A weekly feature in which we're trying to find the most compelling, best acted, written, directed and just generally great, memorable scenes that we've seen in past seven days on TV.
AMERICAN GODS, "Come to Jesus", June 18, 2017, Actors: Ian McShane, Kristin Chenoweth, The Scene: The War begins
Kollin: Let the War Begin. Mr. Wednesday reveals himself to be Odin in the climax of this finale striking lighting down with all of his wrath to incapacitate the New Gods' henchmen. Easter in turn revealed her true powers taking away spring so people will worship her. The New Gods wanted a war, and now they have it. This scene was beautifully shot and it marked a defining point in the series. Shadow is a believer, and by season's end, I think it's safe to say that viewers believe this could be quite the show.
BETTER CALL SAUL, "Lantern", June 19, 2017, Actor: Michael McKean, The Scene: Chuck starts to dismantle his house
Darth Locke: It was hard to choose this scene over the final scene where Chuck is concerned, but there was something so alarming seeing Chuck immediately self destruct after Jimmy's visit and in a way that is so reminiscent to Jack Nicholson's performance in The Shinning. It turns out Michael McKean also did most of the dismantling himself. His character is a mostly despicable and unrelenting character, but McKean is a wonderful--WONDERFUL--actor! It will be hard to imagine what this particular series might feel like without Chuck there to balance Jimmy out!
DARK MATTER, "All the Time in the World", June 23, 2017, Actors: Anthony Lemke, Zoie Palmer, The Scene: Three learns French
Kollin: Comedic moment of the week goes to Anthony Lemke of Dark Matter where his character, Three, learns how to speak French to prove he is in a time loop. Watching him with a stupid Canadian toque on singing a French song with Android, played adorably as always by Zoie Palmer, was one of those classic moments that stick in your noggin.
DOCTOR WHO, "World Enough and Time", June 24, 2017, Actors: Pearl Mackie, Michelle Gomez, Peter Capaldi and more, The Scenes: Bill's death & Missy's entrance
Justyna: It was such a powerful and breathtaking episode! There's a number of scenes to mention and an entire review of things I would like to say about it. I could easily highlight all the wonderful interactions between Missy and the others, the opening glimpse into the Doctor's future or the ending with all the reveals and the long-awaited return, but I couldn't help but choose the most defining moment of the hour for me which is Bill's unexpected death. It's the part that truly shapes the episode and sets the tone for this scary and dark story. The entire sequence when she falls, as we see her last conversations with the Doctor and her final request we know he couldn't promise, was beautifully sad, powerful and ended up changing everything. Watching someone you care about die in front of your eyes is something that I can't even begin to imagine. And the Doctor has already seen too many of his friends fall before... It's such an intense, shocking scene, one of the most memorable parts of the story so far. I'm both excited and worried to see what's going to happen next. Kudos to the wonderful cast & crew of the show for an hour to remember!
DJRiter: How many ways do I love Michelle Gomez, let me count the ways. Let’s start this week with her grand entrance in full regalia onto the ship that has sent a distress signal. Full of herself, as only the wonderful Michelle Gomez can do, she announces to the empty room she’s Doctor Who and is here to help, then introduces Bill and Nardol as “thing one and the other one” and then goes into a little dance. Please, producers, please, give this woman a show of her own!
FARGO, "Somebody to Love", June 21, 2017, Actors: Carrie Coon, David Thewlis, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ewan McGregor, The Scenes: Gloria and Varga square off against the clock & Nikki and Emmit face off on the road
Darth Locke: Gloria and Varga square off against the clock. Really fitting final scene for a season that embedded contemporary sociopolitical issues about subjective and objective realism or truth vs belief, but with a kind of cold war paranoia creeping in to upheaval any kind of near certainty. It's true in this scene we are left with our own beliefs about whose truth will come to pass, but I find myself compelled to think that between Gloria being activated as "real", including her android-Minsky parallel scene with helping the IRS agent, to becoming a DHS Agent, and her confident smile, along with the fact that getting someone like Varga in a room like that is its own major accomplishment, that her truth is more likely. Not to mention Fargo has thematic history of those "getting what they deserve"--except for Mr. Wrench of course!
DarkUFO: Nikki and Emmit face off on the road.
