TV Review: Parks and Rec Paints a Picture of Perfection

Holy hell, it's insane how badly I need Ben and Leslie to get together.  It's insane how palpable the tension between them is getting (Even Andy noticed! Granted, he thought it was because Leslie had stolen money from Ben, but still...).  It's more insane that every time I think this show can't get better, it just does.

So many great things to talk about in this episode (extended by 10 minutes because apparently the TV gods are listening to my prayers--and yes, there are TV gods).  Jerry's Painting--the name of the episode, and possibly the best/most hilarious piece of artwork I've ever seen.  Ben as April & Andy's roommate-- I think whichever writer came up with that story needs an Emmy like, now.  So hilarious, and they did it without making Ben look like too much of a square or the newlyweds look too stupid/oblivious.  And of course I loved Ben's conversation with Andy about his and Leslie's relationship.  It was cute and perfect and oh gosh, I'm gushing again.

There was some really great character stuff in this episode that I really appreciated.  I like that we've been taking a very subtle turn with Chris' character; his bubbly attitude started out charming but now his refusal to break from his ways is becoming a problem for multiple characters, not to mention that his perkiness is getting more and more annoying with each scene that he's in.  I just love the irony of this, given the way that they showed him making Ben be the "bad guy" last season.  And Leslie was just...luminous this episode.  Amy Poehler deserves Emmy consideration for this episode (not that she didn't already, but if I had to pick a performance to submit, it'd be this one); she just brought everything to the table that makes her so wonderful and really pulled out all the stops.  She was just so nuanced, from the obvious angst over Ben to her escalating confidence and willingness to stand up to Chris (among others).  I think this is (hopefully) a set up for her being bold enough to push things with Ben where they definitely need to go, ideally some time before Season 3 concludes.

And on an only vaguely related note, how adorable was Leslie this week?  I've grown accustomed to Ben being ridiculously cute in his own awkward way, but I definitely underestimated Leslie's ability to be genuinely charming (I like to think that Ben just brings out the best in her).

Additionally, Ron's speech at the art opening.  I died.  Seriously.  This man takes approximately 2 minutes total screen time and walks away with some of the most memorable quotes.  that's probably a skill that ranks pretty high on the Pyramid of Greatness.

TV Review: The Office's Beautiful, Understated Send-Off

Remember earlier when I said I was pretty sure this episode was going to be perfect?  I don't regret that prediction for a second.  Every little piece of the puzzle came together, and I'm not ashamed to say that I shed a few (okay, many) tears for Michael on his last day with the Dunder-Mifflin gang.

I loved Michael making the rounds to say goodbye to and leave a bit of wisdom(?) with each of his co-workers.  I loved the letter of recommendation/paintball fight with Dwight.  I loved every second of his and Jim's interaction, especially their promise to "have lunch tomorrow."  And oddly, I think I really did love Michael's fake-out over when he was leaving, because it allowed the whole experience to be quieter and a little more serious than I would have expected.  Besides, we got our musical moment last week, so I think it was fitting that this week's swan song was much more understated.

Two additional things that were great:  I loved the way that Michael broke the fourth wall, in a sense, right before he took off his mic for the last time ("Let me know if this ever airs.").  On a related note, I loved that Pam made it to the airport in time to see him off (even though Security definitely wouldn't have let her through), and that we couldn't hear what they said to each other. 

I honestly have no complaints about this episode.  I loved it, as a send-off to Michael and also as the closing of a chapter.  I'm half-debating just letting this be the conclusion of my Office watching run, just because I think this ended on the exact note I would have wanted for the series as a whole.

TV Review: Community Delivers

"I don't want this baby's first memory to be Star Burns!"

My goodness.  Of course Shirley was going to deliver her baby on campus (with Abed as her "doctor", no less).  I loved Britta being terrified of the whole situation, yet still trying to be supportive.  This episode was a genuine triumph for her, and she was probably the least grating she's ever been.  And of course Chang trying to prove he was the father/offering advice, and then ultimately helping calm Shirley down.

Not to mention:  "Don't tell any doctors I said this, but at this point the bus kind of drives itself."

Also, any time Donald Glover brings himself to tears is gold.  I loved him in this episode.

NBC, you stop with those annoying, screen-occupying "The Voice" promos.  You stop right now.

Those are just my instantaneous reactions to this episode.  Overall, it was a weirdly joyful, silly installment-- in other words, the perfect May sweeps kick off for the Greendale gang.

May Sweeps: Where Do We Go From Here? Part Two

Okay, so apparently my dates are wrong, or I just didn't realize, but I've been reading more and more that this week is officially counted as part of May sweeps.  Ergo, I'd like to take a look at the Thursday night line-up (and make some probably incorrect predictions) before they air tonight.  These three shows have been pretty steadily wonderful all season long, so I don't know that any of them really need to pull out all the stops to impress me; they just need to keep doing all the fantastic things they already do.

Community:  First, Shirley is apparently having her baby tonight, at least according to Joel McHale's Twitter.  That should definitely provide the setting for both laughs and potential drama, so I'm looking forward to that.  However, didn't she only get pregnant in October?  That doesn't seem like enough time, but I guess that's one of those TV mysteries I just have to accept.  This sounds like it will be a pretty eventful episode by all accounts, and there will definitely be a May sweeps feel to it. 

As for what's coming in the next few weeks, we all know at the very least that we'll be getting paintball, round two, and my personal favorite thing, a guest-star appearance from one Josh Holloway (aka Sawyer from LOST!).  So excited/intrigued to see if he can actually pull off comedy.

Looking ahead to the finale and how they might wrap up this season, I think last week did a good job of catching everyone up on where things are at with all of the relationships and whatnot, so there's really a lot of potential for any number of story lines to be furthered or resolved.  I'm guessing we'll get something on the Jeff/Annie front, particularly since it was so skirted around (parody video notwithstanding) when Annie tried to bring it up last week.  The people behind this show know that there's a huge Jeff and Annie fan base, so I can't see why they wouldn't take advantage of that for sweeps.  I'd also like to see them come back to either Britta and Troy and whatever they have going on or a return from Abed's secret service lady (that was one of my favorite plots surrounding Abed, they'd make such a weird, fantastic couple).  Also, are all of them staying in community college for four years?  That seems a tad unrealistic, but if it's required for the sake of the show, I'll take it.  In any event, the episodes to come should be pretty interesting, and hopefully some of their best yet.

