Aaron Paul (aka Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad) was on that kind of a mood, and tweeted this funny picture:

Breaking Bad, unusual mood

Could be a nice way out for Walter, becoming Skyler when Hank is coming to get him.

Fall season is here, and in about a week the fifth season of FX’ Sons Of Anarchy begins. Here are some photos from the premiere episode, Sovereign. Some minor spoilers included.

The new season of SOA premiers September 11, 2012.

Last night on Weeds, it’s all about the timing. While Nancy is trying to do the right thing, Andy, Silas and Shane find out this is not assimple as they thought. My episode review follows…

Nancy is back in the old game, in Weeds, “Threshold”.

What just happened (episode summary): Silas is getting fired from the pharma company; Shane is getting in trouble; Nancy breaks up with the rabbi; Andy is not happy with his new wife; Doug is doing well in his charity business; Nancy has a new business idea for her and Silas.

How it happened (the chatty TV critic): With only three more episodes to the show, the current and last season of Weeds is finding its way to a worthy finale. Nancy is going to a dinner party with her new Rabi boyfriend, where she finds out his wife has been dead for only 15 months. Since Nancy knows how long it takes to get over a dead partner, she decides to break up with him because he’s not ready yet.

But she admits she’s not sure this is what she wants, and my guess is that the Rabi is going to be around when it’s all over. Pray for her maybe? Because Nancy will have to face some trouble soon enough.

After thinking and rethinking during this 8th season who she wants to be (a dealer, a pharma sales woman for medical grass, a worker in the darker side of the tobacco industry), Nancy has decided she sells pot. This is who she was and what she wants to be. Not legal, maybe, but there’s always a way around it.

Silas got fired, which is just fine because it was all too confusing for him – and my guess is that he’ll choose to do something else. He’s been mama’s boy enough time, and in this episode it was Nancy who’sdecided for him not to continue the businesswith the tobacco company. It’s time Silas grew up, don’t you think?

Shane, for me, is still carrying the weaker part of the plot. Being a fresh cop and getting caught speeding in a stolen car is probably not the best thing, but if that’s where we are three episodes from the end – it’s not enough.

Doug’s venture turned out quite successful, but with so many different half-baked subplots he’s been running on Weeds, I don’t really care what happens with him. In fact, besides for Nancy and Andy, I lost my interest in most of the other characters long ago.

The end of Weeds is near, and Nancy is about to make some important decisions. Not so much during this episode about Steve, or Jill, but I’m sure that they will be back when it’s time for Nancy to fight her final battle on the show.

What are we left with: Nancy wants to be the dealer again, but now it’s a matter of identity. This is who she is.

The breakup from the Rabi is only temporary it seems, and I wonder if her new business venture will allow her to keep him in her life.

Shane is perhaps trouble, and maybe will be suspended from the service. Silas, as I said, needs to grow some. And not weed.

Episode info: Threshold premiered September 2 2012 on Showtime. It was written by Brendan Kelly and directed by Eric Jewett.

last night on Wilfred, in an episode called Questions, Ryan and the dog went tripping. So while Ryan is trying to ask the right question that will lead him back home and out of his mind, we enjoyed an excellent episode that felt at times like a closure. Can Ryan know himself at all? My episode review follows…

Ryan and Wilfred trippting. Wilfred, “Questions”

What just happened (episode summary): Ryan is having panic attacks when Christine is trying to hush her crying baby; Wilfred is encouraging him to take an hallucinating drug to understand why is he panicking; While tripping, Ryan remembers he has an even more important question on his mind.

How it happened (the chatty TV critic): Ryan and Wilfred left the bong out last night, and took us on a different trip. It was full of tricks, but also some truth, and it was a lesson that sometimes the questions are much more important – and interesting – than the answers.

Because it felt a little disappointing at the end of the episode, where all that was left was Ryan’s need to cry after the breakup from Amanda. While tripping, he was trying to forget about the panic attacks and focus on another question that’s been bothering him for two seasons – ‘what is Wilfred’.

But that was not the question he was supposed to ask, and if he kept asking that he might have been still locked in his own head, in an endless trip. Besides, Wilfred was very much against him asking that question (so he killed the Indian spiritual guide that almost gave Ryan the answer). The correct question was ‘why am I panicing’, and Ryan is stepping into his childhood, watching himself crying and his sister telling him not to cry (so mum won’t get upset).

