A Note About The Worst OTH Ever!

Darkness on the Edge of Tree Hill

So I finally got around to watching the Winter finale episode of One Tree Hill. Plain and simple, "Darkness On the Edge of Town" sucked. It may tie for the worst episode ever. things weren't this dumb and ridiculous since season 3 when Nathan's dad killed Uncle Keith and pinned it on Jimmy, the school shooter in "With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept," (Moment of silence for Uncle Keith).

And the one where psycho Derek kept attacking Peyton were ridiculous, but at least there was a prom going on,and kinda the same with crazy Nanny Carrie trying to kidnap Jamie (a much-protested wedding)/ murder Haley and Jamie (Halloween-themed in honor of THE SHINING).

Ok, so these psycho murderer plots seem pretty common now that I think about it. But here's where things went from bad to worse- little Chuck- friend of Jamie walking down the street with a pool of blood on his head. (P.S. where did their makeup artist study? Ms. Lauren had the same pool of blood on her head).

Other common themes included:
Cars going over a bridge and into the water.
From season 3 "The Show Must Go On" into 4 "The Same Deep Water As You", Nathan's other uncle (Coop) and Rachel went off the bridge in a limo into the water. Nathan jumped in and rescued them (or did he? Maybe Uncle Keith used some divine power...) while Haley stood by screaming in her wedding dress.

Shooting someone at point-blank range.
Not only was it happening twice (Katie trying to shoot Quinn, and then Quinn shooting Katie), and a fairly well mirrored image of Season 7's finale, but it totally had the Dan shoots Keith theme written all over it [see last week's episode for some wrong information surrounding Dan murder of Keith (he didn't get a shovel and bury the body, he left it in the school to be found)].

Car tragedy on the road.
In the season 4 Winter finale "Songs to Love and Die By" and its precursor "Some You Give Away", Haley was pregnant (again) with Jamie and a jealous Dante ran her over after Nathan refused to throw the final score of the championship basketball game. Lucas saw the accident and his heart condition took over, sending him into cardiac arrest and a "Its a Wonderful Life"-style dream where life was different.

Small jokes only a true Hill-er can appreciate:
- The opening credits were back to the original Gavin DeGraw version.
- Nathan's comment about big moments in his and Haley's lives happening in the rain.
- Nathan threatening to make Jamie walk home in a joking impression of papa Dan.
- Nathan referencing "A Christmas Story." Odd choice, but a small attempt in acknowledging they weren't doing a Christmas themed episode??
- Ms. Lauren being in an episode. And Mouth, Clay, Alex, and Millie not (they are in the opening credits).
- And the fact that Jamie attends Tree Hill Grade School. How much in the middle of nowhere is this town?I thought they were slightly cosmopolitan.

I thought these characters were going to be dead at the end of the episode:
Chuck
Ms. Lauren
Brooke
Jamie
Psycho Katie
Quinn

I would have actually cared if these characters were dead at the end of the episode:
Ms. Lauren
Brooke
Jamie

There was a definite moment when I saw the masked words behind a recent comment by EP Mark Schwan about Lucas and Peyton not making it back to the show for Brooke's wedding.I saw them coming back for her funeral... I honestly thought about changing the name of the show to Naley Hill.

What really bothered me about this episode was that it came on the heels of a fantastic Thanksgiving episode "Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace" and a fairly decent "night out at tric" episode "Lists, Plans." Both of those were really character/plot moving, fun, and a true ensemble piece. It brought back the good feelings of the early seasons.

And most important, it made me remember why I love One Tree Hill in the first place. It's about friends, life, and the relate-ability of these characters [yes we're not all ex pro athletes going back to finish our degrees like Nathan (surprisingly interesting plot line)], but we've all have that jerky teacher we wanted to show up. We grew up with the kids in the Hill, and hopefully the last episodes this spring will honor the show's long legacy of being kick-ass (and sometimes thought provoking- I really miss Lucas's voice-overs. O Hell, I miss any voice-overs).

An Updated Note About Hawaii 5-0 Bingo

I got 5-0 BINGO!

After 4 weeks of playing, I succeeded during Monday night's Christmas episode of Hawaii 5-0.

The bingo spaces included:

5. Alex O'Loughlin runs really fast.

4. Car chase

3. Alex O'Loughlin breaks several police brutality laws.

2. The bad guys turn out to be terrorists.

1. Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan flirt shamelessly.

Note: There were 12 spaces covered during this week's game board.

Sidenote: Rules about the free space (I count this alternately as a Ford product placement or every time they show the gold Hawaiian warrior statue^).

Observation: If this was a drinking bingo game, and we counted each time they showed the Hawaiian warrior state outside of 5-0 headquarters, people would be very drunk by the end of an episode.

A Note About Christmas Time Again: PSYCH style

I call this episode "It's a Wonderful PSYCH."

I thought the Christmas episode of Psych was great.

Best parts:
The elf actor guy.
The scenes from movies and shows: Juliet as TJ Hooker, Lassie as Hitler.
Gus's life as a sitcom.
Snowman Gus- made of chocolate ice cream.
Gus diffusing a bomb at the last minute.
The acknowledgment that young Shawn is played by many different kids.
Shawn convincing the oppressed townspeople to testify against a crime lord.

A Note About Christmas Time Again: How I Met Your Mother style

Its time for a 12 days of Christmas list about my favorite parts of this week's Christmas-themed HIMYM episode.

12. NO ZOE IN THE EPISODE!
For obvious reasons.

11. Charity
The stripper, not the feeling of goodwill. Now Barney, take me off your e-mail list.
Barney's description of being charitable: the various types of women he sleeps with (sixes are real charity work).

9. A diamond-studded suit
"Attention criminals! You can retire on the pants alone." -Ted

8. The Return of Punchy
I love this guy more when he's on the phone with Ted. I also love Ted's plans to kick ass on the flower arrangements. But revelation time, Ted is probably giving the best man speech for earlier in the season at PUNCHY's wedding, not CINDY's, as we all thought.

7. Marshall and Lily trying to prepare for having a baby in one night.
"The nursery is painted blue."
"What if we have a girl Marshall?"

6. Ted's Christmas movie-themed snack
All it needs is some Gingerbread men.

5. Barney's favorite things
Matching track suits, remote control cars... could it be any better

4. Robin's classy description about being a "coin-flip bimbo"

3. Alex Trebek guest starring (see #4)

2. I've never seen that woman before in my life!
Barney's classic response to hearing a woman is pregnant.

1. Ted being his good old Ted self.
Putting everyone on the path they belong on and going to see "It's a wonderful life" alone.

A Note About Holiday Marathons- Vampire style

I'm so psyched about the Vampire Diaries season 2 marathon, which starts tomorrow. I might actually have a chance to catch up on the 2nd season (I've slowly been making my way through season 1 on DVD this Fall). All 10 episodes from this season will be on the CW from 8-10 from Monday to Friday.