April, 2016
April 2nd, 2016, 2:02 p.m. - "And we all love America, right?" "Well, it's no Amsterdam"
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – "Paranoia": I practically forgot all about this episode as soon as it was over, so that tells you what I thought of it. The multiple bachelorette parties were fun, though. Rating: 3 veal tongues
Supernatural – "Red Meat": Is it weird that I really liked the scene where Sam was killed? I just thought it was acted and directed really well. I feel strange saying I liked watching him be murdered. Really, though, I liked the whole episode. Especially Billie! Yay, Billie! Rating: 4 disappearing bite marks
The Big Bang Theory – "The Solder Excursion Diversion": The B-plot was too anticlimactic. The A-plot was just...no. Not on a sitcom. Rating: 3 golf balls
10:25 p.m. - Okay, I'm a Coben fan again
9. Fool Me Once (Harlan Coben)
Up next: The Nest (Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney)
April 9th, 2016, 2:24 p.m. - "Sorry prison didn't work out." "Eh. I'll find another use for that shiv"
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – "Maximum Security": Clever how they sort of wrote in Melissa Fumero's pregnancy while letting Amy do something for the first time in ages. I'm interested to see where the plot is going, and where it will leave Pimento. Are they going to keep him on as a regular character? That would be interesting. Rating: 4 high fives
Supernatural – "Hell's Angel": I will never get tired of the Winchesters working with Crowley. Especially because they annoy him so much. I will also never get tired of Misha Collins' Mark Pellegrino impression. I love it. Rating: 4 shofars
Modern Family – "The Party": Phil and Mitch made me giggle. This show needs to keep doing things that make me giggle. Rating: 4 gummy bears
The Big Bang Theory – "The Big Bear Precipitation": Speaking of giggling, the tag on this episode had me doing that. Amy's big past scandal is pressing all the buttons in an elevator? Rebel! Rating: 4 secret bank accounts
April 15th, 2016, 7:49 p.m. - We get it, you read The Goldfinch
10. The Nest (Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney)
Up next: Relief Map (Rosalie Knecht)
April 16th, 2016, 2:08 p.m. - "Oh, Bob"
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – "Bureau": Dennis Haysbert should be in more things. People, please put Dennis Haysbert in more things. Thanks. Rating: 4 candy bars (with chocolate AND nuts)
Modern Family – "Man Shouldn't Lie": Of all the characters on this show, Claire is probably the last one I would expect to bring home a stray dog. (Gloria would be the second-to-last.) Remember how she wanted to get rid of the ducks? Why would she want a new pet? Rating: 3 Cuban cigars
April 20th, 2016, 8:01 p.m. - So who's the real criminal here?
11. Relief Map (Rosalie Knecht)
Up next: Missoula (Jon Krakauer)
April 23rd, 2016, 2:14 p.m. - "If I die, give my regards to Kevin." "What should I tell him?" "Regards"
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – "Greg and Larry": THE ENDING! I want at least a full episode of Jake and Holt in witness protection before they go back to New York. PLEASE. Rating: 5 sundaes
The Big Bang Theory – "The Viewing Party Combustion": Okay, Leonard, after all these years, you haven't figured out when to pick your battles? They made a good point about Penny and Sheldon, though. And just think of how far their friendship has come since the beginning of the series. She really knows how to handle him now. Rating: 4 travel gavels
April 30th, 2016, 2:16 p.m. - Zack!
Supernatural – "The Chitters": I liked Jesse and Cesar a lot (and who knew there was an interracial gay hunting couple?), but the rest of the episode felt slow. And talk about an anticlimax. Also, I really don't need to think about cicada people. That's messed up. Rating: 3 possessed librarians
The Big Bang Theory – "The Fermentation Bifurcation": If you think Sheldon hasn't changed over the course of the series, this episode proves you wrong. He's developed sympathy and now cares about people other than himself. He was so sweet with Bernadette. That plot was a lot more interesting than the other, which should be been the better plot, because...Zack. Come on. Zack is the best. Rating: 4 pieces of toast
I've been lukewarm about Coben's books over the past few years, but I really liked this one. It reminded me a little of Tell No One, my favorite Coben. It has some awesome twists. Basically, all the praise it's been getting is completely justified.
Yeah, this definitely doesn't live up to its hype. There are unnecessary side plots, everyone is boring, and the only character I might have found interesting was only featured in a flashback. (Don't tell me you wouldn't read a whole book about the disaster that is Francie.) Also, as I mentioned, there's a plot taken straight from The Goldfinch, and Sweeney, you are no Donna Tartt.
A truly excellent debut...until (sing it with me) the end. You nailed the climax, Knecht! Why go downhill from there?