the resurrection ship

I thought a nice BSG reference would be appropriate to acknowledge my little TV blog's Lazarus-like return from the grave. Yes, I'm watching that show too now, but more on that in a minute.

The main reason I just had to blog again is last night's action-packed episode of "24"...I mean "Lost." Holy cow. When did ABC's island mystery soap turn into a Bourne installment? Clearly, there will be spoilers, so turn back now if you want to stay uncorrupted.

Anyway the war has indeed begun. And our Losties are not to be trifled with. Ben, it seems, is a bad mammajamma with a nightstick...that is, when he's not unleashing the smoke monster on unsuspecting raiders. Who knew Smokey could be controlled? Or can he? And Sawyer is shaping up to be quite the unexpected hero. Not only did he navigate a barrage of enemy gunfire, but did he actually stick his neck out for Claire and Hurley? Maybe he cares after all. He's just lucky he's a series regular. Anyone wearing a red shirt last night got mowed down mercilessly by the gang from the freighter. In succession, no less. Get. Back. In. The. House. Too late. And say goodbye to hottie Tania Raymonde--her character Alex was executed without hesitation, proving to Ben that the boaties don't make empty threats.

Last night we learned how Sayid came to work for Ben post-island, and that Ben and Widmore have something of a checkered past, although what exactly that past consists of is still anyone's guess. And the rules have changed, making Widmore's daughter (and poor Desmond's lover) fair game. I foresee a Ben/Desmond confrontation before the series is over.

Hurley is right--in Risk as well as in "Lost," Australia is the key to the game. Hopefully, we'll learn more about that later. And maybe, if we're good boys and girls, the writers will explain how Ben came to suddenly be in the middle of the Sahara in his flashforward. Don't tell me the Others have access to a teleportation device. Maybe that's what's in the fabled Orchid Station that we're supposed to visit later in the season?

At any rate, kudos to team "Lost" for their first episode produced after the strike. I wish I could give props to team "Smallville," but unfortunately, the pre-Superman sudser just keeps getting more and more ridiculous. I don't really know why I continue to watch...I guess I just can't get enough of the Man of Steel. Cousin Kara Kent (Laura Vandervoort) has provided some eye candy to make season seven a little more tolerable, but the plots are pretty much laughable at this point. I was hoping after last week's darker turn for Lex we could start expecting some more mature fare, but I guess that was wishful thinking. Enter Jimmy Olsen, superspy. Ai yi yi.

"Battlestar Galactica" season four continues tonight. I started watching the DVDs around Christmas and finally got caught up to air this past week. Now, don't get me wrong, because I appreciate the show as well executed sci-fi, but I still don't quite get why the fans go as crazy for it as they do. The writers explore some really cool metaphysical stuff with the Cylons (the latest infighting between the Dean Stockwell model and the Tricia Helfer model is especially interesting) but for the most part, I don't really find the characters sympathetic enough to care what ultimately happens. And all the drama between Lee and Dee and Starbuck and Sam--I'm so over it. Just get back to kicking Cylon ass already. Oh wait, they're doing that to themselves now.