2017 Character Cup - Round 2A

With the start of round two, our 64 characters have been narrowed down to 32 with Lucifer, Lorelai Gilmore, Buffy, Jane Doe, Fitz, Veronica Mars, Spencer Reid, and The Doctor moving on. Who will make it into the Sweet Sixteen? At this point things usually start getting closer in the polls, so don't forget to tweet, post, and otherwise get the word out about your favorite characters' polls. After the first round, our biggest vote getters were Bellamy Blake and Alex Danvers. According to the prediction contest, that's probably not a surprise. Speaking of the prediction contest, a close set of polls in 1D have swiched our leaderboard again. In first place with 27 out 32 correct predicitons is Agent of Space. Second place currently includes Chestal and LBT with 26 out of 32. Congrats to all! To those whose brackets seem to be hopelessly broken, like mine, don't give up. Who knows what will happen in the next few rounds? Remember that this year every poll is worth 1 point so the later rounds are not weighted. That gives everyone more of a fighting chance.

Since we're now in round 2, rules have gone to a link instead of being posted. If you are just now joining, please make sure you click the link below. Stats will also be updated sometime today for those who like the numbers to geek out on. Thanks for making this tournament drama-free so far. I appreciate it. Just a reminder that it is still one vote per person per poll and polls remain open for about 24 hours each. Until tomorrow, don't forget to respond to the TV Talk Topic and as always, happy voting!



Rules
Rankings / Bracket

Today's TV Talk Topic:

We Interrupt Your Program for This Very Important PSA - Generally we don't do highly controversial subjects or show-specific topics here, preferring the broader ideas that keep in the spirit of a "just for fun" contest. No, best ship conversations here. However this nominated topic is definitely thought-provoking and could have a much-longer reach than just the original topic. It spurs from the current debate over 13 Reasons Why and its depiction of teen suicide. I do not watch the show but the debate seems to be between people who think that it glorifies suicide and people who think that it humanizes it. The essential question is what responsibility does TV have when depicting sensitive topics? Does that responsibility change based on what demographic (adults, teens, kids) it is aimed at? What sensitive issues have your shows tackled? Which issues do you think should have more/less TV coverage? How does TV in general treat subjects like suicide, rape, racial relations? Which TV shows have covered these issues well and which ones were abject failures?

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she reviews and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, loves live tweeting, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Previously she wrote a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

2017 Character Cup - Round 1 D

Welcome back to the final set of polls in round one. 64 characters entered but only 32 can progress. Who will join our previous winners? We saw our tightest finishes yet in the last set of polls with Klaus vs Daryl and Walter vs Walter, exciting contests the entire time. Because the votes were so close we will need to wait for the votes to be checked to declare official winners, but it looks like Klaus and Walter Bishop pulled off the win along with Jake Peralta, Caitlin Snow, Kate Beckett, Sarah Manning, Gregory House, Alex Danvers, and Sara Lance. This was a tough round for many in the prediction brackets with a 4-way tie now in first. With only 4 wrong poll predictions, Chestal, Panos, Agent of Space, and Felip pull in the lead. In second are Dahne, Missions, and Lbt. The whole contest is super close so good luck to all. Don't forget to participate in the TV Talk Topic of the Day and as always, happy voting!

If you have already read the rules and how the Cup operates, please skip to the polls below. If not, to ensure that every has a good time, please read the rules below. While they are written to be less stuffy than rules usually are, it is important that everyone be kind and fair to make this the most fun for everyone.  Rules will be posted throughout round 1 and then a link will be provided to them. There are also links below to the list of character rankings and official bracket. Once round 1 is over, I will hopefully be able to provide stats there as well. The daily TV Talk Topic will also be found above the polls each time.


Rankings / Bracket

2017 Character Cup Rules:

1. This is a Silly Internet Contest, Not the Fate of the Nations - This contest is meaningless. The results are meaningless.  No one in TV cares who wins.  It will NOT change the fate of any show anywhere. Don't take it seriously. Have fun. Discuss a lot.