FEAR THE WALKING DEAD, "100", June 18, 2017, Actors: Rubén Blades, Lisandra Tena and more, The Scene: Daniel Salazar is confronted with the sins of his past
Kollin: In this scene Salazar is forced to kill Lola and Jesse for their crime of stealing water for their village from the crime lord. Because of the uncertainty of who lives and who dies, this was a super tense scene packed with a lot of emotion. Unlike most survivors who become killers during the apocalypse, Daniel was already one. In this episode he is pushed to the brink, forced to be the man he was in a time in his life where he is seeking redemption. Daniel is such a richly explored character that we feel for him, and we especially feel the dilemma he is in when forced to kill the two people who saved his life. It makes it all the more gratifying when he decides to turn his back on the crime lord, shooting him and his henchman point blank. In what is such masterful directing and writing, Daniel gets down on his knee and bows before Lola asking for her forgiveness. This part of the scene had me in tears, it was such a powerfully shot moment. We feel his ache, and to see him bow down is inspiring and really gets across the regret and his need for forgiveness. It is a moment of redemption for him, if not complete redemption, then an act that begins his path to it.
iZOMBIE, "Looking for Mr. Goodbrain, Part 1", June 20, 2017, Actors: Rose McIver, Rahul Kohli
The Scene: Liv's vision of Ravi having sex
Samantha: Liv is repulsed by visions of Ravi having sex.
ORPHAN BLACK, "Beneath Her Heart", June 24, 2017, Actors: Tatiana Maslany, Kristian Bruun, The Scenes: Alison and Donnie share a duet & Alison stands up to Rachel & Alison returns Leekie's head to Rachel & Alison meets Cosima
DJRiter: After telling Donnie she needs to go away for a while, Alison and Donnie share their poignant "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" duet.
Samantha: Alison stands up to Rachel.
Darth Locke: Alison returns Leekie's head to Rachel.
Jimmy: A stoned Alison meets Cosima for the first time in a flashback.
SILICON VALLEY, "Hooli-Con", June 18, 2017, Actors: Stephen Tobolowsky, Haley Joel Osment, The Scene: The presentation goes wrong
Milo: Action Jack Barker and Keenan Feldspar's grant VR tech reveal was an excellent moment and a fantastic culmination of the set-up that this episode had been building towards, and seeing their demo explode on various phones around the room was fantastic, made all the more satisfying when viewed in context of the season as a whole.
THE NIGHT SHIFT, "Recoil", June 22, 2017, Actors: Tanaya Beatty, JR Lemon, Mark Consuelos and more, The Scene: Shannon, Cain and Kenny help a patient of theirs
Antonia: In a really tense episode, this scene provided a really uplifting moment. After Dr. Shannon Rivera clashes with the newly arrived nurse Cain and and an overdosed patient, she learns some new information, leading her to realize that she had misjudged Cain and her patient. This culminates in a scene in which she, Cain, and Nurse Kenny help the patient make his video audition by handing him back his cello and setting up a computer and a private bathroom for him to use. The moment was extremely sweet and it was the culmination of an arc. The cello music played was also beautiful, and even haunting as it provided a nice segue into the sadder scenes following.
THE ORIGINALS, "The Feast of All Sinners", June 23, 2017, Actors: Daniel Gillies, Charles Michael Davis, Yusuf Gatewood, The Scene: Marcel and Vincent take away Elijah's attachment to his family
Justyna: Even though I haven't seen much of this season I wanted to see where the story will end in the finale. I'm really glad I did, as it turned out to be a great hour. I had a strong impression that it could truly work as the series finale and it would be a good one, maybe even better than I would hope for most of the characters. Many of them found a happy ending, or at least a part of it. And then there was Klaus and Elijah. These two had the worst time with breaking the "always and forever" bond their family shared. While Klaus chose to break the rules in the end, to catch a glimpse of his big brother and make sure he's okay, Elijah made the hardest choice of all. He knew how much his family would always mean to him and that in case any of them needed him, he couldn't force himself to stay away, so he chose to remove the thing that shaped him to become the person that he is - his memories and attachment to his family. The moment when he asks Marcel and Vincent for their help is quite an emotional one but it's all the flashbacks that hit me the most. I genuinely didn't expect to get so emotional there, but the bond of family is the one thing I always liked the most in "The Originals" story. Whatever happened, there was "always and forever" making them fight side by side when it mattered. And now it's gone. While the others remember, Elijah who lived by that promise is no longer bound by it. As heartbreaking as this change turned out to be, it was also quite beautiful to see him free at the end. A brand new chance to live might be just the thing he needed the most and I truly believe that if the show was to finish there, it would be a good and hopeful end for Elijah. Kudos to the cast & crew for this powerful, wonderfully written, acted and edited scene.
