Back to Basics

Welcome back TV fans, finally we have shows again!!!! And let’s get right into it with the 100th Episode of How I Met Your Mother. The episode gave us little hints as to who the elusive mother actually is as Ted goes out on a date with her roommate (played by Rachel Bilson of OC fame) and subsequently finds that his future wife has a lot in common with him despite not meeting her. Elsewhere Barnabus Stinson is struggling as he contemplates giving up his suits to score a night with a very hot bargirl. In the end he has his cake and eats it as only Barney can, after a brief musical interlude…

The episode was by no means a classic but the musical number was fantastic. The characters felt a bit subdued however, probably because of the focus on giving away clues about the mother. It was still enjoyable, but I’m hoping for a better showing next time around. 6.5/10

It’s CBS sibling The Big Bang Theory also disappointed somewhat. In an “episode of two halves” we had Leonard and Howard double dating in what could be described as the most boring and pointless phase of the Leonard-Penny relationship yet. On the other (plus) side Sheldon agreed to be Raj’s wingman with outstanding results. If Jim Parsons does not win an Emmy this year it will be a bigger scandal than Watergate. He is so convincingly socially stunted, and his Green Lantern Lantern and Hulk hands antics were a joy to behold. But the highlight was during the ending credits when a girl very much suited to him offers herself on a plate to which he obliviously disregards. Fantastic. 7/10

The Cast of TBBT

Where to next but the big return of Chuck. And what a return it was. Chuck, now with the upgraded Intersect computer in his brain, kicked a lot of ass with kung fu and is finally on his way to becoming a super spy. In a “3 episodes in 2 days bonanza” his antics included foiling a drug deal, taking down an arms dealer (played by a quite hilarious Vinnie Jones) and preventing the assasination of a fictional South American dictator. All that and he still works at the BuyMore Superstore.

Vinnie Jones, arms dealer!

If there was a draw back it was that the show runners are still dragging out the Chuck-Sarah relationship. While teasing us with the revelation of Sarah’s true feelings, they then took us right back to square one when Chuck started putting his patriotism above his feelings for once. Unfortunately he spent the majority of the three episodes trying to make up for this leading to a formulaic Chuck-Sarah stunted conversation at the end of every episode. Just make it happen already! Or shake it up a bit (Kristin Kreuk as a love interest for Chuck cannot come in soon enough). Still, a very good showing on average, with a couple of brilliant references including everyone’s favourite Rocky 3 ending pastiched by Chuck and Casey. 8/10

Finally, House returned with a touching episode featuring an undercover cop who collapses during a drug deal due to loud noise. It causes the team all kinds of problems as the man’s condition worsens but they are unable to fully investigate without blowing his cover, and can’t get anything out of his “real bad guy” associates on where he has been and what he’s been doing. The episode ends tragically despite the cop successfully pulling off a bust and bringing the dealers to justice.

House and Wilson - Just not meant to be...

On a much lighter note, this episode was backed up with some great comedy as House’s staff try to convince Foreman that he earns less money than them, only for him to reveal at the end of the episode that he was playing them the entire time. But more importantly, House and Wilson compete for an attractive new neighbour. Wilson tries the old-fashioned approach, but finds that she believes that House and Wilson are gay, to which Wilson strongly refutes. So House being House plays the “dejected lover” card and almost gets sympathy sex. He is only stopped by Wilson sinking to his level and proposing marriage to House while he is having dinner with the lovely lady. Comedy gold. A great episode with just the right balance between drama, humour and tragedy. A solid 9/10

Well that is that for the first half of this weeks review, but check back on the weekend when The Office, Castle, Scrubs and Modern Family will all be put through their paces after their return from a winter break. Adios

P.S. You didn’t think I’d forgotten the LOST countdown did you? Here at no. 8 of Curtinho’s top 10 LOST moments we have what was the first big mind f**k that LOST sent our way…the revelation that John Locke was in a wheelchair before the plane crashed. Enjoy.