My Top 10 Favorite "X-Files" Episodes

(images via Marteen de Boer)

Welp. Something I thought would never, ever happen is happening in only 2 days. Putting words to my excitement would only trivialize it, so I'll simply say that when Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny appear on screen this Sunday night on FOX, their home for 9 years, as Special Agent Dana Scully and Special Agent Fox Mulder (respectively, duh)... well, I'm gonna cry. Legit. I'm crying thinking about it, actually.

Over the many years that I've been an obsessive fan of "The X-Files" television show (and first film) and all of the messy, terrible, incredible, brilliant, sexy, important, and captivating stories it told, I could never have imagined stars Anderson and Duchovny ever embracing their television personas—on TV!—again. But it's happening, for 6 special episodes beginning January 24th, and as a result, an entire generation of people will get to see original airings for the very first time. "Catching up" on the show's first nine seasons was the country's most popular Winter 2015 activity (including me, as I make my boyfriend watch it so he'll finally understand), and for good reason: "The X-Files" is spectacular, and phenomenons need to be shared.

It also got me thinking, of course, about my very favorite episodes. The ones where, if it were up to me, I'd show all new fans first. My love leans more "Monster of the Week" vs. "Mythology," as you'll soon see, but that's where all the character development is anyways.

So without further ado... my Top 10 Favorite "X-Files" episodes (*SPOILERS*):
(perhaps one of the upcoming 6 can surpass these!)

Music Mondays: "Hannibal" TV Soundtrack Vinyl Unwrap!

My favorite show on television right now is far and away the horror fantasy thriller, "Hannibal" on NBC. It's developed a small and dedicated (perhaps growing?) cult following, and before its Season 3 premiere two weeks ago, renowned pop art emporium, Mondo, announced the release of their exclusive, limited edition soundtrack for the show, on colored vinyl, with only 1,000 copies being pressed.

I, naturally, couldn't resist the call, so I waited and waited, and jumped at the chance the moment the sale was announced. Thankfully, I snagged one right before they sold out! The show premiered with what I would describe as the most original, ground-breaking hour of television, and a few days ago, I was greeted with the arrival of Mondo's exclusive release.




The packaging features Mondo's dripping blood logo, appropriate I thought for "Hannibal"'s themes. Inside, the blood dripping theme continued, the cover of the vinyl featuring the shadowed face of the titular character, portrayed by actor Mads Mikkelsen. If you've ever seen the show, you know the representation of Dr. Hannibal Lector's grip over our protagonist Will Graham (Hugh Dancy), is often portrayed through the visuals of a stag (whether it be feathered, metal, bloody, or furred). A gorgeous cover to the album, and once unwrapped, completely without words.






Inside the bi-fold flap, our hero, Will Graham, is on display, again fully spattered in blood.

Now comes the beauty of the discs themselves. When announced, the people at Mondo described the coloring as "Steak Tartare colored vinyl"—another homage to Hannibal's love of the culinary arts; and of course, cannibalism.






My favorite part of the soundtrack was the organization of the music itself. Rather than playing in order of air date, this 2-LP set is organized instead by course. Meal course, as it were. Beginning with L'Apéritif, continuing with L'entrée... onto the second disc with Le plat principal, and finally, finishing it all off with Le dessert.

Composer Brian Reitzell creates an unnerving musical compilation, that starts out very slow. It builds and crescendos, and gives me a bit of the willies. It takes the best of the first two seasons of "Hannibal" and lays it all out perfectly. Here's a wonderful article about how he created his sound.

Take a moment to check out the video below of "Hannibal" Disc 1, Side 1 L'Apéritif: "Feeding the Dogs / Family Dinner" from Episode 104 "Ouef". A small, 1-minute snippet that shows you the vinyl in action and gives you just enough to tease your palette.

TV Showings of the AFI Top 100

I posted a few weeks back about a handful of ways to watch the AFI Top 100—and I forgot the easiest one of all: your own TV!

