Once Upon A Time - Season 3, Episode 1 'The Heart of the Truest Believer' [Review + Recap]

The season 3 premiere kicked off last night for Once Upon A Time and boy was it full of unusual laughs, twisted fairytale characters and a whole lot of water. The episode opened with a flashback of Emma (Jennifer Morrison) giving birth to Henry (Jared S. Gilmore) and rejecting the child claiming that she 'can't be a mother.' How heartbreaking. Fast forward to present day and the now very motherly Emma, Regina (Lana Parrilla), Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin), Prince Charming (Josh Dallas), Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) and Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) are aboard a ship bound for Neverland battling through choppy waters. 

And aboard this boat, the waters aren't the only thing that's not at ease. It's fair to say that everybody on the boat either wants to maim, seriously injure or kill a particular person aboard and no one's being a 'team-player.' Meanwhile, Greg and Tamara arrive with Henry in Neverland and surprise surprise, their attempt to communicate with 'home office' fails miserably, with batteries in their remote turning to sand. Oops. This signifies the all too imminent demise of the pair, who, after being challenged by Pan's men, end up dying rather dramatically. 

Greg has his shadow physically ripped out (erm, can somebody say ouch?) by Pan and Tamara is shot by an arrow, however her final demise happens later on. Back on board the ship and the team questions what awaits them, and Rumple suddenly emerges sporting his evening wear - I mean a whole lot of leather. Subsequently he announces he's leaving the ship to search for Henry. Before anybody can even think or react, the witty Mr.Gold twirls his cane and disappears (Magic, dearie!). 

Emma prepares for battle by doing a set of physical exercises but then abandons that when Hook comes in and gives her Baelfire/Neal's sword and then they take a shot of alcohol (because that's really going to solve everything). Meanwhile, Neal wakes up in the Enchanted Forest and is greeted/interrogated by Mulan, Aurora, and her beau, Prince Phillip. Neal reveals he knows Emma and that he is the father of Henry, and then Aurora announces she may be able to contact them through her weird dream state. Back on board the Jolly Roger, things have taken a turn for the worse. The ship is being attacked by a Shark, Whale, Kraken, nope - you've guessed it - Mermaids. 

The team managed to warn them off with cannons and fire but then Snow and Emma hoist a captured mermaid aboard the ship (with the help of Regina) and quicker than you know it, the angered mermaid has summoned a storm. Regina comes out with some of her classic funny lines and suggests they 'fillet the bitch', 

 
but instead, she just turns her into wood. But it's too late, and the damage is done - the storm is coming. Meanwhile, Henry has ran into the path of another 'lost-boy' who has also 'escaped' and they seek out a safe place to hide together. In the Enchanted Forest, Baelfire announces he is the son of Rumplestiltskin and he and Mulan go to his dad's old castle, only to find Robin Hood waltzing around the place. 

Back in Neverland, Tamara is still gasping for breath and currently alive when she crawls into the path of Rumplestiltskin. Bad move. Rumple seemingly repairs her wounds and gets information about where Henry is. So, all is well? Not likely, as Tamara asks the most stupid question ever 'can you forgive me?' and of course, knowing Rumple, the answer is probably no. Quicker than a flash we are proved right as he rips out Tamara's heart and squishes it until it is nothing more than dust. Harsh - sort of. 

Meanwhile in the Enchanted Forest Baelfire/Neal has found his father's old walking stick and with a couple of twists a magic door/cupboard appears. Back aboard the ship and the current storm has pushed the boat's occupants to boiling point and Snow bitch slaps Regina, who slaps her back and taunts her about how she wants to make everything better with 'rainbow kisses and unicorn stickers.' 

 
Meow! (although she is right). Then Hook and Charming get into it as well and Emma clocks onto the fact that the storm is caused by their anger and rivalvry and that in fact they are fuelling the storm. So, logically, Emma tries to break everyone up, but for some reason known only to Emma, the only way she can think to stop everyone fighting is to jump overboard (?!) and get hit by a flying piece of debris, causing her to subsequently start drowning. Suddenly the team of the failing Jolly Roger kick into action and send Charming overboard to rescue Emma with help from Hook and some rope. They manage to rescue her and she's not dead (of course, as it would mark the end of the series as opposed to the beginning) and all is well. 

