Television Breakdown: But Once A Year

Fringe: Marionette

For most of this week, I felt like putting Fringe in shotgun and giving Glee a shot at being this week's top show. I changed my mind, because the fact of the matter is that I love Fringe too much to give it second fiddle. The reason I give such fanatical devotion to this show that it rivals Knives Chau is that it keeps surprising me and delivering the best television. Last week may be the action-packed episode that people will always remember, but I was much more fascinated by the "picking up the pieces" episode that Marionette was. This was the first week that our Olivia was back on the job, and it felt so precious in nature. Everything is back as it was, but it will never feel the same. The way we felt before venturing over there has been recycled in place of a new atmosphere.

The case of the week will always serve to translate what the characters are feeling at that point in their lives. This week focused on a man who has been taking the organs out of people's bodies in service of a goal. He wanted to give the gift of life to somebody who didn't treasure it when they had it. There's actually nothing that you can really hate about the so-called "bad guy" of this week, because his intentions were good and he tried his best not to kill anyone. It seems a lot like a certain mad scientist who broke the stitches in the fabric of the universe to save a little boy. This season has taken a great deal of the focus off of Walter, but there was a subtle nod to his own tragedy throughout.

However, the real tragedy that this episode was focused on telling was Olivia's. As a matter of fact, this whole season could be said to be mostly about Olivia, just as Season 2 was about Walter. Olivia has had a rough eight episodes this season. She's been abducted and tortured, brainwashed into believing that she was someone she wasn't, and poked with icky needles. She's gone through more trauma than any one human being should be put through, and she still insists on going back to work immediately. She made a promise to save both worlds, even though she'd probably rather just take a nap. The first step is getting back to work, and suffering through all the misery. So for all I care, Bella Swan from Twilight can go to hell, you pathetic whore! Sorry. Off topic?

The case was rather routine in actuality, but it was written and presented in such a way that it never seemed such. Walter's trademark enthusiasm at the strangeness and nature of the case was as perfect as it ever has been. The cinematography and music were a bit off-kilter in a fantastic way, almost as if to symbolize that everything has changed and will never be the same again. I'm not usually commenting on this in terms of this series, but the art direction was absolutely phenomenal. I don't care if they used already standing structures for their sets. It was still beautiful. I also have to bring up Lance Reddick and Jasika Nicole's short appearances, as it just felt like we were all finally back home. No more imposters. No more government suppressors. It was perfect.

However, what most fans of this series tuned in for was the drama between Olivia and Peter. We knew that things would be different for the two of them, but we thought it would play out a lot slower than it did. Not that they still don't have a lot to work with or through, but this episode was substantial. It was confirmed very early on that Peter was going to tell Olivia everything that happened, and then he actually did just that shortly later. It was definitely a shock for her and us when it came out of almost thin air. We knew that she wasn't as fine as she said, and that became even more true as the episode went onward. Her reaction to her home. Her little spat with Peter. It was all more than a little heartbreaking below the surface. The final scene nailed down everything that she was feeling, and made it impossible for us to contest with what she was feeling. Her life had been stolen by somebody else, and nobody even noticed that anything had happened. Her feelings are true, and the perfect relationship between Olivia and Peter can no longer exist. I'm sorry that I mistakenly said that last week's episode was the one Anna Torv should enter for the Emmy, because it's not. This is. Marionette was an elegant ballet with each and every character, and it ended in tragedy. I can't wait for this show to return on Fridays, but on a semi-related note, I can't wait to see Black Swan!

10 out of 10

Glee: A Very Glee Christmas

I don't really care about what Christmas is actually about. I always warmed up to what it represented in our modern culture. It's the warmest and happiest time of the year emotionally, despite the frigid cold. Sure, suicides spike around this time of year, but for those of us who still cling to childhood, it means the same thing it did when we were young. The world is an endlessly cruel place, and that can not be overstated. Somehow, we're able to set that all aside during this one time of the year. We set aside the debts, college expenses, war, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime, corruption, and the ice-capades, and are just happy for what we have.

