1. If you aren't watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia yet, I feel sorry for you.  You're missing out on television's best comedy, for about 3 years in a row now.  Just start watching-- it'd be better to watch the old ones, but its not totally necessary so just start watching already! (10 & 10:30 pm on Thursdays, FX)

2. SNL Primetime Weekend Update show from last night was terrible.  We got a predictable, lengthy parody of the presidential debate, then 15 minutes of super weak Weekend Update jokes.  SNL, I see what you're trying to do, but let's leave the political/news parody stuff to the pros on Comedy Central, and you guys can stick to doing what you do best...um, uh...sort of funny digital shorts?

3. If you get a chance, DVR The IT Crowd on IFC.  It's a quirky British comedy that looks like it was filmed in 1993, but it's pretty funny, in a weird American/British hybrid kind of way.  Definitely worth a look if you've got nothing else going on.

4. I hope you like movies, because good ones are finally starting to come out again.  Other than Rachel Getting Married, I can't remember the last good movie I saw.  We're going to start getting blockbusters and Oscar contenders, so things should be on the upswing until Christmas.

5. Remember when Friday night's used to be the best night of television?  I'm referring of course to ABC's T.G.I.F.  Now the only thing on Friday nights is Numbers and Ghost Whisperer on CBS.  I wonder if more people go out on Friday's because of a lack of Friday night lineup, or if networks don't put shows on Friday because more people are going out.  It's a real chicken/egg scenario!

Sebelum saya jelaskan jawaban saya di blog ini. Sebenarnya saya jadi tergelitik soal kekuatan cerita, karena plot cerita Laskar Pelangi sebenarnya mirip dengan plot cerita film Denias di 2006 yang mengantar film ini masuk nominasi kategori film asing untuk Oscar.

Denias juga bercerita mengenai area kaya hasil alam namun tidak berimbas pada penduduknya. Denias juga bercerita mengenai susahnya anak Indonesia di Papua mendapatkan pendidikan yang layak karena kebanyakan orang tua lebih prefer anaknya bekerja. Denias juga diangkat dari kisah nyata.

Denias berhasil menjadi film bagus namun sayang sekali kurang berhasil secara komersil.

Nah, kenapa Laskar Pelangi yang mendulang sukses komersial? (dan saya pribadi berharap Laskar Pelangi akan mendapatkan banyak award juga tentunya... Oscar ;)) Di opening weekend saja LP sudah berhasil menjual sebanyak 470.000 tiket dan tampaknya akan terus bertambah dan (mudah-mudahan) memecahkan rekor Ayat-Ayat Cinta.

Credibility. Faktor pertama yang membuat Mira Lesmana dan Riri Riza berhasil mendapatkan hak film untuk novel laris karya Andrea Hirata. Konon banyak produser dan sutradara yang meminta namun Andrea 'memilih' Mira dan Riri.

Best Seller Novel. Faktor ini plus credibility diatas yang membuat investor 'percaya' memberikan budget sedemikian besarnya (numbers pls google first) untuk memproduksi film lokal. Saya (melalui Blockbuzzter, selaku salah satu sponsorship consultant untuk film ini) sempat bertanya dengan sang investor, kalau rugi gimana pak? biaya pembuatan film ini tergolong besar untuk film yang produksinya di Indonesia... "Tidak apa-apa, menurut saya ceritanya bagus dan penting untuk ditonton orang banyak..."

Focus on each strength. Selain itu yang paling penting adalah semua pihak yang terlibat fokus pada kekuatan masing-masing. Saya cukup surprised dan senang saat nonton Premier LP di FX Platinum XXi, karena pada awal film tertulis Skenario oleh Salman Aristo (Aris adalah script writer Ayat Ayat Cinta) baru dibawahnya ditulis dibantu Mira Lesmana dan Riri Riza. Artinya Andrea Hirata selaku pengarang novel tidak ikut berkepentingan dalam script writing film ini. Walau tentunya kalau ditanya ke Aris tentunya Andrea Hirata adalah tokoh penting dalam proses penulisan script film ini, dari dialah Aris mendapatkan paling banyak input penting soal naskah film ini.

