The Unfiltered Ramblings of a DVR Addict

I don’t know why but I feel like this season is going very slow. Maybe because I don’t have one designer I really, really love. At this point, after Jesse’s elimination, my top 3 is Jay, Amy, and Jonathan. I’m pretty confident in this but I can’t help but think they are going to keep Seth Aaron around just because his point of view is so different. We will see…

Challenge: This week the designers choose one of the natural elements: earth, air, fire, and water, to base their design around.  It is a one-day challenge and is loosely based around the NYC skyline and the elements seen there.  There’s all this talk of like rain storms and tornadoes. Funny they are basing their looks upon natural disasters.

So we get to the workroom and this episode should be titled “The Jonathan Show”.  It is almost funny how much they show him, when they normally don’t give him all that much exposure.  It was like every five seconds he was on the screen talking.  Talking about his design, talking about how no one thinks he’s a threat. Editors, we get the hint. Either he wins or loses this week, but he’s getting awholelotta attention either way.  Seth Aaron and Amy are nervous, and normally they are two of the better designers! Ben’s model looks like she is wearing underwear over the pants. Very strange. We also get a weird segment of Ben calling his husband on the phone and talking about how he misses him. Editors?! For real??? What is with all the foreshadowing in this episode? You’re killing all the fun.

Guest judge this week is French designer Roland Mouret.

On to the show…

Maya: I love ruffles. So I love these sleeves and the look.

Jay: Very airy. Looks like she’s caught in the wind.

Ben: Yikes.

Anthony: Kind of a bad prom dress. And a skanky one.

Mila: Yay for no color-blocking. I don’t mind this look as her vest looks very mineral-y.

Jonathan: His model is perfect for this look. So pretty.

Amy: Whaaatttt is this? The hair is growing from her chest. Reminds me of Sandy in Grease.

Emilio: Very earthy looking. I like it.

Seth Aaron: Dominatrix with an appendage on her butt?

My faves? Maya Jonathan Emilio

Least faves? Ben Anthony Amy

It is killing me that Amy went down the runway with this….The hair is so bizarre, and how does this relate to fire?

Top 3: Seth Aaron, Maya, Jonathan

Bottom 3: Mila, Amy, Ben

Sooo happy that Jonathan finally won. Ben wasn’t going to win anyway, so it’s not a big loss this week. Thanks PR for dropping all those hints that turned out to be true. And Amy, well she better get herself together and never make a pair of fish pants or a hairy top again. Yikessss.

“We live not according to reason, but according to fashion.”

This season of Lost has introduced the “flash-sideways” and many of us fans have been bewildered ever since.  What is the purpose of this alternate timeline?  Well, I can’t say that I have the answer to that question, but for the first time this season, in my opinion, we have seen a someone change their character compared to what we’ve come to know on the island.

In this episode, Ben is an overly qualified History teacher (I don’t know of many high school teachers with doctorates).  He is still a lying, manipulative, power-hungry man willing to sacrifice almost anything to get ahead.  And, therein lies the difference.  He is only willing to sacrifice almost anything.  As we all know, back on the island, he was willing to sacrifice absolutely everything for more power.  On the outside he always had a persona of superiority and wisdom, but as we found out, his role was actually very pathetic.  Yet, he watched Keamy kill his “daughter” Alex in order to protect the island. [...]

If you have watched past seasons of Damages, you will find a continuing piece of dialogue, “trust me.” And, if you have watched past seasons of Damages, you will know that when a character says “trust me” don’t do it!

This episode is filled with the continuing cat and mouse play between Patty Hewes (Glen Close)  and Ellen Parsons with Patty waking Ellen at 4:00 am to invite her to a dinner party on Thursday. When Ellen arrives to the dinner party, it is the “wrong” night and Patty and Alex Benjamin (Tara Summers) are at the apartment working. Just as Patty uses people, Ellen uses Josh by asking him to write a newspaper article on Alex Benjamin. Later Ellen tells Alex that Patty will not like the article and to show it to her before it is printed and apologize. When Patty sees who wrote the article, she knows the message is from Ellen. Do you think Alex Benjamin has any idea she is being used by both Patty and Ellen?

Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan) is in Antigua following Tessi Marquetti (Vanessa Rug). He follows her into a bank. Tom, however, is asked to leave by the bank manager, (Andre Holland), because he does not have an account there. An informant calls Stuart Zedeck (Dominic Chianese) to let him know that Tom is in the country.

Patty and Leonard Winstone (Martin Short) meet. Patty offers Winstone the chance to walk away from the Tobin case. She warns him that he is “not a Tobin” but she will punish him like one. Patty also comments on his office decorating, and Winstone says that Marilyn Tobin decorated it for him. There are a lot of interior design references this season. Coincidence?

Into the future, Ellen is sitting in Detective Huntley’s (Tom Noonan) interrogation room. She is asked about the handbag. At first she says she has one like it. When he pulls her ID from it, she says hers was stolen.

Tom speaks with Tessi. She says she just cashes her paycheck at the bank. She signs three documents and receives her cash. Tom knows that only two documents need to be signed to cash a check. He and Patty feel the third document is a form to  move Tobin’s cash.

Zedeck and Joe Tobin (Campbell Scott) meet. Zedeck tells Joe about his father and Danielle’s baby. He also explains that Tessi is the courier but Patty Hewes knows about her.  Joe needs to find out who told Patty.

Joe meets with his sister and his mother. His sister, Carol, seems to be unraveling. Is this due to the fact that she killed Danielle or that she suffers from depression? After she leaves the room, Joe asks Marilyn if she told Patty about Tessa. Marilyn says she did and there is no need to protect Louis Tobin anymore. Joe give Marilyn the sable and explains that there is a lot of money hidden. The cloak of secrecy is now in place.

Meanwhile, Leonard Winstone takes a trip out of town. He goes to a nursing home to see Barbara Wiggins. He is told she has been dead for five months, and that her husband, Albert Wiggins, (Bill Raymond) took care of all the arrangements. Leonard goes to see Wiggins, and we discover he is Winstone’s dad. There is no love lost between these two. His dad demands more money, or he will expose Leonard for the fraud he is to the Tobins.

Three months into the future, a partial fingerprint is found on Ellen’s handbag. The print is from a Lester Wiggins. This leads us to believe that Lester Wiggins is Leonard Winstone, doesn’t it? But, again, this is Damages, so I am still not so sure.

Ellen learns from Danielle Marquetti’s doorman, that Carol Tobin, was at Danielle’s house the evening she died. Ellen goes in to tell the ADA, Chris Sharp (Darren Goldstein). Ellen suggest to Sharp that Patty Hewes would be a good ally. The ADA lets Ellen know he could care less about finding the money. Ellen does not tell him what the doorman said.

In Antigua, the bank manager comes to Tom with a request. He will help Tom with bank information if Tom gets Visas for his family because his daughter is ill. Before, Tom can meet back with him, Zedeck’s contact gets to the bank manager. The bank manager has a change of heart.

Ellen meets with Patty. Patty accuses Ellen of being jealous that she has been replaced at Hewes/Shayes & Associates. Ellen says, “You hired someone. You haven’t replaced me”. Ellen says it is time to work together and gives her the information about Carol Tobin and Danielle Marquetti. Ellen tells Patty she wants to help find the money.

Patty and Tom are both now in Antigua meeting with Horatio Emmanuel(Michael Potts) to try to get information. Although Emmanuel offers to do all he can, Horatio Emmanuel just happens to also be Zedeck’s informant. By the look in Patty’s eyes, I don’t think she is fooled for a moment. After all, didn’t she once say, “Don’t trust anyone”?

Just a few more thoughts:

Let’s be honest, just to keep us on our toes, sometime “trust me” does mean “trust me”. But how does one know?

We know that Tessi Marchetti met with Marilyn Tobin. What transpired there? How much does Marilyn Tobin know? Then again, if she knew Tessi was moving money why would she tell Patty about her?

Is Tessi Marchetti really Louis Tobin’s child or  could she possibly be Joe Tobin’s child?

“You Haven’t Replaced Me” is probably the most relevant title of the season.

Why did Louis Tobin leave that envelope with information in it for Patty Hewes in the first place?

Who really killed Danielle Marchetti?

We have seen into the future and know that Tom opened that apartment door to someone. Now we see Ellen’s purse, blood splatter, and a body with a its hand twitching in the apartment. But since we did not see the body’s face, is it Tom or someone else?

