Only Chloe believes Clark's "delusions", but everyone says she's nuts, too. Another good thing here is that we meet the Martian Manhunter for the first time, and he is a big help in setting everything straight again.
#7. "Pilot" (Season 1) - I had to mention this one. It was an amazing opening to such a great show. The effects and the story were both extremely well done, not to mention the actors. And, of course, we have the iconic meeting of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, which leads them to being best friends, then best enemies with best frenemies in between. Such good frenemies, in fact, that I'm surprised Gossip Girl wasn't a spin off of this show.
#6. "Absolute Justice" (Season 9) - I can't believe I have an episode that doesn't include Lex, but it was so good, I had to do it, for a lot of reasons, but mainly one - Hawkman! But I'm getting ahead of myself. This is actually something of a two part episode, which is why I think it's the only one that has a two word title. Anyway, we get to meet some new superheroes, Hawkman, as I mentioned, (played by the amazing Michael Shanks) Stargirl, Dr. Fate, and a little villain called Icicle (this one led to the problem of bad jokes like, "I'm gonna turn that icicle into slush". No, thank you.) But it was very interesting as we learned of the Justice Society, which is like the Justice League but not quite, in a silent montage as we go through their home/headquarters. As a writer, I really love this episode, because the story is absolutely brilliant.
#5. "Arctic" (Season 7) - This is actually considered somewhat of a final episode for me, because it is the last one featuring Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor. It culminates with a standoff between Lex and Clark in the Fortress of Solitude of all places. Lex now knows everything about Clark and accuses him of not being a good friend because he didn't trust him enough to tell him the truth. In fact, he thinks Clark is a danger to the whole world and believes that he can save everyone by destroying his one time best friend and, in a way, brother. It gives us a good taste of what would become of them in the future.
#4. "Truth" (Season 3) - I like episodes where someone other than the MAIN main characters gets center stage. In this case, it's Chloe, one of Clark's best friends who wants to be more. After a trip to a Luthor Corp facility, she is infected with something green(I wonder), and when she asks people questions, they are forced to tell her the truth, a dream come true for a reporter. She exposes a teacher's criminal past, the fact that Lex wants his father to love him, and that Lionel Luthor killed his parents. She thinks these things are good info, but it leads to trouble. Trouble out of which, ultimately, Clark has to get her. Of course.
#3. "Spirit" (Season 4) - End of high school means graduation and, of course, prom, which brings in girls obsessed with being prom queen. This is no different in Smallville. We have a girl who really, REALLY wants to be queen, but she dies. This doesn't change things, because her spirit still wants that crown. She hops from body to body with that goal in mind. She even possesses Martha Kent, which gives us one of the funniest scenes in the shows history.
#2. "Transference" (Season 4) - Again, I hate thievery (Buffy, season 4, "Who Are You?"). However, this one was done so well, it had to be included. Lionel Luthor is in jail, and, with the help of some magical device, he wants to switch bodies with Lex, his own son, who put him there. Through a series of missteps, it is Clark who does the switch. Now what happens is what one would expect. Lionel discovers and enjoys all of Clark's powers, and Clark finds out some devastating info about Lionel. I must say, though, what makes this episode so great are the performances of Tom Welling and John Glover. Both of them absolutely nailed each other's mannerisms and speech. They were both phenomenal. Pay special attention to a scene between Martha and who she thinks is Clark, remembering that Lionel has always had a thing for her. A little creepy, but also hilarious.
#1. "Shattered" (Season 3) - There are many movies that make me not trust/hate the Oscars. This, my favorite episode, is one that makes me not trust/hate the Emmys. It has the most amazing performance by Michael Rosenbaum, and considering what a great actor he is, that is saying a lot. In a perfect world, he would have seven Emmys for each of his years on Smallville, but there you go. Here, Lex Luthor begins to behave in a way that makes many people question his sanity. Ultimately, after witnessing Clark using his powers and trying to convince people of what he saw, his father has him committed. The final scenes are breathtaking and, yes, Emmy worthy, for both Rosenbaum and John Glover. But I guess the best they will get is a top spot on my list. I hope they appreciate it.
And so, after ten years, this show has come to an end. It was interesting and entertaining and, despite what people may say about "shows like this", it showcased some of the finest actors and writers to ever be involved in television. Let's all pray for a spin off. I'm hoping for a little Superman/Batman something in our future. Fingers and capes crossed.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
So the weekend is over, and I have spent the last couple of days recovering from what happened on Friday night. It was a very bittersweet event, also known as the last episode of Smallville. I was not disappointed, mostly, because one of the great loves of my life, Lex Luthor, returned after a three year absence. But I thought it was a good ending, bringing together everything, and moving us on into the future that we knew we would get to from our past Superman experiences. A very good episode, getting honorable mention, though not exactly making my personal top ten. Those ones, which were difficult to choose, I will share right now.
#10. "Red" (Season 2) - When it comes to this show, I have obviously always been more of a Lex girl than a Clark girl. See, Clark is a good guy, which sometimes can translate into boring. Sorry. So there are moments of watching the show when we are at the Kent farm, where I yawn and think "Can we please go back to the Luthor mansion where something interesting might be happening?" In this episode, however, we are introduced to red Kryptonite, which doesn't hurt Clark or take his powers, but simply takes a way his inhibitions. In other words, it turns him into an awesomely awesome bad boy. So, after this episode, instead of requesting a change of scene venue, I could just ask for some red Kryptonite to spice things up.