Oh, well – not a very interesting secret from the past, I’d say, and a more interesting detail perhaps would be that next to Ryan in his childhood’s room was his dog (not Wilfred, a real pet dog). But to judge Wilfred by the bigger story or character arc etc would be a mistake – and would ultimately fail. The show only works if you don’t look too deep, or too far. If you manage to do that, last night’s episode was probably good for you too.

What are we left with: Ryan’s journey for his inner truth never stops. At the end of this episode he cried over Amanda, and I guess she’ll come visit in the season last two episodes. Wilfred behaved himself surprisingly, and besides spiking Ryan’s drink (twice-one in real time and one in Ryan’s trip), and killing the spiritual guide (in Ryan’s trip again), he just sat quietly and ate Ryan’s vomit. Does this mean Ryan’s perception of Wilfred is worse than what the dog is in reality?

Episode info: Wilfred‘s episode Questions premiered August 30 2012 on FX. It was written by Cody Heller & Brett Konner and directed by Randall Einhorn.

This week’s opening monologue on Louie was great, continuing directly where the end monologue last week stopped (“..countries where children die all the time and it’s boring”). Late Show(part I) was all so gloom and doom, giving Louie a little perspective on his career, his life etc. It felt like a sad party, but the story will continue next week. My episode review follows…

Good news, bad news. Louis CK on Louie, “Late Show Part 1′

What just happened (episode summary): Louie appears on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; CBS chairman gives Louie the chance of a lifetime, and a big headache.

How it happened (the chatty TV critic): Louis CK is so raw on his show, so real, that to see him in an episode like this, when he’s on The Tonight Show or in a meeting with the chairman of CBS, can never fail. The scenes are so accurate: the performance, the camera angels, the characters. Louis CK is doing a great job, and besides the episode from two weeks ago, when he’s going to meet his father, this season of Louie was excellent.

Louis CK is successful, and sometimes he refers to that aspect of his real life on his show (like in the episode where he wanted to buy a house), but he’s a successful comedian – and on last night’s episode Louie, and us, got a different perspective on that.

After doing his thing on The Tonight Show (Jay Leno as a guest star works always, doesn’t it?), on a night when Tom Cruise failed showing up, Louie wakes up in the hotel room like always: it’s too early for him although it’s midday; he’s too fat and there are too many missed calls from his manager Doug (funny quiet performance from Edward Gelbinovich, and the dynamics between him and Louie reminded me a little of Ricky Gervais and his loser-of-a-manager on Extras). The result of all this: Louie has to be in the CBS offices in one hour.

What the chairman has to say (while he’s ignoring Doug and sits almost on him, and says: “I’m the chairman”. Not the typical Louie-joke, but funny) is top secret, so the guys sign a secrecy agreement. Then he tells them that David Letterman is retiring and that the network is looking for a new man.

Louie is puzzled. He wasn’t expecting this, of course, but he also doesn’t want it. He says they should take Seinfeld (it’s not about who’s funnier, but who’s older). Then the chairman admits they are taking Seinfeld, but with an 11 million dollars difference, he wants to give the network an alternative. If it works – great, Louie will be saved from working as a teacher to support his daughters in a few years, and the network will save money. If he fails, it will be the end of him as a comedian.

What will Louie do?

Of course he must do the test show, you don’t say no to such an offer. But based on the monologue we heard in the beginning of the episode (how we in the western world have the privilege of being ‘consumers’, and since our life is basically good, we want it all to be better) – maybe Louie will soon realize he doesn’t want it to be so much better, he’s enough with just OK.

What are we left with: A great episode in a low tone that managed to be serious, funny, real and real scary – all at once. I can’t wait for next week’s episode, to see how the test show turns out.

Episode info: Late Show Part I premiered August 30 2012 on FX. It was written and directed by Louis C.K.

I’ve skipped a couple of Thursday recaps, both for Louie and for Wilfred, but this week I’m back (nomore partying into Friday morning, I swear). Anyhow, as I catch up on those episodes I’ve missed, here are a couple of photos from this week’s episode of Louie, which is a two-part story with the title Late Show.

