I know, I'm sorry

So, here's the deal, Popgirllives is on a hiatus for a while.

Because I've started a new blog! It's much more focused and project oriented than this one, so hopefully I'll be less neglectful but check it out please!

The Reading List

Check it out! Read it, comment. It'll be great!

Best and The Worst

So, Glee is over for the year. And here is my list of my ten favorite, and least favorite musical moments from the show this season.

Best:

10. "Highway To Hell" Episode 14: Hell-o

We'd already been introduced to the hilariously dramatic Jesse St. James, played with soulless intensity by Jonathan Groff a few moments before when he sang Lionel Richie's "Hello" with Rachel, but this was the real world's true intro to Groff (this performance matched the intensity of his Spring Awakening stuff) and it actually sort of made me root for him and Rachel to be together, since we'd already been subjected to the awful/awkward version of "Hello I Love You" from Finn in this same episode.

9. "Don't Stand So Close to Me/Young Girl" Episode 10: Ballad

Anytime Mr. Schu gets his performance on it's special. But this particular mash up, which was meant to warn Rachel off of her crush on him, was that perfect mix of energy and charisma. And of course it failed miserably, because if Matthew Morrison sang to you, would you stop having a crush on him?

8. "The Lady Is A Tramp" Episode 18: Laryngitis

OK, so here's the deal. I love Puck. I love everything about him. I love the stupid things he says, I loved his mohawk. But I especially love that for some reason, no one on the show has acknowledged what a superior performer he is to Finn, except for the producers, who gave him this number (Sammy Davis Jr's version, "He was a back Jew, you know.") to help Puck win Mercedes affection. Why? Because we will not rest until Puck has at least made out with every girl in Glee club!

7. "Don't Stop Believing" Episode 1: Pilot

You never forget your first time. While yes, there were other glimmers of greatness in the pilot, it was in this rousing version of everyone's favorite power ballad that I knew I had found my new favorite show. Plus it introduced us to some New Directions choreographic staples, moving lines, walking with purpose...uhh, Artie sitting off to the side and bopping.

6. "Alone" Episode 5: The Rhodes Not Taken

Link Larkin and Galinda are singing a duet! Let me repeat, LINK LARKIN AND GALINDA ARE SINGING A DUET! So there was that. Also, just amazing.

5. "Set Me Free" Episode 7: Throwdown

In an episode full of great musical moments, it also included the pitch perfect ballad "Keep Holding On" (my sister's favorite moment all season) I had to pick Quinn's breakout moment as my favorite. It might just be because I LOVE Quinn, but it really was a great performance.

4. "Dream on" Episode 19: Dream On

NPH, Matt Morrison, Joss Whedon, Aerosmith, a community theatre production of Les Mis. Nothing about this moment was wrong. It was pure Joss, and pure Glee at the same time. (Which just further proves that they are a match created by the TV gods!)

3. "To Sir With Love" Episode 22: Journey

Maybe it's because I love the song. Or maybe it's because it was just lovely, especially compared to the club's winter finale tribute to Mr. Schue, Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You." The moment preceding the actual song, where they all talked about how Glee changed them, who could help from crying.

2. "Dancing With Myself" Episode 9: Wheels

Glee does reclaiming the 80s better than most things, and this song was not an exception. Artie's jazzy aucoustic interpretation of the song, which turned out to be his way of expressing his crush on Tina, was lovely, touching and just perky enough to keep us from doing more than just welling up.

1. "Don't Rain on My Parade" & "You can't always get what you want" Episode 13: Sectionals

For me, this was the definitive Glee moment. While a few months later their regionals performance would also be good, nothing will ever beat New Directions first competitive set, Rachel's exciting run down the aisle (which Lea Michele then repeated at the Tonys this past weekend) and the tears in Will's eyes as Emma held up a cell phone so he could hear his kids was so beautiful.

And now to the worst (some are just awesomely bad, but still)

10. "Run Joey Run" Episode 17: Bad Reputation

OK, so it was supposed to be bad. Rachel's bizarre music video to this terrible song was ridonkulously awful. And that was the point. But I had to mention it, just because after the episode aired, I had the song stuck in my head for 48 hours.

9. "Like A Virgin" Episode 15: The Power of Madonna

The performance was really good, actually I really like the version of the song, and I'm totally on board whenever Santana sings, but I was so uncomfortable during this montage of the shows three virgins, Emma, Rachel and Finn, singing to their possible first times, with Will, Jesse and Santana respectively (Only Finn and Santana actually did the deed) as they all writhed around on beds in era inappropriate nighties that I had to mention the spot.

