thePeanutBloggery

Friday Night Lights – “What to Do While You’re Waiting”
We learned a lot this week. First we learned that between school, football, his job at the diner, and taking care of his mentally ill grandmother, Matt Saracen also has time to take Julie to Italian art films and concerts. We learned his father isn’t really a jerk, just inept. Fortunately Matt took pity on him and sent him back to Iraq. He truly is the perfect guy.

We learned that Tyra’s mom actually loves her more than her redneck boyfriend who beats her. Touching. We learned Tyra’s ex-boyfriend Tim, having given up drinking a few episodes back, has become sensitive and very sorry for the way he treated her. Now wasn’t it Tyra who cheated on him with Smash at the beginning of the season? Hmmmmm.

How I Met Your Mother – “First Time in New York”
This was the obligatory “I love you” episode. Of course, Ted told Robin he loved her during the pilot, but a season and a half later, it’s her turn. Knowing Robin’s not the “mother” of the show’s title, I’m not sure whether I’m supposed to be rooting for them as a couple. Truthfully, I’m not. Ever since Robin played Barney’s wingman last season, the writing has been on the wall for them in season 3.

The L Word – “The Legend in the Making”
This season premiere gave me the impression some creative director decided she wanted to go in a completely different direction than she’d planned with last April’s finale. When last we saw Bette, she was heading off into the night with baby Angelica, but in this episode, our favorite lesbian-rights lawyer (Jane Lynch) quickly hashed out a custody agreement, so Bette wouldn’t have to spend the rest of the season behind bars. Max was a hormonal nightmare at the end of last season, but he went to one support meeting this week, and now he’s a nice guy again. Alice and Laura’s relationship was gross (Dana had only been dead for a single episode before they hooked up), so the writers sent Laura off to some mysterious job, hoping we’d forget how appalled we were. The one thread they didn’t tie off is Kit’s pregnancy. Where on earth can they be going with that?

Men in Trees – “The Darkest Day”
I could hardly focus on this episode, because I was obsessing over a simple continuity problem. This episode took place exactly two days after the previous, which allegedly took place over the weekend following Thanksgiving. Using that math, the calendar date of the current episode should have been November 28. However, they were celebrating the winter solstice, which is December 22. Why is this so important to me? It makes me not trust them. How else are they going to try to fool me? I’m already supposed to believe Buzz is Patrick’s father, Theresa used to tour with Jewel, and Jack is an expert hairdresser. Please.

The O.C. – “The French Connection”
Smarmy Felicity alum Henri Lubatti and his terrible French accent aren’t what I had in mind for Taylor’s irresistible ex-husband. Is she actually going to risk losing Ryan over this geek? Meanwhile Seth and Summer appear to be calling it quits. Again. And Kirsten has cut Julie Cooper-Nichol-Roberts out of her life. Again. Wake me up when there’s some good kissing or fighting.

Scrubs – “My Friend With Money”
Despite all the times they’ve handled serious illness with humor and insight, there was something lacking (you might say “glib”) in the story of Carla’s postpartum depression. That aside, this episode hearkened back to previous seasons with its silly humor (trampoline floors, Janitor schemes, and tales of Elliot’s sexual role-playing) and a little bit of the sincere Zach Braff that translates so well to movies.

Ugly Betty – “Sophia’s Choice”
Last week my primary complaint was that the plot didn’t move forward at all. This week’s episode more than made up for that. I honestly never saw it coming, but when they revealed Sophia was plotting to get Daniel to propose, so she could write an article about it, I was thrilled. It answered all my questions. How was Betty going to end up back at Mode? Why would Sophia choose Daniel over her perfect fiancé? How were they going to get Salma Hayek off the show, since she’s just there temporarily to boost the ratings? I hope they handle the mystery of the masked woman so well.

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