Thanks to channels like SyFy and Starz, fantasy fans are spared the effects of the nonsensical “seasons” of network TV. Things like the “winter hiatus” find crime procedural fans rocking back-and-forth in a corner, humming the Law & Order theme over and over, while hospital drama fans stare at the wall and repeat “McDreamy, McDreamy, McDreamy” until they develop facial ticks.
Lucky for us, when Elizabeth Mitchell takes a break from fighting aliens and Joshua Jackson takes a time-out from the alternate universe, we can just flip over to another channel and pick up Spartacus or Caprica.
We’re not desperate for network TV shows to return, but we confess that we are excited.
Here’s a look at when our favorite fantasy shows are coming back, and what to expect when they land.
Warning: Mild spoilers below!
FlashForward (March 18, ABC) — The one future FlashForward can’t seem to predict is its own. Ratings haven’t been promising, and critics can’t decide if they love it, or if it’s a watered-down, island-less Lost. The show has been on hiatus since Christmas, which has given the writers a chance to rethink their strategy. Their plan is to stop asking so many questions and start answering the ones they’ve already posed. Plus, they’re adding Battlestar Galactica favorite James Callis to the mix, which is enough to get almost any fantasy fan’s heart thumping.
Supernatural (March 25, CW) — Supernatural’s 100th episode will air April 15th. There are rumblings that Jo, Ruby and Bela will return, but CW hasn’t confirmed it. Before that, though, Sam and Dean have got to figure out what’s happening in Bobby’s hometown. Or, more accurately, they’ve got to figure out how to deal with the zombie infestation going down in Bobby’s town (including Bobby’s wife). The apocalypse is nigh! Of course, the apocalypse has been nigh and the show has still managed to entertain for 100 episodes. We’re not expecting brimstone just yet.
Vampire Diaries (March 25, CW) — O.C. alum (and my all-time favorite TV mom) Melinda Clarke joins the cast as Matt’s mom when the show returns. She’s not crazy about Caroline — though to be fair, when has she ever been crazy about any of her TV children’s partners? (Except Luke, who she slept with.) In other news: Stefan will be vamp-napped by some revenge seekers, Damon will be auctioned off for love, and a stranger knows Elena’s secret.
V (March 30, ABC) — Executive producer Scott Rosenbaum has promised at least two or three reveals in every one of V’s final eight episodes. There’s going to be a showdown between Erica and Anna, too. In addition to driving the plot forward at breakneck speeds, Rosenbaum also insists that viewers will be rewarded with long-awaited backstory. ABC hopes the combo story-telling with reinvest viewers who are already familiar with the show, while hooking in a new audience. V is on the bubble, so we’re crossing our fingers the strategy works.
Fringe (April 1, Fox) — In their spring preview issue, Entertainment Weekly reported that the relationship between Peter and Olivia “will develop a lot” by the end of the season. The dichotomy between Walter Bishop’s past and present will become even more “moving and poignant.” And he and William will definitely meet up at the end of the season. We already know that Fox has greenlit a third season of Fringe, so we’re expecting nothing less than a delicious cliff-hanger in the two-part finale.
Smallville (April 2, CW) — CW has already granted Smallville a tenth season, making it one of the longest-running primetime shows ever. Unfortunately, most of the original cast has moved on, and there’s a good chance Erica Durance won’t be back next season. But for now, Clark’s got the Silver Banshee and Max Lord to deal with. Maybe Smallville’s producers can de-Kryptonite Lana and bring her back for season ten, now that Kristin Kreuk done messing with Chuck and Sarah’s true love on Chuck.
Also of (non-network) note Stargate Universe returns with five new episodes on SyFy on April 2nd. And Matt Smith’s Doctor Who is coming to BBC America on April 17.
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When I read that the Valentine’s Day episode involved a rogue “Cupid,” I was expecting another humorous episode.
“I used to hate the guy,” Sam tells John. “But now I get it. He was just trying to keep it together in this impossible situation. … The truth is, my dad died before I got to tell him that I understand why he did what he did. And I forgive him.”
This episode had the great set-up: a teenage geek dabbling in witchcraft manages to switch his body with studly Sam’s. But apart from that pretty great opening scene in a bar (where Sam orders a banana daiquiri, paper umbrella and all), the stabs at humor were strained and obvious (porn magazines hidden in his bedroom? Star Wars paraphernalia? Seriously?).
Just like almost every episode this season, the set-up was a strong one: Sam and Dean get themselves committed to an insane asylum in order to hunt a wraith who is feeding on the patients in the facility, sure that no one will believe them when they scream, “Monster!”
“The last time God lost faith in man, he sent a flood. This time, he sent Angels.”
Kevin Smith, of Clerks fame, was an outspoken fan of Preacher, and concocted a Man vs. Angels tale of his own in the 1999 film Dogma. The film is a send-up of Catholicism in almost every way imaginable, and stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as two rogue angels who have been cast out of Heaven by God’s command.
As regular readers know, I’m always yammering on about wanting them to get back to the “greater” story arc. And now they have, and here I am giving them only four torches. What gives?
When it comes to humor, the characters, the storylines, and the overall look, there has never been a show on TV quite like Supernatural. All the details are great too, and made for easy humor: Dean’s love for his Impala, Sam’s and Dean’s FBI pseudonym’s, and on and on and on.
