The Borgias 210 Review- One Wedding and a Funeral

Vanozza- "So Cesare, what exactly are you celebrating? Your sisters betrothal, or the death of your brother?"

Even though the breathtaking act of Cesare murdering Juan left most of us wondering what could possibly happen next, just as François Arnaud assured me last week, the season finale of The Borgias was not without its own surprising and tension-filled moments.

The "new Cesare" that Arnaud teased to TV Fanatic was born, Lucrezia continued her ascent to the Lady of supreme confidence, the Friar Savonarola was finally put to death in front of all of Rome, the Pope struggled with the news of Juan's death and then succumbed to Della Rovere's poison plan in the final seconds of "The Confession."  Yeah, it was quite the hour.

Much of the final installment of the year felt like a sneak peek at what's to come. Nothing accomplished that more than Cesare's new stone cold attitude. He has always been the man that wanted to be the tough guy, but now it's seems like he is.

He shed no tears for the brother he just murdered. In fact, he celebrated his sister's marriage instead of mourning the loss. He forged Savonarola's confession so that the friar could be burned in the street. Cesare even admitted to his father that he murdered dear Juan, and there was not an ounce of emotion coming out of him.

To read the rest of my review of last night's The Borgias season finale, head over to TV Fanatic.

The Borgias 210 - "The Confession"
Review
Recap
Quotes

The Borgias Exclusive: François Arnaud Teases New Cesare In Season Finale

"I can assure you that Cesare's drive and anger isn't diminished in any way," François Arnaud assured me over the phone earlier this week.  The star of The Borgias went on to say that his character, after murdering his brother Juan last Sunday, has "grown into the warrior that he will be."

Arnaud said that Cesare killing Juan "was a beautiful moment."  Although it was indeed the horrible act of one brother gutting the other, Arnaud believed "there is that final embrace that I think helps letting go in a way."

We will all have to let go of Juan, and the great performance by David Oakes, as Arnaud realized, "It's very hard to imagine The Borgias without him.  He's been the one who drove Cesare to become what he is now."

Who is that? The aforementioned warrior? "In the finale, you see a new Cesare," Arnaud teased.

To read the rest of my The Borgias exclusive with Francois Arnaud, head over to TV Fanatic.

The Borgias Exclusive: David Oakes on Juan Borgia's Rise and Fall

"The last thing I did on The Borgias, was literally throw myself off a bridge," David Oakes reminisced on Monday afternoon.  One of the stars of the Showtime series, Oakes' run as troublesome brother Juan Borgia was fantastic, but it sadly came to an end with the character's inevitable death on Sunday's penultimate episode of the year.

It was a moment that Oakes knew was coming. "I always knew I was going to die in season two," he said. "That was never in doubt, but I didn't know when I was going to die." After Juan's failure at Forli, and his subsequent syphilis, gangrenous leg, and opium addiction, everyone saw this character's end in sight.  As Oakes says, "There really wasn't much keeping him alive."

That is truly sad, because Juan Borgia was an extremely compelling character over the past two years.  Oakes was brilliant at playing both the on-top-of-the-world leader of the Papal armies, and also the down-on-his-luck coward.

"I enjoyed the contrast," Oakes told me. "You got this wonderful meeting between what [creator] Neil Jordan wanted initially for Juan to be, and what they ended up with having cast me in the role.  I was always trying to show Neil that behind the arrogance and uselessness, there sort of was this true human being that desired to impress people. Towards the end you ended up with this great, great clash of the two."

To read the rest of my exclusive with David Oakes of The Borgias, head over to TV Fanatic.

Teen Wolf 203 Review- Skating Around the Subject

Stiles (to Scott)- "This new-found heroism is making me very attracted to you."

Two of my favorite things about Teen Wolf highlighted its third installment of season two, "Ice Pick." The hour was filled with plenty of moments for Stiles to be awkward and funny, while featuring Derek's all around studliness on multiple occasions.

Three distinctive Stiles moments throughout the episode made this the funniest yet. The first was in which he attempted to bargain with Boyd on renting out the ice rink. His skills in the field were certainly lacking, but his ability to remember the "twuh" sound had me grinning ear to ear.

After finally shelling out the eventual 50 bucks it took to get the double date accomplished, Stiles was super awkward when attempting to connect with Lydia. Trying to broach the subject of opposites attracting was so over-the-top that it worked perfectly... perfectly Stiles.

Finally, as I note that Dylan O'Brien's timing was once again at 100% this week, there was the old straight-guy-acting-gay stunt that had me in stitches near the end of the hour. Stiles telling Scott that he was attracted to his new-found heroism, and that he wanted to make out for a sec, was absolutely hilarious.

To read the rest of my review of last night's Teen Wolf, head over to TV Fanatic.

Teen Wolf 203 - "Ice Pick"
Review
Recap
Quotes

Mad Men 513 Review- Shocked Therapy

Beth- "I knew you'd show."

Pete- "Because I'm pathetic?"

