The day finally came in honour I'm counting down my top 8 episodes of CSI

With less than a week to the FINAL CSI, I’m counting down with my favourite 8 episodes of CSI.

#8) My eighth favourite episode is 11.5 "Targets of Obsession". In this episode the Biebs (Justin Bieber) returns for the second time in season 11. Why is it number 8? Because Justin now has a person vendetta after his last appearance with Nick Stokes and tries to kill him many times with in the episode. The rivalry between the two of them is hilarious. Most importantly it is hard to imagine someone that looks like Justin (so cute and the Bieber haircut) being that bad. And he did great job acting. Oh and at the end he gets shot. My mom and I were sad and my brother was happy.


Fav quote: Justin: "Ill surrender but only to Stokes." 




#7) My seventh favourite episode is Season 13's "Forget Me Not". It's Sara's birthday and she is celebrating alone. So she finds comfort in a guy she previously hooked up with. Then she wakes up in her own hotel room to find out he's dead. She then tells her co -CSIs about the incident and some to go to judge her about her infidelity with Grissom, her husband. It then comes to light that someone went to great lengths in order to frame Sara. In the end, the man framing her breaks into her house, tries to get her charged with assault and goes to visit her mother in the hospital. Sara then breaks into his house and tries to shoot him as he was involved in a previous case where he killed someone but it was self-deference and he is trying to do the same with Sara. Little does he know it's a trap and he is arrested. Why number 7: the suspense! And the end of GSR  (Grissom Sara romance) as we learn that Grissom broke up with Sara and that's why she was seeing someone else. Their relationship was built up for 7 seasons and they were married for only 3.... the end of an era...


Fav quote: Sara: "Grissom and I are not married anymore. I'm sure he had my best interest in mind."

#6) The sixth pic: The Pilot. Why? It's the pilot, where it all started. Back when the CSI's paged each other (I had to ask my mom what the point of the pager was...now the CSI's text each other). And when Grissom handed out assignments for crime scenes, now they just show up to the scene. The episode kicks off with the introduction of Holly Gribbs, who is new to the team. She goes to her first crime scene with Catherine, a robbery at a convenience store. While Nick and Warrick are battling to be promoted and the introduction of Warrick's gambling addiction (he stayed shady throughout the series, I’m glad he got killed off). Warrick's addiction led to the murder of Gribbs as she goes back to a crime scene and gets shot, as Warrick was supposed to go with her. Fun fact: Gribbs was actually killed off because when a test audience as a test viewed the said they disliked her. She wouldn't have lasted anyway as when she saw corpses she barfed. We are introduced to the first serial killer of the series who makes man record an audio suicide and then kills them. He then steals Grissom's fingerprints. I love the old episodes when the show was all about science, proving the crime through the evidence as if they were there when the crime happened. They did multiple experiments that were the show's focus. Today, the show has shifted and is more trace focused and victim-killer focused, and the CSI's don't do as many experiments. They were so simple and straightforward. The newer ones I find are more complicated even for a seasoned CSI watcher like myself. The channel ABC actually turned down the series because they didn't think that Americans would understand a show that was so science based. However, CSI then became the most watched for over a decade in the world. CSIs also spent a lot of time in the break room together in the early seasons, they seemed more like a team and had a personal relationship, compared to now that has faded. Also Catherine's hair is hilariously it looks like a mushroom but curly and red. 


Fav quote: Catherine: “We restore peace of mind. And when you're a victim, that's everything. Stick with it. At least until you solve your first, and if after that, you don't feel like King Kong on cocaine, then you can quit. But if you stay with it, my hand to God, you will never regret it."

#5) Number five features Taylor Swift in season 9's "Turn, Turn, Turn", it was the first episode of CSI I ever watched because I figured Taylor Swift would be murdered off (I didn't like Taylor Swift, obvi) and she was. The episode took place over a year, it all starts with Nick looking over Taylor's body and then the episode takes place over a year with Nick visiting the motel where her character lives for multiple times over that year. Over that year Taylor's character changes her appearance multiple times. With Taylor's character eventually dying at the end. Why #5? Because it was my first CSI episode and it taking place over a year is really cool and seeing TSwift dead was great too. LOL

Fav quote: Haley: “But I told her forensics is just science, you know? It's what you go to school for and. But you don't look like my chem teacher.”

Nick: Thanks, I think.


#4) My fourth fav is the last episode of csi ever, the season finale of season 15. The Gate Harbour Killer (Season 15's serial killer) and he kidnap Julie Finlay (the character I despise the most).  Finlay is left alone in her apartment and is almost killed, leaving her in a vegetative state. (We figure she is dead because she is not returning for the CSI movie). It is Number 4 because this is the final episode of Nick and the last single episode in the series. Nick Stokes in recent seasons has become the face of the franchise, in my opinion, since the departure of Gil Grissom (William Petersen) in Season 9. When I think of the CSI, Nick Stokes is the first thing that comes to my mind. With his charming southern accent in addition to being chivalrous, handsome and a true gentleman, Nick was a true fan favourite especially with the ladies. (I think that every lady that watches CSI has at one point had a crush on him.) Nick Stokes represents the emotional heart of the series. Nick also has a natural empathy when dealing with the crimes he investigates; a quality that is truly his own. Despite being the true all-American man Nick Stokes would get emotional under pressure contrasting the male stereotype of not showing emotion. Nick was also very low-maintenance with little drama in his life and little need for attention. Nick was the most reliable worker within the crew especially in the most recent series and was always driven to solve his cases.With all of his qualities Nick Stokes has become the most loved character in the series and will be greatly missed.

