November, 2014
November 1st, 2014, 2:46 p.m. - "No one's talking to you, Paul Bunyan!"
Homeland – "About a Boy": So bad. So, so bad. (Not the episode – Carrie. Well, okay, the episode wasn't that great either.) Poor Saul. Way to be a spy, though. Rating: 3 unplaced trackers
Supernatural – "Paper Moon": While it was nice to have them follow up on "Bitten," and it was nice for the Winchesters to actually talk and stuff, this episode was pretty bleh. Who actually cares about Kate? The Paul Bunyan line did make me laugh embarrassingly loudly, though. Rating: 3 fake werewolf cures
Survivor – "Make Some Magic Happen": Nice try, Dale. Nicer move, Jon and everyone else. Rating: 3 kebabs
Modern Family – "Halloween 3: AwesomeLand": Are Steve Zahn and Andrea Anders going to keep appearing? Because that would be more awesome than AwesomeLand. (Which, admittedly, was pretty awesome.) Rating: 4 giant bunnies
The Big Bang Theory – "The Misinterpretation Agitation": I spent the first two minutes trying to figure out if that was really Billy Bob Thornton, and the rest of the episode just enjoying him. Great guest-star turn. Though he really needs to work on doctor/patient confidentiality. Rating: 4 Donkey Kong games
Scandal – "An Innocent Man": Bitsy, come back! We'll get rid of Quinn and make room for you! Rating: 4 joints in Bitsy's purse
How to Get Away With Murder – "Freakin' Whack-a-Mole": I barely ever remember Asher's on this show, so it was nice to get a little of his back story. He's a lot more interesting now. The rest was meh. Rating: 3 surveillance photos of Frank
The Amazing Race – "I Feel Like I Just Kissed a Goat": Once again, as always, animals make for great tasks. I liked the two Detour choices; neither was particularly difficult, but both took a long time. And the Roadblock was great – you may be good at puzzles but hate heights, so which team member should really do it? Answer: Bethany. Always Bethany. Rating: 5 pieces of goat butter
November 2nd, 2014, 10:31 p.m. - "Survival is insufficient"
35. Station Eleven (Emily St. John Mandel)
Up next: Yes Please (Amy Poehler)
November 8th, 2014, 1:22 p.m. - "Bruce Wayne doesn't wear a clip-on." "Bruce Wayne doesn't make his roommate tie it for him." "His name is Alfred. And yes, he does"
Homeland – "From A to B and Back Again": I sort of expected Aayan not to make it through the episode, though I thought he would be killed at the checkpoint instead of by his uncle. Still, that really changes things. Plus, with Saul currently out of the picture, Carrie's really on her own. That never goes well. Do something, Quinn and Fara! Rating: 4 fake passports
The Big Bang Theory – "The Prom Equivalency": Sheldon had some really good lines, and I liked the callback to Howard and his cousin, but the rest was kind of dull. Still, there was some character development, and that's always good. Rating: 3 flasks of pomegranate juice
Scandal – "Baby Made a Mess": Yesssssss! This is the Olivia we need to see all the time. Also the Olivia who should have dealt with Chip years ago when Abby first came to her for help. I can't believe she didn't ruin him back then. Rating: 4 knives in Tom's gut
How to Get Away With Murder – "He Deserved to Die": Shut up, Rebecca. Rating: 3 prenups
The Amazing Race – "Pretty Fly for a Food Scientist": Nothing happened! There wasn't even anything particularly challenging! The first 15 minutes were all travel! And then no one was eliminated! Arrrrrrgh! Rating: 3 opera costumes
America's Next Top Model – "The Guy Who Parties Too Hard": Aww, Raelia. I liked her, but she was out of her league. I'm glad she got to win a challenge before she was cut, though. Rating: 4 random stuffed animals I still don't get the point of being in the photo shoot
November 9th, 2014, 2:52 p.m. - I should probably watch Parks and Recreation, huh?
36. Yes Please (Amy Poehler)
Up next: Leaving Time (Jodi Picoult)
November 15th, 2014, 2:05 p.m. - "A single man tear / A single man tear / A single man tear..."
