What's In My Queue?- Week 5

This week featured binge marathons for Marvel and Ashton Kutcher. Those types of things don't go hand in hand, but I decided to roll with it.


Daredevil- Season 2:

HOLY BALLS!!!! I thought the first season of Daredevil was amazing, but this is beautiful. The first season felt like a slow burn to get into, but this season started off really aggressive and made it very easy to binge. All the characters were given natural progression with their story arcs, and we had a few new characters thrown into the mix. I wasn't too big on Elektra's story arc, to be perfectly honest, but she's only part of the overall story. The new character that really steals the season is The Punisher, played expertly by Jon Bernthal. He was so brutal and so compelling that I was really happy when they announced he'd be getting his own spinoff earlier this week. This Marvel Television Universe they're creating for Netflix is really doing well and I can't wait to see where they take it from here.

The Ranch- Part 1:

Curiosity's sake got the better of me with this one. I liked Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson when they were on That '70s Show, so seeing them together on another show had me intrigued. It won't be everyone's type of show, but it works well enough for me when I'm in the mood to watch it. Two things work for me on the show. The first is the type of comedy it's going with. They use a ranch environment, but what keeps the setting fresh is jokes that are filled with modern references and a much stronger adult sense of humor than I was expecting. The other thing that really works is the family dynamic between Kutcher and Masterson's characters and their father, played by Sam Elliot. These guys bicker phenomenally. Kutcher and Masterson just feels natural, given their history on That '70s Show, so I was really impressed with how well Elliot fit into the dynamic. You see them interact and you really see a dysfunctional family that loves each other deep down. The chemistry works really well between the main actors and that's what keeps me coming back for more. I hope this show is a success for Netflix, as I would love to see more episodes churned out to turn Part 1 into Season 1, and then maybe another season or two to see what kind of traction The Ranch can get.

That '70s Show- Season 1:

It was most likely seeing Kutcher and Masterson on The Ranch earlier this week, but I really felt the need to start watching That '70s Show again. I didn't grow up in the '70s, so sometimes it takes me a moment to process the jokes but that isn't the important element of the show to me. I don't care about the '70s references. What made me fall in love with the show was how incredible the cast was. I have a lot of favorite characters in this show and I love to see most of them grow over the course of 8 seasons. I only had time this week to watch the first season, but this is another of my favorite sitcoms that will definitely be getting a full show retrospective once I get to the show's final season. That may take a while, since a lot of these shows are stacking up and people can only have so much time in the week to watch stuff and do other things, but I know I'll be having a good time getting through it all.


Daredevil and images are copyrighted by NBCUniversal Television Distribution

The Ranch and images are copyrighted by Fox Television Animation

That '70s Show and images are copyrighted by T Group Production

What's In My Queue?- Week 4

This week, I traveled to many distant locations. Like Scranton, Quahog, and the Food Network...


The Office- Seasons 1 and 2:

I started watching The Office last year, during my senior year of college. Every one of my friends was in love with the show and I had never really taken the time to sit and watch it. I devoured the show over the course of my final semester and I knew there'd be a time when I re-watch it again. This week was the starting block for that. It has become one of my all-time favorite shows due to the writing and the cast, so this will definitely get a huge series retrospective by the time I get to the end of Season 9 for the second time. That'll be a few months down the road, but it'll definitely be worth the wait. Odds are you've made up in your own mind whether you like this show or not. I mean, it was one of the top sitcoms in history and certainly one of the most popular shows of its era. If you've already watched it, you'll probably watch it again. If you've dismissed the show for many years, you'll probably continue to do so. If you don't know what to make of it yet, give it a watch for a few seasons and see if it hooks you in like it did with me.

Family Guy- Seasons 1, 2, and 3:

If you're a fan of animation or adult humor, you've probably checked out Family Guy to see what the fuss is about. I was a fan of this show through reruns in my adolescent years, but lost base with it once I went off to college. The show had strayed far from the roots that I fell in love with and began to stray far too much to the side of pointless references and cutaway gags. That style has been Seth MacFarlane's bread and butter over the years, but I really liked the sitcom style that the first few seasons had, so I enjoyed making my way through those episodes again recently. The show ran for 2 seasons before being cancelled, then revived for a third season and being cancelled again. Once it was brought back for its fourth season, the tone was to go much more out there with the offensive humor. I prefer the style and tone of the show's original run, feeling like a classic sitcom with a modern, more adult twist. Maybe that's just me, but I'll gladly make my way through earlier seasons of Family Guy than try to keep up with whatever the show is doing nowadays to push the envelope.