So what better represents the unbridled joy of Christmas than Glee, or more specifically, one character on Glee. Brittany has slowly become my favorite character of this series. She embodies everything cute and adorable about childhood, and everything fun about being a teenager. She's grown from a rather one-sided pawn of Sue Sylvester's to a genuinely lovable character. So this episode's focus on Brittany was more than welcome, and I'm glad to see her given more and more screen time. Heather Morris' bright and bubbly performance was what landed her a place as a cameo in Season 1's Preggers, then as a recurring character, and now a full fledged regular. Consider me contented.

The storyline of Brittany still believing in Santa, and Artie trying to preserve that spirit for her couldn't be anymore perfect. I wish that was the entire episode, because that would've made it an instant classic. The Glee club's trip to see Black Santa was absolutely hysterical, and it gave us some of the season's best quotes ("I want bling. I can't be any more specific than that." OR "I want Channing Tatum to stop being in stuff."). However, the best moment was Brittany's as she asked Santa for one thing: She wanted Artie to be able to walk. It was one of the sweetest little gestures ever, and solidified Brittany's place in the heart of this show. It was recently announced that the characters will graduate in 2012, and I can say confidently that Brittany will be the hardest to say goodbye to.

Even better than the trip to Santa was Coach Beiste's talk with Brittany while dressed in Santa's outfit. Bieste has been making her way into our hearts as this season has steamed forward, and she's almost got a Precious sort of character at this point. She may not be pretty or beautiful, but we love her. However, the most shocking moment of the episode came at the end, when the Glee club entered the choir room to see Artie using a pair of mechanical legs to stand up and walk. Brittany's first gasp as Artie tries out his new "Re-walk" was absolutely precious. That was only one part of this episode, but it was the best. Will's desperation throughout the episode was done pretty well, and his short scenes between him and Emma were done really well.

What I didn't like about this episode was Rachel and Finn. I feel like I can rightfully say that I don't like the two supposed leads of this series, but I don't like the two leads of this series. Finn has just overstayed his welcome. Rachel has gone back to be annoying and unlikable. Their time has past. I'm not waiting for them to get back together. I want Rachel to grow up, and stop being such a [girl dog]. On top of that, I wasn't a fan of most of the music in this episode. It felt rather routine, and the two songs of Sue's storyline, fun and welcome though it was, were just cartoonish. Then again, this is Glee. The best of the group was "Baby It's Cold Outside" by Kurt and Blaine. Kurt's presence in this episode was minimalized to a cameo, but I think that should make his presence a little more welcome. I also love to hate how cruel the first classroom the Glee club caroled to was to our heroes. The soul of this episode was still Brittany, and there it shall always lie. No other episode this season made me feel nearly this much. Was it the best? Probably not, but it was perfect in it's own way.

9 out of 10

The Walking Dead: TS-19

It's just not fair. The Walking Dead doesn't deserve to end it's first season after only six episodes. You don't get to come onto the airwaves and make someone care, only to check out early. This show hasn't been an easy one to give length reviews on, because there's really only a few things to touch on per week. It's actually a rather simple show when you get right down to it. It's about people trying to survive and build a life after the world has ended. So in that respect, this wasn't really much of a departure. In every other respect, the finale was a complete departure from what we've expected from the first five episodes of this season. Instead of a gritty fight against countless undead, it was a calm intensity against the prospect of extinction.

The episode was a science fiction tale focusing on the main team's fight to escape the CDC and the grasp of Dr. Jenner. The man who played Jenner was as perfect as cameo could be, and I actually rather liked him. I could guess most of the events involving his character early on, but it was powerful nonetheless. For me, the best moment of the episode was the adrenaline fueled finale, complete with struggle, emotion, and explosions. Dale and Andrea's moment was the highlight of it all. If we didn't have those two characters to root for to get out, there wouldn't be nearly as much tension as there was. Ultimately, a fitting end to a fitting season. Just a year until Season 2. Prepare to count down the days.

8.8 out of 10