At least for the crew aboard. Rumplestiltskin has managed to get on the Island and is greeted by a member of Pan's army and they discuss his relationship to Pan and how they will be enemies if Rumple goes after Henry. Rumple performs more (slightly ironic) hand gestures and plays around with his 'dearies' until the boy produces a small straw toy which reduces Rumple to tears. Hmmm, curiouser and curiouser. Meanwhile, Henry and his friend have found themselves on the edge of a cliff surrounded but use pixie dust to fly away. Seriously? In the Enchanted Forest Neal clocks onto Emma being in Neverland using a magical orb and Henry suddenly realises that his 'friend' is in fact, and has been all along - Peter Pan! Oh the shock and horror - oh wait, most of us had figured that out the moment he showed up, apart from Henry of course, who now finds himself trapped. Oh dear.

 
Highlights of the episode included Regina, Queen of sass, and her quips about everyone else, Neal's mention of how people in Storybrooke view them all as fairytale character and that there is a Mulan movie, (to which Mulan replies, 'what is a movie?') 

and Rumple just being good ol' Rumple. Overall, the episode was fairly good and exceeded my expectations and also gave the audience a lot of points to reflect upon. Do you think Team 'Good' and Team 'Evil' will ever get along? Do you agree with Regina when she quoted about 'Villains never getting happy-endings'? Do you think Hemma (Hook/Emma) will ever happen, or is Baelfire Emma's one twue (cough, Rumple) love?

Reviewed by Mel.

Downton Abbey - Series 4, Episode 2 [Review]

Downton Abbey series four has commenced, and with episode 2 continuing from Mary, who is no longer in mourning, things needed to take another turn for the dramatic. The unexpected arrived in the form of a long lost letter written from Matthew before he sadly died, which hints to Matthew's intention to leave Mary as the sole heir of his half of the estate. 

Oh the shock! Surprise, surprise, the Earl isn't exactly thrilled and thinks Mary not up to the task. Who will help poor Mary? Oh, that's right - Violet! The Dowager Countess is truly on form with her riveting conversation and sly remarks, as well as her general bemusement - 'and the live..livestock.' Violet enlists Tom to help Mary learn about the day-to-day running of the estate so she can be better prepared to handle it, and rival her fathers ideas. 

Meanwhile, bloody interferring Thomas has set his hand at recruiting a new sidekick (one that he no doubt can easily dispose of when their use runs out), Edna. The two 'team up' to make poor Anna look bad, but double act Anna and Bates know better and will no doubt use their skills to turn the tables on Thomas and Idiot #2 later on in the series. After all, we all remember what happens when people mess with Bates or Bates' beau.

Also going down in the latest episode are fist-fights - including one over new addition, Rose, who manages to get two guys up in arms over her at a tea-dance for servants. Like something out of a romance novel, Anna begrudgingly helps Rose attend the party and dress like 'normal folk' and then later helps her escape, AND then later helps her dress up as a house maid in order to see the guy who she was dancing with earlier, as he pays a visit to the house where she 'works at' later that evening.

God, Anna's helping everyone today. Speaking of helping others, Molesley is also in a spot of bother, having forced to become a labourman and in a lot of debt, good ol' Bates gets money from the Dowager Countess and acts like Molesley owes him a debt, and he is simply repaying it, in order to get the former valet and butler to actually take the help he desperately needs. 

Meanwhile, Edith and Michael Gregson are heating things up (as much as they possibly can, considering both of them are pretty much as dull as dishwater) 

and Carson reveals that he had his heartbroken by a lady named Alice, and with the help of Isobel, new arrival Griggs and Carson manage to patch things up over Alice, as Griggs reveals she always loved Carson. Yay, Carson! 

It is also eventually revealed at the end of the episode that the letter from Matthew stands, and Mary is owner of half of the estate and she's already contesting some of her father's plans (finally). Obviously, the Earl isn't exactly thrilled as he likes being in control of his affairs, but only time will tell if Mary can change things around or if the Earl will ruin things for the estate and family again. 

So, was last night's episode packed full of enough drama and possible storylines to attract and sustain your interest? Or did you give up the gun after Matthew's tragic death? (it was a bit of a big deal)

Reviewed by Mel.