The popularity of most of the AFI movies means that they are ever-present in TV listings, especially on channels like Turner Classic Movies and AMC (remember when American Movie Classics only showed... movie classics?) The former is my absolute favorite source for not only for movies on the AFI list, but classic movies in general. It's how I managed to see most of the Oscar Best Picture nominees over the past 10 years, and even some random favorites that I might never have seen otherwise.

Moving forward, I'm going to try to provide a monthly TV listing on this blog's sidebar ————————————————>
Hopefully it'll help any of you interested in kicking off your own AFI Top 100 journey!

For the purposes of space, I'll be posting the monthly listings on the sidebar, but a multi-month listing can be found here. Obviously, due to the flux-y nature of TV listings, the schedule is certainly subject to change. But check back every month to see if channels like TCM are screening any of your "still need to see" films! Just this coming February, during TCM's annual "31 Days of Oscar" celebration, they will be airing 26 out of 100 on the list!

Note: All listings will be posted for the US/Canada, specifically in Pacific Standard Time (PST), so be sure to adjust based on your location!

{image via Walter Dukes}

"Transparent": The Best Show Not on Television

My friend Ross and I have a TV night every week. The shows change, frequently, but 'tis the season for some bone-chilling "American Horror Story." Because I'm a big scaredy-pants, Ross had the foresight to pair the FX show with something a bit more tender: "Transparent".

This show isn't airing on your TV sets. Rather, it's streaming its first full season now on Amazon Prime's Instant Video service. I was one of the skeptics who thought it adorable that Amazon would try to compete with the likes of streaming original programming giants like Netflix and Hulu; but consider me a wholehearted convert.

This is their first smash hit. At least... it will be. Once people hear about it.

"Transparent" is set in the neighborhoods of Los Angeles, and tells the story of the Pfefferman family. The three offspring have all grown up and live drastically different, but equally self-absorbed, lives. Their divorced father, Mort (played by the wonder that is Jeffrey Tambor), has reached a time in his life where he wants to be honest with the world—and his family.

His truth is that he is really a "her"; specifically, Maura. "Transparent" follows his late-in-life trans journey, and focuses heavily on his children's acceptance and navigation of this reality. It also explores how much the world has changed in the last 20 years by taking the audience back in Mort's past.

I can't really even type about Jeffrey Tambor's Maura without tearing up. His sweetness, his nervous excitement, and his bravery are captivating. I might just be a little in love with Tambor, and Maura, as well. His three children are almost just as fascinating: Sarah (Amy Landecker), the unsatisfied housewife; Josh (Jay Duplass), the womanizing record producer with a heart of gold; and omg Ali (Gaby Hoffmann), the baby and self-sabotaging, unemployed mess.

The show is a comedy, first and foremost. It has so much heart, it makes me bust at the seams a little bit—but the humor is so rooted in truth, and feels so familiar, it resonates in a way I rarely get with television these days. The show's creator, Jill Soloway, constructs the most relatable stories, and has an understanding of people that is clearly evident in her characters. There isn't any melodrama or fantasy. It's painstakingly researched and the Pfefferman family is perfectly realized. The transgender experience (and LGBT one, at that) isn't something I've experienced first hand, but living in Los Angeles, it's certainly one I can connect with. The characters in the show are liberal and progressive people. It's a breath a fresh air to watch a show where the entire concept of "transgender" isn't a complete mystery—they don't need an explanation, and they certainly don't live in a state of denial, regardless of how accepting they are.

The show also navigates the city of Los Angeles and uses its neighborhoods the way that "Girls" utilizes New York.  Those living on the West Side are different than people living in Silverlake, and we all know how prime the real estate is in the Palisades. It uses city landmarks to ground its story, and as a resident, that makes me oddly giddy.

I love this show, and can't recommend it highly enough. Considering it just got picked up for a 2nd season, I suspect it's going to be the show that makes Amazon Prime the next must-have streaming service. Season 1 is available to stream in its entirety now. Go go go, you won't regret it.

If that doesn't sell it, how about this: Bradley Whitford in drag. Yeah, it sold me too.



{images © Amazon Studios}

TV Timewarp with "Leave It to Beaver"

As I scrolled through my Netflix queue the other day, considering a new TV show to watch, I was reminded of something I hadn't thought about in years: I adore "Leave It to Beaver."