2. Focus on Characters, Not People - Anyone can vote however they want for whatever reason they want and can give their opinion on a character, favorable or not. Talking negatively about a character is NOT the same as attacking fans or the actor. If you don't like what someone says about your character, tell what you love about them.

3. Cheaters Suck - There is nothing more frustrating then having a bunch of cheaters ruin the fun for everyone.  Please remember that it is one vote per person per poll.  Trying to circumvent that is cheating, plain and simple.  It slows down the contest and makes people grumpy.

4. Leave Sour Grapes on the Vine - Yeah, it sucks when your favorite is kicked off by a character you hate. Yep, the winning character always comes from the quickest, most organized fandom. It doesn't mean we can't still have fun. Don't vetch about past polls or life's unfairness and it will be more enjoyable for everyone.

5. Surprise, No Westworld Plot Twists Here - I will do my very best to keep the contest running smoothly, but I'm only human.  I apologize in advance for any technical difficulties, spelling errors, and general absentmindedness.  Let me know and I'll fix it.

6. Comments are the Wellspring of Hiatus Life - As you anxiously await the return of your shows, why not distract yourself with a little TV Talk? Each day is a new topic so even if your favorites are out, you can still discuss. While this contest is just a silly piece of internet fluff, the conversation here dives deep so jump on in.

Nuts and Bolts:

1. All polls, even the final one, will be about 24 hours long. A new poll should go up every day with a short break between rounds after Round 3 to filter out any cheating.
2. Everything is head-to-head competition unless there's a tie and then both go to the next round.
3. One vote per person per poll.  Please do not try to cheat the polls.  Please do not encourage other people to try to cheat the polls.  It's annoying, stupid, pointless, and wastes everyone's time.  It makes you look bad.  It makes your fandom look bad.  It makes your character look bad.  It makes your show look bad.  Just don't.

Today's TV Talk Topic:

And the Award Goes To… - With Emmy nominations rapidly approaching, who do you think deserves a nomination? What shows, actors, and genres do you feel get snubbed annually? Which ones are overly lauded? Are there any categories you'd like to see added or taken away? What are your favorite awards - Emmy's, Oscar's, Golden Globes? How do you feel about awards that are voted on by fans instead of people in the industry? For international commentators, what kinds of TV and film awards does your country have? How are they similar/different from the Emmy's? Are the winners usually diverse or are some shows more awarded than others? Has a favorite of yours won? Who are the big TV stars in your country?

2017 Character Cup - Round 1C

We're now halfway done with round 1 and so far there haven't been any big upsets, although Sherlock looked prized to take the round from Felicity in what would have been a bracket buster for most.  Still in the last few hours, Felicity prevailed along with Bellamy Blake, Dana Scully, Jethro Gibbs, Michael Scofield, Sam Winchester, Peggy Carter, Lucy Preston, Jon Snow, Eliot Spencer, Meredith Gray, Captain Hook, Eleven, Liv Moore, and Jamie Fraser.  Today we have a supersized poll set, given yesterday's was smaller.  Also I have started running the stats so be sure to check out the stats link below if you're interested.  In our Prediction Contest, both LBT Fan and Maria Sol have taken the early lead, missing only 1 poll so far each.  Second Place is jammed though with 9 people having missed only 2 polls.  Congratulations to all!  Until next time, don't forget the TV Talk Topic.  It should be a fun, light-hearted one today.  Happy voting!

If you have already read the rules and how the Cup operates, please skip to the polls below. If not, to ensure that every has a good time, please read the rules below. While they are written to be less stuffy than rules usually are, it is important that everyone be kind and fair to make this the most fun for everyone.  Rules will be posted throughout round 1 and then a link will be provided to them. There are also links below to the list of character rankings and official bracket. Once round 1 is over, I will hopefully be able to provide stats there as well. The daily TV Talk Topic will also be found above the polls each time.