Fav Quote: Sara: “you know what Grissom would say, ‘you got to

Go where you can do the best good’.”

#3) My third favourite episode is season one’s second episode “Cool Change”, the introduction of Sara Sidle. As Grissom says while the team is in the break room that he is calling his friend, “Sara Sidle” to which Catherine replies, “Who is Sara Sidle?” Grissom then says, “she is a CSI from San Francisco” aka the final piece of the CSI cast. Well, Sara Sidle was originally written in to be a love interest for Grissom. She comes to town to stand in for Holly Gribbs (see #6) and she was brought in to look into Warrick’s whereabouts. Sara goes on to eventually replaces her (she is not hated by the test viewers). Sara in the future becomes a vital member to the team over the 13ish seasons, she was apart of the main cast. In her first scene she shows up to a crime scene where Grissom is investigating a jumper. She enters the crime scene and after a smart remark about the victim Grissom says, “I don’t even have to turn around, Sara Sidle.” To which she drops her bag and crosses her arms and says, “It’s me!”. Sara is very involved in the investigation into Gribb’s death. She seems to fit right in with the team as she takes charges and completes her report on Warrick and helps with the Gribbs investigation. She does all this while wearing a not-tacky-at-all brown flare pants, a pink tank top and a tight green sweater. One of my favourite parts of the episode is when a pager goes off and everyone checks theirs. This is so funny. The final scene features the whole cast standing in the parking lot starring at the killer of Gribbs who they caught in the episode as he is taken away in a police crewser. Why 3? Sara Sidle is introduced in a dramatic way.

“I don't even have to turn around. Sara Sidle.”

“It's me.”

#2) My second favourite episodes is season 7's “Living doll”. The episode is where we find out about who the miniature killer, Natalie is (the serial killer of season 7 who builds miniatures of crime scenes before the crime is committed). Natalie is scared of bleach and kind of looks like me, which is creepy. Ne ways, so she kidnaps Sara Sidle because Grissom loves Sara and Natalie's only love, her foster father killed himself and he blames Grissom. So as per usual the CSI team is a step behind and she kidnaps Sara after Sara comes back to her car from going to a veggie restaurant with her crime scene kit (weird I know). Also in this episode one of my favourite characters, Sophia Curtis makes an appearance she is badass and should have stayed longer. Sara is then abducted by the miniature killer and placed under a red mustang, like the miniature that she sent to Grissom the night before it has a motor that makes her hand move and grip dirt and release it. The mustang was apart of a previous crime scene that both Sara and Grissom worked, where they showed affection and that is how the miniature killer got figured out that Sara and Grissom were in a relationship together. The episode ends with Nick and Warrick arresting the killer at her home and taking her in for questioning when she goes into a psychotic break. The final scene features Sara under a red mustang with just her hand being seen gripping dirt (just like the miniature).

Fav quote: Grissom “[the miniature killer] is taking away the only person I ever loved.” (Revealing that he loves Sara to the team.)

#1) MY FAVORUTIE EPISODE IS SEASON 8’S DEAD DOLL!

This episode is a continues on from living doll, however there are flashbacks (a CSI trademark) of how the miniature killer kidnapped Sara and took her out to the desert. Sara had been transported there in the trunk of the Miniature killer’s car. However, Sara is able to break out of the trunk by opening the door that connects the trunk to the back passenger seat, however she is then drugged by Natalie and put in the back seat. This is so the miniature crime scene can be completed. In the present the miniature killer still is not talking. So it is up the CSI’s to figure out where Sara is. It is Nick who discovers a phone number in the miniature killer’s room for an impound lot for badly damaged cars—which is the breakthrough clue. This is after he starts crying after having a flashback to him and Sara having a discussion about when he was buried alive in season 5 and how she said, “it wasn’t your day to die, when it is your day, it is your day.” After a really bad rainstorm in the desert Sara almost drowns from the landslides of water. Sara does eventually escape the car and starts walking around the dessert as she leaves rocks for the search team to find her. She uses her shirt as a head tie and a sling for her broken arm (her shirt was ugly so it is okay that it was sacrificed) and takes a mirror from the car for protection.  She walks in over 110F heat and it found by Nick after the car lot guy tells the CSIs where the car was dropped off. And just to creep you out while the CSIs are searching for Sara they find a body that is not Sara’s. Sara is recused and taken to a hospital via a helicopter. Why is it at number one? There is never a dull moment in this episode and it is the final episode that features the miniature killer in action. Also I love the episodes where the whole team gets together to solve a case instead of being split up.

Fav Quote: “Sara: Yes, he was. That's true, Natalie. I lost my father too. I know that Ernie loved you. He would not have wanted you to do this.”