Milo: Caring about family has always been Elijah's greatest strength and his greatest weakness, and this final scene was a really effective moment, especially when reinforced with the flashbacks to the good/bad times that Elijah has experienced in the past throughout the entire series. Certainly left an emotional impression, especially with the added score for dramatic effect. Always and Forever no more.
VEEP, "A Woman First", June 18, 2017, Actors: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Adam Scott and more, The Scene: Children read reviews of Selina's book
Milo: There were so many excellent scenes from my favorite episode of the season so far, but I'm going to have to go with the scene between Adam Scott's talk show host and Selina where children read out reviews of her book in front of her. It was a fantastically timed moment of comic relief that really worked, and the sheer unexpected surprise of having Adam Scott show up for an episode of Veep was a welcome delight.
WYNONNA EARP, "Gonna Getcha Good", June 23, 2017, Actors: Melanie Scrofano, Katherine Barrell
The Scene: Nicole asks Wynonna about Waverly
Samantha: Nicole asks Wynonna if she's noticed anything different with Waverly.
Kollin: Let the War Begin. Mr. Wednesday reveals himself to be Odin in the climax of this finale striking lighting down with all of his wrath to incapacitate the New Gods' henchmen. Easter in turn revealed her true powers taking away spring so people will worship her. The New Gods wanted a war, and now they have it. This scene was beautifully shot and it marked a defining point in the series. Shadow is a believer, and by season's end, I think it's safe to say that viewers believe this could be quite the show.
Darth Locke: It was hard to choose this scene over the final scene where Chuck is concerned, but there was something so alarming seeing Chuck immediately self destruct after Jimmy's visit and in a way that is so reminiscent to Jack Nicholson's performance in The Shinning. It turns out Michael McKean also did most of the dismantling himself. His character is a mostly despicable and unrelenting character, but McKean is a wonderful--WONDERFUL--actor! It will be hard to imagine what this particular series might feel like without Chuck there to balance Jimmy out!
Kollin: Comedic moment of the week goes to Anthony Lemke of Dark Matter where his character, Three, learns how to speak French to prove he is in a time loop. Watching him with a stupid Canadian toque on singing a French song with Android, played adorably as always by Zoie Palmer, was one of those classic moments that stick in your noggin.
Justyna: It was such a powerful and breathtaking episode! There's a number of scenes to mention and an entire review of things I would like to say about it. I could easily highlight all the wonderful interactions between Missy and the others, the opening glimpse into the Doctor's future or the ending with all the reveals and the long-awaited return, but I couldn't help but choose the most defining moment of the hour for me which is Bill's unexpected death. It's the part that truly shapes the episode and sets the tone for this scary and dark story. The entire sequence when she falls, as we see her last conversations with the Doctor and her final request we know he couldn't promise, was beautifully sad, powerful and ended up changing everything. Watching someone you care about die in front of your eyes is something that I can't even begin to imagine. And the Doctor has already seen too many of his friends fall before... It's such an intense, shocking scene, one of the most memorable parts of the story so far. I'm both excited and worried to see what's going to happen next. Kudos to the wonderful cast & crew of the show for an hour to remember!
DJRiter: How many ways do I love Michelle Gomez, let me count the ways. Let’s start this week with her grand entrance in full regalia onto the ship that has sent a distress signal. Full of herself, as only the wonderful Michelle Gomez can do, she announces to the empty room she’s Doctor Who and is here to help, then introduces Bill and Nardol as “thing one and the other one” and then goes into a little dance. Please, producers, please, give this woman a show of her own!
Darth Locke: Gloria and Varga square off against the clock. Really fitting final scene for a season that embedded contemporary sociopolitical issues about subjective and objective realism or truth vs belief, but with a kind of cold war paranoia creeping in to upheaval any kind of near certainty. It's true in this scene we are left with our own beliefs about whose truth will come to pass, but I find myself compelled to think that between Gloria being activated as "real", including her android-Minsky parallel scene with helping the IRS agent, to becoming a DHS Agent, and her confident smile, along with the fact that getting someone like Varga in a room like that is its own major accomplishment, that her truth is more likely. Not to mention Fargo has thematic history of those "getting what they deserve"--except for Mr. Wrench of course!
DarkUFO: Nikki and Emmit face off on the road.
