Posts filed under 'will pfeifer'
March 17th, 2010
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After a rocky start to the final season of Lost, we’re up to at least three great episodes in a row after with last night’s Sawyer-centric eighth episode, titled “Recon.”
***SPOILER ALERT!!!***
Gotta warn you up front: The podcast is full of theories about the series ending this week. It’s only natural as the season winds down, especially as the show shifts from posing questions to answering answers. Apologies all around.
We see Sawyer experience life as a good guy in his alternative timeline as he plays a buddy cop with Miles. There’s a lot of nice allusions to early episode’s in the series, as well as some nice cameos and details (like Charlie’s brother dropping by the police station to pick up his brother). After years of seeing Sawyer use his money-in-a-suitcase con, I don’t think many people thought Sawyer was actually a police officer until the moment he gave the codeword. There’s been some great writing this season.
On the island, Sawyer plays both unLocke and Charles Whidmore against one another as part of his plan to get off the island. UnLocke was very forthright this week, but Whidmore gave us more of the same (”Oh, how little you actually know” he tells Sawyer).
I’m not all that convinced unLocke is a bad guy. My fellow podcasters don’t agree, but I wonder what our listeners think? Here’s some other questions we’d love to hear feedback on:
- What’s in the submarine’s locked room?
- What is Charles Whidmore’s plan?
- Are the writers REALLY trying to milk the Jack-Kate-Sawyer love triangle some more?
- What’s up with unLocke’s mommy issues?
And my favorite line of this week’s podcast? “They should call this show ‘pile of dead bodies.’”
March 10th, 2010
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A lot of fun this week with the Ben-centric episode titled, “Dr. Linus.”
***SPOILER ALERT!!!***
This is Ben’s redemption episode, which I may or may not fully support quite yet. I can’t decide if I’m ready to let him off the hook for his mass genocide earlier in the show’s lifespan (which probably tells you exactly how far off my moral compass is).
After “The Substitute” a few weeks ago, the Internet clamored to see more Alt-Ben and Alt-Locke as high school teachers. Last night didn’t disappoint, introducing us to Ben’s world as an overqualified, under-appreciated history buff.
He tutors his pseudo-daughter Alex. He blackmails his boss. And he ultimately decides to give up a shot at power for the benefit of Alex, a decision he clearly regrets not making in season five.
On the island, Jack and Hurley meet up with Richard Alpert, who tells them that he wants to die. Pretty shocking to hear from a character who always seems to have things under control. Jack correctly assumes the island isn’t about to let any of them off the hook very easily and leads the three of them back to Ilana’s group.
Miles gets Nikki and Paulo’s diamonds. Artz doesn’t get his parking spot. And Charles Widmore makes a spooky appearance in his CGI sub at the very end of the episode.
I got the sense that Soprych and the Movie Man enjoyed this episode. What did everyone else think??
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Also:
Here’s the link to the Lost Encyclopedia that Will mentions in the podcast. The book is scheduled for release this August.
March 3rd, 2010
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More good than bad this week in the Sayid-centric episode “Sundown.”
***SPOILER ALERT!!!***
The good:
Sayid getting a full episode to remind us how conflicted he is. At the end of the podcast, we all agree that as far as torturers go, Sayid is a good guy. But he’s still a torturer. There isn’t a character on the show who is as existentially aware as Sayid. It’s sad, and fascinating.
Ending the “Others” plot. The final season isn’t the time for new characters and new developments. Get the plot moving with our old characters and let us know what’s going to happen to them. None of us had a strong answer for the point of this season’s others.0
Ben trying to evacuate Sayid. The look Ben gives Sayid before bailing was priceless. Really looking forward to next week’s Ben episode.
THE BAD:
Claire’s acting. She’s just not believable as a lunatic.
Losing Sayid to the darkside. It’s just too bad.
Chris said he was reminded a little bit of Anakin Skywalker going bonkers at the end of Revenge of the Sith, minus the complete lack of believability. We even hear Sayid calmly tell Dogan that he’s a good guy inside.
I think Chris is dead on here. Smokey-Locke promising Sayid that he could bring back Nadia is very reminiscent of the Emperor promising to save Padme. And Sayid stabbing Dogan and Lennon isn’t all that different to Anakin betraying the Jedi.
