Best of Gossip Girl Season 4 Episodes 1-10

As I mentioned earlier I wasn't too enthusiastic about the beginning of Season 4. I thought alot of the storylines were contrite and overrused, taken blatantly from other shows. Season 4 had it's good points too. Here's what made it worth my time:

Georgina, Dan and Baby Milo

Spoiler Alert: Milo is not Dan's baby. Then again I don't think any true Gossip Girl fan would ever believe that he was. Once again Georgina takes advantage of Dan's decent side and manipulates him into raising someone else's child. By the time Georgina tells Dan the truth and takes the baby back, Dan is already attached to Milo and mourns his loss like he was the baby's real father. I thought Dan being a teen dad was a lot more interesting than if Blair or Serena had been a teen mom. The story of why Georgina lied to Dan about the baby's dad was a bit stupid though (some Russian wife wanted her dead? That's almost as bad as Carter being enslaved on an oil rig)

Juliet's Scheming For Ben

Hidden agendas are always intriguing especially when they are engineered by some mysterious guy in prison. I figure that whatever Juliet did to Ben can't be all that bad since he freaks out when Juliet's overdose lands Serena in the hospital) At first I figured maybe Serena broke his heart so he snapped and that's why he is in jail but then I realized the stakes were alot higher. 

Chuck and Blair 's Treaty

Blair and Chuck have to do everything with flair. They can't simply call a truce, they need to draw up an eloborate treaty to ensure that things between them are civil in the future. And what a treaty. Countries could probably learn a thing or two from them about negotiations. At least they are prepared if they ever need to divorce. But even better than creating the treaty was when Chuck destroys the treaty and the aftermath ;)

Everyone Chasing Juliet Out of Town

It wouldn't be Gossip Girl if somebody didn't get run out of town. When Juliet attempts to show the compromising pictures of Serena and Colin to the Dean, Serena's friends close ranks to protect her and Blair drops Juliet's phone into a glass of wine. In Gossip Girl world, that puts an end to the problem. Then Serena, Blair, Nate and Chuck (I can't remember if Dan was there) gang up on Juliet and run her out of town. Not that she gets very far. 

Juliet Teaming up with Vanessa and Jenny

I thought we were done with Jenny (when she returned for her dad's anniversary my heart literally plummeted to my feet) but when she popped up on the computer screen to team up with Vanessa and Juliet, I didn't mind all that much. After all if she disappears once then she can (and hopefully will) dissapear again. I'm still not clear what ax Jenny has to grind when it comes to Serena. If anything it should be the other way around. Jenny tried to sabotage the relationship between Serena and Nate multiple times and as far as I know Serena pretty much let that go. I think Jenny's need for revenge stems from jealousy pure and simple. Serena is everything Jenny aspired to be and couldn't. I understand why Jenny would hate her (every girl probably does) but striking out is something only Jenny would do. The rest of us would just eat too much ice cream while feeling bad about ourselves. 

                                                                  

                                                                 Serena's Overdose

A bit melodramatic yes but this is a TV show. This is also the last straw for Serena's family (the sex tape and cocaine was not enough apparently) and they decide to have her committed. Even Serena agrees that this might be a good idea once she sees pictures of herself doing things that she doesn't remember. Plus she might meet her next boyfriend in rehab so why not?

Dan and Blair Working to Take Down Juliet
Blair belongs with Chuck and no one else. Buttttttttttt she does have chemistry with Dan that even I can appreciate. Dan and Blair work to take down Juliet and find out exactly what she has against Serena. This is one of the first times Dan and Blair work together as a team and I like it. I can only hope that maybe their partnership can develop into something else (If Chuck can sleep with a Humphrey why can't Blair?)

Let me know what you think. Did you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments below and please check out my next post. You know you love me. XOXO Bernadette 

Reality Show Challenge Episode 7 Part One

The Bachelor

And the stakes get higher. Six ladies, four roses. One bachelor. Sounds like a recipe for drama. This week everybody got a date. In Belize, no less. Three one on one dates and one group date. The girls waited on the edge of their seats for the date cards to arrive. Lindsay scored the first date with Ben during which they jumped from a helicopter in the ocean and wrote a message in a bottle. The next date went to Emily and they spent the day walking barefoot through the streets of Belize and then caught their own lobsters. The final one on one date went to Courtney who had spent her days in Belize whining to the other girls about how much she deserved a one on one date. She even said that if she didn't get a one on one date she would not accept a rose (of course she assumes she would be offered one). I don't think she understands that the point of the show  is that there is supposed to be one guy and 25 girls. If Ben sent all the other girls home and married her, then there would be no show. But Courtney seems like the kind of person who would expect a television series to cater to her every whim. Ben is still trying to figure out if his instincts are correct and
Courtney is a selfish two faced liar but in the end determines that she isn't. Ben is an idiot. The remaining girls, Rachel, Nykki and Kacie B., all went on a group date with Ben which sounds like it was the most fun because they went swimming with sharks. Honestly, I would do the Bachelor just because its a great way to travel and have all expenses paid. The girls also told Ben to "tread lightly around Courtney" Kacie B. received the only rose available (the rose on the group date) ensuring that Ben would visit her hometown and meet her family. Three other roses were up for grabs during the rose ceremony and they were given to...Lindsey (my top choice), Nykki (who I keep forgetting exists) and Courtney. Like I said Ben is an idiot. But they forged a really intimate bond skinny dipping and who am I to deny that connection? This means that we say goodbye to Emily and Rachel (Ben gives them both a brief hug if that says anything about the relationships they had) Honestly they're better off.
Characters: 2.5 As Ben continues to send home sweet, genuine girls who would be more than happy to be his girlfriend while keeping around a manipulative liar, I become more and more convinced Ben isn't ready for a relationship. He obviously doesn't know what girl will make him happy which is why he is falling for an image rather than a person. He's being taken in by Courtney's model image of perfection ignoring all the clear signs that she isn't ready to love him, not him and probably not ever. He says that he wants somebody open and honest with him while ironically Courtney is the one who has been the least honest. But isn't that the way it always happens?
Emotional Intensity: 1 I felt bad for Emily and Rachel. They've spent about two months getting to know this man and all they got for their efforts was a hug. That's almost as a bad as a text message. Not to mention hugs are alot more common than text messages. I mean you can hug anybody you see on the street but you have to have somebody's number in order to text them. I get hugs from people I meet for an evening let alone date for two months. A bit disappointing if you ask me.
Conflict:1.5 I'm starting not to care who Ben ends up with. If he is stupid enough to choose someone who doesn't have his best interests at heart, well that his problem. Then again he was stupid enough to go looking for true love on a TV show. I'm not saying it doesn't happen but how many Bachelor couples stay together? And out of those that stay together how many are faithful? And how many are happy?    
Class: 3 Even though Courtney makes me want to pull my hair out and I don't quite agree with Ben's choice in girls, I must say the show kept things fairly classy. There were no nasty confrontations, no smackdowns, no arguments even though Courtney could definitely provoke all of these. Therefore the Classiest Cast Members go to Emily and Rachel since they handled rejection well after Ben sent them home and they did not get petty over being rejected for Courtney.
Overall Rating: 6.5/20

