Ringer “I’m The Good Twin”

So it’s over, Ringer aired it’s season (and most likely series) finale last night. And to be honest, I am not to sure how I feel about it.

As finales goes, it wrapped up some things, left a few things open and started new threads for next season. With the exception of Malcolm, no one of consequence got killed, Jimmy was a throw away and I think we all knew Bodaway wasn’t going to make it to season 2.  I wish the writers had decided to give Andrew and Bridget a happy ending, I think it would have been far more interesting if Bridget had confessed to Andrew only to find out he knew all along.

The scene when Bridget came clean was really well played, SMG and Ioan Gruffudd really rocked the emotion, my heart broke for both of them. I really hope Ioan gets another show, I need him on my TV every week.

The way they ended it, with Andrew and Juliet turning their backs on Bridget gives them more options for season 2, but I really think renewal is a long shot and I would have preferred a happy ending. Perhaps they can give me an alternate ending on the DVD.  Now that Tim (Gregory Harrison), who is sexier now then his younger days, and he was pretty damn hot on Trapper John, M.D. owns Martin/Charles will he be a regular in season 2.  Now that Bodaway is dead what is Machado going to do, I wonder how they will bring him back.

Andrew has kicked Bridget to the curb, Henry stole all of Shiv’s money and kicked her to the curb, and told Bridget Shiv is alive. Does Bridget move in with Henry, team up and go after Shiv. Of course Shiv holds the mother of all cards, the twins are Andrew’s. Does she move back in with Andrew?  They really painted themselves into a corner, the show doesn’t work if Bridget knows about Shiv.

I guess the only question left is will it be renewed, guess we will find out during the upfronts in mid-May.

Did you watch Ringer? Do you think it deserves a second season?

Television Without Pity has listed 4 reasons  Why Ringer Should Be Cancelled, the two I most agree with, everyone was massively stupid and it will free up the actors for other shows.  Click on the link to see the rest.

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Ringer “It’s Called Improvising Bitch”

I gotta hand it to the folks at Ringer, I think they knew the end was near so they just keep going for broke with these last few episodes.  Even if they don’t get a second season at least they will be remembered as that bat-shit crazy show Sarah Michelle Gellar did for a season on The CW. We should have known the ship was going down when the wardrobe went from being cutting edge fashion to Target chic.

On last night’s episode. Catherine tries to kill Bridget, who she thinks is Shiv, when Andrew foils her plan she decides to kill them both, when Juliet foils that plan she decides to hold everyone hostage. Then she calls, wait for it… Olivia, her lover and partner in crime. Olivia is having none of this craziness and tells Catherine good-bye, sending Catherine over the edge, or more over than she is already.   Our hapless tri call Agent Machado on cell phone they have hidden in the couch, using the old one way call to fill him in on their situation.  He springs into action, and heads off to Olivia’s, he uses her to lure Catherine out of the apartment. She takes Bridget hostage and heads to Olivia’s, where our FBI guy finally gets to save the day.

Meanwhile, Shiv is still trying to get Henry cleared of Tyler’s murder. She heads over to Oksana’s (the hotel maid that fingered Henry) and quickly figures out Oksana is a high priced hooker and that is why her payoff wasn’t nearly enough. One of Oksana’s tricks shows up, she hides Shiv in the closet.  Ok, if all the crazy with Catherine wasn’t enough, check this out.  Shiv is locked in the closet while Oksana and her customer have sex, do blow and Oksana od’s, and to top it off Shiv goes into labor.  Love this crazy show!!

Shiv has a C-section, her twins, yes her female twins are premature and in bad shape. Henry is by her side, and in a move that proves Henry bought a clue, he asks the doctor for a paternity test. Go Henry.

I am not sure how they can top this if they get a second season, I am sure they will have to dial it back a bit if they do. 

What are the possible cliffhangers for next week’s finale? The paternity test? Does Macawi kill Shiv or Bridget? Does Andrew figure it out?  One thing I am sure of, I won’t get a satisfying end to the show. What would I do if it was up to me, if I was Pam Veasy and The CW let me know I had one hour to wrap it up.

First of all I would apologize to the audience that stuck it out all season, I would apologize for squandering the talents of  Ioan Gruffudd, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jason Dohring.  I would apologize for taking a show with an interesting premise, and some great glossy noir episodes in the first half of the season and letting it unravel into the campy crapfest we witnessed in the last 12 episodes.

