The first movie that we’ve been able to see in theaters in a very long time was We Bought A Zoo. I think it was a decent choice.
We saw this, partially, for Caleb’s benefit. He loves animals and we thought that might help keep him focused on that instead of up running around. This is also the first movie we’ve seen in theaters since Caleb’s diagnosis in December 2010, so it was a bit of a test to see how he would handle it. He did pretty well and he seemed to really enjoy the movie.
Mine and Ashley’s main complaint was the amount of swearing. It’s a PG movie and it was a lot heavier on the language than either of us thought it would be. There was even a part where the little girl called an adult a <insert euphemism for male body part here>, which in and of itself is not so bad, but in a PG movie that my 3-year-old was watching it rubbed me wrong.
Also, I think the creators miscategorized the film. They said it’s supposed to be a comedy with the inspirational drama thrown in, but it’s not. It’s the other way around. Granted, this has no bearing on my rating of the movie, but I thought it was worth mentioning.
Overall it’s a pretty good movie, though. I really like Matt Damon as an actor and this was a good role for him.
At least one of the trailers I saw for this made me interested in the game. It was like a return to the classic gameplay of the old Metroid games, just in 3D and a few enhancements!
Boy was I disappointed.
I don’t mind them giving Samus a backstory, but when they turn her into a angst-ridden character desperate for the chance to redeem herself from some past mistake, I have problems. I also have problems when she goes into the game with all of her suit’s weapons, but won’t use them because the man she’s trying to seek redemption from (and also happens to be the commander of the mission) won’t let her.
Really? Samus has to seek permission to be the awesome bounty hunter she already is now? I’m sorry, that’s an EPIC FAIL on the developer’s side.
About the only thing this game has going for it is the graphics, which are pretty good (though I still like Prime 3′s better). Other than that, I really couldn’t stand this game.
I have been a fan of the Metroid Prime series since I tried the first one years ago on the GameCube. As I posted then, it was my first real foray into first-person shooters and it was awesome. Then I took on the Ing in Metroid Prime 2:Echoes.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is an awesome final game, and I can say that without having seen the end of it. It builds on the first two and adds in some Wii capabilities that weren’t available in the previous games and it really immerses you in the world of Samus Aran.
At first I was a little annoyed at the “grab the handle, pull, twist, push” sequences to open doors, but I realized later that little things like that that really pull you into the game. It makes it more fully immersive than always shooting the door with the right weapon.
I was also unsure of the talking, but seeing as they kept Samus mute and let the other characters just tell her what to do, it kept up the feel of previous games. In the first two, your suit’s computer would tell you what to do and where to go, but with the addition of these other characters, it seems more realistic to have these other characters explain things and give objectives. It also fits better with the storyline.
The story is that the Federation is finally having some success fighting against Phazon enhanced Space Pirates. Then, Dark Samus (aka Metroid Prime) returns and launches an attack that threatens to stop the Federation cold. Samus, and a few other bounty hunters are dispatched to several different planets in response. Samus is the only one to return.
Anyway, it is an awesome game and definitely worth buying.
A few weeks ago, I finally got a chance to read Ted Dekker’s newest non-fantasy novel, The Priest’s Graveyard. I have always enjoyed his books, but with the exception of Thr3e, I haven’t really loved his non-fantasy novels as much as I have The Books of History Chronicles. Don’t get me wrong: they are still excellent books, but because I started with one of his fantasy books, I think my expectations for his writing have always been for fantasy stories.
The Priest’s Graveyard is a book about two people, one a priest who kills the unrepentant, the other a drug-addicted and unloved girl. They end up together, hunting for the same person for similar reasons. As is true in almost every one of Dekker’s stories, there is a love story there as well. Of course, there are also a lot of twists and turns as they search.
The final twist, unfortunately, is something I saw coming. It’s something I’ve seen in too many TV shows and read in too many books: when the story seems to be steering you toward a specific conclusion about someone, that conclusion is usually false. I won’t spoil the twist, for those who haven’t read it, but it was something I figured out in the second part of the book.