Jadi setiap orang fokus pada fungsi mereka masing-masing. Masih ingat film Gie (2005) yang menghabiskan 10 Milyar Rupiah. Riri Riza merangkap sebagai sutradara dan script writer.

Lesson learn here.  Use the best people and maximize their strength. Hasilnya menjadi lebih baik dan sangat pas. Aris sendiri sempat bertanya saat selesai premier, "Gimana mas?" jawab saya "Wah ris, pake nanya lagi.... top abisss!! congrats" jawab saya cepat.

Publicity. Tanpa mengembar gemborkan biaya produksi film yang terbilang kolosal. Laskar Pelangi melakukan publisitas yang pas, masuk ke Kick Andy (yang harus diakui juga menjadi faktor sukses novel Laskar Pelangi) untuk membahas film ini. Orang tentunya penasaran melihat akting para bocah asli Belitong, belum lagi tangis Cut Mini saat diwawancara Andy Noya dan tentunya saat Andrea Hirata bilang, "film ini lebih bagus daripada novelnya" makin penasaran-lah para pembaca novel tersebut dan tentunya pemirsa Kick Andy.

Soundtrack. Suka tidak suka soundtrack juga medium promosi yang sangat tepat. Saat tulisan ini saya buat lagu Laskar Pelangi dari Nidji sedang heavy rotation di radio-radio. Iklan RBT dengan cuplikan video clip Nidji 30 detik juga memancing penasaran orang yang belum menonton.

Jadi jawaban saya ke Yan adalah semua serba pas. Kekuatan cerita dan kekuatan nama Laskar Pelangi dimanfaatkan secara proporsional. Sebenarnya masih banyak lagi key success factor dari film Laskar Pelangi, but I save it for my next client... namanya juga consultant ;)

After speaking with friends it was determined that multiple other shows also followed this pattern - why are the writers suddenly trying to shock us, and then laugh and say 'Gotcha!'? This is not a trend I'm enjoying. Disappointing that writers think they need to grab viewer's attentions with false hopes, generally viewership remains steady when writer's develop intriguing story lines, not one episode stunts. But worse, it seems that producers may not know when to end shows. Go out with style and class and go out on top, don't drag it on with the hopes of trying to pull success out of nothing.

A great example of a show that dragged itself on is Nip/Tuck, part of FX. What an amazing show. Centered in Miami, you had drama, sex, plastic surgery, and at times action all at once. It was a great show. Near the end of it's run the story line was very drawn out and it seemed like the characters were nearly too entangled in each other to go anywhere further. The show left you with a five - year look into the future which to me pretty much sealed the deal and let me know that the show had run its course, and I was left satisfied. As a follower of the show I was content that the show had ended and felt that all the strings were tied, which left everything nice and clean for those following the storyline. I almost fell off my chair when later that year I heard that the show was going to be re-starting in the next season, but how?! I saw the 5 -year future look, it was all OK, everything was on track, this must be a mistake. Nope, much to my dismay the show was back on, but they had left Miami and moved to LA, because we all know that LA needs more plastic surgery... Regardless I watched the premier and a few episodes that followed to see what it was about; I lost much respect for that show from that season alone. The show re-routed in a different direction, the characters were not the same, the focus was changed and it just didn't matter anymore. The show was over, it ended the season before, and in my mind they never left Miami. I personally felt it was a bad move to restart the show in a new city wit the same cast, it was over, move on! Many of my friends felt the same way and none of us watch the show at this point, is it even still on? I really think Desperate housewives is out of a story-line and may be getting dangerously close to the fine line of something worth watching vs. something that is ready to be retired.

