drama

This week, we’re back to regular pairings, and to a good end, signaling a return to what folks who work in the warehouse call “normalcy.” This much anticipated episode, titled “The Big Snag,” has a delightful double entendre that deals with both Pete and Myka’s case, as well as Claudia, Jinks, and Artie’s (yes, he’s gone active this episode) case.

Branded is the sort of film that could have been a success. As a Russian-American film, it doesn’t ascribe to many of the cultural aesthetics U.S. movie goers are accustomed to. It has a different sort of wit and melodrama, darker and more helpless. Differences aside, there are characteristics of the film, particularly in its pacing, CGI, and a world view that’s very snobbish.

This week Warehouse 13 leaves much of its darkness behind, bringing forth some snappy Pete humor, as well as bucketloads of feels condensed into two significant, magical moments. Saul Rubinek and Aaron Ashmore killed it, as did Eddie McClintock. It was also nice shaking up the usual agent pairings, bringing a needed equilibrium with recent happenings.

“Variations Under Domestication” is the Venn Diagram of Beth, Alison, and Sarah’s life intersecting at suburban crisis point. Vic [the Dick] has met Alison who he thinks is Sarah. Paul knows Beth is dead and who he thought was Beth is really Sarah. Alison and Cosima are, well, in trouble.

Pete, because quiet reflection is not his gig, comments “Right. You know, it’s always ultimately death. I mean, artifacts never release a plague of tickles, or an epidemic of kittens.” How the cast manages to keep a straight face for that take is beyond me.

[Full episode recap with a side of review!]

Last week, Sarah/Beth quit Beth’s job. Helena, stabbed by Sarah, survived and was picked up by a mysterious man. It seems …
Read More

This week, Orphan Black proved itself as excellent mystery and suspense television that can knot up the mystery twice as fast as it can unravel it. Further explored are the notions of nature versus nature, and how “Effects of External Conditioning” can mold a person. Or clones, in this instance. Same people, different influences.

Sarah comes face to face with two other copies: high strung Alison who gets the full on clone-slap for pointing a gun at Felix, and the more relaxed but brainiac version, Cosima. Sarah gets the 411 on the Clone Club, first rule being “Don’t talk about Clone Club.”

Orphan Black is back! While definitely not as frenzied (but does it ever have its moments) as its pilot,it is every bit as intense. And while there were a few moments that were simply too obvious, the mystery itself is still every bit as intriguing.

Not only is Orphan Black excellent, it is a near 180 counterpoint to Doctor Who. Part Dollhouse, part Ringer, part Dark Angel, and yet all its own.
Orphan Black has no innocence, its main character, Sarah, is a quick-thinking punk from England who can hustle.

The film attempts to show a sympathetic body snatcher while telling a story of forever love, resistance, and perseverance. It dies trying. It is a galactic conceit that the alien souls have colonized twelve planets and yet never considered that hosts would care about their presence or eradication.

David Cronenberg is known to be the most prominent representative of what is called Body Horror, a sub genre of horror that explores the fear of having the body and …
Read More