TV Review: Shameless

I've never seen the British show of the same name that spawned this American remake, but with this show, I don't even feel the need to go back and explore it's origins because it's great all on it's own. It follows the Gallagher family as they struggle just to get by in a harsh reality. Mom took off, Dad's a useless drunk (William H. Macy), and that leaves big sis, Fiona (Emmy Rossum) alone to take care of the house along with her five younger siblings. Easy enough, right? Never. These kids look out for themselves though, and do quite well for themselves on the mean streets of Chicago, despite not having much to work with. It also helps when the couple that lives next store consists of a nurse and the owner of the bar where Frank (dad) frequents, to keep an eye on him. Each episodes gives you more of a look inside the inner-workings of this tight knit family and shows you that you don't need much to have it all. They really do love each other, and though times are tough, these kids know that they are in it together, and will do what they have to to take care of each other, even if dad isn't as motivated. Besides the great family dynamic, there are also some great supporting characters as well. First off, there's Steve (Justin Chatwin), who falls for Fiona, and will do whatever ti takes to stay in good graces with her, even if he takes it a little too far sometimes. There is also Sheila (Joan Cusack), who struggles with a severe case of agoraphobia and has not left her house in years. Her daughter is being tutored by the very bright Lip Gallagher (Jeremy Allen White), and later on, her role grows when Frank shows up at her door for help, making for an entertaining story line. All in all, it's a great show, and it touches on some great subject matter. If you've got Showtime, you should be watching it, and if not, then that's too bad.

I give Shameless a 5 outta 5.

TV Review: Episodes

This show has a lot of talent behind it... and Matt LeBlanc (which is the running joke in the show thus far). I am a huge fan of British comedies and the two leads; Tamsin Greig and Stephen Mangan, are both from a great British hour-long sitcom called Green Wing, which can best be described as Scrubs on crack. Greig has also been in Black Books, and even had a cameo in Shaun of the Dead, and I have been a fan of her's for years! In this series, Grieg and Mangan play a pair of married writers, coming off of a hit show in Britain, and are asked to come to Hollywood and adapt their show for an American audience. Over the course of the first few episodes, the show has already made it clear that their version of Hollywood isn't filled with glitz and glamor, but with lies and ass-kissers. The staff at the network are all plastic yes-men, and the exec in charge lives in a bubble where he is all that matters and the rest of the world is there to suit his needs and make him more money. All the while, we see these two Hollywood transplants seeing what's really behind the curtain in this town and reacting in a way that is a little predictable at times, but still very fun and entertaining!

I give Episodes a 4 outta 5.

TV Review: Dexter (Seasons 1-5)

First off, WOW. This show is awesome. To all the people that told me I needed to watch it, I am sorry I didn't do it sooner. For a show with such a dark subject matter, it really has a lot of depth and heart. The characters are all every-evolving, and the stories always find a way of keeping up momentum, even when it seems they can't build any higher. Sure, like most shows, there's an episode now and again that really doesn't hold it's own, and some characters continue to piss you off (all the while, you just keep hoping they get killed at some point), but even his sister, Debra, has moments when she shines. :)

Season one was a great introduction to the cast and it shows Dexter struggle with his humanity in a way that is both interesting and relate-able (you know, for a serial killer). As he struggles with his "Dark Passenger" you see how desperate he is to find some normalcy in his life, and how much his girlfriend Rita helps him see how things could be if he was just like everyone else. He learns secrets about his past, and he learns just what family really means to him, and uses it to solidify his grasp on his moral code and cherish what he holds close.

In season two, he starts to falter under the pressure and gets sloppy, coming dangerously close to losing everything he's fought so hard to protect. Though he still lives by his code, he sees how others reacting to his special brand of justice, and has to learn to strengthen his own character and in turn become a little more human in the process.

Season three introduces him to a sort of kindred spirit, and he becomes more comfortable living a double life, but at what cost? He realizes that bringing other people into his world can be more dangerous than anything, and that even though others may seem to be like him, he is still alone in the world and has to put his code above all else before he loses all that he's built for himself.

Season four was the most exciting for me. In it, he became the student and began studying another killer, who seemed to have a healthy balance between his family life and the darker side he kept hidden. But, like usual, once he gets too close, he makes himself vulnerable and in the end pays a major price which changes his life forever.

The most recent season (five) sees him being more selfless than ever when he discovers a girl who was almost too badly damaged to be helped after she was tortured and locked up by her captors. Dexter takes her in and helps her bring her captors to justice, but his past mistakes also come back to haunt him when someone else inside Miami Metro starts to take a special interest in him, and nearly uncovers the truth.

The writing on this show is great, and his little inner monologues and talks with the spirit of his father are great devices to see inside his mind and understand how Dexter views the world and other people in it. His relationships are also very important, and even though he keeps people at a distance, you see how he values them, and the lengths he would go to keep them safe. It's already been picked up for another year, and I can't wait to watch this one as it airs. As long as they keep the core values there and be mindful of 'the code' then I see a very bright future for Dexter... eventually.

I give Dexter (Seasons 1-5) a 5 outta 5