The Doors Will Re-Open For A Third Season Of ITV Hit “Mr Selfridge”

Originally published on For Your Excitement.  20 February  2014.

ITV’s Mr. Selfridge has been picked up for a third season. The Radio Times is reporting that ITV has ordered more of the period drama starring Jeremy Piven and Amanda Abbingdon.

The show documents the real life story of department store owner Harry Gordon Selfridge and his employees. Having revolutionized the shopping industry with his decadent store, Mr. Selfridge must now contend with a Britain that is on the brink of WWI. With a large ensemble cast, the series also stars Aisling Loftus, Polly Walker and Samuel West.

In the promo on PBS, Selfridge tells his staff, “It may be my name on the door, but you are the ones that matter.” He may as well have been talking straight to viewers.

Mr. Selfridge has struggled to lure viewers away from BBC1’s The Musketeers, which airs in the same 9 p.m. slot on Sunday nights. However with the BBC’s recent decision to cancel the rival show The Paradise and with season two set to premiere on PBS on March 30th, viewers may be starting to shop at Selfridge’s after all.

Mr. Selfridge airs on ITV Sundays at 9pm and will begin airing on PBS’ Masterpiece on March 30th at 9 p.m.

Watch Out Pongo! Lost Star Finds Her Way To Storybrooke As Cruella De Vil

Originally published on PopWrapped.  5 December 2013.

Look out Oncers! There’s a new big bad in Storybrooke. Lost alum Rebecca Mader has been cast as a major villain for the second half of Once Upon a Time’s third season.

Best remembered for her role as Charlotte on Lost, which was also written by Once series creators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis, Mader is set for multiple episodes on the fairytale show. There’s no word yet on just which mythical or Disney villain she’ll be playing or her ties to the Storybrooke regulars. However, we do know that our first glimpse of Mader’s character will be in the promo immediately following Once’s December 15 mid-season finale.

The series’ writers may be playing coy with Mader’s role but Hollywood Life (along with plenty of fans) speculates that she could be the puppy-snatching witch, Cruella De Vil. This would send everyone in Storybrooke, especially Archie’s precious Pongo, into a frenzy. Lest we forget, “If she doesn’t scare you, no evil thing will…”

TV RECAP: ‘Once Upon a Time’ Ep. 307: ‘Dark Hollow’

Originally published on The Flickcast.  11 November 2013.

An incredible thing happened in “Dark Hollow” on this week’s Once Upon a Time. There was actual progress toward the goal of finding Henry. Things literally happened instead of just more stagnant set up. The plan to get off the island after rescuing Henry is set, Emma makes a choice between her suitors, Ariel proves surprisingly useful and much more fun than in her titular episode, and we learn who Pan is keeping locked up in a wooden cage. Also, Belle and Storybrooke remain awesome and far more interesting than the Neverland lot. So let’s swoop in to “Dark Hollow…”

Just five days ago in the Once universe, Belle said goodbye to her true love. This scene it’s just as touching as the first time. I miss this pairing so much. While she tearfully watches the Jolly Roger disappear, the rest of the town runs up to celebrate having been saved. Belle shuts them up by saying Greg and Tamara took Henry and producing the cloaking spell for the Blue Fairy to examine.

On the road to Storybrooke, a red convertible carrying some Hipsters approaches. (Seriously, that’s not the beginning of a joke.)

The Storybrooke crew reminds us all why we love them by being both sweetly naïve (Archie) and git er’ done (Grumpy). To wit, as they head into the mines to get some fairy dust for the spell, Grumpy says to his brothers, “No time for whistling boys. Let’s get swinging.” With some dust freed up, Belle pours the vial Rumple gave her and a magical dome begins covering the town. The convertible speeds up to beat the closing barrier and they do, leaving their bumper behind.

In Neverland, Rumple draws a map to Storybrooke and enchants a sand dollar for Ariel to give to Belle. This way he doesn’t have to say their plan out loud and risk Pan hearing them. Finally, we’re using our clever brain, Mr. Gold! The mermaid just wants Eric but Regina is teaching her the value of patience and bargaining so she’ll have to wait.