I remember when I was 7 years old, watching the old Nick at Nite line up, before the TV Land channel became a thing. My family would squat in front of the TV every night for "I Dream of Jeannie," "Bewitched," "I Love Lucy," "The Munsters," and "Get Smart," always to switch the OFF button when the theme song for "Dragnet" started. It was like clockwork. Some nights there was Mary, other nights some Dick Van Dyke, but never once was there "Leave It to Beaver." And I figured that was alright, because it seemed like a silly show anyways.

When I was in college, my dad felt it was time I was educated on the ways of the Beav (it shouldn't be a coincidence that he looked eerily like Jerry Mathers in 1959). I was 21 years old, and definitely not a little kid. I hummed and hawed, declaring how uninterested I was, but he popped in his newly received Season 1 DVDs anyways, and the rest was history.

On the surface, "Beaver" looks like a glossy, untainted view of life in the 50's—a mother vacuuming in pearls, a father peering over a newspaper, and a couple of rowdy kids with nothing better to do than get into mischief. The stakes are never too high and no one is ever too unhappy. But as you watch, you realize it's not nostalgic. It's not filmed with any sense of criticism or ironic hind-sight. It's not making an overt comment about progressiveness within a conservative system. It just is. The messages are subtle, but they're effortless.

We see it all as quaint and naive now. That doesn't diminish these truths, though: Wally is the world's best big brother to Beaver. June and Ward Cleaver may just be TV's most sympathetic, understanding, and patient parents. And seeing the show as an adult, I connected with it in a way I wouldn't have as a child. Where once I would have noticed only the trials of boyhood, I now see parents navigating parenthood, ending the cycle of corporal punishment, and the development of brotherhood.

All this rambling is just to say that I want to share my love of this show with you all. Netflix has all six seasons (which originally ran from 1957 to 1963), and I recommend you give it a try, if you haven't already. Watch it with your kids—especially if you have young boys.

Has anyone else watched the entire series? Were you a kid when you watched it, or were you an adult? What are your thoughts?

Who is going to watch How to Get Away With Murder?

I can't possibly be the only one excited about the premiere of Shonda Rhimmes' new show, "How to Get Away with Murder," right? Following the season premieres tonight of my other favorites, "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal," we get to enjoy the melodrama and devilishness of Rhimes' brand new show.

I. Cannot. Wait.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, you should take a moment out of your work day to watch the trailer. And after reading this article from TIME about the pilot, which describes the show as a cross between "House," "Damages," "Scandal," and I Know What You Did Last Summer—I have very little doubt that this will be my new favorite show of the Fall season.

I'm a sucker for melodrama. The messy, romantic, angsty kind. My obsession with "Buffy" might be your first indication of that. Throw in whip-smart women (like the brilliant Viola Davis), witty quips, and creative crime scenarios (maybe some moral ambiguity), and you're singing my tune.

What about you? Are you planning on watching?

Joss Whedon x Gallery 1988

This past weekend, Gallery 1988 West opened their Joss Whedon-centric art show, the first exclusively "Joss"-themed event the Gallery has ever put on. All the work was inspired by Whedon's most famous movie and TV creations, including my favorite show of all time, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

After deciding to forego the opening night reception on Friday night, John and I hit the gallery up as they opened their doors Saturday morning. I knew that I would probably walk away with a print or two, and thankfully, we didn't wait until the weekend was over to go, since almost everything sold out by the end of the day Sunday (check their website for a full listing of the art showcased, and what is still for sale - it's worth a look!)

The small space had an array of pieces, many focusing on TV show "Firefly" and the 2012 film Cabin in the Woods (the Sugarplum Fairy was easily the most represented subject, with at least 6 different artist renderings.) The largest piece was a very spoiler-ific installation for Cabin, which included a mural on the actual gallery wall. John probably spent 30 minutes staring at just that.

There were also a handful of amazing "Buffy" paintings and mixed media works -- if I could have purchased all of them, I would have.

