How I Met Your Mother : Season 8 Premiere

                                                             The Beginning of the End

At the beginning of every summer (every May) you realize what How I Met Your Mother means to you and why you love it so much, but as you reach September, you somehow forget why ??
and when that first Monday night does arrive, it takes only 23 minutes for the reasons to simply come back to you !

It was an ambiguous summer with the extension of the series being negotiated throughout. Just like the producers, even I am in a delirious state of mind ..... there were some episodes in the last 2 seasons which were clear evidences of the downhill path the series was taking and at the end of those, an extension felt inane. Both the writers Carter Bays and Craig Thomas claim to have a Plan A or Plan B in case the show is extended beyond Season 8, but the question is .... will the extra stretch be worthwhile ?
But again, I would be lying if I said that I don't want another season .... cause I really do ! But these are my sentiments talking, the practical part of my brain still dwells on the above questions.

Coming to the first episode of Season 8 ..... it was simply Amazing. It had everything right and was perfectly balanced between drama and comedy. It starts where Season 7 left off, i.e. at the wedding from where we are taken to the present day. Lily and Marshall try hard to not become social-zombies while Barney tries to hide from Quinn, the fact that he and Robin ever dated. Meanwhile Ted is surprised to know that Victoria did not leave a note. So they head back to the church to do so, but by the end of the whole process .....things work out differently and unexpectedly.

The episode fulfills it's function of being the season's premier episode. It mesmerizes you and brings you back to it's fictional world. The actors are amazing ..... special credits to guest star Thomas Lennon (Klaus) who is great. All the comic sequences : Sleep-Deprived-Vision, Barney's 1 minute speech (super spectacular ....... watch again and again), the German conversation etc. are amusing. 
I have no big complaints except for the characters becoming a little dumb sometimes which seems unusual. I also feel sorry for Quinn (and Becki Newton) as it feels that an amazing character is simply being wasted.

It is a true HIMYM episode. The episode ensures that throughout the episode there is either a smile on your face or a warm feeling in your heart. Looking forward to the whole season. In short, It is an amazing beginning to the END !

Star Rating : ★★★★
Laughometer : ☻☻☻☻

Emirates Airlines : REVIEW

Ever since I was a kid, I had always heard about the fantastic service and the modernity of Emirates. (there was even a rumor that they gave away free PSP's) So when I traveled with them for the first time this summer I experienced something close to my expectations . I took two flights in four days, so I can say that I have pretty comprehensive experience to review from.

Let's go in an orderly fashion, starting with the check-in. The check-in staff are generally appointed by the airport and not the airline. However at Dubai where the check-in crew were Emirates employees, I didn't find a single acknowledgement or smile. The employee was least bothered and felt more like a robot than a human being. They did not have 4 seats together so we were given 2+2. But even then 2 of us were separated by the aisle. That disappointed me and I really felt cheated.
The Boarding was smooth and punctual but yet again ....... No Smiles :O

The real image of an airline actually starts to build up when someone boards the aircraft. So after I boarded, I was guided to my seat by an air-hostess who too was suffering from the Smile Deficiency Disease. The seats in the economy class were surprisingly comfortable and our seats already contained the blanket, pillow and headsets. On one of the flights we were served lemonade but nothing on the other. Once the plane took off, the beverage trolley took rounds and I was happy to see a wide variety of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The small 100ml coke cans were really cute and helped save the air-hostess' time. The food was average as it had that particular flavor of pre-cooked meals but the desert (chocolate mousse) was great. On my second flight (which was a long one) we were also served snacks and nuts. To my surprise, there were no vegetarian meals on flights between countries which are predominantly non-vegetarian (altough it did not concern me, it really affected my Dad who is a strict-vegetarian).

The in-flight entertainment known as I.C.E had a great collection of movies but my experience was marred by technical glitches. On my second flight, the system shut down completely and we had to wait for around 90min before it began again. Also, on both my journeys the touch screen was unresponsive and regularly required hard knocks. One thing that I did like were the Do-not-Disturb stickers. By pasting them on the seats, passengers could intimate the crew whether they would like to be woken up for the meals or not. Many passengers used it and it was something unique that I encountered.

The biggest factor that contributes to my outlook of an airline are the acknowledgements and the smiles. Even if an airline has broken and cramped seats and no entertainment system, a smiling air-hostess can still make it a pleasant journey. It is really important to make a passenger feel welcome but Alas this was not the case with the Emirates crew. None of the stewardess' in both of my flights smiled or welcomed my group. They looked tired and lethargic and I really felt as if they were not happy with their jobs. This is one of the main reasons why Emirates did not go to the top of my list despite many other good qualities.

If they can deal with the crew-situation, I feel Emirates can easily climb the top ranking charts. But for now, it remains an average airline with many small glitches. Go for Swiss Air, Qatar or Singapore Airlines instead.

Star Rating : ★★★1/2 (3.5)

The Amazing Spider Man (3D) : REVIEW

 Marvel does it Again !!

True to it's name, the reboot of the world's favorite superhero is truly amazing. The emotions, the action, the story and the actors all blend perfectly to give new life to the web-crawler. Trying to be different from the first three installments, director Mark Webb (suitable name ...) makes sure to impress both the die-hard comic fans and the general audience !

The movie starts with young Peter being dropped off at his Uncle's house after his parents discover the threats that loom upon him due to his father's discovery. A flash forward and we are face to face with a teenage boy (Andrew Garfield) who has always felt incomplete and is the victim of school bully Flash Thompson. One day, while cleaning his basement he finds his father's briefcase which ultimately leads him to Dr. Curtis Conners. In his lab, he encounters a radioactive spider which bites him and makes him "Your friendly neighbourhood Spider Man".
Meanwhile Dr. Curt Conners, a scientist working on cross-species genetics who has always been fascinated with how reptiles regenerate limbs is being pushed to the limit by Dr. Ratha to find a cure for critically ill Norman Osbourne. Despite his hardwork, he continues to make little progress until Peter hands him an equation he found from his father's papers. This formula helps him regenerate lost limbs but it has a horrible side effect .... it transforms him into a giant lizard. Peter takes it as his mistake and uses his new found powers to capture the now, evil Doctor.

Most of the people who know Peter Parker would have seen (or read about) him since he was a high school dumpster or since he first donned the Spider Man costume, however hardly anyone would know about his parents or how he ended up with his Uncle and Aunt. And this is the first department where the movie scores ..... the Story/Script. Altough not perfect, it is fresh, clever and does not induce a feeling of deja-vu (only exception being Uncle Ben's death ....... but that is an absolute necessity).

The direction is freakishly awesome with the intimate scenes being the best points of the film. The emotional scenes involving Gwen-Parker, Gwen-Captain and Peter-Aunt May are simply spectacular and heart warming. They are so well written so and well shot, that you fall in love with each of the characters. The thing I never liked about Sam Raimi's films was the excessive emotions. Thankfully, Mark Webb does not commit the same mistake and balances action and emotion pretty well. The action scenes are fantastic and look great in 3D. These scenes are never hazy and do induce the WOW effect occasionally. Another thing that I wish to acknowledge is the small, yet clever scenes that the movie is full of ...... like Stan Lee's cameo appearance, Spider Man closing the sewer, Flash Thompson's condolences and his descent into Spidey Fandom, the different version of the wrestling ring (where Peter first thinks of the name Spider Man) etc.