Mystery Diners- Collection 1 (Technically Season 8):

This show is the greatest thing EVER!!! My wife and I love to sit through this show and have a good laugh. The premise for the show is simple: a restaurant contacts the Mystery Diners company to investigate something going on in their restaurant. They find the culprit via hidden cams and microphones and fire them. This is the show in a nutshell, but it's the poorly acted, over the top reenactments that make the show worth watching. Food Network has quickly become one of my favorite channels on television and Mystery Diners is definitely my favorite guilty pleasure for that channel. I didn't think the Food Network could have a "trash TV" kind of show, but here it is in all its heavily-dramatized glory.


The Office and images are copyrighted by NBCUniversal Television Distribution

Family Guy and images are copyrighted by Fox Television Animation

Mystery Diners and images are copyrighted by T Group Production

Avatar: The Last Airbender- Book 2 Review

After being introduced to Avatar: The Last Airbender a few weeks ago, I was looking forward to checking out Book 2: Earth. The show had left a great impression on me with its memorable characters, captivating episodes, and stylish animation, so the pressure was on for the show to keep the quality moving forward. There's only 3 Books on this show, so having a bad middle chapter could really hurt the momentum. Thankfully, Book 2 not only kept the quality moving forward, but it expanded it astronomically. With new characters introduced, a much larger long-term story arc, and memorable moments that range from hilarious, to action-packed, to emotional, Book 2: Earth validated why this show is worth watching. They didn't get lucky with Book 1. They have a story mapped out that constantly gets better with each episode.  I love Book 1, but Book 2 is so much better. This chapter has made me see how much I've been missing out on a fantastic show and it makes me very anxious to check out how Book 3 wraps this whole thing up. But don't just take my word for it, let's look at some of my favorite moments to take place in Book 2 and you'll see what I'm talking about.

The Avatar State: A lot of what they do with Aang, voiced by Zach Tyler Eisen, in Book 2 is about the same in Book 1. The big arc for him here is getting to the Avatar State. It comes at a time when he gets super upset and it can actually be pretty scary to see. His voice goes deep, his eyes and arrow glow white, and he is fueled by rage in his attacks. We also got to see Aang in a very vulnerable state when we spend a good number of episodes with Appa missing. We get to see him in an emotional state not yet seen with him. There's much more on the surface than a courageous child. He's getting closer to realizing his full potential and it's a great experience to follow him and watch his greatness unfold.

Love Letdown: Katara, voiced by Mae Whitman, is still one of the least interesting characters at the show, in my opinion. While she had some developing moments and episodes in Book 1, here she really just feels like something for Aang to save and pine for. I wouldn't necessarily call her useless enough to be a damsel in distress. She can still hold her own in a fight, but she's just not very compelling. I'm all for the "will they, won't they" storyline, but you've got to be able to do more with a character besides being someone's potential girlfriend. You've got one more Book show, do something with Katara that blows me away.

Courageous Comedian: Sokka still remains my favorite character because he has just as many memorable brave moments as he does memorable silly moments. Yeah, he doesn't necessarily grow that much as a character in Book 2, but that's because I don't think he necessarily needs to. He is a goof, but he is also a very brave and noble warrior. When you've got that kind of foundation, you can have him be annoyed by nomads, hallucinate from drinking a cactus, have a haiku battle, and awesomely declare that they need to spend their vacation AT THE LIBRARY without needing a whole bunch of development.

Zuko Alone: One of the characters that undergoes the most change in Book 2 is Zuko, voiced by Dante Basco. We get to know a lot more of his backstory early on in the season, and from there, we get to see him walk that fine line between good and evil. The part that sucks for him is that he tries to turn his life around, but other peoples' preconceived notions on the Fire Nation cause them to turn their backs on Zuko when his identity is revealed. It's easy to see how why he's such a beloved character. The tortured soul looking for redemption is a very popular trope and Zuko wears that role on the show very well.

The Tale of Iroh: Already one of my favorite characters, Book 2 really helped fuel the fire (you already know that's a pun, so don't bother asking) of why Iroh is such a compelling character. He has moments of wisdom and levity, and scenes where he is actually one of the fiercest fighters on the entire show. But, the best moment for Iroh is one of the most emotional moments on the entire show. In "The Tales of B Sing Se," we see a day in the life of Iroh and it is both heartwarming and heartbreaking in the span of only a few minutes. Easily one of the show's greatest highlights, especially with it dedicated in honor of Mako, the iconic voice actor for Iroh who passed away before Book 2 was entirely finished. Definitely the hardest I have tried to not cry at a television show in a long time.