Alan Carr: Chatty Man - Series 11, Episode 5 (100th anniversary special) [Review]

Alan Carr's Chatty Man 100th anniversary special had it all. Alan dressed in carnival gear aboard a 'float' attached to a golf cart, plenty of side-splitting laughs and high-profile guests including Rihanna and Justin Timberlake. Alan was truly on form, and his first interviewee was David Haye and Alan and Haye chatted about his upcoming fight, I'm a Celeb and boxing in general. The interview was fairly informative and funny, but the real laughs came when Rihanna, (followed by Justin Timberlake) came on. 

Rihanna waltzes on, and her and Alan instigate a back and forth banter throughout the entire interview, with Rihanna joking about why she came on the show, and Alan pulling his usual jokey 'peeved off' face. Rihanna talks at length about her sex-life in the show, claiming she has recently become a square and barely does anything. Alan talks about her carnival outfits and her new hairstyle, asking whether her weave ever bothers her. He then starts an analogy about the weave being similar to a rat and whether she wakes up in the middle of the night and tries to swat it. No word of a lie, I literally choked on my food at that point. Don't even ask why - it was just so hilarious at the time. Rihanna's interview with Alan is very friendly, relaxed and informal and you can tell they are both having a good time. After much laughter, Rihanna performs her new track 'What Now' and then after she finishes, Alan emerges from the side on a float in a revealing, bejewelled carnival outfit and Rihanna joins him on the float and they move and shake as the advert break rolls in.

If that wasn't enough for your funny bone, Justin Timberlake then rolls up and talks to Alan about how he's not as fit as he was and has to have more breaks and rehearsals than usual, when he performs. They chat about how Justin 'rides the wave of low expectations' and then act out a sort of informercial in the middle of Chatty Man. It was hilarious. For his special 100th anniversary episode, Alan had a bartender (whose name I think was Jay?) to serve up his drinks, which, obviously, were entitled ridiculous names on his 'menu' and Lambrini was the house special. Rihanna joked how she wasn't too pleased with the list and reeled off drinks that Jay did not have the ingredients to make (himself only having vodka, tomato sauce and Lambrini), which caused Alan to make several jokes about Jay's skills. 

Justin Timberlake performed 'Take Back the Night' to close the show, and got the whole audience out of their seats and dancing and clapping along. This particular episode of Chatty Man was one of the best yet, and Alan has certainly had a lot of popular guests on recently such as Miley Cyrus, Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx, whose 'interviews' were also ridiculously funny. Alan has the ability to make even the most boring guests or interviewees seem funny and engages well with his house audience and viewers watching. Overall, a thoroughly good show marks the 100th anniversary episode as one of Alan's best. Hopefully 100 more to come. 

Reviewed by Mel. 

Thor: The Dark World (2013) - New Posters!

With the imminent release of Thor: The Dark World (2013), new full-length posters have been released for the film, and they are looking pretty spectacular. Thor: The Dark World (as we've mentioned numerous times) centers around Thor's struggle to defend Asgard from Malekith, as he is forced to recruit his shamed adopted brother Loki, to help. As you can see, the poster above is Malekith and his army, and below are a selection of (both new and old) posters for the film, including new ones of Idris Elba as Heimdall and Jaimie Alexander as Sif.

Idris Elba looking staturesque as Heimdall, the omniscient asgardian who monitors the Bifrost Bridge.

Thor's trusty child-hood friend, Sif, portrayed by Jaimie Alexander, in the heat of battle as an Asgardian warrior, looking pretty bad-ass.

Jane Foster, Thor's love interest, as portrayed by Natalie Portman, who's looking pretty mysterious in her new character poster. 

The very creepy, grey-skinned Malekith, (Christopher Eccleston) holding his Phantom of the Opera-esque mask. He looks like he fell in concrete. Make of that what you will.

Thor's father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins) gets 'attacked' by a sea of Ravens in his poster. Seriously, some of these are hilarious. (UK poster)

Thor's mischevious and misunderstood brother, Loki, (portrayed by the formidable Tom Hiddleston) in one (of many) of his character posters, looking typically bad-ass as he stands outside his broken 'prison.' (So much more interesting than Thor) (This particular poster is for America, hence the release date)

And here's the God of Thunder himself, Thor, (Chris Hemsworth) crashing in on all the action in his American poster. So, there's all the posters in our collection and which one is your favourite? Below is the trailer for Thor: The Dark World, set for UK release on the 30th of October and the 8th of November in the United States.

