What Makes Hannibal So Great?

 Hey, long time no write! Sorry, had a lot of distractions.

 You know, with the second season of Hannibal going on, I've been reminded how much I love this show. It's on-par with Sherlock, if not better.

 I already sort of reviewed the show (after seeing two episodes) last year, but I want to talk about all the things this show does right. What makes this show so... erm... delicious!

 Oh, and their might be:

PRODUCTION & ATMOSPHERE

 This show has to have some of the most high-quality cinematography I've seen on network TV. It rivals Sherlock in terms of how it's shot. The people behind the show clearly put a lot of effort into making this show come to life. The show is loaded with symbolism, and it has lots of trippy imagery that really makes the show stand out from its competition.

 One notable trait of this show is the "death tableaus". Most of the time, when a murder's discovered, the body is always presented in a macabre sort of display. From totem poles made of bodies, to human cellos, to a body arranged into a saber-toothed tiger. They're are gruesome, but as you continue to watch, much like Will Graham, it gets easier to look. Plus, there's almost a twisted, dark beauty to the arrangements. They get away with a lot on the show. Really pushing the boundaries of network TV.

 That's another thing: the atmosphere. The show has this really fitting atmosphere. It's kind of this unsettling feeling, but it's not alienating. The world is dangerous, but inviting. A bit like the title character.

Oh, that reminds me:

ACTING AND CHARACTERS

 The show has a bunch of really good actors. The main focus here has to go to the two lead actors: Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelson.

 Dancy plays the tortured but gifted FBI consultant Will Graham. Will, as I mentioned in my brief review, is gifted with empathy. But as the show goes on, we learn how unstable he is. The first season is devoted to his downward spiral, due both to a medical condition and Hannibal's manipulations (which are further exposed through flashbacks in season 2). And Hugh Dancy plays it well. When he portrayed Will breaking down sobbing, begging Hannibal not to be lying, it honestly broke my heart. There's a reason one of the fandom's catchphrases is "somebody help Will Graham."

 And in season two, he does an equally good job playing the dark side of Will. You can believe he's been pushed to do the questionable things he does (manipulate, murder, lie) in order to expose Hannibal.

 Speaking of America's Favorite Psycho Psychiatrist, Mads Mikkelson plays him well, too. He makes the iconic role his own, and lives up to his well-known predecessor, Anthony Hopkins. He is able to be a despicable, intimidating human being, but at the same time cool, collected, and likeable. His Hannibal is like a Venus Flytrap: you're drawn in (like the characters), but he's deadly, and doesn't hesitate to remind us. But with how he portrays him, the audience is still able to come back to him, if that makes sense. Heck, the first time I think the fandom turned on him was after Will's aforementioned breakdown, and even then the fans eventually sort of got over it and accepted his being a terrible person.

  Some notable notable actors and their roles on the show include: Gillian Anderson as Hannibal's mysterious psychiatrist, Bedelia DuMaurier. Raul Esparza as Dr. Frederick Chilton (who plays him as both an absolute scumbag in season one, but also enjoyably pathetic in season two). Lara Jean Chorostecki as Freddie Lounds, the online reporter I personally love to hate. Laurence Fishburne as Jack Crawford. Hettienne Park as the beloved Beverly Katz, as well as the other two forensics guys Jimmy Price and Brian Zeller (played by Scott Thompson and Aarom Abrams. And finally, Michael Pitt as Mason Verger. Dear God, Michael Pitt as Mason Verger.

WRITING

 Finally, there's the writing. Bryan Fuller, the man in charge. Has a clear vision of what he wants to do (having planned 7 seasons of the show). The writing is superb. I can not think of a single episode that didn't entertain me in some way. The story flows at a good pace, not dragging on, but not rushing either. And there never seems to be a useless episode either. Some people have mentioned the story takes some deviations from the books (which I have never read at the time of this editorial thing), but I'm fine with it. From what I do know, he does pay several homages to the original, as well. And I don't see anything wrong with his own interpretation. They are very clear on that. It's not like he's taking the story as is and butchering it, like several adaptions tend to do.

 But the best part is that the show is very unpredictable. Just when you think you understand where it's going: BAM! Something happens that changes everything. A character you thought was safe gets killed, one you thought you could trust turns out to not be so trustworthy, and one you thought was dead was alive all along. And you can never be certain what's going on, who's manipulating who. The only certainty is that Hannibal is a cannibal and The Chesapeake Ripper. And I love it.

 The show has also drawn actual reaction from me, too. From pleading for a character to turn around and leave before they get caught, to gasping at a character getting suddenly shot. The show gets more of a direct reaction out of me than "I liked this/didn't like this/was outraged by the writers doing this" than most of the shows I watch.

 Plus, the show knows how to leave off on a cliffhanger better than other longer-running shows I watch. The first season ends with Will locked up in BSHCI after Hannibal frames him, and the second... GAH! I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL IT UNTIL I REVIEW SEASON 2! It's so good! It leave you begging for another helping just to figure out what's going to happen. I remember reading a joke saying that the reason they renew the show is that the higher-ups watch the finales and want to know what happens, too.

---

 So that's my two cents on why Hannibal is such a good show. It's one of my favorite shows on TV right now. I highly recommend it, though the squeamish should tread carefully. It's truly a modern masterpiece, deserving of all the awards.

Why Do I Love Crowley? (Especially In Season 9?)

*Warning: Mild Spoilers*

 Well, I've been pondering something as I've been watching season 9 of Supernatural. (It's improved slightly, but it still has a LOT of problems…) I've noticed that I've become increasingly fond of Crowley, of all characters.

 So, why? Why, in a cast of likable (though sometimes infuriating) good guys, do I go for the morally ambiguous King of Hell? Well, I've done some looking into it, and here are some of the reasons I go for mister Crowley…

 

 He's Interesting

  I find that Crowley is an interesting character. For starters, we don't know much of his backstory. All we ostensibly know about him is:

-As a human, he was a Scottish tailor named Fergus McLeod from the 1600s

-He had a son that he hated (and hated him back)

-He sold his soul to "hit double digits" bellow the belt (which still amuses me…)

-His mother was a witch

  It may all be true, it may not. But I really want them to explore his backstory one of these days. I want to know how he became The King of Hell we know and love.

 Also, the storyline's he's involved in this season is the one I'm most invested in. I could care less about the power struggle with the angels at this point, I just want them to kill Gadreel and Metatron already, they wasted a lot of the Human!Castiel plot's potential, and I just want the boys to get over it and make up like we KNOW they will.