The Blind Bandit: One of the show's best additions in Book 2 is Toph, voiced by Jessie Flower. She may be blind, but she is one of the best Earth Bender's in the world and is actually a champion, in an episode that features a very clever spoof of professional wrestling. She's such a well layered character that it's easy to develop her naturally throughout the progression of numerous episodes. Wealthy, but only flaunts it when necessary. People think she needs help, but she's more competent than most of them. And kicks as much butt as Daredevil can. Toph dished out enough Earthbending action and snarky comments to impress anyone.

Queen of Mean: Good God, Azula is crazy! Voiced by Grey DeLisle, the princess of the Fire Nation is an absolute BOSS! Very quickly into her introduction, she makes enemies with every main character on the show. On top of that, she's a more than competent villainess and seems to always counter our heroes and anti-heroes whenever they try and make a move. And, she shoots blue fire. That's just AWESOME!!! She's not like her brother, there isn't a fine line she walks. She's evil to the core and loves every moment of it. She is able to do so much more than most of the villains we've seen on the show so far, and at such a young age. Give me more awesomely evil Azula moments in Book 3 and I'll be a very happy camper.

Final Thoughts: While Book 1 had a lot of filler episodes that were still enjoyable to watch, Book 2 kept the narrative going pretty much all the way throughout. Episodes generally ended on cliffhangers, forcing you to binge watch to see what would happen next. The season developed a lot of the characters we've known for a while now, while introducing us to new characters who fit right along with the story. Groundbreaking moments and episodes scattered all around, Book 2: Earth proved why Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the best animated shows in history.


Avatar: The Last Airbender and images are copyrighted by Nickelodeon Animation Studios

Command Center Commentaries: Power Rangers Zeo Part 2

With Power Rangers Zeo, the fans were given the natural continuation of the story we got to know over 3 years with Mighty Morphin, but given a bit of an aesthetics upgrade. New villains, new powers, and a new Ranger thrown into the group. The early bits of the season were the filler episodes that fleshed out the characters and overall tone of the season to new and returning viewers. But now we're getting deeper into the season, where a little more of the meat that makes up some of the major story arcs are going to come into effect. Does that mean the introduction of new characters? Does that mean the introduction of new weapons and zords? Does it mean we'll get multi-parters? What kind of foundation can be laid with episodes 11-20? Let's find out...


Episode 11- A Few Bad Seeds: Not like this episode is overly important or anything, but I really like this ridiculous episode concept. The first half is nothing out of the ordinary, but it's the bit where Rocky is actually becoming a plant where this episode gets its cult following. I really enjoyed the dedication they put into the makeup and everything. You can see how it's remembered all these years later.

Episode 12- Instrument of Destruction: We get a music-themed episode every once in Power Rangers, and Power Rangers Zeo boasts having one of the better episodes in this genre. In this episode, we find out a la Phantom of the Opera homage that Skull is a brilliantly trained pianist. He's terrified to let others know about his talent because he doesn't want to be laughed at, particularly by Bulk. Adam talks him into performing at a recital, saying if Bulk is really Skull's friend, then he'll be proud of his talents. And it turns out that's exactly what happens. It's a great step forward for Bulk and Skull as characters. It's great for Skull, because it shows how cultured he can actually be. And as for Bulk, it shows how far he's come since being a generic bully.

Episode 14- Mr. Billy's Wild Ride: I think it's a little abrupt to bring Billy back this soon. I mean, the guy was only gone for a few episodes. Why make a big deal of sending him to another planet if you were gonna bring him back 4 episodes later? Anyways, the episode shows the Rangers use their minds to bring Billy home when King Mondo tries to intercept Billy's trip home. It's a unique concept that relies on their thinking power first, as opposed to them solving a problem with their Ranger powers. So, Billy's back. Hooray, it's like we hardly missed him.

