Another Post-sweeps Review

Well, it's taken me midway through March, but I've finally gotten around to writing a review of February's sweeps for y'all. Here we go:

Lost
Status: Frustratingly amazing
Of course I'm suffering from the most common ailment among Lost viewers this season, "Needalltheanswersrightnow-itis" (it's not really a very catchy affliction, but it has some very real symptoms). I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that we'll probably get only one nugget of precious answers per episode, making it a 1:3 ratio to the nuggets of "Whaaa?"

All in all though, the new episodes aired since February 7th have kept me itching for Lost Night all week long. The best episode so far? Definitely the Desmond-centric "Flashing Before Your Eyes," which left me wondering where I put that tape of that one PBS special on time travel I used to have lying around. The worst so far? Definitely the one about Jack's sexual escapades in Thailand with Bai Ling. Was "what do Jack's tattoos say?" really the most burning question on Lost viewers' minds?

Gilmore Girls
Status: Off, somehow

I had a lengthly conversation on this topic with my TV soulmate J.J. (who promises to get me a gig at Entertainment Weekly, should it ever come to that), and we decided that since The Palladinos moved out of the Warner Brothers' lot, everyone seems to have forgotten who the hell Lorelai and Rory Gilmore are. The great thing about the first four seasons (and to a lesser extent 5 and 6) is that they were based around the theme of dreams and goals. For Rory, this meant her educational goals--getting into Chilton, getting into Harvard, going to Yale, and, ultimately becoming a foreign correspondent ala Christiane Amanpour. But have we seen Rory studying lately? Talking about journalism? On the Yale campus? The writers even had had Rory state her major as English in a recent episode. Are you kidding? Not until last week's episode did Rory start to allude to her post-college plans. And what about Lorelai's goals? Since she opened the Dragonfly Inn I've been wondering this.

It seems that both of the Gilmore Girls' lives have been reduced to their relationships. Logan! Luke! Christopher! Marty! Is this all these women are? The Christopher storyline was done so poorly I can't stand it. It could have been so brilliant--Christopher had the edge of being the old flame, and he was incredibly likeable. I could have hopped the Chris&Lorelai-shipper-mobile pretty quickly had they sold me on it...but their relationship (and abrupt marriage!) was just a good idea gone horribly wrong. It's not okay with me that the destiny of the show (Luke & Lorelai together) could only be fulfilled after a divorce. I firmly believe that Lorelai Gilmore has always believed in the seriousness of marriage (she didn't marry Max, did she?) and wouldn't have followed Christopher down the aisle of a Paris chapel unless she was sure. Which she wasn't. Which is why I'm mad at these second-string writers they've hauled in. Do you hear me David S. Rosenthal? Give me a call! I'll work for free!

EDIT: Word on the Ausiello Report is that Mr. Rosenthal did do something right--he finally worked out a guest appearance by Christiane Amanpour on the May 8th (and likely the series' last) episode. Let's just hope he makes the most of it...

ER
Status: Working for me!

So many people have jumped off the ER bandwagon since Grey's Anatomy moved into town. But I'm hanging in there, if only because I think I've been watching this show longer than any other; I used to sneak downstairs after my bedtime and watch it from behind the couch. That was back when I wanted to be a doctor. But now that I'm an English major, I'll just write about the show and call it a day. New characters Hope, Gates and that crabby surgeon dude sleeping with Jane are interesting, Forrest Whitaker was amazing and Ray and Neela kissed! I'll keep watching it as long as they keep making it, I think.

The O.C.
Status: Abysmal (and also, over, thank God)

I know a whole group of people will want to fight me on this statement, but...didn't this show used to be good? I'm not talking Emmy award worthy or anything, but a nice Thursday night guilty pleasure? I swear there were some good times. But it all went to crap this season. I curse Josh Schwartz for ever thinking this show should be more of a comedy, for thinking Taylor and Ryan would make a good match, and for a myriad of other things that could have been averted if the show had just ended about five minutes before a certain car crashed and killed a certain wan leading lady.

But I stuck it out because, well, the series ended on February 22nd and I thought I could make it until then. While I'm hesitant to say it was the worst series finale I've ever seen (I just don't think anything could top the Full House fiasco of '93), it was pretty painful. Chock full of random marriages, babies being born and montages that, thankfully, rule out any sort of spin-off or reunion show. But as for my own memories of how the show ended, I plan on pretending it did die right after graduation and spare my fond memories of college O.C. nights.

The Office
Status: (angels singing)

With so many of my shows crapping out on me, The Office is like something really shiny I can't stop looking at. Hence, I watched all 47 episodes in existence in about a month. And while I spend about half of each episode peering between my fingers at something Michael Scott does and making that noise that Camille used to make whenever David and Andy were within 10 feet, I firmly believe that this (and Lost) are the shows to be watching right now.