Natalie: “[whispering] Ernie loved me more than Grissom could ever love you.”

SO STOKED FOR THE MOVIE TONITE!!!!!!!!!!!

TIFF REVIEW: BROOKLYN; NOT JUST A FILM BUT A FILM THAT WAS A LONG TIME COMING JUST LIKE THE HEROINE EILIS LACEY'S JOURNEY OF PERSONAL DISCOVERY.

In 2012, I read the novel Brooklyn by Colm Toibin and I never thought that it would become one of my absolute favourite book. I picked up the book because I am a huge fan of actress, Rooney Mara and I had read on IMDB in 2012 that she was going to star in a film that was adapted from that novel. When I read the book and it blew me away! I told my friend and my mother, "you have to read this book! It's captivating!" It's a novel with a heart and emotion, that is while written. It also has an excellent and brilliant heroine Eilis Lacey that was-before-her time. 

Brief Plot--SPOILER AHEAD: 

Eilis (pronounced Elish) Lacey is a young woman who is unable to find work in 1950s Ireland. Her older sister Rose sets up wonderful opportunities that await her in New York so Eilis she emigrates to Brooklyn, New York and takes up a job in a department store while taking night classes in bookkeeping. While in Brooklyn she leaves in a boarding house with a few other Irish girls and Ms. Kehoe. Eilis meets and falls in love with a young Italian plumber called Tony (He's like a modern NYC-Italian 50's version of Prince Charming, I Love Tony). Eilis then receives news that Rose has died in her sleep from a pre-existing heart condition that she never told anyone about. Eilis has to return to Ireland to mourn, and she secretly marries Tony before she leaves. In Ireland she falls back into the town society easily. There  she meets Jim Farrell, who is interested in her. Eilis is forced to spend time with Jim and eventually starts a brief relationship with him.  Eilis then procrastinates about a return to her new life by extending her stay.. Eventually a local busybody, Miss Kelly, tells Eilis she knows her secret because Madge Kehoe is her cousin and somehow the story is out in New York. This is the turning point in the novel as Eilis realizes that her heart and her belong in America. She immediately books her return passage, telling her mother the whole truth and posting a farewell note to Jim as she leaves town by taxi for the docks. (Written with reference to Wikipedia). 

Rose wanted Eilis to have a better life than the one she was going to have in their town. That's why she sponsored her to go to America and why Rose didn't go herself because Rose was sick. Rose wanted Eilis to be an independent woman and not have her life decided by and scrutinized by the people in the town. Rose was ahead of her time too she too was well educated and played golf. 

The year 2013 came and went and Brooklyn never got released. I kept checking on IMDB and the date kept being pushed back. Then years went by and I eventually forgot about the adaption.Then there was a recast with Irish Actress Saoirse (pronounced Sear-sha)Ronan cast as Eilis. Then the date was set for 2015.Until one day while looking up an actor on IMDB I saw a trailer for Brooklyn. The  novel that I so dearly loved and waited for years to be adapted finally had a trailer.

Then...

A few few weeks ago:  I was searching for any TIFF Film that I might want to see. I then I selected coming of age in the category bar on the website (I personally find calling Brooklyn a coming of age film to be offensive to me as a mega fan of the book but anyway..) and Brooklyn popped up. And I lost my breathe. FINALLY I COULD SEE A FILM IVE BEEN WAITING THREE YEARS FOR AT TIFF BEFORE IT COMES INTO THEATRES! 

A few weeks ago: The day TIFF tickets came out I went on line and stood in the "virtual queue" as they call it and I selected tickets for Brooklyn for the premiere at TIFF, 2 tickets; one for me and one for my cousin (they are $40 a pop and a premiere is when there is a red carpet and the actors are there) and then when I finished checking out I was devastated because they said they were sold out! The premiere and the second screening! SOLD OUT! But the tickets were in my shopping cart! So I was pissed for about a week and bitter when I saw tiff ads or tiff posters or watching Etalk. This would year would be the first time in five years that I have not been to festival! I go every year and I really look forward to it! I was so shocked because it seemed that so many of the films were sold out! Over the years I have bought tickets the morning of a film and gone to see it tickets were widely available! 

Yesterday (Sunday) : I woke up at 7 am on  and went on my computer because apparently there are sometimes tickets released at 7am for films that screen that day. I checked and refreshed the website on my computer 20 times until 7:05 because both the premiere and second screening were sold out so I went back to bed. I was very sick over this past weekend and although I wanted to go i the rush line for tickets to yesterday's premiere of Brooklyn, I passed on it as it was raining and I couldn't sit outside for that long as a sick person (Do I regret it Ive decided no because I was very sick and could barely talked so I couldn't have gone to the red carpet or the rush line. Im not mad at myself). Then that afternoon I was in line at Starbucks (a daily task) and there was a couple in front of me was talking about "how they should go to tiff" and how "it was easy to get tickets". So in my head I was like, "good luck losers!" Then I decided just for fun to check to see what was showing for today (Monday, 14th) and I couldn't believe my eyes! Brooklyn had a select tickets button beside the second screening not a off-sale (TIFF's fancy way of saying SOLD-OUT!). So I quickly typed in my information again (like the first time) and told myself "not to get my hopes up because there was no way within 5 hours there were tickets available". And sure enough the transaction went through! IT WENT THROUGH! and I called my mom and told her we were going tomorrow to go see Brooklyn!!!!!!!! 3 years in the making finally I get to see Tony and Eilis and Rose and Jim on the BIG SCREEEEEEN! 

