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icepixieBefore I get to the Burn Notice commentary, I watched the Xena episode "Return of the Valkyrie," which is part three of a trilogy I haven't seen the other parts of. (I...saw a photo of a particular moment and wanted to see the whole thing, okay? I REGRET NOTHING.) I...when exactly did Xena and Gabrielle wind up in Denmark with Beowulf and Hrothgar and Wiglaf? What? Wow, the show really did get weird after I stopped watching in S4 or whenever it was. Although the episode itself, for all that it's odd, isn't bad in its campy way. It's kind of nifty to see Xena in anything other than her skimpy battle armor (though apparently kissing Sleeping Beauty Gabrielle awake magically makes the white Viking dress disappear, to be replaced by said armor? Okay, why not?). Also in the costuming department, I'm quite fond of the Valkyries' helmets. I definitely liked Gabrielle as basically the mental!Peter to Xena's brainwashed!Olivia. And, you know, Xena and Gabby as ~soulmates~ who will ~love each other until the end of time~ is never a bad thing on a campy series like this.
(Oh, man. This show just camps out at the center of the id vortex, doesn't it?)
Also, the disclaimer is hilarious: "Any similarity between our story and the classic children's fairy tale is purely coincidental." Heh. Riiiiiight.
*
Anyway, Burn Notice. Spoilers through 2x12.
- Well, that didn't take long. I guess Fi nearly getting burnt to a crisp in a house fire will speed things along on the sleeping together front, even if Campbell did just leave the picture in the episode before. I'm not complaining. I totally figured Fi would be in Michael's loft calmly eating a yogurt when he came back, thinking she'd died, but the look on his face and the little face-nuzzle or whatever they did before he kissed her was sweet.
- I also highly approve of the whole "flirting while building bombs" thing they have going on. Although I question whether Fi always had "the more delicate touch" in, ah, other areas. *g*
- Seymour as an extremely vocal Fiona/Michael shipper was hilarious ("Don't argue with destiny! It'll kick your ass!"), although they're approaching the line where just a few too many people are commenting on how they're perfect for each other. I love that trope at first, but when it reaches a critical mass, I switch to hating it. Although his "molten hot action couple" was spot-on. Heh. I think he'd be really into a threesome, although if he could just have Michael he'd probably be happy. On the other hand, at least Sam is counteracting the "everyone thinks you're perfect together" thing by telling both of them he thinks it's a terrible idea.
- Michael busting out "Michael McBride" with Fiona was almost spooky. Kind of sad, too. She asked a good question about whether she fell in love with his cover or with him; I wonder what she'll find the answer to be. And now I want to know how long it took him to reveal his real identity to her, and also how long they were together in the first place. I'm going to guess three months and a year, respectively, and that year was probably around 1997.
- All that said, Michael, way to be passive-aggressive there. I do rather like that the tables have turned a bit, and now Fi is the one saying it was just a one-night thing, blowing off steam, whatever, and he seems...less than sure about that. Breakfast and one-night-stands don't tend to go together. It could be very fun to watch him chase her for a while.
- I think the bulletproofing of a car with telephone books and good glass is my favorite McGuyveresque spy trick of the show so far. The Terrific Three getting to play a gang of car thieves for most of the episode amused me a lot too. Loved their intimidation techniques. Yay team!
- Carla is running scared from whoever's behind the assassination attempts. This is probably a good thing for Michael, but who knows.
- The structure of the episodes is starting to feel a little samey, though this may be an effect of marathoning. The terminally slow progress on the burn notice/Carla's organization bookends a job of the week, and occasionally she or her operatives interrupt at a bad time. I'd like an episode devoted entirely to the plot arc, or just something different.
- "Melanie" in 2x12 also raised some red flags. Not only was Mike and Sam's "checking her story" pretty half-assed, but she claims to not even have known who her father was until a year ago, never met him in person, and yet she gives Michael a picture her father painted the day she was born that she's "always liked"? Hmmm. I guess I can see her not knowing her father was this painter and just having the painting, but jeez. It's very fishy. Come on, show, you can do better than this.
(Oh, man. This show just camps out at the center of the id vortex, doesn't it?)
Also, the disclaimer is hilarious: "Any similarity between our story and the classic children's fairy tale is purely coincidental." Heh. Riiiiiight.
*
Anyway, Burn Notice. Spoilers through 2x12.
- Well, that didn't take long. I guess Fi nearly getting burnt to a crisp in a house fire will speed things along on the sleeping together front, even if Campbell did just leave the picture in the episode before. I'm not complaining. I totally figured Fi would be in Michael's loft calmly eating a yogurt when he came back, thinking she'd died, but the look on his face and the little face-nuzzle or whatever they did before he kissed her was sweet.
- I also highly approve of the whole "flirting while building bombs" thing they have going on. Although I question whether Fi always had "the more delicate touch" in, ah, other areas. *g*
- Seymour as an extremely vocal Fiona/Michael shipper was hilarious ("Don't argue with destiny! It'll kick your ass!"), although they're approaching the line where just a few too many people are commenting on how they're perfect for each other. I love that trope at first, but when it reaches a critical mass, I switch to hating it. Although his "molten hot action couple" was spot-on. Heh. I think he'd be really into a threesome, although if he could just have Michael he'd probably be happy. On the other hand, at least Sam is counteracting the "everyone thinks you're perfect together" thing by telling both of them he thinks it's a terrible idea.
- Michael busting out "Michael McBride" with Fiona was almost spooky. Kind of sad, too. She asked a good question about whether she fell in love with his cover or with him; I wonder what she'll find the answer to be. And now I want to know how long it took him to reveal his real identity to her, and also how long they were together in the first place. I'm going to guess three months and a year, respectively, and that year was probably around 1997.
- All that said, Michael, way to be passive-aggressive there. I do rather like that the tables have turned a bit, and now Fi is the one saying it was just a one-night thing, blowing off steam, whatever, and he seems...less than sure about that. Breakfast and one-night-stands don't tend to go together. It could be very fun to watch him chase her for a while.
- I think the bulletproofing of a car with telephone books and good glass is my favorite McGuyveresque spy trick of the show so far. The Terrific Three getting to play a gang of car thieves for most of the episode amused me a lot too. Loved their intimidation techniques. Yay team!
- Carla is running scared from whoever's behind the assassination attempts. This is probably a good thing for Michael, but who knows.
- The structure of the episodes is starting to feel a little samey, though this may be an effect of marathoning. The terminally slow progress on the burn notice/Carla's organization bookends a job of the week, and occasionally she or her operatives interrupt at a bad time. I'd like an episode devoted entirely to the plot arc, or just something different.
- "Melanie" in 2x12 also raised some red flags. Not only was Mike and Sam's "checking her story" pretty half-assed, but she claims to not even have known who her father was until a year ago, never met him in person, and yet she gives Michael a picture her father painted the day she was born that she's "always liked"? Hmmm. I guess I can see her not knowing her father was this painter and just having the painting, but jeez. It's very fishy. Come on, show, you can do better than this.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-23 03:03 am (UTC)The disclaimers are awesome, yes. :D