Reviewed by Mel.

The Killers - Shot At The Night (Official Music Video) [+ Review]

American Rock band The Killers have released the deeply scenic and entertaining music video (scroll down to watch) for their new track 'Shot At The Night' and it's filled to the brim with beautiful Brandon Flowers and picturesque images of Las Vegas. Being a notable fan of The Killers since way back when to the days of 'Mr Brightside', 'Smile Like You Mean It' and 'Somebody Told Me,' I was eagerly anticipating some of their newer creations and 'Shot At The Night' doesn't disappoint. 

Featuring very killer-esque vocals from Flowers; the video centres around a very bored maid at a Hotel who wishes for something more, and luckily, she gets the opportunity to whisk around Vegas with a new man she's met. The track has a type of 80's synth-pop feel and Flowers projects the lyrics 'Give me a shot at the night/ Give me a moment, some kinda mysterious' wonderfully, with the majestic tone of his voice able to carry the song well. 

As previously mentioned, the video features a maid who goes on a night-time journey with a male companion as Flowers sings enthusiastically from a building above the Las Vegas strip.

The maid continues her duties: lazing about in her room, doing housework and tending to the guest's rooms. She drives along the strip once again to a hotel to do her work, and longingly gazes out of her car window at all the wondrous sights around her. She then almost runs over a guy in a blue suit who is out with his friends. Laughing it off, they depart, as does she and she arrives at the hotel and continues to wash windows and the like.

She pulls her housekeeping trolley up past some bedrooms and low and behold, out pops the guy in the blue suit who beckons her into his room with his group of friends, whilst a female friend helps her pick out an outfit to wear while himself and his male friend wait. All dressed and ready to go, off they pop to explore the world. Well, Vegas, at least. 

They ride on his scooter past all the sights and they joke and fool around together on the streets. Blue suit then shows off his lacklustre robot dance moves and they go to a casino to play which culminates in dancing in the street. It's all a very care-free affair, which is what the song is trying to get at and it suits it perfectly. 'Shot At The Night' is a new single taken from the upcoming compilation album Direct Hits, featuring the bands 'greatest hits,' which is due for release on the 11th of November, later this year. So, is the new track a hit for you? 

Reviewed by Mel. 

Elementary - Season 2, Episode 1 'Step Nine' [Review + Recap]

So Johnny Lee Miller and Lucy Lui are back for the second season of Elementary, portraying Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson and this episode was packed full of drama and explosive consequences. The episode opened with a seeminlgy crazed mad-man threatening to blow up a funeral with a grenade (you can't really get any weirder). We are then transported from the scene to Sherlock sitting down on a bench infront of a fountain watching pigeons. 

Watson soon arrives and questions Sherlock about his motives and he reveals a long-winded analogy about following a carrier pigeon and then proceeds to run after a man, which Joan also pursues. After the man gives Sherlock the slip, Joan uses her new-found defensive skills to immobilise him, much to Sherlock's amusement. It's nice to see Joan taking the reigns in these new situations and reiterating that she's perfectly capable of taking care of herself (and subdueing criminals). Sherlock then receives a call from the Scotland Yard who inform him that the man who we saw in the beginning (with the grenade) is his old partner Lestrade, who believed the man at the funeral - Lawrence - killed his wife, Mary, and has escaped justice, but he can't prove it.

After much clever deduction, Sherlock and Watson manage to help Lestrade and figure out that Lawrence shot Mary with a gun made with a 3D printer, which he then disolved in Acetone and placed in his fridge to look like milk (literally, what the hell). This episode was orchestrated in true Elementary fashion and featured several amusing moments of which I will detail below. This episode was thoroughly enjoyable on the whole, and there are never moments of boredom or distraction when I watch Elementary, so here's hoping that continues. It was pleasant to see Holmes and Watson in a new environment in London, and the introduction of Sherlock's brother Mycroft, was a pleasing revelation and the casting was well-advised. Mycroft (or a.k.a fatty to Sherlock) offered up some amusing brotherly rivalvry with Sherlock, as it was revealed that Sherlock had an affair of sorts with Mycroft's fiancee.

