Finales

[annundriel]

The internet is being really unreliable these days. Or maybe it's reliable because I can trust it to be unreliable. Ugh. Basically it works in the morning and at night.

I'm excited. This weekend my aunt, uncle, and their twins are driving over from Seattle because one of the kiddos has a sporting activity of some sort. Then on Saturday, olivelavonne is visiting. Busy, busy! For once.

Then in June it's over to Seattle because EB is FINALLY graduating from pharmacy school!

The Office had a really great finale, I thought. They introduced a bunch of stuff to carry into next season, which was a lot of fun.

I'm looking forward to more stuff with Holly. Is it possible that with Jan pregnant and Holly in the office, Michael may mature a little? Hmm. Probably not, but he did refrain from making a "that's what she said joke" while he was on the ferris wheel with Holly.

Jim was great. I loved the prank on Dwight at the beginning, even if those pranks have leaned a little cruel in the past. Also loved the messages he left with Ryan. Go, Jim! And then planning to propose only to be thwarted by Andy.

Speaking of, I feel kind of bad for Andy. Plus, he's seemed very un-Andy lately. The result of spending so much time with Angela?

Mostly, though, I just hope that Pam's expectations being let down doesn't ruin anything between her and Jim.

Also loved Oscar talking about Ryan's beard and Holly thinking Kevin was slow. Because he is, just not that kind of slow. Jan showing up pregnant, though I still think it should be Hunter's baby. Meredith knowing how to break into a car. Creed not knowing what his job actually is. Holly and Michael having the same sense of humor. Toby trying to get a picture with Pam.

Oh! And Phyllis looking for an anti-gravity machine and taking the woman's offer of anti-depressants. Heh.

Like I said, great season finale.

Meanwhile, the people on Bones are such teases. Geez.

I cried. When Zack was in the hospital and they were talking about how bad his hands were. When Booth and Brennan confronted him and Brennan was right there with him. The end and Brennan's "I didn't give him anything." Except for his job, his friends. His family. Oh, Zack.

As soon as Hodgins pinpointed his neighborhood, I was worried for Zack. And everything that had come before just fell into place and it just broke my heart that they were going to go there. At one point I couldn't help thinking that I wouldn't be this sad if they'd killed someone. Strange? Maybe. But really, that scene with Brennan and his confession? My heart was already a little unsteady from the scenes leading up to it and then it crumbled into pieces.

I mean, he let himself be badly injured to protect Hodgins. That means something. He may be all logic and reason, but there's more there. The things he kept were all things they gave him. And some of the looks he shot Hodgins in the first hospital scene may take on a different level now.

Zack. Geez.

But, um, at least he didn't eat anyone?

As if my heart wasn't broken enough, House comes along and finishes the job. I'm not even sure I have anything to say really; but, wow, that was good. Not disappointing at all.

Is it weird to say an episode in which a character dies wasn't disappointing? Or is that insensitive? Whatever. I thought the whole thing was handled beautifully. It could have been long and drawn out, boring or annoying, and it wasn't. The tensions between the characters were interesting and layered, the overall pacing nice.

There were so many small moments that I loved. And they weren't even necessarily "small," but they downplayed them. Like Wilson asking House to risk his life. House calling Wilson from the bar. (Because, really, who else is he going to look to for help?) The silences between the two of them. The way House looked going through...whatever that procedure was called.

Speaking of, does Chase do everything in that hospital?

Then there were all of the moments with Amber, real and imagined. The way she said, "I'm dead." Everyone coming to say goodbye. House and Amber in his head. (I loved the shot of their bare feet.) His admission that he didn't want to leave the bus because it didn't hurt there and that Wilson is his best friend and he doesn't want him to hate him. He was very honest here. And not in the way he usually is, but in a way that made him vulnerable.

Then that moment with Cuddy curled up beside his bed, Wilson watching him, and walking away.

Also, that image of Taub climbing into bed and plastering himself against his wife is kind of sticking with me.

Anyway, basically all of the stuff between Amber and House killed me.

I cried and cried.

And, random observation, Amber looked amazingly long lying in that hospital bed. Her legs went on forever.

Comments

[juliarchy.livejournal.com]

Ack ack ack. Too many things to respond to in this post!

I'm so excited for Holly on next season. She is SO different than any other female character I've seen...pretty much anywhere. Love her. Hope she and Michael hit it off and it goes well.

I LOVED the thing with Kevin. "You drive your OWN car?!"

Oh and Jim and Pam. UGH, I wish that he had been able to propose and I echo your sentiment of not wanting it to ruin anything.

Did you see the Dwight/Angela hookup at the end? All I could say was "GROSS!"