Today: I went to the TIFF box office and picked up my tickets and made sure they were for Brooklyn and then I decided that for sure this was the real deal. Then I stood in a line that rapped around the back of the Winter Garden Theatre and the line was so long that I thought, 'all these people cannot be going to see Brooklyn!" and sure enough there was another film being screened a few hours later. So I got into the beautiful Winter Garden theatre and watched Brooklyn (and I was the only person under 40 there..but thats beyond the point). IT WAS EXACTLY LIKE THE BOOK TO A T! Exactly what I imagined when I read the book over 3 years ago! The actors were all Irish and did a FABULOUS job! Saoirse was the perfect Eilis ( Sorry Rooney but Im sure you would have done just as well!) And Emory Cohen as Tony (I love Tony) was right on the money with the Brooklyn accent and the "Tony" mannerisms. Perfection. Nick Hornby adapted it beautifully it was just as I imagined it would be! WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!!! I laughed and cried many times including 5 mins in to the film and the end and when rose dies and when she marries Tony (okay I cried a lot but I knew what was going to happen and I had been waiting for 3 years for my favourite novel to make its big screen debut! SO. Many. Emotions.) I basically was teary eyed the whole film, when I wasn't laughing. 

BROOKLYN: 5 STARS! A MUST SEE! IN THEATRES NOVEMBER 2015.

So I am so so so so so so fortunate that I got to see Brooklyn at TIFF considering 48 hours ago I was not going. Although I didn't go to the premiere because it was sold out and I was very sick I still got to see a film that I had been waiting for and fantasizing about for 3 years. My favourite book finally made its Hollywood debt!!!! 

PS I feel a lot better today than I did yesterday so Im so glad I was able to go today! :-) 

PPS: Personal Confession: I have had a crush on the fictional character Tony from the novel Brooklyn and the film has reinforced this.

BROOKLYN; NOT JUST A FILM BUT A FILM THAT WAS A  LONG TIME COMING JUST LIKE THE HEROINE EILIS LACEY'S JOURNEY OF PERSONAL DISCOVERY. THE BEST FILM OF 2015, SORRY CINDERELLA! 

MY FAVOURITE REVIEW FOR BROOKLYN THE NOVEL: 

"A compelling characterization of a woman caught between two worlds...A fine and touching novel, persuasive proof of Toibin's ever-increasing skills and range."

FAREWELL, MY DEAR FRIEND, NICK STOKES

Better late than never....

Nick Stokes first appeared in the pilot of CSI as a Level 2 CSI that was competing with another character, Warrick Brown to become a Level 3 CSI. Little did anyone know he would become one, if not the most loved characters of that CSI franchise.

Nick Stokes in recent seasons has become the face of the franchise, in my opinion, since the departure of  Gil Grissom (William Petersen)in Season 9. When I think of the CSI, Nick Stokes is the first thing that comes to my mind. With his charming southern accent in addition to being chivalrous, handsome and a true gentlemen, Nick was a true fan favourite especially with the ladies. (I think that every lady that watches CSI has at one point had a crush on him.) Nick Stokes represents the emotional heart of the series. Nick also has a natural empathy when dealing with the crimes he investigates; a quality that is truly his own. Despite being the true all-American man Nick Stokes would get emotional under pressure contrasting the male stereotype of not showing emotion. Nick was also very low-maintence with little drama in his life and little need for attention. Nick was the most reliable worker within the crew especially in the most recent series and was always driven to solve his cases.
With all of his qualities Nick Stokes has become the most loved character in the series and will be greatly missed.

My 6 favourite Nick Stokes moments:

6. Emotion connections: In 11.5 "Turn, Turn, Turn"Nick befriends a guest-starring Taylor Swift, who ends up the latest victim at the hotel he has visited over a few years and had made a personal connection with her. This further demonstrated that Nick becomes emotionally attached when it comes to victims that are aprt of the cases he is part of.

5. Nicky gets promoted: When Nick Stokes got promoted in the pilot to CSI level 3, the whole team came together to celebrate. This foreshadowed his career over the next 15 years as one of the best CSIs on the team.

4. His different hair styles/facial hair: from the Bieber cut, the shaved head, short hair moustache, and beard, you never knew what you would get when you tuned in.

3. Flirting with Sara in season 1: As soon as Sara Sidle joined the crew in season 1.2 "Cool Change" Nick Stokes and her were always flirting and here are two of my favourite quotes from that season:

Sidle: you're standing in my crime scene. 

Stokes: No, you're in mine.

Sidle: you got audio, I wanted that. 

Stokes: I out rank you.

Sidle: Technicality, who'd Grissom handpick to work here.

Stokes: Keep telling yourself that. 