In the episode Louie is trying to take a break. This probably doesn’t work exactly the way he plans it.

Here are the tease pics:

Garry Marshall as Lars Tardigan, Louis CK as Louie. Louie, “Late Show”

Louie, “Late Show”

AMC has released a couple of photos from the last episode for Breaking Bad for 2012, which will debut this coming Sunday. Oh yes, it’s over guys – at least for this year.

The two promo photos from the half-finale episode, Gliding Over All, show our two favorite characters in probably two critical moments: Jesse looks quite shocked, and Walt has a phone in his hand and he looks like he just made a decision that will translate into a plot twist. He seems pleased with his decision, whatever it is.

Watch the promo and sneak peek for Breaking Bad season 5 episode 8

Walt in Breaking Bad season 5 half finale, “Gliding Over All”

Jesse in Breaking Bad season 5 half finale, “Gliding Over All”

Boardwalk Empire season 3 official poster

HBO has released a third trailer for their period crime drama Boardwalk Empire. The new trailer reveals much more than the first two, which were more of early teasers. Now we can see some of the main plots of the new season, including a new character, Gyp Rosetti, that will bring Nucky a lot of trouble.

Besides that Nucky Thompson still deals with the fact that he killed Jimmy Darmody (at the end of Boardwalk season 2), and find the balance between peace and war with his wife Margaret.

With the new season’s slogan being “you can’t be half a gangster”, Nucky is first and foremost in war with himself. Does he have what it takes to be what he thinks he wants to be? This is a much more dangerous thing than Gyp Rosetti, and I trust HBO to give us a hell of a character arc for Nucky in the new season.

Boardwalk Empire season 3 will premiere Sunday, September 16, 9PM on HBO.

Watch the new trailer below:

Save Yourself, the season 5 finale of True Bloodwas a celebration of many kinds, but the way it ended reminds us that after all the fun and games, there is still a real drama behind the blood stains. My season finale review follows…

True Blood season 5 finale – Bill turns into Lilith

What just happened (episode summary): Eric, Nora, Tara, Sookie and Jason are going on a mission to save Pam, Jessica – and change Bill’s mind; Sam and Luna are saving Emma; Alcide kills JD and is the new pack master; Bill kills Salome; Tara kisses Pam; Jason turns down Jessica; Andy gets four baby fairies; Bill turns into a Lilith-type vamp-god.

How it happened (the chatty TV critic): Lots of action and fun on the fifth season finale of True Blood, with a little place for drama. And if this sounds like I complain, you haven’t enjoyed the last season of the show like I did.

True Blood is not about the drama anymore, it’s the tricks and the noise that make it so much fun. And the finale episode was a lot of that. Eric’s mission turned Jason into someone from another series (Fringe maybe?), and it almost succeeded entirely – if it were’nt for Bill’s megalomaniac thoughts.

Pam and Jessica were freed, and Pam and Tara kissed (after Jessica suspected that in last week’s episode). Many authority-soldier-vamps died while Jason did his thing, and despite the alarms going on, Salome and Bill took their time talking religion and playing games. Not with each other, this time, it was finally the moment for Bill to show what he really thinks of Salome – and he switched the mother blood with a more common one, with some silver touches.

After giving Salome her true death, Bill had visitors – Eric and Sookie. Those three, it’s alwaysabout them at theend. Sookie and Eric tried to convince Bill not to drink the blood of Lilith, but he did – reminding Sookie on what he told her after they first met – that vampires turn on the ones they love most. Then he died – or appeared to be dead, before he rose from the blood naked and covered in blood – same as Lilith. Is he the new mad god?

Besides that, the Sam, Luna and Emma story was much better in this episode than in the last two-three ones. It was funny, finally, and quite cool to see Luna as the Rev., trying to talk to the cameras.

What are we left with: Most of the stories came to a closure in this finale episode, such as Alcide’s, Sheriff Andy’s, Sam and Luna’s, Jason and Jessica’s, Tara and Pam. And of course, above all – the vampire revolution. It’s not the end, but it’s a cycle, and it’s still not clear what Bill is right now – and what role he will have on the show’s sixth season.

With all the action there was no time for Sookie’s investigation – the vampire Warlow plot – which was a shame since it got quite a lot of attention during the fifth season.