Besides the script and the direction, another superb part that will help make this movie a blockbuster is the Acting. Both Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy) and Andrew Garfield are simply fantastic and make a great pair. I was happy that Webbs opted for the original version of Gwen and not the rock-Gwen that followed in the later comics. Emma Stone portrays the role perfectly and her chemistry with Garfield is mind blowing !! She is cute, sexy, intelligent and charming ............ all at the same time.
Coming to Garfield .......... Altough he had a minor role in The Social Network, he amazed the whole world (including me) with his performance. I was super excited about him playing Peter Parker and I am proud to say that he didn't disappoint me at all. He too, was perfect and it was a joy to watch him evolve from nerd-Peter to amazing- Spider Man. Peter's frustration of never knowing his parents and his inability to open-up could be seen through Garfield.

Dr. Curt Conners is a complicated character because throughout his time as the Lizard he always kept wondering whether what he was doing was right. The Lizard was never a true villain because Conners never had any evil motives. The mistake he committed was because of his strong desire of getting his arm back. Rhys Ifans did justice to Conners but felt short of being the perfect villain.
Both Aunt May and Uncle Ben were delightful and their old-couple arguments were hysterical. Sorry to compare, but they are loads better than the previous renditions of the same.

The movie had certain drawbacks and nuts too ..... the first one being an incomplete villain. The Lizard never looked intimidating (unlike the comics). His first evil objective was to catch Dr. Ratha but that was left incomplete. He then created a small lizard army but that was not explored further. Also, Connors' evolution into the Lizard was skipped everytime and was never fully shown (CGI not sufficiently developed ??). Webbs focused more on the human side of the Lizard (ie. Connors) than the actual evil side. The dual mind/personality of Connors (post the transformation) was also left underdeveloped.
The 3D was average and it's only contribution came in the scenes where Spider Man swinged around in New York and the action scenes. I was disapointed with the issue regarding Uncle Ben's death. Parker totally forgot about the murderer and never really felt the guilt, which is an integral part of the series. Finally, I really missed the dialogue "With great Power, comes great Responsibility". It's like having James Bond without him saying "The name is Bond .......... James Bond".

Overall, it is a perfect reboot and a wholesome entertainer with just a few, small nudges. Altough it is amazing, I really don't want a sequel. Cause the next villain is going to be the Goblin (hint hint) and all die-hard Spidey fans will know what that means ............... Gwen Stacy's DEATH !!


Star Rating : ★★★★

PS. There is a mid-credits scene but none after the credits........... So Don't Wait !

UEFA EURO 2012 Group Stage : Matchday II

Germany v/s Netherlands : July 13, 2012

coming soon ......

Portugal v/s Denmark : July 13, 2012

A super exciting game full of cheers and heartbreaks. It was not a show of great football, but when you have a 5 goal thriller in front of you, who cares ??
Apart from the first 20' minutes, it was full-on drama till the very end. The Portuguese were not amazing, but they were efficient and that is what helped them get the result. Ronaldo was shite, if I alwould have been the Portuguese president, I would have banned him from playing club football. He really needs to prioritize his football and start playing along side the team. He is the skipper and he never even appreciated or acknowledge the passes he got. Bouquets for Coentrão, he was the best player for me.
If the game would have gone the Denmark way, it would still have been fair cause the Danes were good too. They worked really hard to come back from the 2 goal defecit, but couldn't hold on till the end. Hats off to Bendtner
Overall, it was a superb game. Totally worth being a game of the group of Death.

Greece v/s Czech Republic : July 12, 2012

The match started brilliantly with two goals in the first 7' but it died as Greece finally got it's act together and the Czech shut down shop.
To be honest, I was not expecting anything from this game but the first 10' were enough to prove me wrong. The Greek defense was weak and crumbled easily. The Czechs had enough chances to make it 3/4-nil in the first 20' itself. The loss leaves Greece in a very weak position and now they depend on others for qualification.
Coming to the Czechs, the commentators called it luck but I felt it was great football that helped them win. Special credits for Pilar and some brickbats for Rosicky. The 2nd half was a tad boring (especially after the 1st Greek goal) as the Greek could not break through the Czech defense and lacked creativity. Overall, a good, solid performance from the Czech, wishing them the best of luck ....... !                

UEFA EURO 2012 : Group Stage Matchday I

England v/s France : July 11,2012 

I had huge expectations from this one but the over defensive performance from both sides ruined it for me. It was surprising to see the English shut down shop after just one goal. I was afraid this would happen after Roy Hodgson was appointed as he is primarily, a defense-minded person. The French too were no better, except the last 10' when they increased the pressure on England.
The first 15' min of the game were real shocking for me, it seemed that both sides did not want to progress at all. The ball kept dwindling near the center. Both the goals were individual masterpieces (Steven Gerrard freekick :D). But even then, someone needs to tell the players that these games are not friendlies.

One thing I liked about the English side (besides inclusion of Liverpool players) was that unlike the Dutch, they didn't rely on the star players and played as a team for most of the time. Special mention for the Ox, great competitive debut. The French too have picked up their game (after the 2010 World Cup) and I feel they too are cup-challengers this year.
Expecting better from both teams and hoping both qualify .....

Spain v/s Italy : July 10, 2012

This is the game which marked the beginning of EURO for me. It was super exciting and thrilling as both the teams were at each other's throats from point one.
Due to their performances post the 2006 World Cup, I had started considering Italy as a down trodden team. However,  I was more than happy to see them play with vigour and competitiveness. All credits to the new manager for infusing fresh spirit into the Azzurri.
Throughout the game (except the last 15') both teams were equal in possession and equal in attacks. Counter Attacking was common and a pleasure to watch. Both the managers took great risk by using uncommon formations which made it fun to watch the gameplay unfold. Coming to the Spanish armada, I felt they really missed a striker .... you may have fantastic attacking midfielders (Fabregas) but at the end of the day they are not really forward players. This is the real reason why the spanish team couldn't convert their chances into goals. Fernando Torres is still not ready and still reeling under confidence.

The best game in the tournament till now ...... But it ain't over yet.

Germany v/s Portugal : July 09, 2012

I had huge expectations from the group of death games, but like the Netherlands v/s Denmark game, this game also turned out to be a dull one. Before I proceed, lemme tell you that I am a German fan, so all my reviews may be a little biased and over-critical.
Germany were the highest scoring team in both the Qualifiers and the 2010 World Cup but sorry to say, I did not feel that the same team was playing this game. The players looked fatigued and under motivated. However, one thing is commendable ..... the German defense. It was strict and the back-four maintained their line throughout the match. The Germans need to take forward their formula of cautious+critical and use it to score more goals.

The problem with Portugal is ...umm .... Christiano Ronaldo. The whole team seems to be built around him and he himself seems helpless and frustrated. Special mention to Coentrao though, he was great.
Overall, an average game with a result I cherish.

Netherlands v/s Denmark : July 09, 2012

The game reminded me of the champions league semi final between Barcelona and Chelsea. Similar to that game, Netherlands did all the hard work while Denmark took the result away. However one big difference between the Dutch and Barcelona was the lack of teamwork. While Barcelona excites and entertains us with their passing, Netherlands just failed when the ball reached the final third. Everyone in the Dutch team was seeking personal glory and that is what the Danish took advantage of. All the strikers (and attacking midfielders) in the Dutch team, simply played solo.

I am not taking away any credits from Denmark, cause they were good too. In the last 15', they understood that scoring again would be difficult and so they focused on defense. After this match, I think it would be very difficult for the Dutch as this match was the easiest of the lot. However, anything can happen .... lets keep enjoying :D

Madagscar 3 : Europe's Most Wanted

It's mad ...... It's hilarious ...... It's Madagascar, all over again !! In short, it is the most entertaining animated movie I have ever seen.