----------------------------------------------

*talking about a chemistry set a gift for Catherine's daughter's birthday 

Sidle: you keep that; might learn something 

Stokes: Stop flirting with me

Sidle: you keep that; might learn something 
Stokes: Stop flirting with me

-----------------------------------------------

2. Nick shooting the Biebs: Nick Stokes shooting Justin Bieber...well the character Justin was playing at least in 11.5 "Targets of Obsession". It was hilarious and of course Nick would get the honour of doing it!

A video of Nick shooting Bieber

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJsIPUw5ckQ

1. Being buried alive: In 5.24/5.25 "Grave Danger" which was directed and written by Quentin Tarantino, was the most suspenseful thing I have ever seen! Nick was buried alive in a glass casket that had a live feed so the crew could watch. In addition, the grave was booby trapped with a bomb so even if they saved Nick they would die in an explosion! Well as predicted they were able to not detonate the bomb and saved Nick just before his oxygen ran out. (phew!) 

The fact that Nick was teary-eyed at the end of the episode when saying goodbye to Greg and Sara truly reinforces the fact that he was the emotional heart of the series--no character will ever be able to fill that role--as he was the face of the series and will truly be missed. 

All the best, in San Diego Nicky! (Maybe we will see you in CSI: Cyber? Hopefully)

Next Article: The CSI Finale: Finlay, I'm sorry 

CSI Season 15 Finale: Finlay, I'm Sorry

"It's all your fault, Hillary!" 

Okay so if you haven't figured this out yet I'm a huge fan of the series, Crime Scene Investigation (CSI/CSI:Las Vegas). I don't like the spinoffs: Miami is okay and I will not watch NY. The original CSI is my obsession and by the end of the year I hope to have seen every single episode of the series which now contains over 300 episodes. Over the complete seasons that I have seen, there are some characters that I find annoying like Riley Adams that replaced Sara Sidle in Season 9. Adams was unprofessional and was not a good CSI, she made mistakes and did not fit well with the rest of the cast. Adams was also sassy and obnoxious, she was the opposite of Nick and never could relate to the victims or the cases emotionally. Thus the reason her character did not return for season 10. But no character in the series has annoyed me more than Julie Finlay (Elisabeth Shue). Julie Finlay was introduced in Season 12 when she came with DB Russell the current leader of the team from Seattle.

"I know one actor looking for a job, Finlay.

 Me: "She could do a reboot of the Karate Kid." 

I always say "I hope Finlay would leave the team or get killed off because she is so annoying." But you are probably thinking, "Hillary why do you find Finlay annoying?" Well, Finlay was brought in basically to replace Catharine Willows, who she will never be able to live up to. Catharine was at one time the leader of the team; she was brilliant, smart and was a critical part of the team. Finlay on the other hand is too flirty (Willows was not that flirty) to a point where it has jeopardized her life. Although Catharine was flirty too, she used it to her advantage to solve the crime. Finlay also gets too excited when solving crimes and smiles too much, she is way too happy. Although Finlay does play a role in solving many of the investigations she could easily be replaced by the two other lady CSIs Sara Sidle or Morgan Brody, all three characters are not needed as they are basically too similar, espceially Finlay and Sidle who are both veteran CSIs.

So in the premiere of this season of CSI, Finlay is trapped in her car and is almost blown up by a serial killer that she helped capture in Seattle, The Gate Harbour Killer . I did say that, "if Finlay got blown up I would be happy" but I was joking at the time. Well, Finlay ended up being okay that time. I even decided that, that moment was my second favourite moment of the season (the first being when Nick Stokes brought the Miniature killer's miniature to a secret serial killer fan memorabilia exchange.) Then Finlay is kidnapped by The Gate Harbour Killer when she went to her apartment alone (which you never do in any crime series) and was unconscious with no pulse in a trunk of a car that was stolen. It is then revealed that Finlay is in a vegetative state. But I don't think that they will kill her off, Nick Stokes left too in the finale so they cannot loose two characters right? RIGHT?

"Maybe Finlay will appear in CSI: Cyber oh wait no she's dead." 

So Julie Finlay I am truly sorry that I wished you dead. I really did not mean I was just joking come back for season 16 and maybe be less annoying! I will be so upset if you are not there as I will feel responsible! The writers hear me say that "I hate Finlay and wish her dead" and then try to kill her off but when I say "I want Grissom to come back" they ignore me! 

All I know is that if CSI doesn't get renewed for next season I will never know what happened to Finlay!!!!!!!!!!:-( So CBS renew CSI so that I will know what happens to Finlay! 

Are quotes in bold are brought to you by my parents who keep reminding me that I got my wish about Finlay.

Next Article: The coolest things about the CSI: CYBER premiere! 

A MID-SEASON REVIEW: Showtime's The Affair Ep 1-4

I watch way too much television. It's a real problem. Clearly I should instead be studying.


But I am going to write this review anyway.

The Affair, where do I start?

What peaked my interest to watch this series was both Ruth Wilson (Alison) and the series winning a Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series and Best Drama Series respectively. I thought let's check this out. So I did.