 Crowley, on the other hand, is involved with interesting plots right now. I'm actually invested in the "Who Will Rule Hell: Adaddon or Crowley?" arc. I'm admittedly intrigued in the "Mark of Cain" plot (if only for its story potential and that it might have Dean in peril rather than Sam as usual…). And then there's the whole "How The Third Trial Affected Crowley"/"Crowley's Blood Addiction" thing. Sweet merciful Chuck, am I hyped for  "Blade Runners" for apparently finally delving into it!

His Personality and Character

 

 The writers could have easily made Crowley a generic, card-carrying villian (though, admittedly, it wasn't his purpose in season 5. But they could have easily screwed him up!). But he's not. Yes, he does terrible things, season 8 being the pinnacle of puppy-kicking for him, I'm not going to ignore that.
 

 And he still has some degree of positive traits. The big one is that he has some sense of honor to him. If you make a deal/contract with him, he's probably the least likely to screw you over.

  He sees his deals with The Winchesters through to the end. And he freaking punishes a Crossroads Demon for killing people he had contracts with early. 

 But the best example of Crowley being redeemable comes back in season 5. He makes a deal with Bobby in order to help defeat Lucifer. He could have easily just left it at that. But, without having to be asked, he throws in healing Bobby's legs and getting him out of the wheelchair. He didn't have to, but he did.

 He's also really clever. He's, by his own admission, the one person who tries not to underestimate Sam and Dean. And he does what's in his best interest. He's able to play people and the boys. But he's not infallible, either. He can still BE defeated, but he still manages to pick himself up again and brush it off.

 Then of course, there's his wit and sass. I swear, the writers give him some of the best dialogue. He's a very quotable character.

 

I apologize for the language with this one...

  Plus, who doesn't love someone who flirts with the boys?

 

 And then there was that intriguing bit from the season eight finale, where he gives this little speech when he becomes mostly human:

 It kind of hints that maybe there is a lot more going on with everyone's favorite demon (again, another thing to look at).

 What I'm saying is, is that he's three-dimensional...

 He's Well-Acted

 Yeah, I've kinda become a Mark Sheppard fangirl thanks to Crowley. He plays the character really well, delivering the lines brilliantly. And, again, just look at that "I deserve to be loved" clip! Holy crap, Mark. Somebody get this man an award!

He's The One Thing That Consistently Makes Season 9 Entertaining

  Throughout Season 9, I've always looked forward to the Crowley episodes. Every episode he's in, he steals the show in some way or another. "Slumber Party", "Heaven Can't Wait" He's shined in the episodes he's starred in, like "Devil May Care", "Road Trip", and "First Born". Whenever Crowley's gone, I wish he'd show up again. He's the Ensemble Darkhorse of the season. He makes things fun for me. And, giving how depressing/soul-crushing/rainbow-killing this season is, more power to him.

***

 So that's why Crowley's my new favorite character on Supernatural. And I swear to Chuck, writers, if you touch on hair on his head or in his beard, I will hunt you down.

 Anyway, I look forward to seeing more of him. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to contemplate continuing to sit through the reboot of Battlestar Galactica. The first episode's so meh so far, but it's going to have Mark Sheppard pop up at some point... *sigh*

Loveable Freak Reviews Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

  So, I've finally read this book I've been dying to read: Good Omens. And IT. IS. FANTASTIC!

 I'm going to avoid putting big spoilers for this 14 year old book...

 Anyway, the book is about the prophesized end of the world. However, as Heaven and Hell gather their forces, there's been a mistake as to who the Anti-Christ is. Meanwhile, a demon named Crowley (...I know...) and an angel named Aziraphale are opposed to this, as they have been on Earth since the beginning and have learned to love mankind and the world in general. So they are fighting to circumvent the end...

 ...And it's a comedy!

 Seriously, this book is hilarious! The tone of the narrator is so snarky. And it has hilarious footnotes (at least in my 'Murican copy). You may wonder how freaking ARMAGEDDON could be funny, well, this is how. I'd compare the writing style to that of the late Douglas Adam's A Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (another book that's worth reading). And all the characters are quirky and memorable.

 The two big ones I should mention are our essential leads: Crowley and Aziraphale, two unlikely friends.

 Crowley is a fast-talking demon that thinks outside the box when it comes to demonic work. He also sees tempting and condemning souls as more of a job that needs to be done (like tax collection), and is not that terrible a pers-erm, demon. Plus, he drives a freaking classic black Bentley, gardens, and listens to Queen! How can I not love him? Great, now two demons named Crowley are my favorite characters. Starting to sense a pattern... Or a type with me...

 Aziraphale is also loveable. He runs a bookstore, but refuses to sell his books because he's attached to them, and is hilariously fussy and adorkable (he does stage magician tricks without using angel magic, for pete's sake!). And, like Crowley, he's not exactly a goody-two shoes of an angel (but not to the degree of, say, 98% of the angels of Supernatural...)

 I feel I should also mention The Four Horsemen Horsepeople. There are some pretty unique concepts with them. War is a beautiful woman, for example. Famine writes diet books and makes food that purposely starve people. Instead of Pestilence, there's Pollution. And Death TALKS IN ALL CAPS WITH NO QUOTATION MARKS.

 The book is incredibly well-written. It's very easy to picture the scenes. Some of them would be great in a movie, such as when the Four Horsepeople meet up. It's co-written by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Gaiman is a writer who at this point can do no wrong in my eyes no matter what he writes, and I wanna be like one day. As for Pratchett, I've yet to read his books, but I seriously want to try them now.

Final Thoughts:

• Too many favorite scenes and lines to list.
• I think Eric Kripke and at least some of the writers on Supernatural are fans of the book. Seriously! A demon named Crowley that's innovative, Anti-Apocalypse, and every so often isn't that bad of a guy (especially in light of the episode "Road Trip")? An episode with what can only be described as the reality-warping Anti-Antichrist? I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.
• True story: when reading the scene where Crowley's racing to Tadfield as The Bentley bursts into flames, my iPod started playing the song "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen. It worked so well. If they make a movie or something of this book, I swear, THAT SONG NEEDS TO PLAY DURING THAT SCENE.
• Speaking of movies: I might do a post sometime with a hypothetical casting for an adaptation...