What other questions come to mind?

Big Love-Episode 43:  End of Days

After hosting an Academy Awards party, I raced home to watch the Big Love Finale.  I didn’t care how exhausted I was; I wanted to find out what was up with Bill and the election.  Also what happened to Adaleen?  Bill sure has his hands full-he has an election coming up and the UEB Kansas compound is in the spotlight.  Let’s not forget last week’s Marilyn revelation-what are her true intentions? 

The episode starts out with Nicki inquiring about her mother’s whereabouts.  JJ’s freaky wife, Malinda, tells her and Cara Lynn that she went to Kansas to be with her loving sister wives. 

Bill and the election-the only ones truly behind him are Benny and Nicki (somewhat).  Bill approaches Congressman Paley on Marilyn’s shady ways-he gets scared and agrees to work on her.  Tell Marilyn to leave my casino alone or the press will get involved-them are fighting words.

Nicki isn’t convinced that Adaleen left freely, she asks Bill to check on it, and thank goodness he has a trustee member outpost in Kansas.  What is going on in Kansas?  Adaleen is being kept sedated by JJ and his son at the clinic.  News reports are featuring stories about the Kansas compound and possible intermarriage.  Bill asks JJ on the possible indictments in KS and Adaleen’s location.  JJ denies knowing anything.  Bill also questions Alby on the Kansas shenanigans-Alby is so cooperative (suspicious), he allows Bill to check the marriage rolls.  Alby appeals to Bill on his willingness to assist and offers his support for his upcoming election.  Bill seems a bit taken a back-Alby wants him to support his succession of Roman’s position.  He is on board, but only if Alby continues to follow Dale’s vision for reform.  Alby gets furious and accuses Dale of being a traitor.  Get it out Alby-you are still grief-stricken!

Since Bill wants to announce immediately after the election that they have a plural marriage and is feeling confident, he tells his wives to treat themselves at Dillard’s with new outfits.  While shopping, Barb and Marg notice that Nicki is transforming herself into a mini-Barb, power suit and all. Of course, Margene lets it slip that Nicki is having fertility problems.

At the casino, Leila is back!  She is pushing drugs on the floor.  When Barb learns that, she tries to persuade Tommy to notify the authorities.  He refuses and explains that Leila is his niece and this is a family matter, even if it means lying to the DEA.  Tommy tries to relay that he fully supports the casino, but family is family.  When Barb tries to tell Bill, he flies off the handle, he is worried that this will affect his campaign. 

Last week Margene mentioned that she didn’t want to be married to Goran anymore.  Is it like I predicted!  She is worried that she will fall for him; but in her immature way, she doesn’t explain her reasoning when Ana accuses Bill of forcing her to get a divorce from Goran.  She even states that Margene doesn’t want to give up her business.  Own up Margene!  She finally reveals to Ana that she finds Goran attractive; Ana understands and even mentions that she suspected it.  Margene feels better and shares an embrace with Ana and Goran.  Ok-did anyone sense a future threesome next season? 

JJ’s son calls Nicki with some bad news, the fertility treatments aren’t working.  She grows distraught and is offended when Margene offers her eggs for a possible pregnancy.  The conversation is disrupted when a rock is thrown at the living room window.  Who did it-JJ?  Nope, Don’s son.  Poor Don, he and his family have been struggling after the revelation that he was polygamist.  Despite his banishment, Don still supports Bill.