8. "Hello, I Love You" Episode 14: Hell-o

Again, I don't mind the version of the song, but it was just so heavy handed, the "Gosh Mr. Schu, I guess I can learn something about myself and do my Glee assignment" lead in, Finn singing while dribbling a basketball (Love him but he is not the Zefron) staring at Rachel, Santana and Brittney and then stalking Quinn down the hall. It was weird, and not good.

7. "Bohemian Rhapsody" Episode 22: Journey

I loved the song. I think it was a perfect fit for Jesse and Vocal Adrenaline at Regionals. But doing the WHOLE song? Not necessarily the most time effective idea. And splicing it in with Quinn's labor? Just BAD. Both scenes would have been great on their own, but they did not work together.

6. "No Air" Episode 7: Throwdown

Probably the only time I've been out and out bored during a number on Glee. And the wind blowing Finn and Rachel's hair as they walked down the hallway didn't help matters much.

5. "Pink Houses" Episode 18: Laryngitis

Again, it was kind of supposed to suck, and it was kind of funny. But just no.

4. "Tell Me Something Good" Episode 21: Funk

It was UNCOMFORTABLE and BAD and put pictures in my head that will NOT GO AWAY AND I WISH THEY WOULD!

3. "Poker Face" Episode 20: Theatricality

You have Lea Michele and Idina Menzel staring at eachother and they're singing an acoustic version of Lady Gaga? Really? That's where you went? And who would sing Lady Gaga with their mom? I mean, really?

2. "Last Name" Episode 5: The Rhodes Not Taken

I should have loved this number. It was Kristin Chenoweth singing Carrie Underwood. I should have loved this number. I didn't. Again, it was just awkward.

1. "This is a Man's World" Episode 21: Funk

OK, we get it. Quinn's pregnant. She's a good girl who made a mistake and got pregnant. We get it. Did she have to do pregnant ballet? It was weird. It would have really been enough to have her sing the song. As Artie put it, "This is just, inappropriate."

So, those are mine, anybody have any different opinions?

In a world where supernatural beings do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

So, here I am, two weeks later finally getting around to writing this review for New Moon on DVD.

Let me preface it by this. Obviously I watched the movie again. I did not enjoy the second viewing. I think the Buffy/Angel binge I went on over the past few months completely ruined Twilight for me. Which is why I'm waiting until after Eclipse comes out (in 18 days) to watch more of Buffy and or Angel. I want to enjoy the film version of my favorite book in the series.

It's just so frustrating to see them all do nothing but mope, but Taylor is still beautiful. So there's that.

Moving on to the special features. The extended scenes were worth the extra ten bucks for the special edition. They included more things from the book that I didn't even know I missed until I saw them, as well as more Emmett, which is nice. Because I love Emmett.

The cast interviews and red carpet were all pretty good, especially the ones with the wolfpack and the "Making of" documentary, which focused mostly on Christ Weitz and his special effects team was really good.

Overall though, I wouldn't suggest investing in the DVD unless you're a hardcore fan. Even more hardcore than me, because at this point, I'm really thinking I should have just rented it.

I'm back

Hi everyone! I know it's been forever since I updated, and I'm going to try to get back in the groove of updating in the next week or so. Just to explain my long absence, my life has changed a lot in the last few months.

I'm out of school. At least for a little while, I'm going back in the fall, but for now. No school. It's a long, complicated story, that if you want to know, I might tell you someday.

I have a full time job, that I love. It takes up a lot of my time, and it's in New York City, so between actual work and the commute I'm really tired at the end of the day, plus I don't always have time to analyze the way I used to, so I haven't been blogging.

But, I do have some things that I want to talk about, and so in the next week I should be writing them and getting those posts up!

1. I finally got the New Moon DVD, I got the Borders Exclusive 2 Disc Special edition. I'm still sifting through the special features (there are a lot of them on this version) before I get a full review done.

2. I'm in love with The Pacific. LOVE it. I'm going to wait until the series is over to really get into it, but I plan to deal with it.

3. I read the Percy Jackson and The Olympians series and OH MY GOD they're amazing. Again, I plan to extoll their virtues over time.

4. I'm into Idol, this season I think Crystal Bowersox is amazing but I think Lee DeWyze is going to win.

5. I'm mad at Gossip Girl, and unenthused by it. If things don't pick up soon, I'll keep watching but probably won't write about it.

6. GLEE IS BACK!

So over the next week I'll write about this stuff, or try to, just to get used to blogging again. If anyone's still reading, obviously!

Friends and Lovers

GOSSIP GIRL IS BACK!

And thank God for it! I missed it so very much. Last night's return from what felt like the longest hiatus ever (Although Glee's is longer and just as frustrating!) was in the tip top shape, although no Erik, so that kind of sucked.