 Overall, I really love this book and highly recommend it. Seriously. Read it. It... You won't regret it...

...

...Go read the thing...

Loveable Freak (Sort Of) Reviews (And Sort Of Analyzes) BBC Sherlock: "Many Happy Returns" Minisode

 

    SCREAMING! It's here! The minisode is here early!

 

 

 

  *ahem* Sorry. So, I'm going to do my best to review this beautiful little thing. You know the drill (thought the video is towards the end for those who haven't see it yet):

 

Oh, you don't know how good this feels to write a Sherlock review again...

 

  So, when we last left everyone, Sherlock was supposedly dead. This takes place an unspecified time after "The Reichenbach Fall" (we can assume it's before John grew Harold his magnificent moustache). Everyone seems to be trying to move on from Sherlock. Except, surprisingly, Anderson, who insists to Lestrade ol' Sherly's alive, solving crimes around the globe and working his way back to England. Lestrade tells the now ex-forensics specialist to let it go, and goes to deliver some things of Sherlock's he had to John. Including a DVD with an uncut birthday message for John. Feels, brilliance, and sheer amounts of excitement in the fandom ensue.

 

  Alright, let's start with the big thing here: ANDERSON STILL BELIEVES IN SHERLOCK. ANDERSON. "SYLVIA" (according to Gatiss) "SHERLOCK AND THE FANDOM'S PUNCHING BAG" ANDERSON STILL BELIEVES IN SHERLOCK HOLMES. Needless to say, at least on Twitter (yes I have a Twitter, no I won't tell you who I am), everyone's opinion has done a 180. It's sweet that, despite how cruel he and Sherlock were to each other, he still believes that he's out there. And it's impressive he's the one clever enough to notice the pattern. I kind of liked Anderson in a "lovingly make fun of him" way, but now I like him even more. Plus, we get a taste of Anderson and Lestrade's relationship. Lestrade seems genuinely concerned about Anderson's obsession with Sherlock (that cost Adnerson his job), and tells him about how they all want him back. And Anderson gets a few jabs at Lestrade.

 

  What's next? Will Donavan be portrayed as a decent person this season? Is Sherlock and Anderson's relationship going to change? Will this season be to the fandom with him what season 2 was for me with Lestrade? GAH! Excited.

 

  Also, everything to do with the DVD was pretty touching. And it was fantastic to see Martin Freeman's John and Cumberlock again. Oh, Cumberlock, I missed you. There was light humor with recording!Sherlock asking about what to do in the video, refusing to go to the birthday dinner because there's people, and insisting all John's friends hate him.

 

  Then comes the awesome part when John rhetorically tells the recording's Sherlock to come back. To which the recording says "Okay!" and says how he'll be back. Meanwhile Lestrade passes a well-dressed bystander with a newpaper, an article reading "The Game Is Back On", and smiles. This, two, rasises questions, in a good way. Is the bystander Sherlock? Or Mycroft? Is Lestrade in on the faked death now? Is it sort of like my favorite fanfic, "The Full House", in that case? GAH! I am so excited!

 

Okay, final thoughts:

• Now that we're all attached to Anderson, I'm afraid Moffat and Gatiss are going to kill him. I hope not, but if it happens, I called it...
• This is notably written by both Moffat AND Gatiss. *insert joke about it taking two writers to write a 7-minute short but one to write a 90-minute episode*
• I missed everything about this show...
• I can't pick a favorite thing, since this was only 7 minutes and it was brilliant throughout. So just watch it. In fact: here it is on YouTube:

 

                              

 

  Overall, it was a brilliant short/minisode. I loved this and it only fuels my excitement for the next season even more. I can't wait until the show officially returns on January 14th for the States (and January 1st for England...) Though I will hold off on reviewing the season until I get the DVD or Blu-Ray. I just prefer to review when I can pause it to jot down notes. That's something I disliked reviewing season 1 of Elementary the way I did 98% of the way. But I digress.

 

  Merry Christmas Eve and Merry Christmas, readers and Sherlockians. And I wish you all many happy returns...

Couldn't find a gif of the minisode wink, so here's the original Cumberlock wink...

 

Loveable Freak Reviews Welcome To Night Vale

  The written word is up to interpretation. Art is subjective. Welcome to my Night Vale review...


  Hey, readers. I figured I'd review something a little different then my usual fare of TV shows the Internet has a fixation on and various movies, usually involving explosions. I decided to review a podcast that is gaining some well-deserved notability. It's titled Welcome To Night Vale, and I feel like maybe I should review it. Though, be warned, it is going to contain...

 Welcome To Night Vale is done in the format of a local radio show. The main character, Cecil, informs the listener about the goings-on in the strange desert town of Night Vale. From the dog park, where no living being is ever allowed to enter, the small subterranean kingdom found beneath lane five of the bowling alley, to the librarians (here horrible abominations) capturing children in the summer reading program. He also talks about the colorful characters who inhabit the town: a white man in a plastic feather headdress who claims to be an Apache tracker, who Cecil always reminds us is racist; Old Woman Josie, who is accompanied by angels (whom City Council insists do not exist); a man in a tan jacket and a suitcase of flies, who's face no one can remember; and of course, Carlos: the scientist newcomer to the community, whom Cecil falls for immediately.

 The podcast is quite surreal, to say the least. The humor comes from the strange eccentricness of the town, and the bizzare goings-on that to them, seem almost normal. But it is enjoyably so, and it does develop plots, both the ones in the latest installment and ongoing ones. It is so much fun to hear follow-ups to stories you may have forgotten about. It's even better as we hear it through our host, who of course delivers it in professional news radio fashion... Most of the time (for example, taking time to lament over Carlos getting a haircut, berating the local barber for betraying the community.). It is rather formulaic, given the format, but it is not a bad thing. You get used to it and enjoy when parts come up. Such as the strange words from the "sponsors", that rarely have anything to do with the company; the weather, which is just a random song by a different undiscovered artist each episode, and the proverbs after the credits.

 And now, one of the biggest elements...