Jason is suffering from some sort of a head injury following his accident with Russel at the end of last wek’s episode, and this is another thing I’m sure we’ll hear of in the beginning of season 6.

Walter White in Breaking Bad, Gliding Over All – season 5 finale

Eight weeks are moving too fast, and already it’s time for Breaking Bad season 5 promo post. The situation is getting more complicated for Walter, now that Mike is gone and there is no one else to solve his problems for him. And his problems begin with 9, now 10, men who must die – before they talk to the DEA.

Lucky us, this is also Jesse’s problem, so  the duo will have one more time in working – maybe – together on solving this. Although, judging from the promo, Walt’s new partners – Lydia and Todd – play a more crucial part in this plan.

Not sure where we’re going to find ourselves at the end of the finale episode (AMC are calling it “finale episode” and not half finale or anything like that, so I guess they’ll call the final 8 episodes batch season 6? Is this something Vince Gilligan considered when writing the season?).

In the sneak peek for the episode you see Walter and Lydia talking about the list of names (those two together are almost a comedy), and again we hear Walter mentioning his family. It seems like he’s been using his family as a symbol for his good morals or whatever lately – with Mike and Jesse during this week’s episode, and with Lydia. So I have an idea where we’re heading. Tip: Jr., run, fast!

The episode title, Gliding Over All, is interesting -  it’s the name of one of Walt Whitman’s poems: “GLIDING o’er all, through all, Through Nature, Time, and Space, As a ship on the waters advancing, The voyage of the soul–not life alone, Death, many deaths I’ll sing.” I’d love to see Walt, for a second, leaving his body and seeing it all from a bird-eye perspective. Can he still be saved?

Watch the finale trailer, and sneak peek, below:

One episode only from the season half-finale, the seventh episode of Breaking Bad is still dealing with the details of the drama and less with the action. That’s fine with me, especially in the episode where we see Mike for the last time. Say My Name leaves no cards hidden, and almost all the characters are fully aware for the situation they are in: Skyler, Hank, and Jesse. Only Walter is legging behind. My episode review follows…

Mike’s last moments in Breaking Bad, “Say My Name”

What just happened (episode summary): Walter is making a deal for bigger distribution; the DEA are getting to Mike; Walter doesn’t let Jesse leave the operation, and Jesse gives up his share; Walter takes Todd as his new assistant; Walter confronts Mike and kills him.

How it happened (the chatty TV critic): Oh my. In the world of Walter White a lot of shit happens, and in Say My Name Breaking Bad showed us how does it look like when the characters are not lying to themselves – or others- anymore. But honesty is a dangerous thing, and we only saw the beginning of the explosion.

Mike Ehrmantraut died this week for a number of reasons, and Walt’s pride is only number two on that list. Because if Mike didn’t give his little speech when Walt handed him the getaway bag (he took out Mike’s passport before he handed it to him, it seems. Guess that’s the passport he’ll be using on his 52nd birthday, as we’ve seen on season 5 first episode, in the flash forward scene) – and Walter didn’t feel again those feelings of his pride crashes when he played the cook for Fring, then Mike could maybe get away (almost) as he wished for himself.

So it’s Mike’s honesty that killed him, and Walt’s pride. Plus, we needed him dead so we won’t have to see his sad eyes again (Jonathan Banks did a great job throughout the series playing the good bad guy, and in his last episode as Mike he was no less than great, especially in the scene in the playground, when the police cars are coming to get him). And besides, killing Mike gave us a chance to see Walter in a rare moment – apologizing, telling Mike he actually didn’t have to kill him because he could have get the list of names from Lydia. Does he really think he killed Mike because of the list of names? Mike told him a second before that his actions, killing Gus and not accepting his place in the chain, is what caused the whole mess. He in fact used the word ‘Pride’. But Walter doesn’t hear it, and when he apologizing after shooting Mike, it’s more like he excuses what he did for himself.