The Office:  There is no way that Steve Carell/Michael Scott's last day at Dunder-Mifflin is going to be anything less than epic.   The word "perfection" is being tossed around, and I have no doubts that it is accurate.  After that, I'm not so sure.  All I've read about the finale is the increasingly lengthy list of famous guest stars who will be appearing, and if that doesn't sound like compensating, I don't know what does.  I really will be interested to see what they do without Michael, especially given the not-so-enthusiastic response to Will Ferrell's potentially replacing him.

Parks and Recreation:  I'm going through a phase with this show that I've had at some point with all my favorites (Community being the most recent), where I just want to watch it all the time, and I find myself counting down the hours until Thursday so that I can see what's next.  This has been the show of the season for me, hitting it out of the park every single week (and still not getting the recognition it deserves...but I don't need to go on a rant now).  I am so excited for the final few installments of Parks, and to see where they leave us heading into Season 4.  A few of the things I'm particularly looking forward to:

 *Some drama:  Ausiello's May Sweeps score card lists Parks as having one of 15 "confirmed deaths" in the final leg of its season.  I know I talked about this a few weeks ago, wondering who in the office it'd be, but now that I've had more time to think about it I'm going to predict that the death will be Pawnee's own Lil' Sebastian.  Can you imagine the mayhem that will ensue?  I can, and I can't wait to see it.

*Ben and Leslie:  This couple has been an obsession for me all season, and it's only gotten worse as it's become clear that their feelings are reciprocated.  Rumor has it that they're going to have some pretty significant moments soon, and I just need to say that I am preemptively embarrassed of how many times I'll probably watch the scene where they inevitably get together.

*What's next for the Parks Department?  When we last left them, they seemed to be sifting through Leslie's ideas for the next big project.  I thought having Harvest Festival as a common thread holding the season and the Parks crew together was a great device, and I'd love to see them do it again with something even more awesome(sauce).  I'm hoping we will have an idea of the new endeavor by season's end.

Overall, I'm entirely too excited about television right now.  And it has nothing to do with the fact that I'm on the verge of mid-terms.  Nothing at all...

And On a Completely Different Note...LOOK AT THIS!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 Trailer!

I cannot deal with just how insane this looks.  More thoughts after I've watched/analyzed it 4 billion times.

May Sweeps: Where Do We Go From Here? Part One

The first week of May is almost upon us (believe me, I'm as shocked as you are), and for the obsessive TV-watching world, this means Sweeps.  This is the time of year when our favorite shows will pull out all the stops to make us keep them as our favorites.  They'll try to shock us, make us laugh, and tug at our heartstrings (sometimes all three at once!).  As someone who's been tracking the progress of some of this shows all season long, I thought it fitting to have a little bit of a pre-Sweeps debrief to look at where we are and where we're going.

 
How I Met Your Mother:  This show has been notoriously difficult to really make predictions on, because of the writers' tendency to somewhat abruptly re-visit plot lines that most of us assume have long been forgotten.  However, I think this season has had a pretty clear narrative line, and of course there is the helpful addition of some revealing interviews with the two creators of the show, Craig Armstrong and Carter Bays.  According to the two of them, we will know by season's end whose wedding Ted is at during the premiere's flash-forward footage.  I have already discussed my heavy suspicion that the groom is Barney, but in case you remain unconvinced, here is my evidence:

*Ted is best man at the wedding, which would make sense given the obsession Barney has always had about the two of them being "best friends"
*The title of the episode is "Challenge Accepted."  This seems only fitting for a Barney wedding
*This entire season has shown us a different side of Barney, and we've gotten many indications that he wants to mature, but it unsure if he can.  Apart from him basically confessing as much in the most recent episode, we've also seen his brief relationship with Nora, in which he chickened out of trying to make it work, but for the first time seemed to genuinely want to.  There is also his eagerness to see Marshal and Lily start a family, and his ongoing issues surrounding his father.

Hence, even if the bride isn't Robin (despite how much I'd like that), I think we are definitely seeing Barney's wedding, and I'm going to guess it's taking place roughly 5 years down the road from the current episodes.  I think the wedding will be the major development of the finale, although I think there will be some drama surrounding Marshal, Lily and the baby situation-- I'm still predicting a surprise pregnancy, but the evidence for that is much more lacking.

 Glee:  Oh, geez.  This show is pretty impossible to predict lately, because of the sheer absurdity of many of the plot lines.  In fairness, there also hasn't been a very strong narrative line tying this season together, which does give the writers a little more freedom to do whatever pops into their heads (not advisable).  Given this knowledge, I'm going to make a bunch of predictions for what we'll see in the last leg of the season, some of them likely and some of them ludicrous, and we'll all have a good laugh after the finale when those in the latter group are much closer to what Ryan Murphy and company have dreamed up.

*Prom Queen?  Not Zizes, not Quinn, but Kurt.  Not only has Ryan Murphy said in multiple interviews that having a gay couple with the crown at prom is one of his dreams for the show, I don't think that Kurt is back at McKinley as any more than a plot convenience, and this could be where that becomes clear. 

*OR...Quinn will win Prom Queen, but Finn will break up with her that night.  Maybe I'm just cynical about proms, but I feel like she's not getting a happy ending in any event.

*Rachel and Sam.  I can't get this suspicion out of my head ever since reading an Ausiello blind item about two characters on one of his favorite shows hooking up, who've never had any romance/longing glances/tension, and the person they least want to see finds them doing the walk of shame, so to speak.  Rachel and Sam popped into my head right away, and I think it'll be Finn who finds them (cliche, but it's Glee).  However, an interesting alternative would be Quinn, and the tables would be turned from when Rachel knew her very big secret back in Season 1.

*Blaine transferring to McKinley.  At the very least, it will be suggested/Kurt will ask him before season's end.  I feel pretty confident about this one.

*New Directions makes the trek to Nationals...and wins?  I would have put my money on them to lose, however I'm wondering if they're going to add/subtract people again next season, and if that would make them want to give this version of New Directions a victory.  Though how they'll beat Vocal Adrenaline and their crazy-pipes vocalist, I still don't understand.