 The best thing in this podcast has to be the relationship between Cecil and Carlos. As the show goes on, Cecil and Carlos get together. And they are adorable. I swear, they are the happiest, most stable couple in fiction right now, possibly ever. Cecil realizes the Carlos he's pined over isn't perfect, but he accepts that and still loves him regardless. They don't have any drama whatsoever, and that is perfectly fine. The writers let them be happy. We're so used to shows and movies adding drama for the sake of drama. Tearing couples apart or tossing in cheap "will they or won't they?" elements. It's nice to see writers allowing characters to have a little bliss for a change. I know a lot of shows that could learn from that. The best part has to be that they are a gay, presumably interracial (we're never told exactly if Cecil is white or not (a source of debate in the fandom), but we're all sure Carlos is latino), couple, and they are both adorable and more stable then most straight fictional couples. I'm just saying... The writers are doing something different from the norm, and I appreciate it. If only all writers can suck it up and "take risks".

 Overall, it is a fun podcast to listen to on a bi-monthly basis (they release new episodes on the first and fifteenth of every month). It's all free to download on iTunes, and I suggest if you like it to check out their website here, and possibly donate and support the show if you can. In fact, here's the first episode, uploaded by someone to YouTube (with fanart and pictures added). Consider it this review's "weather":

 Readers, there's not much more I can say about this podcast. It balances its elements well. The characters are memorable and likeable. The main relationship is one of the best I've ever encountered. and deserves the attention it's gotten, and if you haven't discovered this little gem, you should try it. I swear, when you listen, you, like Cecil, will fall in love instantly.

  Good night, Internet, good night.

***

Well, if I've been somewhat mimicking the show's style, I might as well end with today's proverb: we have nothing to fear but fear itself. Seriously, have you seen fear itself? It's terrifying and it's why I won't be able to sleep at night...

Happy 50th, Doctor Who. Here's To You

  Well, today is the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. I would have planned something bigger, like a list of my favorite companions, a new top 9 episodes list, or a big squeefest over The Ninth Doctor and why he deserves more love from the mainstream and ohmygoshEcclestonpleasecomebackanepisodeIlovedNinesomuch. But no. I'll leave it short and simple.

  I only started to watch the show about two years ago, and I've only fully watched New Who, but I still love this show. There's sort of an optimism to it. That there will be somewhere there to stop the big scary things we encounter. That a strange but wonderful character will wisk you away on an adventure. Someone showing you both the beauty and the terror of the universe and running alongside you. They'll take you from the humdrum and the terrible places you don't want to be, and find you special. There's also the fantastic about it, seeing the strange new worlds and strange new monsters. Seeing the new while also encountering the old. It's fun escapism.

  The Doctor is a great character, a constant, but yet ever-changing. He has the distinct honor of being reinterpreted multiple times, all within the same story.

  People probably wonder how it turned out to last so long, and I think to anyone who watches it, it's obvious. It's a gem in the geek community, and if enough watch it, the world. What is it with the British and giving us timeless classics?

  Maybe the show will continue another 50, maybe not. But one thing's for certain: like all good things, it will live on.

  So, I think I'll leave this amazing video I found, with one of the best speeches from the show. Happy 50th, Doctor Who. We raise our sonic screwdrivers to you...

ERMERGERSH! NEW SHERLOCK FOOTAGE!

Okay, so Sunday, the BBC released a promo for all their original dramas. And among them was Sherlock, and it featured some new footage!

Here it is...

  I can't resist a little analysis...

  There's not much to say about the Sherlock footage. A good chunk of it is Sherlock in different places. There is a part where Sherlock is talking to John, mentioning how it's quote "you and me against the world" in what I believe is a Canon quote. Also, his beautiful perfect lip is split. Either John decked him for making him believe he was dead, or that's a result of the adventure...

  But there's the part that's got me and the fangirls all excited:

CUMBERLOCK. ON A. FREAKING. MOTORCYCLE. HECK. YES...

 

  Moffat and Gatiss (I'm more inclined to believe the later) are spoiling us. I'm not sure who's on the bike with Cumberlock though. The figure suggests a woman. Now, she's wearing a red jacket like I've seen Amanda Abington wearing in set pictures. So it most likely could be Mary Morstan. But I'm also kinda hoping it's Molly, because I ship it  I ship it so hard reasons... Or, it could be another woman me and the Cumbercollective will be jealously screaming "get off our man" to... ;P

 

  But, whoever it is, IT'S BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH AS SHERLOCK ON A MOTORCYCLE! *swoon* All we need is him to wear glasses and I'll be completely satisfied fanservice-wise...

  Anyway, that's all I gotta say. Can't wait for Season 3. I'm really excited for this one. And SAVE ME WITH "THE EMPTY HEARSE" GATISS!!! YOU'RE THE ONLY WRITER ON THE SHOW I CAN THOURGHLY RELY ON!!!! DX

Loveable Freak Reviews A Fanfic- The Full House By Emcee (of Archive Of Our Own)

Alright, I KNOW I said I was gonna do an MST-style review of a less-than-stellar fic. I say a lot of things. It is coming up, but the thing is, I've just read a GOOD fanfic, and I want to review that now! I need to share my thoughts on it! Ladies and gents, the Sherlock fanfic, "The Full House".



 Here's the story: after The Fall, Sherlock goes to stay with Molly while he tries to dismantle Moriarty's Criminal Network. He even employs a familiar face to help. But plenty of complications arise, especially our favorite consulting detective's feelings towards a certain pathologist. Relationship upgrades, sinister plots, and really good writing ensue.



  As you no doubt guessed, this is a Sherlolly fic. I'll admit, as much as I'm cool with and like Sherlock not being romantically involved with people, I'm a sucker for Sherlolly. And this is very well-written, and in-character for Sherlock on his side: he views the relationship as an experiment, but his feelings do grow. And he does worry for his ability when he thinks his feelings grow too much. And it continues on the character's in-show development: Molly growing more of a backbone with Sherlock, and Sherlock becoming a real boy and dealing with his emotions (which I am admittedly a complete and total sucker sucker for).

*ahem* When done RIGHT! >:(

Plus, John's reactions to Sherlock and Molly are gold.


  And it's not just the romance. There is adventure in this, too. There's the ongoing plot of taking on the still-alive Moriarty, taking down Moran, and Moriarty's Network. Plus, the author, Emcee, throws in a very interesting twist on one of my favorite Canon stories: "The Copper Beeches". There's more to the fic than just, "Sherlock and Molly become an item. That's it. Nothing else."



The pacing is also good. The romance doesn't happen all at once, the adventure doesn't just completely disappear, it's still brought up. It's pretty well-balanced. Even when there's a "brief break-up", it's handled for a good amount of time, in-character, and it's not just forgotten when they inevitably get back together.

