Mad Men – Recap & Review – Far Away Places

photo: amc

Mad Men
Far Away Places

Original Air Date: Apr 22, 2012

Ryan O – Associate Staff Writer
ryano@thetwocentscorp.com

This episode plays with the narrative structure a little bit. It shows us a single day but from the point of view of Peggy, then Roger, and finally Don. It’s something that Mad Men hadn’t done before. While the episode was successful, I’m not sure the story-telling device was entirely necessary.

As for the story being told, we see what is most important to the three characters and then we watch them fail at it. They then return to something else in their lives in order to give their lives balance.

My Two Cents: The Amazing Race By The Numbers – Which Team Is the Best Ever?

Have you ever wondered which Amazing Race team was the best ever? Maybe you’ve had a feeling that luck plays a pretty big role in the final?

Well, let’s see what the numbers say! (Spoiler: The best team is not a married couple whose husband is a Boston Red Sox fan!)

I collected the results from all 19 seasons (except for the family edition because we’ve all agreed never to speak of that again). Then, I found each team’s average place of finish for their season. I also looked for each team’s worst placement. As a comparison, I averaged the placements of all first-place teams across all of the seasons, then all second-place teams, and so forth.

The Amazing Race – Recap & Review – Bollywood Travolta (Cochin, India)

photo: cbs

The Amazing Race
Bollywood Travolta (Cochin, India)

Original Air Date: Apr 22, 2012

Ryan O – Associate Staff Writer
ryano@thetwocentscorp.com

India! It’s unusual when a season doesn’t send the racers through India although these racers don’t have to go through Mumbai or one of the other big cities (yet).

This episode also features Mark hanging in there and give one particular task everything he has even after the other teams were long gone. And that’s after fighting a losing battle against motion sickness while riding the bus.

Once Upon a Time – Recap & Review – The Return

photo: abc

Once Upon a Time
The Return

Original Air Date: Apr 22, 2012

Wyner C – TwoCents Reviewer
wyner@thetwocentscorp.com

All tyrants revel in their power. It’s human nature to abuse power but I would like to believe a moral compass exist somewhere. In Rumpel’s case, it’s his son. Poor Baelfire will be disappointed for being virtuous – you know karma always hits the good to punish the evil. Life sucks, you just have to roll with it.

In Fairytale, Rumpel is on a major power trip after turning into “The Dark One.” He’s killing people willy nilly – like any great tyrant. Everyone is scared of Rumpel and his son, Baelfire. It’s probably because Rumpel turns people into snails and steps on them – he even killed his mute maid who might have overheard some dagger secret.

Fringe – Recap & Review – Letters of Transit

photo: fox

Fringe
Letters of Transit

Original Air Date: Apr 20, 2012

Rachel – Sr. Managing Editor
rachel@thetwocentscorp.com

So in 2015 all hell broke loose. The Observers stepped out of the shadows and began to not so much ‘observe’ as to ‘conquer.’ Think Occupied Caprica. In 2036 we meet a feisty young agent of the now-hobbled Fringe Division. FD has been relegated by The Observers to deal with only “Native” crimes, Natives being the humans that were left after the initial resistance to Observer rule was quashed. But as we all know, it’s hard to keep a good resistance down. The agent, Etta, enters what appears to be an Observer night club just in time to save an Observer from a Native assault. Or perhaps it was the other way around? When the Observer in question tries to read her mind (and intentions), he finds her an upright citizen just doing her job. The Observer lets her go on her way with the Native.

Her real intention had been to meet up with that very Native to settle and “outstanding order.” She had tasked him with finding the original Fringe Division team who mysteriously disappeared when the Observers took over the planet. It’s been years, but in the back of his van is an amberized Walter. When she sees him, she instinctively reaches for the necklace at her throat. A locket, maybe? But what about the rest of his team. The Native found them, too, but is killed by what looks like another Native before he can disclose the location. She takes AmberWalter to a brilliant FD scientist named Simon (or you can call him Desmond if you need a Constant) for help.

Supernatural – Recap & Review – Of Grave Importance

photo: cw

Supernatural
Of Grave Importance

Original Air Date: Apr 20, 2012

Alyssa Silva – Associate Staff Writer
alyssa@thetwocentscorp.com

In another nod to its roots, the show returns to some good ol’ fashioned ghost hunting this week. They meet up with an old friend called Annie (who has, incidentally, slept with Bobby, Dean and Sam) and encounter Whitman Van Ness, a ghost who feeds off his victims to maintain his reign of terror over the Van Ness house.

While the Winchesters take on Whitman in the real word, Bobby sets out to find a way to reveal himself to the boys.

Grimm – Recap & Review – Cat and Mouse

photo: nbc

Grimm
Cat and Mouse

Original Air Date: Apr 20, 2012

Wyner C – TwoCents Reviewer
wyner@thetwocentscorp.com

“Perhaps some accident has befallen him,” said the king, and the next day he sent out two more huntsmen who were to search for him.

A bounty hunter is on the loose in Portland, Grimm and I’m not talking about Dog and his hideous mullet. This dude is suave, calculating and merciless – how any secret organization likes their assassins. If he’s for hire, Dog the Bounty Hunter would be out of a job and the world would be safer.

In Plain Sight – Recap & Review – The Medal of Mary

photo: usa

In Plain Sight
The Medal of Mary

Original Air Date: Apr 20, 2012

Jules – News Editor
jules@thetwocentscorp.com

We ended last week’s episode with Mary cuffing her dad, thus beginning the wrap up of the story of Mary’s MIA fugitive dad, which is fine by me because you don’t keep mentioning this large looming figure in Mary’s life for five seasons for nothing.

In tonight’s antepenultimate (a new word I learned today!) episode, we delve into why James is back and what he’s been up to. With so much going on for Mary (and Marshall-his dad is back), let’s not waste any space here. James is now in the custody of the FBI. It’s late and Marshall comes down to see how Mary’s doing. Awww. Mary also gets the “how are you doing?” the next morning from Stan and Delia.

Rules Of Engagement – Recap & Review – Missed Connection

photo: cbs

Rules of Engagement
Missed Connection

Original Air Date: Apr 19, 2012

Karen – Sr Staff Writer
Karen@thetwocentscorp.com

Another disappointing episode for me, as we watch Audrey and Jeff try to determine; which of them is the cause of not being cool enough to hang around with the new couple in the building. We had Timmy, experience a moment of love at first sight at the subway station and I was hoping that finally he was going to have a relationship in future episodes. Adam was…well…Adam.

Here is a rundown on what happened…

Community – Recap & Review – Virtual Systems Analysis

photo: nbc

Community
Virtual Systems Analysis

Original Air Date: Apr 19, 2012

Shannon – Associate Editor
shannon@thetwocentscorp.com

The group has a cram session in the study room for biology. Dean Pelton comes in to tell them that biology has been cancelled for today. Also Dean is dressed in half man half woman. Even he knows it’s weird. The group breaks up to procrastinate and Annie suggests that Troy and Britta check out a new restaurant because she picks up on the vibes the two are laying down.

Abed shows Annie how the Dreamatorium works but Annie goofs it up. Abed is angry with her for messing with the fabric of the group and setting up Britta and Troy. Then Abed acts out how the date will play out.