Now onto the ways that shows are moving away from reality. Sitcoms and TV drama's are scripted. Many are scripted in a way that is supposed to reflect what reality in those situations would be like. Now of course we know that every character in TV shows has a better grip on irony and a better vocabulary than everyone we know combined, but it is OK, in fact we like it that way. We recite their quirky sayings and live for Meredith's indecision and realizations that occur every episode. What I am not okay with is the sudden way that most TV shows are gripping for anything to create drama and have since moved away from reality. What chief in a real operating hospital would allow water from a leaky pipe to continue to happen in his hospital that could at any moment infect a sterile environment?! None! This puts the patients, the employees and the hospital in danger and no person in their right mind would do this. I enjoyed the drama of the episode but was a little disappointed that the writers are moving the storyline into too overly dramatic and seemingly unrealistic plots. Grey's is a hit show and very popular, it doesn't need all of this distraction to make it great, and I truly hope they move back into the realm of unusual diseases and strange cases, or crazy accidents to draw attention and drama, but I don't think it serves the show well to have plots that are just simply unrealistic. Focus on the drama in the personal lives and let the cases speak for themselves. Seattle Grace gets a fair share of unusual cases to begin with, we don't need risky decisions that would NEVER happen in real life to taint the show. I don't believe the Chief would truly make such a risky decision, even if he is fighting to regain his above average reputation as a teaching hospital.

Regardless, it is still a great show. I just want to put a plea out to writers to keep the material original and eye-catching but spare us some of the exaggerations. Research fantastically abnormal medical cases and let our favorite interns and residents solve them, but don't put the hospital staff into a situation where they make abnormal and obscure choices that no one in their right minds would ever make. And for the sake of Christina - please let the military man work out , I really think she needs that!

Overnight Asian stock markets dived with the Japanese Nikkei index recording its largest one day drop since 1987 after insurer Yamato Life filed for bankruptcy. In the wake of a panic session in Asia, European bourses opened down 9-10% across the board before some retracement of losses occurred. The yen has strengthened across the board as confidence continues to evaporate across financial instruments. The dollar is also benefitting from panic in the markets recording strong gains against all the majors except the yen. At 6am GMT this morning the AUD-USD was down 4.9% on the previous 24 hours, cable (GBP-USD) was down 2.2%, the USD-JPY was down 1.3%, the EUR-USD was down 0.9% and the USD-CAD was up 3.25% all on the same period.

Yesterday there had appeared to be signs of renewed confidence in financial markets following the coordinated interest rate cuts, Wednesday, by six of the World's leading central banks. This confidence proved misplaced as equities proceeded to dive once more as the Dow Jones went on to drop below 9000 points for the first time since 2003.

During the overnight trading session sterling dived approximately 2% across the board. The main reason for this is the continuing dispute between Iceland and the UK over the bankruptcy of three Icelandic banks which has jeopardized billions of dollar's worth of UK based assets. A crisis between the two countries appears to be brewing as the UK threatens to retaliate against UK based Icelandic investments.

Oil prices are continuing to decline sharply. Light sweet crude oil is currently trading around $83 per barrel after another day of heavy declines appears to be underway. Gold meanwhile is once more benefiting from its reputation as a safe haven asset and is trading above $915 per ounce. At 6am GMT the gold price was up 2.5% in 24 hours, the silver price was up 3.6% in the same period.

EUR
1.3750 1.3700 1.3620 1.3600 RES
1.3444 1.3500 1.3540 1.3580 SUP

JPY
101.50 101.00 100.60 100.30 RES
97.90 98.30 98.80 99.00 SUP

CHF
1.1400 1.1350 1.1310 1.1200 RES
1.1050 1.1095 1.1140 1.1180 SUP

GBP
1.7050 1.7000 1.6950 1.6900 RES
1.6700 1.6802 1.6850 1.6880 SUP

SNL Weekend Update Thursday: 10/9/08

Life on Mars: Out Here in the Fields (Series Premiere)

My Name Is Earl: Sweet Johnny

Kath & Kim: Pilot (Series Premiere)

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Who Pooped the Bed?

Ugly Betty: Crimes of Fashion

“My Name is Earl” (2x02) na RTP2 às 20:43

Conheça o que pode ver na televisão nesta sexta-feira, dia 10 de Outubro de 2008, em mais um Daily Hotvnews (TV).