The plot

A middle age novelist(Noah) with his wife and four unruly children leave NYC to go stay with his in-laws in the Hampton's for the summer. While on their way to there they stop at a diner in  town. The waitress (Alison) saves his youngest daughter from choking. He then becomes obsessed with her and meets up with her as she is his "tour guide" for the Hamptons which is the backdrop for the new book he is writing. Alison is a waitress who used to work at the local hospital and a few years ago lost her son when he drowned. Both are happy in their marriage however, they both need a break; Noah from his overbearing in-laws whom  he is staying with and his children and Alison from her husband who has a tattoo of an angel on his body that constantly reminds her of her loss. Additionally after getting married at 21, Noah then feels that he missed out on the freedom of a twenty something and is trying to fill that void with Alison, who is a twenty something.

They sneak off together and tour the island of Montauk to get ideas for Noah's book while they are really using this time to hook-up. Nevertheless, their real lives do intertwine due to them being on a small island. Noah's son ends up working for Alison's husband Cole on a horse-range (and I am sure much more will follow).

BUT THIS IS THE BEST PART!

Reader, you are probably thinking, Hillary why are you watching this horribly predictable series? While Reader, I'm glad you asked that, you see the series is shown  through two different perspectives: Alison's and Noah's. Through this Rashomon***take, Noah's account of events are first and entitled: "Noah: Part I" and the second being Alison's take, "Alison Part II". The viewer sees two series of events that occurred in the same day, as these events are being told to a detective and even when they are talking to the detective their stories are not the same. An example, in Noah's story, the detective says he is divorced however, in Alison's story the detective has been married 25 years. As predicted the events do not match exactly in either character's story and many times the event are not even close. As a fashion minor student I would also like to point out that during the two character's accounts everyone is usually wearing a different outfit than from the other character's story, such as  Alison is normally wearing a sexier number in Noah's story than in hers or Noah's shirt is green in his part and in Alison's its blue.
 I have always found the unreliable author to be quite fascinating. That their account may not be what actually happened. As even through a thousand people may witness the same thing all would not tell what happened in the same way. Have you ever been retelling a story to your family about a moment that you all experienced and have you ever had a member say that something else happened instead as they remembered it differently but you don't remember that detail? They remembered it differently than you so what did really happen? Are they or are you remembering it differently? Who is more reliable the child or the adult? The woman or the man? I have read from interviews for the series that women believe Alison's story while men believe Noah's. So who is more reliable? Who's story is the truth? We will never know, unless another character's perspective is introduced but even then, what if their story is different from both of the one's previous?

I personally do not know whose story I believe, although Alison's seemed more realistic while Noah's is always sexed up. But do I think that because I have a female brain and not a male one? Maybe a man watching the series wouldn't think that Noah's story was sexed up and that Alison's was unrealistic? I don't know. However, what I do know is The Affair will keep you watching to the very end to see if the characters will be caught by their respected spouse and what events (even if the account of these events are unreliable) occur next.

Oh and I forgot to mention their is a murder and that is why Alison and Noah are being interviewed. That's an element too that will keep you tuned in, to find out who was murdered. All we do know it is a man.

The series shouldn't be called, "The Affair" but instead If The Ocean Could Speak or Whispers of The Hamptons. As the title The Affair does not allude to the breathtaking Ocean which is the back drop of the series, which in turn cannot be overshadowed by the plot of the series due to its beauty. The Ocean should have a starring role in the series. As it is the prominent feature in the opening sequence which shows: Noah's book, the main characters looking sad along with their partners, two people having sex (there is a lot of sex in this show) and a little boy running on the beach all with ocean waves going on top of them. It almost seems that when you are watching it as the waves crash over, you are drowning into the ocean and sinking back into it. Which I think is kind of haunting as Alison's son drowned in the ocean. The ocean in addition is in the background of almost every seen. The ocean is almost like the Eckleburg Glasses in the Great Gatsby, the ocean is always watching them and is the only true witness to Alison's and Noah's affair. As when they are back with their families and their "real lives" their affair gets sunk back into the ocean, just like Fiona Apple sings in the opening sequence repeatedly.


There is no doubt that The Affair will become your latest guilty pressure. It is a series with a beautiful backdrop with the Hampton's and plot twists that you don't see coming. Thus the series overall is very refreshing and worth noting.


Opening sequence of The Affair.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6muh9kTlr88

NEXT ARTICLE: FAREWELL, MY DEAR  FRIEND, NICK STOKES



***If you have ever taken a film class you should have learned about Rashomon. If not, your professor should be ashamed.

Review of YTV's Open Heart

I watched the pilot of Open Heart with little expectations.

The series which, is produced by the people that brought you Degrassi, was much more intriguing than I thought it would be. I hate medical dramas. I find them annoying and I am scared of hospitals so they are not the show for me. The promos for the series did not help raise my expectations for the series either. They were cheesy and lacked information to what the series was even about.