Then to top it all of, Mycroft blows up Sherlock's remaining stored items in a cheeky and sort of touching display signifying resolution for the two brothers. 

The scene in which Sherlock holds up signs to security camera's to get the attention of some mysterious person who can help them with the names of people who bought 3D printers was also hilarious and entertaining, as was the whole fiasco with the plastic gun. Overall, it was a firm start to a new season and if all the episodes turn out this well, then we should be in for quite a promising ride. So, did you enjoy the scenes with Mycroft Holmes? And did anyone else enjoy the bit where Sherlock stated that Joan would be sleeping with Mycroft as a surrogate for himself? - literally hilarious.

Reviewed by Mel.

Criminal Minds - Season 9, Episode 1 'The Inspiration' [Review + Recap]

Criminal Minds is back and we're in the Ninth Season, and we're kickstarting everyone with episode 1 'The Inspiration' which revolves around some crazy psychotic (MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT) twins! Oh the shock and horror. Yes, this episode concluded with it being announced than the cannibalistic, prey-mantis obsessed, woman-hating unsub is in fact two 'unsubs' - twins. And it appears the BAU have arrested the wrong one. It hasn't been revealed as to whether they committed their attacks in unison but there's still one walking around out there and if you have no idea what I'm talking about then it's probably best you stop reading now and go and watch the episode. No, really. 

The basic recap of the episode is as follows: good ol' Aaron Hotchner (following on from the death of Strauss) has been approached to be the new BAU section chief but Reid has his scepticism and fears Hotch will be unhappy with the desk job. JJ tries to re-assure Reid that the job would mean Hotch could spend more time with his son (after the death of Hotch's wife many seasons ago) and this would mean a lot to Hotch, even if he had to give up a job he loves. 

However, we all seem to know Hotch better than anyone else, and I very much doubt he'll be becoming the new section chief and leaving the team to fend for themselves. Also in the ep was the new 'unsub' who attacks, rapes and force feeds pieces of his dead ex-girlfriend's head to his victims and then shoots them through the heart. Christ, where do the writers come up with this stuff? After much pondering about the significance Reid successfully manages to deduce that the unsub has an unheatlhy attachment to the preying mantis and is mimicking it's behaviour by doing these things. The team also manage to DNA match the bits of old ex-girlfriend as a girl named Heather, who had harrassment issues from an ex-boyfriend in school named Wallace. 

They hunt Wallace down and break the news to his mother when she comes home to find them having broken down the door to her home. 'Wallace' then proceeds to go to work and force feed more bits of the old ex-girlfriend to unsuspecting patrons of the restaurant and hold them at gunpoint. Wallace has a psychotic trip when the 'ghost' of Heather keeps nagging at him in his head and shoots a security guard and flees (thankfully no one other than the security guard was injured). 

 
He is then later arrested by JJ and Morgan and Reid congratulates them on a job well done. However, on the flight back, Hotch gets a phonecall from the people fingerprinting Wallace and it is revealed that the fingerprints do not match those found in the restaurant, and we are transported to a convenience store where Wallace #2 is buying goods. Twin #2 then sees 'Wallace' has been arrested and flees the store with haste. (In the next episode it turns out that 'Wallace' isn't Wallace at all, but a guy called Jesse, and in fact Wallace is still at large - so Wallace = supposedly bad, Jesse = supposedly innocent.) So, with the 200th episode coming up, what surprises do you think are in store for viewers this season? Hopefully more on Garcia and JJ please! Do you think they will capture Twin #2 before he exacts his revenge on even more people? Will Reid ever stick with one hairstyle? Will Hotch become the new section chief (not likely if you ask us, but we can still discuss)? 

Reviewed by Mel. 