The movie begins where the last one left off. The awesome foursome are stuck and deserted in Africa as the penguins ditch them for Monte Carlo. Not ready to forego their ambition of getting back home, they somehow reach the city, only to attract the attention of Animal Control. They are driven into escaping Monte Carlo by Captain Chantel DuBois, a ruthless (yet funny) woman with the desire of killing a lion. The gang is forced to find shelter in a train bound for Rome, filled with Circus animals. There they meet Vitaly the tiger, Stefano the sea lion and Gia the jaguar. Few twists and turns later, the foursome finally reach their home zoo, only to realize that the boring zoo life doesn't interest them anymore. In a super amusing climax, the circus animals rescue them and the gang decide to stay with the circus.

Throughout it's run time, me and my friends could just not stop laughing.  The animation is lively, colorful and visually-aesthetic. The script may be slapstick at times, but the humour is well thought and well presented. The penguins and the chimpanzees are just too good. Each and every characterin the movie is intricately sketched and adds perfectly to the humour content. Be it Marty or Captain DuBois, it is a sheer pleasure wondering what they will do next.

The music is used brilliantly and songs like Firework (Katy Perry) and AfroCircus pep up the screenplay. Madagascar 3 is totally different from the first two movies. While the first two focused on character development and emotions, this is simple fun and entertainment. For those who go to the cinema seeking some calories, there are a few emotional scenes too with a special mention to the scene where Alex illustrates why humans deserve to be caged.

Just a few negative nuts .......... the influx of new characters, takes away the spotlight from the awesome foursome. The Melman-Gloria relationship is completely ignored and in the beginning, the viewer is forced to think whether Alex's family ever existed :O

Another complaint is that the film was too short, I wanted more ...... Madagascar 4 maybe ??

Overall, a super mad-cap entertainer with few calories ! Not to be missed at any costs .......

Star Rating : ★★★★
Laughometer : ☻☻☻☻☻

PS. Da Da Da Da Da da da da curcus da da da da da da da da da afro

curcus afro curcus afro pokadot pokadot pokadot afro !

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Book Review : The Magic

THE MAGIC
                              - Rhonda Byrne

Genre : Self Help

Price : Rs.399
Pages : 254

     

The book that changed my life ....

I had just passed high school and was in a really bad shape. I had never stayed away from my school or friends for more than a week, so this new phase was pretty hard to accept. At one point I was just centimetres away from fallinginto depression. But I don't know what magic the universe played and I was standing in a bookstore looking at this book. And since then there has been no looking back. True to it's title, it invoked magic in my life.

The book introduces one simple thing in the reader's life that changes everything ........... Gratitude ! It revolved around one principle (something that even Newton and Einstein followed) .... The Law of Attraction ie. If you are grateful for something you will attract that thing towards you and if you are not, the desire will also move away from fulfilment. Through these few things, the book not just teaches one to be grateful but also drives away the negativity from one's life. And thus, you are happy throughout the day and in charge of one's own destiny.

The Magic is not a novel, it is a journey. A journey that spans 28 days. It may seem tiresome at first to stick to a routine but once you start feeling it's effects, you will wish for a longer journey. As you progress from one day to the other, you realize the importance of your loved ones, your job, the money and health you possess etc. As you go through the days and through the parts like Magical Money and Magical Health, you will learn ways to improve them.

The book is well written and well supplemented with quotes and personal anecdotes. The 28 day journey is a fantastic idea as it instills Gratitude to the very core of the reader. It invokes a magical feeling which forces you to remain happy throughout the day. A special mention to Day 12 and 13 which are the most magical of the lot and showcase the actual power of this book.

 I was generally very apprehensive of self-help books and similar things that promised life-enrichment. But I gave the Magic a shot as I was desperate. To my surprise (it was more of a shock) I started feeling the effects from Day 01. And now, a month later I feel that I have never been more happier. I have become super optimistic and finding positive angles in every situation comes naturally to me.

It doesn't matter whether you are a debt-stricken businessman, a widow, a disease-stricken patient or someone like me ....... this book can teach anyone to deal with the travails of life using Gratitude. It totally changes your outlook and brings the magic back into your life.

Still Don't believe me ?? Try for yourself ....

Star Rating : ★★★★★

How I Met Your Mother : Season 7 Finale

"We tell stories in funky ways. There's a lot of fun with structure. It's a little weird and a little counter-intuitive to show people an ending of sorts and fill in how we got there, but there are so many mysteries and runners and different questions to answer in the show that we like the idea of answering something big about this wedding day because we know Barney's future wedding day is the day Ted will meet the mother."

                                                                                                           - Craig Thomas, Writer (HIMYM)

I don't know how they do it, I don't know what magic they perform .....all I know is that every year, HIMYM comes and takes our hearts away. The writers always know what they need to do to hit the right cord and this episode is no exception.
Season Finales are important because they set the trends for the next season and this is exactly what this episode does. The episode achieves parity between humour and emotions which makes it even more special. The decision to combine two episodes pays off as a perfect flow is achieved which engages the viewer till the end. Barney's bride is finally revealed in the end.

Part I mostly focuses on Baby Eriksen. As Lily goes into labour and Marshall is still in Atlantic City, Robin and Ted take up the duty of supporting Lily. They distract Lily by telling her stories (24 in total) as Barney and Marshal find a way to get back to New York. Part I ends as Marvin Wait-for-it Eriksen steps into a world where Ted and Robin are friends again.
In Part II, the focus shifts to Barney as he reaches home (after the Atlantic City trip) to find that his house has been redecorated to resemble Tinkle Bell's vagina. Instead of getting furious, he is relieved to find that Quinn is still there. He apologizes and they decide to take a trip to Hawaii. At the airport, a Big Box is found in Barney's suitcase. He refuses to open it and cites the Magician's Code as an excuse. After a lot of drama, it is revealed that the box was just a ploy to propose to Quinn. She accepts the magical proposal and the couple head back to Marshall and Lily's house to recount the story. Meanwhile, Ted realizes that all this while (8 years) he had been dating the wrong women. So he decides to call Victoria (the only right woman, according to him) to catch up with her. To Ted's surprise, she arrives at the bar in a wedding dress and later reveals that she ran away from her wedding to be with Ted. The episode ends as Ted and Victoria drive into the sunset and Robin is revealed to be Barney's bride.

As you sit through this 44minute episode, you realize how perfect everything is. Not just the actors .... everyone in the HIMYM team contributes tremendously to make this landmark episode. I'll mention a few scenes which will help you realize how true this is. During the Tale of the Cursed Pants, as Marshall enters the Chinese shop, notice it's address and you will realize how good the art directors are. When Ted recites the Tale of Lily's Labour, notice the editing and you will realize how fantastic the editors have been. If you notice Ted's email and the ATM fiasco, you realize how fantastic the graphic designers are. And finally, if you cried or had that warm feeling in your heart throughout the episode, you will realize how great the writers and directors have been.

This is a landmark episode because each of the characters takes a step forward in their lives. Ted finally realizes his mistake, Robin gets married, Barney lets go of his insecurity and Marshall and Lily start their process of becoming the most amazing parents ever.
In Part I, the stories are amazingly woven around Lily's contractions. Even with all the stories, the director ensures that the focus remains on the baby. Tale of the Cursed Pants, Second Base with Neil Young, Ted and the Cuban Sandwich crisis and Terminator Barney are all amazing and hilarious. However the award for the best story has to go to 'Where does that Door Go?' Special Credits to Dr. Sonya and Lily's dad for making the delivery scene amusing.
Also, the scene where the baby is finally revealed to the whole gang is one of the best of the entire series. It is super emotional and really heart warming.