The series opens with a bunch of misfit teens breaking into a fancy house (since the series is based in Toronto much like Degrassi, I'm just going to say this mansion is located on Bridle path). After successfully answering the password on a phone call from the security company, the misfits (including Dylan Everett as Teddy, a favourite amongst Degrassi fans) go on to wear sparkly clothing and dance around (apparently rich people only wear sequin clothing. I didn't know Paris Hilton lives on the Bridle Path).  Then one of the girls goes through a glass table and becomes unconscious. This causes the main character troublesome and rebellious Dylan Blake (a great trendy first name for girls today) to take her friend to the hospital with the person who's house she broke into's car! This caused Dylan to be arrested by the police however, she did not get charged instead she has to do community service at the local hospital.

Three months later Dylan is a volunteer at Open Heart Hospital, which her own grandfather paid for and where her mother and sister work. On her first day Dylan meets Mikayla and Wes played by Cristine Prosperi and the very handsome Justin Kelly both of Degrassi fame, respectively  Prosperi's character in OH seems dull compared to her lesbian and brightly dressed Degrassi character, Imogen. 

Both Wes and Mikayla decide to help Dylan find her father who disappeared mysteriously six months back. After the police decide to drop the case Dylan then takes it on to herself to help find him.  Dylan a true daddy's girl and truly believes that her father would never leave her and her family. Although Dylan seems very desperate at times and has become obsessed with her father's disappearance, this seems the only thing Dylan is truly passionate about and it has seemed to give her a purpose. Though defying her mother and sister who want to move on, which seems horribly premature since Mr. Blake only disappeared six moths ago. 

Dylan is played by new comer Karis Camerson. Karis holds her own in the role as the rebellious Dylan and has proven in the first two episodes aired that she communicates the true character of the passionate Dylan. However, in the scenes with Justin Kelly and Cristine Prosperi she seems to fade into the background due to the their scene stealing and expressive faced acting of the veteran young adult actors. This in addition to Mikayla's blinding bright outfits when compared to Dylan's monochromatic wardrobe.

After Dylan takes her new found friends to grandparents house for a swim uninvited, this becomes the first of many sneaky things the three-some do, making sneaking around their new hobby.

The three-some then breaks into the security camera room in hospital after they discover that Dylan's father was at the hospital the day he vanished. After trying to sneak into the room and failing, secuitry then asks Dylan's mother whether or not to press charges against Dylan. Her mother then says yes. Dylan's mother is ruthless and cold towards Dylan. The charges are unnecessary and who would jeopardize their child's life and career with trespassing charges?

Dylan ends up visiting the detective that was on her father's case and he shows her the video of her father at the hospital and in the video her father is with a lady in a tacky leopard coat.

The pilot ends with the Blake family eating dinner and the lady in a tacky coat standing on the property of the family's house. Maybe she should be charged with trespassing instead of Dylan.


Overall, Open Heart is moderately gripping, however does not hold a candle its category reveal Pretty Little Liars. You will keep tuning in to see what clues Dylan and the gang find that lead them to her father. My prediction her father is still alive, out there and left due to a family secret. In OH the hospital of the same name seems to be simply a backdrop to the mystery of Mr. Blake and just seems to be a playground for the three-some to play and just the mother and sister to work.

Next article: Saying farewell to the LVPD's finest, Nick Stokes. 

10 CSI FUN FACTS

Due to my extensive knowledge of Crime Scene Investigation I have decided to write a blog post on my favourite 10 CSI fun facts:

1. Holly Gribbs. In the plot, the new addition to the team, Holly Gribbs goes on her first crime scene investigation. However, after returning to the scene to collect more evidence and being left alone by Warrick Brown she gets shot and dies. The writers chose to do this, as when the pilot was viewed by a test audience they said that Gribbs was an awkward character. They also stated that she was not relatable causing actress Chandra West to be fired after the second episode. The character that filled the gap left by Gribbs was none other than my fav Sara Sidle. Sidle was written in as a love interest for Gil Grissom however, they did not enter into a relationship to audience knowledge until Season 7. 
2. Too complicated. The series was originally pitched to the network, ABC. However, ABC refused to air the drama due to the fact that they stated that the series was too complicated for the American audience to understand. CBS then picked up the series and since then it is one of the longest running drama series and has become a pop culture icon. 
3. Why Las Vegas? Las Vegas was chosen as the setting for the original CSI due to the fact that the Vegas crime lab is the second most active crime lab in the USA other than the FBI's. 
4. The machines. The machines in the labs are all real and do indeed work. 
5. Facts. All the scientific facts listed on CSI are true. The series has researchers and fact checkers to make sure that everything scientific that appears on the show is authentic. 
6. The CSI effect. The show created the term, "The CSI effect" which has multiple definitions. The first is "a boarder knowledge of crime forensics by the general public". The series has caused jurors to demand more forensic evidence in trials. The second use of the term is the wave of crime series that were inspired by CSI since its premiere in 2000 such as Without A Trace, NCIS, Bones and Criminal Minds. At the time when CSI premiered no other crime/ mystery series had aired that strictly focused on the science side of crimes through forensic evidence. 
7. Helped solve crimes. After the series premiered in 2000 that year 46.9% of all rapes were solved in the USA a significant jump from the year before. 
8. Catherine Willows. When Marg Helgenberger was cast in the series she went and witnessed a real autopsy. The character of Catherine Willows was actually inspired by a real forensic investigator in Vegas. 
9. Different Name. In real life CSIs are called CSAs and do not perform all the activities the characters do in the show including interviewing, working in the lab, do not make arrests or obtain search warrants. 
10. Sara Sidle. Due to a contract dispute with CBS and actress Jorja Fox the character of Sara Sidle was going to be killed off in season 8. However, the writers decided not to kill off Sidle for the possibility of her character returning. It was a good decision as Sidle was a guest character in Season 8 and 9 (although billed as a main character in season 8) and a recurring character in season 9. Sidle then was instated as a main character in season 11 and is still apart of the main cast to date. 