Pan’s camp. The little stinker can feel that someone is leaving the island. Felix is all concerned about it but Pan just tells him to contact their men in Storybrooke. Also acting super laidback for no reason is Neal. In the Camp of the Twisted Family Tree, he says his big mysterious way to leave the island is hitching a ride with Pan’s shadow and Neal knows just where to catch the evil spirit.

At the Storybrooke beach, the dwarves speak for all of us when they agree that though the love Snow and Charming, “it’s kind of nice not having them around.” They’re of course referring to the lack of killings, wars or beasties since the couple has been gone. I’m referring to the aggravating lovey-dovey idiocy of the duo. Anyway, Grumpy doesn’t like the dissenting talk amongst his comrades, saying everything will be “normal” when the Prince and Snow come back. Grumpy’s brand of normal suddenly appears out in the water as Ariel puts on her magical bracelet and walks onto the beach. She’s looking for Belle but someone else is looking for her. Yes, the Evil (British) Hipsters are spying on her and they’ve received word from the home office to make sure she never leaves Storybrooke. Commercial.

TV RECAP: ‘Once Upon a Time’ Ep. 306: ‘Ariel’

Originally published on The Flickcast.  5 November 2013.

I have to tell you Oncers, I’m starting to worry about our magical show. We spend yet another episode in Neverland and seem to get very little accomplished once again toward the goal of rescuing Henry (who doesn’t even appear in “Ariel” though that might be an improvement really). We do however get confirmation yet again that Regina is the best character (and actress) on Once and that Rumple hasn’t completely lost his ability to put together a deal or a plan. Oh and of course, there’s Ariel, whose flashback story is really somewhat pointless until the plot at then end calls for her.

So we start in the old Enchanted Forest where Snow White is running away from Regina’s guards.  She skids to a halt at a cliff overlooking the ocean but then takes a daring leap into the waters where she is recued by a red-headed mermaid, Ariel.

In Neverland, Regina is pushing Emma to concentrate to use her magic. Ms. Savior doesn’t want to use her anger as a trigger, which makes sense since she was about to use love every other time but she apparently doesn’t remember that. See, Rumple, this is why they need you. The Queen is disgusted with Emma’s reluctance, saying, “You’re such a pathetic waste of ability.” This fires up Emma’s temper and the campfire she was trying to magic.

Regina is pleased while Emma’s parents are trying not to be too mortified. They get a nice bit of distraction from Hook who, in a show of surprising honesty, tells them about Neal. While the men agree that not telling Emma until they’re sure about Neal’s alive or dead state, Snow feels uncomfortable lying to her daughter. Personally, I think she should embrace this opportunity to make up for missed chances to lie to her kid about things like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

Back in the Enchanted Forest, Ariel and Snow gab about boys. Seems the mermaid fell in love at first sight with land-Prince Eric when she saved him from a shipwreck a year ago. She also reveals that she’s got plans for a night on two legs by lifts her fins onto the land where they transform. Apparently, the sea witch Ursula grants mermaids the ability to have legs for 12 hours every high tide and this one coincides with Ursula’s Ball, which Eric will attend.

Neverland. The Charmings and Hook are trying to make a getaway from the camp but their poor planning makes Emma suspicious. So Snow just blurts it out: Neal’s alive.

After commercial, we get some quality time with Rumple, who is struggling to see into future. Then Pan pops up to offer him some breakfast and inform the dealmaker that he can’t see the future in a place where time stands still. Duh. He tells Rumple to just leave the island because even if he saved Neal and Henry no one will forgive him for all the evil he’s done. Go back to Belle and make a new start, Pan advises.

While Rumple contemplates his cowardice, the company is arguing about looking for Neal. Regina, once again speaking for the audience, says, “This is a waste of time.” Snow tells Emma that she owes it to Henry and herself to find out if Neal’s alive but the Queen is fed up with making no progress on finding their son. She goes off on her own while everyone else heads off to find Neal. They better hurry too because as Pan and Felix watch them from afar, it’s decided to move the captive Neal to the Echo Cave.

TV RECAP: ‘Once Upon a Time’ – Ep. 304: ‘Nasty Habits’

Originally published on The Flickcast.  22 October 2013.

Oh Oncers, we’re back again for some Neverland adventures and general stupidity by all adults present.

