Helix
Aaron Sagers has a review up at the Huffington Post, and it's pretty positive. The review includes this summary of the main characters and what looks like the set-up for much of the series:
We then meet Alan Farragut (Billy Campbell), a Centers for Disease Control scientist, and [infected] Peter's older brother. Alan and his rapid response team have been summoned from Atlanta to the arctic to contain the outbreak involving Peter. That team just happens to include Dr. Julia Walker (Kyra Zagorsky), Alan's ex-wife who cheated on him with Peter, and Dr. Sarah Jordan (Jordan Hayes), a young and motivated doctor who might be crushing on Alan. Also along for the trip up north are sarcastic veterinary pathologist Doreen Boyle (Catherine Lemieux) and Sergio Balleseros (Mark Ghanime), an Army liason and systems engineer.
When they assemble at the base, they've all got jobs to do — to borrow from Herschel's mantra in The Walking Dead — and the characters pretty much head their own way to try and prevent the pathogen's spread to the 106 people working there. As more is revealed about the mysterious virus, and the layers of deception and misdirection at play on the base, Alan notes that losing control could potentially mean a rapid spread to every major city in the world in about a month.
The review also says that each episode appears to show 24 hours in the attempt to stop the spread of the virus. It also says that the characters' backstories and possible love triangles take a back seat to the job they're there to do. Sagers also describes two themes that seem to be running throughout, with two phrases and a song popping up a lot:
Though it is rooted in modern-day, Helix does have elements of the fantastic as well. The screener for the premiere contained unfinished effects, but hinted at some cool sciencey stuff. But there are enough gadgets and cool visuals to make me hopeful. The show has also already begun mythology-building. The Arctic Biosystems base, which at times looks like the interior of a Starfleet ship, is a division of the innocuously-named (genre-speak for shadowy) Ilaria Corporation. The word "Progress" pops up a lot, as does the phrase "Keep Calm and Carry On."
[Dionne Warwick's version of "Do You Know the Way to San Jose"], which acts as the Helix answer to Mama Cass' "Make Your Own Kind Of Music" on Lost, pops up frequently in the initial episode. The warm, welcoming ditty is juxtaposition to the foreboding terrain of the arctic — and the eerily sanitized, well-lit facility. It looks as cold on the inside of the base as it is outside.
Keep an eye out for "Progress," "Keep calm and carry on," and "Do You Know the Way to San Jose," when watching the premiere, I guess. [
Huffington Post]
Game of Thrones
The first photo of the latest actor to play Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane in costume has appeared. Hafthor Julius Bjornsson, who follows season 1's Mountain Conan Stevens and season 2's Mountain Ian Whyte, posted this photo on Instagram. It looks like the actor is way happier with life than his character. [
The Hollywood Reporter]
Doctor Who
Gareth Roberts, writer of five Doctor Who episodes, has confirmed he'll be returning for the next season. Roberts told Quench magazine that he was "currently working on the new Peter Capaldi episodes for Doctor Who Series 8." So that's Roberts, Mark Gatiss, Neil Cross, and Steven Moffat (obviously) confirmed as writing for Capaldi. [
Doctor Who News]
Revolution
NBC is officially promoting the show with a couple's portmanteau, as part of its official promo campaign. Including a hashtag. They're actually asking you to share the below photo or tweet "#charloe" to see more of Charlie and Monroe together. Sigh. [
TV.com]
The Vampire Diaries
TV Line's
guide to returning shows has a bunch of spoilers for everything, so definitely head over for to see more spoilers for shows we don't cover here. For The Vampire Diaries, TV Line has a bunch of information for the 100th episode, "500 Years of Soltiude." The episode has Stefan as the dying Katherine's only friend at the Salvatore house. Executive Producer Caroline Dries says that the episode takes place right after Elena and Damon's breakup, so it'll delve into that aftermath:
[We] see how they're both handling it. [Things are] still so tender. There's still so much that is unresolved.
Bonnie and Jeremy will see their relationship "hit some speed bumps," and this episode crosses over with The Originals, with Klaus and another character from the spinoff showing up. [
TV Line]
Here's a sneak peek and synopsis for The Vampire Diaries's 100th episode:
THE 100th EPISODE: FLASHBACKS TO KATHERINE'S EARLY LIFE — As she faces a new crisis, Katherine (Nina Dobrev) remembers the traumatic night in 1490 when she gave birth to the daughter who was immediately taken from her. Stefan (Paul Wesley) lets Elena, Caroline (Candice Accola) and Bonnie (Kat Graham) know that Katherine's health has taken a turn for the worse, while Damon (Ian Somerhalder) Matt (Zach Roerig) and Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) discuss some of Katherine's most notorious moments. Nadia (guest star Olga Fonda) comes up with a frightening plan to protect her mother, and Stefan and Elena are forced to help her. Meanwhile, Caroline is mortified when she realizes she forgot to fill Elena in on the latest shocking gossip, then indulges in a little scandalous behavior of her own. Finally, Elena and Katherine share an unexpected moment of connection. Chris Grismer directed the episode written by Julie Plec & Caroline Dries (#511).