My only disappointment with the gallery show was that Joss' short-lived, but brilliant, TV show "Dollhouse" wasn't showcased at all (with the exception of one, partially related piece). How is that possible? I don't know, I just don't get it. Maybe these artist's just aren't as inspired by that show as I was. Too bad, but I can't lament for long.

Below are just a few of the pictures I took of the show. But if you're in the LA area, best go check it out for yourselves! The show is running now through September 27th.









If you're interested, you should check out the above [quick] video from Friday's opening night reception, where Joss HIMSELF showed up, as well as actor Seth Green (Oz!), and spoke with the gallery's owner.

And which ones did I end up walking away with? Two "Buffy" gems, of course. How could I resist the stunning Willow/Dark Willow piece, aptly titled "Bored Now" by Nan Lawson? (and check out her website, she's incredible.)

And don't get my started on the 'Fumigation Party' concert poster feat. Dingoes Ate My Baby, "Live at the Bronze" by Meagan Hyland. Fumigation Party for the win.

Lovely future additions to my wall, and I managed to snag both before they sold out!

  

That good ol' Netflix binge

via

For the first time in almost 5 years, I have re-activated by Netflix DVD membership.  It's not just streaming anymore, even though that's what I use 98% of the time.  I didn't realize how much I missed having a DVD in my hands;  putting the disc in the player (which has transformed into the boyfriend's Xbox One), and pressing play.  No buffering!

The reason for this change is in part because of the weekly AFI movie screenings -- not having access (through friends, my own collection, or streaming) to 50 out of 100 titles will prompt a girl to fork over that extra $7.99/month.  Alright.  $9.99/month, because I want Blu-Rays, duh.  And the nearest Los Angeles Public Library branch is like... way over there.  

Getting that red and white packaged disc in the mail the other day got me thinking.  A lot of memories, all pretty silly and linked to that nostalgic pang in the gut.  I've been a Netflix member since 2003, as a high school junior, and those little red packages quite literally got me through my college film program at Chapman.  I devoured movies and TV like it was my job, because essentially, it was!  When "binge-watching" meant plowing through three discs at a time, and then waiting patiently two whole days for the next batch of "House" Season 1 episodes (or, god forbid, driving all the way to Hollywood Video) ... a lot has changed since then.  My recent binge of "Orange Is the New Black," part of Netflix' brilliant original programming, is evidence of that.

So what do you guys remember binge-watching back in the day, or as we used to call it, "marathoning"?  Or did the advent of streaming kick-start that in you?  Or are you in a significant minority that has no idea what I'm even talking about?

For me, it was "The West Wing," "The X-Files," and of course "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (check out the re-vamped listing of my top 10 "Buffy" episodes here).  Whether on DVD, or recorded VHS tape -- I was an expert Pause-to-Remove Commercials Recorder -- I've been a pro marathoner since the '90s.  It might be my favorite past-time. 

My Top 10 Favorite "Buffy" Episodes

With the announcement of Joss Whedon's Top 10 "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" episodes (and a marathon of said episodes set to air on LOGO on May 19th beginning at 10 AM), I was inspired to reflect back on all the memorable hours of TV the Slayer and her Scooby Gang brought to my young, impressionable life during the show's life-changing (at least for me) 7 year run.

Check out Joss' Top 10 list here. Beware, Buffy-virgins! The list includes spoilers. Do yourself a favor: Watch the series. Then read the list. Don't worry, it'll be there when you get back. And then, like me, make your own list!

While Joss' picks include plenty of fan favorites, with only a few head-scratchers ("The Wish"? Really, Joss?), I can't help but want to throw some love at the lesser-known greats—and maybe agree with a few of his.

Join me, and if you disagree, that's okay! List your favs and change my mind!  *SPOILER WARNING!*

Series Premiere: PRIME SUSPECT

Prime Suspect
Where: NBC
When: Thursdays @ 10PM

I'm not sure what compelled me to tune into this show last night. Based very closely on the British show of the same name (starring Helen Mirren), "Prime Suspect" is the new procedural cop drama lead by Maria Bello as Jane Timoney, and my first thought was that there couldn't be a whole lot that would separate this from all the other case-of-the-week detective shows out there. And I'm perfectly content watching "Castle" every week, thank you very much.