Either way, it was still wonderfully written and a lot of fun to see the characters figure things out. My favorite part was when he got caught in her hotel room and the two of them were trying to outsmart each other. It was a comical scene in the middle of a serious situation and those kinds of moments stick with me.
I also appreciated the ending. A lot of stories, whether on TV, movie or in a book, if the good guy commits crimes throughout the story, he ends up getting away with them in the end. I really like how this story didn’t follow that pattern; it showed them doing what was right.
All in all, it is an excellent book and fun to read. If you haven’t read it yet, find it and do so soon. You will not be disappointed.
This is definitely one of the best RPGs ever made. Engaging plot, multiple endings, and the newer versions (PSX and DS) have a few more extras thrown in as well. Even though it was originally released for the SNES it’s just as much fun to play today as it was then.
I’ve started the game several times in the past, but I only just finished it a couple days ago on my DS. I can honestly say that I love every bit of this game. One of my favorite things is the way your actions in the side quests change things in the throughout the game’s timeline. For example, if you do the quest that helps Fiona plant the forest in the past, the desert in the present becomes a forest. If you defeat Ozzie in the past, the monster town is friendly in the present, instead of hostile.
I also like Magus’ character story alot. When you first meet him, he’s known as the Fiendlord, leading an army of monsters to destroy the humans. As the story progresses, you come to find out that he is a lot more complex. He wasn’t trying to destroy the world, but instead was trying to destroy Lavos, the final boss, who is also responsible for separating him from his family.
Anyway, it’s an awesome game and of you are a fan of RPGs, you should definitely make sure to play this sometime. Even if you’re not an RPG fan, try it and you may like it.
This book comes down to the following: Star Wars = Awesome; Zombies = Awesome; Star Wars + Zombies = Awesome2.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a Star Wars book without a force-sensitive character of some sort in it. It was a stroke of luck that this one is one such book (though I hope at some point they will explore a zombie horde vs Jedi story). That it features zombies in the Star Wars universe just makes this book so full of epic win I had to read it in less than 24 hours.
Here’s the breakdown.
Characters
I totally wasn’t expecting Han and Chewie in this book, but they made for a good familiar cameo. Apart from them, there are really 4 other characters the story follows. Trig and Kale, brothers who were arrested with their father. Jareth Sartoris, captain of the guard on the prison barge carrying everyone through space (also, murderer of Trig and Kale’s father). Zahara Cody, doctor on the prison barge. These four are randomly immune to the virus, while Han & Chewie get a quickly made anti-virus (that almost doesn’t work out for Chewie).
Story
It’s set in a prison barge that breaks down near the Unknown Regions, just by chance within range of a derelict Star Destroyer. Ten men go over to scavenge for parts, five come back, bringing a deadly infection. Of course, after a while being dead, the bodies get up and start trying to kill the few survivors there are.
Basically, it’s your typical Zombie story, only set in the Star Wars universe, making it a whole lot more fun.
Once the survivors all get together in one place and it’s revealed that it is indeed the walking dead that are chasing them, it plays out much like I imagine a Left 4 Dead story would, only with less guns and more wookiee.
It’s a fun, quick read and I really enjoyed it, but the younger audience and those who are frightened of zombies and other horror themes will want to stay away.
“It’s lucky you like pain. Because this is going to hurt.” – Kaye Galfridian
I’ve been waiting for this series since I heard about it a while back. I loved the New Jedi Order’s Yuuzahn Vong invasion and what they did with it in the books (except killing two of my favorite characters in Star Wars *sniff* Chewie, Anakin… *sniff*) and now we get to see it visually in comic book form. Frakkin’ awesome if you ask me.
Here’s the breakdown.
Characters
Apart from the family of the Big Three (Luke, Han and Leia), this series seems to follow a former rebel now king, Caled Galfridian, and his family. They are on Artorias, one of the first planets targetted by the Vong invasion. The king himself is a war veteran as I already mentioned. The queen I’m not sure of yet as she hasn’t done much as of the end of this collection of comics. Their son, Finn, is recognized by Luke as a potential Jedi and their daughter is deadly enough without the Force, killing a Vong warrior in battle and later leading a prisoner revolt and taking over the prisoner ship. Finn seems to be the one at the forefront of the stories and I’m loving his character. Not too many people in the Star Wars universe would say what he said to Han when they first meet him – not after the man has saved the galaxy so many times.