The Big Bang Theory - Season 7, Episode 2 'The Deception Verification' [Review + Recap]

This is all about the second episode in the special two-episode premiere of Season 7 of The Big Bang Theory. If you're looking for a recap/review of episode 1 then click the link below:
http://scenesisters.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/the-big-bang-theory-season-7-episode-1.html

The episode opens with Sheldon and Penny coming back from the grocery store and the two discuss Leonard's imminent arrival, and how this well affect their bonding time together. Penny arrives in her apartment to discover Leonard waiting for her as the two embrace and Leonard reveals he has arrived earlier (unbeknownst to Sheldon) so he can spend a couple of days with Penny alone (surprise surprise). Sheldon, Howard and Raj visit the comic book store as Sheldon wants to buy a coming-home present for Leonard. Stuart uses this opportunity to hawk overpriced goods to Sheldon such as a water gun and a figure of aqua man. 

Meanwhile in the store, Howard complains that he is feeling bloated and Raj tries to comfort him. Later on, back in Penny's apartment, Leonard and Penny are looking through Leonard's photo's from his trip when Sheldon appears with Chinese while Leonard is in the bathroom. Penny tries to hurry him away, but Sheldon notices that it looks like Penny has company, but she denies it. 

Meanwhile, Howard comes home to Bernadette (who has made brownies) and complains that he is bloated and is gaining weight and acts generally moody. Bernadette is curious and when Howard mentions about rubbing cream into his mum's back, it is revealed that Howard has been absorbing estrogen from the cream into his skin (by not wearing gloves) and this is why he has been acting so strangely. Bernadette tries her best to comfort Howard with sex, but he is repulsed by the idea saying (rather ironically) that 'it's her solution to everything.' Oh, Howard. Bernadette's face is literally priceless at this point.  

In Sheldon's apartment, Amy is trying to get Sheldon to play her made up word game, but his mind is elsewhere. Amy asks Sheldon what is wrong and he explains how he thinks Penny may be cheating on Leonard, citing that takeaway rubbish was actually put in her trash can, and reluctantly, Amy agrees with Sheldon's theory. 

The two then hurry over to Penny's apartment and lean against her door, trying to hear for noises or voices. Amy remarks that she hears someone who sounds like Leonard, and Sheldon dismisses this notion, until they unlock the door and find Leonard and Penny sitting on the sofa together. Sheldon is visibly upset, but when Penny exclaims that he should have knocked first, Amy and Sheldon then go back through the doorway and close the door, knocking again. Amy and Sheldon's face when they are leaning against the door is ridiculously funny; Amy and Sheldon look so determined and eager to discover Penny's infedelities.

Leonard tries to cheer Sheldon up by giving him a sailor hat he wanted from the trip, and Amy and Penny exclaim how great he looks in it, but despite this, Sheldon is still not pleased. Back at Bernadette's place, Howard and Raj are deliberating whether theyve gained weight or not. This is probably the funniest event in the entire episode as Raj and Howard then proceed to jiggle and shimmy with their tops off to decide if they have grown larger breasts. Then Raj touches Howard's breasts and they both try and figure out if they feel any bigger. Meanwhile, Bernadette has been standing in the hallway the whole time and eventually get's so tired of their drawn-out display that she returns back to one of the back rooms. I guess Howard and Raj really are breast friends. (cue awful series of puns) Anyhow, Leonard and Sheldon eventually repair their friendship after Sheldon has trouble getting around and performing his usual duties (calling on the help of Amy). Sheldon runs into Penny in the hallway and they patch up their friendship, after Sheldon reminisces about the fact he let Penny use his store clubcard to buy feminine hygiene products.

The main reason for Sheldon's change of heart, is, when in the cafeteria, Howard essentially breaks down over Leonard and Sheldon's feud, causing Sheldon and Leonard to rebuild the bridge of their friendship. Over dinner later that evening, Sheldon recalls all the fun things he and Leonard have done together today, such as visit the dentist, the barber and the Los Angeles Bureau of Weights and Measures (Sheldon must have been in Heaven). 

The scene ends with Sheldon giving penny a coupon for vagisil, which Penny then passes onto Howard after he gets emotional. Overall, there was certainly more for fans to get their teeth into in this episode with classic lines from Sheldon and plenty of Raj/Howard drama to laugh endlessly about. Poor Bernadette for having to put up with all of this. So, the next episode faces around a Scavenger hunt that Raj has organised, who's hoping to see Sheldon don some sort of intense Scavenger gear and take everything very seriously? 

Reviewed by Mel.