Then, Malcolm leads Machado to Macawi, Machado gets shot (doesn’t die) Malcolm saves him and kills Macawi in the process. A new bromance is born.  Henry finds out the twins aren’t his or Andrew’s and leaves Shiv and the twins. Shiv, leaves the hospital, abandoning  the twins to social services.  Henry and Bridget renew their vows, the second half of the episode is filled with wedding fun, Juliet and Bridge getting all gussied up. Henry and Tim coming to an agreement over Martin Charles and destroying the flash drive.

Last two minutes of the episode, set against some of the music this show is known for using. (The CW site for Ringer music)

Bridget walks down the aisle, to a beaming Andrew

Shiv walking down the street

Bridget gets to Andrew, he leans in to kiss her and whispers in her ear, I love you Bridget.  Pull back to reveal Bridget’s reaction.

Cut to Shiv walking into a strip club to apply for a job.

Chessy, obvious, but hey after the crap Pam really wrote how could my version be any worse.

Next Week:

Tuesday 3/27 What You Should Watch

Ringer continues to pull out all the stops, Henry grew a pair, they finally gave Machado something interesting to do, it only took them half a season to give him a story. Andrew and Bridget made up, which means more heartache is on the way.  I can’t wait to find out of he knew the whole time and has just been playing along.

Tonight’s outing, “Let’s Kill Bridget”, looks like the thrill ride continues. If  the promos are to be believed, we have another murder, I am going with Olivia, Henry being interrogated for Tyler’s murder, I guess Shiv didn’t like that he gave the flash drive away. And Shiv confronting and shooting Bridget, I think thru the magic of editing we will find out Bridget is not on the receiving end of those bullets.

Judging by the sneak peak below Andrew has Fantastic healing abilities.

Ringer

Episode: Let’s Kill Bridget

Bridget decides she won’t feel safe unless she testifies against Macawi; Machado’s actions get him suspended; Henry becomes impatient with Siobhan and gives her an ultimatum.

 

Also New tonight both NCIS and NCIS LA, Body of Proof and Unforgettable, both are soon to be cancelled. Fox‘s Tuesday night comedy line up is new, I Hate My Teenage Daughter has been dropped from the schedule, a repeat of Raising Hope will air at 8:30.

 

Dancing With The Stars has a recap show from 8 to 9, and reults at 9pm. Is half-pint going home?

 

NCIS

Episode: The Good Son

The investigation into a petty officer’s murder leads the team to Director Vance’s brother-in-law.

 

NCIS: Los Angeles

Episode: Vengeance

When evidence in a Navy intelligence officer’s death points to a team of SEALs about to embark on a mission, Sam must interrogate the group, potentially compromising their operation.

 

 

Ringer “That Woman’s Never Been A Victim In Her Entire Life”

Ringer, if there is one thing I can count on this show for it is the wacky. When the Tarot card fell out of the shooters back pocket I laughed out loud. I guess it could have been a matchbook, but a Tarot card is so much more mysterious?  And kind of Buffyish.

The episode picks up exactly where last week’s ended Agent Guyliner (Machado) is chasing the shooter down the alley, he doesn’t catch him, but is able to rip is back pocket before he gets away. The Tarot card falls out of the ripped pocket, the symbol on the card is The Tower. Our trusty FBI agent informs us it represents one of two things, ruin/failure as in the Tower of Babel, or dualism ( like twins), opposing forces clashing into each other.  He tracks the card to a dry cleaner that was giving them away.

Andrew is alive and in surgery, Juliet calls Henry he comes to the hospital, Bridget tells him Andrew saved her life. This gives Henry pause, perhaps Shiv has been full of it the whole time. Henry confronts Shiv, he calls her a liar and a sociopath, he kicks her to the curb. Whoo-Who he grows a pair. That lasts about a day, he takes her back and tells her he killed Tyler, but it was an accident, they were fighting and Tyler hit his head. He switches Tyler’s flash drive with a fake and takes off, that means Olivia has the fake.

Henry goes one better, he gave the drive to his father in law, to convince him to pull his investments from Martin Charles.  Good Henry.