*Santana's secret will get out, probably to the whole Glee club.  I'll be interested to see how they react/support her.

*Schuester and Emma will, predictably, have a moment, probably in the finale.  And Schuester will probably screw it up.

*Sue will either become even more unbearably obnoxious, or more unrealistically redeemable.

*There's also going to be a death on Glee in one of the next few episodes, confirmed by various sources. 

TV Review: Glee- Even Gaga Can't Save You Now

Do you hear that sound?  It's crickets, chirping in the background of my brain, because I'm having trouble coming to terms with the fact that this is the episode we got in the lead-up to sweeps.  Now, Glee is rarely logical. The plot lines are very very rarely things that might actually happen in real life.  But this week felt like an excess.

Please, Glee writers, show me the schools in small town Ohio that allow students to just transfer in and out with no repercussions to speak of.  And while you're at it, show me the qualified physician who advises-- nay, pressures-- a seventeen year old to get a nose job.

Let's talk about the Quinn-used-to-be-ugly plot.  Is this real life?  Is this seriously what they're going to use to explain her character?  Weak, Glee, even for you.  Not only is this a staple of almost every lame ugly duckling rom-com ever made, it's down right unrealistic.  One of the things that sucks most about high school (and college, if we're being honest) is that there are girls who are just more absurdly beautiful than everyone else without even trying.  They were, in fact, born that way (see what I did there?).  And silly me, but I thought this show was about showing something real about the high school experience.

One high point:  [about Barbara Streisand]  "Is she here?!" "No, it's a mall in Ohio."

Was that another mall flash-mob?  Where have I seen that before...?  Oh yeah, last season on this show.  Also, that "Barbara Streisand" song is the worst.  It is also pointless.  Seriously.

The Lauren vs. Quinn rivalry might actually have had potential way back when, because it would have genuinely been interesting to see who the students voted for, just as they were presented.  I know a lot of schools, my former high school included, where "alternative" looking candidates for homecoming queen won by a landslide, without things having to get ugly.  I have to say I was happy at the end when they admitted a kind of grudging respect/affection for each other.

And Emma with her OCD?  First, it must be said that I read something about their being "Emmy buzz" about this performance.  Uhm, I'm sorry, what performance?  Jayma Mays did exactly what she always does, and despite the hype they gave her barely anything to work with.  I was expecting this episode to have a lot more with her (but there's my lesson learned, isn't it?  Never expect things from this show.)  Also, this is a comedy, and while she wasn't funny in this episode, she also wouldn't be able to qualify for a Drama award.  Just sayin'.

I did get my wish for more Rachel/Puck time, and I'm glad that it came in the form of him trying to keep her from changing her appearance.  Puck is the one guy on the show who has consistently been up front with Rachel about thinking she's attractive, so I'm happy they tied him in to this story.

I also liked that we got a renewed, albeit brief, look at nice-guy Finn again this week.  Personally, I think he's at his best when he's capable of being sweet to both Quinn and Rachel regardless of which one he's dating, it just makes him seem more genuine overall.

And then we finally got to Gaga, the very hyped headlining number.  I have to admit, I was highly distracted by trying to read all of their specialized t-shirts while they danced around (I'm still trying to figure out the meaning of Puck's...was it just me or could that actually be construed as kind of sweet?), but Tina/Mercedes/Kurt on vocals was a-okay in my book.  Feel free to repeat that collaboration any time, guys.

It's a sad sad episode when Santana and Karofsky's plan to serve as one another's "beards" is the most realistic part.  Although that scene with her and Brittany was slightly redeeming as well.  I'm not gonna lie, I'd probably watch a Santana spin off at this point-- she just has so much potential that Glee has kind of been refusing to tap.

Getting Nostalgic: Six Weeks Left in the City of Rain

"You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place, like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and place because you'll never be this way ever again."

This just sums up so much of how I feel about life right now.  I've given myself an official deadline:  if I don't have anything lined up in the job department by Friday, I have to book a flight to Chicago (my apartment is kicking me out the day after graduation).  Since I haven't really heard much of anything about jobs, it's pretty unlikely at this point that I'll have anything resembling an offer by the end of the week, so I've started preparing myself for the inevitable.

And then I found this, and it expresses my thoughts exactly.  I've been thinking a lot about how much I'll miss all my friends here, especially since we're all going in such different directions and may not cross paths again any time soon.  But I think I really am going to miss the person I am here; and more than that I'm scared of losing the progress I've made.

Seattle-Andrea is a person I like very much.  She's got a lot of determination that she just didn't have four years ago; she's loved and she knows it, and people trust her more than she probably deserves.  Chicago-Andrea?  She's kind of a fuck-up, to be honest.  She doesn't believe in herself and she doesn't go after the things she wants, mostly out of fear.  I don't want to fade back into existing as Chicago-Andrea, because then what have the past four years been worth?

I'm going to try to embrace it, because what else can I do?  I'll spend the summer writing stories for my portfolio and submitting stuff for publication, searching for jobs, and avoiding the bad habits I invariably fall into whenever I go home.  I'll read books and meditate and spend some time in the sun (I have been having withdrawals for four years, so the Vitamin D will probably do me some good) and hang out with my sisters. 

And maybe, just maybe, I won't miss this place as much as I'm terrified I will.

Book Review: I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere, By Anna Gavalda

This is a charming little collection of short stories about people living in France, specifically the more humdrum areas surrounding the glamour of Paris.  I picked it up based on a recommendation from one of the innumerable book blogs I read every week, under the assurance that, despite appearances, this was not chick-lit. 

The author of that blog was being about 85% honest.  Yes, I was pleasantly surprised at the minimalist, dialogue-focused style (the one that, unfortunately falling into stereotyping, I tend to associate more often with male writers) and the lack of over-romanticizing things.  Each character in each story, particularly the female protagonists, had a refreshing cynicism and cautiousness in his or her manner, and even the most woebegone characters were far from whiny. 

