Rob Batchelor, Author at We Got This Covered

New Girl Review: “Exes” (Season 3, Episode 15)

So after the disappointment of "Prince" last week, we're finally back to the New Girl we all know and love and this week, it's all in the title. Nick and Jess have a few problems with some of their exes, while Schmidt, Coach and Winston attempt in vain to get their freak on with three fresh chicks. Well, two - we've met Bertie before, but more on that later.

Rob Batchelor Feb 5, 2014

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New Girl Review: “Prince” (Season 3, Episode 14)

Pushing New Girl to a post-Superbowl slot is effectively giving the show its highest profile shot in years, so it makes sense that Elizabeth Meriwether and her crew would see fit to deploy a superstar cameo in such a way. The fact that Prince gets stuck into the meat and potatoes of the episode is commendable, but this is one of the weakest episodes of the show to date. I think the correct way to take "Prince" is to treat the episode as an exception due to elevated circumstances. I know the episode is canon, and the events of this episode aren't a dream or flight of fancy, but the only way to make peace with the episode is by remembering that Prince requested a cameo in the show - apparently one of his favorite shows - and when the Superbowl's a-coming, you don't turn down Prince. The ad breaks for this episode alone probably paid for next season. In financial terms, and from a production standpoint, this episode is a highlight. Creatively, it isn't.

Rob Batchelor Feb 3, 2014

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Parks And Recreation Review: “Ann And Chris” (Season 6, Episode 13)

I've been whining for the last few entries in my ongoing assessment of Parks and Recreation that Ann and Chris are boring, Ann and Chris are leaving soon so there's only a paucity of stories available to them and Ann and Chris are just taking up valuable April and Andy room (narratively speaking), and I think I've been right about this on all counts. When it actually comes to them saying goodbye and driving their little trailer out of Pawnee for the bright lights of wolverine-filled Michigan, however, it packs a surprisingly emotional punch. Honestly, I think I might just miss those crazy guys. I guess you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone. Hmm, maybe I'll write a song about that.

Rob Batchelor Jan 31, 2014

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Parks And Recreation Review: “Farmers Market” (Season 6, Episode 12)

At the end of this week's Parks and Recreation, as they are standing in a fountain outside the bank, Ben points out to Leslie that it's no wonder their work/home life has become so muddled given that they've changed positions of authority relative to each other so many times. It's a fair summation of what has gone awry with the show since the purity of its beginnings (in season two). Remember when the whole aim of the show seemed to be about filling in a pit? So much has changed since then, mostly for the better, but every character has been switched around so often that character relationships are almost meaningless by now. Ben got the role of City Manager only by dint of being the only person willing to be around Chris Treager on a regular basis - remember when he was just a plain old auditor/Leslie's nemesis? Remember how funny that adversarial relationship was?

Rob Batchelor Jan 24, 2014

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New Girl Review: “Birthday” (Season 3, Episode 13)

I don't think we've ever seen Jess' birthday in New Girl. We've seen Schmidt's 29th birthday on a school bus, but that was a wholly different vibe to the one created here. "Birthday" was a relatively slight episode, lower than laughs than you'd expect, but with so many heartwarming moments you might find yourself going into cardiac arrest. The central conceit is that Jess is prone to going birthday bonkers. As much as she'd like to be able to control it, and wants to be cool about the whole situation, she just can't resist going crazy when it comes to that special day. She approaches it with the same level of enthusiasm and childish glee that we've come to expect, maybe more so.

Rob Batchelor Jan 22, 2014

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Parks And Recreation Review “New Beginnings” (Season 6, Episode 11)

We established in last week's Parks and Recreation that Leslie has her sights set on bigger and better things. Emboldened by recent successes (and failures), she's expanded her horizons and thinking about her place in the world. She's after a bigger slice of the governmental pie, responsibility-wise, and it looks like she stands a good chance of getting it. This puts this week's episode in a difficult position - we know that Leslie is not long for the department, just like Ann and Chris' upcoming move - so what stories can there be about her character in her current location?

Rob Batchelor Jan 17, 2014

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New Girl Review “Basketsball” (Season 3, Episode 12)

That is how Jess makes friends. She identifies a pressure point, and pushes them on it in a pleasing way until she weedles her way into their affections. This, combined with a generally likeable demeanour, is friendship dynamite and has worked with everyone in the apartment so far - she humourously boils down each person's pressure point into a quickfire list of "Nick - food. Schmidt - clothes. Winston - onesie pyjamas" - and C0ach is to be her next victim.

Rob Batchelor Jan 15, 2014

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Sherlock Season Finale Review: “His Last Vow” (Season 3, Episode 3)

The worst enemies that Sherlock offers its titular main character are those that don't seem to struggle to match our hero's mental capabilities, or can turn his proclivities against him. This made Moriarty such an effective baddie - better than Sherlock with the media, more sociopathic, even snappier dresser - a lethal combination all told. Charles Augustus Magnussen - media magnate, friend of the Prime Minister, International Holder of All Secrets and this season's end boss -is presented first and foremost as an amoral businessman, so terrifying because he carries himself in direct opposition to Moriarty. Where Moriarty is emotional, Magnussen is calm. Where Moriarty is screamingly insane, Magnussen is terrifyingly sane. What I'm trying to say is that Magnussen starts out dangerous, and just gets worse.

Rob Batchelor Jan 13, 2014

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Parks And Recreation Review: “Second Chunce” (Season 6, Episode 10)

It's a shame that Parks and Recreation wasn't allowed a double episode before the Christmas break, as having the first episode back being both the 100th and one that would act as a nice chapter end/mid-season finale if needed is slightly cock-eyed.

Rob Batchelor Jan 10, 2014

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New Girl Review: “Clavado En Un Bar” (Season 3, Episode 11)

To start this year, fresh after the holiday break, New Girl gives us a quick little throwaway episode that we can use to cleanse our pallet of our indulgent Christmas viewing and get back to the nitty-gritty. And believe me, this is New Girl at its most throwaway and pointless. Perhaps that's a little harsh, but it's true - at the end of this episode, we haven't really learnt anything or gotten anywhere at all.

Rob Batchelor Jan 8, 2014

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