For a show that’s referenced Star Wars about a dozen times, I don’t think this analogy is a reach whatsoever.
Enjoy the podcast, and e-mail us at podcast [@ symbol] rrstar.com if you have any questions or comments. We always love hearing what other people think about our favorite show.
February 24th, 2010
The Movie Man is back from the flu (or something) this week, just in time to tell us what he really thinks about Jack.
***SPOILER ALERT!!!***
Three running plots in this week’s episode, titled “Lighthouse.”
In the alternative timeline, we get a glimpse into alt-Jack’s life, where he’s got a talented son named David and an ex-wife whose name isn’t offered. Lots of nice, subtle details here, such as the “Welcome candidates” sign outside of David’s audition hall. Plus we get to wonder who Jack’s ex-wife is, especially since David looks so much like Kate.
Any thoughts?
Back on the island, Jack and Hurley take a Jacob-inspired trip to a hidden lighthouse. There’s a nice moment when the two discuss their reasons for returning to the island. And there’s the third plot involving Claire, who apparently now is a psychotic crazy.
Click play above to hear our thoughts, and comment below to share yours. We’d love to get a reader/listener on the podcast to talk about an episode before the season ends.
February 10th, 2010
Apologies to Kate for not remembering the title of her episode this week.
Click on the link about to hear Will Pfeifer, Chris Soprych and I recap what we unanimously agree to be a weak early episode for season six of Lost. “What Kate Does,” a parallel to a season two episode called, “What Kate Did,” didn’t quite live up to the standards we expect from the show each week.
I think it’s mostly a problem with the characters featured in this episode, Kate and Claire. Kate has waffled so often picking between Jack and Sawyer that I believe the audience legitimately doesn’t care who she ends up with any longer. And Claire just hasn’t been around much lately, so we’re not compelled to worry about her the way we do with the major characters.
Not to mention the extremely unbelievability of Claire inviting Kate to drive her around town after accosting the taxi driver with a gun. Groan.
Sayid’s torture was compelling, although it opened a whole bunch of new questions we’re likely going to have to wait awhile to get answers to. And we get a reappearance from Aldo (Rob McElhenney, the character Mac from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), who Kate whacks for a second time in the series’ history.
Looking forward to next week’s episode, curiously titled “The Substitute.”
February 3rd, 2010
Welcome back to the Register Star Podcast. We missed you! Chris Soprych, the Movie Man Will Pfiefer and I are all happy to be back to recap the final season of Lost.
***SPOILER ALERTS!!!***
The season premiere (titled “LAX” “LA X”) was a blast, so to speak, picking up moments after Juliet detonates the atomic bomb in the season five finale. The cast is back on Oceanic 815 before the plane goes down, just as Faraday said they would be. Jack and Locke are agreeable. Charlie, Boone and the other killed-off characters are still alive. And we get to see the island sitting at the bottom of the ocean.
Weird.
Not everything is as it seems, however. There’s a second post-detonation timeline going, one where the cast is still stuck on the island in the wake of Jacob’s death
We’re looking for a reader to be a local expert on the final season of the show. We’d like to have that expert be part of at least one podcast. If you’re interested, send an e-mail to podcast@rrstar.com or lglowinski@rrstar.com
November 10th, 2009
Mad Men season three final recap [20:30m]:
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And just like that, season three of Mad Men is in the books.
After last week’s slightly disappointing episode, it’s safe to say the season three finale (”Shut the door. Have a seat.”) blew the podcast away. As the Movie Man says on the recording, Mad Men is typically a show about subtleties. That’s not the case this week, with the end of both the Draper marriage and Sterling Cooper.
That’s all I’m going to say in the text. You’ll have to listen to the podcast for the rest. But as Will says, this episode might have been the most satisfying season finale he’s ever seen.
November 2nd, 2009
Standard Podcast [28:11m]:
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A bit of a disappointing episode this week (titled “The Grown-Ups”) by Man Men standards as we answer the question: “Where were you when Kennedy was shot?”