Two stories I particularly enjoyed and which stuck with me were "For Years" and "Clic-Clac" which were for me the most genuine (the former) and the most humorous (the latter).  Both are tales of unrequited/unfinished love, and each takes pains to avoid underestimating the reader.  "For Years" has a couple who has not seen one another in a very long time, and indeed believes they never will again.  Yet one day, out of the blue, they are reunited, and their encounter is, I would say, Gavalda's best work in the volume.  "Clic-Clac" is a tale of a man who lives with his two sisters and who lusts embarrassingly after a female co-worker.  Naturally, various hijinks abound.  This one just has so many laughs, and things you could see actually happening in real life, that the reader is immediately pulled in to the interior of a man who might otherwise seem very pathetic.

Two entries I could have done with out are definitely "Pregnant" and the Epilogue.  The Epilogue is what appears to be a fictionalized story of one of Gavalda's own attempts to get herself published, and apart from seeming kind of self-involved, it just wasn't very engaging.  And "Pregnant" is the story that almost made me put down the book-- the protagonist is a "typical" female, overly sentimental and borderline mentally unstable (at least, it seems that way), and the concluding plot twist is so obvious from the very beginning that it was hard to get invested in any of the rest of the story.  I honestly just wanted to flip ahead and verify that my guess was right (and of course, it was), rather than read pages upon pages of this protagonist being exactly the kind of woman I usually loathe.

Overall, though, I'd recommend this based on the two stand-outs, and for a fun little read in between more serious texts (I've been studying Paradise Lost and The Great Divorce, so Gavalda's frivolity was a lovely reprieve), not to mention a very charming little snapshot of French quirkiness and style.

TV Review: The Writers of Parks and Recreation May Be My "Soulmates"

There were so many things going on in this episode that I adored.  To name a few:  Chris taking the team on a journey to the natural foods store; April and Andy being the cutest boring married couple in the world; Ann taking the sluttiness up a notch (I'm sensing potential for an intervention, Leslie Knope style, in the near future); literally every single thing that Tom said/did; and of course my favorite development of the night....any guesses?  Anyone?

Let's talk about that first, since I'll just be distracted trying to write on anything else.  I cannot express how worried I was when Ben shot Leslie down in their first scene together.  I mean, I was pissed.  You can't just build up someone being attracted to someone else for an entire season then have them drop it like nothing happened.  Fortunately, I held out hope, knowing that the writers over at Parks would never be so incompetent (I mean, it isn't Glee, folks).  And alas, they redeemed themselves in the end:  Ben just doesn't want to get himself or Leslie fired, because Chris has a policy against inter-office relationships.  (Sidenote:  I was totally thinking to myself, "Well that's hypocritical, what about him and Ann?", and then I remembered that she doesn't actually work in their office.)  At any rate, I'm glad that they both know how the other feels now, and I'm interested to see how they're going to handle this.  The obvious answer (and hope) is some kind of secret romance, but unfortunately neither Leslie nor Ben strikes me as capable of being particularly stealthy.  I just hope they don't spend the rest of the season pretending that the revelations in this episode didn't happen (again, it isn't Glee, and I need to remember that).

But backtracking just a little bit, I want to take a moment to examine the LOLZ factor of the Leslie and Tom saga with which this episode gifted us.  Point number one:  Tom looks like such a creeper in his online dating profile photo.  Point number two: That little smile he aimed at the camera, the one where you could almost see him deciding to mess with Leslie, that was like the smile of a hilarious baby angel, and I think Aziz Ansari needs to make that face like, all the time.  Point number three:  Tom's three wishes.  Enough said.  Point four:  The kiss, and Tom's reaction/description with Ben afterward was so perfectly awkward.  Moments like these and plot lines like this one would probably never work on any other show, and that's part of what makes this one so fabulous.

Bonus moment of hilarity:  Ron comparing watching the vegans in the natural foods store to watching animals in the zoo.  So, so good.

TV Review: The Office Tugs at the Heart Strings...Again

Goddamn, Office writers, what are you doing to me?  Two out of the last three episodes have made me cry real tears-- it's getting embarrassing.  And I already know that there's going to be something in Steve Carell's final episode that is going to repeat this awful trend.

Honestly, this was a pretty average episode up through the Dundies-- many of Michael's hijinks from the original episode were simply recycled and refurbished, but that was okay because we knew it was a throwback.  But when they all burst into song at the end there?  Every minute of this suddenly too short half hour was worth it.

So the Office team knocks another one out of the park, and there's just not much more I can say about it than that.  I can't wait for next week, because any doubts I had about the show's ability to send Carell off in style are long forgotten.

TV Review: Community Goes Clip Show, Sort Of

I think I need to open with a big old "I WAS RIGHT."  Thank you, your applause is not necessary.  But I figured out that Jeff and Britta were hooking up behind the scenes months ago, and they waited so long to address this that even I almost forgot.  But I knew-- they thought they were being clever, but let the record show that I knew all along.

This episode was a step in the right direction, both a move back toward the original brilliance of this show as well as a nice stepping stone toward May sweeps.  We got what was essentially a look back at the season so far (with some hilarious new clips added in-- why couldn't we have had a full episode dedicated to the ghost town trip, or the gang's run-in with drug lords?), and an exposure of some of the issues that have been neglected or not completely resolved heading into the home stretch.  Yeah, nothing of much consequence actually happened tonight, but but re-opening some of these discussions and having the gang essentially refuse to tie them up, we're set up for sweeps with a lot of potential things hanging in the balance.

A few things that really stood out:  I adored the mocking use of Sara Bareilles' "Gravity" (one of my personal favorite songs) in a YouTube fanvid style parody with first Jeff and Annie and then hilariously with Pierce and Abed.  Why do I fear that both montages will inevitably spawn numerous imitations within the next week...?  Also, Troy in particular was hilarious in this episode; I honestly think that he can never be featured enough, so I'm looking forward to see where he winds up by season's end, more than maybe anyone else on this show.

Bucket List Update: Fremont Troll

As it's looking more and more likely that I will be returning to the Midwest for a spell come June, I've been increasingly anxious about accomplishing the items on my Seattle Bucket List.  After all, who knows when I'll be back to the West Coast-Best Coast?  I have to get everything done that has managed to escape me during my four years here.  And one of those big items (and one that I was extremely, perhaps irrationally, excited about) was the Fremont Troll.

Last Saturday, this dream was made possible by one of the VP's at my organization, who suggested we make a stop at the troll on our way back from our retreat.  I couldn't believe it-- this monument was every bit as cool in person as I'd been imagining, not only because it's huge but because it's literally right at the end of a regular street; you could drive into it if you really wanted to.