Well, let me start this off by saying: this show sure as shit ain't "Castle." Or "SVU" or "The Closer" or "The Glades," etc. No, "Prime Suspect" brings a grittiness that I haven't seen on primetime in quite awhile, and a lot of that credit is given to Bello, who not only looks like she can throw a few punches, but that she can take some as well (which the pilot makes sure to exhibit graphically.)

The crux of the show centers around Timoney and her fellow homicide detectives, who we quickly learn are very much not on her side. She's blonde, she's hot, and she doesn't belong there. Period. Therefore, these foul-mouthed, misogynist, Irish cops can only assume she slept her way in. With battles like that to fight, Timoney has her work cut out for her.

Mario Bello slips into this role with such grace and power, I really couldn't look away from her. Her years and maturity show on her face, and it adds legitimacy to the character. She's beautiful, but not because her hair is done or her makeup is perfect. It's because she's a bad-ass.

What I also love is the level of vulnerability she exhibits. Already, we can tell there's a lot going on in this story, and the show does a fantastic job dropping the viewer into a "world already in progress." Dynamics are established, relationships are already complicated, and Timoney already has a lot of shit she's dealing with, so don't get in her way. And her tough-as-nails attitude is then softened in a scene where she returns home from the precinct, takes off her clothes, and tells her boyfriend to be quiet and hold her - and she just cries. Not melodramatically, but necessarily. Very strong.

While much darker than most procedural shows I tend to be drawn to, I know I'll be tuning in every week. There's so much rich character development already, the dynamics can only get better. Of course, with a Helen Mirren vehicle as your inspiration, how can you go wrong?

****/4 stars

Series Premiere: THE PLAYBOY CLUB

The Playboy Club
Where: NBC
When: Mondays @ 10pm
CANCELLED

I totally get it. "Mad Men" is a throwback to a time and place that few of us remember or were even alive to experience. And maybe it's time for other networks to cash in on the phenomenon. With ABC's "Pan Am" and NBC's "The Playboy Club" both hitting primetime this Fall, there is no shortage of 1960s fare to choose from. And considering one of my favorite guilty-pleasures of all time is the original "Girls Next Door" series, I knew I couldn't resist watching anything Playboy Bunny related.

In NBC's surprisingly dark new drama set in 1960s Chicago, "The Playboy Club" tells the story of just that: The infamous club where only key-holders were granted access to the decadence, style, and sin that only Playboy could offer. Featuring opening and closing narration by Hugh Hefner himself (wonder how long that will last), the world is painted with rouge, pastel satin, and flowing liquor. Sexy, right?

Leading the fluffy-tailed pack is veteran Bunny and lounge-esque singer, Carol-Lynne (frequent Broadway star, Laura Benanti - who I was lucky enough to see in "The Wedding Singer" over 5 years ago), who quickly finds that being the queen of the nest also means the years may be starting to show. Her back-room romance with frequent patron and influential Chicago lawyer, Nick Dalton (Eddie Cibrian) is threatened when Dalton witnesses the Club's newest bunny, Maureen (Amber Heard) accidentally kill a man in self-defense [fighting off a rape attack with a heel to the throat will do the trick.) That attacker turns out to be the dangerous head of a Mafia crime family, and with Dalton's help covering up the crime, and web of intrigue begins to form.

I was a little shocked by the seriousness of the show, and how dark (so quickly!) it turned out to be. Maybe that's what I liked most - it wasn't expected. Murder, crime syndicates, and politics all seem like heavy fare for show with Playboy as a backdrop, but somehow, it works. The Club isn't treated like a joke or a kitschy farce, so we don't view it like one.

The most noticeable thing is that it seems to be trying a lot less hard than its 60s-era counterparts. The costumes aren't as exaggerated, the language isn't as "Hey, look! We're in the 1960s! Things were different then!" - and I as a TV viewer with more than a few brain cells in my head, I greatly appreciate the effort.