We see Harry and Pete were discussing Pete’s future with Sterling Cooper (more on that later) when the news broke, which makes sense because Harry’s job requires a television at all times. Duck was in a hotel room waiting for Peggy to show up for a mid-afternoon hook-up. Don was arguing with Mr. Pryce about hiring an expensive replacement for Sal (who Don brutally fired a few episode’s before).
Every other character was busy leading their daily life. Especially Roger, whose daughter’s wedding wasn’t going to stopped for anything.
I don’t think anyone on the podcast thought this was a bad episode. It’s just a bit of a letdown after such a terrific show the previous week. “The Grown-Ups” had some nice touches, such as every ringing phone in Sterling Cooper shutting down in unison once the lines overloaded. And Jane’s line about never getting to vote for the handsome Kennedy was especially spot-on (the voting age was 21 at the time - Jane still was only 20).
But the Kennedy assassination has been covered to death and it’s not all that interesting to spend 30 minutes watching characters watch their televisions. Once news of the assassination broke, it was tough to find a character doing anything else.
In the previous two seasons of Mad Men, the finales were a bit of a let down after stunning set-ups the week before. Maybe we’ll get the opposite this year, especially with Betty’s telling Don she no longer loves him at the end of this episode. We see Roger get a little fed up with his bratty bride, calling Joan for solace at the end of the stressful wedding. And we have Pete and Trudy deciding it would be best for Pete to work for Duck.
As always, you can e-mail the show at podcast@rrstar.com or just comment on any of these posts.
*Production note
We use a two microphone system for these podcasts. Unfortunately, we had a connection problem with the microphone nearest to me and didn’t realize until the recording was over. As a result, my volume level is significantly lower than the Will and Sean. I’ll have this corrected in time for the finale.
October 26th, 2009
Register Star Podcast: Mad Men Episode 11 recap [23:01m]:
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After Betty unlocked Don’s secret desk drawer last week, Mad Men fans were bracing for the worst. How could this possibly end well?
Somehow, Betty defies all expectations and plays the situation perfectly. She consults a lawyer. She arrives home early to get the jump on Don. And she confronts him so tactfully that he has no choice but to spill the beans about everything. And I mean everything.
All the while, Don’s mistress patiently waits outside in the car for her weekend getaway. Betty doesn’t know she’s there. Don does, but he appears to completely forget.
I can tell you without any hesitation that not a single viewer forgot about her for one minute. After three seasons of watching, it’s safe to say last night’s episode was my favorite of the series. I was on the edge of my seat most of the time. What do you think?
Highlights from the episode:
- Score two great episodes in a row for Roger. He had the opportunity to cheat on his bride and handled himself with dignity and class. If only Jane could’ve watched last week’s episode, as I suspect something major is going to down between her and Roger before the season ends.
- Joan whacks her rapist husband over the head with a vase. So he buys her flowers and tells her he’s going to buy her a new vase to replace it. Amazing.
- Still no sign of Sal, though AMC has a sneak peak on their Web site that hints at a possible Sal replacement.
Only two episodes left!
October 19th, 2009
Register Star Podcast: Mad Men Episode 10 recap [21:19m]:
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Lots to talk after this week’s episode of Mad Men, titled, “The Color Blue.”
After three seasons of wondering, Betty finally unlocks Don’s secret desk drawer. Inside are relic’s of his previous life, including the divorce certificate he needed from the previous Don Draper’s marriage in order to marry Betty the model all those years ago. Betty has all the pieces of Don’s double life right there in her hands, but she clearly doesn’t quite understand what it all means.
That being said, she is furious. She reacts with immediate (and lasting) anger and means to confront Don whenever he decides to come home later that night. Unfortunately for Betty, his affair with Sally’s former teacher means he doesn’t come home at all. She instead puts everything back as it was, leaving lots of setup for what’s sure to be a spectacular final three episodes of the season.
Elsewhere:
- We learn that Sterling Cooper is suddenly for sale on the eve of their 40th birthday, to the dismay of Mr. Pryce and the dismay of Mrs. Pryce
- At celebration party, we see just how polished Roger Sterling can be
- Kinsey realizes that there’s a lot he could learn from Peggy
- And poor Joan and Sal are no where to be seen
We’ll do the podcast right through the end of the season. All comments and e-mails (podcast@rrstar.com) are appreciated!
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