16 and Pregnant

The title is actually a lie because in this episode the character, Myranda, is 17, not 16 (I've noticed that with a few of the episodes actually) So much for reality. Anyway this episode was different from the other ones namely for one reason. First of all Eric, Myranda's boyfriend, actually seem to give a damn about his baby and steps up to the challenge of supporting it. Hurrah. Myranda and Eric actually live together so I'm not exactly surprised she ended up pregnant. Then again they live together in his grandmother's house which probably isn't the idle place for a romantic tryst. Eric's weren't mentioned at all, Myranda's dad was out of the picture and Myranda's mom is in and out of rehab. But she was the only parent actually in the episode so she gets points for that. Eric's grandmother doesn't want to raise a baby under her roof so Myranda and Eric move into a shack which their family and friends fix up to look like a halfway decent home. As Eric and
Myranda prepare for the arrival of Myranda's baby, Myranda works on her relationship with her mother which has improved but not enough so that she wants her mom in the room when the baby is delivered. Apparently only two people can be in the room when the baby is born and Myranda picks Eric and her best friend. After Kaylee arrives Myranda raises her while getting her GED and Eric works a part time job while he takes classes at a community college. Myranda experiences the usual trials of a teen mom- loneliness, sadness, just plain tiredness. But she and Eric seem to be going strong (even though I never in a million years would have picked him as someone who would be able to raise a child) and Myranda is rebuilding the relationship with her mother who is going through an outpatient treatment program for her addictions. It's going to be a tough road for Myranda but hopefully with Eric and her mother by her side, Myranda and Kaylee will overcome the challenges that come with having a baby at 16 (actually 17)
Characters: 3 Aside from a bad case of AWOL parents, Eric and Myranda seems to have a good support team at hand. There is Eric's grandmother who takes both kids into her home (although she draws the line at them raising their child there which I can honestly understand) and Myranda's friends and all of the people who show up at the baby shower. I think the only reason Myranda even had a baby shower was so she could get some presents (nothing to feel ashamed about, Myranda. When I was a kid it was the only reason I had birthday parties) Anyway I felt that Myranda and Eric, though definitely not equipped to become parents, did a pretty good job of transforming a disgusting shack into a semi decent home in which to raise their child. There are many things teen parents should have and a work ethic is definitely one of them.
Emotional Intensity: 2.5 I don't think it's any coincidence that Myranda who has such a poor relationship with her mother (to make no mention of her father) seeks love elsewhere and ends up getting pregnant. I'm not saying she got pregnant on purpose but I think subconsciously these girls may not take adequate steps towards protecting themselves against pregnancy because they want love in their lives. But that's just me psychoanalyzing everything. I'm not blaming the parents but I do think that parents play a huge role in teenage pregnancy. Talk about sad.

Myranda's mom tries to comfort her about her upcoming pregnancy

Conflict: 3 The main source of conflict stemmed from the relationship between Myranda and her mom. Once the baby's born, Myranda is hesitant to have her mom around the baby which I find completely understandable. As Myranda's mom goes through out patient treatment she cleans up her act which improves things between her and Myranda. If she had done that earlier, maybe Myranda would have never gotten pregnant in the first place.            
Class: 3 I was impressed with Myranda and Eric as I've said before. Therefore they both get the honor of sharing my Classiest Cast Member title. But kids, next time use protection. And for all the rest of you out there, don't think it won't happen to you. Because as you can see it can happen to anyone.
Overall Rating: 11.5/20

Real Housewives of New Jersey

A whole lot of nothing happened in this episode. I mean there was a wedding (a gay wedding as everyone kept saying because it can't simply be a wedding it must be a gay wedding) and there was a pool party and there was an article about Teresa that appeared in the tabloids about how she was afraid of being poor and how her friends were bullying her about her reduced financial circumstances. What is this middle school? The definition of bully is a person who uses strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker. No
offense to Teresa's friends but none of them seem all that strong or powerful. Although Teresa does strike me at the type to be easily intimidated. Jamie and his partner got married in a beautiful ceremony complete with fireworks and wish lanterns (those things terrify my mom after one almost burned our house down) and Teresa and her husband managed to keep the petty comments to a minimum. Of course alot of their friends were already insulted after a magazine article appeared in which Teresa threw most of them under the bus. Meanwhile in New Jersey, Melissa and Joe who have just completed their shore house decided to have a party because why not? Joe is trying to convince his sister that they need therapy but she isn't having any of it. For once I agree with her. I mean I've heard of family counseling but there comes a point where you have to let things go. Just accept that the two of year aren't going to get along and move on with your lives. And stop complaining about it to your friends. I'm sure they don't care about it any more than I do.
Characters: 2.5 The grooms were cute but everyone else was boring. Generally I find Teresa's kids to be the most interesting part of the entire series (the fact that they are so young and already so spoiled amazes me) and since they weren't in the episode at all it was just a bunch of gossipy moms at a wedding. It's a sad day when a group of whiny children would improve the episode.

Everyone needs to wear a hat and Teresa (above) is
wearing one that looks like its made of brussel sprouts

Emotional Intensity: 2 I don't care about anything in this episode. The relationship between Teresa and her brother was boring the first time around so why would it be interesting the seventh or the eighth? The wedding ceremony was beautiful though. Gay or straight, all weddings (well most weddings) are beautiful. And there was a part of the ceremony where they let a batch of beautiful butterflies out of a box (no I was not going for an alliteration there) and into the air. Beautiful gestures like what are what love is all about.
Conflict: 1 Conflict between Teresa and her brother is wearing thin. The tension between Caroline and Teresa is building but neither of them has pushed the other into a pool and/or a cake so the conflict has obviously not been resolved yet.
Class: 2.5 Weddings and reality shows are a notorious bad combination but this show actually did a half decent job. There were no bride-groom blowouts (or in this case groom-groom blowouts), no in law squabbles, no people falling down drunk at the wedding reception (well there probably were, they just weren't important enough to end up on camera) Even Teresa's husband managed not to mortally offend somebody. In the end the Classiest Cast Member is going to go to Jacqueline and her husband just because they are always having to put up with Teresa and her husband. And they do it with a smile.
Overall Rating: 8/20

Gossip Girl Worst of Season 4 Episodes 1-10

Season 3 left us in suspense with Chuck lying on the sidewalk, with a bullet in his chest. Blair and Serena were off to have some fun in Paris. Nate and Dan were probably both licking their wounds after realizing that Serena's fragile little brain can't handle the job of choosing between them. Things were set up for Season 4 to come in with a bang. But instead of the smooth landing I had been hoping for the first few episodes completely nosedived. Gossip Girl let me down and I don't like it. 