We start with the recently captured Bae being led through the forest by Felix. “You were a Lost Boy,” Felix says. Bae isn’t interested in reminiscing so Felix continues. “You may have grown up Baelfire but it appears you have grown up stupid.” Seriously, right? Bae proves us all wrong (for once) by slipping out of his hand ties and knocking out Felix.

Flashback to Papa Dark One and baby Bae who is definitely looking like teenage Bae. Daddy gives his son a nice little knife but Bae doesn’t want anything that his dad took from someone else as payment. He wants to leave their little house and play with some friends. Rumple counters that he could build them a castle but Bae doesn’t want that either. At a loss, Rumple says he’s just concerned that his enemies will hurt Bae if the boy leaves.

“I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost you,” he says. Go a little crazy and use your magic to weave an elaborate plan to get him back probably.

In Neverland Rumple paints his face as Belle appears to him again. She quips that he always liked a mask. He tells her that he needs the mask to make himself the monster necessary to save Henry. When she reminds him that Henry will be his undoing, Rumple says he has nothing to live for anyway. “What about me?” she and all the Rumbellers reply. “You’re not real, just a vision.” Hmmm, fair point but still. Rumple accepts that when he and his True Love parted in Storybrooke it was forever and even if he came back she’d eventually leave him. Because she knows the real him, the ugly, monster him. So he has to redeem himself by sacrificing himself to save Henry.

Also looking to save Henry and taking a different, less successful route is Emma and Co. They’re getting ready to depart based on Tinker Bell’s info on Pan. Tink says they still have to deal with the Lost Boys. “I think we can handle a few children with pointy sticks,” says Regina. Heh.

Au contraire, Tink says. The Lost Boys did quite a number on Tamara and Owen. Which brings her to her next question. What is the exit strategy? Oh that’s easy enough: they don’t have one. Charming remembers that Hook got off the island before but the pirate confesses it was by making a deal with Pan. Only Neal has made it off the island on his own.

Rumple takes care of a couple of Lost Boys with a burst of magic. He picks up one of the poisoned spears and aims it at the intruder running toward him from the forest but stops short. It’s Bae.

TV RECAP: ‘Once Upon a Time’ – Ep. 301: ‘Heart of the Truest Believer’

Originally published on The Flickcast.  1 October 2013.

Hey Oncers, it’s finally that time again. Let’s get started.

We begin with a flashback to Henry’s birth, which is emotional and painful (for viewers and for Emma). At least Jennifer Morrison has plenty of experience with this kind of thing. Emma doesn’t even want to hold baby Henry but just wait 11 years Chosen One and you’ll be falling through a magic portal on board a pirate ship to rescue your son from Peter Pan.

That’s where we pick up in present day, with the Jolly Roger splashing into Neverland waters. Meanwhile the boy in question lands in the sand with Greg and Tamara in tow. Henry tells the annoying duo that both of his moms and all of his extended family are coming to find him. Greg and Tamara are unimpressed, which makes sense since this same top notch family were unable to prevent them from easily taking the kid in the first place.

They try to phone the home office but their communicator is chock full of sand. Henry switches tactics and plants seeds of doubt regarding this mysterious “home office.” Greg doesn’t take the bait but Tamara isn’t so sure. Her suspicions are confirmed when they run into the Lost Boys, who apparently are the home office.

Rough Cut of Homeland Season Premiere Leaked Online

Originally published on PopWrapped.tumblr.com.  4 September 2013.

Online piracy has struck again and this time it hit Showtime’s critically acclaimed, Emmy-award winning drama, Homeland. The season three premiere of the show was leaked online nearly a month before its scheduled air date, September 29th.

The episode “Tin Man Down”, which is reported to lack opening credits and some visual effects and needs a few lines of dialogue re-recorded, is believed to be a workprint rather than a press screener. This means the video’s leak source is most likely connected to a post-production studio. Even without the finishing touches, the episode has been downloaded over 100,000 times on BitTorrrent, according to Deadline.

The popularity of Homeland’s leaked season three premiere should come as no surprise. TorrentFreak reports that the show was one of the most pirated TV series in 2012. In many ways the leak is a setback for file-sharing service BitTorrent, who has been making an effort to distance itself from the piracy world.

Showtime is believed to be working to combat the leak, though no official response from the network has been reported.

Check out the trailer for season three:

Season three of Homeland will premiere on September 29 on Showtime.