Eddie Cibrian fits this period well, and he's believable as a likable "playboy." In turn, Amber Heard's Maureen is a wonderful lead, who may fall in and out of the period on occasion, but it being only the Pilot, I feel confident she'll find consistent footing. The B-characters are also richer already than I would have expected from episode 1, from the slew of Bunnies and various key-holders, to the Bunny husbands/BFs and the Mafia henchmen (Troy Garity!)

By far one of my favorite premieres so far, perhaps because it was the one I expected the least from. Already, I'm curious where this story will take us, and I'm definitely loving the dynamic backdrop and melodramatic intrigue. Hats off, Bunnies! Here's hoping you're here to stay!

Pilot rating: ***½/4 stars
_____________________________________

UPDATE, 10/4/11: "Playboy Club" cancelled... Sad day.

Series Premiere: 2 BROKE GIRLS

2 Broke Girls
Where: CBS
When: Mondays @ 8:30PM

Tonight was the first big night of premieres for the new fall season, and I'm going to attempt to review a handful of pilots that I feel inclined to watch. Maybe even a few that I'm reluctant to see. (a few have even been added before this entry to coincide with their premiere dates...)

First show that I cued up just happened to be "2 Broke Girls" - one of two sitcoms created by comedian Whitney Cummings (the other one being "Whitney" on NBC.) Other than the fact that the charming and sardonically funny Kat Dennings was one of the 2 broke girls... I didn't know anything about it before tuning in.

The story centers around a sarcasm-addict named Max (Dennings), who takes her waitress job at an inner-city diner very seriously - so seriously, in fact, she very clearly appears to be the most competent person to ever set foot in the place. And she works hard to remind everyone of that. The inciting moment comes when, despite Max' protests, another waitress gets brought in to carry some of the load.

Unfortunately for Max, this "experienced" waitress turns out to be a disgraced socialite, Caroline (the stunning Beth Behrs), who is now struggling with the realities of being broke in her once pearly white, diamond-encrusted world. After a bit of feigned sympathy, Max realizes she has the power to help the pathetically clueless Caroline, and invites her to live in her run-down - and unrealistically massive (ahh, sitcoms) - apartment.

What surprised me most about the show was not that it was funny. Dennings and Behrs have bubbly chemistry, and their differences only enhance the situational humor between them. So that wasn't a shock. What was shocking was just how DIRRTY the jokes were! "Cum" and dry vagina jokes within the first 3 minutes? A woman getting wildly and loudly screwed before the opening credits even roll?

Maybe I underestimated you, CBS. Smart, filthy, and clever. Well played. For now.

Hopefully it doesn't get too shlock-y. Towards the end of the pilot, there was a feeling of JOKE SET-UP, punchline. JOKE SET-UP, punchline... Almost giving up on making it feel organic at all (this is my major concern for NBC's new comedy "Whitney"... but we'll get to that when it actually airs.) However, any lines that seemed forced were smoothed out by the two leads, who were immediately engaging and clearly sharp-witted - it gives the comedy more depth and weight than it may deserve.

I will be returning to this show, for sure. The premise seems sustainable and straight-forward (Can 2 broke girls find a way to crawl out of their financial holes?), and if they maintain the dynamic, I'm 100% on board.

Oh, and word of advice for the show: don't litter too many 1-dimensional side characters in there (who the hell was that uptown, rich-bitch mom?? I didn't get that at all!) You don't need it. You've got solid leads. Work on building up some equally dynamic characters around them.

***/4 stars

Series Premiere: THE SECRET CIRCLE

The Secret Circle
Where: the CW
When: Thursdays @ 9PM

It's been awhile since I've gotten sucked into the world of teenage melodrama that the CW (and its predecessor, the WB) has to offer. Considering my proclivity for angst, love triangles, and gorgeous high schoolers stricken with supernatural abilities, it's a shocker that I've been able to keep myself away. But after hearing some positive reactions to early viewings of this pilot, I figured it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot.

Taking a page from "Twilight" (isn't everything these days?), "The Secret Circle" centers around Cassie, a young girl who is forced to move in with her grandmother after the - she thinks - accidental death of her mother. Of course, she is the new girl in town, which happens to look a lot like Forks/Port Angeles, Washington (it's called "Chance Harbor, Washington"... what better place for romantic angst than the Pacific Northwest?), and it's not long before Cassie realizes her mother may have been keeping some secrets from her.