And Walter kills Mike only a few scenes after he promises Jesse that there will be no more killings. Jesse is not fooled by this, and he won’t let Walt manipulate him again. That scene from last week’s episode (Buyout, season 5 episode 6) where Jesse hears Walter whistling in a good mood moments after he told him the murder of the dirt-bike boy tears him inside – this scene was the eye opener for Jesse, who is now a smarter guy. I think he really didn’t care that much at the end to leave without the 5 millions just because he was afraid he’ll be using again. Walter tried every possible way to make him stay – more money, occupation, his own lab, guilt, fear (and during that speech he sounded like a teacher again, or like a twisted version of the father Jesse always wanted him to be) – with the hope that Jesse will stay next to him in the lab – but Jesse chose to leave.

I loved the looks between Jesse and Skyler in the car wash, while Walt and he brought the methylamine gallons to for storage. Skyler is scared by the idea of storing something someone would kill for so close to her – but Walt is acting his Heisenberg style with her, and Jesse sees it. Those two might join forces against the tyrant one day, or at least that was the hint I got from that scene.

Jesse remembered the last words he got from Mike (well, the last important words): “kid, just look out for yourself”, when he played it so assertive with Walter. I just hope he’ll still remember those words in the next episodes.

Hank is really mis-placed in the office, and it was clear that it’s only a matter of time before he gets a warning from his boss to stop giving the Fring case priority. I’m not sure he’ll even keep the office position for the next episode, and since the show doesn’t need him to have an office anymore – now that the wire is out and Walter drank his second cup of coffee while pretending to be whipping over his relationships with Skyler (funny scene, especially Hank’s reaction) – well now Hank can return to his old job. If that is still an option.

Since we had a Mike-full episode, we didn’t see much else – like the kids or Marie. I guess that they’ll all be back for the half-finale next week, Gliding Over All, but it is not them that I really want to see again.

What I really want to see is Walter, Jesse, Lydia and Todd – how will they take it from here. Could Walter continue the operation for bigger distribution with Todd in the tent? And will he get to the 9 men on the list before they speak to the DEA?

What are we left with: A dead Mike means a lot of new problems Walter will have to deal with. And considering he’s not going to get away, Jesse is full in, too. Lydia will cooperate, as she tried to kill those nine men before, but Jesse will probably want to find a prettier way out of this mess.

I wonder what part Todd will take in this (he has a cousin in prison, as he said before, and Walter heard it too). Next week is the last episode of this half-season, so it must end with some sort of a cliffhanger. Who will hold the smoking gun this time?

And a word for the future – Walter was so overwhelmed by his own actions after shooting Mike, and Bryan Cranston showed us some great performance there. In fact it’s exactly why I want to see how bad this man can break – the result is devastating but so damn beautiful.

Eric is on a mission from god. True Blood Season 5 Finale – “Save Yourself”

Too bad they didn’t make a double-feature, with the last two episodes premiering on the same evening, because the finale episode will simply wrap up the mess that we saw on this week’s episode.

Some characters will not make it to season 6 though…any thoughts on who those might be? (hint: too many vamps around. Check out the title for this episode, Save Yourself).

Watch the promo below:

True Blood season 5 finale will debut on HBO on August 26.

With one episode only left for the current season of HBO’s True Blood, things are getting sweaty. So sweaty, in fact, that even characters that haven’t met for quite some time on the series finally got an opportunity to catch up. The fairies are in danger, the vampires are getting signals from their god of blood, and Jason is stuck in the middle. My episode review follows…

Sookie and her fairy friends in True Blood, “Sunset”.

What just happened (episode summary): Nora is having doubts; Bill orders Jessica to recruit Jason; The new Russel’s situation bring trouble for the vampires; Seriff gets a visit from pregnant Maurella; Sookie and Jason visit the faerie elder to get her help; Jessica hides at Pam’s; Pam and Jessica are taken by the authority; Russel drinks the faerie elder to death and finds the secret club.

How it happened (the chatty TV critic): The funniest moment in Sunset was when Pam sees Sam in the halls of the authority, both held prisoners, and she tells him “what the fuck are you doing here?”. Funny how it all connects as we are nearing the end of this half-confused (episodes 1-6) half intense season.

The whole Russel situation has exploded in the face of the vampires, and if for half an episode they felt united, this is surly not the case now. Eric and Nora dropped Lilith all together and are off with an unknown plan. Bill and a few other vampires received the “you are the one” messages from Lilith, and this can only end in a blood bath. On the other side, Russel being alive and free again causes the vamps a big problem with the humans, and now there is no one to deal with this anymore, after Roman is gone and no one’s in control.

