by Grace Crawford

All Game of Thrones images courtesy of HBO.

4×01: “Two Swords”

The episode begins with Tywin Lannister melting down Ned Stark’s Valyrian steel greatsword, Ice, to forge two new swords. And from the moment I whispered, “THAT’S NOT YOURS YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT,” the latest season of Game of Thrones had me hooked.

This episode is in a unique position: whereas most season premieres are starting out new story arcs and hinting at where the rest of the season is going to go, season 4 is based on the second half of the third book in the ASOIAF series, A Storm of Swords. So this season picks up right where the last one left off while, yes, giving us several indications of where season 4 is going. And I’m a big fan of that, because even after watching all sorts of videos to catch up on where we’re at, it’s very easy to get lost.

It’s hard to recap where everyone’s at because there are so many characters, but I’ll give it a shot.

Continue reading →

by Thom Yee

Community images courtesy of NBCUniversal Television Distribution

5×11:  “G.I. Jeff”

I can’t believe they went this far. They must, like, own the television broadcast rights or something.

Going far beyond inspiration or imitation, “G.I. Jeff” basically transplants our Save Greendale Committee into an episode straight from the original G.I. Joe ‘80s series. All the details are right, from the ridiculous premises, the low-framerate animation, the film scratches, the static backgrounds, the music that opens scenes and transitions, and everything in between. The episode uses original series characters like Duke and Flint and Scarlet, and I even recognize many of the original voice actors reprising their roles (though the irreplaceable Chris Latta [Cobra Commander and Transformers’ Starscream] remains woefully absent… because he’s dead). Continue reading →

by Grace Crawford

Images courtesy of Bay & Thomas Productions and 20th Century Fox.

9×23-24: “Last Forever”

So here we are: the series finale of How I Met Your Mother. For me, my love of the show began I think five years ago, right after I graduated from high school. I was so mad because one of my favourite webcomic writers said The Big Bang Theory was no HIMYM, and I sat down in front of the TV to prove him wrong.

And it turns out he was right: there’s no show like this show, not Friends or Cheers or any of those other shows that deal with friendships and heartache and all the things that happen when you share your life with people.

I might just be saying that because this show belonged to my generation, because I’m pretty sure people have said that before. But that’s my truth, and it’s true for everyone who has watched this show and been invested in it and waited with hope in their hearts for the end they knew was coming. And now it’s here, and my feelings aren’t at all what I thought they’d be.

Continue reading →

by Grace Crawford

Images courtesy of Bay & Thomas Productions and 20th Century Fox.

9×22: “The End of the Aisle”

Friggin’ finally, man. After an entire season and the longest weekend ever, Barney and Robin tie the knot–but not before Robin digs deep, pulls out her inner crazy, and decides she wants to marry Ted instead.

Barney’s still freaking out about his tie and the vows he still hasn’t written, and he’s only distracted by poking holes in Marshall and Lily’s wedding vows, which they’ve broken repeatedly over the six years.

So all of this makes me ask, “Why on earth would anyone ever want to get married?”

Continue reading →

by Thom Yee

Community images courtesy of NBCUniversal Television Distribution

5×10:  “Advanced Advanced Dungeons & Dragons”

“A satisfying sequel is difficult to pull off.  Many geniuses have defeated themselves through hubris, making this a chance to prove that I’m better than all of them.  I’m in!” ~ Abed Nadir, noted computer, referring to a past episode

The original “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons” (the episode) came at a time when Community was undoubtedly at its creative zenith, a time where wildly inventive episodes were almost the norm, a time when anything was possible and life seemed worth living.  The second season of Community is when the series really became the show it was going to be, both the uproariously unpredictable half-hour of weekly genius its fans claim it to be, and the hollow, unfathomable, pop-culture-regurgitating trash its detractors would have you believe it is.  Regardless of where you stood at the time (if anywhere), Community was huge in season two, and even for people who didn’t care for the show, “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons” is frequently cited as one of the best in the show’s history.

I don’t think it was, though.  But definitely top five.

Continue reading →

by Grace Crawford

Images courtesy of Bay & Thomas Productions and 20th Century Fox.

9×21: “Gary Blauman”

As with all stories, HIMYM is winding down to a close. And as with many, many other stories, it’s taking its sweet time getting there.

This week’s episode was about Gary Blauman, some guy Barney and Marshall used to work with. He shows up at the wedding unannounced, ’cause his invite got lost in the mail or something, and Robin delegates the task of finding a seat for him to Marshall.

Continue reading →