Special thanks to IMDB for the information :-) 

Hill's TV WEEKLY PICKS

If you have ever talked to me you know that I love current television. You would also know about my love for CSI--Sorry my obsession--for what I consider the best television series on tv right now.
I personally am opposed to Netflix. I like watching current television series and on Netflix the options are what I consider "old" and not current. I like watching live television aka tuning into a certain station at a certain time to watch a show when it originally airs.  Okay with the exception for my marathon CSI DVD watching. Yes, the episodes are old and the first season is from Fall 2000 but I get a free pass right? So yes I binge watch CSI, my current watching schedule is Season 1, then a jump to season 9, next season 7, then 8, then 2 and 3. I skipped to season 9 because I wanted to see the last episode with Grissom and also I didn't have season 2 and 3 at the time...so it all makes sense now. I really like the Grissom and Sara Romance (GSR). I think they were made for each other. Fun fact the character of Sara Sidle was written to be a love interest for Grissom however, they didn't actually enter in a relationship until season 7.  Anyways I could talk about CSI all day but the article is about my tv picks so let's get back to that...

I think I have great taste in my television watching choices so here is my current television picks

Monday night (the night that I consider the WORST night for television)

• Celebrity Apprentice at 8pm on Global--this is the first time I've watched it and it's entertaining. However, it drags on and on. It should be 1.5 hours because they are in the boardroom for an hour and the apprentices bashing each other should be restricted to half an hour. 
• That's it for Monday. I didn't like Gotham I found it boring, too graphic and confusing.

Tuesday 

• Pretty Little Liars 8pm on M3--scary, breathtaking and this season really creepy and morbid. But I am a super fan having read all 18 books and I have never missed an episode. The liars fashion is on point too. 
• Degrassi 9 pm on MTV--the Canadian cult classic is a must watch for me. Although with the new actors and their HORRIBLE acting I just want to see the characters that were in Grade 9 when I started watching graduate then I'm not sure I'll tune in anymore. However, the show is the best at representing CURRENT teen issues including this season's sexting scandal. Issues also seen in this season include: date rape, suicide, drug use and teen pregnancy.
• Real housewives of Beverly Hills--Very entertaining and I used to watch RHW of Vancouver. I love realty tv its entertaining and hilarious. I also find it interesting how other people live their lives. With the new additions to the cast its going to be great season. This is a show I wish was two hours because it feels like an hour isn't enough.
• See my review of YTV's Open heart.  

Wednesday 

• Dragon's Den 8pm on CBC--Love this show. My mom introduced me to it to teach me how to value a business since I was in fashion design and I told her I was scared of going bankrupt. The new cast member Wek is hilarious however, the show has lost some spark with the departure of the infamous Mr. Wonderful aka Kevin O'Leary. The show is still very entertaining and keeps my attention through the hour. 
• The Middle 8pm on City TV--This show was discovered by my family eavesdropping on a guy recommend the series to a friend on a bus at Disney World. This show is so relatable to my family from the teenage boy Axl, the teenage girl Sue and the try-really hard mother, Frankie. It's hilarious and the only series my family all watches together. 
• Law and Order: SVU 9 pm on CTV 2--I love this show, even after 16 seasons the writers still have original and gripping storylines. It keeps my attention the whole hour and I look forward to it every week. 
• Say Yes to the Dress Canada 10pm on W--Cheesy and amateur but I cannot stop watching. 

Thursday 

• How to get away with murder 10pm on CTV--see the past review on my blog!
• other than that...nothing 

Friday 

• Shark Tank 9pm on CTV2--I learn a lot from it and the hour goes by so fast. I love it. Also I tune in just to see what Mr. Wonderful is going to say. Also it's interesting what people have come up with as inventions.
• Blue Bloods 10 pm on CTV--I have been watching it since it returned and I really like the plot involving the view of a law practicers including the DA sister, the two brothers that are cops and the father who is the police chief. The plots are also gripping. 

Sunday

• CSI 10pm on CTV--the writers always out done themselves and after 15 seasons still keep me at the edge of my seat with each episode. Additionally,  with the departure of Nick Stokes at the end of the season every episode this season counts. 
• Girls 10pm on HBO--always both entertaining and cringe-worthy. My mom hates but I like it. I consider it very educational about sex and relationships even more so than sex ed. Although they say the characters represent our generation I don't feel that. Sexy Adam Driver doesn't hurt either. 

Every week day: Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy 7pm and 7:30pm--I have a gift of answering puzzles and I know a lot of random stuff...

Next article: 10 CSI FUN FACTS