#9. "Rosetta" (Season 2) - When most of us think of Superman and his legacy, our minds immediately go to Christopher Reeve. So I had to have this episode on my list. Here, Mr. Reeve is introduced as Dr. Virgil Swann, a scientist who somehow knows more about Clark's origins than anyone. The two meet and the doctor tells Clark many of the things he always wanted to know about himself, including, I think, his real name. Even though Christopher Reeve died a few years later after one more appearance, this character plays a huge part in years that followed. So it was an excellent introduction. And if you get the DVD, give this one a whirl with the commentary going. Oh, my poor, sweet Kristin Kreuk. Those boys barely let you get a word in! But we still love you.
#8. "Labyrinth" (Season 6) - I usually hate when shows steal ideas from other shows, which is what kind of happened here. Still, it's so good, it must be counted. Clark is locked in a mental institution having everyone tell him he is not a hero, but crazy. (Hello! Buffy, season six, "Normal Again". I guess James Marsters wasn't the only thing Smallville snatched up.) Anyway, he escapes, only to find the world outside is way lopsided. His mother is married to Lionel Luthor, Lana is living at the farm and in love with Clark, and, the best part, Lex pulls a Lt. Dan being in a wheel chair with no legs and blaming Clark for it! Only Chloe believes Clark's "delusions", but everyone says she's nuts, too. Another good thing here is that we meet the Martian Manhunter for the first time, and he is a big help in setting everything straight again.
#7. "Pilot" (Season 1) - I had to mention this one. It was an amazing opening to such a great show. The effects and the story were both extremely well done, not to mention the actors. And, of course, we have the iconic meeting of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, which leads them to being best friends, then best enemies with best frenemies in between. Such good frenemies, in fact, that I'm surprised Gossip Girl wasn't a spin off of this show.
#6. "Absolute Justice" (Season 9) - I can't believe I have an episode that doesn't include Lex, but it was so good, I had to do it, for a lot of reasons, but mainly one - Hawkman! But I'm getting ahead of myself. This is actually something of a two part episode, which is why I think it's the only one that has a two word title. Anyway, we get to meet some new superheroes, Hawkman, as I mentioned, (played by the amazing Michael Shanks) Stargirl, Dr. Fate, and a little villain called Icicle (this one led to the problem of bad jokes like, "I'm gonna turn that icicle into slush". No, thank you.) But it was very interesting as we learned of the Justice Society, which is like the Justice League but not quite, in a silent montage as we go through their home/headquarters. As a writer, I really love this episode, because the story is absolutely brilliant.
#5. "Arctic" (Season 7) - This is actually considered somewhat of a final episode for me, because it is the last one featuring Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor. It culminates with a standoff between Lex and Clark in the Fortress of Solitude of all places. Lex now knows everything about Clark and accuses him of not being a good friend because he didn't trust him enough to tell him the truth. In fact, he thinks Clark is a danger to the whole world and believes that he can save everyone by destroying his one time best friend and, in a way, brother. It gives us a good taste of what would become of them in the future.
#4. "Truth" (Season 3) - I like episodes where someone other than the MAIN main characters gets center stage. In this case, it's Chloe, one of Clark's best friends who wants to be more. After a trip to a Luthor Corp facility, she is infected with something green(I wonder), and when she asks people questions, they are forced to tell her the truth, a dream come true for a reporter. She exposes a teacher's criminal past, the fact that Lex wants his father to love him, and that Lionel Luthor killed his parents. She thinks these things are good info, but it leads to trouble. Trouble out of which, ultimately, Clark has to get her. Of course.
#3. "Spirit" (Season 4) - End of high school means graduation and, of course, prom, which brings in girls obsessed with being prom queen. This is no different in Smallville. We have a girl who really, REALLY wants to be queen, but she dies. This doesn't change things, because her spirit still wants that crown. She hops from body to body with that goal in mind. She even possesses Martha Kent, which gives us one of the funniest scenes in the shows history.
#2. "Transference" (Season 4) - Again, I hate thievery (Buffy, season 4, "Who Are You?"). However, this one was done so well, it had to be included. Lionel Luthor is in jail, and, with the help of some magical device, he wants to switch bodies with Lex, his own son, who put him there. Through a series of missteps, it is Clark who does the switch. Now what happens is what one would expect. Lionel discovers and enjoys all of Clark's powers, and Clark finds out some devastating info about Lionel. I must say, though, what makes this episode so great are the performances of Tom Welling and John Glover. Both of them absolutely nailed each other's mannerisms and speech. They were both phenomenal. Pay special attention to a scene between Martha and who she thinks is Clark, remembering that Lionel has always had a thing for her. A little creepy, but also hilarious.
#1. "Shattered" (Season 3) - There are many movies that make me not trust/hate the Oscars. This, my favorite episode, is one that makes me not trust/hate the Emmys. It has the most amazing performance by Michael Rosenbaum, and considering what a great actor he is, that is saying a lot. In a perfect world, he would have seven Emmys for each of his years on Smallville, but there you go. Here, Lex Luthor begins to behave in a way that makes many people question his sanity. Ultimately, after witnessing Clark using his powers and trying to convince people of what he saw, his father has him committed. The final scenes are breathtaking and, yes, Emmy worthy, for both Rosenbaum and John Glover. But I guess the best they will get is a top spot on my list. I hope they appreciate it.
And so, after ten years, this show has come to an end. It was interesting and entertaining and, despite what people may say about "shows like this", it showcased some of the finest actors and writers to ever be involved in television. Let's all pray for a spin off. I'm hoping for a little Superman/Batman something in our future. Fingers and capes crossed.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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