Part II is awesome in it's own way. It is great to watch Barney realize how much he loves Quinn. The marriage proposal is just too good and has the potential to go into some record books for being the most magical and unique proposal ever. His confrontation with Robin is super amazing and really touching. The return of Victoria and Ted's actions following her return are understandable and his desperation is visible. I was not very surprised with the end as I knew it would be Robin. (Wasn't it obvious ??)

Altough they won't affect my ratings, there were a few shortcomings that I noticed. Firstly, Robin's behaviour (especially in Part I) felt kinda stupid. Instead of having her own storyline, Robin's character is simply shaped by happenings in the lives of the other gang members. Secondly, the return of Victoria feels as if the series is taking a step back  Finally, the episode could have been a little more amusing to make it even more memorable.

However Simply put, the Episode is Legendary.

Star Rating : ★★★★★
Laughometer : ☻☻☻ 

PS. Marvin Erikson seriously has the best middle name ever. I wish I could convince my parents to let me add "wait-for-it" as my middle name too :P

The Big Bang Theory : Season 5 Finale

This was a very disappointing episode for the simple fact that the writers forgot that this episode was a season finale. Expectations were high, heartbeats were racing but all we received was an average, mildly amusing episode of the The Big Bang Theory. Season Finales are supposed to be dramatic and surprising, they need to have a super twist in the end which makes the viewers look forward to the next season. This episode falls short of not just the season finale expectations but also the humour and drama. A big issue like Howard's wedding is handled shabbily.

The episode starts with Howard who is sitting in his spacecraft along with two other astronauts and is getting ready for the launch. The wedding story depicted in this episode is seen through Howard who remembers all the good times he had while sitting in his spacecraft.
Scared that Howard may not return, Bernadette decides to prepone the wedding to sometime before the launch. They go to the city hall to get married but are unable to do so. Following Raj's suggestion, the wedding couple decide to have the wedding on their roof on a day when the Google Earth satellite passes over Pasedena. On the wedding day, the bride and the groom exchange vows while the gang give their wedding toasts. The episode ends as the gang nervously watch the rocket launch.

There are many things that make the episode disappointing and brainless. I was shocked to see that even for a big event like Howard's wedding, the characters couldn't come out of their stereotypical images. Penny and Leonard continued fighting, Sheldon continued to insult Howard and Amy was as selfish (regarding the Maid of Honour thing) as ever. Is it wrong to expect a little maturity at this point ?? Moreover, the jokes fell flat 90% of the time and were hardly amusing. Not just the humour, the episode also lacks the twists and turns that a typical season finale has (remember last years ??) Also, Sheldon repeats the mistake of blurting out Leonard-Penny secrets again and again which seems kinda stupid. Even the marriage ceremony is uninteresting and boring.

The only good thing in this episode is the end scene where all the characters hold each others hands. Altough the scene is heart warming and well portrayed, the final outcome still remains unsatisfying.

Overall the episode is disappointing and unfit for a season finale. This is not just my opinion, the ratings show that too.

Star Rating : ★ ★
Laughometer : ☻

Castle : Season 4 Finale

A mysterious murder, a dim environment, a gripping setup, the return of Kate's shooter, Alexis' graduation and Kate's revelation ......... the episode had everything required for it to be a season finale. But by the end it became so much more. It was no longer a crime-drama episode ; it was a step forward in a journey, a journey we had all embarked upon, four years ago.

Captain Montgomery's house is ransacked. The thief is found dead in an alleyway and it is believed that he was looking for case files relating to the murder of Kate's mother. Through a suspect, it is determined that the thief was killed by the same person who shot Kate 11 months ago. As Kate delves deeper and deeper into the case, Castle gets another call from the mysterious person. Through some investigation, they finally get the shooter's screenshot. Scared for Kate, Castle approaches her and tells her about the mysterious caller. Kate feels betrayed and a fantastic (super awesome) argument follows which ends with Castle's informal resignation from the partnership. Kate tracks down the shooter without telling Gates and goes after him. The faceoff (amazing fight) ends with Kate being pushed off the roof. She holds on and a great realization follows.
Meanwhile, Castle is psyched out by another big event ..... Alexis' graduation. Alexis after much deliberations gives out a great speech only to be succeeded by the biggest twist/development of the series. Kate resigns from NYPD and heads to Castle's house where they meet and make out.

 

From the script to the acting, from the fights/arguments to the drama, from Alexis' speech to Kate's expressions (even her makeup) ......... every single thing in this episode was Perfect. Even the junior artists were fabulous. This episode is an excellent example of how Season Finales should be. I was literally holding my breath through the entire episode and my heart din't stop throbbing even after the end.

Right from the word 'Go' .... you are hooked. The developments of the case and it's aftermath are super interesting and absorbing. The fight sequences are perfectly shot and the Castle-Kate confrontation seems totally genuine and adept. Altough the episode does not have many light moments, one that I particulary liked was the Kate-Castle banter, right at the beginning of the episode.

When you learn that the end is how you wanted it to be, you are overjoyed with happiness.
All the credit goes to the writers and the director for making such a fine episode. I was on the verge of tears by the end of it and now I can't wait for Season 5. It is absolutely superb and totally flawless. I have never experienced an outburst of emotions like I did when I was watching this !!

I know a season finale should not be in contention for the best episode award due to unpredictabe and bombastic features, but I can't help but consider this episode as not just the best of the season but also the best of the series. It is a perfect combination of Drama, Romance, Action and Suspense ....... something only a Castle episode can provide.

Star Rating : ★★★★★

PS. Alexis' speech was beautiful and mesmerizing ......... I wanted to share it with you guys :

"There is a universal truth we all have to face, whether we want to or not, everything eventually ends. As much as I've looked forward to this day, I've always disliked endings. Last day of summer, the final chapter of a great book, parting ways with a close friend. But endings are inevitable, Leaves fall, you close the book. You say goodbye. Today is one of those days for us. Today we say goodbye to everything that was familiar, everything that was comfortable. We're moving on. But just because we're leaving, and that hurts, there's some people who are so much a part of us, they'll be with us no matter what. They are our solid ground. Our North Star. And the small clear voices in our hearts that will be with us … always."

The Big Bang Theory Season 5 Episode 23

The series has been going downhill for the last few episodes, however this episode sets the gear in Neutral ..... atleast for the time being. It is a good episode with many humorous segments and many interesting sub plots. It has twists, turns and Sheldon on his very best ........

The episode starts with Howard getting a phone call from NASA which brings the news of the cancellation of his mission. He is ecstatic about this and starts preparing for his wedding with full force. However, his jubilation is short lived as NASA decides to put him on an earlier mission. He tries every hook and crook to get out of this but fails. Meanwhile, Leonard and Penny decide to renew their sex life but a mid-sex proposal from Leonard ruins it all.
There is another sub plot which focuses on Sheldon and Amy. Amy tries to increase Sheldon's feeling for her by using her neurological tricks. This worries Sheldon as he starts to experience random outbreaks of feelings for Amy (typical Shelly) !