 

I also have to praise the fanfic for something. She(?) (I'm guessing the author's a she) ACTUALLY made me like Irene Adler here. As I've said, the characters are in-character. Irene's no different. But, with how she handled the character, here, I actually enjoyed when she popped up. Yes, a FANFIC WRITER did a better job with the Sherlock version of Irene than Moffat! I guess it goes to show one of my philosophies is true: it doesn't matter if an idea is good or bad, it often depends on how you handle them.

 

Also, it's hilarious and made me feel emotions! Emcee writes some pretty hilarious scenes and exchanges between the characters, especially between Sherlock and John. And I did feel stuff as I read. There was the obligatory squeeing and "aw"-ing over my kinda irrational, fueled only by emotions/cuteness/sympathy OTP, of course (What can I say? Fic!Sherlock (Ficlock (?) ) could be so adorkable here! I'M A SUCKER FOR ADORKABLE!). And I admit to getting a bit mad at Ficlock during the "brief break-up" thing. I understood why he did it, but I still got mad! Brava(o), author. Brava(o)...

 

One more thing to sweeten the pot about this fic. The author CLEARLY knows the original Canon. There are so many Canon references I caught. When someone works in nods to the whole "James/John Name Continuity Error" and Irene's surname at the end of "A Scandal In Bohemia", you KNOW they read the Canon. That also makes it worth the read.

 

Final Thoughts:


-Too many favorite parts in this fic to list...


-So, in this fic, Anthea's a lesbian. That... Makes sense, actually. It works. HEADCANON ACCEPTED!


-I should also note the author worked in a scene where Sally Donavan was not treated as a terrible person. THANK YOU, EMCEE! Can... Can we have her write for the show? She can take Thompson's job! :P


- Ooh! Another gush! "The Full House" features artwork from one of my favorite fan artists, lexiken! Her deviantArt can be found here. 
 

  Overall, I love the fic. It's well-written, and is possibly it IS my new favorite fanfic. I highly recommend it. If you ship/like Sherlolly, you'll love it. And even if you don't, I'm sure you'll enjoy it for the writing, in-characterness, and the canon references. I will warn you, it IS 50 chapters long, so it will take a while to read. But it is worth it. The fanfic can be found here. 

  There is a sequel (and a couple side stories). I'm only now starting to read the sequel, "The Party of Four" (which I think will be as good as the first). The side-stories are optional to read. I don't recommend the "aphrodisiac" one, though. It's events are referenced in the original, and I was cool with it just referenced in the main story... The others are fine! ^_^


Okay, I swear I'll finish the MST thing (it's proving problematic. I'm getting so nitpicky), but I have two kinda "editorials" I want to do first...

Marvel May: Loveable Freak Reviews X2: X-Men United

  And, I'm back for more Marvel May. Yesterday, I discussed the first movie in the original X-Men Trilogy, so it's only logical that I talk about the second in that series: X2: X-Men United!

Sadly not pictured: the best X-Man ever...

  Yeah, I know the movie's like 10 years old, but I'd hate to give it away for someone who hasn't seen it. You know the drill...

  In The White House, the president is attacked by a certain teleporting mutant. Naturally, Xavier and Cyclops go to see if Magneto is somehow behind this. But they are captured by Col. William Stryker. Stryker has been controlling mutants using his son Jason's (a mutant with the power to create illusions, not unlike the comics' Mastermind) brain fluid, and plans to eliminate the mutant population once and for all using his son, Professor Xavier, and a version of Cerebro he made himself. He also kidnaps some students from the school. Now the X-Men (including a newly-returned Wolverine), Iceman, Rogue, and Nightcrawler must team up with Mystique and Magneto (who escaped prison in the coolest way EVER!) to save mutantkind. Cool fight scenes, some flaws in logic, and the ultimate sacrifice that anyone who reads the comics knew the outcome of ensues.

  I'm going to get my biggest source of fangirling out of the way: OHMYGOSH NIGHTCRAWLER IS AWESOME!

  I mean, from the minute he appears on screen, he is brilliant! The costume is awesome! The teleporting effect is fantastic! The actor did a good job! And they kept his faith, which is good, since I like that about the character (that and his being the most genuinely good guy on the team. Why did freakin' Marvel have to replace him in-comics with his chaotic AoA counterpart? (sorry I keep complaining, but it still ticks me off...)). Though I thought the whole "Self-mutilation for every sin/angel symbol "cutter-ish scar-toos"" were a little weird. I don't know what the deal was with those. But they looked cool, too. (Maybe I've answered my own question...) It was worth it to see this movie just for him alone. He was so awesome, they never used him again in the movies for fear he'd overshadow the others! (At least, that's what I think... ;) )

  Okay, that's out now...

  Once again, the cast is really good. I loved Magneto and Wolverine, as usual. And, again, Mystique was cool. It's now apparent to me that that is where Nightcrawler got his awesome. (At least, in-comics, where Mystique's his mother. I'm not sure as far as the movies go yet. I mean, they had his dad in-comics in First Class, so maybe...) Stryker was a good villain. Also, I liked this version of Lady Deathstrike. (Mutants are cooler than cyborgs. Just sayin'...) And they worked in a lot of characters as cameos. Especially during the part where Mystique hacks into Stryker's files. I paused the movie to look at the names, and I was pleased to know all but three. Here were the names and who they were:

• Guthrie (2) (Cannonball and Husk)
• Keniucho Harade (Silver Samurai)
• Remy LeBeau (Gambit)
• Garrison Kane (didn't know this guy, had to look him up)
• Artie Maddiks (again, no idea. Looked him up.)
• Jaime Mardrox (Multiple Man)
• Xi'an Coy Mahn (Karma, but I didn't recognize the name...)
• Maximoff (2) (Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch)
• Kevin McTaggart (Proteus)
• Danielle Moonstar

  Okay, that self-ego-stroking's out of the way...

  The story is really awesome. I enjoyed it. Though, I did find some things I had problems with, logic-wise.