Okay, now for House. The whole thing was AMAZING. I did not expect Amber to die. Seeing House as vulnerable and shedding a damn tear was insane. I loved every second of it. There was so much love in the show that is always just barely hinted at. They all care for each other so much, and it's all below the surface. Okay, and the House/Amber feet shot has stuck with me for some reason that I don't understand. NEED NEW SEASON NOW.

[annundriel.livejournal.com]

Oh, you're kind of right about Holly. I'm not sure I've seen someone like her on TV. Of course, we only have one episode to judge her on, but I'm excited!

Kevin was SO FUNNY! And that bit with the vending machine and her counting out the change and "this is a button." Hilarious. How these people get anything done without cracking up is beyond me.

And YES, Dwight and Angela! I kept meaning to edit my post to mention them, but I forgot. I flailed and shouted, "EW!" Loudly. There may have been some "OH MY GOD" going on, too.

There was so much love in the show that is always just barely hinted at. They all care for each other so much, and it's all below the surface.

YES! And the show is so much better for giving us that love and affection beneath the surface. I don't think it would work nearly as well if it were all out in the open. As it is, it's wonderfully subtle somtimes.

That shot of their feet really is one of my favorites. And it reminds me a little of that shot in The Office where Jan finds Michael over at the train tracks and they sit together.

[michelerz.livejournal.com]

There is so much I want to say about the Office.... I've watched the episode 3 times.

Can I just say that there were so many great aesthetic principles at work in this episode that you can tell there was a whole lot of thought that went into this episode.

A few of the episodes were a bit mediocre this season, but this episode, despite being the finale, was by far the best.

[annundriel.livejournal.com]

I would love to examine this episode visually. They generally do some interesting things. One of my favorites is when they shoot through blinds. I love the camera as character.

It was a fantastic finale, packed with all sorts of stuff. And now there's so much possibility for next season!

[michelerz.livejournal.com]

at the end... there's this perfect scene where michael is framed within the window and the ferris wheel can be seen spinning with lights in the background... when he is leaving Jan a message about Lamaze class.

the whimsy of the ferris wheel and his "love" for Jan and his pseudo child really juxtapose each other.

Not to mention, when there is movement in the background, it usually softens the tension or drama of what is happening in the foreground.

So that scene is my favorite aesthetically. =]

[annundriel.livejournal.com]

I remember that scene! In fact, when I saw it, it kind of...I dunno...stuck with me? Even though I forgot about it. ;P It's been a few days. Very clever of them. And visually interesting and appealing. Definitely one of my favorite scenes visually.

I hadn't really thought about movement in the background softening foreground tension/drama. Interesting. Specifically for The Office, I was just thinking that those more intense scenes are the ones in which the whole office is still and focused on whoever's having it out. Hmmm...

[michelerz.livejournal.com]

Yup!!!

CENTRALIZED TENSION!!!

Oh the joys of being able to emote without words!

[annundriel.livejournal.com]

I have this urge to rewatch various intense scenes on various shows to see just how they're shot now. Other than the usual tight camera work that generally is used.

What you just said about emoting without words, that just reminded me of this really brilliant episode of Buffy in which, for supernatural reasons, everyone loses their voices. The majority of the episode is played without dialog. It's one of the creepiest, best episodes of anything I've seen.

They also did an episode where there was absolutely no background music. That was kind of brilliant to, since the subject of the episode was unsettling and having it be silent except for the dialog left you feeling a little unbalanced.

[michelerz.livejournal.com]

You know, I've heard about this episode of Buffy [We looked at the first season of Buffy in class, but this episode was mentioned as one of the best written scripts when looking at stage direction writing.]

I really want to see this episode!!!



One of these days i should send you some of my textbooks to look through.

[annundriel.livejournal.com]

Ooh, it would be an interesting script to read, I think.

And I would love to look through your textbooks! I am a great big movie/TV nerd, which you already knew; I love stuff like that.

Y'know, I've loaned DVDs to Kasey. I'd have no problem sending stuff your way, if you're ever interested. And Buffy, well, I actually have two copies of that. The shiny complete boxed set was on sale for a STEAL. Plus, my brother kind of goobered up some of my older discs. ANYway.

Basically what I'm saying is I like loaning things to people. Unless they drop them in the bathtub.

[michelerz.livejournal.com]

Cool! Let's do a switch sometime!

=] I promise not to steal/damage anything. haha

[michelerz.livejournal.com]

Also, Michael's behavior towards Toby made me ultra sad.


and Ryan... I feel a subplot so thick coming in Season V!

[annundriel.livejournal.com]

I feel a subplot so thick coming in Season V!

That's what she said!! ;)

Heh. Yeah, I agree. There's more to this Ryan thing. And Michael's behavior towards Toby always makes me sad. Except for when it surprises a laugh out of me. But then I get sad again. Bad Michael.