[
The TV Addict]
Arrow
Showrunner Andrew Kreisberg seems to be saying that the second half of this season will revolve around Slade's plans and Laurel's character. For Slade, Kreisberg says:
We'll be seeing Slade and his machinations to bring about Oliver's downfall. . . . Slade has a very specific goal in the back half of the season, and I think people will be surprised to discover both what it is and what it means to Oliver.
And Laurel's in for a lot, including pre-island flashbacks from her point of view. Says Kreisberg:
These next four episodes are a big Laurel chapter. We'll see her drug use come back to bite her, and she hits rock bottom. . . . Katie Cassidy is delivering the most amazing performances.
We'll also see the return of Amanda Walter and a Diggle-centric episode when the show returns. [
TV Line]
The Flash
Comic Book.com has an unconfirmed report that two of the actresses who auditioned for the CW's take on Iris West are Christine Shepherd and Veronica Mars' Tessa Thompson. As has been done in Arrow, it looks like Iris, who is comics Barry's friend and sometime wife, is being reimagined. She's apparently going to be the daughter of the detective who took Barry in when his parents died. The report also has what might be an audition video, with dialogue from two possible scenes. The first scene has the two basically saying they're best friends/like siblings. The second scene, however, has some dialogue which may hint at a villain for Barry:
Iris West: How many?
Barry Allen: Twelve. We'll catch this Trickster, whoever he is.
Iris West: That's really fantastic, Barry. You get on that. You catch him. Put him on trial. Put him in jail. Let him wake up every morning and eat breakfast and see the sun. Unlike that little girl he just slaughtered in the street.
Barry Allen: You're right. It's not fair. But it's what makes us not them.
Iris West: There's something else.
Barry Allen: What?
Iris West: I swear that I saw something…a flicker of light, a gust of wind, something that pulled one of the families out of the way of the debris. It was the way that you described it that night…and what you saw in your house…the way that your mother was killed.
Barry Allen: Iris, I was just a scared kid. I don't know what I saw.
Iris West: You told me a million times that what you saw was impossible. Today, I saw the impossible to. And for the first time I really believed you.
The "Trickster" line does seem to fit the Arrow trend of slipping things in that are recognizable for comics fans, and
could hint that the Flash show will use that character. Get a full transcription of the audition video at the link. [Comic Book.com]
Sleepy Hollow
Roberto Orci says one question will be driving the story when the show returns:
The fear that exists is Sleepy Hollow is finally coming to a climax, and the question is: Will the town destroy itself?
We've also got Victor Garber as Ichabod's father to look forward to, and his appearance will reveal new things. Orci says:
[Ichabod's father had] clues… that he never knew were clues back then. You'll see that there were already things going on back in the day that will inform [Ichabod's] present.
Finally, is the promise that a) everyone will end up in "a really difficult place" and b) that they're going to end with a cliffhanger that paints the writers into a corner. [
TV Line]
And here's a synopsis for episode 12, "The Indispensable Man":
Deputy Andy Brooks, the undead and reluctant minion of Moloch, returns to Sleepy Hollow and once again professes his love for Abbie. As a token, he offers her shelter from the coming apocalypse and - upon her refusal - repeats a chilling warning about the betrayal she is fated to suffer at Ichabod's hand. Meanwhile, Crane recalls his final meeting with General Washington and begins to make progress uncovering some of the Bible's hidden secrets. He learns of the existence of a map written by Washington himself that could prove invaluable to Crane in his quest to rescue his wife Katrina. His ebullience is dampened by the fact that the same map is the very tool Moloch needs to facilitate his invasion of the waking world. With the help of Henry Parrish, Crane and Mills set off on a hunt to find the map, well aware of the consequences should they allow it to fall into enemy hands.
[
SpoilerTV]
Once Upon a Time
They're being pretty cagey over there, but what we do know about the show's return is that the midseason premiere will focus on Emma. There's also whatever the Wicked Witch is up to and Christopher Gorham's still-unrevealed role. Adam Kitsis describes this part of the season, which begins with everyone split between two realms and with a year already passed, as "a compelling new mode of storytelling… an exciting new variation on things we've done before."
