TVSquad

(S01E05) The preview for Heartland that ran during The Closer said it was a can't miss episode. To be honest, I have no idea what they were on about. There wasn't anything particularly shocking, or interesting, nor any big revelations about any of the characters. It was, for the most part, just like every other episode has been. That is, somewhat disjointed with too little focus on the main characters.

And with this episode, I think they finally lost me. The promise that I saw in the premiere hasn't turned into a show that I am going to watch every week. Add in the fact that my Monday TV schedule is already pretty busy with Inside Nextel Cup, The Closer, Big Love, Hell's Kitchen, and the upcoming Saving Grace, and there just isn't enough room for Heartland. So, I'm checking out of St. Judes, and this will be my last post on the show.

(S01E04) This week we finally got the big clash between Nathaniel and Jonas that has been coming since Jonas left Stanford to return to St. Jude. Unfortunately, it is still such a one-sided relationship that there wasn't a lot to the clash. It came down to Nathaniel jerking Jonas around while Jonas had no recourse other than to beg and plead.

The decision that Nathaniel was struggling with regarding the fetal uterine transplant was interesting. Certainly the dangers and risks of experimental surgery are nothing new to him, as evidenced by the Neubacher heart for baby Maya. It's a tricky bit of business though when the guy who blew up his marriage by cheating on his wife, and then cheats on his new girlfriend with the ex-wife, starts pulling out the morality card.

(S01E03) The folks over at St. Jude's aren't doing a lot to assuage my concerns about the show becoming too repetitive. Three episodes is still too early to say this is how it is going to be, but I'm starting to worry. The stories and conflicts that were put in play from the first episode seem to be getting little play as we focus on the cases of the week. These aren't bad stories, but I'm far more interested in the main characters that we see each week.

While that is something to keep an eye on, we did get two interesting cases to look at this week. First, heart transplant patient Andrew Wyles (K'sun Ray). As they talked about how Andrew's treatment wasn't working whenever he left the hospital I thought it could go one of two ways. Either he was making himself sick, or it was Munchausen by proxy and his grandmother was doing it. I was leaning toward the grandmother until we actually met her. She didn't come across as the type to be behind it, which made it clear that Andrew was a very troubled boy.

(S01E02) With Nathaniel taking over for Bart as the Chief of Staff at St. Jude, his old position is available. This week we learn that it has been filled by one Dr. Tom Jonas (Rockmond Dunbar). I was curious to see how this would go because this is a much different character than C-Note from Prison Break. Give some credit to Dunbar. I was on board with him as Jonas right away.

It was good, but not what I was expecting. Based on the previews I expected there to be more animosity between Nathaniel and Tom. There was a bit of that as they disagreed over the treatment of Gilliam, but by the end of the episode they were joking with each other so it looks like the writers are going in a different direction.

(S01E01) I was curious to get a look at this show as soon as I heard about it. If you were even the most casual fan of Everwood, the premise had to sound some bells. Treat Williams as a brilliant surgeon who struggles to juggle all of the balls in his personal life. That's a thumbnail sketch, but it's one that fits both Nathaniel Grant and Andy Brown very well.

While Saved garnered quite a few good reviews, and some respectable ratings, it's no The Closer. And apparently the press and numbers weren't enough to convince TNT that there should be a second season of the Tom Everett Scott drama. Instead, the network is looking to bring two different pilots to series.

Holly Hunter stars in Grace as an Oklahoma City police detective who is visited by an angel and given a chance to redeem her life. It also stars Tom Irwin (Related), and Laura San Giacomo (Just Shoot Me). I'll watch anything with Holly Hunter, or Laura San Giacomo, in it at least once, so I plan to tune in when this show takes off. But based just on the tag line, my expectations are low.

Also on the schedule is Heartland. This one stars Treat Williams as the brilliant surgeon, Nathaniel Grant. His dedication to his work causes problems with his health and his relationships. Now, if you are thinking, "Hey, that sounds a whole lot like Everwood." then you and I are on the same page. The show even stars Gage Golightly as his daughter Thea, who doesn't seem so far removed from Delia. Still, Treat Williams is always worth a look. And it has the bonus of Morena Baccarin (Firefly) as well. The show is currently planned to follow The Closer.

I seem to be the Everwood guy around here.

For you devoted fans who bought the first season set and have been wondering when the other seasons are going to be released on DVD, here's your answer: they won't be. Warner Brothers says that because of the high costs (and low sales of the set that was released), they won't be releasing any other seasons on DVD.

Of course, if any of you want to go crazy and buy a bunch of copies of the first set so they change their minds, go for it.