Louis

Why does Blair always get the boring guys? I know the fact that Louis is a prince is supposed to make up for the fact that his personality is like cardboard but the Upper East Side already live lives of royalty so I doubt I'll be able to spot the difference. Anyway even though Louis and Blair share a similar taste when it comes to art they will never be on par when it comes to a battle of wits. Blair needs someone like Chuck, a dark knight in not so clean armor. 

Eva/ Chuck's New Life In Paris

I must admit I am kind of biased. Any girl that could potentially take Blair away from Chuck is a girl I am probably not going to like. I also don't trust blondes (on TV). Or girls with accents. And Eva is all three. And I hate when Chuck begins a new life in Paris, leaving his New York identity behind including his company and the empire he has built for himself. I like it better when everybody is in the same city and it's difficult for that to happen when people are starting new lives under different names (cough Henry Prince cough) Chuck, there is no place for you but New York City. 

Juliet and Nate- Juliet Being Nate's "Life Coach"

Juliet's blonde.So right off the bat I don't like her. Just kidding. But I didn't like Juliet from the minute she was introduced, although I'm not exactly sure why. It was just an instinct. But my instincts proved to be more than correct when she horned in on Nate. Any girl who takes advantage of a guy during a vulnerable period in his life (in this case when he is still getting over Serena) is definitely a manipulater. And she uses a pathetic excuse to be in Nate's life. "Life Coach" my ass. She just wants to befriend a gorgeous guy and get into his fastpaced crazy life. And because she is a pretty girl he lets her. You can get away with anything when you're good looking.  

Serena-Dan-Nate Love Triangle

This magical pull Serena has over Dan and Nate is really irritating. Every transgression of hers is forgiven, no matter how big or little. And she just expects both of them to wait around for her while she goes to Paris (thank God they didn't. But if they did would you really want to date them anyway?) I just wish Dan and Nate had found better girls other than Vaness and Juliet. Then I could see those relationships lasting.

Juliet/Keymaster Crap

This plot was completely pointless. There is an organization that does not want Serena. The world is not going to end. And Juliet is the Keymaster? What is this, Ghostbusters? To top it off the whole thing had a very unsurprising ending- Lily steps in and makes the decision to have Juliet removed as keymaster. Really, Serena? Your mom had to fix this problem for you? Like I said unsurprising. 

Colin

Colin

A student-teacher affair involving a very sexy teacher. Usually this is the kind of thing I'd enjoy. But Colin reminded alot of Tripp (compare the pictures) I mean I guess Serena has a type (sexy, sexy and um, sexy) but after a while Serena's various relationships get old especially when the guys are practically interchangeable. The only difference between Tripp and Colin is that Colin isn't married and probably wouldn't leave his girlfriend in a wrecked car after an accident. But if Serena keeps up this serial dating I'm going to have to resort to a spreadsheet to keep track of her guys. 

Tripp

Dan's "Revenge" On Blair

First of all Dan wants revenge on Blair because she "banished" Jenny from the city. I think leaving the city was the best thing that ever happened to Little J so if I was her older brother I would send Blair flowers or something. Does Dan really think Jenny would be better off the way she was going- dating drug dealers, being roofied, burning every bridge in her life. Not to mention Blair was totally justified in her anger towards Jenny. You do NOT get in between Blair and Chuck. Jenny's lucky she escaped with her life. So Dan's big plan for revenge is showing a video of Blair singing karaoke. I suppose it could be kind of embarrassing considering she can't sing at all but its peanuts compared to the other humiliation she's endured at the hands of Gossip Girl (that's an expression isn't it?) Now if Dan really had wanted revenge he should have let Blair blame Chuck for it and let things worsen between them. Instead he steps forward and takes responsibility for it. Dan needs some lessons in Revenge 101 because the only thing that happened is one guest got chocolate poured on her head and people realized that singing is not Blair's strong suit. 

Vanessa Being Stupid

Granted this could refer to a number of Vanessa's mistakes but this time I am referring to Vanessa stealing the picture of Serena and Colin kissing from Juliet and planning to use it to damage Serena's reputation (Juliet planned to do the same thing but Juliet was never actually friends with Serena) I don't think Vanessa thinks things through. I mean Vanessa wants to end up with Dan. If Serena is with Colin then she is not with Dan. But if Vanessa sabatoges the relationship between Serena and Colin, mostly Serena will go back to Dan and Dan will be more than happy to oblige. Or maybe she just wants revenge on Serena for her hold over Dan which is stupid since it's not Serena's fault Vanessa is Dan's second choice. I'm still waiting for the day Vanessa will go poof and the show will get a whole lot better. 

As you can see I was not too enthusiastic about Season 4's beginning. Hopefully things turn around and it will become the scandalous, salacious show I know and loved from Season 1. You know you love me. XOXO Bernadette. 

We Remember Cory Monteith and Glee Season 5 Update

         

 Several days ago the nation was rocked by the news that Cory Monteith (aka Finn Hudson) had died of an alcohol and heroin overdose. While Glee fans were shocked and saddened by this tragedy, we can only imagine the pain and sorrow Cory's family and friends are feeling. My heart goes out to them and my prayers are with them especially Lea Michelle, Cory's girlfriend both on screen and off. I can't imagine how she must feel to lose someone so close to her so suddenly. I can only hope she seeks strength from the support of her family and friends.