Episode 15- There's No Business Like Snow Business Part 1: For me, this episode really shouldn't exist. It commits an ultimate sin for Power Rangers fans by having Kimberly break up with Tommy via letter. WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP!!!!!! After all those two had been through over 3 years, it makes absolutely no sense that she would find someone else and just end it with Tommy without the courtesy of a phone call or face to face interaction. A letter is not only a horrible cliche, but it also feels very out of character for Kimberly. Since this is one of the last moments Kimberly's character is ever given in this franchise, that is a horrible way for her to go out. Anyways, Billy and Kat try to cheer Tommy up by taking him skiing, where he meets a young lady named Heather. Honestly, while all this is happening, I just can't get my mind off that stupid letter. I don't care about Mondo's evil plan. I don't care about the Rangers going skiing. And I certainly don't care about this new girl that is trying to get into Tommy's life. This just blows!

Episode 16- There's No Business Like Snow Business Part 2: My same thoughts from above are all present here, with the only new thing about the 3-parter that interests me is to see Tommy actually try and move on. It's tough for him, and understandably so. But now he's in a state where if he tries to be in a romantic relationship, he has to worry about his Ranger duties interfering in his personal life. This is, for the most part, a major first to see on this show. It sucks to know that this Heather girl could be a good thing for Tommy, but saving the world could put all of that to a grinding halt.

Episode 17- There's No Business Like Snow Business Part 3: The third part of this episode, which feels like a huge stretch in my opinion, gets us to where the showrunners REALLY wanted to get to all season: Kat and Tommy getting together. Admittedly, the early bits of the season always teased a potential romance between Kat and Billy, so this does feel a tad left field. We see her throughout the multi-parter admit that she just wants Tommy to be happy, which in reality is such a nice sentiment that any guy would be impressed and enraptured by it. A happy ending for Tommy and Kat, and the fans in some capacity I guess (only time will tell how this couple fairs out compared to Tommy and Kimberly), but this episode was just way too long for its own good.

Episode 18- Inner Spirit: After the tease of Tommy's Native American roots during his Zeo Quest, we are finally given some growth with that. After having nightmares of failing the Rangers in a zord battle, Tommy needs to regain his confidence and keep a level head in order to pilot the new Red Battle Zord, which is controlled telepathically. This is an awesome concept with continuity in mind. Billy would have access to that kind of idea and technology from his trip to Aquitar and here it is combined with the Zeo powers. The episode ends with Tommy coming to terms with his roots and notices a man that looks a lot like him to end the episode. What kind of a cliffhanger do you call that? It definitely guarantees you'd be tuned into the next episode to see what can happen next.

Episode 19- Challenges: Tommy needs to go on a vision quest this episode in order to find out what the meaning of his half of an arrowhead means. In order to do that, he must catch up with a falcon, his spirit animal. More great continuity from the previous season, in a great callback to the Ninja powers. After a few distractions from the monster of the day, Tommy returns and saves that mysterious man from the last episode. Once the vision quest is complete, we uncover the mystery of both the arrowhead and the man that looks like Tommy. They're brothers!!!! Both adopted, separated until now. Wow!!! I mean, an obvious and cliche story arc, but you have to commend the show for trying this risk. We've known Tommy for years now and there's not a whole lot you could have introduced into his life to shake things up, other than that stupid letter from Kimberly. Here, we have a chance for Tommy to learn and embrace a culture and family he never knew about. The possibilities were endless at this point. Of course, Tommy's brother and Native American roots were used sparingly shortly afterwards, but it was cool in concept.

Episode 20- Found and Lost: This episode grows on Tommy's relationship with his brother David, as he tries to introduce him to his friends but embarrasses him in a karate scrimmage. Mondo uses this opportunity to kidnap David and hold him ransom for the arrowhead, which has magical powers. Ok, weird concept but it shows how far Tommy is willing to go to save a loved one. I always enjoy episodes where the Rangers have to make the ultimate sacrifice to save someone they care for, then the villains double cross them. This is the kind of cliffhanger we have to end the batch of episodes. Mondo still has David and now he has the arrowhead. What can happen next?

Character Spotlight: Rocky DeSantos, played by Steve Cardenas

While not improving too much on his already established character, Rocky definitely found a better home as the Blue Ranger than he did as the Red Ranger. Now, he doesn't have the pressure of following in Jason's footsteps. If his episodes aren't the most groundbreaking or his role is just for comic relief, at least he's doing it in a color that better suits him. It's also worth noting that one of Rocky's biggest arcs in the season was being best friends with Adam. We kind of already had that vibe from previous seasons, but they make for a nice duo, in one of Power Rangers' first major bromances.

