Castle Review: “Hunt”

C: No. No-no-no-no-no. You cannot do this to me. No! No no no! That’s Robin Scherbatsky, summing up my reaction to this episode. Guys… did Castle just jump the shark?

E: Er, no?  I will agree, though, it was a very disappointing conclusion to last week’s rather thrilling kidnapping episode.

M: As you guys know, I was out of town last week, and not only missed doing the recap with you guys, but didn’t see any TV. So I watched the two back to back, and while it was a disappointing second half, I didn’t think it was as bad as C is making it out to seem. It was HORRIBLY predictable, though.

Fall TV Preview 2011: Monday

M: Welcome to day two of our yearly Fall TV preview.  As in past years, we’re going through each night of the week and list what the major networks are putting forth for you, the TV viewer.  We’ll try to hit up on the major shows on the not-so-major networks, too.  If we miss something, please comment and let us know, and we can make sure to include it in the future, and to heap praise or snark on it in our responding comments!  Oh, and in case you haven’t seen our past previews, here’s a quick key:

• Titles in blue are new this season.
• Each * means one Quibbling Sibling will be tuning in.
• For Saturday and Sunday’s preview click here.

Thoughts on the Forthcoming 2011 Emmy Nominations

E: Let’s make it simple here.  We’ve got the Emmy’s in the real world, and we’ve got them in E’s world. And let’s start with what’s most important.

In E’s world, lots of The Good Wife actors and staff will get nominated.

In the real world, this is probably going to happen, too. 

There honestly seems to be no doubt that this is the best drama on network TV.  You’d be hard pressed to find a critic to dispute that. (Well, okay.  This is the internet age.  Dispute is easy.  Still. It seems to be a truth universally accepted.)  Julianna Margulies, Archie Panjabi and Christine Baranski have good shots at repeat nods.  I’d like to think that either Alan Cummings or Matt Czurchy or Chris Noth had shots at a supporting nod, but I don’t really expect it will happen.  Perhaps Cummings will get lucky, though.  And hopefully we’ll have some Guest Star nods, like last year.  We’ve had some spectacular ones.  You have to imagine that Michael J. Fox, being who he is, and considering the showy nature of his role, has a very solid shot.  But of course, I’d like to see Martha Plimpton get notice for her incomparable Patti Nyholm. On the other hand, I’d be happy to see her score a Comedy nod for her excellent work in Raising Hope, even if it’s no where near as genius as what she does on TGW.

Chuck Review: “Chuck Versus the Balcony”

C: This week’s Chuck opens, after a scene of spy hijinks [E: Spyjinks!], with Chuck and Sarah in a fancy Italian restaurant where a nervous Chuck babbles incoherently, clutching an engagement ring in his hand. He asserts to Sarah that, with all that’s been happening in the past few weeks, with him mom and Volkoff and everything, he hasn’t been thinking at all about what really matters: him and Sarah.

Cue the noise of skidding tires in my brain. Excusemewhat? Has there been a single episode where Chuck didn’t obsess about their relationship?

E: Um, no.

Chuck Review: “Chuck Vs. the First Fight”

E: Best episode of Chuck since the almost-finale last year – who’s with me?   Secret messages, freaking awesome guest stars,  great fight sequences, terrific twists, comedy – this episode had it all!

M: I don’t know if I’d say it was better than Couch Lock…

E: I would…

M: but it was definitely right up there.  There was a lot to like.