Andrew wakes up and he and Bridget make up and are all lovey dovey. Best line of the night, when Andrew woke up, Bridget says “hey Superman”, no he’s Mr Fantastic, get your superheros straight. Bridget asks Andrew why he went to Malcolm’s room, he said Olivia suggested a bribe to get rid of him, he took the money and hit the road.  He’ll be back. Bridget tells Andrew about the guy she killed. She explains to him that she didn’t tell him at first because she wasn’t sure he wasn’t involved.  BTW Olivia is in the wind.

What if Andrew is also twins? That would explain how he goes from nice to evil. I wouldn’t put it past this show to pull something like that, they are that crazy.

Catherine, Andrew and Bridget decide New York isn’t a safe place for Juliet and she has to return to Florida with her mom. She doesn’t want to go, she runs away to the beach house. Bridget tracks her down, Juliet confesses the plot she and he mom hatched to Bridget. Bridget heads back to Park Ave to tell Andrew, Machado is there he informs them that one of Macawi’s henchmen has been found dead, with Malcolm’s id. My guess, Malcolm killed the guy. Agent Machado informs Bridget and Andrew that he thinks Macawi’s men are here to kill Shiv because they think she is really Bridget. (good guess)

I think it would be a good twist if Macawi and Shiv were in on the whole thing from the beginning.

Shiv heads off to the hospital to confess all to Andrew, she calls Henry to let him know he arrives just in time to stop her. They are in the hall talking just as Bridget shows up. Lucky for Bridget and Shiv they are both wearing the same coat or Andrew might had figured it out. I guess the baby bump wasn’t that noticeable, no coat can hide that. Ok he just got shot maybe I should give him a pass.

Just to recap, Andrew is ok, Olivia is missing, Flash drive on the lose, Juliet confesses, Henry sort of got his balls back, Shiv’s control is slipping and Malcolm lives to see another day.

God I hope this show gets renewed it is just good old fashioned fun.

The preview for next week made my head hurt, we see a dead body, maybe Olivia, maybe Catherine, Henry being questioned by the police. what the hell is my Andrew doing kissing Catherine!!! Shiv shooting someone, we are led to believe it’s Bridget. But you know how the promo monkey’s edit stuff. I think she is shooting Olivia or maybe Catherine. Maybe Shiv has been working with Catherine to destroy Andrew.

Ringer “You’re Way To Pretty To Go To Jail”

Overheard at the Ringer production offices, “it looks like we are getting cancelled, so lets just go all out crazy for the rest of the season, throw as much crap out there as possible”.

The sad fact is I am really enjoying this clichéd, over the top crap, the sloppy writing and the mustache twirling acting. Last night we got FBI Agent Machado’s (Nestor Carbonell) backstory, they have reduced him to a man seeking revenge for his dead pregnant stripper girlfriend.

They turned my Andrew into a supervillian, complete with glaring stares and ordering “Tyler to be taken care of”, my sweet romantic Andrew is a bad guy. This is where the mustache twirling comes in, all he needed was an evil laugh. Mwahhhhhh!!

Poor Tyler, so pretty, yet so dumb.  Talk about Bambi taking a drink at the stream, looking up and thinking. “wow those orange vests are pretty”.  Just like Bambi, Tyler is dead. I think Shiv is behind it because he took her flash drive and she wasn’t ready to make her move.  

Malcolm, it turns out may be the key to busting this crap wide open, more on that in a minute. Malcolm convinced Bridget that Andrew may not be the safest person to be around, so she moves out of Park Ave. Good Malcom. Then he goes to Henry for help, bad Malcom. Back to how Malcolm maybe the key, ( not in a Buffy sort of way), Shiv blocks her number pretends to be Bridget and calls Malcolm, she tells him to get out of her life. This phone call could be the clue that leads Malcolm to realize Shiv is still alive

Malcom calls FBI guy and agrees to testify about Macawi kidnapping him, I am not sure how much longer he will be alive. Perhaps as he lays dying he will utter the phrase, “she’s alive”.

Tyler and Olivia have a meeting in the backseat of her Towncar, she tells him she knows what he has been up to and he is going down. She tells him to turn the files over to her, he does, but not the flash drive.