Like I said there are many funny instances in this episode like Howard's relief on receiving the first call, his conversation with Bernadette's father, Penny and Leonard fooling around with electron-laser gas and Leonard's proposal. Leonard's proposal to Penny is super surprising and is the best part of the show for me. Hopefully, the proposal thing will be taken forward into the season finale and the declination at the end of this episode may turn into a yes. (Ooooohhhh)

It is interesting to see Howard's attempts to get out of the mission and the guys (especially Sheldon) choosing tuxedos for the event. Raj is sidelined but I really don't miss him much. The star of this show has to be Jim Parsons (another masterpiece by him). As always, it is amazing to see him deal with girl problems and finding solutions for it. His thoughts on relationship should be combined to make a book.

The only negative for me is the slow pace of the episode. I was having a good time but still I paused frequently to see the remaining time. Also, I found Bernadette's dad to be a little too strict.

On the whole, it's a nice and amusing episode that makes you wonder what will happen in the season finale. You'll hardly have any complaints after this one.

Star Rating : ★★★1/2 (3.5)
Laughometer : ☺☺☺

How I Met your Mother Season 7 Episode 22

The penultimate episode sets the pace perfectly for the season finale. This episode is full of highs and each character's story is enriching and engrossing. The episode may fall back a little on the comedy front but the satisfaction received from watching the lives of the characters unfold (a.k.a the drama) keeps it fulfilling and you don't feel the need to ask for more. The end is super awesome and sets your hear rate on fire.

Ted starts online dating to get over Robin. Barney using his boob-algorithms sets him up with three girls. However through one way or another, each of these girls remind Ted of Robin. Through his visions/illusions he realizes that the current situation is his own fault because after he proposed, he let Robin go. He understands that in a world where everything is changing (Marshal and Lily becoming parents, Barney in Love), his friendship with Robin is something he needs to hold on to !! Meanwhile, Barney is finding it difficult to accept Quinn's profession. He feels jealous and insecure whenever someone talks to her about her stripper activities. His constant apprehension irks Quinn and she is forced to think about the future of their relationship.
As Baby Erikson slowly grows towards his due-date, Marshal starts stressing out and acting weird. His constant worrying forces Lily to trick him into going to Atlantic City with Barney where he gets super drunk. A scene that follows sets the reel for the season finale.

The episode has it's funny moments. Barney's argument with Grandma Lewis (legendary :D), Drunk Marshal, Robin-obsessed Ted are the highlights (and ofcourse more Barney). When I first watched this episode I had mixed views but as I watched it again and again (for the sake of this review) I started loving it. Some people may contradict me but Ted's (imaginary) talks with Robin were really enriching and were the best parts of the episode. It is nice to see both him and Barney overcome their respective problems. Every Monday (Tuesday for Eastern Hemisphere) when I download a new HIMYM episode, I don't expect loads of laughter or pools of tears (altough it is capable of instigating both), Instead I expect an enriching experience that produces that warm feeling inside me. This episode stands very high in terms of these expectations of mine.

A few negatives .... Ted's dates (especially the 2nd) are unrealistically silly and Robin's lifestyle change is completely ignored. Real Robin appears for just a single scene, rest of the appearances are Ted's fantasy. Also the appearance of the Ducky-Tie is unnecessary and illogical.

In conclusion, the episode will force the viewer to start biting his nails and count the time left for the season finale !

Star Rating : ★★★1/2 (3.5)
Laughometer : ☺☺☺

PS. If you downloaded the episode and can pause/rewind it ..... read the ESPN Anchor's profile Barney created, Hillarious

FA Cup Final : Liverpool v/s Chelsea

  
No, I am not disheartened.

HALF TIME : 0-1 

FULL TIME : 1-2

Carroll (61') : Ramires (11') Drogba (52')

Yes, it was disappointing.
Yes, it was heartbreaking.
Yes, it was a terrible performance.
Yes, that wasn't a goal 
Yes, Kenny made some wrong choices

But No, I am not disheartened.

If we had to be relegated I would do it with King Kenny. If we had to lose a cup, I am glad it was with King Kenny. Because like us, he is one guy who loves Liverpool to the core. No one can question his tactics because he has already proved his worth as a manager and no one can question his heart as we all know it lies at the Kop. Being a total optimist, I never lost hope until the 94'. Even after the game ended (plus an hour of shock) I continued to search for something positive we could take from this game and I got a few. It's not much but it is also not nothing ........

• Carroll is finally proving his worth and becoming the player we want him to be .... He totally changed the game when he came on.
• If we would have won the game, the cup win would have overshadowed the cracks we witnessed in our team this year ... Now Kenny has no option but to make drastic changes
• The cup tie provided immense experience for our young players and that is really worth something
• I agree that we were sloppy in the first 60' but let's not forget our last 35' performance. Imagine what could have happened if we had played like that for the entire 90'. This shows we are capable of great things. We just need to channelise our skills better.
• I realised how much I loved Liverpool after the defeat .... it is not just a club to me, it has become a part of me !

Riena : Reina is a fantastic goalkeeper and could have saved both those goals but Alas ....
Johnson : He was average but had a few great runs in the last 35'
Skrtel : He was good in the first half., but in the second half it felt as if he had taken the 2nd goal to his conscience
Agger : He was good and saved us in many tough situations
Enrique : He was poor, didn't contribute much to the game. I felt he deserved Agger's anger in the 1st half.

Gerrard : watching Captain Fantastic cry was the worst moment of the match, he tried his best but could have done better with those free kicks and those occasional chances.
Henderson : Worthless again, I can now say that he is the worst signing of this season
Spearing : Worst Player of the Match for me  .... I don't know what Kenny sees in him. But it is good that he realized that Spearing was the weak link in our midfield and replaced him. He was solely responsible for the first goal. Not to be cruel, but he was totally useless ....
Downing : He is improving with every game and this loss just adds to his experience. Next season, he needs to do more than just put in shifts.
Kuyt : The Flying Dutchman didn't get much time ... could have won the game for us !


Suarez : He couldn't do much while he was alone. Carroll's entry affected him a lot. He felt short of help so many times during the game. His attempt to copy his Norwich goal in the first half showcased how desperate he was.
Bellamy : He was surprisingly bad .... :-(
Carroll : Man of the Match for me ........ He is finally proving his worth and winning hearts. He was solely responsible for our revival. Amazing performance !!

Let's not start cribbing or be sad anymore. If it is hard for us, then it is 10 times harder for the players and the staff. I know that the game on Tuesday is nothing more than a consolation, but let's support our team and go win it.
Being in two cup finals in one season is good enough for me, hopefully we can repeat this next season and top it up with a Champions League Finish.

WE SAY IT LOUD
WE ARE RED
AND WE ARE PROUD ......

Star Rating : ★★

Castle Season 4 Episode 22

The last few episodes had been leading the way to a final confrontation between Castle and Kate, if you had been waiting for this, I am sad to say that this episode does not have 'it'. The penultimate episode of the season is awesome nonetheless with fulfilling shares of both drama and mystery.

The way this episode started, I had goosebumps. There were two interesting developments, the first one involved Castle declaring that this was his last case with Beckett and the other one was Alexis' decision to choose a far-away college and move over childhood.
A person is attacked and killed by what seems to be a zombie. The murderer (or the zombie) is found dead in his apartment and brought into the headquarters where he mystically comes back to life. The case is pretty engrossing and keeps you guessing till the end. The way it ends is fantastic and was well worth being Castle's testimonial investigation (if he was actually retiring .......... oops spoiler).

The reason this episode works is that Kate and Castle are back to their usual selves (unlike the last episode) which is very endearing to see. The share of drama obviously comes from the Castle-Kate deal. Castle occasionally drops hints reminding Kate of how he said he loved her. Another plus point that goes in favour of this episode is that the drama is woven around the investigation and not the other way around. Also, it is great to see the father-daughter relationship develop as Alexis prepares to go to college. Their laser tag fights are both entertaining and amusing.
Just like the case, the Castle-Kate relationship undergoes another twist yet again. The end result is satisfying and subdued, however it may kill many expectations you had from the season finale. 