Vampire chaos, indeed. And Russel found his way to the fairy club house, after he drank the faerie elder to death. She didn’t even say enough to Sookie yet, and I wonder how much of the story about the old promise her ancestor gave to the mysterious vampire Warlow we will still get during season 5 – probably this plot will delve into season 6.

Jessica was so sweet this week, trying to save her best friend Jason (who misses Hoyt anyway) and getting herself into big trouble with Bill and the authority. Bill told her that for him also Sookie is now food only, and this bit I’m sure we’ll see continued in the season finale next week. Bill looks at Sookie. Bill bites. Bill feels he’s wrong. Warlow demands what is his. Cut.

Something like that.

Sam and Luna are finally getting closer to Emma – now they are locked in the authority, and Sam has a half baked plan. Too bad to see this half baked plot dragging for third of a season, but I always thought the whole Shifters side of Bon Temps was a little undone.

Back to vamps. So Tara digs Pam, but won’t admit it, even not to Jessica. Loved Pam’s reaction to the pajama party Jessica had in mind. In fact, Pam and Tara would make quite a couple. Another thing that will have to be developed in season 6 I guess. But now that both Pam and Jessica are held prisoners, will Tara come to save them? Will she talk to Lafayette to come up with a real cool magical-vamp plan? Since she turned Tara didn’t speak to Lafayette, so perhaps the season finale would be a good time.

Sookie, Sookie. How will the scene with Russel end? The guy is so hot for fairy blood, it’s almost cute. And the elder one was quite annoying. But who will save Sookie? Does she have enough magic to trick him?

What are we left with: Season 5 finale is going to be tight, with Sookie having at least three threats: Bill that needs to prove a point, Russel that is hungry, and Warlow, whoever he is, that has a contract for her blood. Besides that, Eric and Nora should return with some kind of a plan to save the world, while Tara will try to get Pam and Jessica back.

It’s going to be a hell of a finale, and the last episode directed by series creator Alan Ball. See you there.

Episode info: Sunset premiered August 19 2012 on HBO. It was written by Angela Robinson and directed by Lesli Linka Glatter.

Mike is trying to save the day. Breaking Bad, “Say My Name”

The promo clip and the sneak peek for the next episode of Breaking Badis out. We’re just one episode from the half-finale of the series’ last season, so this is when things start to go downhill. Not for Walter I guess, not yet anyway. But as I wrote on my recap for this week’sepisode, the direction in which this season will go will be more obvious in Say My Name.

Heisenberg is back, and he wants you to know it. Check out the promo clip (the wire in Hank’s office is a problem Walt must solve, Jesse is trying to leave too soon, and blue meth is not going anywhere). I love Walter touching his wound on the way for the mission. The pain..is going to be greater. But he can’t see it just yet.

What an episode. Breaking Bad did it again and Buyouthad everything, action, drama, twists and whatnot, including a bit of Walter’s back mind. It was also the episode that brought Walter White down – just to let him rise again at the end of it. My episode review follows…

Jesse and Todd. Breaking Bad, “Buyout”

What just happened (episode summary): With the DEA on his back, Mike decides to sell his part of the methylamine and quit; Jesse, still dealing with the aftermath of the boy’s murder during the robbery, is joining Mike; Skyler finds out Walt told Marie about her affair with Ted; Walter finds a way to steal back all the methylamine and make a new plan.

How it happened (the chatty TV critic): We are three episodes from the end of Breaking Bad‘s season five (part one; still not sure how they will name the last eight episodes that come next summer – probably the count will continue, so we’ll get season 5 episode 9 and so on. But it won’t surprise me much if they’ll decide to call it season 6). Things are moving quickly, and even when the show’s creators take their time for episodes like the last two – which focused on how Heisenberg affects his surroundings – Jesse and Skyler mainly – it’s all working towards a big BANG effect at the end, that we will feel so good just because of those slower moments.

And things ARE moving quickly. Buyout took us a full circle, with Mike and Jesse deciding to leave the business (each from his own reasons), and with Walter losing his place at the top – for a short while – just to show us this man is determined, and full of ideas.