First of all, I was doing Nerena happy dances the whole time. They're a couple! And if this episode was any kind of indicator, they are doing it right! Yes, you know what a Nate and Serena couple-ness should look like. She has to say "I've changed" over and over again, although her behavior continually shows that she hasn't at all. He looks bewildered and brooding. And WE LOVE IT!

Chuck and Blair have a storyline! Or, Chuck does, he's looking for his mother. Who was supposed to be dead. But who cares because CHUCK AND BLAIR HAVE STUFF TO DO! There is spying to happen and intrigue and...it's going to be good.

Jenny and the drug dealer progressed. Don't care...

And I've figured something out. Gossip Girl will not allow for more than two happy couples at once. So right now, we have Chuck and Blair and Nate and Serena. Which means that Lily and Rufus are going to have trouble.

I just can't wait to see what happens next!

Time to connect some dots

In season 4 of Desperate Housewives, when we first met Katherine Mayfair, she was married to a young handsome gynecologist named Adam. Adam was played by a roguishly handsome actor named Nathan Fillion.

Her current story line revolves around a lesbian affair with a woman named Robin, a former stripper who moved in with her as a roommate. Robin is played by a beautiful blonde actress named Julie Benz.

What do these two people have in common, might you ask? I mean, besides sex with a fictional uptight housewife?

Well, they're both Whedonites of course! Fillion played a villain on Buffy, and then of course Captain Mal Reynolds in Firefly, and then Captain Hammer in Dr. Horrible.

Benz played Darla, a vampire in both Buffy and Angel. Darla was Angel's sire, and crazy evil. Eventually she and Angel had a baby (second least explained storyline in the Buffyverse, number one being Dawn...) Then she died.

So, I don't know, that amused me.

Vancouver

Let's talk Olympics.

I love The Olympics. I love the ceremony, I love the ridiculous sports that you never get to watch any other time. I love the medals, and the pomp and circumstance.

I love Olympic athletes, and the way that they become rock stars for two weeks a year. Sometimes more.

Apparently I'm in the minority, but I much prefer the Winter Olympics to the summer. In the winter you get figure skating, and ski jumping, and speed skating and biathlon.

What's biathlon? It's a combination of cross country skiing and crossbow shooting.

Yes, crossbow shooting. Ridiculous! And amazing! Of course they don't shoot each other. That would be ideal. They shoot targets. But still.

Oh right, and the Winter Olympics also give us this guy.

Oh Apolo...

Questions to be answered.

Oscar noms out today. But having not seen any of the nominees, I don't have much to say about them. (Seriously folks, I still haven't seen Avatar)

So let's talk Lost.

Epic final season begins today and I'm insanely psyched up for it.

Questions that I'm dying to have answered in this final stretch of story.

1. What are the numbers?
2. What is the monster?
3. Who is Jacob? (My friend Mark's theory is that he is Jacob, you know, Israel, of the book of Genesis? And the other dude is Esau, the brother that Jacob disinherited. I took it further then and asked if Richard was Joseph...Mark wasn't so into that theory.)
4. Charlie was destined to die, even with the reset, does he die?
5. If they never go to the Island, do Desmond and Penny still have their baby?
6. Does this mean that they won't get to the Island?
7. If they remember what happened will Sawyer kick Jack's ass for killing Juliet? (PLEASE SAY YES!)

Anyway, we shall see tonight. I'm hoping to get my mind blown!!!!

Swan Song

Alright, I know I've been a bad blogger. And maybe someday I'll finish out the best of the decade. But right now, there's just one thing that I have to write about.

Dollhouse finale!

I just finished watching it on DVR. I was thoroughly satisfied, especially for a show that I watched every episode of, but didn't ever love.

I knew what to expect going in. This is Joss Whedon, there are certain markers. Main characters were going to die. Redemption would be found. Vagueness would ensue.

The finale picked up where the unaired "Epitaph" left off, with Felicia Day, that guy and Molly from Heroes racing away from the zombie like "butchers" in LA to find Echo and the others. They were eventually captured by Rossum soldiers, one of whom was Paul. I knew not to expect things to be the same, but it seemed odd that Paul would be with Rossum. As it turned out it was all a plan. Rossum had kidnapped Topher to create a sort of mind bomb, that would wipe the entire world. Already a little bit unstable, for having been Topher, they drove him completely insane by shooting a someone in front of him every time he messed up. After rescuing him, Echo shot Clyde in his latest form and the fugitives headed to a farm, where Prya and Adelle and a young boy were picking strawberries. We find out that the boy is Prya's son. Anthony is conspicuously absent.