“My Name is Earl” está de regresso à RTP2. Acompanhe as aventures de Earl enquanto tenta refazer a sua vida, compensando todas as maldades que fez no seu passado. Esta comédia chega às 20:42. Duas horas mais tarde, às 22:45 chega ao canal público a série “Lipstick Jungle”. Acompanhe o quinto episódio desta série da criadora de “Sex and the City”, que retrata a vida de três das mulheres mais influentes em Nova York.

A SIC já está a exibir a terceira temporada de “Criminal Minds”. O quinto episódio chega à 00:30. De seguida é exibida a sétima temporada de “C.S.I.”, que já vai no décimo sétimo episódio.

Algumas das propostas dos canais cabo, são as seguintes:

"Veronica Mars” (01x17) no Fox Crime às 20:45

O canal MOV traz em exclusivo a Portugal “Army Wives”. A série relata a história de uma mulher que é obrigada a ir viver para uma base militar, depois de casar com um soldado. “Mulheres de Armas” chega às 21:15.

O AXN dá-lhe a conhecer uma emergência dum hospital de Chicago em “ER”, “Serviço de Urgência” às 21:30. Para hoje está agendado o vigésimo episódio da décima segunda temporada.

A animação chega ao canal Fox às 19:53 e inclui episódios de “Family Guy”, “American Dad” e “The Simpsons”.

O canal Fox Life traz pela primeira vez a Portugal o programa de maior sucesso nos Estados Unidos. Conheça os 24 finalistas e assista à primeira ronda de actuações na procura do próximo “American Idol” a partir das 21:00 e ao longo de duas horas e meia.

O décimo sétimo episódio da primeira temporada de “Veronica Mars” vai para o ar às 20:45 no canal Fox Crime.

O destaque no canal FX vai para a estreia de “Head Case”, que começa às 19:00.

The Rundown

This is the best quote I've seen this morning -

"One friend just read me something which he has received from an fx trader which said that the only things that anyone desires to own are the US dollar,the Japanese Yen, gold, bottled water and bullets!!!"

Neste ano, a série ainda recebeu uma indicação no Globo de Ouro de melhor atriz de série dramática, com Minnie Driver

Private Practice

Lipstick Jungle

I,Robot

A.k.a.: They're CANCELLED.

Only the good die young...

Watch Chuck.  This week's episode was even better than last week's, and had I written a full post on it, it would've gotten a straight A. The first two episodes of this season have vaulted the sophomore series to my coveted Top 3 Series Currently on the Air.  The other two?  Mad Men and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  

Also, don't forget: New episodes of South Park start tonight!

A segunda temporada de Dexter começa amanhã, no FX, a partir das 22:00h.

Vanguard Essentials hat einen Verkaufspreis von €34.99 / $39.99.

Änderungen in v1.8:
RTAS wird jetzt offiziell unterstützt.
Für Mac OS X ist jetzt die Minimalanforderung 10.4.x.

]]> http://tvdagboken.wordpress.com/?p=262 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:40:29 +0000 tvdagboken http://tvdagboken.fr.wordpress.com/2008/10/08/the-riches-laggs-ner/ Tyvärr blir det ingen tredje säsong av The Riches. Den sju avsnitt långa och stympade andra säsongen blev alltså det sista vi fick se av Eddie Izzard och Minnie Driver tillsammans. Även om kvaliteten var ojämn och några sidohistorier ganska ointressanta så kommer jag ändå att sakna The Malloys försök att leva som The Riches.

Det är aldrig kul när en serie man följer läggs ner men hade jag fått välja så hade jag hellre sett att FX hade lagt ner Nip/Tuck i stället. Den serien har passerat sin topp för länge sedan medan det kändes som att The Riches fortfarande hade mer att berätta.

För att kompensera den dåliga nyheten så är det trevligt att höra att samma kanal satsar på sin nya serie Sons of Anarchy som redan efter fem visade avsnitt har fått klartecken för en andra säsong.