Story
The main arc is obviously the Yuuzahn Vong invasion, but these comics follow the Galfridian family as they try to survive and find each other throughout the bloodiest war in the Star Wars universe. So far, they have survived, but they are each in their own kind of danger. The King is leading a resistance in their planet while the queen and princess have stolen a prisoner ship and are trying to save their people. Finn is off with the Solo family which always means adventure and danger of some sort, even if they are just trying to look into the past of the Falcon.
It’s a great beginning to the series and I can’t wait for the rest. It’s nice to finally see the Vong drawn to life.
So when Red ended, Thomas Hunter was dead in one reality, finally killed by Carlos. In the other, he was alive and well, but his wife of 15 years, Rachelle was not, having been killed by an arrow as they escaped the forest for the desert. However, that is not the end of the story…err… stories. The world is being ravaged by a deadly virus in one reality and Thomas and the rest of the Circle are being hunted by the Horde in the other.
Here’s the breakdown.
Characters
This book brings Quorong’s daughter, Chelise, briefly seen in the previous book as Thomas was remembering a time he ran out of Elyon’s water and became a Horde. When Thomas is captured, she takes him as a servant to teach her how to read the Books of History, which no Horde can read due to the disease they carry.
In the other reality, Carlos gets a surprise when Thomas, who has been dead for days, wakes up and tells him about the other reality. Then, through contact with his blood, shows it to him.
Story
Thomas gets captured early on and Chelise takes him for a servant so he can teach her how to read the books of the histories. Thomas takes an opportunity to use the blank books to save himself in the other reality along with Monique. Of course, Chelise didn’t expect to fall for Thomas, especially as she’s being promised in marriage to the new warlord.
In the other reality, the virus is ravaging the world which is standing at the brink of war. Thomas is the only hope for the world, and as far as they all know, he’s dead. Until he calls the President.
With the end of this book, everything is wrapped up into a nice little trilogy. The story could end, but it doesn’t. What happened to the blank books? That and several other questions are answered in the next book, Showdown.
So we’re back to Thomas Hunter and his two realities. In one, it’s been 15 years and he now leads a band of “albino” warriors against the Horde, those with the Shataiki skin disease. In the other, it’s been seconds and there’s a gun to his head.
Here’s the breakdown.
Characters
Added to the cast from the previous book is Justin, a man of controversy. He tries to bring peace between the Forest Guard and the Horde, and the Forest Guard are divided about him, though most hate him for it. For the Horde, they have a new General, Martyn, who is bolder and smarter than their previous Generals.
In the other reality, Thomas wakes up to the gun at his head. A gun held by Carlos, a professional hitman. Using skills he learned over the last 15 years in the alternate reality, he is able to save himself. During the course of the book, both Monique and Carlos experience the other reality.
Story
The viruses in both worlds have been released, though symptoms are not yet appearing for those with the Raison Virus. The people behind the virus’ release are using France to make demands of the whole world.
In the other reality, dissension stirred up by Justin comes to a head toward the end of the book, culminating in the death of Justin, by drowning, after his blood has defiled the lake. The next morning, everyone has the skin disease. The only way to get rid of it is to drown in the lake, which has turned red.
I love the imagery in this series. In the alternate reality everything spiritual in this reality is physical there. And once you’ve finished the series, you realize just how many parallels there are. This is a really great book and you should read it.
“How can there be love without a true choice? Would you suggest that man be stripped of the capacity to love?” -Elyon as the boy
When I picked up this book to read, I had no idea how much of an adventure it would be to read it. I did not expect to be caught up in trilogy of books for the next few days as I immersed myself one of the best trilogies I’ve ever read. You could even say I “drowned” in it.
So here’s the breakdown.
Characters
So the main guy in this book is Thomas Hunter. He has the unusual ability to dream about another reality, but more on that later. There’s also his sister, Kara, and another woman, Monique, who just happens to be responsible for the worst virus outbreak in history. In the other reality, You have Tanis, first born among men, and Rachelle, who’s fallen for the amnesiac Thomas Hunter. Also in the other reality are these bat creatures called Shataiki and their leader, Teelah. Also along the way, you meet a little boy named Elyon, who also happens to be the creator of this alternate reality. And the first reality. Confused yet?