After explaining what was done to Topher and why, Topher reveals that he figured out a way to do the bomb but backwards, restored anyone who was ever wiped to their original "actual" status. Thrilled by the prospect of a returned world, but worried for their own existence, the gang realizes that they need to get someplace underground. They need to return to the dollhouse. An alarm goes off, and every one panics, fearing Rossum found them. But instead a group of Mad Max style fighters show up, speaking russian, among them is Anthony. As it turns out a small group of people have enhanced themselves further to help fight Rossum, allowing themselves to download various skills, but only able to keep so many at a time they wear the imprints around their necks in flash drives. We soon find out that although they had the child together, Anthony's decision to become one of these super soldiers, and forever revert to Viktor, drove a wedge between him and Prya. They head to Los Angeles, and the Dollhouse.

Paul and Echo talk on the trip, about how for ten years they've been dancing around their feelings. He asks why she only ever lets him in when she thinks their about to die, and she blows off the question. When they reach LA, they get ready to fight the butchers, there's some awesome gun mowing down and Penny, uh, I mean Mag (Felicia Day) gets shot in the legs. Paul runs over to check her and is immediately gunned down. Echo seems unshaken and other guy throws Mag over his shoulders and they head down into the Dollhouse.

The Dollhouse seems unchanged, dolls wander around it, one commenting as soon as they enter, "I try to be my best." But the biggest surprise comes when it turns out the person looking after all of them is Alpha. He teases Viktor about his face, and when Viktor playfully calls him a psycho he responds that he's "lapsed." So now, Spike, I mean Alpha is a good guy. The super soldiers try to take control of the situation but Alpha and Echo outsmart them (ah duh) and Prya begins smashing the flash drives angrily. Echo loses it on her, reminding her how lucky she is to have Anthony, and that he'll always love her. Echo finally admits to loving Paul, and Prya introduces her son, T, to his father.

Meanwhile with help from a video of Bennet, Topher builds the bomb and tells Adelle and Alpha that he has to actually explode it himself. Adelle offers to go with him, but he tells her that he "has to fix what we did to their heads, you have to fix the rest of the world. Your job is harder." She hugs him and Alpha takes him upstairs.

Adelle and other guy get ready to take the dolls to the surface, and she and Echo say goodbye. She tells her that Alpha went to destroy the tech and then hide, not knowing if he'll revert when the bomb goes off, but that he's leaving the chair. She tells Echo that the last fantasy the Dollhouse will fulfill will be Echo's. Echo responds that she has no fantasy. Adelle hugs her and they head to the surface. Topher sets the bomb off, and the dolls all collapse and wake up disoriented. Molly from Heroes sees other guy and asks what happened. He tells her he'll explain it. Back in the Dollhouse Echo finds a envelope with her name on it and a drive inside sitting on the chair. She sets up the chair and lies down. As it turns out, it's Paul's imprint. This way he can be with her always. She walks down into the house, past Prya, Anthony and T, and reclines in her pod, finally at peace.

OK, analysis time. Like I said, I saw certain things coming.

1. Paul's death: As soon as Paul and Echo all but said "I love you" in the truck, I knew one of them had to die. It was that simple. I didn't expect it quite as soon as it happened, but thus is the way of Whedon. He giveth Wesley his Fred and then he taketh Fred away.
2. Topher's redemption: Someone had to sacrifice themselves to save the world. Spike, Cordie, Shepherd Book, now Topher. Plus, in Topher's mind, the only way to redeem the destruction which his tech brought about, was to pay with his own life.
3. Human element over tech: It's the old Return of The Jedi model. The Ewoks and rebels win with heart. Maybe this is because I just watched Buffy season four, where magic beats technology, but I'm starting to see a theme.

There were some other Whedon-y touches that I noticed.

1. The scene where they start to fight the butchers was almost exactly like the final scene of Angel. I half expected Echo to grab an ax and say "Let's go to work"
2. The butchers themselves bear a remarkable resemblance to the reavers of Firefly and Serenity.
3. Vague ending with a sense of continuation...We could get a Dollhouse movie, or comic. (I don't want one. I'm glad it's over. DR. HORRIBLE 2!!!!!!)

Surprises

1. Anthony and Prya got to live happily ever after. My dad and I were trying to figure out their tragedy, and guess what, there wasn't one! They have a kid. They get to be happy. I'm still not sure what to do with it.
2. Alpha's a good guy now. I was happy, because between this and V, I was sure that Alan Thudyk was going to be the bad guy forever. And that would make me very sad.
3. Didn't end on a battle that we never get to see. It was kind of a nice sweet romantic ending. Way to grow Joss.

Anyway, did anyone else watch and have an opinion?