Hoy apartir de las 8:30PM (Venezuela), es la repetición del Final de la 3ra Temporada de PRISON BREAK. Después del episodio no te puedes perder el estreno de la Nueva Temporada, con episodio doble. Michael y Lincoln y los demás ya se encuentran fuera de Panamá y ahora decidirán dejar al descubierto a la 'Compañia'. Un personaje de las primeras temporadas de PRISON BREAK regresa, y Michael se despide de su tatuaje. Esto y más hoy desde las 8:30PM hasta 11PM por FX.

Nesses tempos, onde a procrastinação é a palavra da vez, apresento a vocês a melhor série de comédia que eu vi este ano: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Sim, melhor até que The Big Bang Theory.

Mais uma obra prima do canal americano FX, o seriado aborda a vida de 4 amigos nos seus trinta e poucos anos e o fiasco que é o pub irlandês que eles tentam gerenciar. O programa aborda diversos temas controversos, como: aborto, controle de armas, deficiência física, racismo, sexismo, religião, terrorismo, transexualidade, escravidão, incesto, assédio sexual, estupro estatutário, dependência de drogas, pedofilia, abuso infantil, doença mental, direitos dos homossexuais, bulimia, prostituição, nazismo, necrofilia e canibalismo; sim, o humor mais negro possível. Quase um Seinfeld viciado em crack.

No site da série existe uma espécie de lojinha de presentes. Para entender melhor o teor desse amigável programa de televisão, dê uma olhada em uma das mercadorias.

Meigo, não?

The euro is registering a minor correction after falling sharply against the dollar and the yen last night. The euro reached a thirteen month low against the dollar, touching the levels of $1.3444 on Monday. The euro has been weakened by the decision of the leaders of the four major European economies not to launch a coordinated rescue facility similar in an attempt to forestall the further effect of the credit crisis.

The yen registered a minor weakening against the Australian and New Zealand dollars today after short term speculators appeared to profit off market sentiment that the yens' gains yesterday were exaggerated. The USD-JPY registered yesterday its sharpest daily losses since 1998 as investors exited carry trade positions in massive volumes.

The Australian dollar fell to a four year low against the US dollar on Tuesday after the Reserve Bank of Australia announced a shock interest rate cut of 1% in light of the deepening crisis in financial markets. The cut was the largest single increment cut since 1994 and the Aussie fell to the level of $0.7000.

Oil prices rebounded this morning and crude has returned to levels above $90 per barrel, adding approximately 2$ to its value after falling to an eight months low and reaching the level of $87.5 per barrel on Monday. Gold prices are also displaying signs of recovery. After hitting a low below $820 per ounce yesterday gold is currently trading above $880 per ounce.

At 6am GMT this morning the 24 hour movement on the EUR-USD was -0.1% on cable (sterling-dollar) it was -0.35%, on the USD-JPY it was 0.45%. The 24 hour movement on the AUD-USD was -3% as the pair retraced some of its earlier losses. The movement on gold was a gain of 3.9% on silver it was a gain of 2.1%.

EUR
1.3800 1.3750 1.3680 1.3620 RES
1.3470 1.3500 1.3560 1.3590 SUP

JPY
105.50 105.00 104.60 104.20 RES
101.80 102.20 102.80 103.10 SUP

CHF
1.1560 1.1520 1.1480 1.1420 RES
1.1260 1.1300 1.1350 1.1380 SUP

GBP
1.7740 1.7700 1.7650 1.7600 RES
1.7400 1.7460 1.7500 1.7540 SUP

Read on for the official press release!!

FX PICKS UP SECOND SEASON OF NEW DRAMA SONS OF ANARCHY 

Frosh Series Is FX’s Most Successful in Delivery of Adults 18-49 Since Rescue Me 

Network Places 13-Episode Order from Fox 21 and FX Productions 

Eight All New Episodes Remain in the First Season

Wednesdays at 10 PM ET/PT Through November 26th 

LOS ANGELES, October 6, 2008 – FX plans to keep the motor running on its critically acclaimed biker drama Sons of Anarchy, picking up the series for a 13-episode second season order, today announced John Landgraf, President and General Manager of FX Networks.  

