Shawn Ryan: TV’s Luckiest/Unluckiest Man

If there was anyone that wanted concrete proof that the world of television, and particularly the world of television writer employment is an enigma, look no further than the career of Shawn Ryan. He has had the dubious reputation of being quite possibly the most canceled writer/show runner in Hollywood today. Shows such as Lie to Me, The Unit, The Chicago Code, Last Resort, and Terriers have all been canceled, the last two being within the first season. Only in Hollywood could someone repeatedly be canceled and yet repeatedly finding new jobs.

Sons of Anarchy: Season 4, Episode 2 – ‘Booster’ Review

Filling in for Dr. Kronner this week: NTroy5000

So, episode 2 continued in the slow plodding manner that the first episode set the precedent for. I’m glad that the story for the show continues to be engaging, if it wasn’t I don’t think it would be able to hold my attention.

Spoilers Ahead>>>>>>>>

Sons of Anarchy: Season 4, Episode 1 – ‘Out’ Review

The highly touted 90 minute premiere of Sons of Anarchy aired tonight, and to be honest, it was underwhelming. Granted – this could simply be the cause of the raised expectations set forth by Kurt Sutter after last season’s premiere, but it just didn’t feel that personal.

The episode starts as the crew is released from a 14 month stint in lockdown, and they waste no time jumping right back into the business end of things. They have a meeting set with the Russians from Season 3, but there is a new Sheriff in town (literally) and he has plans for SAMCRO that don’t involve their normal business practices. This Sheriff – Eli Roosevelt (Rockmund Dunbar) ran gang units in Oakland before coming to Charming, and he’s not gonna to oblige the club with the same professional courtesy that the Ex-Chief of Police did.

AMC’s ‘The Killing’: Episode 10 – “I’ll Let You Know When I Get There”

After last week the overwhelming assumption thus far is that Belko is the killer. In AMC’s latest poll, Belko was voted most likely with 39%, and Aunt Terry 2nd place with only 10%. Personally I don’t think Terry would’ve murdered her niece in such a brutal manner, but I guess people just don’t trust her. Maybe it’s because she’s still best known for playing a crack whore on The Shield…

At the end of last week’s episode we learned a little too late that Bennett Amhed was not to blame for the murder of Rosie Larsen. Stan and Belko had already grabbed him, and as the credits roll we see them beat Amhed savagely.  And more than that, as Stan is kicking the suspect killer of his child, we see Belko punching a rock and looking quite guilty. Something isn’t right there. Not to say he’s the killer, just that something there is not right.

As this week’s episode we open on Bennett’s beaten body. Lying in the mud as Mitch tries desperately to reach her husband. The husband whom she blamed for not ‘handling’ the suspected killer sooner. Lucky for the Amhed family the teacher survived the attack, but Mitch must now live with knowing she sicked her husband on the wrong man. And upon learning he attacked what appears to be the wrong man, Stan does the right thing and turns himself into the authorities.

Our detectives however, now need a new suspect. Linden arrives at the residence of Darren Richmond and informs him that Amhed is not only innocent, but in critical condition at the hospital after the beating he received from Stan. This seems to be the perfect opportunity for Richmond to jump back into the race. The man who all along stood by Amhed and was crucified for it, can now use his integrity to re-establish his stand. And that’s just what he does. Using the media outside the hospital he launches an all out attack on not only the Mayor, but the cowardly City Council that helped to shut down his basketball center.

As Stan’s preliminary hearing for his crimes begins, Linden meets with a cabbie that picked up Rosie that night. Picked her up and took her home. The video from the cab shows Rosie getting out in front of the house, and someone inside. We see a light turn off in the house, a house that is supposed to be empty. Holder is convinced that the light was turned off by Belko.

‘Empire Records’ fans will recognize Belko as the young shoplifter Warren. (Picture from Lilotchka)

Upon a visit to Belko’s house they find several pictures of the Larsen family pinned to the ceiling above his bed. With some further questioning Holder’s suspicion is confirmed, Belko was there the night of the murder. Though, despite this, and as I’ve thought all along, Belko doesn’t appear to be our killer. He is too scared of not being ‘part of the family’ to piss off Stan. He did however overhear a phone call she made, and he heard something that rang through to our Detectives – Adela. The same name from the note they found earlier.

Sarah returns home to find her fiancée Rick waiting at the door. Things there do not go well. The following morning she goes for a run and stumbles upon what could be a huge break in the case. A ship. A ship named Adela. In fact, a ship named Adela that passes the Wapi Eagle Casino. A Casino bearing the same logo as the key-chain in evidence.

 

So Linden has a new lead, Stan is in jail, and Mitch is searching the books for their missing life savings, a cold realization just heaped upon her already troubled life. Bennett remains in the Hospital and Richmond it would appear, at least for a moment, had met Rosie.

I have a feeling that the 40% of the vote Belko has now, is gonna drop. Myself, I don’t have a clue who the killer is at this point. Who do you think it is?

 

Finale Watch – The End of The Chicago Code: Another Shawn Ryan Cancellation

Tonight marks the 2nd time in that last year that Shawn Ryan created show, which is better than majority of the programming on Television, will be canceled after only a season on the air. The first was of course Terriers, which was one of my favorite shows ever. The next now is The Chicago Code. Tonight was the last episode of the rookie season for the show, and it will in all likely hood be the last episode ever. Unless however it’s gets a rare cable pickup, the way TNT did with NBC’s Southland, . That however is a ‘Hail Mary’ pass thrown up several times a year that almost never gets caught.

The 10 Best Seasons of Television of the Last 20 Years

So, continuing on my rant about TV, I have decided to compile a list of THE 10 BEST SEASONS OF TELEVISION (in my lifetime). This is not the best shows, but single seasons that rung loud and delivered a lasting effect.

These are single seasons, out of longer runs. So shows that only ran for one season (Firefly, Terriers, Freaks And Geeks) wont be included. This is more where shows hit their peaks and why… Some possible spoilers ahead.