Television
The Middleman recap: "The Clotharian Contamination Protocol"
I’m so glad I got attacked by that tentacled ass monster back in the lab and that you framed me so that I’d have to be your sidekick. Because I am so proud to be a MM. I’m proud to know you. And I want you to know, that since my dad disappeared, you’re the [...] Continue →
Mad Men review: "The New Girl"
You’re never going to get that corner office until you start treating Don as an equal. And no one will tell you this, but you can’t be a man. Don’t even try. Be a woman. It’s powerful business when done correctly. – Bobbie Barrett. The boys in the office might think the new piece of [...] Continue →
Burn Notice recap: "Rough Seas"
Last time you were in town you nearly got her killed. That’s not going to happen again. – Michael Westen Oh man, oh man. I-I-I don’t think I can do this. Do I have to…what…no. I-I-I really have to go…can I just…why don’t you just…No. No. Okay, okay, okay. It’s okay. Fine. Michael’s going to [...] Continue →
The Middleman recap: "The Vampiric Puppet Lamentation"
Young Noser will be rent limb from limb to save you! You really can’t get much more literal than that, can you Middlefans? Tonight’s episode of The Middleman finds Wendy Watson fighting to save Middleman, fighting to save Lacey, fighting to save Noser, and fighting puppets. Seems a bit of a let down that her [...] Continue →
Charlie Jade recap: "Thicker Than Water"
Blood. Blood’s thicker than water. But then blood’s just a synecdoche for family. And what is family? The relationship between a father and son, certainly is family. So is that between lovers. Two orphans, watching each other’s backs and surviving on the streets through cunning. That’s family, too. In a world where six companies control [...] Continue →
HBO: Hard Knocks – Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys (Episode 2) Recap
This show begins with some shots of Jerry Jones’ grandkids. As if Jerry Jones reads PopCritics, he then proceeds to participate in Slapface – the game from The Office promo that we posted about. T.O. also plays with the Jerry’s grandchildren by torturing one in an ice bath. It looks like the producers want to make sure Owens has plenty of camera time. Continue →
HBO: Hard Knocks – Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys (Episode 1) Recap
We begin episode one of Hard Knocks (2008) Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys with shots of Jason Witten, Tony Romo, and Martellus Bennett leaving their homes and families. Blah, blah, blah. They have more money than you and I do combined so their houses are big and fancy. Yada yada yada… yeah, your families will miss you but not your money. Continue →
Mad Men review: "Three Sundays"
For those viewers completely turned against Don Draper after last week’s events, I doubt three weekends in church and some time in the confessional are enough. Particularly as it wasn’t Don asking forgiveness. Continue →
The confession from Peggy’s sister was more about indicting Peggy than seeking absolution, more about a jealous older sister complaining about her baby sister is treated by everyone else. Peggy lives with remarkably few repercussions from her actions, almost unheard of today, let alone in a conservative Catholic household of 1962. Continue →
Burn Notice recap: "Bad Blood"
I’m Jimmy Glynn. Mike asked me to talk to you rats about tonight’s episode. There was a wicked awesome monsoon in Phoenix earlier that knocked out satellite coverage, so this is a little later than usual. Continue →
The Recap
Mike takes Carla’s crossword puzzle and tracks down his new wrangler, Victor. He looks like a fruit in a flowered shirt, but he pulls a .22 on Mike pretty damn quick. He hands Mike a cellphone and tells him he needs to keep it with him all the time. Continue →
Charlie Jade recap: "Identity"
What makes you who you are? Continue →
Does your identity come from what you do? Where you come from? Something else? I met a girl one night, a friend of a friend of a friend, and asked her what she did. She told me she “tried to do one thing a day to bring her joy.” Now, the pragmatist in me wanted to kick her out of my car. But the guy looking to get lucky said, “that’s a beautiful answer.” Did she answer my question? Continue →