It was clear Jesse is not going to handle the murder of the kid by Todd, at the end of last week’s episode (Dead Freight, season 5 episode 5), too well. The pre-title sequence this week was beautiful, showing us Walter, Mike and Todd getting rid of the dead kid’s bike, as well as his body, the old fashioned way (the acid, the same stuff Jesse and Walter did since season 1 of the series). But unlike that famous “melting bathroom” scene from season 1, it’s all very clean now. Clean and quiet, and all emotions are repressed (also cinematography-wise, you only see the kid’s hand, and it’s all yellow-monochrome). Until Todd goes for a smoke outside, and meets outside Jesse (that cigarette sound…Breaking Bad is probably the best series on TV to listen to using headphones), and Jesse only waits a couple of sentences into Todd’s smalltalk (“you guys didn’t tell me this stuff smells like cat piss”, and “shit happens”) before he punches the new guy.

But that’s all the revenge he gets right now, because on the vote the three partners make right after that scene, they decide to keep Todd. And although Jesse is not happy with that, he also wasn’t happy with the other option, of killing Todd, and as angry as he was at the guy, I’m sure the third option – fire him and pay him to shut up – did not appeal to him either.

So Todd stays, and one interesting detail is that he kept the spider in the jar from the dead kid (who now, after the news report him missing, also has a name – Drew Sharp. But probably no one besides Jesse will ever remember that). It’s only interesting on the symbolic layer, of course. As a hint to the future of to Todd’s character. We don’t know much about him, but now we hear that Mike found out during the background check that Todd has an uncle in prison with some connections. This is still not something we can use for speculations and so forth, but it is going to be used. Slowly Todd is becoming a real part in the business, and in Buyout he even made sure the guys will understand how much he wants to be involved.

That works well for Walter, who finds himself alone in his own meth empire. Mike and Jesse wanted out (was Walt’s good mood, right after he told Jesse he didn’tsleep for days because of the dead boy, the moment Jesse has realised he’s in the wrong place? Can he remember that until the next episode?) and Mike even chained Walt to prevent him from stealing the meth and kill their plan – but Walt broke free again, and convinced Jesse to support his new plan.

We don’t know Walt’s new plan yet, but it’s not including selling his blue meth empire to the other group. And I doubt that he will let Jesse and Mike out so easily. The man is a dragon.

And by the way, I was very happy to hear from Walt that he checks the worth of his old company – “grey matter” – every day. We first heard about the last time his pride was crashed during season 1, when he needed money for his cancer treatments and Skyler turned to his former partners for money. I needed a reason for Walt’s obsession with pride, for his inability to trust, and that was it. Good job, writer Gennifer Hutchison.

Some other thoughts. Loved the dinner scene with Walt, Skyler and Jesse. Jesse was trying to make a conversation but no one went with him, and the whole thing was so funny. Just what I needed during all the tension around. Aaron Paul has so many faces, watching Jesse struggle in putting a mask on is pure pleasure. Maybe that was Walt’s thought too, after all, it was almost a sadistic act to have this dinner. For Jesse, because Skyler doesn’t care anymore.

Mike is still listening to Hank’s office, which helps him to deal with the DEA but clearly it’s not the answer. Now that Saul Goodman put the DEA back for 24 hours (enough for Mike to finish his sellout plan, which is not going to happen after all) I wonder how will Hank act when he releases his guard dogs (his ex partner and his partner) the next time. Mike must be careful, and he knows that. When he heard Hank talks about how “even pros make mistakes” you saw the look on his face – he know it’s true.

What are we left with: Walt’s new plan should be the big twist that will give the direction for the next couple of episodes. I’m pretty sure the final episode of this 8-episodes-batch will end with a cliffhanger, and it’s going to be bloody. Perhaps none of our beloved characters are going to die just yet, but based on the size of the deal Mike was going to make – Walt should have an even bigger plan in mind. Not to mention Vince Gilligan.

Will Jesse stay on Mike’s side, once things will get out of hands? Considering of course there will still be “Mike’s side” when Walt will go on with his plan.

Hank’s next move is also interesting. He might even leave the office, trying to take control on the action again. Oh my, can’t wait to see that.

Episode info: Buyout premiered Auguast 19 2012 on AMC. It was written by Gennifer Hutchison and directed by Colin Bucksey.