Just one anti-point for me, this episode was a little bit too similar to the Ghost episode that we saw earlier this season. Castle's excitement about zombies and Kate's denial about them ..... Deja Vu !! This season, many episodes have been influenced by fantasy subjects (superhero, ghost, snow white etc.) and that is why a feeling a repetition arises when one sees this episode.

In conclusion, it is a great episode that sets the pace for the season finale !

Star Rating : ★★★★

Liverpool v/s Fulham

Atleast it wasn't another draw

Halftime :0-1

Full time :0-1

Skrtel (6' og)

I have been writing this blog since March and I do not remember any instance when I have written two positive Liverpool reviews one after the other. We have been so inconsistent this season that even a objective like finishing above Everton cannot motivate us to bring our performances up. After the match last night, I seriously wished to be at Anfield so that I could jeer and show Kenny my displeasure. I know I am being cruel but it was a wretched performance from the second string team. The only time we looked dangerous and confident was the second part of the first half. 

I was not surprised with the team sheet, I had expected this many changes. But I was surprised to see that 5 of our 7 substitutes were defenders. What this meant was that either Kenny was super optimistic about this team or he was super careful for his first string players. Any way, the performance was disgraceful and the result disgusting. Many of our passes were given away (Courtesy : Spearing and Shelvey), our tempo was super slow and our attitude was not right. It was a totally new team and Kenny expected them to gel right away (a very poor call for the king) and do another Blackburn.

Doni : Man of the Match for me .......... we would have been 0-3 down if it weren't for his fantastic saves ; God  forbid,if anything happens to Reina, I will not be worried cause we got him
Kelly : Kelly is generally the perfect substitute for Johnson with great runs and crosses, but yesterday he wasn't his usual self
Coates : Was ohkaay ..... a liitle too rugged at times !!
Skrtel : For someone who is tipped to be the Player of the Season, he was awful ...... Own Goal :(
Aurelio : This was probably his testimonial game , Bye Bye Aurelio ........ you'll be missed :'(
Enrique : Coudn't bring the much needed force/energy into the game

Henderson : For the 2nd time in a row, Worst Player of the Match for me ......... where was he and what was he doing ?? If Downing can pick up his game, why can't he ?
Shelvey : Shelvey was very much like Henderson, he too was disgraceful and he deserved the abuses he got from the Kop End for his 93' freekick.
Spearing : He is always trying too hard to impress the Manager because of which he takes many poor decisons, he was very much responsible for Liverpool's poor passing.
Maxi : Earlier this week, he expressed his desire to leave Liverpool in the summer and that was reflected in his performance .......... he seriously required a playmaker (like bellamy) to do something worthwhile.
Sterling : Liverpool has a great future ........... 
Downing : He was average but this was because there was no one to aid him throught the game......... his passes went futile as there was no one at the other end !

Kuyt  : I was shocked when he was subsituted, there were worse players than him on the pitch ...... actions like this will surely affect his confidence and attitude ....... I am surprised he hasn't expressed his displeasure till now ! Anyways, he was good and creative.
Carroll : I do not believe that I am saying this but he was indeed the silver lining ....... he was at the end of many crosses and was super confident throughout the game.
 
I know this result won't affect the players but this will definately affect the fans. They will be low on confidence as they travel to Anfield South.
However the special thing about us (the Liverpool Fans) is that win, draw or lose ..... we will always be behind our Liverpool :D
Let's forget everything and focus on the FA Cup Final next week !!Come on lads ! Make us proud once more ............ give us an excuse to forget this horrible season and move on ! YNWA !

Star Rating :  ★1/2 (1.5)

The Big Bang Theory Season 5 Episode 22

Setting pace for the wedding due in the season finale, I did guess that the upcoming episodes would be all about the preparations and I was right ! Part I of the wedding saga was all about the Bachelor Party, Howard's evolution into a mature young adult and pre-wedding jitters !

As hinted above, the episode starts with the guys discussing Howard's bachelor party. Surprisingly he asks for a low key affair without strippers. Meanwhile Penny, Amy and Bernadette continue their wedding preparations. At the party which involves the gang and their friends (Will Wheaton, Kripke and Stuart) , everyone gets drunk (including Sheldon) and start offering toasts to Howard. Sheldon as usual insults him, Leonard recites a story of how he had sex in the sea, Stuart explains how he is not happy with his life and Kripke complains of the no strippers policy. Raj however gives a excessively long speech about Howard's dirty doings in the past. Bernadette sees a video of Raj's speech on the internet (courtesy : Will Wheaton) and starts to wonder whether Howard is the right guy. In the end, Howard shows up at Bernadette's place and explains how he has evolved and changed. Bernadette accepts his apology and everything is back to normal.

It is a really good episode but with a hot topic like Howard's bachelor party, I had expected a lot more. There was no major difference between drunk Sheldon and Sober Sheldon, all he did was insult Howard (which he can even do while he is sober ..... so why drunk ??). Till the last episode Howard was his wild self , therefore evolution seems a little sudden and forced. There were a few scenes that generated a few giggles like the Leonard- Penny subplot but that is all. The best part of the episode is not the travesty but the emotional scene between Howard and Bernadette which is really heart warming. It is always nice to see a series take a step forward and that is what this episode is for. But I am still not sure if I like Howard Version II ..........

In conclusion, it is a mildy amusing, tear jerking episode which sets the flow for the season finale. It is still being kept secret whether Howard and Bernadette will actually get married or not. Let's wait and see !!

Star Rating : ★★★
Laughometer : ☺☺

Two and a Half Men Season 9 Episode 22

This episode takes off exactly where the last one ended. It was supposed to be a comeback episode for the series but the creators got it all wrong. Neither was the episode able to generate any laughs or giggles, nor was it substantial on the emotional/drama front. The story progresses in such a way that now I feel nauseous just looking at Alan.

Walden invites Alan back as he is tired of being Mr.Family Guy. But he is unable to drive Zoey out when he learns about the strong sentiments Eva has for him. Alan suffers a mild-heart attack and is admitted to the hospital immediately. In his morphine-induced dreams, he is visited by Charlie in another form (Kathy Bates). Charlie explains that he is in hell and as a form of punishment he has to live in the body of this old woman. He asks Alan to make a life for himself and move out. But it is later revealed that he was just screwing with him (like old times). Alan finally moves back but on witnessing Walden's discontent, fakes a second heart attack.

One surely expects a lot from Charlie's return (in any form ....) but the episode is a big let down. Not only is the episode super dry on laughs but it sinks Alan to a new low. The series was taking the right direction for some time and Alan's life was changing for the good but he is back to being the parasitic, pride less person he once was. The writers really need to write in some dignity for Alan's character. I would have been happier if Charlie would not have been messing up with him and actually giving him sound advice. Because then, the show would have actually progressed a bit.

The only time that I did smile during this episode was during the scene Kathy Bates is first introduced. But even this was because I was simply taken away by the on-set audience's over excited reaction to Charlie's return. Zoey, whose character was the most substantial and realistic in this season, is nothing but a mean, Alan-hating woman in this episode. Even Jake's character has been just of a pot-addicted teenager throughout this season.

I just learnt that Two and Half Men has been renewed for another season, I would have been happy but after this episode I have my doubts.