   First, there was the whole, "leaving the kids with Colossus" thing for Wolverine. Seriously, he leaves the kids to fend for themselves with only one guy to protect them from trained military officers (who, evidently, can only capture six mostly sleeping kids)? And he eventually takes the three teenagers who could, in theory, fend for themselves better on their own or help the kids? Obviously, Wolverine is only capable of taking care of small groups of teenagers, especially teenage girls. :P

  But the biggest one was probably Jean's sacrifice in the end. Why did she necessarily have to leave the plane to hold back the water long enough for the plane and give the plane the boost it needed? Seriously! It would have been easier to do that in the plane! And she wouldn't have to waste energy saying goodbye through Xavier and keeping Nightcrawler from teleporting her back. Clearly, if she could do all that, I'm sure she could do it from INSIDE THE PLANE! And another thing, how was she keeping Nightcrawler from teleporting? I know The Phoenix is all-powerful, but I don't think she could screw up powers! Seriously, I know it's Jean's lot in life to die and become the Flame Bird of Psycho, but still, that's ridiculous! They never explain it properly!

  But, despite these flaws, it's still a good movie. And they balance it out with clever things like Magneto's escape. That was cool.

  Alright, final thoughts:

• Favorite scenes were Nightcrawler's opening scene, Magneto's escape, Mystique getting into Stryker's base, and various assorted things.
• Mutantism is totally not used for a metaphor for anything, here.../sarcasm
• Did anyone else get a creepy vibe from the Mystique/Nightcrawler conversation? At least Nightcrawler's reaction afterwards? Or was it just me? Seriously, that's his mom in the comics!
• Cyclops still cannot be discreet. Seriously, couldn't they make him some more casual-looking visor/glasses for sneaky stuff? You can't do that cosplaying as the guy from Star Trek: The Next Generation... And listening to Backstreet Boys proves he can't own a motorcycle...
• The Drakes' Cat is the best cat ever. He don't give a crap about any of the weirdness...

  Overall, I really like this movie. Yeah, it has some logic flaws, but the awesome stuff balances it out. It's as good, if not better than, its predecessor...

  Well, next time I do Marvel May reviews, I'll get to the more... infamous of the X-Men movies. X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. And boy, do I have a controversial opinion on the latter...

Loveable Freak Reviews Elementary: Episode 21- "A Landmark Story"

  Yeah... Sorry this was so late, guys. You see, Thursday, I was having trouble with my signal as far as CBS was concerned, so I missed a lot of what was happening early on, and I was having a bad day already, so by the time I got it back I just ragequit and watched what was left of Hannibal instead. And Friday was chaos, sooo....

  ...Buuuuut I found it online for free (a lot of the stuff I watch now I can't watch for free, so I forgot about the Internet being an option), so I'm gonna postpone my "Marvel May" Review project and watch and review while I got some peace before more chaos ensues in my life. (One word: visitors. I'm gonna be so off this week...)

  So, let's get to "A Landmark Story", and see if it lives up to its title...

  Okay, I can't help it, I feel I need to talk about spoilers for this episode. River gif, you know what to do...

  Moran calls Millerlock into prison to tip him off to the latest crime involving Moriarty. Then he kills a guard. (Oh, I've missed you, you psychopathic Natural Born Killer...)

This sets our duo on the trail of a serial killer named Daniel Gottlieb, who is talented at killing people in ways that seem like an accident. Recently, he's been killing people involved with a vote on a Speakeasy/Prohibition museum's status as a landmark...

   He's captured by our duo, and leads Millerlock not to the Napoleon of Crime, but to another of Moriarty's employees, John Douglas. (Who is promptly killed.) The episode ends with Millerlock closer to Moriarty, and me feeling sad for reasons I'll get to later...

  Alright, I really liked this episode! I mean, come on, it had Moran, for starters! And it brought back the Moriarty plot, which I've missed with the mostly episodic, filler-y episodes we've had since "M". And the story was pretty good, too. And, while we never see the real Moriarty, we at least get to hear him. And he sounds awesome, but right now I'm mad at/kinda hating him at the same time, after... I'll... get to that later...

  I really dug our serial killer, Daniel Gottlieb. (You can tell, seeing as he's one of the few antagonists I've bothered to remember the name of...) He was clever, as were his murders. I enjoyed them a little too much in that regard. He's been added to my list of favorite antagonists for the show, around the "Snow Angels" thieves.

  John Douglas was killed shortly after he was introduced and revealed to NOT be Moriarty (a "Feaux-iarty"), so I have few thoughts on him.

  Now, the big thing I was mentioned. The sad thing that left me mad at Moriarty.

  Okay, so at the end of the episode, Millerlock gets a coded text from Moriarty on Gottlieb's phone, and since Gottlieb couldn't translate the code, he takes it to Moran. Moran claims he doesn't know the code, but when Sherlock decodes it, he realizes it's a message for Moran, saying if he doesn't kill himself, he (Moriarty) will kill Moran's sister. (Aww, killers DO have loved ones...) We're treated to the lovely image of Moran bashing his head into the mirror of his cell.

  My literal reaction (besides whispering/shouting "NO!") in my notes was this:

 "Nooooo! Moran! Don't die! I love you! You're one of the few things I've to look forward to with this show! Moriarty might kill your sister, anyway! You can't trust him! YOU CAN'T TRUST HIM!!"

  Anyway, Millerlock calls Gregson to get him to stop the act, but Gregson informs him Moran's probably not going to make it through the night...

DOHERTY!!!!

   :( I'm not happy about this development... Goodnight, Sebastian Moran; and flights of Arsenals sing thee to thy rest. We hardly knew thee...

  Unless he lives somehow...

Final Thoughts:

-CBS Internet Viewer's annoying with excessive ads. Better to watch on TV in that regard. So, watch instant whenever with millions of ads, or watch when it airs and get ads out of the way on breaks? Well played, CBS... T_T

- Favorite scenes were the dissection scene (though seeing the insides was gross), the straightjacket scene, the interigation scene, the Taser scene, Moran's early sc... Okay, pretty much everything I liked. Watch it.

-Oh, and I loved Millerlock saying Joan was the reason he wasn't going be like he was in "M" with Moriarty and Co. this time.

-You know, Gregson, Millerlock could've potentially used the Legos for torturing Douglas by making him step on them... ;P

-Elementary kills everyone I love that's from canon... They're worse than Moffat. ... ...

Wait a minute...

  RUN, JOANNIE! RUN BEFORE THEY GET YOU, TOO!! >_<

 

- Never heard the end credits song until today. I like it...

 

  Overall, another one of the elusive "good throughout" episodes. I really liked it! Now, three more episodes to go, and two nights of this show left! It can't be that hard to keep goodness up now, can it? We got more Moriarty plot and Irene coming up! YAY OPTIMISM!

 

  (Next post: hopefully I kick off my Marvel May Reviews...)