That's one more item accomplished, and with things getting down to the wire, the Bucket List has become an issue of prioritizing.  I'm probably not going to see a whale before I leave, and I've accepted that.  I may have to substitute the Tulip Festival with simply buying tulips at the market.  And that's okay.  I've been to Portland and Canada within the last two months, not to mention the Woodland Park Zoo, which wasn't even on the list but is definitely worth bonus points.  And anyway, what matters most to me is getting every moment I can with the people here whom I adore, and making the most of my last five weeks (gosh, that's scary to even type).

Remaining Items (That May or May Not Be Realistic):

Pike Place Cheese Festival

GasWorks Park

Denny Creek

Ride the Ducks

Dive Bar Challenge/Find a dive bar that doesn't make me want to shower immediately afterward

Study at the UW library (it looks like Hogwarts!)

Looks like approximately one item per week...challenge accepted.

TV Review: Glee's Night of [Writerly?] Neglect

Well.  One of Glee's greatest weaknesses in the past has been their inability to have more than one awesome episode in a row.  Thus, my hopes were not high going into "Night of Neglect," particularly given that it seemed, based on the promos, to be a Sue-heavy episode.

My expectations were accurate.  This episode was decent, not fantastic and not appalling, so for Glee it's pretty much a win.  I liked the storyline with Mercedes for the most part, and I thought the Will and Holly thing was a great example of the writers realizing when a relationship has run its course.

Other pluses:  Blaine and Kurt are super adorable.  Rachel was less shrill than usual, though not as fantastic as in "Original Song".  Mike Chang and Brittany respectively popped up and reminded me that they exist, in a good way.

Minuses:  Not enough Puck or Sam, or Santana (though that scene with Karofsky was priceless).  Also, it didn't feel like enough happened to merit an hour of show, which of course is a not infrequent complaint with Glee.

Thoughts on next week:  "Born This Way" hasn't even been released on the album of the same name yet, but trust Glee to already have a tribute episode.  It's supposed to be a 90-minute epic, so we'll see if any good comes of that.  The last episode that was advertised as being this big was the post-Super Bowl installment, which was a disaster.  So I guess it's only upward from here.

TV Review: How I Met Your Mother

Man, this episode was full of little tidbits.  Yes, they sometimes came at the cost of some of the funny, but I think on the whole it was worth it.  We got some foreshadowing with both Barney and Robin, and the part of my brain reserved for television analysis and theorizing got all giddy. 

First we had Robin's crush from the department store way back when.  Not only was there some legitimate chemistry there, but thanks to Ted's voice-over we got a hint that there's definitely more to come in that story.  I liked the break in point of view so that we could hear mystery guy's phone conversation about her, and I could definitely get on board with this couple in the future.

And as for Barney, gosh my little heart just melted a little.  What can I say, I'm a sucker for damaged guys (but that's a discussion for later...).  Anyway, the scene in the car with his dad was one of my all-time favorites of his, and of course I loved getting more hints that our favorite playboy is coming around on the idea of settling down.  This only reinforces my prediction that the wedding in the season finale will be Barney's, and I've just had an awful thought:  what if they don't show us who the bride is?  I feel like that would be unfair, given that the clues that Barney is the groom are stacking up, but then again it would be just like the writers on this show to give us a tiny bit of something and keep the rest hidden away. 

In any event, another great episode, and in what seems to be a trend this half of the season, one that had some genuinely heartfelt moments.  I'm excited, as always, for next week.

The Technological Divide

I was so happy.  I was finally at a point in my life where DVDs were affordable, provided I did my homework and found the place selling the movie I most wanted to see for even just a few dollars less than the competition.  Yes, it was a simpler time, a time when I enjoyed purchasing the few films I felt genuinely inclined to watch again and again, and to experience in a new way via all the special features.

And then the whisperings of a new device began.  I heard rumblings of the Blu-Ray revolution, but I was so encased in my bubble of DVD happiness (having finally phased out any and all remaining VHS tapes-- remember those?) that I was able to turn a deaf ear on them.  Blu-Ray would never affect me; I wasn't into dropping all my cash on a new platform for movie watching, not when I was so satisfied with my current viewing means.  I watched a Blu-Ray or two with friends and I came to the conclusion that, even if it grew popular, I didn't want to make the switch over, because I found the excessive sharpness of the movies to be incredibly off-putting.  That wasn't going to become my problem.

But this Friday, after years of resistance and eye-rolling, Warner Brothers tried to make it my problem.  Here was I, in my local Borders (I had a gift card, or else I obviously would've ventured somewhere decidedly less pricey), ready to fork over some $20 for a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1.  I was so excited, because I'd been seeing and reading advertisements everywhere for this awesome DVD package that would include not only hours of special features and behind-the-scenes footage, but a very exclusive preview of the film's second half, due out in theaters on July 15th.  This was perhaps the exclusive reason that I trekked down to the store (in the rain, no less) on the day the DVD was released, so that I could be one of the first people I knew to view all this special features goodness.  But what happened instead was deeply disappointing.

Apparently I had been misled by the advertising campaign, perhaps deliberately.  You see, when I reached the DVDs section, I was presented with two options:  I could purchase a copy of the film, just the film with perhaps a few deleted scenes (which if you know DVDs is nothing special), for the regular price (the 20 or so dollars I was anticipating), or I could have access to all the special features and extras I was promised if and only if I purchased the DVD/Blu-Ray combo for nearly double the price.  I'm sure you can imagine the twinge of annoyance that took me over upon reading that.

I don't have a Blu-Ray player, and I have no plans to purchase one any time soon.  My living room television and computer both play DVD's, and DVDs are still, for the most part, about half the price of the average Blu-Ray.  It makes no sense, logically or financially, for me to make the switch.  And yet here was WB thinking they could appeal to my love of Harry Potter and try to force a conversion out of me.  It was a nice try, I'll admit-- if any movie could have potentially persuaded me (and I'm guessing many others) to consider Blu-Ray, it was HP7.  But I'm not so easily swayed.  I bought the regular DVD, contented myself with watching the movie in normal quality and the halfhearted special features the lone disk included, and you know what, WB?  It was great.  And I'm sure I'll be able to find the preview of the second movie on the Internet in a matter of days, if it hasn't been posted numerous times already.  And then I'll send the link to my friends, with the warning that they shouldn't be bamboozled into purchasing a fancy Blu-Ray copy they don't need or want.  Or better yet, I'll wait until July to see the first scene of Part 2 in person, the way it should be seen.

It's frustrating to live in a society that's constantly upgrading these things.  Yes, it's great that we're on the cutting edge (although I'd like to see a lot of the energy and funds we use for some of these things used on maybe medical advances or helping people who actually need it, but that's another story...), but things are getting out of hand.  We assume everyone has an Ipod, a Smart Phone, a laptop computer, and then we get started on comparing brands.  I've largely tuned out the snobbery of the Apple disciples of the world, but sometimes it just downright stings to be judged because maybe you can't afford to drop $1500 on a laptop when all you really need it for is word processing and Internet; or your old-school flip phone works just fine for you, because it still makes calls and sends texts, which if you can remember that far back was the original purpose of these increasingly absurd devices.

I'm not old-fashioned.  I'm pretty minimalist, but I still have more stuff than I probably need.  But I think it merits asking why we're so obsessed with these kinds of things, and where we think it's actually going to get us in the long run.  I like to think that my appreciation for and understanding of film and music haven't been negatively impacted by the lack of an Apple insignia on the devices by which I consume them, nor will they be.  And I don't like being deceived, just because some corporation thinks they can turn me into one of those consumers who starts blindly assuming I need that next new shiny thing.

TV Discussion: Should 'The Office' Quit While It's Ahead?

I've been an Office fan from the beginning, from the days before Steve Carell's hair implants and the days when Jim and Pam could only shoot longing glances at each other from across a crowded office.  So it's with a heavy heart that I come to the conclusion that this show should really just wrap up at the end of this season, following Michael's departure. 

It would be tempting to say that the writers have simply run out of material, but based on the past few episodes that really isn't the case.  The proposal episode and now Will Ferrell's first appearance have both been truly successful installments of The Office, and this only adds strength to my conviction that to end things now would be to go out on top.  Now that they're in the process of replacing Michael, it seems almost too fitting that the rest of the show's loose ends (not that there are many remaining) should be tied up as well.  I think more than anything I'd like to see a truly heartfelt and hilarious season finale turn into a series finale, where we leave our favorite Dunder-Mifflinites behind, knowing that they'll continue to get into the hijinks we all know and love, but also that they'll be just fine without us.  I'd miss Jim and Pam and Dwight (and my weekly dose of John Krasinski, naturally), but I'd rather see them go in the fairly content states they are now then watch them flounder for another season or two before coming to a flat conclusion.

Just throwing it out there, NBC.  Don't sacrifice a great show's integrity just so you can make a bigger profit.

TV Round-Up: Comedy Night Done Right, Indeed

Community- "Competitive Wine Tasting":  This episode was such a perfect return for this show, and one that I think indicates a very successful final leg of season two.  It had everything that makes this show great-- Jeff with his standard smarminess fully loaded once again, Abed being a television-savant, Troy and Britta (we'll get to that in a minute!), and of course, Pierce meeting his racist, shallow match.  Minimal Shirley, Chang, and Annie proved to be a good thing this week as well.

First the Jeff and Pierce story:  well executed and genuinely intriguing, not to mention funny.  I really enjoyed the contrast between Jeff's disbelief that any girl could choose Pierce over him, and then his subsequent striving to protect his friend from the same woman.  He was charming and sympathetic, but still managed to have a few lines that made you want to roll your eyes at him.  Also, I am loving the way that Annie gets incorporated more and more as Jeff's conscience, warning him when he's about to go astray.  If I can't have them as a couple, then I'll take this as an alternative.

And speaking of couples... what was going on with Britta and Troy?  This was clearly a follow-up to what we (arguably) saw beginnings of in "Interpretive Dance," with that weird hint of tension between them.  And of course, the writers do seem interested in proving this season that they'll literally pair anyone together for at least a small arc.  Troy's line in their little talk at the end there, when he hinted that he wanted Britta to be attracted to him threw me off, but in a good way (I think).  I think they're both cute and definitely cute together, and I'm all for random pairings if they make at least a little bit of sense.  I like that we got a little bit of setup for something more, if the writers choose to go that direction, but not so much that I'll be devastated if it doesn't happen.

Parks and Recreation- "Fancy Party":  Well, shit.  All I can really say is that this was an adorable-ness overload.  No, wait, I'll say more-- I'll say that I'm pretty sure this is the best episode of any of the shows I review this entire season.  It was just perfect in every regard, and when I'm done gushing and getting myself un-choked up, I'll be able to articulate actual thoughts.

I never thought this show would have the ability to make me laugh hysterically and genuinely tear up in the course of the same episode, but this one did, and it was April and Andy's surprise wedding that did it.  I loved every moment of it, from the shock of realizing they weren't going to have some kind of disruption from Leslie or Ann or one of themselves, to the absurd preciousness of Andy's vows.  I'm so glad that this show doesn't feel the need to adhere to the "rules" of TV relationships-- I was worried they'd spend the rest of this season not allowing Andy and April to be happy together but putting roadblocks in their relationship every other episode for the sake of drama.  But they went the opposite direction, and I know I'm not the only viewer who appreciates that.  Yes, the marriage will probably not be perfect (even though as far as couples go, this one is just about  perfect), but I'm excited to see what happens next, and if nothing else just bask in the pure happiness of witnessing the occasion.

Leslie and Ben, you two are killing me.  This tension reminds me of (and may even be worse than) those early days of The Office when Jim and Pam were falling in love with each other but refusing to acknowledge it.  I say that this might even be worse because in the case of Leslie and Ben it's clearly mutual (whereas I was always just a little unsure of Pam's feelings), and both Leslie and Ben are free to pursue a relationship, they're just not quite brave enough yet.  But just watching even their faces when they talk to each other gives me goosebumps-- there's so much chemistry, and they seem to care about each other so much.  I'm glad we got to see Leslie's side of it too; all that talk about being afraid to jump into something, and then during Ron's pep talk you know she was thinking about Ben.  As much as I was just about dying for something big to happen between these two, I'm kind of glad it didn't get thrown in on top of all the other developments in this episode.  I thought their conversation about Ben staying in Pawnee was the perfect closing for them, plus that means that when we finally do get something more, it can be the focus of its own episode.