Character Spotlight: Adam Park, played by Johnny Yong Bosch

Adam really came into his own once he became the Green Ranger. Gone is the old "puppy dog" days, and in its place is a stronger sense of confidence and determination. In this batch of episodes, we saw Adam rise to the occasion in order to unlock new skills. Whether that was music in order to graduate, or boxing in order to create his own fighting style, we definitely saw Adam was up for whatever challenges came his way. I know a lot of people think of Adam as the Black Ranger first, but his role as the Green Zeo Ranger stands out stronger in my mind over the years because he branched off more and showcased how he is one of the most valuable members of the Zeo Rangers.

With the introduction of Tommy's brother and a cliffhanger ending in this string of episodes, what else important can happen when we head into Part 3...?


Power Rangers Zeo and images are copyrighted by Saban Entertainment

What's In My Queue?- Week 3

This week was quite the adventure for me, as I dove into two shows that quickly became two of my favorite shows currently on television. And ironically, both have to do with the justice system in their own special way. Here are my thoughts on what I binged this week.


Better Call Saul- Season 1:

Breaking Bad is one of my all-time favorite TV shows, and it is for a lot of people. When Better Call Saul was announced, I was a little hesitant to give it a try. For starters, I've never been the biggest fan of Saul's character. He wasn't bad to me, but I didn't see the show-stealer that everyone else saw. The other aspect of a spin-off show like this was that if it wasn't as good as its predecessor, it could take away from my overall enjoyment of this story and universe as a whole. I finally gave in and watched the first season, and I'm thankful I did. This had an entirely different tone and feel than Breaking Bad did in the best possible way. The first season really focuses in on the legal battles, instead of drugs and cartels. I was invested with the characters, I was hooked on the story, and I was enamored by the cinematography. You don't necessarily need to watch Breaking Bad in order to understand Better Call Saul, but it definitely helps and gives you an excuse to binge the show if you haven't already (or binge the show for the 20th time if you're one of those types of viewers). This will definitely get a more in-depth review in the near future, but most likely when the show actually ends. If you're interested in me going through Breaking Bad, however, let me know in the comments and there could definitely be 5 season retrospectives for that show on this blog in the near future. For now, I'm probably gonna sit back and enjoy the second season of Better Call Saul, which I've been recording on my DVR all season.

Daredevil- Season 1:

Holy crap! When it comes to Marvel superheroes, I've always been drawn to Daredevil. I think it has a lot to do with him being a Marvel equivalent to Batman, a dark and gritty conscience that brings justice to a dingy, crime filled town. So when Netflix premiered a mature Daredevil series that has ties to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I knew I'd be in for a treat. This show has a lot of complex and compelling characters that I had a blast following. Of the standouts were Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk and Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson. I really felt drawn to these characters whenever they were on-screen. The mystery that is constantly unfolding, the flashbacks that give a lot more depth to these characters, the wonderfully filmed and choreographed action scenes, and the properly dark tone really made this a show worth binging. Daredevil Season 1 ups the quality with every episode. It might seem hard to get into at first, but by the midway point, you can't put the show down. In fact, I'm gonna start binging Season 2 and hope to give my thoughts on that within the next week or two. This one is also worthy of getting its own full-scale review down the road. What a good week of television for me to enjoy.


Better Call Saul and images are copyrighted by Sony Pictures Television

Daredevil and images are copyrighted by Marvel Television

Command Center Commentaries: Power Rangers Zeo Part 1

The Power Rangers that we have known for the first three seasons are gone forever. As harsh and sad as that is, it was inevitable. They kept the traditional aesthetics going on for three years, while constantly trying to update the stories and characters. It was much more trouble than was needed. You could keep the story going, while changing the costumes, villains, music, and zords, as long as it felt like a natural progression. Hence why they introduced the Zeo Crystal last season. It was the power source needed to transition Mighty Morphin Power Rangers into Power Rangers Zeo. While continuing the story, this will in many ways be its own series and will need more analysis on majority of the episodes. There's less need to skip filler because a lot of that filler will be necessary for establishing the new status quo, newer characters, or new stories for older characters. So let's see how some of these changes played out by analyzing the first 10 episodes of Power Rangers Zeo.