Star Rating : ★★
Laughometer : ☺

Liverpool v/s Norwich

Amazing teamwork and amazing Suarez

 Halftime : 2-0

Full time : 3-0

Suarez (24' 28' 82')

To be honest, I was hardly excited about this one given our recent poor form. But the result was totally unexpected and mind blowing. A Hat trick by the one and only Luis Suarez (No. 7) brought Liverpool the win. Each of his goals were a short party for me.

I wish I could read Kenny's mind, the team sheet totally shocked me and was beyond comprehension. But since we won the game brilliantly, I got no complaints (Henderson the only one) ! We started the game a little slow but once Luis hit the goal perfectly and beyond the keeper's reach ...... we were back on track ! With that perfect assist, Gerrard showed again that he has many many many more years in him. The 2nd goal was an individual effort but it was as brilliant as the first one. Super finishing by El Pistolero. For the 3rd goal, I have no words ....... simply spectacular. The 45 yard chip has to be Liverpool's goal of the season and will also be in contention for the League's best goal. The defense was crisp and have to be credited with some fantastic saves.

 Reina : His passing was superb and he had some great saves. Everytime he shows us why he is the first goalkeeper.
Johnson : He was good but not outstanding
Enrique : His passes were critical in many attempts. Better than Johnson for me.
Agger : He daggered everyone again  and saved Liverpool many times.
Carrager : He was better than most of his last games, still got a little in him.
Coates : Got very less time to show anything. 

Downing : He was simply outstanding. Great runs and great passes. In the last few games, he has started showing his value.
Gerrard : Like I said he has many many many years still left in him. He was amazing and so were his passes. I do feel that his best position is behind the striker.
Henderson : Worst Player for me, where was he in the game ??
Bellamy : He was good as always
Shelvey : He works hard but needs to practice more. His skills are not polished as yet.
Kuyt : I think he is under a lot of pressure to show Dalglish his worth. Kenny needs to play him more.

Suarez : Mesmerizing, Amazing, Awesome, Spectacular ........ El Pistolero is the Man of the Match for me and probably every other Liverpool fan in the world. Go Suarez ! He was swift, clinical and his finishes were just too good ! He dodged the defenders like flies and could easily have scored 2-3 more.

Altough I know that Suarez will be rested in the next game, I am still pretty excited. We definitely need a good run before going into the final against Chelsea. Come On Reds !

Star Rating : ★★★★

PS. Carroll has a slight groin injury ...... I didn't miss him at all !

The Avengers

Being a comic book dude and an Avengers fan, I had huge expectations from this Marvel crossover film and I am proud to say that it has met all of them. It was super amazing and simply spectacular. The movie is a perfect mix of action, comedy, drama and thrill. It is enjoyable from beginning to end.

After several average superhero flicks like Thor, Captain America and Ghost Rider 2, Marvel finally redeems itself with the Avengers. The story begins at the SHIELD headquarters where Loki arrives through a portal , attacks the on-duty officers and takes away the Tesseract (a cube with the ability to open the Earth-Asgard portal). In response, Nick Fury starts the Avengers initiative. Piece by Piece and with immense difficulty, a team is created. However, it is largely divided and unstable over the SHIELD's motive of using the Tesserect to make weapons and their future moves. They finally reunite over the sentimental and heroic death of SHIELD officer Coulson. The final battle is fought in New York where Loki opens the portal through which Asgard troops enter. Loki is finally defeated through a joint effort and both him and Tesseract are sent back to Asgard.

All aspects of the movie are great, the action is neither hazy nor super fast. Not just the final fight but also the internal fights like those between Black Widow-Hawkeye, Black Widow-Hulk, Thor-Captain America, Thor-Iron Man are amazingly shot and interesting. Iron Man's antics and Hulk's battle sequences are super hysterical. Several well-written one liners contribute to the film's comedy quotient. Flaws in human politics and a human's need for power are few more things that the film perfectly showcases. Black Widow's scenes with Hawkeye are the most dramatic moments of the film.

The actors are well suited and perform their roles perfectly. Robert Downey Jr. stands out and is the best among the ensemble ....... simply awesome as always.
Chris Evans is nice as Captain America and perfectly portrays the Captain's inability to adjust to the new era. However it is difficult for me to consider him as anything other than the Human Torch. An actor should not play more than one superhero in his/her career.
Mark Ruffalo is the best Hulk and easily better than his two precursors. Another thing that works in the favour of the Hulk in this movie is that he looks like the actor (Ruffalo in this case) and not just an animated character anymore.
Chris Hemsworth does look like a demi-god given his perfect body and contributes as much to this movie as he did in his individual one. Scarlett Johnson is confident, fiery and swift as the Black Widow.

The best thing about Avengers is that one does not need to have read the comics or seen the individual films.In order to enjoy, one just needs to figure about who is good and who is evil. The film is loaded with amazing moments which invoke the audience's hoots, whistles and claps (my personal experience).

Few negatives, The final fight seems a bit short and Loki does not seem at all intimidating during that sequence. Being the sole villain, he is frequently bowled over by Thor, Iron Man and Hulk. Even his control over Hawkeye is broken simply by hitting the latter on the head.
The Thor-Loki relationship is interesting and should have been explored further. My first reaction to the Tesseract was one of "been there-seen that". Haven't we already seen super powerful cubes in other movies (like the Transformers).
However, none of these deter the flow or effect the movie as such.

In conclusion, the Avengers is one of the best Marvel films and a not-to-be-missed movie. It is perfect in every department. The 3D effects are good throughout with the exception of the final fight scene during which they are superb.

Star Rating : ★★★★

PS. Don't miss the post credit scene which involves Thanos.

Castle Season 4 Episode 21

This episode is like watching a totally different series. Castle without Kate is like a river without water or Earth without trees (too dramatic :P) !! As a separate story, the episode can be considered good but as an episode of Castle ....... it ain't lovely.

As Castle continues to follow his distancing policy, he soon runs out of ideas for his Nikki Heat novels. As even Kate is busy on some trial run, he decides to become partners with Detective Ethan Slaughter. After much deliberation and cheekiness Slaughter agrees and they go out to investigate a 'Slaughtered Heads' case which involves a dead person with 3 slaughtered heads in his handbag. They try to prevent a gang war which could erupt due to this case. On their investigations, Castle finds Slaughter's ways too violent and totally different from those of Kate. At one point of time, his ways put Castle's life in danger. The end is unexpected and twisted like all Castle episodes.

The episode is a good mix of investigation, drama and comedy. The latter one, provided by Esposito and Ryan whose demands from Castle are amusing. Kate has a limited number of scenes but the scene involving her psychiatrist is one of the best. Slaughter may be likeable to some, but his character seems disgusting to me. I just cannot digest his style of investigation and I certainly hope I never come across a cop like him.
The story is good and exciting, but it just does not feel or seem like a Castle episode. The few things that remind you that you are indeed watching Castle are Rick's conversations with Esposito and Ryan and his attempts to impress Slaughter. Castle's physical fights are pretty funny. Kate's absence is surely felt and I seriously hope this never happens again.

One good thing about this episode is that it makes me super excited about the next two episodes. They are going to be awesome.

Overall an average episode with an interesting and slightly amusing storyline.

Star Rating : ★★★

PS. I have never seen Firefly so I wasn't particularly excited about the Castle-Slaughter duo.

How I Met Your Mother Season 7 Episode 21

As the series progresses towards it's season finale, the makers wish to lighten the mood before the drama takes over and the episode succeeds in doing just that. It is a good episode which does not cause loss of control or tears of laughter but it does evoke smiles and titters.