Namely, that she's a full-blooded witch. And so are five other (gorgeous) teens at her new school, who all seem to know more about her than she does. According to the legend involving all of their families, the possess unlimited power when brought together (*cough*The Covenant!*cough*) - but in order to wield it, they must "bind" their circle, which could illuminate their individual powers.

What I really enjoyed most about this debut was not just the stellar production value (CW clearly invested their money well), but more to do with the richness of the world, and seriousness with which they take the story. There's a lot to laugh about here, if you let it linger too long, but the writers give a lot of substance to the characters, big and small. Their antics are relateable (even if it involves conjuring up a raging hurricane to show off - hey, they're teenagers!), and their emotions are believable. All six of them have suffered the loss of at least one parent - time, I'm sure, will tell us what happened to them.

Biggest surprise of the night? "Queer as Folk"s Gale Harold makes a welcome appearance, immediately establishing himself as the "bad guy," and cause of Cassie's mother's death - and he might just show up somewhere else unexpected, as well. So with that, and without being able to help myself, I got sucked in and now can't wait for the pulsing melodrama to continue.

Why do these shows always make me wish I was back in high school?

Rating: ***/4 stars

Series Premiere: RINGER

Ringer
Where: the CW
When: Tuesdays @ 9PM

All I can say is this: Buffy is back on Tuesday nights, primetime. Exactly where she belongs.

It's no secret to anyone who knows me that "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" was a huge part of my life. From age 11 to 17, I was heavily immersed and hugely influenced by the Joss Whedon-created world in Sunnydale, not to mention its many stars. Namely, the phenomenal Sarah Michelle Gellar.

But this isn't a review about "Buffy" or a recounting of the effects it had on my life. No, this is a look at Ms. SMG's first television venture since going off the air as the Slayer 8 years ago.

"Ringer" is the CW's newest dramatic thriller, one which doesn't hesitate to aim for an older, more mature demographic. And I say, it's about time, CW. All of the kids who once swooned over Dawson and his pals at the Creek are grown up and looking for something a bit more sophisticated. And Manhattan teenage socialites just weren't doing it for us anymore (sorry, "Gossip Girls.")

Taking a page out of the Bette Davis ("Dead Ringer"/"A Stolen Life") playbook, the story centers around Bridget, a stripper-turned-fugitive who seeks refuge with her estranged twin sister, Siobhan, in the Upper West-side of Manhattan. Both roles are delightfully played by SMG, who I look forward to seeing flex her acting muscles again while sharing the screen with herself ("I Was Only Made to Love You," anyone? Sorry, just can't shake the Buffy comparisons.)

Anyways, little does Bridget know that Siobhan is hiding some dark secrets of her own, and in an attempt to outrun them, fakes her own death and retreats to Paris. Bridget, thinking her sister is truly out of the picture, takes over Siobhan's identity out of desperation. But being Siobhan may bring her more problems and dangers than were haunting her as Bridget.

This pilot does a lot to establish a history, that will eventually unfold and reveal a lot of skeletons to be dealt with. But expertly, the writers provide hints without being obvious, and conflicts without feeling the need to explain why. Nothing bothers me more than blowing an exposition-load all over the 1st 40-minutes of a TV show - show some restraint and build a complex narrative!

My own personal preferences aside, the show has a lot of potential. Motives are unclear, but clearly there, while the past is a mystery to not only the viewers, but most of the characters, as well. Add in the cast of side characters (including Ioan Gruffold as Siobhan's husband, Kristoffer Polaha as her lover, and Nester Carbonell as the FBI agent searching for Bridget, just to name a few), it gives viewers a lot to look forward to.

Hopefully, the CW will give the show enough money to improve the production value (awful CG/VFX/green screen) - it definitely deserves better. "Ringer" has a lot to offer, and I'm sorry - I just can't resist seeing Buffy 2.0. So sue me.

***/4 stars