Since its premiere, the ratings for Sons of Anarchy have been very strong and remarkably consistent among the network’s target demo of Adults 18-49.  On a weekly five-telecast cume basis, Sons is averaging 3.5 million Adults 18-49, and the fourth week of the show delivered more Adults 18-49 than its premiere week.  On a weekly five-telecast cume, the series is averaging 5.4 million total viewers and has retained 97% of its total viewers since premiere.  Based on week-to-week ratings, Sons of Anarchy is FX’s most consistent first year drama ever and the network’s most successful since Rescue Me. 

“It’s incredibly gratifying to everyone at FX in at this time when The Shield – the show that got our critically acclaimed original programming brand started – is airing its final season, their loyal audience has embraced Sons of Anarchy and made it a success,” said Landgraf.  “We’re also very proud of the day-in-day-out creative excellence the Sons of Anarchy writers and actors are bringing to the table.” 

Sons of Anarchy stars Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal and Ron Perlman and was created by Kurt Sutter who also serves as Executive Producer.  John Linson and Art Linson are Executive Producers.  

"Sons of Anarchy has been a fantastic collaboration between the producers, Fox21 and FX and we are thrilled about this second season pick-up," said Fox21 Senior Vice President Jane Francis. "This enormously talented cast and crew have produced a truly distinctive and remarkable television series, and viewers have  responded. We couldn't be more pleased." 

Sutter said, “I think the underlying themes of family and the common man's fight against oppressive corporate greed has grabbed people's attention.  It's relatable, it's very timely and it's why the audience is coming back week after week.  I love the action and the dark places the show goes, but ultimately it's the bigger, more poignant themes that inspire me.” 

Sons of Anarchy is an adrenalized drama with darkly comedic undertones about a notorious outlaw motorcycle club intent on protecting their sheltered small town against encroaching drug dealers, corporate developers and overzealous law officers.  The club is equally determined to protect their ruthless and illegal thriving arms business.  Charlie Hunnam stars as Jackson ‘Jax’ Teller, a man whose love for the brotherhood is tested by his growing apprehension for its lawlessness.  Katey Sagal stars as Gemma Teller Morrow, Jax’s force-of-nature mother, who along with Ron Perlman as Clarence ‘Clay’ Morrow, Jax’s stepfather and MC president, have their own darker vision for the club. 

Lesson One: How to detect and lose a tail.

If you ever find yourself out driving around and you suspect you are being tailed by one of life's scummier elements, or perhaps even the police the best way to detect if you are actually being followed is to drive like an idiot. Speed up, slow down, indicate right and then turn left, change lanes a lot, basically drive like an asshole.

Once you determine that you are being tailed, Michael teaches us that the best way to lose a tail, is to continue to drive like an idiot, sooner or later your pursuer will make a mistake and you can get away.

Minnie, who is currently starring on the FX cable TV series "The Riches" with British comedian Eddie Izzard, has refused to divulge the identity of the baby daddy.  There is speculation, however, that it's musician Craig Zolezzi.

Despite lots of pressure to spill the beans, Minnie has stayed strong and maintained her privacy.  She doesn't care what anyone thinks of her having a child "out of wedlock", and I admire for it.  She's even gone so far as to tell the New York Post, “I’m not married and I don’t know if I’ll stay with the guy."

You tell 'em, Minnie.

She also said, “It’s great to be an independent creature. Today you don’t need a man any more.  In the old days, a baby without marriage and people would put you out. I’m very into feeling this female thing.”

Me too!

What do you guys think?

The euro dived 3% against the Japanese yen in trading Monday morning to hit a two and a half year low against the Japanese currency. The euro also hit a thirteen month low against the dollar as the week's trade opened on Monday. Investors concerns are now shifting to the banking sector in the Eurozone after the leaders of the four largest economies in Europe decided against a coordinated bank bailout scheme similar to the one passed in the US on Friday. The result has been a further knock to investor's confidence in the Eurozone economies. Over the weekend a rescue bill was announced for Hypo Real, Germany's second largest bank. The €50bn deal came after an initial rescue packaged floundered on Saturday raising fears of the bank's collapse. In the aftermath of the announcement Germany has appeared to move to guarantee all savings deposits made in the country, a move which has been followed by Denmark and later Austria taking the number of European states to have offered universal guarantees on savings to five.