Episode 1- A Zeo Beginning Part 1: Picking up where last season left off, we see the Rangers in the wreckage of the Command Center's explosion. They discover the Zeo Crystal in the rubble and it sucks them underground as the Command Center rebuilds itself into the Power Chamber. From there, they find their way back into the Power Chamber and reunite with Alpha 5. That's great and all, but they'll get their big moment with the new powers in Part 2. The real big moment of this episode was the debut of our new villains. King Mondo, Queen Machina, and the Machine Empire arrive and send Rita and Zedd running scared. WOW! These guys scare Rita and Zedd?!?!? What an impression these guys made in their first episode. Will the Zeo Crystal provide a power source that can stand up to the Machine Empire? That's what we're going to find out.

Episode 2- A Zeo Beginning Part 2: In another storyline in this 2-parter, Rito and Goldar have survived the explosion, but don't remember who they are and seek Bulk and Skull out to help find out who they are. Bulk and Skull then bring them on to be their pets/slaves, strictly for comedic purposes. It's kind of interesting to see Bulk and Skull hold a little authority over the monsters that have sent them running for years. Anyways, the Zeo Crystal provides a major power supply for 5 Rangers, so Tanya offers to step down since she's the newest member of the team. Instead, Billy opts to serve as a tech assistant in the Power Chamber. This is a huge moment for Billy, being the last of the original 5 Rangers to step down as a Ranger. Unlike the others that left immediately, he's still able to serve a purpose on the team. The Rangers get their new powers and with that come some new colors. Kat and Tanya retain the Pink and Yellow powers you'd expect, but the major changes are for the guys. Rocky becomes the Blue Ranger, Adam becomes the Green Ranger, and Tommy becomes the Red Ranger. They morph and lay waste to Mondo's henchmen, the Cogs. It's a pretty good debut for the new Rangers, I just wish we could've seen a little more action from them. I like the look of the Zeo Rangers. The shaped visors on the helmets are a nice change of pace, and something about the aesthetics make the main colors look a lot brighter in contrast to the Mighty Morphin suits. I also really enjoy how the main music borrows elements of the original "Go Go Power Rangers" theme song and expands it with a new sound. This is an overall very strong introduction episode that builds upon the last season and changes the status quo. It's a natural progression into this newer series with its own brand of tone and style.

Episode 3- Shooting Star: This episode gives us the introduction of the Zeo Zords and really gives a lot of details on their actual functionality in the Zeo Megazord. For example, Kat and Tanya control the firepower, Rocky and Adam control the driving force, and Tommy controls the main pilot. Oh, and we also get to meet Tanya's new boyfriend Shawn. He's a dick!

Episode 4- Target Rangers: Not much important in this episode's plot, but I wanted to take a moment to go over a really cool feature with the zords that is introduced in this episode. They Megazord comes complete with different helmets, each exhibiting different traits and power ups based on the zord the helmet comes from. It's a pretty neat feature that actually gets them out of a really tricky situation in the episode's climax. Definitely something that allows the Zeo Megazord to stand out from others.

Episode 6- Rangers In The Outfield: As a fan of baseball, I really enjoy the baseball atmosphere in this episode. But that isn't the reason to check this one out. The real reason to check it out is what it does for Tanya's character. After making the baseball team, her boyfriend Shawn (the dick I spoke of earlier) gets super critical of her. She finally has had enough and puts Shawn in his place, breaking up with him in the process. This was a phenomenal moment in the series because it gave Tanya a defining moment of strength and confidence. Standing up to her mentally abusive boyfriend speaks volumes of the type of role model Tanya could be for the female viewers of Power Rangers, while also pointing out to the male viewers of how NOT to treat a lady. This moment also teased a very underdeveloped potential relationship for Tanya and Adam down the road. I feel like setting these two up as a power couple (no pun intended) was going to be a strong storyline that got lost in the shuffle as the season progressed.

Episode 9- Invasion of the Ranger Snatchers: I really wanted to include this one just for how bizarre it was to watch. For starters, the main plot was centered on filming a movie. I love movies and the process of filming them, so this was a fun little episode that pulled me in with the premise. And it all goes weird from here. The Rangers are then trapped in some vortex or world or something and are forced to film Prince Sprocket's movie. We then get to see them make some very interesting use of the Sentai footage, including the Zeo Rangers riding on horses to stop a bus. Not much importance in the episode other than that. It's just a kooky premise that's surreal to watch.

Episode 10- Graduation Blues: In an episode that doesn't focus on the Rangers, we actually get to work on furthering Billy's development since stepping down as a Power Ranger. With more than enough credits, he graduates early right around the time an Aquitian spaceship lands in Angel Grove and Cestro steps out looking for Billy. Long story short, they work on a new weapon for the Rangers and Billy flies off to help the people of Aquitar.