          As for those of us who did not know him personally, we can mourn Cory by watching his performances on the first four seasons of Glee. Many blogs and Youtube Channels and magazines have honored Cory by highlighting his best performances or their favorite Finn Hudson scenes on Glee. I am not going to do that. If you were a Cory fan, I encourage you to look back and find the scenes that you like best. We will all miss different things about Cory and we know that Glee will not be the same without him.
                                                                                       

              Naturally this tragedy changes things for Season 5 of Glee. There have been rumors that the writers will use old footage of Cory to work him into the first few episodes of Season 5 therefore giving him a proper goodbye instead of explaining away his absence with an inadequate excuse. It has been confirmed that Lea Michelle is returning to Glee and I know the show is going to try to make it as easy for her as possible.
               Other Season 5 updates include the news that Marley, Jake, Kitty and Ryder will all have big roles in the coming season. Brittany, Mercedes, Mike Chang and Puck will no longer be recurring characters featured on the show. Honestly I could care less about the first three characters but I am going to miss Puck. Then again his half brother is around to play our sexy bad boy and hopefully he is up to the challenge. I was also relieved that there was no mention of Santana leaving the show although the character of Emma will not be returning after Season 5 but she stopped being relevant after Season 1 in my opinion.
                   On a more serious note, I once again would like to publicly give my condolences to the friends and family of Cory Monteith (although they probably will never know it). My thoughts are with them during this troubled time and we will all work to remember Cory for the talented young man he was.

Gossip Girl Best of Season 3 Episodes 11-22

Once the storylines got under way, Season 3 took a turn for the better with more fights, more scandal and lots of Chuck and Blair interaction. Here's the best of the best: 

Yet Another Extremely Awkward Thanksgiving- 

As with most TV shows, the holiday involved a bunch of characters ending up in the same place through far fetched means. This Thanksgiving dinner included Serena, Lily, Rufus Cece, Eric, Jenny, Nate, Tripp, Maureen, Vanessa, her mother, and Blair, her mother, and Chuck. In other words the entire cast. As I've mentioned before, having everybody in one place is the perfect oppurtunity for bombs to be dropped and secrets to be revealed. And this dinner is no exception. 

                                                      
                                                           Elizabeth and Jack's betrayal

I always thought there would be one of three outcomes to the Elizabeth Fisher story- she really was his mother and they would start to build a relationship, she really was his mother but he did not want a relationship or she was not his mother at all. Never did I imagine she was in alliance with his Uncle Jack in a scheme to take away his hotel. That's the kind of twist that makes Gossip Girl so different from all the other shows. I felt incredibly bad for Chuck who really has never had anyone on his side except Blair and Lily. To be betrayed by yet another person who professed to love him is only going to make                                                                                  our bad boy that much worse. 

The Promise of Blair at Columbia

Blair at NYU was all wrong. When I think of NYU, people like Dan and Vanessa come to mind- artsy  funky, liberal. People like Blair do not. I was disappointed with the way Blair floundered at Columbia- socially and academically she didn't seem to be reaching her potential at all. I mean she had a sleepover with high school girls, obviously a desperate move to make her feel like she belonged once again. So I look forward to seeing Blair get a fresh start with fresh peers and fresh classes at Columbia. She already has a built in fan base! For Blair there is nowhere to go but up. 

Agnes's Revenge on Jenny

With all the drugs floating around in this city and people like Damien available on practically every street corner, I'm surprised no one got roofied before (I mean Serena has  but its Serena so its not like its at all surprising)  I liked this storyline because it showed just how dangerous it can be for a young girl out there and how danger can come from the most unexpected of places. I have to wonder is Nate is ever going to get tired of rescuing Jenny. Too bad he's not running for Congress. "Archibald Saves Roofied Girl from Possible Assault" would definitely get him votes. 

Chuck Trading Blair for the Hotel

The Chuck- Blair saga certainly is no Cinderella story that's for sure. In what fairy tale would a prince charming give his princess away in exchange for a hotel? When Jack Bass tells Blair that if she sleeps with him he will give Chuck his hotel back, I knew Blair (repulsed though she might be) would do it for Chuck, the man she loves. What I hadn't counted on was Chuck using his girlfriend to get his hotel back. I always believed Chuck would have more pride than to admit defeat and make a deal with the devil. And besides there are many hotels. There is only one Blair. But it's scandalous. And certainly unexpected. Therefore I must love it.

Game of Assassin

The Upper East Side does Assassin like it does everything else- they go all out. Instead of writing the names of targets on scraps of paper they have polaroid shots of all the players. Everyone wears suits of black like they are going to the a Ninja Academy and they go rushing around the entire block "killing" each other without being stopped by the cops or concerned civilians (then again it is New York. This is the town with something new and exciting on every street corner) So even though it was somewhat unrealistic, it was incredibly fun to watch everyone tearing around the streets of New York City and trying to blend into the gray walls and hiding behind the cars. And since its Gossip Girl everybody looks good in a body suit. 

Dorota Getting Married

A character as strong as Blair needs an assistant. And Gossip Girl did a good job of providing Blair with one. Dorota, the Waldorf housekeeper is not just your stereotypical snooping maid who stays in the background dusting furniture and offering dialogue when nobody else happens to be around. No, Dorota is always in the middle of things. Although she attempts to dissaude Blair from her schemes she usually ends up getting dragged into them anyway. But in order for Dorota to truly be a three dimensional character she needs to have a life of her own which we see when she gets pregnant and then married. I also like that they made a big deal out of Dorota getting married rather than quietly marrying her off between episodes and then having it revealed later (I think a lot of shows do that because weddings are alot of pressure to create in TV. Plus wedding dresses are hard to find.) If Dorota had a daughter I think somebody should create a spin off of Gossip Girl from her point of view (less glamour, less money but just as much drama)

Jenny and Chuck Discovering Something Weird About Lily's Medicine

One of the only times I actually liked Jenny was when she and Chuck worked together to find out what was wrong with Lily's medication. I sort of wish Jenny and Chuck had developed the same sort of relationship that Chuck and Serena had. If Chuck had been in a few more of her scenes maybe they wouldn't have been so unbearable. 

Jenny Leaves

I had confetti canons lined up, just waiting for this development. I knew it would be a matter of time before her dad sent Jenny away (one of the benefits of having characters with divorced parents is they can always go live with the other parent once you get tired of them) They sure sent her out with a bang (I'm beginning to think nobody ever leaves the Upper East Side on their own. They just make things so bad for themselves that they finally get chased out. Can we target Vanessa next?)

Chuck Gets Shot

Sometimes when I am watching an intense movie (and when I'm watching TV although it happens much less often) a scene will send a chill up my spine. This happens usually when somebody A) gets hit by a car B) gets assaulted physically or C) gets assaulted sexually. I only get goosebumps if it does somewhat realistically (and I do literally get goosebumps. Plus the hair on my arm kind of bristles) When Chuck was mugged and then shot because he refused to relinquish the ring he had bought for Blair my heart ached for him and my arm hair (of which there is not much since I am a girl) stood straight up in the air. I am a huge fan of horror movies (I used to blog about them actually) but seeing it in a "realistic" TV show with characters I have known for three seasons is very different. I probably should take this as a sign that I need to watch more CSI though. 