The Australian dollar plunged more than 5% against the yen Monday and the AUD-JPY has now reached a four years low. Japanese private and institutional investors are withdrawing funds from overseas assets and returning money back home which explains some of the yen's gains as carry trade positions are unwound.

Oil has fallen over 3% to trade below $91 per barrel the lowest level reached since February. This is the fourth trading day in a row that oil it has recorded losses, after declining 12% last week. Gold prices fell more than $5 after opening on Monday and gold is currently trading around the level of $832 per ounce and is heading towards a two week low as crude oil drops and the dollar climbs against the euro.

At the close of a dramatic week, last week, and with more drama set to emerge in markets this week, it is possible to see that major movements have been occurring in the trading markets. There have been dramatic week on week movements in favor of the dollar across major pairs. At the opening of trade this week, silver was down 18% week on week, gold was down 6% week on week, the AUD-USD was down 9% week on week, the EUR-USD was down 7% week on week and Cable (sterling-dollar) was down 5% week on week.

EUR
1.3800 1.3750 1.3680 1.3620 RES
1.3470 1.3500 1.3560 1.3590 SUP

JPY
105.50 105.00 104.60 104.20 RES
101.80 102.20 102.80 103.10 SUP

CHF
1.1560 1.1520 1.1480 1.1420 RES
1.1260 1.1300 1.1350 1.1380 SUP

GBP
1.7740 1.7700 1.7650 1.7600 RES
1.7400 1.7460 1.7500 1.7540 SUP

A blast from the past in the form of Tavon.  Plus, holy shit this episode was immense.

Remember this will be a SPOILER review.  Click read more for the review.

Brilliant, superb and nervewracking, this episode had everything.  The way this season is building is outstanding.  You can feel now that we're in the homestraight, the shit will get big from here on out and this is because now Shane knows the truth.  What will Shane do next?  It's Shane, it cannot be good and I fear for what's to come but also very very excited.

I was happy when I saw Brian White's name in the credits, (he plays Tavon) while I got very happy to see his name, it would have been better if I just saw him appear onscreen.  I'm so glad that we got to see his return because I've been waiting four seasons for him to confront Shane.  I don't know if this is the last time we've seen of him, I hope he pops up again before the show bows out.  If Shane needs to die then I'd be very happy if Tavon was somehow responsible.  Though this probably will never happen, it would be against Tavon's character.

Dutch's story wasn't too great this week, he was investigating a man who was discovered naked who apparently sleepwalks.  He had blood all over him and he was trying to find out who this man might have hurt.  Though Claudette once again got something juicy to do, her talk with the man was brilliant, the stuff that we've seen her be so good at.  Dutch asking Billings to challenge him was a nice scene, Dutchman is having a hard time of it right now.  Where his story will go in the next seven episodes is almost as interesting as The Strike Team's.

What this episode really bosted is Vic and Ronnie deciding that Shane needs to be dealt with.  Though Vic has a change of heart which honestly who couldn't see coming?  If Shane does die then Vic will never be the one to do it, storywise it wouldn't make too much sense.  Vic's worst crime was to kill Terry and that was a long time ago, he's come a long way and changed for the better.  Though Ronnie on the other hand is a different matter.  This season is amazing for the simple fact that Ronnie has become a fully fleshed out character who's manipulative and cold as a member of the Strike Team should.  For so many seasons we've seen him as a background character, following orders but now he has opinions and he was the one who wanted Shane to pay.  He wanted him to die for what he did to Lem, it's a side that we have never seen before.

Now that Shane knows that Vic and Ronnie set him up to be killed, this moment is the catalyst for everything that's about to come.  I'm worried and ecsatic, we have seven episodes to go and Shane is going to do everything he can to make sure Vic and Ronnie pay for what they tried to do to him.  What will his plan be?  I'm not too sure but I'm excited to find out.

Quote of the episode: Shane "They think I'm too stupid to even realise it."

Favourite Scene: That final scene of the episode.