It’s the tenth episode of True Blood season 5, and as the action goes into high gear, Sookie finds herself again in the middle of the main drama. Gone, Gone, Gone was a strong episode, with the two main plots (Stackhouse murder investigation and the vampire revolution) shifting the focus in what looks like a rollercoaster, in the fun and familiar True Bloodfashion. My episode review follows…

Goodbye, Hoyt. True Blood season 5 episode 10, “Gone, Gone, Gone”

What just happened (episode summary): Vampires are hungry for blood, and humans attack back; Eric has a revelation; Jessica is brought in as Bill commands; Hoyt asks Jessica to make him forget both her and Jason; Russel confronts the Lilith gang; Terra and Pam resist the new Area 5 boss; Sookie and Jason discover an old contract – on Sookie’s blood.

How it happened (the chatty TV critic): Booaa, so much has happened this week on True Blood, with new plot twists, discoveries, and even one sad goodbye. The weakest part for me was the Emma story, with her mother and Sam trying to save her from the vampires. This sub plot is just too slow for me, and not juicy enough for the show’s standards. But besides that, what a great bloody episode that was.

The main story, the vampire revolution, has two fronts: one is in the authority, with Bill, Russel and the rest trying to figure out how exactly they want things to look now that they are at the top. The other end is the street: Pam and Terra in the bar, Jessica back home. Things are getting a little more dense toward the end of season 5, and now Bill is bringing Jessica in – commanding her to join his guards, not going out himself to get her, of course. The excuse is her safety, but the fact is that he’s trying to show her the new “right” way. Jessica is no fool – she’s scared of what she sees, especially at the end, when she is witnessed to the scene Russel is making.

Russel going against the rest of the gang was only a matter of time, and it’s hard to believe none of them thought of it earlier. Did they really think the vampire commune will survive? Eric didn’t, and I don’t believe his new status as one as Lilith believers. Now that they all have Russel as their enemy again, it’s interesting to see what they do about it, but Eric and Jessica will for sure be on the same side. Not sure about Nora though, she seemed shaken by the way Lilith treated their father.

Sookie and Jason looked under Sookie’s bed again for more clues, and they found what looked like a letter in ancient language. After questioning in the fairy departmemt, it appears that thisis an old contract, between Sookie’s ancestor to a vampire (Warlow was the name?), about the bllod of the first female fairy in the family. Which is Sookie. Damn girl, you always get yourself in the middle of all the trouble.

Jason himself said goodbye this week to Hoyt. The hate-group didn’t help Hoyt deal with the Jessica/Jason affair, and now he prefers to go to Alaska and forget about his past. So he asks Jessica to make him forget, and although it is hard for her, she does it. Truth is, that even when they are full of sadness, sorrow, and maybe regret, Jessica and Jason, sitting together in front of Hoyt, are so electrifying together, that in a way it felt the right thing to do, for Hoyt to leave.

Terra and Pam fight the new rules the new boss of Area 5 is trying to dictate. After they heard they must bring in 5 new vamps every month, they decide to rebel. Rebel is the new black, I hear, and indeed Terra is way more into it than mother Pam. Pam is already willing to give the bar away, but Terra (who’s in danger of becoming the new boss’ pet if Pam fails to deliver), is killing him instead.

What are we left with: Nice ride this week in Bon Temps, and I’d love to see what the next (and final) two episodes of the season are like. Will Terra pay for her actions? How will Sookie protect herself, and from who? Who is Warlow? Will Jessica and Eric act together to save Bill (and perhaps Nora too) from the hands of Lilith? And will we see the end of the Emma story next week?

I have a couple of promo photos for the upcoming episode of Louie, Ikea/Piano Lesson. It’s another episode in two parts, which sometime works very good (like in Telling Jokes/Set Up, season 3 episode 2) and sometimes less so (like in the last week’s episode, which I didn’t review, Barney/Never). I thought the Barney part was much better than the Never part, and although I understood the connection between those two stories Louis CK told us (Barney being an ass but loved in hisown world, and Louie trying to educate Never how to be loveable) – itdidn’t feel like they belonged together.

Anyway, here are the photos from the next episode:

LOUIE: Episode 7: Ikea/Piano Lesson

LOUIE: Episode 7: Ikea/Piano Lesson

LOUIE: Episode 7: Ikea/Piano Lesson