Stats / Rankings / Bracket

2017 Character Cup Rules:

1. This is a Silly Internet Contest, Not the Fate of the Nations - This contest is meaningless. The results are meaningless.  No one in TV cares who wins.  It will NOT change the fate of any show anywhere. Don't take it seriously. Have fun. Discuss a lot.

2. Focus on Characters, Not People - Anyone can vote however they want for whatever reason they want and can give their opinion on a character, favorable or not. Talking negatively about a character is NOT the same as attacking fans or the actor. If you don't like what someone says about your character, tell what you love about them.

3. Cheaters Suck - There is nothing more frustrating then having a bunch of cheaters ruin the fun for everyone.  Please remember that it is one vote per person per poll.  Trying to circumvent that is cheating, plain and simple.  It slows down the contest and makes people grumpy.

4. Leave Sour Grapes on the Vine - Yeah, it sucks when your favorite is kicked off by a character you hate. Yep, the winning character always comes from the quickest, most organized fandom. It doesn't mean we can't still have fun. Don't vetch about past polls or life's unfairness and it will be more enjoyable for everyone.

5. Surprise, No Westworld Plot Twists Here - I will do my very best to keep the contest running smoothly, but I'm only human.  I apologize in advance for any technical difficulties, spelling errors, and general absentmindedness.  Let me know and I'll fix it.

6. Comments are the Wellspring of Hiatus Life - As you anxiously await the return of your shows, why not distract yourself with a little TV Talk? Each day is a new topic so even if your favorites are out, you can still discuss. While this contest is just a silly piece of internet fluff, the conversation here dives deep so jump on in.

Nuts and Bolts:

1. All polls, even the final one, will be about 24 hours long. A new poll should go up every day with a short break between rounds after Round 3 to filter out any cheating.
2. Everything is head-to-head competition unless there's a tie and then both go to the next round.
3. One vote per person per poll.  Please do not try to cheat the polls.  Please do not encourage other people to try to cheat the polls.  It's annoying, stupid, pointless, and wastes everyone's time.  It makes you look bad.  It makes your fandom look bad.  It makes your character look bad.  It makes your show look bad.  Just don't.

Today's TV Talk Topic:

The Cheez-Whiz Factor - We all have shows we watch that others just groan at. What's your "guilty pleasure" that you don't feel guilty about watching? Which shows will you continue to watch no matter what? Which shows/genres do you stick with even if the writing gets super-cheesy? Which shows have iffy acting that you just can't stop watching? In essence, what makes an arguably "cheesy" show worth watching?

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she reviews and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, loves live tweeting, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Previously she wrote a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

2017 Character Cup - Round 1B

Welcome back to the Character Cup. While round 1A is still in the tail end of voting, I decided to post the next section early as opposed to a couple hours later. Same rules apply. About 24 hours to vote and one vote per person per poll. There is one fewer poll than yesterday, but that is simply because that's how many shows fit in the Blogger label limit. The next round will have extra polls. If you have already read the rules and how the Cup operates, please skip to the TV Talk Topic below. If not, to ensure that every has a good time, please read the rules below. While they are written to be less stuffy than rules usually are, it is important that everyone be kind and fair to make this the most fun for everyone.  Rules will be posted throughout round 1 and then a link will be provided to them. There are also links below to the list of character rankings and official bracket. Once round 1 is over, I will hopefully be able to provide stats there as well. The daily TV Talk Topic will also be found above the polls each time.


Rankings / Bracket

2017 Character Cup Rules:

1. This is a Silly Internet Contest, Not the Fate of the Nations - This contest is meaningless. The results are meaningless.  No one in TV cares who wins.  It will NOT change the fate of any show anywhere. Don't take it seriously. Have fun. Discuss a lot.

2. Focus on Characters, Not People - Anyone can vote however they want for whatever reason they want and can give their opinion on a character, favorable or not. Talking negatively about a character is NOT the same as attacking fans or the actor. If you don't like what someone says about your character, tell what you love about them.

3. Cheaters Suck - There is nothing more frustrating then having a bunch of cheaters ruin the fun for everyone.  Please remember that it is one vote per person per poll.  Trying to circumvent that is cheating, plain and simple.  It slows down the contest and makes people grumpy.