We have officially reached the halfway mark, Gossip Girl wise. What do you think of my reviews? Have they been fair? Do you agree or disagree? Please let me know in the comments below and check out my next post. You know you love me. XOXO Bernadette

Reality Show Challenge Episode 6 Part 2

Bad Girl's Club

                                                                                          This week another girl, Jennifer, arrived.

Jennifer

I soon realized she was a better candidate for the Sad Girl's Club rather than the Bad Girl's Club. Not because she was sad (although I'm sure that deep down inside all these girls are) but because she behaves like a five year old in desperate need of a tranquilizer especially after a few drinks. She quickly joins Team Char in antagonizing Nicki and Lauren. But in my defense Nicki and Lauren did kind of get off on the wrong foot with her when they took the car so that Jennifer, Kori and Ashley were late for their Playboy interviews. Everyone knows that to be a real bad girl you need to take your clothes off which is why all three girls pose for Playboy although it is revealed that the photographers liked Ashley best. Hurrah. Probably because she didn't look like the carbon copy of a Barbie- or a carbon copy of a Barbie doll who was locked in a tanning bed for seven hours straight. Other than the Playboy photo shoot nothing much happened in this episode aside from the fact that the drama is escalating between Team Char and Team Nicki. Everyone keeps bragging about how they are going to send another girl home but so far it definitely seems like all talk since I don't think a few pushes and swear words are going to do much damage.

Ashley

Characters: 2 Now that Sydney's left and Kori's turned out to have no personality, my favorite girl would have to be Ashley just because she seems to be the only one not doing Char's dirty work over her. I don't know what pull Char has over the girls but in the last few episodes she has manipulated Jessica, Kori and Jennifer to do her bidding which is ironic since each of them has bragged numerous times that they are their own person. An independent minded girl on a reality show? Sounds like an oxymoron for me. 

Emotional Intensity: 1.5 There was a brief moment in the episode (between the stripping and the shoving) where I caught a glimpse of raw emotion and that was when Char revealed that one of her parents used to hit her when she was younger which was why she reacts so strongly whenever any of the other girls hit her. It's not surprising that one (actually probably more than one) of the girls have been a victim of abuse so I'm beginning to find this show exploitative. Stick a bunch of girls with psychological issues in one house with unlimited freedom. Are we going to go straight to the mental hospitals and clinics next time? 

Conflict: 2 There was just as much fighting in this episode as all the other ones but the more fighting there is the less effective it becomes. All the show has become is a bunch of shallow girls take cheap shots at each other on national television. Wait, that implies there was more to the show to begin with.

Class: .5 Finding a character with the least semblance of class in this episode was like Mission Impossible. Can I name the security guard who steps in once in a while to separate the fighting girls as the Classiest Cast Member? Even if he doesn't have a name I think he's my new favorite character.

Overall Rating: 6/20

The Biggest Loser

This week the contestants were in for a shock when Alison informed them that only one person from each team would be stepping on the scale- and the contestants would not know who that person was until the end of the week. So each person needed to push themselves in case they were the one representing their team. This made no difference to Danni since she's riding solo anyway and the Red Team seemed to take it in stride but the Blue Team fell to pieces under the pressure. The Blue Team has gotten very good at psyching themselves out with the help of their trainer Bob who is even more intense than Jillian. This week the challenge was a combination of both physical and mental prowess. One person from each team (chosen by the rolling of the dice) would compete in the hopes of getting to read their letters from home. Like many challenges this one is going to be a little difficult to explain. Each team member had to walk across a balance beam while avoiding swinging pendulums which reminded me a little like Wipeout. Once they reached the other side they would take a plate with a number of calories on it. They recrossed the balance beam with the plate and placed it under the picture of the food that they thought match the number of calories on the plate. Danni represented the White Team, Gina represented the Blue and Jackson represented the Red. Danni had gotten four plates before Gina or Jackson had even got one. It took her three tries to match up all the plates but since she was so far ahead of everyone else she won anyway. Meanwhile Bingo, Lindsey and Sunny are getting themselves and their friends moving at their own schools. Sunny created a series of fitness excersises for her gym class and Bingo formed an after school club where they played football which looked like a lot of fun. If my friends weren't so lazy it sounds like something I would want to try. Lindsey took a courageous stand when she delivered a talk to her classmates about bullying and how it had affected her. Kids are alot more likely to listen to another peer rather than an adult. Then again children can be cruel and it might not have any effect whatsoever. Either way I admire Lindsey for trying to make a positive change. For the last chance work out Jillian took Danni to a parkour gym. I didn't even know such things actually existed. For those who don't know parkour is (according to the dictionary of Bernadette) "Jumping off of things and seeing who can break the most bones" Dictionary.com defines it as the sport of moving along a route typically in a city trying to get around or through obstacles in the quickest and most efficient manner possible, as by jumping, climbing or running" which is what I said only different. Anyway I would work out a lot more often if I had my own parkour gm complete with a foam pit to do front flips into.

The Red Team also spiced up their last chance work out by bringing in a professional boxer, Laila Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali. The Blue Team used the Biggest Loser gym and Bob pushed each of them until they were on the verge of collasp. Unfortunately it was not enough. The Blue Team lost at the weigh in and ended up sending David home where he is continuing to practice all that he learned on the ranch.
Characters: 3.5 Danni might be one of the most inspiring people that I have ever come across. Certainly one of the most inspiring person I have seen on a reality show. I'm not even sure what she's doing there since she seems to be miles ahead of everybody else. Danni is doing laps in the deep end while everybody else is splashing in the kiddie pool. Even Jillian commented that she thinks of Danni as more of a work out buddy than a contestant. Even if Danni doesn't win (and I am pretty sure she will) I know the improvements she will make through the Biggest Loser experience will be drastic.
Emotional Intensity: 3 Seeing Lindsey address her peers was really powerful since I too was bullied although not about my weight. No matter what the reason for the bullying was the result is still the same- feelings of shame, of guilt, of worthlessness. No one should have to go through that. And to see Lindsey trying to make a difference so other people will not experience the same thing was really touching.
Conflict: 2.5 The Blue Team seemed to experience some discord this week when they felt the pressure of keeping all five members of their teammates around. Bob and Gina clashed over Gina's defeatist attitude. I'm not sure why the Blue Team has done so well considering they have both Gina and Alex on their team. Gina and Alex are constantly getting ripped on by Bob for not putting in enough effort or not having the right attitude.Sounds harsh but I am kind of with Bob on this one. They knew exactly what they were getting into when they signed up for the Biggest Loser (I mean it's a show on national television. Practically everything about the show is out in the open) So if you aren't sure you are up to be on the show and you don't want to give 100%, then why go on the show? There are hundreds of people across the country who would see this as the chance of the lifetime and make the most of this opportunity.
Class: 3.5  As usual my attention was focused on Danni for most of the episode so I am going to name her the Classiest Cast Member of the Week (I guess you could say this award is kind of rigged since I really wasn't paying attention to anyone else) I'm trying to develop interests in other characters but although they are all likable I don't take to any of them the way I take to Danni.
Overall Rating: 12.5/20