Character Spotlight: Katherine Hillard, played by Catherine Sutherland

I felt that Kat really came into her own as a Pink Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo, as opposed to her brief time as a Pink Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. We definitely saw Kat show a much more maternal side than last season. That didn't make her the most interesting character of her team, but you definitely saw growth and a defining role on the team. There's another role or element of her depth that I can't address until next time, but I'll say it involves a romantic interest. Interestingly, I kind of had the vibe that she could've ended up with Billy, but that may just be me. Still, I always like when a character can get a more defined role as seasons progress, so I'm glad Kat could become more than just the token Australian character on the team.

Character Spotlight: Tanya Sloan, played by Nakia Burrise

The only fully new character heading into this season, there was a major opportunity to really play out some ideas with Tanya in the early episodes. You're starting with a fresh slate with her and able to build her role throughout the early episodes. By overcoming her verbally and emotionally relationship with Shawn, we had a great sense of how much value and confidence Tanya has in herself when she stood up to him. That's a major moment for the season that can't be ignored. That was the major focus of the few standalone episodes she had in the early parts of the season. After a while, it was very easy for her to feel like a regular member of the team. Through these episodes, she got acquainted with the audience very quickly and you could then build upon her character further. For example, joining the baseball team on natural talent shows how athletic and sporty she can be, and we later discover she has a passion for music. With the first group of major episodes, they were really able to do a great job at introducing the character of Tanya and make her stand out from her previous Yellow Ranger counterparts. She's not Trini or Aisha. She has her own traits and qualities that make her unique.

With their new powers in full effect, let's see what's next for the Zeo Rangers in Part 2...


Power Rangers Zeo and images are copyrighted by Saban Entertainment

What's In My Queue?- Week 2

A short week this week in terms of shows watched, but I definitely got some quality animation for my troubles. Here are my thoughts on the shows I binged this week...


Animaniacs- Season 1:

I'm sure many of you were as excited as I was to see the entire Animaniacs cartoon added to Netflix this week. My mission began to binge as much as possible. This is one of the greatest cartoons to ever exist and it is because of the complete insanity that occurs in every episode. From The Warners, to Slappy Squirrel, to Pinky and the Brain, and so on, every recurring sketch is memorable and hilarious for different things. Me personally, I really love The Warners and Slappy in this season. Pinky and the Brain really came into their own once they got their own show, but that's just me thinking out loud. This show is so smart and so self-aware that I can't help but enjoy it more as an adult than I did as a child. If you love this show as much as I do, you've probably already started watching it on Netflix. If you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for? Just sit back and relax. You'll laugh to you collapse with Animaniacs.

American Dad!- Seasons 1, 2, and 3:

I remember when this show first came out, I wouldn't give it the time of day. I didn't care for political jokes and I thought Seth MacFarlane's talent was better used on Family Guy. Boy, how perspective has seriously changed over the years. I think the show's a lot funnier thanks to the jokes and the characters. I think it's just a matter of preference as time goes by. The political humor is stronger and more poignant in American Dad! than it is in Family Guy and that's why I think it's funnier. They commit themselves to the jokes and morals way more in this show, so it's a lot more hysterical. If you like Seth MacFarlane's brand of humor, odds are you've already checked this show out. If you haven't yet, out of loyalty to Family Guy, give it a shot. It's pretty enjoyable.


Animaniacs and images are copyrighted by Warner Bros. Animation

American Dad! and images are copyrighted by Fox Television Animation

Avatar: The Last Airbender- Book 1 Review

In one of the biggest showings of "welcome to the party, pal," I have finally checked out a show that my wife and friends have been raving about for years: Avatar: The Last Airbender. I don't know why I missed out on this show when it originally aired around 2005. I guess it just wasn't my cup of tea at the time. With that said, I never knocked the show or anyone that liked it. I knew it was a landmark in animated programming for a reason, so I knew I would get to it eventually. I have finally been able to sit down and watch the first book (not season, BOOK), and here are some of the thoughts I've gathered on the show as a whole. This won't be as in-depth as some of my earlier review series, because those are for franchises I'm familiar with. This a show that I'm going into with a fresh mind, so I'd rather focus on the actual characters and story arcs than actual episodes. That being said, there are a number of filler episodes that don't add a whole lot to the season-long narratives, but I still find those episodes enjoyable. Even the lesser important episodes are still great episodes to watch and I think that's a testament to the showrunners devotion to the series and the great characters and moments they've created. So, without further ado, here's my analysis on Book 1: Water.