4. Leave Sour Grapes on the Vine - Yeah, it sucks when your favorite is kicked off by a character you hate. Yep, the winning character always comes from the quickest, most organized fandom. It doesn't mean we can't still have fun. Don't vetch about past polls or life's unfairness and it will be more enjoyable for everyone.

5. Surprise, No Westworld Plot Twists Here - I will do my very best to keep the contest running smoothly, but I'm only human.  I apologize in advance for any technical difficulties, spelling errors, and general absentmindedness.  Let me know and I'll fix it.

6. Comments are the Wellspring of Hiatus Life - As you anxiously await the return of your shows, why not distract yourself with a little TV Talk? Each day is a new topic so even if your favorites are out, you can still discuss. While this contest is just a silly piece of internet fluff, the conversation here dives deep so jump on in.

Nuts and Bolts:

1. All polls, even the final one, will be about 24 hours long. A new poll should go up every day with a short break between rounds after Round 3 to filter out any cheating.
2. Everything is head-to-head competition unless there's a tie and then both go to the next round.
3. One vote per person per poll.  Please do not try to cheat the polls.  Please do not encourage other people to try to cheat the polls.  It's annoying, stupid, pointless, and wastes everyone's time.  It makes you look bad.  It makes your fandom look bad.  It makes your character look bad.  It makes your show look bad.  Just don't.

Today's TV Talk Topic:

The Internet, Social Media, and Fandom - How has the internet and social media changed TV? Is this for the better or worse? Have storylines and/or character tropes changed because of worldwide access to shows? What are some positives and negatives for fans having unprecedented access to actors, writers, and show runners through social media? How has the internet/social media changed fandom as a whole or you personally as a TV viewer?

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she reviews and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, loves live tweeting, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Previously she wrote a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

2017 Character Cup - Round 1A

Welcome to round 1 of the 2017 Character Cup. Woo hoo! I hope this is a fun, surprising, and not too serious contest for all, regardless of the winner. First off, thanks to everyone who helped find pictures for the Cup. I really appreciate it. It allowed me to create the polls early so we could start as soon as the prediction contest deadline ended. You guys rock! Thanks! The Character Cup goes by very quickly so don't forget to check SpoilerTV every day so you can vote, check the prediction standings, and most importantly, participate in the daily discussion. We have a new TV Talk Topic every day and all are encouraged to participate.


To ensure that every has a good time, please read the rules below. While they are written to be less stuffy than rules usually are, it is important that everyone be kind and fair to make this the most fun for everyone.  Rules will be posted throughout round 1 and then a link will be provided to them. There are also links below to the list of character rankings and official bracket. Once round 1 is over, I will hopefully be able to provide stats there as well. The daily TV Talk Topic will also be found above the polls each time.


Rankings / Bracket

2017 Character Cup Rules:

1. This is a Silly Internet Contest, Not the Fate of the Nations - This contest is meaningless. The results are meaningless.  No one in TV cares who wins.  It will NOT change the fate of any show anywhere. Don't take it seriously. Have fun. Discuss a lot.

2. Focus on Characters, Not People - Anyone can vote however they want for whatever reason they want and can give their opinion on a character, favorable or not. Talking negatively about a character is NOT the same as attacking fans or the actor. If you don't like what someone says about your character, tell what you love about them.

3. Cheaters Suck - There is nothing more frustrating then having a bunch of cheaters ruin the fun for everyone.  Please remember that it is one vote per person per poll.  Trying to circumvent that is cheating, plain and simple.  It slows down the contest and makes people grumpy.

4. Leave Sour Grapes on the Vine - Yeah, it sucks when your favorite is kicked off by a character you hate. Yep, the winning character always comes from the quickest, most organized fandom. It doesn't mean we can't still have fun. Don't vetch about past polls or life's unfairness and it will be more enjoyable for everyone.

5. Surprise, No Westworld Plot Twists Here - I will do my very best to keep the contest running smoothly, but I'm only human.  I apologize in advance for any technical difficulties, spelling errors, and general absentmindedness.  Let me know and I'll fix it.

6. Comments are the Wellspring of Hiatus Life - As you anxiously await the return of your shows, why not distract yourself with a little TV Talk? Each day is a new topic so even if your favorites are out, you can still discuss. While this contest is just a silly piece of internet fluff, the conversation here dives deep so jump on in.

Nuts and Bolts:

1. All polls, even the final one, will be about 24 hours long. A new poll should go up every day with a short break between rounds after Round 3 to filter out any cheating.
2. Everything is head-to-head competition unless there's a tie and then both go to the next round.
3. One vote per person per poll.  Please do not try to cheat the polls.  Please do not encourage other people to try to cheat the polls.  It's annoying, stupid, pointless, and wastes everyone's time.  It makes you look bad.  It makes your fandom look bad.  It makes your character look bad.  It makes your show look bad.  Just don't.

Today's TV Talk Topic:

You're the Teacher - Grade TV as a whole this year. What worked? What didn't? Which one had a better year - dramas or comedies, broadcast or cable? What grade would you give freshmen TV shows as a whole? Were there any major trends that you enjoyed or did not? Which network had the best season and why?

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she reviews and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, loves live tweeting, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Previously she wrote a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

2017 Character Cup Rules - Please Read

2017 Character Cup Rules:

1. This is a Silly Internet Contest, Not the Fate of the Nations - This contest is meaningless. The results are meaningless.  No one in TV cares who wins.  It will NOT change the fate of any show anywhere. Don't take it seriously. Have fun. Discuss a lot.

2. Focus on Characters, Not People - Anyone can vote however they want for whatever reason they want and can give their opinion on a character, favorable or not. Talking negatively about a character is NOT the same as attacking fans or the actor. If you don't like what someone says about your character, tell what you love about them.

3. Cheaters Suck - There is nothing more frustrating then having a bunch of cheaters ruin the fun for everyone.  Please remember that it is one vote per person per poll.  Trying to circumvent that is cheating, plain and simple.  It slows down the contest and makes people grumpy.

4. Leave Sour Grapes on the Vine - Yeah, it sucks when your favorite is kicked off by a character you hate. Yep, the winning character always comes from the quickest, most organized fandom. It doesn't mean we can't still have fun. Don't vetch about past polls or life's unfairness and it will be more enjoyable for everyone.

5. Surprise, No Westworld Plot Twists Here - I will do my very best to keep the contest running smoothly, but I'm only human.  I apologize in advance for any technical difficulties, spelling errors, and general absentmindedness.  Let me know and I'll fix it.

6. Comments are the Wellspring of Hiatus Life - As you anxiously await the return of your shows, why not distract yourself with a little TV Talk? Each day is a new topic so even if your favorites are out, you can still discuss. While this contest is just a silly piece of internet fluff, the conversation here dives deep so jump on in.

Nuts and Bolts:

1. All polls, even the final one, will be about 24 hours long. A new poll should go up every day with a short break between rounds after Round 3 to filter out any cheating.
2. Everything is head-to-head competition unless there's a tie and then both go to the next round.
3. One vote per person per poll.  Please do not try to cheat the polls.  Please do not encourage other people to try to cheat the polls.  It's annoying, stupid, pointless, and wastes everyone's time.  It makes you look bad.  It makes your fandom look bad.  It makes your character look bad.  It makes your show look bad.  Just don't.

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she recaps, reviews, and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, The 100, Grimm, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, live tweets a multitude of shows each week, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Currently she writes a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

Throwback Thursday - Bones - Aliens in a Spaceship - Review and Episode Awards

Note: I was originally going to review the Farscape pilot, only to learn partway through that it had already been covered. So I turned to a genre that gets a bad rap on SpoilerTV…the crime procedural. While all crime procedurals have a typical episode layout, not all shows are created equal and definitely not all episodes are created equal. Here's one of my favorites.