Ted realizes that living alone is the best thing that has ever happened to him as he has the liberty to do all kinds of silly stuff and live every American's dream of spending the night with ribs and beer. Barney decides to make every night "Legen-dary" by doing something awesome like starting a Mariachi band, bringing a horse to the bar etc. We later learn that this is just a scheme of Barney's to distract himself from having bad, worrying thoughts of Quinn while she is on her 'stripper' job. He admits (not for the first time) that he is really in love with her.
Meanwhile, Lily sleep-cheats Marshall by having a sex dream about Ranjeet and Robin becomes an overnight celebrity as she successfully lands a helicopter after it's pilot falls unconscious.

This is one of those rare episodes where every primary character gets equal emphasis and screen space. But those who stand out are Barney and Robin. Robin has had a tough year and it is heart warming to see her fulfil her dream and achieve happiness. Although any HIMYM fan would prefer the old-Barney, it is still good to see him mature and fall in love. His contemplations seem genuine and are definitely heart warming. The best thing about Quinn is that unlike Nora (remember her ??) she is not hell bent on changing Barney, so we get highlights of both the ladies man Stinston and the mature-love ridden Barney.

Barney's legendary nights and his rating system, Lily's embarrassed vermilion face, Ted's dress and Marshall's insecurity all contribute to making the episode mildly amusing. Ted and Robin also move a step further towards solving their problems.

Comprehensively, it is good episode which takes the story forward while inducing a Level 3/4 laughter (Check out nine levels of laughter on the internet) !!

Star Rating : ★★★1/2 (3.5)

PS. Two episodes left :P

Two and a Half Men Season 9 Episode 21

" Men is 'no longer [about] the bimbo of the week', the show is 'more mature' now "
                                                                                                              Chuck Lorre                                                                                                                      
 There are a couple of scenes in this episode in which Walden has to take care of Eva while Zoey goes out for shopping. If you think about them and compare them with the earlier seasons, you will notice how much progress Two and a Half Men has made. From a show that was 100% sex, it has evolved into a more mature and serious comedy. I really like this change and I feel that TAAHM has progressed more in this season than it did in it's previous 8 seasons.

Taking the story from where it left in the last episode, Walden keeps his promise to Zoey and asks Alan to move out. Alan is shocked (as expected) but eventually moves in with Lyndsey. Both men expecting to have a gala time, end up having a torrid one. Lyndsey makes perfect use of the opportunity and makes Alan complete all the pending household tasks. Each of them hurts Alan physically in some way or the other. Meanwhile, Zoey enjoys her new freedom as Walden agrees to take care of Eva. But like every kid, Eva becomes too demanding and too defiant. She throws tantrums which is too nerve wrecking for Walden. In the end, both Walden asks Alan to move back and resume their normal lives.

It is a pretty amusing and interesting episode. The episode does bring a few laughs. The Eva-Walden scenes are funny and heart warming. Special credits to Lyndsey who sexily manipulates Alan to do all the household chores ..... which is amazing to watch. Alan's miserable and horny act is good. The best part of the episode has to be Walden's attempts to satisfy Eva. Overall, it is a good episode.

Star Rating : ★★★1/2 (3.5)

PS. It would to be sad to see TAAHM being pulled off-air considering so much progress it has made.

FA Cup Semi Final : Liverpool v/s Everton

" This is not just a semifinal
   It is a semifinal against Everton"
                                           Steven Gerrard

Amazing Game !! Amazing Semi Final !! Amazing Performance and Amazing Carroll (last one is still hard to believe) ....... and that's exactly the reason why I love and support Liverpool !!

It was seriously a game of two halves, we were a little down trodden in the first but in the second we were Bang On !! I don't know what King Kenny said to the players during the break, but whatever it was, it must have been spectacular ........... we have again received the bragging rights "Liverpool is the best team in the city" !!
And of course now we have the chance to win more trophies than any other Premier League team this season.When the first goal was scored in the 25th minute, I wasn't sad or depressed cause I knew this was the catalyst we needed and I was right. In the second half, we were fast (at some points, Downing was faster than the ball), we were precise, we were creative and we were strong. We had everything we required to defeat the Toffees (or the 'blue shite' in crude language). The players believed in themselves and did not want to disappoint their supporters.

Jones : Didn't have much to do ...... but whatever little he did was great ...... RIP Luca
Skrtel : He was the best defender and did try to score goals from corners and freekicks, the first goal could easily have come from him !!
Agger : Agger the Dagger was good except the mix-up !
Carragher : I can't help but feel that his time is up :( ........ many mistakes !
Johnson : Great passes from the left and great runs !

Gerrard : He worked hard and had a great partnership with Downing ....... good passes !
Maxi : 2 goals earned him just 15min ........ does he need to score 10 for a full game, eh Kenny ?? But he recharged the Liverpool side once he came on !
Spearing : Did his job well, few of his runs (like one in the beginning) were great
Downing : Best midfield player ...... simply amazing, he is finally showing his worth !
Henderson : Was just average again, rarely contributed ..... he needs to improve soon or he will be replaced with Adam or Lucas when they come back !
Bellamy : His freekick led to the goal ....... Yippee !!

Suarez : After the 8 match ban, Suarez seemed to have lost his touch ........ but he is back with a bang ! He was deadly and dangerous, he kept his cool and probably contributed the most ! Man of the Match for me !
Carroll : Turned from zero to hero ....... still can't believe he did it ! Lost a bet with my sis (who is a Carroll fan) cause of him, but no complaints !


I was a little skeptic with the team selection, but all's well that end's well ! It was a great game and a great night for me ! On to the final now ! YNWA !!

Star Rating : ★★★★ (just for the 2nd half)


PS. Saw the Hillsborough Memorial Service, it was pretty emotional !! It just shows that Liverpool FC is not a club, it is a family !! JFT96 !!

Shankar's International Dolls Museum, Delhi

I have been visiting this museum since I was 3/4 years old and when I visited it again yesterday, it was a nostalgic experience. 15 years later, it hasn't changed one bit. But this is not a good thing, in fact I was very sad to see that it has neither been renovated nor improved over the years.

Shankar's International Dolls Museum, Delhi boasts of the widest collection of dolls in the world with dolls from various European countries (Poland, France, Italy, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Germany, UK etc.), USA, Canada, African Countries, South American Countries, New Zealand, Australia, Commonwealth of Independent States and various Asian countries ie. a total of 85 countries. It was set up by Shankar Pillai in 1965 and through the years he acquired around 8500 dolls for his museum. The museum also has a wide collection of dolls form all Indian states

I had gone to get my passport renewed but unexpectedly found an hour free before my appointment, so I decided to visit the nearby museum hoping to revive childhood memories. However I was very disappointed to see that museum has become stagnant and has turned a blind eye to the rapidly advancing world. No doll has been added since the founder's death in 1989 and not a single change has taken place since I last visited it. The dolls are a tad dirty now and the shelves smell of dust. The museum now seems like an old government office. You can neither find paper guides nor human ones. Even the dolls are insufficiently marked.

What the authorities should do is close the museum for a year or so and renovate and redecorate it all. They should not be afraid of adopting technology to make the museum interesting. It should be an ideal reflection of upcoming and developing India. They can outsource this job to caretakers of the best museums in the world. That's all they need to become one of the best museums of the world. Many of the countries to which the dolls belong have either divided or renamed ........ this is something that needs to be taken care of (like Yugoslavia).


Star Rating : ★★1/2 (2.5) ......... just for the collection !