Loveable Freak "Reviews" (Well... More Like Discusses) Hannibal

(Ugh. Hate when I do my "serious"/ranty posts... Moving on...)

Good evening, readers. Well, it's not evening here... It's the afternoon here in the US... Dang it! I ruined the shout-out! DX

...

...

…I'm gonna talk about Hannibal... (may have some spoilers for the first episode, mostly because a lot of what happens appears to be important to know for later on...)

 

  Yes, I've started watching the new show on NBC. I gotta say, I really dig it.

 

  First of all, I'd like to point out I have NEVER seen Silence of the Lambs. The most I know comes from pop culture. That Hannibal's a cannibal and not a good person, the "good evening, Clarice" quote, and the "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti" line. That's it. And now, having watched the show, I think I want to see it.

 

  The story is about a FBI investigator named Will Graham. Graham has a unique talent in that he can empathize with the serial killers he's hunting. On one of the cases, a psychiatrist named Dr. Hannibal Lecter is called in to help. Anyway on said case (the disappearance of several college girls), Graham is forced to kill the kidnapper/murderer when the killer, Hobbs, attacks his (Hobbs's) own family. (This is because of Hannibal, who secretly tipped off Hobbs that they were onto him...) The rest of the series seems to have to do with Graham dealing with the repercussions of this case (while solving the murders of the week), as Hannibal seems to take in interest in Graham and his head. Maybe even toying with him a little...

 

  Anyway, I really like this show. Graham is an interesting character. I think his empathy is an interesting idea. It's portrayed visually as him conducting the murders himself (in his head), getting into the shoes of the murderer. It's pretty cool; though as it's shown in the show, it seems like a blessing and a curse. Especially after he kills Hobbs. And, as with all gifted characters, he's not exactly a "people person".

 

  Hannibal is cool, too. He's kinda subtly creepy. And sophisticated. He does seem to be dissecting Graham's mind. The writers so far seem to be having a field day with playing with the fact we know Hannibal eats people. Like whenever he makes food for another character, you have to wonder if he's giving THEM human flesh and organs, too. And there was this one line, where he's having dinner with Jack Crawford, and he states that he'd love to have "him (Crawford) and his wife for dinner". >:)

 

  The show has had some pretty interesting murders so far. Though, admittedly, they are pretty creepy. Like last night's one involved some people who were being kept semi-alive, but unconscious for a while so their killer could grow mushrooms from their decomposing bodies. One of them (who's mouth had been partially peeled off!) suddenly grabs Graham. HE WAS POSSIBLY STILL ALIVE! Yeah, sweet dreams for all the little children! >:D (Actually, little children shouldn't watch this, what's wrong with you, you sick, twisted monkey/) However, it's not a bad thing. They don't do it in an over-the-top, "solely for shock value", exploitative way. If anything, it's more atmospheric than anything else. It works. To me, it's a good creepy. And, I'm not suffering nightmares yet, so...

 

  Anyway, I highly recommend it. The only problem I have is with when it airs. It's the same time as Elementary. And while admittedly the current schedule for new episodes of Elementary is... schizophrenic, it's still going to air at the same time as some of the new ones. But fear not! I have a way to get around this! I have a way to finish up my Elementary reviews while still keeping up with this new show.

 

 Last Minute Thoughts:

• Yes, as seen in episode two, when women go onto the computer after showering, we go without bothering to get dressed first... *eyeroll* Just like how we get dressed in the living room with open windows...
• The fact Graham takes in lost dogs is sweet...
• I wonder if Hannibal will beat the current record held by Supernatural for "moments that creep me out..."

  So, yeah, it's a good show I'll definitely keep watching that's worth a try. Again, I warn you it can get a little intense in the creepy department, so if dark, macabre, gory stuff isn't your thing, you may want to avoid it. And if you're cool with gore but still get creeped out, be sure to have your favorite pillow to bury your head into when things get scary on standby... >:D

 

*insert some appropriate for the end of this post, creepy Silence of the Lambs quote here*

Loveable Freak Reviews Elementary: Episode 19 "Snow Angels"

    Well, it's back again. For this week. Time to talk about this week's Elementary.

   Okay, so what happens is on the eve of a huge blizzard in New York, some people break into a huge technology company and steal some soon-to-be-released phones. The woman among them shoots the security guard and he dies, but not before he shoots her. Sherlock and Joan come in to assist, of course. At first, Millerlock is skeptical the NYPD will even need his help, though he thinks that the electrical problems that come with the storm could make it interesting. Little does the detective realize that the stolen phones are but the mere tip of the iceberg of a greater scheme...

  Oh, and also, our heroes allow an old friend of Millerlock's, a transgender woman who's recovering from a recent break-up. And who's this woman?

 Ms. Hudson.

My reaction.

  Yes, it's admittedly a bit odd, but it's also kind of awesome and I like this version of Ms. Hudson. She was a very nice lady. I can't wait to see her again (which we will, since Sherlock hired her as a weekly housekeeper). Though, I'm not holding my breath for her reappearing anytime soon.

  Speaking of liking, I liked this episode. There was a lot going for it. Take, for example, the mystery. It was really quite clever. The antagonists really had a good plan. The twists felt natural, there was no "Dirty Laundry'-ing (I'm so making that a verb...) here. They were clever. Heck, even Millerlock says, quote, "If they hadn't killed someone, I'd have half a mind to let them get away with it." They were pretty impressive. I'd put them right under Adam as far as Elementary antagonists go.

   I loved seeing Joan and Millerlock boucing deductions off each other. They were pretty in-sync. And I got a giggle out of their roommate bickering over stuff like paying the phone bill and cleaning. It's the simple things...

  Actually, everyone seemed like they were in top form. Especially Bell, who finds a key piece to the mystery on his own while Joan and Millerlock are trying to stop the real crime the phone theft was covering.

  And the best part is:

Pictured: World's Most Adorable Ambulance

 CLYDE LIVES!!!

How often have I abused this gif?

  That alone
 made the whole episode worth it. I know it's stupid to get all squee-y over a tortoise, but... GAH! I got the stupidest smile on my face when he showed up. Especially since Millerlock was doing stuff you probably not do with tortoises! Eek! Besides, I'm a BBC Sherlock fangirl, I squeed over unfinished walls, this is normal in comparison...