Analyzing the Avatar: Aang, voiced by Zach Tyler Eisen, was a really easy protagonist to follow. You can get behind the idea that he's this great and powerful Avatar, due to his action scenes and abilities. But you also can see that he's a kid, with much to learn. You don't fault him for it because he's a kid. There are many episodes that play towards his emotional side and his impulsiveness, and the viewer knows that they'd probably be in the same spot if they were Aang. Great and wise warrior he may not be fully yet, but you get the idea that he definitely will be with time and practice. I really enjoy that, playing to the classic story of living up to your own potential and destiny, along with playing up to the fables and mythologies of previous Avatars. He's got a lot to live up to, the highest of hypes, and he's willing to do it at this point. You have to respect that.

The Warriors of the Water Tribe: Katara, voiced by Mae Whitman, was the character I probably gravitated towards the least, while Sokka, voice by Jack DeSena, was the one I liked the most. For Katara, she's just kinda there for a while. Playing up that she's Aang's love interest, and not much else. Towards the end of the season she gets a great episode that develops her Waterbending skills and rising to the occasion when a tribe refuses to train her because she's a woman. I liked what I saw in that episode and hope she grows more and more in that direction, and less in the direction of generic female love interest. As for Sokka, I really liked his humor and courage. He's a warrior in training to be sure, but he's also very foolish and silly. But his humor is very much like my own, so I couldn't help but fall in love with the character, especially when there's much more on the surface than just jokes.

The Fuel of the Fire Nation: And then we have some very diverse antagonists. By that, I mean we have 2 characters that are definitely villains, but have their own motivations and agendas that have them teetering on the sides of anti-heroes every now and then. Prince Zuko, voiced by Dante Basco, really shatters that spoiled rotten vibe early on when we are given his backstory on how he's banished. He's confident in his abilities, but way too proud and confident for his own good. He's flawed, but sympathetic. And we see that he actually does have respect for someone, his Uncle Iroh, voiced by Mako. Iroh is another great amount of comic relief, but also comes with great wisdom and knowledge to help guide Zuko. He's like Yoda, just not green and a little more of a perv. These two characters kept the Fire Nation from being full blown bad guy stereotypes and were very interesting characters to follow in Book 1.

Creature Feature: The show offers a lot of creative and memorable creatures, but the two most famous are definitely Momo and Appa, both voiced by Dee Bradley Baker. Both are awesome side characters to add to the adventure and have different uses. Appa is Aang's friend and means of transportation, while Momo is strictly there as a faithful sidekick. Momo is great and all, but look at Appa!!! He's so fluffy!!! Who wouldn't want a flying bison after seeing him? He's like a cross between Totoro and that strange cat bus thing. AND did I mention he freaking flies!!!!

Airbending Aesthetics: Everything technical on the show, from the music, to the action, to the animation style feels like its own thing. If it's inspired by something else, it comes together and forms its own tone. The aesthetics have become so memorable and popular over the last decade, that they helped me get acquainted with the show before I ever sat down to watch it. I knew of the music and I'd seen the quality of animation. What really threw me for a loop was the action. It is very fast and tight, so I absolutely appreciate how much time and energy went into making those crisp fight scenes. Learning about the fighting styles that are emulated in the various element bending is also a plus because it helps create that mythology between the groups and gets you to notice the differences in fighting techniques early on. You can easily see the differences between Aang and Zuko when they fight not just by the elements they use, but how they use them, the posture and stances they use, and the emotions they channel. It makes the fight scenes a combination of mental, emotional, and physical chess and I really get behind stuff like that.

Final Thoughts: In short, I was really surprised how quick I took to this show and its characters. I only hope to see them grow and evolve further as the show continues on. My wife and friends are quick to inform me that the quality in Avatar: The Last Airbender only improve throughout the Books. The very thought that Book 1: Water could be the weaker season has me absolutely baffled, but they've watched the show longer than I have so I'll take their word for it. We have great but flawed main hero, humorous but brave supporting characters, layered villains, gripping action, stellar animation, enchanting music, and an easy to follow narrative. Take all of my copper pieces and give more of this show please!


Avatar: The Last Airbender and images are copyrighted by Nickelodeon Animation Studios