Story
The story begins with Thomas’ walk home from work being interrupted by bullets. One grazes his head and when he passes out a few minutes later, he wakes up in the Black Forest of the alternate reality surrounded by the Shataiki and Teelah. From there he goes back and forth, between realities trying to remember everything in one and trying to stop a catastrophe in the other. Instead he watches both realities get destroyed by sicknesses, one caused by a virus and one caused by the Shataiki. The book ends with a gun held against an unconscious Thomas’ head.
It’s an amazing story and it really brings elements of the Christian faith to life. My favorite part of the book was Elyon’s playground and the stories of what he did for fun. In one story he reversed gravity for a day, just for the fun of it. At his playground, he opened up a hole as deep as the earth is thick and had his people jump in. They fell for hours, playing and enjoying themselves the whole way down. Then they splashed down in water, one of Elyon’s lakes, if I remember correctly.
It’s one of the best trilogies I’ve ever read, and I highly recommend owning a copy of it so you can read it over and over again.
I wasn’t sure exactly how this could be both the beginning and the end of the Circle. White seemed to end things pretty well for the original trilogy and the Paradise Novels made it seem that everything was just moving on. Green picks up right where Sinner left off.
Here’s the breakdown.
Characters
The story starts with Billy, the one who put Thomas Hunter in the Black forest by writing in the Lost Books and who can now read minds, meeting with Monique and Kara, the two women most involved in Thomas Hunter’s life. Shortly after that meeting, we are introduced to Janae, Monique’s daughter. That’s all the characters for this reality.
In the other reality, there is Thomas, leader of the Circle, and Chelise, his wife. His son Samuel, who has been chafing under his father’s non-lethal treatment of the Horde, is becoming a catalyst. On the Horde side of the conflict, there’s Quorong, Chelise’s mother, and Ba’al, who from what I can gather is actually Billos from the Lost Books series (that I have yet to read).
I have to say that the character of Billy was not what I expected. I knew he was troubled because of the monastery in Paradise and the books, but I never thought he would be what he turned out to be. I also have to say that I was a bit saddened at how easily certain people in the Circle fell away at the end, but I do know that it will probably happen like that. It was interesting how at least one of them knew they were being seduced by evil, and went along with it anyway.
Story
So it starts with Billy looking for Thomas’ blood, one last vial of it that he believes Kara and Monique hid after the Raison Strain incident. They deny it and keep Billy from reading their minds by wearing dark glasses (he has to see their eyes directly to read their minds). They assign Janae to keep an eye on him, but that turns on them when Janae and Billy dose themselves with an alternate strain of the Raison virus, which forces Monique, desperate to save her daughter, to use the vial that she had denied existed. As in the past books, Thomas’ blood transports Billy and Janae to the other reality.
In the other reality, Thomas is dealing with the Circle starting to fracture. And his son is leading the way. In response, Thomas offers a challenge to the Horde not unlike Elijah and the priests of Ba’al in the Bible. Quorong’s priest, aptly name Ba’al, mixes a little of Abraham’s test into it and calls the Shataiki, evil bats working for Teelah, the evil one, to kill Samuel.
There is quite a bit I love about this book. It’s another that I could not put down once I got into it, and it didn’t take long for that either. It was interesting to read through this and then go right into reading the Circle Trilogy graphic novels. I basically got to read Green as both the end of the series and the beginning all at once. I must say that is does a very good job of being both, but you’ll get the most out of it if you read the rest of the related books as well.
Be sure to pick this one up when you get a chance.
When I first got this, I thought it was going to be basically, an upgraded version of the original Super Mario Bros. I’m glad I was wrong. There’s a lot more to it, and it is an amazing game. One of the best for the DS, that I’ve played.
Here’s the breakdown.
Characters
The characters are the same as always: Mario, Luigi, Peach and Bowser. Bowser Jr. is also one of the main characters, and actually seems to be the one with the master plan now.