Beauty and the Geek

Before I say anything else, I just have to write that whenever I watch an episode of this show the theme song will get stuck in my head for days. By the time I replace it with something else, it's time to watch another episode. I am caught in a vicious cycle. Anyway, there are still six teams remaining at the Beauty and the Geek house because nobody got eliminated last week. The episode started up with the entire house getting Tom dressed up as a vampire so he could scare Tara, who apparently thinks the house is haunted. But Joe, probably feeling bad about his lack of enthusiasm the previous week, assumes the role of bodygaurd and won't let anybody in Tara's room. I thought that was kind of sweet but it annoyed the pranksters especially Randi. This week the geeks and the beauties faced separate challenges. The geeks needed to don a fire fighter suit, climb up a burning building and jump off from the second story window with their beauty. Just kidding. Actually no I'm not. I am assuming it isn't real fire (I was half asleep when they were explaining it) I should probably mention that they jumped onto a bouncy thing so it didn't hurt them. Tom and Amanda won the challenge with Tom having the fastest rescue. The girls had a slightly...messier challenge. They were sent into a heap of garbage to find recyclables. Each of the items was worth a certain amount (Ex. aluminum cans are 10 cents)The girl to come up with exactly 5 dollars fastest wins the challenge. Since a lot of the girls can't do math this was easier said than done. Christina and Jason ended up winning the challenge and they (along with Tom and Amanda) decide to send Randi and Greg to the elimination room. In the elimination room Randi and Greg lost to Joe and Tara and were sent home. Buh-bye!                  

Characters: 2 I know I said that the Beauties didn't have much of a personality but I would like to take that back. The more I learn about Tara the more I realize how sweet she is. When Randi and Joe got into an argument, Tara quickly leapt to Joe's defense. And even though Joe isn't the easiest to get along with and apparently he doesn't practice the best hygiene, she is always patient with him. 

Emotional Intensity: 1.5 I started to feel bad for Joe in this episode. After Randi's verbal beating he started crying saying that he was a bad person. If it had been a girl doing that I would have thought it was a calculated move for sympathy but Geeks have a wonderful naviety about them. They aren't aware of such maneuvers.   

Tara- Classy and Sassy

Conflict: 3.5  The beginning of the episode featured a showdown between Randi and Joe. They have clashed several times before, mostly because the two of them have very similar types of personalities-they are both loud, outgoing and don't think much of what other people think about them. This time Randi started chewing Joe out until he spit at her, which is a unique way of solving things I guess. As you might imagine, that didn't help. When Randi and Greg finally had to leave the Beauty and the Geek house, Joe made another attempt to apologize to Randi but she wasn't having it. Get over it Randi. It's spit- he didn't go all Miggs on you (Silence of the Lambs anyone?) 

Class: 2.5 Although I do not view spitting as a federal offense it's not exactly classy (Especially indoors. People have to walk on that floor) On the other hand I thought Tara and the way she stood by Joe was admirable therefore she shall receive the Classiest Cast Member. It's almost as good as winning the challenge.

Overall Rating: 9.5/20

I feel like we are somewhere around our halfway point. What do you think of it so far? Have my critiques been fair? Is there something else you would like to point out? Leave a comment and let me know and please check out my next post. 

Worst of Gossip Girl Season 3 Episodes 11-22

As Season 3 progressed the weaker plotlines fell by the wayside whereas the stronger ones remained. Nevertheless there were still some plot points I found to be unnecessary, irritating or just boring Here they are:

Dan and Vanessa again

I have never understood the appeal of Vanessa. Yes she's pretty. But I doubt I would last two minutes in conversation with her without ripping out my eardrums or her vocal cords- maybe both just to ensure I would never have to hear her again. Her constant complain with the Upper East Side is that they all like to lie and betray one another yet she does the same thing in ever other episode. A hypocrite is bad enough but she's a hypocrite without any other redeeming qualities. And the fact that she is dating Dan only means she will be in more episodes. I'm counting the episodes until their break up and I predict it will be because another girl catches Dan's eye. Probably one who isn't so whiny. 

Serena's Car Accident

The characters on this show have the worst luck when it comes to automobiles- Bart died in a car accident in Season 2 and in a later season two other characters are badly injured in another car crash. Both of those car accidents were important to the overall plot of the show but this accident involving Serena and Tripp was something I felt was unnecessary and boring. They could have easily split up without this needless storyline.

Jenny Trying to Be a Drug Dealer
Give it up Jenny. This is going to sound sexist  but there are very few girls who can pull off the role of drug dealers- both in real life and on TV. And little J with the way she constantly throws herself at Nate Archibald and is always desperate to have some man candy on her arm does not exactly conjure to mind the image of a shady criminal determined to make money through illegal means. Then again she definitely is greedy enough.

Serena and Nate/ Serena and Carter

I shall never understand the attraction of Serena. She seems to have this magnetic pull over boys. Is it the hair? The seemingly innocent smile? The fact that she has more daddy issues than half the girls in Los Angeles? Probably a weird combination of all three. I wouldn't care if Serena's romances were actually somewhat interesting but they are so contrite- politicians, married men, friend's boyfriends, artsy loner. I predict that somewhere along the line she's going to date a criminal or a teacher. Or both. Serena and Nate were one of the most boring couples and Serena and Carter was just pointless. Carter is a Chuck wannabe and seeing him with Serena just feels like they are riding on the coattails of the success that Chuck and Blair have had as a couple. 

