By John Keegan and Gregg Wright

This has been a rather disappointing and troublesome season of "Merlin". Despite obvious efforts to move the show in a new direction and build upon past strengths, this season has been nowhere near the improvement that I hoped it would be. Chief among the show's many flaws is its inability to properly integrate the serialized storytelling into its episodic structure. With so much of the season having underwhelmed me, I pinned the remainder of my hopes on the finale, knowing that the premieres and the finales tended to be stronger than most episodes.

By John Keegan and Henry Tran
Due to the steadily falling ratings of this show, I would not be surprised if this was the last episode to ever air. As a result, the finale is just not going to resolve anything. If the show does somehow get a reprieve and another season, there are some interesting questions that could be explored.

By John Keegan

My initial reaction to this episode was frustration. There’s nothing worse than following a season-long plot arc, only to realize that most of it was a diversion, with the story circling back on itself when the final episodes arrive and it’s time to get serious about setting up a resolution. While I’ve been able to forgive some of the backtracking and red herrings this season, this latest reversal in the Team Elena vs. Originals saga is maddening.

By John Keegan and Henry Tran
The back half of this season for "Alcatraz" has featured a good number of returning inmates who have proven intriguing. Add Garrett Stillman to that short list. His complex mind games and unpredictability more than make up for the lack of violence in his crimes. In fact, I think that's what makes him appealing.

by John Keegan and Henry Tran

There are times when I think I have to take notes on index cards for the complicated plotlines on this show. This episode made it feel like there were three or four different people who want either Bridget or Siobhan dead. On top of that, the writers pile on more about the Ponzi scheme being run by Martin/Charles and another scheme involving land being sold to get Andrew's money back. Though, he might not have that much money if he ends up getting caught perpetuating the Ponzi scheme.

By John Keegan and Edmund Boys
In the later, more megalomaniacal, phase of his career, Robert Heinlein championed the concept of the World as Myth. He held that the act of creating fictional worlds is so powerful that all of those worlds including, of course, his own, actually exist as parallel universes to our own. It allowed the characters of his last novels to spend time in Baum's Oz, Burrough's Barsoom, and, most notably for our purposes, Carroll's Wonderland. While it may have been the final hubristic spasm of a Grand Master, it is a concept that proves useful to the writers of “Once Upon A Time” in “Hat Trick”.

By John Keegan and Henry Tran

All of the characters grapple with fantasy versus reality in this large, though very welcome, return for "Mad Men". What they think they're getting in their lives clashes with the reality that comes afterward. There's a certain expectation that is demanded from everyone and they are continuing to struggle to meet those demands. It is the middle of the 1960's decade, a time of great social upheval and change, and it's finally coming for the occupants of Madison Avenue. What is really great about this show, something that I would never expect from a drama about advertising executives, is that this episode doesn't just establish the status quo like many season premieres do, but the story moves forward.

By John Keegan and Henry Tran

All of the plots in this show move forward in this episode in small ways. There's the ongoing struggle to move Will out of his place at the head of the firm with Diane. It was a power struggle that was getting repetitive so Will made a move to ensure that there would be no more power plays to cause further chaos at the firm. Alicia goes ahead with the IRS investigation into Kalinda's possibly illicit activities. Plus, Alicia is at the center of the Case of the Week and trying to buy her old house with her bigger salary bonus that was given to her in the previous episode.

By John Keegan and Paul Pearson

A fresh focus doesn't quite cover up the fact that "Lost Girl" is showing signs of stress around the seams. This episode should have been a tight little mystery and a feather in the show's cap, but instead there are too many rough touches in the writing, little moments where things don't come together. It's not without merit, but too often the immersion is broken, the fun slithers away, and it feels like a great little show is being let down.

By John Keegan

After dealing with the immediate issue of the Reaper in the previous episode, the long-term problems are explored a bit more in this installment. Meanwhile, Josh’s relationship status gets complicated, to say the least, and Aiden finds himself in an unexpected flight for freedom.