Revenge 2.12 Review: Collusion

Emily's playing a dangerous game trying to get to The Initiative, and Collusion made it apparent that she might not have all the control she might like. In convincing Daniel to acquire Stonehaven in a business deal, Emily unwittingly gave The Initiative exactly what they wanted. Furthermore, it severely hindered her partnership with Victoria, who was adamant she stop Daniel's furthering plans at Grayson Global. While The Initiative’s introduction into Revenge defines the show as extremely melodramatic, at least Revenge knows what it is. The revelation that they plan to use Nolan’s confidential Carrion project in order to shut off all of Manhattan's electricity, and that they've used Daniel to require Stonehaven, a disaster relief foundation, so that they can profit from using Carrion is over the top dramatics at its peak. The way in which The Initiative has seemingly worked their way into the lives of the characters of Revenge is another prime example of this. Aiden tried to play along with their plans and kill Victoria, but Emily convinced him not to, leading to (possibly) his sister's death. Not even Nolan is immune to their manipulative powers, discovering his employee/ lover Padma is working for them. Let's just hope her reasons are more intriguing and not so banal as Daniel's. Meanwhile, are even more banal storyline involving the Porters and the Stowaway continues, and just as I knew it would more of Revenge's characters have been dragged into this silly plot. Hopefully Conrad's business deal with Nate to take control of the docks, and tear small businesses down to create a new high-end casino in an attempt to run for politics provides more interesting developments for all the characters involved other than Jack and Declan wondering around like stunned mullets.

Rating: 2.5/5

Californication 6.2 Review: Quitters

While I'm still uncertain that Hank's time in the Happy Endings Rehabilitation Centre will do any good for his character in the long run, the new setting has undoubtedly allowed the show an interesting change of perspective. The necessary tragically hot young female that befriends Hank this season, Faith, has yet to sleep with him yet, but other than that, her usefulness throughout this season seems as if it will be pretty thin, particularly since she's already explained her backstory. Hank spent most of the episode being a sarcastic arse, but thankfully visits from Charlie, who is now a ‘gay-gent’ for Hollywood movie star Robbie Mac, and Becca, who has inherited her father’s unique ways in terms of discussing her sex life, kept things funny. I'm intrigued to see more Karen and Marcy interaction since they are now roommates, other than just them getting high, but I guess I'm going to have to wait. It looks like most of Karen's time will be taken up being interior designer for stereotypical rock-star Atticus Fetch, which at least will allow her character to be tied in nicely with Hank's 'professional' endeavours this season which is something the show hasn't done before. Marcy on the other hand seems to be having a hard time letting go of her cheating ex Stu, for which I am glad, because despite all the disturbing overzealous sex talk between them, I find the characters, and the bizarre relationship they share, endearing.

Rating: 3/5

Fringe 5.13 Review: An Enemy of Fate

Fringe's final episode saw the Fringe team finally piece together the device they had been 'building' all season in order to send the child Observer Michael into the future to stop The Observers ever being created. The stakes and obstacles were high enough though to make it a fairly exciting episode. Broyles was discovered as the mole for the underground, Peter and Olivia had to infiltrate Observers headquarters to get the control cube needed to operate the shipping lane between time periods, and this allowed the use of past Fringe biological materials as a nod to longtime fans. Astrid and Walter also shared a nice moment with Daisy the cow, and the fantastic Windmark met his squishy demise at Olivia's hands. In terms of character development Fringe's final episode lacked severely, but Fringe has always had difficulty doing so with character's that aren't named Walter Bishop. The mad scientist finally got the redemption he thought he deserved by sacrificing himself and taking Michael into the future. So Olivia and Peter fought for their family, Etta, and won, and while it was all very touching, 'generic happy family' as an ending for a thought provoking science-fiction show isn't exactly what I wanted.

Rating: 3.5/5