Chuck's Drama with His Mom

I didn't really have any problem when it came to Scott tracking down his birth parents (Rufus and Lily) But one of the biggest issues I have with soap operas and dramas is when people who are dead mysteriously come back to life (and then it is revealed that they were never really dead in the first place) Honestly I don't care who Chuck's mother is. When it comes to Gossip Girl, I am really only concerned with the younger generation. The lives of the parents don't really concern me. I like to see Chuck with shady business deals, fighting with his dad and stepfamily, scheming with Blair- not trying to track down some random woman who may or may not be his mother. Chuck already has enough to his character- adding even more family turmoil is unnecessary. 

Dan and Vanessa and Their Writing
Who cares?

Jenny Trying to Steal Nate

I'm still trying to figure out what Serena did to Jenny- other than throw her a party. I think Jenny just isn't used to people actually being nice to her. So she decides she needs to sabatoge yet another relationship and come between Serena and Nate. Jenny doesn't understand the meaning of the term "pity friendship" I understand Jenny had a somewhat traumatic experience after Agnes roofied her. But my sympathy is somwhat diminished when she uses that to her advantage in an attempt to get sympathy from Nate. Is there anything this girl won't do? 

Rufus and Lily

That is one marriage that never should have happened. If I had to create a list of guidelines to live by one of them would definitely be "Thou Shalt Not Marry Someone Who Has Been Married More Than Three Times" Apparently Rufus did not have access to such wisedom because he marries her anyway. And sure enough they start fighting right away. Lily feels like Rufus pays too much attention to their family. What a crime. Maybe she should have gotten to know husband Numer 5 (at least I think it's Number 5) a bit better. When will people learn that a ring and a license isn't going to make the arguments go away. It just makes it more difficult to get away from them. 

Jenny Tipping Off William so He Can Get Away

Yet again Jenny demonstrates more selfishness than even I expected. But of course she's Jenny so she can get away with aiding and abetting a criminal as well as betraying her family. I'm glad Rufus finally sees her true colors after this though. I was getting tired of him making excuses and sweeping things under the rug. Is she going to be sent away now? It's about time. I thought someone was going to have to end up dead. 

Chuck Sleeping with Jenny 

I did not see this coming. After he attempted to rape her in Season 1 and then gave what seemed to be a heartfelt apology in Season 2, I thought Gossip Girl would take care to steer clear of any romantic/ physical interaction between Chuck and Jenny. So when Chuck takes Jenny's virginity, it was a big blow to me (I hate when little J snags the attention of any guy especially my beloved Chuck). But at the same time I felt that it made sense. I mean Chuck yanked Jenny into the dark world in the first Season so it makes sense that he should be the one to take her innocence not only figuratively but also literally. I'm really surprised Chuck would do that though. I knew he would do something desperate after being rejected by Blair but doing something as irresponsible as sleeping with an underage virgin who happens to have an older brother who will be out for blood. Plus I thought he had grown something of a conscience when it came to Jenny after realizing how much he had hurt her in Season 1. So I'm surprised he would travel down that route again. And Jenny enjoys the comfortable role of the victim once again. Don't get me wrong I feel bad that she gave up her virginity so someone who didn't treasure it but it was her own fault. She went to Chuck, not the other way around. My sympathies lie with Blair on this one.

As Gossip Girl progresses, I worry it will fall prey to what has happened to so many other shows after a few seasons have passed. What do you think? Has Gossip Girl seen better days or will it come out of this slump unscathed. Let me know. Subscribe, leave a comment and check out my next post. XOXO Bernadette. 

Reality Show Challenge Episode 6 Part 1

The Bachelor

The numbers are dwindling, and the tension is rising as the nine remaining ladies and Ben fly off to Panama. Traveling always looks alot more glamorous in reality shows than it actually is- especially airplane travel. As long as you have a glass of champagne in your hand you can combat anything that should confront you at 33,000 ft above the ground. In Panama, three dates awaited the ladies. The one on one date went to Kacie B who connected with Ben on an even deeper level when she revealed that she had once had an eating disorder. Ben is always encouraging the ladies to open up about their lives and their feelings. He is seemingly oblivious to the fact that whatever they divulge to him is also revealed to the rest of the country. But Kacie B shares all and Ben seemed to like that since he gave her the rose. Six of the girls went on a group date where they sailed down a river and made friends with a tribe of Indians (that is probably politically incorrect on so many levels). The women of the tribe presented the ladies with some authentic tribal wear- beaded tops and skirts Most of the ladies kept their bathing suits on underneath their top but not Courtney. If I was looking for a wife I don't think I would choose one who lets it all hang out for anyone to see but Ben only said that he appreciated it in "more ways than one" Yeah Ben I bet you did. Despite Courtney's tactics, the rose ended up going to Lindsay and the world was righted. The last date of the week was a two on one-Rachel and Blakely and Ben. For those of you unfamiliar with the The Bachelor, there is only one rose on a two on one- and the girl that does not receive the rose goes home. No pressure. Rachel and Blakely could not be more opposite. Rachel is sweet, modest and refined while Blakely is wild, seductive and flashy.

At the beginning of the date, they both competed for Ben's attention while learning how to salsa dance. Blakely resorted to some pretty...er, physical tactics while Rachel tried to keep up by keeping it clean. Before dinner they both each had one last private conversation with Ben. In the end, he gave the rose to Rachel who definitely deserved it more but I definitely felt for Blakely who ran crying from the table. Even after the dates were finished, the drama was far from over. Chris (the host of the Bachelor) appeared and revealed that he has heard from multiple sources back home that Casey S. was still in love with her ex boyfriend. It's creepy how he knows that. After Casey discussed it with Ben, he suggested that she should go home. Later in the evening Jamie also returned home after failing to receive a flower during the rose ceremony. 

Characters: 3 Although I definitely feel that Rachel is the better match for Ben, I confess I was sad to see Blakely go. I felt that Ben was a good influence on her and that she was really opening up to him the best that she could. Watching her leave sobbing kind of broke my heart since I knew it would be incredible difficult before she started to trust again. I even felt some shred of sympathy for Courtney when she invited Ben to come to her room after hours and he never showed (although Courtney waited the entire night) Of course Courtney probably should not have made the offer in the first place but watching her sit up by herself, alone made me she probably doesn't have that much experience with genuine people- especially since she is in the fashion industry. I also felt bad for Jamie. She really made an effort to connect with Ben the night of the rose ceremony (sitting on his lap and kissing him even though she admitted she was very shy when it came to that stuff) I understand Ben's point though- she could have started off with a simple kiss instead of going full makeout all of a sudden. Out of the six remaining girls, I am definitely rooting for Lindsay- I think I've been rooting for her from the start. I have a feeling that if she is up against Courtney, she'll need my luck. 