Nobody died. The company stayed in tact. There really weren't any serious surprises at all.  While the season five finale of Mad Men was a conclusion to a seemingly uneventful year, "The Phantom" also continued a number of individual character arcs that are heading in some interesting directions.

Mad Men will have the occasional suicide, company blow up, or secret life, but at the end of the day it is simply these characters that keep us coming back, wanting more and more of Don, Roger, Peggy and the gang.

So although I finished watching the season finale asking myself if anything happened during the past 13 episodes, when you take a deeper look at what actually went down in season five and even this final installment of 2012, it was pretty hefty.

Pete Campbell's rise to the top was so successful that nobody questions a thing he does anymore...well except Don, who wondered if proxying his partners' vote was even allowed.  While his business life couldn't have been better this season, the personal side of things kept life interesting.

To read the rest of my review of last night's Mad Men season finale, head over to TV Fanatic.

Mad Men 513 - "The Phantom"
Review
Recap
Quotes

The Borgias 209 Review- Nowhere Else To Go

Vanozza- "What happened to you Juan? You were such a lovely child."

I've written about it at length over the past couple of months, but it's worth noting again that the feud between brothers Cesare and Juan Borgia has been the most compelling material The Borgias has produced in its first two seasons. Said conflict came to a head in "World of Wonders," and it produced an absolutely gripping penultimate episode of the Showtime series' second season.

Since failing to come out victorious against Catharina Sforza at Forli, Juan's downward spiral has been both sad and magnificent. That did not change this week, as I was equal parts upset and excited watching the Borgia boy talk to himself, get high to the heavens on opium, throw it in Cesare's face that the Pope loves him more and finally hold Lucrezia's baby over the edge of the balcony.

Then it happened. Cesare and Micheletto retrieved Juan from yet another Opium session, and the family feud was finally settled. Even as it was happening - Cesare's knife going in and out of his brother's stomach, and eventually throwing him off of that bridge - I couldn't believe it. Was this it? Was this the end of Juan Borgia? Dying by the hand of his own brother?

It was yet another moment in which I was glad that I don't know the history behind the series. I'm assuming The Borgias isn't straying too far from the historical story between these two brothers. Even if they are, I'm glad I didn't see this event coming, or wasn't disappointed by it being different from history.

To read the rest of my review of last night's The Borgias, head over to TV Fanatic.

The Borgias 209 - "World of Wonders"
Review
Recap
Quotes

Teen Wolf 202 Review- Moon Of My Life

Stiles- "How did you do that?"

Derek- "I'm the Alpha."

Likely because Sunday night's premiere was so exhilarating, "Shape Shifted" felt a bit underwhelming by comparison. There were certainly moments to enjoy, and new reveals to get excited about, but overall part two of the summer premiere wasn't Teen Wolf's best work.

One of those enjoyable moments was the opening scene, which is something the series did well throughout the first season. Teen Wolf is great at the pulse-pounding, suspense-filled cold open, and that was true once again in the scene between Isaac and his rage-filled father.

We met them briefly in the premiere, but that conversation about grades and cleaning up after dinner allowed the viewers to get to know this father-son duo at a much deeper level rather quickly. The father's temper was one for the record books. I was scared for the kid, even though his wolfian characteristics would have saved him from any serious danger.

And then the dad died. It wasn't by the hand - or claws I guess, or even mouth - of his son, but rather the new creature we sort of learned the identity of by the end of the hour. Is it a were-lizard? Is it a straight up shifter? I'm sure we will learn more as we continue to watch, but I'm hoping its the former rather than the latter.

To read the rest of my review of last night's Teen Wolf, head over to TV Fanatic.

Teen Wolf 202 - "Shape Shifted"
Review
Recap
Quotes

Mad Men 512 Review- It Turns To Crap

Glen- "Everything you think's gonna make you happy, just turns to crap."

Well that makes two straight episodes down the stretch of Mad Men's fifth season that gave the audience an absolute bomb.  Last week it was the combination of Joan deciding to sleep her way to partner and Peggy quitting SCDP, and in "Commissions and Fees" it was the death of Lane Pryce.

Wow, did that seriously just happen?  When he failed to get the job done in that brand new Jaguar, I thought it was just a fake out.  I figured it was going to be one of those deals where he made the attempt and then somebody helped him to stop round two.  No, no, no.  Lane was seriously motivated to end it.

His final push to get out of the money trouble, and the embarrassment that would come with losing his job, was a horrific one.  Not only for the man who lost his life, but also for the individuals who found him like that.  That had to be the most tragic moment in each of their lives, and the make-up people did such a good job that I bet it was even pretty troublesome for the viewers.

Am I sad to see Lane part ways with the world like that?  Absolutely.  Will I miss the boring plots he has been giving Mad Men this season?  Not at all.  I enjoyed the Brit last year, but in 2012 he has been lulling me to sleep with all of his troubles.  Although his act may not have been good for anyone on screen, it may have been a positive for those of us watching off screen.

To read the rest of my review of last night's Mad Men, head over to TV Fanatic.

Mad Men 512 - "Commissions and Fees"
Review
Recap
Quotes