The TV Chick

With the long-awaited return of John Blackwell, Secret Circle successfully builds on its momentum from last week! Every episode of this show contains about 50 minutes of boring, dialogue heavy scenes with 3-4 exciting, well-done scenes, and “Return” is no different.

Cassie’s Daddy Drama
John Blackwell is here! After months of build-up, Blackwell’s entrance was rather tame. The two shared a nice scene on the dock as Cassie finally let out all the resentment that’s been building since she discovered her father is alive. Additionally, the moment in the woods as Cassie asks him to help stop her from going through with the spell the evil witch hunter put her under.

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After weeks of mostly disappointing Secret Circle episodes, it was great to sit down and watch the first truly good episode of the spring.

Secret Circle works best when it embraces it’s horror/thriller elements and tonight was a fine example of that! I fully admit to jumping out of my seat a few times when the ghosts were following Cassie throughout the episode.

The Medallion
I’ve spent a lot of time on these recaps talking about why the show isn’t working for me and what I’d like to see change; one of my biggest complaints is that the show needed to expand the world and introduce some outsiders and villains. Not only did we get villains this week, but we also got a (returning!) outsider, Isaac. Score!

Continue reading “REVIEW: The Secret Circle “Valentine”” »

Another week, another stiff and boring episode of Secret Circle. All of the pieces are there to create an fun show, but the magic still isn’t there (horrible pun intended). One day, I hope this show figures out that it needs to be a plot heavy show; sadly, today was not that day.

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I spent the better part of an hour trying to figure out exactly what I want to say about tonight’s episode of The Secret Circle and here’s what it comes down to: now that we’ve finally looked into the past maybe the story can move forward. Since Nick died all those episodes ago, the show has been at a stand-still. Stories happen each week and the witches quibble among themselves, but nothing ever really happens. The feeling I was most struck by when watching tonight’s flashback to 1995 is that I’d rather be watching that show. Those characters interest me; that story is compelling. Watching Adam pine over Cassie is not.

Continue reading “REVIEW: The Secret Circle “Witness”” »

This week’s Secret Circle episode, “Fire/Ice” continued to explore the growing strength of Cassie’s dark magic and its affect on the circle. Unfortunately, it sounds more exciting than it was.

Back in the fall when Secret Circle introduced dark magic into the equation, I thought we were on the edge of the show morphing into something great. Two episodes into the latter half of the season and all that potential has yet to transform into a consistently awesome show. The show vacillates between being a fun ride and completely boring. Sadly, this week’s episode fell into the boring category.

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The Secret Circle returned from its long winter hiatus with an overload of dark magic and a new roadblock to Dawn and Charles’ fool proof plan to world Chance Harbor domination.

Cassie
Poor Cassie is struggling with the discovery of her dark magic. She eventually turns to Diana’s grandmother, Kate, who is the latest of the mythical Elders to drop by to “visit relatives.” These people may be powerful, but they are not subtle. Kate immediately senses that Cassie is struggling with her dark magic and offers to help. I’m pretty sure every single person in Chance Harbor was taught the wrong definition of help as a child because they ALL do it wrong. Seriously, why bother trusting anyone? They’re all such turncoats. Kate tricks Cassie into traveling with her into a random deserted part of the forest so they can do a spell together. I guess Cassie was never taught about “Stranger Danger” as a child either. Never wander into the woods alone with an almost complete stranger, kids. You’ll end up performing a weird ritual and then being buried alive.

Continue reading “REVIEW: The Secret Circle “Darkness”” »

Secret Circle fans, please join me in a moment of silence to mourn the CW’s long winter hiatus. This week’s mid-season finale was a solid, plain old awesome hour of television. I need more now.

The Blackwell Family
Looks like Cassie’s evil. Well, at the very least she has the potential to be evil. Cassie and Jake learn that Cassie’s father, John Blackwell, or J.B. as he’s listed on Calvin’s secret family tree, comes from a line of super evil magic. This is the first we’re hearing any details about Cassie’s father and the revelation just raises a whole new host of questions. What was Amelia doing with someone so full of dark magic? And also Dawn, who alluded to a past relationship with Blackwell. Clearly, the ladies of Chance Harbor have a bad boy complex. But did Dawn ever follow through with that old attraction to Blackwell? Could Faye be the second Blackwell descendant in the circle? We don’t know much about Melissa or Jake’s parents, so it’s hard to make an educated guess without a little more backstory from those two. Just for fun, I’d like the second Blackwell descendant to be Diana. I have a feeling a dark magic showdown between Cassie and Diana could be epic.

Continue reading “REVIEW: The Secret Circle Mid-Season Finale “Balcoin”” »

It’s Halloween in Chance Harbor! Time to break out your witch costumes! I love a good Halloween themed episode of TV and this week’s episode of Secret Circle didn’t disappoint!

Poor Luke
We barely knew ye. Such pretty hair, yet so little talent as a witch hunter. I love a good death scene as much as the next person, and Luke’s was pretty awesome. Who doesn’t want to set a person on fire with their brain?! Award yourself one point if you saw Luke’s reveal as a witch hunter coming. I certainly didn’t! Back in Luke’s first episode (3? 4? I don’t remember which it was…) I expected him to pop up as a recurring love interest for Cassie, but I have to say I much prefer this version of events.

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Booze, witch hunters, and love written in the stars. Sounds like the perfect combination for an entertaining hour of television. Sadly, this week’s Secret Circle didn’t deliver.

Jake
Nick’s been dead for two days and we already have our newest circle member. Things sure do move fast in Chance Harbor. We all wondered after last week’s deadly episode what would happen to the circle without their sixth member. The answer? Nick’s more damaged, more attractive older brother. Can anyone else imagine executives at the CW discussing casting Jake versus casting Nick and saying, “Yes, we like the idea of Jake…but this time make him blonde?” Chris Zylka certainly fits into the CW mold.

Continue reading “REVIEW: The Secret Circle “Wake”” »

Wow, I can honestly say I didn’t see that ending coming. What a bold choice to make in the 5th episode of a first season! If this is a sign of the kind of awesome twists and edge of our seats episodes that we can expect for the rest of the season then I’m 100% on board! Before I continue, let’s all take a moment to say a thank you to the TV gods over at the CW for giving Secret Circle a full season pickup.

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