LOST: "Ab Aeterno"

Original Air Date
March 23, 2010

Description
Richard must make a difficult decision.

Notes
(A) So were we just handed the keys to the whole concept of the show during this episode? Or are they just fucking with us? The Island apparently is Hell, the afterlife, the underworld... or at least the cork between the underworld and real world.

The episode was compelling. Finally we get to know Richard. Nestor Carbonell, who has not been given a lot of heavy material to deal with, shined in this Richard-centric episode.

Apparently he is the intermediary of Jacob, or has been for over 100 years. He was brought to the island, like many believed, on the Black Rock. Apparently his boat is what destroyed the Jacob's colossus.

So the question main question for me heading into the finale episodes is who is going to be the candidate that emerges to fill Jacob's void. Also, how is Whitmore going to play into this. What does he want with the island?

In any case, the final struggle seems to have been cast and now it is time to watch the drama unfold. I can't believe we got so many answers in one episode.

SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND: "Whore"

Original Air Date
March 19, 2010

Description
Batiatus breaks the news that Spartacus is to service the richest woman in Rome.

Notes
(A-) The plot thickens. What a crazy turn of events. Lucretia showed that she is just as cruel and deceitfully disgusting and wicked as her husband. She tricks Llithyia into having sex with Spartacus, the man she had tried to kill. I am not sure why she would mistake him for Crixis, the real gladiator that she wanted to have relations with, but she did. I know they were wearing masks, but still they have significantly different bodies.

Lucretia makes sure that this orgy is discovered by one of Llithyia's friends, a scandal that would no doubt rock Rome. It would shame her husband who had sold Spartacus into slavery. Not shockingly, Llithyia reacts emotionally and slams her friend's head into the marble floor and kills her. It appears Lucretia now has the power in that relationship. Llithyia had been demonstrative the entire season toward Lucretia but that will have to change.

One thing that I did not particularly understand in this episode was Ashur trying to make a comeback to the arena as a gladiator. He is apparently upset when Batiatis refuses this overture. So much so that Ashur warns his master's nemesis of an assassination attempt. Why would Ashur want this? I guess for pride? It didn't seem to fit.

Other than that this episode was great and I can't wait to see where it goes from here.

COMMUNITY: "Beginner Pottery"

Original Air Date
March 16, 2010

Description
Jeff shows off his competitive side in pottery class while the others take up sailing.

Notes
(B) No Ghost re-enactments! Nice. That was pretty funny -- nice guest spot by Tony Hale (Arrested Development). It was a serviceable episode that certainly had its moments. For example, when the sail boat when cruising past the classroom window.

30 ROCK: "Don Geiss, America and Hope"

Original Air Date
March 18, 2010

Description
Jack struggles to find his new place in the business after hearing of the Kabletown buy out and Liz continues to wonder if Wesley is the “"one.”"

Notes
(C) I think 30 Rock is sort of in a mid-season slump. It is a little direction-less at this point. However, that is hard to say, given that this show is not about long story arcs.

I was disappointed that there was no Elizabeth Banks in this episode. The Kabletown storyline doesn't seem to be going anywhere. As I have said before, it makes sense to address the Comcast deal, but at the same time it is not really that amusing if it doesn't address some of the corporate issues that this causes.

Regardless of that there just was not a lot of funny in this episode. The Tracy story line, about being faithful to his wife, was great but could have been expanded upon. It was the best part of the episode.

LOST: "Recon"

Original Air date
March 16, 2010

Description
John Locke assigns Sawyer a mission.

Notes
(B-) No game-changer moments in this episode. It was decent, but there really is not much to say about this episode, which did nothing to clarify anything and continues on the alt-world without Jacob path.

The only bit of fun was the fact that James was a cop in this episode. That was awesome. I liked that. I would love to watch that spin-off.

I guess the only question that presents itself in this episode is.. who is Sawyer really going to screw over?

LOST: "Dr. Linus"

Original Air Date
March 9, 2010

Description
Ben deals with the consequences of a lie.

Notes
(C) I am not sure why, but I did not care for this episode that much. I have to admit it was compelling in a lot of ways, but it just didn't gel for me in some way.

Perhaps, this is largely because I still don't know what the significance of the sideways timeline is all about. Does that timeline matter at all in the grand scheme? And honestly, I guess the happenings of Dr. Linus, the history teacher just was not that big, I guess. I want Lost to be big and this episode wasn't quite that.

If you watch this episode from a purely acting standpoint, it was amazing. Michael Emerson is continually impressive and this episode was nothing short of it. The scenes between Alana and Ben were great.

I would also like to say welcome back to Charles Whitmore. It is about time. We really need to figure out what his role in this last season is going to be about.

30 ROCK: "Future Husband"

Original Air Date

March 11, 2010

Description

After finding a mystery number with the name "Future Husband" in her phone, Liz sets out to find out the identity of her potential soul mate.

Notes

(C+) NBC, in the show, is being bought by the fictional Cabletown company (or whatever) matching up with the real life purchase of the network by Comcast. I give them credit for addressing this, although I guess they kind of had to since the corporate structure of the network as been a big part of the show.

That said, this episode was not very good. There were not any particularly interesting plot lines. It had its moments but this show has been better and I expect better from it.

Apparently, when Liz was at the dentist crazed out of her mind on sedative, she met her "future husband." At least that is what her phone indicated when she discovered the new contact there.

That future husband also had future wife entered into his phone for Liz. They meet up for the second time, but the first that they remember, over coffee. It doesn't go well, but I suspect the future husband may be back again.

Let's hope so, especially since future husband is being played by Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon).