Show: Eureka (Sci Fi)
Episode: “Bad to the Drone” - Season Premiere (Season 3)
Premiere Date: Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
Rating: 3.5 out of 4 Stars

Quick Synopsis: Attack of the drones.

Long Synopsis: Zoe takes a part-time job at Café Diem leaving her father to worry about her growing up. Henry is in jail awaiting trial. Allison answers Nathan’s proposal. Zane, Fargo and Larry putting together a test of the latest anti-missile defense system, but the Department of Defense has sent in a ruthless corporate fixer, to conduct a review of Global Dynamics. The test doesn’t go well when one of the attack drones goes rogue and endangers the town. Carter finds that the drone is a learning computer and is learning at an astonishing rate. Carter sets out to fix yet another problem created by the brilliant people of Eureka.

Review: Eureka makes its return tonight with a great episode. It has just about everything you could want and both fans and newcomers should be able to enjoy it. I can’t wait to see it again, but this time with the full special effects and not the temp ones in the screener I watched last night.

The show opens by catching you up a little, but many times during the show things are explained enough to help new viewers jump on board and enjoy the fun.

The main plot revolves around the sheriff trying to track down the attack drone and save the town. This results in many of the show’s trademark comedic moments. It also results in the customary solving of the problem by the one guy that is not one of the town’s geniuses.

The other story is that of a new head of Global Dynamics being sent in to “fix” the Global Dynamics. The new head is played by guest star Francis Fisher (In the Valley of Elah), who makes a great addition as “The Fixer.” She is a ruthless corporate type that is there to get the place earning its own keep, but that may not be her only reason.

The third season of Eureka premieres tonight on Sci Fi and is well worth checking out. The show is just a whole lot of fun.

Check out some photos from the episode below. (more…)

Show: The Closer (TNT)
Episode: “Controlled Burn” - Season Premiere (Season 4)
Premiere Date: Monday, July 14th, 2008
Rating: 3.5 out of 4 Stars

Quick Synopsis: LA’s burning and Brenda’s fuming.

Long Synopsis: Los Angeles, Glendale, Burbank and San Mateo are being threatened by a huge fire at Griffith Park. Four people have been found dead and the fire department trying to keep it from spreading, the Priority Homicide Division is on the case. A previous foe that the team was unable to put away returns and becomes a prime suspect. On top of that, the team has been saddled with a reporter to try and improve the department’s image. Also, things haven’t exactly worked out on the home buying front and the new temporary place doesn’t allow pets.

Review: The Closer returns with an episode that has everything you could want. It has its trademark humor and awkward situations, a great guest star and a new obstacle in Brenda’s way to solving the case.

Kyra Sedgwick continues her brilliant turn as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson. She has some really great scenes. Whether it be her reaction to the fire, her conversation with Fritz about getting a toilet in their place fixed, or matching wits with Jason O’Mara’s (In Justice, The Agency) Bill Croelick. He appeared previously on season one of The Closer in “Fatal Retraction” and has been seen most recently on Grey’s Anatomy and Men in Trees and will be in ABC’s upcoming Life on Mars this fall. The back and forth between the two is exciting and is the reason I love watching TV.

The Closer premieres tonight, July 14th on TNT before the second season premiere of Saving Grace. As always, it is most definitely worth watching. It’s more than just a great summer show. It’s consistently one of the best shows on TV right now. If you need a season three refresher, then check out this rapid recap video. For more on tonight’s episode, view some photos, video clips and an interview with star Kyra Sedgwick.

Show: Saving Grace (TNT)
Episode: “Have a Seat Earl” - Season Premiere (Season 2)
Premiere Date: Monday, July 14th, 2008
Rating: 3.5 out of 4 Stars

Quick Synopsis: Grace, chase, case at a rapid pace.

Long Synopsis: Grace is meeting Rhetta for coffee on a day off and spots a lowlife about to do something and a chase ensues. The perpetrator turns out to be on the FBI’s Most Wanted List. Her fellow detectives treat her like a hero. Yet, they don’t know what she has been doing on her time off, which involves a shocking secret involving the priest who molested her as a child.

Review: Saving Grace is a great show and this might just be its best episode yet. Last season could be hit or miss, but it all leads up to this episode, so it was worth it.

Holly Hunter is spectacular, as she rides quite the emotional rollercoaster as Det. Grace Hanadarko. The amount of energy she has to expend in this episode is remarkable. From the opening that really shows off how good she is at being a cop to her dealing with going public with being abused as a child and everything in-between, is something to watch.

There is so much that happens in this episode, which leads to the only minor quibble about the episode. It seems to fly right by, as things move at a revved up pace. It could have easily been extended without losing anything. You barely get a chance to breathe, before there is another twist or emotional punch to the gut.

Saving Grace premieres tonight, July 14th on TNT after the fourth season premiere of The Closer. It is well worth watching. If you need a season one refresher, then check out this rapid recap video. For more on tonight’s episode, view some photos and some video clips.

Show: Stargate Atlantis (Sci Fi)
Episode: “Search and Rescue” - Season Premiere (Season 5)
Premiere Date: Friday, July 11th, 2008
Rating: 2.5 out of 4 stars

Quick Synopsis: A whole lot of rescuing going on.

Long Synopsis: Sheppard is injured and trapped with Ronon under the rubble of Michael’s booby trapped compound. In another location underneath the ruble is McKay and Lorne. McKay finds some old computer equipment and finds that Michael has probably been notified by a subspace burst.

Michael gets the message and turns his Wraith Cruiser around and heads back to the compound. A pregnant Teyla is still being held captive on board and wants Kanann, the father of her baby, to help her escape.

Carter leads a rescue and recovery mission to the compound. The team gets to McKay and Lorne, but don’t have time to find Ronon and the severely injured Sheppard before Michael and his hybrids arrive on the scene. When the Daedalus, which was already enroute, finally shows up, a risky plan is put into action to get Teyla off the Wraith ship.

Review: Stargate Atlantis is one of those shows that I enjoy watching, but don’t always watch. I’ve just never gotten fully invested in the Stargate Universe since the first few seasons of SG-1. But it makes for some good Friday night viewing, especially during the summer months. I usually end up watching a handful of episodes a season.

For you big fans of the show, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this first episode. It has a good bit of action and the requisite humor. I mean, how can you go wrong with lots of space battles and rescue missions.

The ending is abrupt though, with Colonel Carter heading back to Earth for review by the IOA and then finding out that she is going to be replaced by Woolsey, played by Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager). How things move forward with a new, more by-the-book, leader should be interesting.

Check out some photos from the episode below. (more…)