After delivering a motivation speech to his campaign volunteers, Bill is approached by a news reporter on his extramarital affair.  Initially Bill thinks it is Margene, “business partner,” but he means Ana and their “love baby”; he even has the paternity results.  Bill should worry; this could ruin the election for him.   He pleads with Marilyn to not leak the story.  She is willing as long as Bill stops campaigning against her.  What does Marilyn have on him?  Later that evening, Bill and his brood are watching the news reports….nothing on the affair with Ana.  Is this really the time to come out as polygamist?  Barb doesn’t think so-she confesses that she leaked the story to the press.  Here it is the night before the election and the whole family is still not on board with Bill. How can Bill trust Barb now?   The next day Barb and Bill both cast their vote, of course there is publicity.  I thought maybe they were going to show Barb vote for his opponent, instead she calls the casino.  She learns that the Flutes have been removed from the tribal council.   She is angry with Bill, he is worried about a possible drug scandal; I think he is just selfish.  Barb wanted to help them, plus Tommy is her friend.  Who is the righteous one now?  I want more of Barb and Tommy…maybe next season.  Marilyn isn’t out of the picture yet….she comes to the Henricksons’ home to call them out as polygamists.  The Flutes told her and is warning him that the public isn’t ready for plural marriage.  Bill defends The Principle, but Marilyn isn’t buying it.  She knows politics, plus she isn’t going to let Bill shame her for her scrupulous business ethics.  He is really going to face a “shit storm.”  I did like what she says to him about her sins being her own-not something justified by God.

So now we have Bill looking promising in the polls, but everyone else is miserable.  Good news for Nicki, JJ’s son calls to tell her he made a mistake with her test results-she’s pregnant.  She is elated and rushes to the compound to meet with the doctor.  Mute Wanda is in the background, too scared to warn her of him.  Wanda finally gets the strength to tell Bill that JJ is experimenting with fertility by implanting fertilized eggs in Adaleen.  This is the sick part-fertilized eggs of brother and sister-JJ and Wanda.  In the news stories on the television, they mention an unmarked grave of babies with deformities as well as Walker family experiments.  Really, is this all that is going on in Kansas?  How bizarre!  Next thing you know the storyline will include fertility treatments and goats!  Why is he doing genetic experiments?

Don’t count Adaleen out!  While being bathed by Malinda, Adaleen breaks free from her hospital bed.  JJ’s son meets with Nicki; he is going to give her a hormone injection, wink wink-it instantly knocks her out.  Enter JJ-he and his offspring-they are going to inseminate her with Cara Lynn and JJ-I had to see this scene twice to fully understand it-why?  JJ states that the three of them are a family again-GROSS-O!  Adaleen to the rescue (this season has been about mother’s courage-recall Lois)-she stabs JJ; Bill swoops in to save Nicki.  JJ runs away.

All that drama and still we don’t know how the election is going.  Benny calls to reveal that Bill won!  Barb is still not sold on the idea.  She drops the bombshell-she doesn’t need Bill anymore.  Wow!  Is she leaving him-to run off with Tommy?  Bill again relays him dedication to The Principle. 

The next day, Bill stands outside the state capitol to accept his candidacy and announce he is a polygamist.  What is interesting is that he calls up Nicki (sporting a new hairdo) first, then Margene-who looks very uncomfortable.  When he finally calls Barb, I thought for a second she was going to run off, but she took her position next to him.  The audience begins to disperse and you can even hear some shouting.  Was this a wise decision? 

The final scene shows JJ and Malinda (minus her wig) tied up in the clinic.  Adaleen is pouring gasoline all around the offices and out the front door.  She strikes the match and walks away as the clinic is engulfed in flames.

What is in store for the Henricksons next season?  What challenges will Bill face as a State Senator?  Will Barb and Tommy get together?  Will Alby get it together enough to run the UEB?  Will Joey come back from Mexico?  Will Adaleen be charged with arson/murder?  Was this season a bit ridiculous?  I mean-bird smuggling, inbred children, political war games?

Interesting comments: 

• Marilyn so angry and hurt that Bill called her a common criminal…tears?
• Nicki trying to justify Barb as first wife because she was the public wife….uh, because Barb was married to him first.
• Kissing cousins-trumped up charge
• Barb trying to take care of Tommy during lunch-what is in Barb’s heart?
• Alby’s wife asking for forgiveness and he cuts her-weirdos!
• Why does Margene have to sell her business in order to walk out on stage with Bill and his brood?
• Ana’s spirit baby….Goran will raise the child?
• Bill is like a big piñata!
• Shouldn’t Bill be concerned with saving his family rather than this election?  How desperate was Barb to leak the paternity test results to the media?
• Kansas compound-Walker family study in the 50s explains why JJ doesn’t have any fingernails and Wanda is crazy….
• Alby too busy to help Bill rescue Nicki-cuckoo!
• No incest without intercourse-Why are they making genetic mutants?
• Bill and his wives wearing Red, White and Blue