   Okie-Dokie! Final thoughts:

• Lot of scenes I like. Millerlock had great lines, there was the awesomeness all around, Clyde's one scene wonder, sweet moments like the kinda "d'aww" moment when Millerlock wins over Pam the Snowplow Driver... You know, it's weird, but I'm going to say watch the whole episode...
• Apparently, Millerlock likes taking The Tenth Doctor approach to new things: if you don't know what it is, taste it...
• Cumberlock may have his "Mind Palace", but Millerlock has his "Warmth Tent"...
• Everyone loves Joannie. No exceptions.

  Overall, this was a really good episode. It had a mix of good elements, was enjoyable to watch, had characters I love, old and new, and was one of those not mediocre episodes! I think I'll even be so bold as to say it's my fourth favorite. It just did so many things right. THIS is what a typical episode should be like. At least as good as "Snow Angels". I like it. I'm almost disappointed that we won't have a new episode next week, as I'm hoping that the show bounced back to the "M-Deductionist/Gun Full of Drugs" portion of the season's quality. I may be jinxing it, yes, but still, positive thoughts!

  ...Like this: only five more episodes to go this season! I've come to far to give up now! :D

Happy (Late) Birthday To Christopher Eccleston

(Dang it, why do I always find out birthdays AFTER they happen?)

Anyway, yesterday was the 49th birthday of an actor I like: Christopher Eccelston. I've brought him up a lot. He played The Ninth Doctor on Doctor Who, and was my first and favorite Doctor.

 I can't wait to see him in Thor: The Dark World as Malekith. I really need to see more stuff with him in it, I feel bad I haven't. Like, I really want to see this biopic he was in about John Lennon called Lennon Naked, as Lennon. (It also has Andrew Scott in it as Paul McCartney, so that's a bonus...) Anyway, I think he's a good actor and I want to see more stuff with him. (Like, say, Sherlock with him as Moran? Please? I heard you want to experiment with original villains, Moffat and Gatiss, but you can still do that and have Moran! Please?)

Anyway, happy (belated) birthday, Eccleston! You fanTAStic actor.

Loveable Freak Reviews Elementary- Episode 14 "The Deductionist"

   Ugh, I feel tired staying up for this one. The things I do for this blog... Anyway, the time has come to review the post-Super Bowl/"jumping on point" episode (for new viewers. Well played, CBS, if it weren't for that short blackout...) of Elementary. Was it worth me staying up until 11:10 PM to watch? You're about to find out!

  Okay, so a serial killer, Ennis (nicknamed "The Peeler" by the press). Has escaped the police under the guise of donating a kidney to his ailing sister. But when the time to go under the knife comes, he kills everyone in the operating room. Of course, our protagonists are called in to help track down and stop the escaped killer. But the FBI are also called in; namely, a FBI profiler named Drummund, who profiled The Peeler the first time he was caught and wrote a controversial book about what she thought made him tick. Millerlock dislikes her, because, well, she's an "ex" of his and wrote a less than flattering paper on him titled "The Deductionist", and sort of predicted his breakdown.

LOL, I don't really watch Adventure Time...

  Also, Joan gets evicted from her apartment because her co-tenant, roomie thing was caught having shot a dirty movie in the apartment. Suddenly, every Sherlock has become better roommates in comparison.

  Okay, so I have to admit, I was really impressed with Millerlock here. I'm serious. It may have been the sleep deprivation, but I doubt it. I thought Millerlock was really good. Props to Jonny Lee Miller. He was notably exceptionally clever here. And he does this really awesome thing with a stick. That's all I gotta say so I don't give away too much. And he had good snark, as usual. And you know what? I'm glad I liked him here. This is the sort of thing I was looking forward to with him. And I'm glad it's finally happening! ^_^

  Heck, the only thing I had an issue with for him was in the opening, where he had strippers in the brownstone. Yeah, it was a police set up because they were robbers, but still... DO NOT WANT! I'd rant, but...

Well quoted, Thranduil...

  Yeah. Besides, it's pointless to rant at this point...

 

  Also, I'm noticing Millerlock's more open about Joan's "job" as his sober companion. He's not lying anymore. Who are you and what have you done with Millerlock?

 

  Okay, and as for Joan, I have my usual squeeing for her. Blah blah blah, she's so clever. Blah blah blah, she's so witty. Blah blah blah, she's so smart. Blah blah blah, and so pretty. Platonic girl crush, platonic girl crush.... And she does this awesome chew out of the guy from her apartment at the end. It was great.

 

  Also, as far as my one true friendship (my "OTF", to possibly coin the phrase) goes, they had this very sweet moment, where something wonderful happened. Joan actually said to Sherlock that they were friends! ^_^

 

  D'aww...

  Okay, as for the case. It was an interesting one. I thought the twist was alright. Though I'll admit, it did feel a tiny bit like the twist in the second episode, "While You Were Sleeping". And I did feel a tiny bit of sympathy for the killer and his search for revenge on Drummund. Mostly because despite the fact he did a horrible thing, he loved his family. And as it's revealed, Drummund's book, that accused his family of abuse, destroyed them.

  In fact, the whole thing, and I may have been reading too much into it, was sort of an interesting look at how people go so far to manipulate and stretch evidence and the truth to justify their claims. And the consequences for everyone else affected by these claims.

  Okay, final thoughts:

• Favorite scenes were when Millerlock confronts the killer, the conclusion of Joan's subplot, and Joan's pep talk to Sherlock. Also, Millerlock laying out clothes for Joan.
• On that note, I must admit I kinda like the outfit Millerlock picked for Joan. I would so wear that outfit. Are we sure Millerlock's true calling wasn't fashion? ;)
• Canon nods include the killer writing a message in blood on the wall (A Study in Scarlet), and Millerlock knowing how to fight with a stick (Canon Holmes knew singlestick).
• Hmm... "[Holmes] is destined for self-annihilation"... Foreshadowing for "The Final Problem" at some point?
• I love how everyone calls their house their sanctum santorum. It's neat and quirky!
• The map of where the killer's kills going with a picture/design... was that possibly a nod to the 2009 Sherlock Holmes movie? (Although here it was fake).
• ... :( No Clyde this episode. My heart is sad...

  Overall, I really liked this episode. It was pretty good episode, especially on Miller's part. I'm glad it's good, and I hope this trend continues. It makes me happy that I haven't sat through varying degrees of quality in episodes this long in vain. And I didn't stay up so late for an episode like "Dirty Laundry"... *shudders*

  So, here's hoping for more quality work! ^_^