Dexter: Sublimely Unnerving: Ep. 1 Review

The return of Showtime’s “Dexter,” America’s favorite serial killer drama, with the season 4 premier, “Living the Dream” is perched on precarious narrative terrain. This is a good thing. Having married longtime girlfriend Rita (Julie Benz) at the end of season 3, Dexter (Michael C. Hall) is now a suburban dad facing the daily duties of tending to dirty diapers and ear infections, which derail his freedom to kill at the worst possible moments.

“Living the Dream” is clearly not the ideal life for Dexter as he struggles to balance his workload—and body count—with the demands of parenthood. But he does so in ways that are funny, apprehensive and, because it’s Dexter, sublimely unnerving.

The arrival of a new serial killer in town, the Trinity Killer, brilliantly played by John Lithgow, heightens dramatic tension, as Dexter must reflect on his new inability to kill. The Trinity Killer, as the name suggests, kills in threes, and we are introduced to his M.O. in a truly disturbing murder scene where he lies naked with his victim in a bathtub of blood, forcing her to observe her own face of death in a hand held mirror. …

SGU Air Ep. 101 Ratings and Recap

Ratings were impressive for the premiere episode. According to a Syfy ratings alert, ““SGU” premiered to the best franchise premiere performance in four years, drawing more than 2.3 million viewers – and besting FOX’s “Dollhouse” at 9PM (ET/PT).”

Syfy adds: “Stargate Universe,” which stars Robert Carlyle, Lou Diamond Phillips and Ming-Na, grabbed 2.35 million total viewers along with a 1.7 HH rating, 1.32 million Adults 25-54, and 1.12 million Adults 18-49 during its two-hour debut episode from 9-11PM (ET/PT).”

Here’s Syfy’s official recap:

During an official visit by Senator Armstrong (Chris McDonald), his assistant Chloe (Elyse Levesque), and Eli Wallace (David Blue), a recently recruited gaming genius, to a secret off-world military base, a surprise – and ferocious – attack leaves Colonel Everett Young (Louis Ferreira) with no choice but to retreat. He orders an evacuation to Earth. A last-minute maneuver by scientist Dr. Nicholas Rush (Robert Carlyle), however, thrusts the escapees headlong into his experiment, which transports everyone to deep space. …

Stargate Universe Off To Good Start: Ep. 101 Review

“Stargate Universe”, which premiered Friday night on Syfy, offers a refreshing new take on the popular family oriented military styled action franchise, “Stargate.” “Stargate Universe” or “SGU” updates special effects and incorporates camcorder style shots, which contribute to the new series feeling more realistic and grittier than its predecessors. The soft-focus effects of “ SG1” and “Stargate Atlantis” have been replaced with crisp detailed effects ready for any high definition viewer.

Story-wise, “SGU” succeeds, at least in this first episode, in achieving its creative team’s stated goal of incorporating well-established “Stargate” mythology without relying on it too much. The premiere episode, “Air,” mines familiar “Stargate” themes of adventure and exploration, while focusing mainly on the socio-political strife among the main characters. “Air,” sets up an interesting situation. A team of explorers locate a stargate that was configured to dial nine chevrons or instead of the usual eight. The explorers want to know where the nine-chevron address leads. When their peacetime mission suddenly transforms into an emergency evacuation, the team must decide whether to head back to Earth or risk their lives, and the lives of innocent civilians, to complete the mission. …

Marek Edelman, Warsaw Ghetto Survivor, Dead at 87

Marek Edelman, the last living leader of the uprising by Jews incarcerated in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II, has died in Warsaw at the age of 87.

Another Earthquake Rattled Samoa Friday, 170 Dead

Another earthquake rattled the region around Samoa Friday. The United States Geological Service recorded a 6.3 magnitude quake centered 10km deep, 242km from Tonga, but no damage had been reported last night.

At least 3000 Missing after Sumatra Earthquake

An earthquake survivor trapped in a collapsed hotel in western Indonesia sent a text message saying he and some others were alive, triggering a frantic rescue operation, but hopes faded Saturday as sniffer dogs failed to detect life.