TVSquad

(S04E13) "...and dry erase boards. Lots of dry erase boards." - Charlie

Return of the nerds! It's been almost 3 months since we last saw an episode of Numb3rs, and I've been looking forward to it to be honest. Not because it's the best show on TV, but with all the crap that rolled out during the WGA Strike... well, you get the idea.

The episode began with a really well done montage that juxtaposed Don and his FBI team against Charlie, Amita, and Larry handling a lecture at CalSci. CBS must be really worried about maintaining old viewers and picking up new ones because the entire sequence could have easily served as the opening to the pilot episode for this show. It laid everything out - who was in charge, their jobs, attitudes. After the first commercial break, it was back to business though.

(S04E12) "We need simulations for our game theory algorithm to determine what our next step should be as a couple." - Charlie

Nerds in love. Awww. If I started talking that way to my girlfriend... I'd probably be sleeping on the couch. Whenever Charlie starts talking like that, all I can think of is that throaty hacking/laughing sound that Professor Frink from The Simpsons makes.

Once again, Charlie and Amita were discussing about moving in together, and once again that's all it was -- a discussion. It's old at this point and frankly, I wish they would just get it over with. I was honestly hoping for some tension when Larry asked Amita to assist on his new research project; perhaps some jealousy from Charlie. No such luck. So if they're so happy together and everything is perfect, explain to me why they aren't living together?

(S04E11) "He's not one of your agents. You know that, right?" - Alan

The return of everyone's favorite FBI nerd! With only one new episode left ("Power," it airs next Friday) you better savor it, though. We won't be getting any new Don and Charlie exploits for a while now.

Fortunately, we started off this final two episode run with a good one. I've always been a proponent of episodes that play to the characters weaknesses/strengths and this was a perfect example. A good case that doesn't overwhelm the storyline coupled with some personal issues (Alan and Charlie in this episode) generally makes for a good hour of Numb3rs.

(S04E10) "It's always something." - Charlie

Great episode! I've always wondered when Don's team would encounter a situation right in their own building. While this wasn't on the grand scale that I imagined, this was still pretty damn good. Plus, you have to admit, right from the beginning it felt like a math problem. Two guys in a box. Sounds like the type of thing that was probably tossed around the conference room table when this show was originally developed. Sounds exactly like the type of thing that Charlie can take apart with theories and equations. And that's just what he did.

(S04E09) "If you're good enough to fake a comic, you're good enough to be drawing your own." - Seth Marlowe

Numb3rs finally returned to form tonight with an episode that didn't quite make sense to me. When I think of the FBI tracking down a counterfeiting ring, currency comes to mind before comic books. Regardless, this was a great episode layered with an enjoyable and overly nerdy case, some mathematical explanation from Charlie (for once!), and some great sub-plots. It got even better though. Not only did Christopher "flux capacitor" Lloyd guest star, but the episode also saw a great turn from TV Squad's very own Wil Wheaton.

(S04E08) "I'm not a cowboy. I'm just a field agent." - David

I never thought I'd say it, but the cases on Numb3rs have officially taken a back-seat to the personal lives of the main characters. The cases just aren't that interesting anymore. Come on! A Paris Hilton wannabe with daddy issues. Big deal. I practically wanted to throw my glass of soda at the TV screen when Megan figured out that the daughter was behind it all -- 45 minutes into the episode! Could it have been more obvious? It doesn't help that Charlie's math (the centerpiece of the show) has been relegated to him just sort of being there, rattling off a few complicated theories every now and then. However, Don and his gang are now more interesting than they've ever been.