Story
As with the old Mario games, this one has no story beyond rescuing the princess who’s been taken yet again by Bowser Jr.
Music & Sounds
The music is a good mix of remade classics (the underground theme and the castle theme from the original) and the sound effects are par for the course in a Mario game.
Gameplay & Controls
This is where the differences really come to play. In addition to the requisite Starman, Super Mushroom and Fire Flower, there is also a Mega Mushroom, that makes Mario the height of the screen and able to walk through just about anything, the Mini Mushroom, which shrinks Mario to half his small size granting access to small passages and giving him the ability to float further in air, and the Koopa Shell, which gives Mario a koopa shell and allows him to slide across of the floor just like a shell that has been kicked, only you can control how long he slides.
Also, in addition to the regular coins and red coins, there is also 3 star coins in each stage. These can be used to open new paths on the map and at the end of the game to buy some nostalgic backgrounds.
There is also a Mario vs. Luigi mode that I haven’t had the chance to play yet, and a bunch of Mini games as well.
Fun
I would say that this game is definitely one of the most fun Mario games I’ve ever played. It’s not quite as much fun as Super Mario RPG (and seeing as I’m an RPG fanatic nothing may ever be that much fun), but it’s close.
I knew there was a reason I never saw this in the used games sections in the game stores I visited. Now I know why: it’s an awesome game. Be sure to pick it up if you get the chance.
Ben: “Jedi Skywalkers. Practicing a fine family tradition of rescuing people from the dark side.”
Luke: “Hey, there are worse family traditions.”
Ben: “Like Aunt Leia’s spiceloaf.”
Luke: “You think the dark side is scary, you say that to her.”
Ben: “I won’t. I like my body intact, thank you very much.”
So in this book we have more psychotic Jedi, more great Luke & Ben banter, and a marriage proposal 14 years (in the Star Wars universe) in the making. I remember my roommate in college saying that Jaina and Jag would (or was it should?) get married. But like Luke and Mara, they danced around their relationship for many years before finally accepting, as Vader would say it, that it was their destiny.
Anyway, here’s the breakdown.
Characters
Luke and Ben are off in search of the super-elusive Aing-Tii, who view the Force as more of a rainbow, than Light and Dark. They also have some very interesting abilities; Force Teleport Object could be very useful. Meanwhile, Han & Leia are dealing with trying to raise Allana differently than their own kids were raised. Also, they have formally introduced the Lost Tribe of the Sith in this book, including an apprentice name Vestara Khai, whom I am guessing will be a big part of the series, based on the importance they’ve given her in just this book.
Story
This book actually contains two stories: one is what is happening now, and the other is what has happened over the past two years to the Lost Tribe of the Sith on their unknown planet. The Sith have been gaining power under the guidance of the Sith Meditation Sphere that Ben found on Ziost while working under Jacen. Now they have a small fleet and are hellbent on restoring the Sith to power. Meanwhile, Luke and Ben continue their search for the reasons behind Jacen’s fall and the Jedi are dealing with two more of their own falling to the mysterious psychosis.
It’s a good book, even though there is no real final battle as there is in most Star Wars books. It’s a set-up book, meaning that it is there to tell a necessary part of the story, even though there may not be much excitement. It sets up the next book, which I will be reviewing in June. Until then, be sure to read this if you get the chance.
“What you are about to see is top secret. Do NOT tell my mother!” -Agent Simmons.
I kept hearing that this movie had no plot until about half way through. I went in expecting that. I was happy to find these statements to be wrong. There wasn’t much action until about halfway through, but I saw a good plot all the way through.
Here’s the breakdown.
Characters
In addition to the characters from the last movie, there are a some new Autobots and Decepticons. The twins have to be the funniest of the newbies. Anyway, additionally Sam has some new friends from college: one girl that seems to be throwing herself at him, despite Bumblebee’s attempts to thwart her and one guy who is obsessed with finding all he can out about the alien machines that have supposedly been sighted in the recent past.