Homeland – "Redux": I actually yelled, "You HAVE to be kidding me!" at my TV when Brody popped up. Thank God he was just a hallucination. I wouldn't be able to take it if he were really there. Rating: 3 thrown shoes
Supernatural: – "Fan Fiction": No words. I HAVE NO WORDS. That was 200 (har har) times better than I expected. I went from cringing at the thought of a musical episode (when I first heard about it) to being hopeful (when I heard the plot) to loving every minute of it. The actress playing Marie was especially terrific. They cast some wonderful singers for that rendition of "Carry On, Wayward Son," too. Rating: 5 Samulets
Modern Family: – "Queer Eyes, Full Hearts": Andy working for Phil makes so much sense. They're basically the same person. Haley working in fashion also makes sense. And if Michael Urie doesn't come back for more episodes, I will cry. Rating: 4 pancakes
The Big Bang Theory – "The Septum Deviation": I think it was perfectly reasonable for Sheldon to worry about Leonard being in an OR during an earthquake. I mean, the lights were out! Sometimes neurotic people are right to be neurotic. Rating: 4 swim shirts
Scandal – "The Last Supper": Unlike some shows (see below), this one has good twists. Who would have predicted that Andrew and Liz were having an affair? Well, Andrew hasn't been on all season, so there wasn't any reason to predict it, but still. By the way, how is it that, on a show full of horrible parents, Huck might be one of the worst? Rating: 4 dropped ice cream cones
How to Get Away With Murder – "He Has a Wife": There better be at least one really good twist in the "winter finale" or I'm probably going to drop this show. So far, almost everything has been either predictable or disappointing. Rating: 3 somethings I don't even care enough to define
America's Next Top Model – "The Girl Who Gets Caught in a Lie": SHUT UP, YU TSAI. Rating: 3 pairs of pants Will was too tall for
November 17th, 2014, 7:49 p.m. - STOP TALKING ABOUT ELEPHANTS. THIS IS NOT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
37. Leaving Time (Jodi Picoult)
Up next: Revival (Stephen King)
November 22nd, 2014, 1:32 p.m. - "Clown college Colette?"
Homeland – "Halfway to a Donut": I had to restrain myself from franctically Googling whether Mandy Patinkin is leaving the show. Heartbreaking stuff here. But at least Patinkin will most likely end up with an Emmy nomination, if not a win. Rating: 4 secret meetings with unexpected allies
Supernatural: – "Ask Jeeves": A good, solid episode with a lot of humor and a nice mystery. I only wish they'd given more time to the shapeshifter part of it; the best part of shapeshifter episodes is not knowing where the shifter is. Rating: 4 Clue weapons
Modern Family: – "Three Turkeys": Some good wackiness here, the wackiness that the show does best. I started losing track of all the turkeys, which was probably the point. Rating: 4 leopard-print maternity ponchos
The Big Bang Theory – "The Champagne Reflection": Eh. Part of the appeal of "Fun With Flags" is that we only get glimpses of the video-making. Also, the Leonard/Raj/Howard plotline was dull. More Stephen Root, please! Rating: 3 food diaries
Scandal – "Where the Sun Don't Shine": I will be able to tolerate Quinn if they continue her Mr. and Mrs. Smith-like relationship with Charlie. By the way, we should probably say goodbye to Jon Tenney, because I can't imagine Fitz letting Andrew live much longer. Rating: 4 Stevie Wonder records
How to Get Away With Murder – "Kill Me, Kill Me, Kill Me": Not quite what I was hoping for, in terms of twists and developments, but I'll take it. I liked the structure of the episode. I'll stick with it at least a while longer, but the show is still problematic. Rating: 4 random hookups for Bonnie (what was that all about?)
The Amazing Race – "Hot, Sexy Knights": An expected outcome, but it was fun getting there. I think Maya is one of my favorite racers ever. How can you not love her? Rating: 4 broken bottles
America's Next Top Model – "The Guy With Moves Like Elvis": Nooooo, not Shei! I liked her! Freaking boring Lenox gets to stick around? Not fair! Rating: 3 love locks
November 28th, 2014, 1:24 p.m. - "Something happened"
38. Revival (Stephen King)
Up next: Food: A Love Story (Jim Gaffigan)
November 29th, 2014, 2:05 p.m. - "What the f&%$*#@ f&#@?!"
Homeland – "There's Something Else Going On": Easily the best episode of the season. I was furious that there's another week before the next episode. Rating: 5 pairs of Saul's glasses
Supernatural – "Girls, Girls, Girls": Too much stuff jammed into one episode. I was never a huge fan of Hannah, and though I liked how they ended her story, she deserved more time on it. The Cole stuff was rushed and almost anticlimactic. I can only assume that we'll see him again. I'm very interested to see where things go with Rowena and Crowley. Maybe he has a new sidekick? Rating: 3 broken high heels used as weapons
The Amazing Race – "You're Taking My Tan Off": That massage/cupping task was ridiculous. I don't find it entertaining to watch people endure physical pain. Also, go away, Brooke. Go far, far away. Rating: 4 merlion statues
Part Lost, part The Stand, part current events. Do not read if you're already freaking out about Ebola.
It's disjointed and a little messy, but still a good read. I like Poehler's writing style a lot. I miss her on SNL.
So many problems here – enough to make me seriously consider being done with Picoult. I'm over her look-I-did-all-this-research-let-me-show-it-off style. As if that weren't bad enough, I also liked exactly one character. And the worst part: The big twist ending Picoult made such a big deal about has been done before – namely, and famously, in a movie from 15 YEARS AGO. This book has exhausted me. Time for a sure bet.
There's a shadow of menace over the book (and that's a theme, by the way), but it doesn't turn truly diabolical until more than 300 pages in. It's a solid eerie tale from King; not his best, but definitely strong.