As for sweeps, I'm not sure how they're going to be able to top this.  Something interesting I did read though is that the show has confirmed that in the course of sweeps a character will die.  I'm hoping it's someone more on the periphery (maybe Jerry or Donna), where it wouldn't grind things to a halt but it might persuade certain characters to take advantage of the moment before them.  What I am worried about now that I'm writing this is that it will be Andy or April who dies, seeing as one of his lines in the episode was about life being short, not to mention the fact that on TV there's never a whole lot of safety in the wake of so much joy, because if good things happened all the time we wouldn't watch

** This entry is so long that I'll do a separate review of The Office tomorrow after I've watched it.

Movie Thoughts: 127 Hours

Okay, so obviously it took me a while to see this one (I was waiting to watch it for free, naturally), but I definitely loved it.  Despite all the arm-chopping, this was a truly beautiful movie.  Danny Boyle's artistry in executing this film just proved to me that "Slumdog Millionaire" wasn't just a fluke.  I was wondering exactly how the story would come together in a way that really felt complete while still giving the main event its due, but any concerns I had were definitely moot.

 I loved the structure of the movie, the way things weren't always chronological and questions weren't always answered right away.  I loved getting Aron's story piece by piece via those trippy flashbacks and I loved the feeling of really being inside his head throughout the ordeal.  It was inherently difficult to make an entire audience understand the stakes and the motivation behind the arm amputation, but I think the film really succeeded.  And of course, the movie was just so well-made visually that I couldn't tear my eyes away (even during "that" scene).

More little things I loved:  the soundtrack, both the score and the songs that were inserted; random appearances by lesser known actors I love (Amber Tamblyn, Clemence Poesy, and so on); everything about James Franco's performance. 

I think I need a little more time to process the movie and what I want to take away from it, but even initially I think it was something truly inspiring and something that definitely reminded me how important it is to look at things with more of a grand scheme approach.

TV Discussion: Can Glee End on a High Note?

(I can't stop giggling at how adorable these two are together.)

If the Glee writers are willing to follow my advice, they can launch into May sweeps and give us a finale for the ages.  The show isn't back until next Tuesday, so I decided to write a post about the things I'd like to happen the rest of the season.  Asterisks are next to the ones that I think are actually realistic possibilities and not just my own wishful thinking (prediction:  there won't be a lot of them).  Here we go.

*Blaine and Kurt being the most adorable couple ever (this one has already been pretty much confirmed by Ryan Murphy, so it's kind of a gimme)

Rachel and Puck giving it a real shot.  Pretty please?  I think that would be the perfect detour for her from Finn, and it would be a great way to get him back on track after he inevitably screws things up with Lauren.  I think I feel so strongly about this because the Finn/Rachel/Puck triangle reminds me of LOST; Rachel's Kate, Finn is Jack, so she obviously needs Puck to be her Sawyer for a little while. I'm only okay with her going back to Finn if she dates someone else in between-- Rachel's at the point where she needs to either be alone (which the writers seem incapable of allowing) or with someone who doesn't crush her confidence.  Whoa, that was a long assessment of something that probably won't happen.


*Santana and Brittany.  I don't feel too strongly about whether they get together or not, but especially for Santana this plot line needs to not fall by the way side.  She's clearly going through some serious shit, and I need Glee to let it happen.

Bring Sam back.  I know he's still there, but he's gotten so boring since breaking up with Quinn.  I miss him being a nerd all the time.

No more Schuester episodes.  He's with Gwyneth, awesome.  I don't need to hear anymore about it until you have a plot line that isn't solely devoted to whining.

Nationals.  They're going, but I have serious doubts that the event will be as epic as I'm hoping.  Also, I realize now I don't actually know whether they're actually going before the end of the season.

Some kind of cliff-hanger or intrigue.  For a show that inserts so much gratuitous drama, it seems silly to not have at least some questions unanswered by season's end.  In my opinion, this was the only thing wrong with the "Journey" episode, which of course was otherwise pretty much flawless.

A promise that Cheno will not be making her umpteenth appearance next season.  This is not the show for her, and if we look deep into our hearts we all know it.  Hear us, Ryan Murphy, I don't want to endure another April Rhodes variety hour, and I know I'm not the only one who feels that way.

Mercedes doing something other than hanging out in the background.  Ditto for Artie. 

Minimize the Sue.  Seriously.  I've said it before, and I'm sure my next review will find me saying it again.

From Me to You

"He who speaks loudest is not always right."  (author unknown, also I may have paraphrased a bit)

It is indescribable how much I wish I could pass this tidbit of wisdom on to many of the people I encounter every day.  I think we definitely all have a phase where we believe we know everything, and also that everyone else wants to hear our opinion stated as though it's fact.  I grew out of that phase eventually (although when confronted in an argument with someone who's still there it is tempting to revert), and I think that's because I was just slapped in the face by life telling me "Nope, actually Andrea, you're wrong.  And you're kind of a d-bag."  I think we all need someone to tell us that once in a while.


The most unfortunate thing about college is the phenomenon of kids who have gone their whole lives without the revelation of their douchiness.  In fact, some of them have been praised for their pretentious ways, and it's definitely gone to their heads.  So I guess I'm posting this to help them, as well as those of us who have to put up with them. 

"Nope, actually ____, you're wrong.  And you're kind of a d-bag."

You're welcome, and please, feel free to pass it on.

TV Review: HIMYM Returns Just in Time for Spring

How I Met Your Mother:  Spot on.  Again, no fireworks, but a great installment in the lead-up to sweeps.  I felt like each plot line moved the respective pair's story forward (and yes, I'm going to persist with my belief that we are getting these charming little Barney/Robin interactions for a reason), and that we got a bit of a preview of what's to come.  Ted and Zoey are headed for a rocky place and an eventual bust-up, and given the level of discord in their relationship now I think I'm okay with that (provided he has even better chemistry with the mother).  As for Marshal and Lily, I still think we'll get a pregnancy announcement out of them by the end of the season-- there's been so much discussion of them conceiving on purpose that I think an accidental baby when they're least expecting it would be a great twist.  Honestly, I was kind of expecting something of the sort last night following Lily's secret plan to go to Spain.  I'm glad she came back in the end, but I think keeping us a little more in suspense, even until just next week, might have been a better move.  Then again, the seeming completeness of this episode convinces me that the next few will be more intertwined, and those are always the episodes with the biggest payoffs.