Kollin: In this scene Salazar is forced to kill Lola and Jesse for their crime of stealing water for their village from the crime lord. Because of the uncertainty of who lives and who dies, this was a super tense scene packed with a lot of emotion. Unlike most survivors who become killers during the apocalypse, Daniel was already one. In this episode he is pushed to the brink, forced to be the man he was in a time in his life where he is seeking redemption. Daniel is such a richly explored character that we feel for him, and we especially feel the dilemma he is in when forced to kill the two people who saved his life. It makes it all the more gratifying when he decides to turn his back on the crime lord, shooting him and his henchman point blank. In what is such masterful directing and writing, Daniel gets down on his knee and bows before Lola asking for her forgiveness. This part of the scene had me in tears, it was such a powerfully shot moment. We feel his ache, and to see him bow down is inspiring and really gets across the regret and his need for forgiveness. It is a moment of redemption for him, if not complete redemption, then an act that begins his path to it.
iZOMBIE, "Looking for Mr. Goodbrain, Part 1", June 20, 2017, Actors: Rose McIver, Rahul Kohli
The Scene: Liv's vision of Ravi having sex
Samantha: Liv is repulsed by visions of Ravi having sex.
ORPHAN BLACK, "Beneath Her Heart", June 24, 2017, Actors: Tatiana Maslany, Kristian Bruun, The Scenes: Alison and Donnie share a duet & Alison stands up to Rachel & Alison returns Leekie's head to Rachel & Alison meets Cosima
DJRiter: After telling Donnie she needs to go away for a while, Alison and Donnie share their poignant "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" duet.
Samantha: Alison stands up to Rachel.
Darth Locke: Alison returns Leekie's head to Rachel.
Jimmy: A stoned Alison meets Cosima for the first time in a flashback.
Milo: Action Jack Barker and Keenan Feldspar's grant VR tech reveal was an excellent moment and a fantastic culmination of the set-up that this episode had been building towards, and seeing their demo explode on various phones around the room was fantastic, made all the more satisfying when viewed in context of the season as a whole.
Antonia: In a really tense episode, this scene provided a really uplifting moment. After Dr. Shannon Rivera clashes with the newly arrived nurse Cain and and an overdosed patient, she learns some new information, leading her to realize that she had misjudged Cain and her patient. This culminates in a scene in which she, Cain, and Nurse Kenny help the patient make his video audition by handing him back his cello and setting up a computer and a private bathroom for him to use. The moment was extremely sweet and it was the culmination of an arc. The cello music played was also beautiful, and even haunting as it provided a nice segue into the sadder scenes following.
Justyna: Even though I haven't seen much of this season I wanted to see where the story will end in the finale. I'm really glad I did, as it turned out to be a great hour. I had a strong impression that it could truly work as the series finale and it would be a good one, maybe even better than I would hope for most of the characters. Many of them found a happy ending, or at least a part of it. And then there was Klaus and Elijah. These two had the worst time with breaking the "always and forever" bond their family shared. While Klaus chose to break the rules in the end, to catch a glimpse of his big brother and make sure he's okay, Elijah made the hardest choice of all. He knew how much his family would always mean to him and that in case any of them needed him, he couldn't force himself to stay away, so he chose to remove the thing that shaped him to become the person that he is - his memories and attachment to his family. The moment when he asks Marcel and Vincent for their help is quite an emotional one but it's all the flashbacks that hit me the most. I genuinely didn't expect to get so emotional there, but the bond of family is the one thing I always liked the most in "The Originals" story. Whatever happened, there was "always and forever" making them fight side by side when it mattered. And now it's gone. While the others remember, Elijah who lived by that promise is no longer bound by it. As heartbreaking as this change turned out to be, it was also quite beautiful to see him free at the end. A brand new chance to live might be just the thing he needed the most and I truly believe that if the show was to finish there, it would be a good and hopeful end for Elijah. Kudos to the cast & crew for this powerful, wonderfully written, acted and edited scene.
Milo: Caring about family has always been Elijah's greatest strength and his greatest weakness, and this final scene was a really effective moment, especially when reinforced with the flashbacks to the good/bad times that Elijah has experienced in the past throughout the entire series. Certainly left an emotional impression, especially with the added score for dramatic effect. Always and Forever no more.
Milo: There were so many excellent scenes from my favorite episode of the season so far, but I'm going to have to go with the scene between Adam Scott's talk show host and Selina where children read out reviews of her book in front of her. It was a fantastically timed moment of comic relief that really worked, and the sheer unexpected surprise of having Adam Scott show up for an episode of Veep was a welcome delight.
WYNONNA EARP, "Gonna Getcha Good", June 23, 2017, Actors: Melanie Scrofano, Katherine Barrell
The Scene: Nicole asks Wynonna about Waverly
Samantha: Nicole asks Wynonna if she's noticed anything different with Waverly.