Eddy Kitsis, on the other hand, seems to hint that Robin Hood, who was revealed to be Regina's love, might actually meet the once-evil queen by responding to that question with "Keep watching!" [
TV Line]
Person of Interest
Executive producer Greg Plageman says describes the struggle over the Machine that will happen and describes the fallout from Carter's death:
We're going to see these various entities jockey for control of The Machine or at least something commensurate with it, [which creates a situation] where Root starts to take matters into her own hands.
. . . The loss of Carter created a rift between our guys on Team Machine as well as disillusionment on Reese's part. Something much bigger has to happen if he's ever to come back into the fold.
[
TV Line]
Below's the synopsis of the midseason premiere, "Aletheia." Go
here for more photos from the episode.
Multiple enemies converge on the POI team as they protect a dying man with a connection to Finch's past whose number has come up. They struggle to keep their enemies at bay without Reese, who has left the team and their mission behind following the tragic war with HR. However, being down one man could have catastrophic repercussions for the team, on PERSON OF INTEREST, Tuesday, Jan. 7 (10:01 - 11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Camryn Manheim and Saul Rubinek guest star as Control and Arthur Claypool.
[
K Site TV]
Supernatural
The events of the fall finale were a "crushing blow" to Dean, who will make "less savory" alliances in the pursuit of his "whatever it takes" approach to tracking down and ejecting Gadreel from Sam's body. On the angelic side, executive producer Jeremy Carver described what's in store for Gadreel:
[Gadreel discovers that] getting Metatron's ultimate approval is probably going to be a harder journey than even what we've seen so far.
Meanwhile, Carver also explained where Castiel will find himself:
[Castiel finds] himself in the angelic fray more than ever and at a point of decision he never considered a few short months ago. It's going to be a little of a be-careful-what-you-wish-for [situation].
[
TV Line]
And here's the synopsis episode 9.11, "First Born":
TIM OMUNDSON ("PSYCH") GUEST STARS AS CAIN —- Looking to reclaim his place as King of Hell, Crowley (Mark Sheppard) asks Dean (Jensen Ackles) for help finding "The First Blade," the only blade that can kill Abbadon (guest star Alaina Huffman). Knowing he owes Crowley a favor for helping Sam (Jared Padalecki), and also wanting Abaddon dead himself, Dean reluctantly agrees and the two set off on a road trip. However, Dean and Crowley are completely unprepared when they find out who has the blade - Cain (guest star Omundson), the first son. Meanwhile, Sam is back at the bunker with Castiel (Misha Collins) who notices there is some leftover grace inside Sam. If they can extract it, they can use the grace to track Gadreel. The only problem is the procedure may do permanent damage to Sam. John Badham directed the episode written by Robbie Thompson (911).
[
K Site TV]
The Originals
In the rest of this season, Davina and Cami will form an alliance which will challenge Marcel and Klaus. According to EP Michael Narducci, we can also expect to see more development of what the werewolf population "means and what they will do" as well as the introduction of new characters. Of romance, Narducci says:
[Elijah and Hayley will get to] a great place, emotionally, where you have these two people that secretly want the same thing but, on the surface, are a bit opposed.
Plotwise, there's Rebeckah and Marcel's shared "secret." Says Narducci:
There may be someone besides Rebekah and Marcel who also has access to that secret. Part of that story will then be how Marcel and Rebekah, who are not exactly on the same page, figure out what they're going to do to keep the secret from getting out?
[
TV Line]
Grimm
Once the news of Adalind's impending motherhood gets out, creator David Greenwalt says we're in for a ride:
[After they find out,] all these various factions and de-factions — if that's a word — will come together. It's going to cause a heck of a lot of turmoil for Nick's life.
A Wu-centric episode will lead to that character's "amazing change." Plus, the upcoming wedding of Monroe and Rosalee will bring both side's family into the show. And we'll see some of Rosalee's past, which Greenwalt describes as:
She does have a sordid past, and there are some deep wounds on both sides of that very fence.
[
TV Line]
American Horror Story
Here are two promo photos showing Stevie Nicks in episode 3.10, "The Magical Delights of Stevie Nicks." [
SpoilerTV]
Teen Wolf
Here are the titles and short descriptions of episodes 3.15 and 3.16:
Episode 3.15 - Galvanize
When a convicted murder escapes prior to a surgery, Scott and his friends try to help his target.
Episode 3.16 - Illuminated
Beacon Hills is under curfew from the power outage; the teens throw a blacklight Halloween party; Scott tries to earn Kira's trust.
[
SpoilerTV]
Agents of SHIELD
Here are a few new photos from episode 12. [Buddy TV]
Almost Human
Go
here for photos from episode 7, "Simon Says." [SpoilerTV]
Additional reporting by Charlie Jane Anders and Jason Krell
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