thePeanutBloggery

Heroes – “Godsend”
We may sound like a broken record here at thePeanutBloggery, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer was one of the greatest television series ever (for five seasons, at least). Perhaps it was simply ahead of its time, because Heroes, a show that possesses so many of the elements that made Buffy great, has emerged as one of the most popular new series of the year. In addition to the most obvious similarity, a blond cheerleader who finds herself suddenly endowed with a superpower, and various other genetically-challenged young adults who must work together to save the world (the Scooby Gang or the Justice League?), the thematic similarities between the series run deep: the lines between good and evil are blurred and easy to cross, even in the comic book world; the gravity of being responsible for the safety of the world when you just want to be a regular person weighs heavy; and, as we learned this week, destiny is unavoidable, and by trying to run away from it, you may run straight into it.

Gilmore Girls – “Santa’s Secret Stuff”
Though I may have been alone in this, I truly believed the new writers were on track at the beginning of the season. Season 6 was basically a fiasco. Creator and executive producer Amy Sherman-Palladino seemed to have lost track of what made her show special. Fixating on Lorelei and Rory, she gave us only rare glimpses of Kirk, Jackson, Babette, and Miss Pattie. The new executive producer, David Rosenthal, seemed to be curing the ailing series. No, the dialogue wasn’t as sharp as it was (and it sometimes felt like they weren’t writing enough words to fill the hour), but I thought that would improve with time. Luke and Lorelei finally broke up (they never had any chemistry anyway), and the town meeting was revived. However, for the last couple of episodes, especially this week’s, the writers have reverted to the claustrophobic concentration on the Gilmores (where’s Paris? where’s Taylor?), and they’re threatening to kill Lorelei’s relationship with Christopher, the only man who actually understands her, and get her back with Luke. Strangely, Zach, a character I’ve never liked (because I can’t understand why Lane would follow up a great guy like Dave Rygalski with this loser) was the highlight of the episode with his speech about rock star parents. Some advice; more of this and less of Lorelei acting stubborn and stupid.

Friday Night Lights – “Little Girl, I Wanna Marry You”
It started with Felicity’s super cute Noel Crane, with his obsession with Apple Computer and comic books. Then Seth Cohen took it to the next level of both nerdiness and sexiness. The geeks are getting the girls. Thank you, Bill Gates. Thank you, Peter Parker. Now we’re witnessing the next step in total geek dominance. Yes, Matt Saracen, I’m talking about you. You’re awkward with girls (even the coach finds you so unthreatening he allows you to date his daughter), and your best friend is the ultra-smart and ultra-nerdy Landry, who convinced you to wear a Members Only jacket on your first date with Julie. But there’s good news, Saracen. Forget Tim Riggins; you’re the latest heartthrob on television. (Watch out for that Hiro Nakamura though.)

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip – “Monday”
This is a smart television series, and some theorize that is the very reason it struggles in the ratings. Though it takes place on a late night sketch comedy set, it isn’t funny; it doesn’t want to be funny. While it’s at its best when dealing with political issues (Aaron Sorkin’s specialty) like censorship and the polarization of our nation, recent episodes have tread on over-sentimental territory, giving me Little House on the Prairie flashbacks. Don’t ask me to shed a tear for an old man who never made it on the air because a cast member named names during the McCarty era if I just met him five minutes ago. Don’t ask me to worry about Tom Jeter’s brother in Iraq when I’ve never met him. If you want me to feel something, you must carefully guide me there. That said, this week’s episode avoided that saccharine pitfall and instead intrigued me with arguments about the FCC and reality television (or illiterate television, as Jordan McDeere calls it).

What They Said