Story
Basically, there’s a really old Decepticon that Megatron has been working for named The Fallen. He wants to destroy the sun to create energon to help him build an army of Decepticons to rule the galaxy. He can only be killed by a Prime, like Optimus. Unfortunately, Optimus dies halfway through the movie protecting Sam from nearly all the Decepticons on Earth by himself. Of course, Sam, who accidentally touched one of the two remaining shards of the Allspark, has this knowledge floating around his brain that tells him there’s a way to save Optimus, and thus the planet and solar system.
Music
The theme was all based on Linkin Park’s song, New Divide. Apparently, after using What I’ve Done in the last one, they were approached for a new song for the new movie and created New Divide. It’s a good song and makes for a decent soundtrack for giant alien robots blowing each other up.
So it wasn’t a bad movie. It didn’t have the awe factor that the first one did, but sequels rarely do. It was better than people told me it was, in my opinion. Be sure to check it out if you get the chance.
“Rush, this is Young. I know exactly what you’re trying to do and there is no way in hell that I’m gonna let you get away with it.” -Colonel Everett Young
I was looking at some comics I read regularly and saw this on Real Life Comics. Having watched both this episode and all of Battlestar Galactica, I have to agree on how the respective characters handle insurrections.
Anyway, here’s the breakdown for this episode of SGU.
Characters
As was hinted at in the last episode, the civilians are not happy. Rush and Chloe are both dealing with having been captured by the aliens and what they did to them there. Lt Scott has to deal with the fact that Chloe is on the opposite side he is and Eli even feels betrayed. Young has the hardest situation, having to deal with an insurrection, the fact that afterwards they still have to live with these people and the aliens tracking and attacking them.
Story
Basically, the civilians, led by Camille and Rush, rise up and take over the ship. They aren’t trying to kill anyone, so when the transferring of systems threatens to kill Young and Scott, Rush has to end the transfer prematurely. This leaves Eli with control of Life support. And in the middle of all that, the aliens that have been harassing Destiny arrive and attack.
The thing that got me on this was that Rush was doing this because he had been implanted with a tracking device and was afraid that Young would pull an Adama and put him out the airlock. Granted, Young did leave him on the planet just a few episodes ago, so his fears aren’t totally unfounded. However, Rush has shown that although he may be the “smartest” one on the ship, he’s also an idiot. Here’s hoping that he has learned a lesson from this.
“Well, if it means anything, I regret leaving you on that planet. Don’t get me wrong: I think you deserved it, but I regret that I lost control, that I became a man that I couldn’t respect any more.” -Colonel Everett Young
Finally, the last remaining Stargate show starts up again. I really hate all these three month breaks in the middle of the season that shows have started doing. Anyway, Now that it’s back we can find out what happens next on the Destiny. Last time we saw them, Colonel Young had just left Dr. Rush on an alien planet with no resources. And everyone else suspects that he killed Rush.
Here’s the breakdown.
Characters
Tensions are mounting between the military and civilian populations. Camille all but openly accuses Young of murdering Rush. Other people are whispering, wondering if they will just get left behind if they are inconvenient to Young.
Story
Young is on his way to report back to Earth with the communication stones. When he connects, he finds himself on an alien ship. Soon after he returns, they discover an alien ship following them. They attack and take Chloe. Young goes back and discovers Rush is being held on the ship.
I won’t spoil the rest of the story, but it’s a decent episode with a bit of an expected twist at the very end. One that gives away what will happen in the next episode.
“You’ve lived here a while, but you’re still living out of boxes. Maybe you moved around a lot as a kid. A tumultuous childhood. A hard time forming relationships. I may not be the gumshoe you are, but I’ve got some skills.” -Sam Weiss
The return of the Yoda-Bowling man! He is the reason for the way the title is worded, sort of, because at one point, he brings Clue over to Olivia’s apartment to play.
Here’s the breakdown.
Characters
Olivia is not sleeping because she is keeping Walter’s secret. She is also acting weird around Peter for the same reason. Peter notices and thinks it’s because she and him almost kissed. Walter keeps worrying that Olivia will tell Peter, thus ruining the good relationship the two of them currently have.