Lindsay and Emily stare at Courtney's chest while they try to convince her to  put a top on

Emotional Intensity: 2 Seeing people leave is always difficult especially when you think they deserved to stay more than somebody else (cough Courtney cough) But they can't send Courtney home since she is pretty much the source of all the inter-house conflicts.
Conflict: 3 As usual Courtney was front and center of any drama. In this episode Emily attempted to apologize for her unkind statements about Courtney earlier in the season. Courtney accepted it gracefully. Actually no she didn't. Just one of those cases when an apology is more trouble than its worth.
Class: 1.5 If Courtney puts her shirt back on, and Jamie gets off Ben's lap and Ben stops encouraging the affections of 7 plus women...then I might reconsider this rating. The Classiest Cast Member goes to Emily for having the guts to apologize to Courtney even though she almost got her head ripped off. I doubt she'll make that mistake again.
Overall Rating: 8.5/20

                                                   16 and Pregnant

This week on 16 and Pregnant, Jordan proves that Lancaster has more than the cows and the Amish. I actually found this episode to be the most interesting so far. At least the plot moves along at a somewhat decent speed at least in comparison to some of the other episodes. And it definitely had a strong cast of characters that would frequently butt heads with each other. 

Characters: 3.5 Aforementioned characters included Jordan (of course), Jordan's mother (no dad yet again), Jordan's boyfriend Tyler and Tyler's parents. I liked Jordan who seemed to have a good head on her shoulders (although I really didn't learn anything about her other than the fact that she was pregnant. Did she have any hobbies? Do any sports? And did she have a job?) At first I thought Jordan's mom was flat-out terrifying and that the best thing would be to keep the baby away from her. I mean, she wouldn't let Tyler in the house just because he's white. And she doesn't seem to care about her daughter being pregnant so much as the fact that her daughter is dating a white guy. God forbid. Jordan's mom wasn't the only one who was less than supportive of Jordan's relationship with Tyler. Jordan's friends also didn't understand. Honestly I can't blame them. At first I didn't see anything all that wrong with Tyler (he didn't seem worse than any of the other boyfriends) but as the episode progressed I spotted something "off" with him. Especially at the end of the episode where he just starts cursing out Jordan's family. Smart move if you ever want to see your son again. Tyler's parents also did a 180. At the beginning of the episode they seemed like really great people, offering Jordan a home for her and her baby and offering emotional support. But when Jordan makes the decision to raise the baby while staying at her mother's house, they turn cold. In fact I think the grown ups were the ones who were behaving childishly- practically having a tug of war over Jordan's baby instead of thinking about what's best for her and the baby. Don't these people think about how they will look on national television? I'm really interested in all the legal negotiations that go into these shows. 

Emotional Intensity: 2.5 After the arrival of Chase (the baby) Tyler (who had probably been the most supportive prospective father) went AWOL. It was heart breaking the way Jordan's faith in Tyler wavered as his appearances became more and more infrequent. Finally Tyler shows up at night after the baby has gone to bed and when Jordan refuses to let him see it, he decides the mature and responsible thing to do is to curse out Jordan and her family. After her brothers chase him out of the house, Jordan says things really are over between them which is probably true. Letting go is always difficult but letting go with a baby in your arms must be heart breaking.
Conflict: 3 Poor Jordan being caught in a tug of war between her mom and Tyler's parents was both painful but engaging. I don't know how grown ups can be so selfish as to sacrifice the emotional well being of a new mother for their satisfaction. They act like a baby is a prize to be won instead of a human being. It's actually quite frightening. Whats even more frightening is Tyler's diminished interest in his son. He actually had all the makings of a promising father which is why it was so disappointing when he only stopped by Jordan's house every other week and never bothered to text or call. Starting next episode I have no expectations for any of the future fathers. It's exhausting being let down every time even if it's only through a computer screen.
Class: 2 I thought Jordan's actions were admirable. She tried to accomplish the impossible task of pleasing everybody while getting ready to raise a kid. Pleasing everybody is even more taxing than a job- and you don't get paid for it either. Plus it is a task that will never be finished since people always want more of you. I thought Jordan was the Classiest Cast Member since she seemed to be the only person who cared about someone other than herself. And we sure as hell know the title isn't going to Tyler.
Overall Rating: 11/20

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Last week focused on push up bras and child raising strategies. This week explored the theme of homosexuality. What is this, the Family Learning Channel? "Today on the Real Housewives of New Jersey we take a close look at homosexuality and the effects it can have on families" Apparently Rosie, Kathy's sister, is lesbian which wasn't really surprising but kind of random considering it didn't really have anything to do with anything else that happened on the show so far. In fact up until this episode I wasn't even sure who Rosie was and why she was on the show. To tie in with the theme of the homosexuality, the show followed Caroline to her brother's wedding. A "gay wedding" as everybody kept calling it. Heaven forbid it should simply be a wedding. Everyone is invited although I'm not really sure why. Teresa and her husband go but leave the kids at home, thank god. If I hear Gia whine about one more thing I will stuff her bra down her throat. Teresa insists that she and her husband "love the gays" but her husband's comments would suggest otherwise. Why Teresa lets him near alcohol especially since she cares so much about appearances, is beyond me. I'm counting the episodes until someone punches him in the face. Whatever episode that happens in will automatically score bonus points. 

Characters: 2.5 Rosie's cool, don't get me wrong. I love the hair. But I'm not sure why we need to learn about her sexuality all of a sudden. I'm still trying to figure out the love lives of the main characters but now we have to throw sisters and brothers and their lives into the mix. I guess this is probably why people generally don't start watching a TV series during the 4th season.  

Emotional Intensity: 1.5 I got the feeling that the episode was building up to something that has yet to happen. Nevertheless, there was absolutely no tension. Well there was a little bit of anticipation whenever Joe opened his mouth- what stupid thing would he say this time- but other than that the episode was flat. 

Conflict: 1.5 Usually a wedding presents the perfect opportunity for conflict (as does funerals and hospital visits) But all that happened was a lesbian flirtation (should I be male I'm sure I'd be a bit more receptive) and a few biting comments from a man who had too much to drink. I have more drama in an average day of high school than this episode. 

Classy: 1.5 Joe needs to learn what is appropriate and what isn't and until he does I have little hope of this show being the least bit classy. When he stops treating his wife like he owns her, and learns that it is not all right to discuss the private parts of your anatomy in public then I will reconsider giving the episode a higher rating. 

Overall Rating: 7/20