Bridget goes to Tyler’s hotel, just in time to see Andrew leaving. She goes to Tyler’s room and bam! he’s dead. Guess he wasn’t bulletproof after-all. Ha! Of course Bridget thinks Andrew did it, but we know better.

Cut to Olivia in the backseat of the Towncar with the flashdrive, oh my.

Cut to Malcolm on the phone, there is a knock at the door, its Andrew looking very menacing.

Next Week:

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Tuesday 2/28 What You Should Watch

Ringer is new tonight, based on the previews it looks like this week is improving on last week. ITs still pretty soapy cheesy, but in a good way. Siobhan is having twins, sounds like multiple baby daddy storyline is coming up here.  There is a clip of Juliet’s mother seducing the teacher and Andrew proposes to Bridget, he thinks they are just renewing their vows, but we know its more.

OMG it the season finale really going to be a Bridget/Andrew wedding with someone breaking in to stop it.  Oy vey.

Now that Henry knows the truth about Bridget he has become a more interesting character, he plays the villain well.  But wait until he finds out about Tyler.  I guess Mr. C will end up dead by the end of the season, but who will be killer?  My bet is Juliet is falsely accused, and goes on trial in season 2.

Of course we have the regular Tuesday night champs, NCIS and NCIS LA.

American Idol, keeps on rolling.

Body of Proof, Unforgettable, Cougar Town, Last Man Standing and The River are new tonight.

Parenthood airs the season finale, and possible series finale tonight. I don’t think it will be back next year.

Ringer

Episode: P.S. You’re an Idiot

Bridget realizes she is in over her head when Andrew proposes again; Olivia (Jaime Murray) becomes suspicious of Malcolm; Juliet makes a choice that forces Catherine (Andrea Roth) to take drastic measures.

 

NCIS

Episode: Need to Know

Security at a Naval research laboratory is in jeopardy after a petty officer’s murder links to an arms dealer; probationer Ned Dorneget sucks up to Gibbs.

 

NCIS: Los Angeles

Episode: Blye, K., Part 2

The team searches for evidence of Kensi’s innocence after a meeting involving her father’s sniper unit turns deadly.

 

Body of Proof

Episode: Home Invasion

The parents of a seemingly perfect family are murdered; Curtis grapples with his new position; Megan’s romantic life heats up.

 

Parenthood

Episode: My Brother’s Wedding

As the family celebrates a momentous occasion, Joel and Julia try to recover from the emotional turmoil they experienced during the adoption process; Adam and Crosby decide the Luncheonette’s fate; Sarah faces a big decision.

 

The River

Episode: Peaches

nother vessel runs the Magus crew aground; a shocking discovery leads to tears.

 

 

Ringer Review “Oh Gawd, There’s Two of Them”

Malcolm is free, Charlie is a plant and Bridget has an ultrasound. The show keeps building, the story is strong and has really evolved 

courtesy of The CW

from what could have been a one note premise into something multi-layered. Good job show. The opening was made of win, with the split screen as both Henry(Kristoffer Polaha) and Andrew (Ioan Gruffud) identified the photo of Bridget. I love it when the show does that kind of crap. Like Juliet walking in with the cops.

First of all I am so glad the torture of Malcolm(Mike Colter) is over, but why is he heading to Bridget, shouldn’t he be on his way to the police.  I guess he is doing the hero thing, and off to protect Bridget. Whatever. I really want Bridget and Andrew together so Malcolm is just in my way.

Fun fact, there is a great fashion site called Go Fug Yourself, they pick apart people’s hideous fashion choices, you should check it out.  They cover the fashion on Ringer and they are merciless. I understand that Sarah Michelle Gellar sent them an email in response to some of their observations. Really a leather dress in the middle of the day.  Loved Henry’s suit, the pink tie and pocket square were awesome.

courtesy The CW

Someone please tell the costume designer, no more sleeveless for SMG, he upper arms are not up to it. I know SMG said she isn’t pregnant in real life , but she sure looks like it on the show. Full face and boobs.

A couple questions for you the viewer, why is Bridget telling Charlie all that stuff. I understand the bond between sponsor and addict is supposed to be confidential, but really Bridget, have you learned nothing.  At the beginning of the show the writers show how smart she is, setting up the Bridget info with Henry and Andrew, covering her tracks. So is she smart or dumb?