Story
A man is meeting with the people who, like Olivia, were subjects for the Cortexiphan tests that William Bell and Walter did. He touches them, and within minutes, they die of cancerous growths on their skin. Like two previous cases of people with abilities (Nick Lane and Nancy Lewis), this seems to have been a failed “activation” attempt.
There are more hints about Broyles and Nina having some former connection. And I have to say that I’m liking Walter’s decision to tell Peter the truth. It will really hurt the relationship, but I think it will work out better in the end.
“Chief, this is Detective Eames. I won’t be taking that Captain’s Exam.” -Alex Eames
The final episode with Goren and Eames; the team that started Criminal Intent. It starts where the last one left off. Obviously, Goren and Eames had no intention of letting the FBI take their witness, and in trying to arrest him on new charges, Goren gets in his face and gets suspended.
Here’s the breakdown.
Characters
Goren gets suspended right as Nichols’ new partner arrives. Eames greets her with a saracastic “It’s fun here.” Eames spends the episode dealing with the suspicion on Goren and the Chief of Detectives wanting to promote her to Captain of Major Case, at the cost of Goren’s job.
Story
After Goren gets suspended, he starts his own investigation even as the police investigate him for the murder of the guy he hassled earlier. Eames obviously does not like that. Of course, what Goren stumbles onto in his investigation, totally derails the police investigation and ends up setting the killer free, but not without Nichols getting in a few parting shots.
As an episode, it was pretty good. It was a decent way for Goren and Eames to leave, too. I just hate that they are gone from the show. Here’s hoping that Nichols and the new detective can carry the show.
“It was the first hole, the first breach, the first crack in the pattern of cracks in the places between the worlds, and it’s my fault.” -Walter Bishop
Whoa. That intro sequence was trippy. Anyway, Olivia learned in the last episode something that all of us viewers knew from the Season 1 finale: Peter is from the other side. We did not know the exact reasons or circumstances behind it, however, and that’s what this episode is all about.
Here’s the breakdown.
Characters
This is a flashback episode, as Walter explains to Olivia why Peter is in this universe when he’s from the other side. We also meet Peter’s mom for the first time. Those two make up the main cast for this episode. Others are Walter’s lab assistant, much like the 80′s version of Astrid, and Nina.
Story
So we discover in the beginning of the episode that Peter is dying of a genetic disease for which there is no cure. Walter is using a window to the other side, which is about 30 years ahead of our side in technology (as evidenced by the RAZR phone that Walter shows the Army), to watch the other side in hopes that Walternate (Walter in the other side) will have better luck than he has in finding a cure. Then Peter on this side dies, right in front of Walter. He continues watching, hoping that Walternate will be able to cure alternate Peter so Walter can take comfort that Peter is living on somewhere, if not with himself. Then the Observer causes Walternate to miss the success of his compound, but Walter sees it. By the time Walternate turns back, the compound has failed, causing Walternate to totally disregard the compound that would cure his son. Walter, obsessed with saving Peter, any Peter, figures out the compound and crosses over to the other side – a first and what Walter says weakened the walls between the two worlds. When he crosses over, we find out what happened to Nina’s arm.
This episode answered a lot of questions about Walter and Peter’s past. Seeing how well they are getting along now, it will be sad to see it all destroyed when Peter learns the truth.
“I’m gonna go splash some water on my face and… throw up a little.” -Castle
In this episode, a man has found the Mayan equivalent of king Tut. Maya-Tut comes with a curse, just like the Egyptian king. The curse is applied to anyone who looks at the mummy, which Castle does before hearing about it.
Here’s the breakdown.
Characters
Ryan and Esposito have a hay day knowing that Castle is cursed, even though he doesn’t believe in curses. Castle really starts getting freaked out when weird things start happening to him. After Kate reveals that she’s behind them, he continues having weird thing happen to him.
Story
Basically, after finding the mummy, everyone on the team that found him begins dying mysteriously. First a girl in the jungle, then someone else in a way I cannot remember, then the assistant curator by falling gargoyle (this is the first victim shown). When they discover that the mummy is less than 500 years old, instead of the millennia he was supposed to be, they realize something entirely different than what they thought is going on.
It’s a frakking hilarious episode, especially the part in the elevator. And the Indiana Castle scene at the beginning.