Additionally, I am convinced, not only by my own hopes for it but also by the numerous articles I've read positing it, that the end of the season wedding reveal will in fact prove to be Mr. Barney Stinson.  I think there's been too much growth for his character this season for that not to be the place where he ends it.  As to who the bride will be I only have guesses (and hopes!), but I think this theory is even more supported by the fact that the producers have said that the reveal will involve a jump pretty far into the future.  That gives Barney ample time to travel down the path toward monogamy on which he already seems poised, not to mention time for him to meet and court the lucky lady (or to get back together with Robin and make it work!).  Ignoring my over-enthusiastic parentheses, I think there's a lot of grounding here for a great final string of episodes and a finale that people will be talking about into the summer.

Inspired

Last night I attended a benefit concert at my school, hosted by our A Capella group.  The show was great, in addition to being for a great cause.  What I love the most about opportunities like this-- opportunities which don't often occur for free outside of college life-- is getting to see people who are passionate about something performing their art, and doing so simply for pure love of what they do.

Apart from wanting to gush to everyone and anyone who would listen about how talented my peers are, it also left me inspired.  Seeing other people so open with their own art always reminds me how important mine is to me, and it motivates me to work harder. 

It can be really hard to make writing a priority, especially with everything going on (and even harder to justify making writing a priority), but moments like these remind me why I should.

Free to Move, but Where?

So my Plan A isn't going to work out.  The powers that be don't want me to Teach for America, which is understandable, since I am lacking in an Ive-league degree and a Type A personality (not bad-mouthing anyone, just a little exhausted by the fact that wanting to help in underprivileged schools as much as I do isn't enough).  But I'm sick of feeling sorry for myself.

Naturally, my thoughts have turned to what I might be doing next year instead.  I made the mistake (and worse, I knowingly made the mistake, even though I told myself I wouldn't) of not having a Plan B before admissions decisions went out.  This of course means that the job search is on.

Here's the thing about all this that is proving to be both a blessing and a curse:  on one hand, it means that I have options-- I can and am willing to relocate to pretty much any city and to do just about any job I'm qualified for.  On the other hand, I'm now stuck with the enormous task of weeding through my options and trying to find something that works.  Oh, and that has to be done in the next 8 weeks.

I could take a risk and move to New York.  The pro is of course that I'd be in the publishing capital of the world, not to mention there are lots of places to work and people to serve.  The downside, of course, is that any job I get would have to have a pretty significant salary for me to be able to afford a place to live.  Other cities I'm looking at include the Boston area and DC-- I'm feeling drawn to the East Coast, probably because I haven't lived there yet.  I'm also open to going back to Chicago, but I need to be able to do so independently (i.e. not winding up sleeping on my mother's couch). 

I could stay in the Northwest, but for everything that I love about living here, I feel like it's time to move on.  I get antsy being in one place for too long, and four years is longer than I thought I'd ever stay anywhere.  My soul gets restless, wanting to explore a million different places and all too conscious of the fact that I'll never have enough time to see them all.  It's time for me to move on; I feel like I've learned everything Seattle has to teach me, and it's time to break into a new place.

One of the frustrations that comes with all of this, though, is that in many ways I feel like I'm exactly where I was five years ago.  I didn't want to go to college; I just wanted to get a job that was enough to keep a roof over my head, and make writing my real priority.  And here at the end of my education I find myself still wanting to do exactly that.  I guess the jobs I'm eligible for are marginally better (though not by much, given that I'll have a BA in English/Creative Writing), but despite this I'm wondering what exactly I've just spend four years (not to mention thousands of dollars) on. 

The coming weeks will be filled to the bursting with me applying to jobs, searching for places to live, saving as much money as possible, and tying up loose ends.  I can't really explain just how terrifying it is to face that prospect, paralyzed with the fear that 8 weeks will come and go and I'll still find myself without a path, a next step.  All I can do right now is be overwhelmed by the simultaneously wonderful and daunting way in which the whole world seems open to me.

Book Review: If Harry Potter Ran General Electric, by Tom Morris

I just finished this book too, and I have to say, it had a lot more to it than I was expecting.  Despite the current irony of lauding General Electric (who allegedly failed to pay their taxes in 2010) as a model for other businesses, the associations Morris makes between principles of ethical leadership and the world of Harry Potter are actually quite insightful, and more importantly, accessible to today's budding leader. 

Morris takes a philosophical approach to the most common problems of leadership and outlines the first leg of his project using a comparison between Aristotle and Albus Dumbledore, illustrating how the latter lives out the virtue ethics of the former in his own leadership at Hogwarts School.  Dumbledore is an Aristotelian "good" person to his very core, and opening the book with this parallel serves the purpose of pulling the reader into a discussion of how the tenets of Aristotle's virtue can be applied to "real-world" scenarios involving the students of magic we all know and love. 

Most of the book's remainder is dedicated to showing the many ways Harry Potter is a successful leader among his magical peers.  We get a look at how Harry embodies and lives many of the virtues praised by the ancient philosophers as well as modern ethicists, and we also get to see instances where Harry breaks away in some manner from the traditional approach, as well as how each of those situations works out for him and his friends.

Harry is shown to be an aspiring leader with genuine potential, but also a young man who remains prone to the same mistakes we all make in our daily lives.  Morris commends him for his seemingly limitless courage in the face of peril (which only gets more impressive in the seventh installment, which was unpublished at the time of this book's release), but he also warns the reader of caution in those situations when they, like Harry, might be tempted to allow their emotions to rule and perhaps cloud their judgment.  Having two co-pilots in Ron and Hermione is perhaps Harry's greatest strength, because they each bring to the table those strengths which he lacks. 

Overall, Morris' book provides a manual for leaders (in any realm, not just the business world), as well as a fresh lens through which we can examine this beloved book series and the characters who populate its world.  I have recommended it to the staff I'll be training for next year (we'll see if they actually give it a chance), and I recommend it to anyone who's interested in the lessons they can learn from such a seemingly unexpected source.