 How did Juliet (Zoey Deutch) get her teacher’s number so fast?  Not that I mind because I love Jason Dohring so any opportunity to bring him deeper into the story is fine with me, but I still think he is bad news. Who the heck drives in Manhattan, I lived there it is brutal. Really Juliet, you couldn’t cab it, and you ruined my Andrew/Bridget squee moment. Way to cock-block.

courtesy The CW

Gemma, poor Gemma, Shiv is brutal!

I wonder what Bridget saw on the ultrasound monitor? A blank screen? Malcolm’s baby? Or a baby with horns?  If she is pregnant with Malcolm’s baby she is going to have a hard time explaining that one in the delivery room.

“Call me with the next move”

Ringer – Twins with an Identity Crisis

Ringer UP 14% in the ratings!! Congrats Team Ringer.

 

I am not really sure what kind of show Ringer is trying to be, thriller, teen sex, romance drama, my neck hurts from the whiplash from trying to keep up.

No matter what type of show it wants to be, I want them to find Gemma (Tara Summers) just so I don’t have to hear her stupid voicemail message anymore, “you’ve reached, Gemma don’t be boring”. I hope somebody killed her, she is annoying. Although I doubt she is dead, I don’t care what the caller in the last scene said, until I see a body I am not buying it.

Lets say Shiv (Sarah Michelle Gellar) was behind Gemma’s disappearance. Does that mean she found out Gemma found out about Bridget. How did Shiv find out, who is Shiv’s mole in NY?

SMG is blonder, and looks a little tanner, reminds me of how her look changed between seasons 2 and 3 of Buffy.

What was good about last night, we learned how far Bridget will go to protect her new life. What I don’t get is why she implicated herself in the crime?  Agent Machado (Nestor Carbonell) will be on her doorstep every minute, is her strategy to hide in plain sight. No matter what the outcome it made for a nice twist.

There where a couple of times I thought Shiv might be pretending to be Bridget, like when they showed her at the dumpster and calling the police. But based on the last scene that doesn’t seem to be the case. Shiv pretending to be Bridget pretending to be Shiv would be a nice plot twist, it seems like something this show would do.

The rest of the episode was meh, I am over the Juliet (Zoey Deutch) new school thing, as much as I love Jason Dohring I don’t need a student teacher affair in the middle of this mess. The only thing that could redeem him, is if, his character turns out to be FBI, or working for Shiv. When are they going to introduce Juliet’s mother?

Somebody please buy Andrew a clue, they are wasting Ioan Gruffudd, I hope they are just saving him for the big drama scenes that will surely happen when he finds out about Bridget. Of course by that time he will be in love with her and it won’t matter. When the heck are they going to have sex, Bridget needs a bun in the oven, or a miscarriage stat.

Bottom line, Ringer is like watching a Laker game, it all happens in the fourth quarter.  Every week this show has a so-so 58 minutes only to be redeemed by the last two.  What can I say it’s those 2 minutes that keep me coming back.

Preview for November 1st

Ringer Most Improved Show of the Week

If you could sum up last nights episode of Ringer in one word, it would be desperate.

• Bridget was desperate to keep Gemma away from Andrew and to keep her secret
• Andrew was desperate to save Juliet
• Malcolm was desperate to stay alive and protect Bridget
• Henry was desperate to keep his meal ticket

I thought last weeks twist, when Bridget told Gemma her secret was great, but last nights episode, raised the stakes even higher. This show is definitely fast tracking the plot. It’s gone from a good premise, to great storytelling with plenty of character development.

It would be great if they brought Juliet’s mother into the mix.  A very special holiday episode indeed, Charisma Carpenter would be fantastic.

The biggest development was Gemma’s “death”, since we didn’t see the body I am not convinced she is dead. And as any longtime watcher of soap operas will tell you until there is a body the victim can be a co-conspirator.  There is a spoiler out there that Gemma isn’t dead. I think she and Henry had a fight, in the midst of it she told him the truth about Bridget and now they are going to blackmail her.

We met Charlie last night, he is either working for Shiv or the FBI agent, in either case he is bad.

What about the pregnancy, we either need a miscarriage or Andrew and Bridge need to have sex stat.

I want to know when Shiv is coming back, so she can pretend to be Bridget being Shiv, now that would be interesting TV.

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