55/100 True Blood (Authority Always Wins) (TV Review)

True Blood (2012)
Ep - Authority Always Wins
Airdate - June 17, 2012
HBO

Cut for spoilers and will do that from now on and will put the spoiler free analysis above the cut.

This episode was less frenetic than the first and less intense. Still full of plot and continues the plot lines of the first episode. I continue to think this will be a good season. I really enjoy the fast sequencing and pace of this show and the multiple story lines happening in each episode.

( Cut for spoilers...overview above the cut... )

Show web site for cast and credits:
http://www.hbo.com/#/true-blood

Overall rating:
Totally into this.

Recommend:
Yes, if you like gore and gothicness.

Warnings:
Sexual content and supernatural grossness.

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56/100 Longmire (A Damn Shame) (tv review)

Longmire (2012)
ep A Damn Shame
Television series on A&E

Show Summary: (A&E website)
Widowed only a year, Longmire is a man in psychic repair that buries his pain behind a brave face and dry wit. Struggling since his wife's death and at the urging of his daughter, Cady, Longmire knows that the time has come to turn his life around. With the help of Vic, a female deputy new to the department, he becomes reinvigorated about his job and committed to running for re-election. When Branch, an ambitious, young deputy decides to run against him for sheriff, Longmire feels betrayed but remains steadfast in his dedication to the community. Longmire often turns to close friend and confidant Henry Standing Bear for support as he sets out to rebuild both his personal and professional life, one step at a time. Robert Taylor stars.

Episode Summary:
Long buried family secrets come to the surface after a man and his horses are killed in a barn fire.

I skipped an episode of this show as I was not all that into that Amish plot. This one was good as a man torches his barn and fakes his own death to get insurance money. What I like about this episode is what it reveals about the skills and character of Sherriff Longmire. There is one horse left alive and Longmire is willing to do whatever it takes and pay the vet to save the horse. What happens and then what is actually happening is not apparent and Longmire figures it out by cleverly following the clues to reveal the true nature of the crime. At the end, he finally has to let the horse go and reads a beautiful poem to him. This was a lovely scene and a sad moment.

A really beautiful ending for this tragic episode. I am really enjoying this show and the strength of the lead character.

A&E website for this program:
http://www.aetv.com/longmire/

Overall rating:
Solid entertainment and intriguing characters

Recommend:
Yeah, I would.

Warnings:
Violent situations and some gore. Horses die in this one.

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57/100 CSI Miami (tv review)

CSI Miami (2009)

Show Summary:
Crime scene investigation unit in Miami, Florida headed up by Horatio Kane.

So I have always been resistant to CSI with all their spin offs but I caught some old episodes of CSI Miami today and I have to write something about this. Horatio Kane (David Caruso) is a really compelling character and Miami is a truly interesting setting for this show. I love the scenery and panoramic shots of Florida here. I guess I am finally getting what this is all about.

One of the shows I caught was the flashback episode and the formation of the CSI unit. Now this was really interesting because Kane is just a regular Homicide cop here but he uses creative forensics methods which get him the attention of higher ups. They give him the go ahead to form the Crime Scene Investigation Unit in Miami based on these new techniques that he is using. This episode was very good and very interesting.

I used to only think the Las Vegas show was any good but Miami, all the way. I have to also give it up for the supporting cast and they are easy on the eyes and well played.

This is a good show and worth a good review! Yay!


IMDB for cast and credits:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313043/

Overall rating:
Very good and interesting show. Strong central character.

Recommend:
Yes.

Warnings:
Autopsy scenes are hard to take.

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58/100 Criminal Minds (Scared to Death) (tv review)

Criminal Minds (2007)
ep Scared to Death

Show Summary:
A man poses as a therapist to help people get over their worst fears and he kills them with their actual worst fear. Serial killer.

I was not going to watch this one, as I have seen it before but it is a very interesting episode. The killer is a therapist who has childhood issues with fear himself and kills people in the throes of their worst fears realized. He posts ads in local stores and laundrymats in the guise of doing a "study" on the topic and helping people get over their fears and thus entraps unsuspecting people in his web. Scary stuff. He takes notes as he works on people and each kill is customized for the specific person - one person is afraid of water, another afraid of being buried alive and so on. You can see how it goes. The killer in this episode is well done and very clinical in his approach, he stages his office in an empty office building and constructs the ruse very well.

Very creepy. This show sometimes is almost too creepy.

CBS Website for the show:
http://www.cbs.com/shows/criminal_minds/

Overall rating:
Good episode and very creepy to me. I can see how people would have fallen for this guy.

Recommend:
Yes but scary stuff.

Warnings:
None for this episode. No blood or anything. Creep factor.

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59/60 Unwritten (music video - US)

Unwritten
by Natasha Bedingfield


This is one of my favorite songs, a frequent play on my iphone on the way to work. I find the lyrics inspiring and energizing. This version of the video is the American one and I will post the other one I found as it is quite different.

Best lyric here is - Live your life with arms wide open...

Words to live by.

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60/100 Unwritten (music video - UK)

Unwritten
by Natasha Bedingfield

Here is the UK version and it seems a little more intellectual, surreal and esoteric. More literary too. I like both of the videos but this one is more visually interesting. Note there is an ad on this video and you can skip that after 5 seconds.

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