Bones - 2.09 - Aliens in a Spaceship

Summary : 

When Brennan and Booth are called to investigate the discovery of possible alien bodies, they come into the path of a brilliant criminal. Brennan quickly surmises that there is nothing extraterrestrial about the case, but instead two teenage brothers were locked inside an airtight container, which was then buried. It's the MO of an anonymous kidnapper called The Gravedigger, who only sends coordinates to locate the missing after the ransom is paid. Thus far, no one has found any evidence as to whom The Gravedigger is so Brennan's team takes up the challenge. Before they can get too far, both Brennan and self-proclaimed "King of the Lab" Jack Hodgins are kidnapped by The Gravedigger and buried alive in a car. There's only 12 hours for the rest of the Jeffersonian team to find Brennan and Hodgins before they run out of air.

Highlights:

The Countdown - The episode has a built in intensity that most crimes do not have, given that the murder has usually already occurred. By only allowing the team 12 hours to solve a crime that no one else has in years and by taking away 2 key members of the team, it forces the others to rely on their strengths but also to think outside of the box, something that makes intern Zack Addy very uncomfortable. When Hodgins and Brennan are able to send out one 8-character text, the team must decipher not only what it means but who the message was intended for. Usually Brennan takes the focus in the lab work and she often finds the all-important clue. By taking her out of the equation, it allows the others and in particular, Zack, to really shine.

Brennan and Hodgins - The shortened clock also allows for Brennan and Hodgins to make an uncharacteristic emotional bond quickly and still be believable as well. Up to this point in the series, Brennan generally had extended screen time with Booth and Angela, but not many others. This is the first real extended time we have between Brennan and Hodgins and for me, they make the whole episode. Although both suffer memory loss, together they deduce that they were taken in the parking lot and that Hodgins was run over, leaving him with a severely broken leg. At first, the two are awkward together and it is obvious that for all the time they have shared a lab, they still do not know each other well. Brennan doesn't even know that Hodgins is rich, which leads to the best banter of the episode as Hodgins explains to Brennan that she's really not wealthy, even with her book sale money. However as the situation gets more dire, they bond. Hodgins admits his love for Angela and Brennan agrees to leave behind a goodbye letter just in case things do not end well. In their final scene together, Jack tells her that "it has been a privilege" and they hug. Anyone who knows early Temperance Brennan knows what a huge deal that is.

Serious MacGyver Time - While the non-buried Jeffersonians take the lead on the case, it is actually Brennan and Hodgins that work together to save themselves. I like that Brennan is never a damsel in distress and these two never give up, combining their skills to do the impossible. Together, they find and then create fresh air to extend their time beyond the 12-hour deadline, rig a phone to send a message out, and manage to get themselves free from the buried car. Brennan even does a little leg surgery. For those who like Scorpion's inventiveness, this is the episode for you. While there is some out and out brawn in this episode, provided by Booth, the clear focus is the brains of the combined group.

4. The Ending - Nope, I'm not talking about Angela and Hodgins starting to hook up or any shipper leanings about the Brennan and Booth relationship. I'm talking about the non-ending. The Gravedigger gets away with it. The homicidal kidnapper is not caught until 2 seasons later. One of the biggest complaints about procedurals is how they are all the same. Crime - clues - red herring - arrest. I really enjoy how not only does The Gravedigger get away with it in this episode, but they still have very little clue about who the killer is. It obviously sticks in their craw as much as it did mine, because up through season 4 they sometimes make mention of how they are still working on the one that got away. To this day, The Gravedigger is one of my favorite episodic villains. According to IMDb, that was almost not the case. They apparently shot scenes with Janine revealed to be the killer but then decided not to use them. Smart move. I like how they left the episode open-ended and then revealed an entirely different villain later on. Janine would have been too typical and lessened the brilliance of The Gravedigger. It does now make sense though why she looks so sour at the end.

The Speeches - Let's face it. Booth knows how to deliver a good threat and a rallying speech. Nowhere is Booth's frustration at the ticking clock more apparent than when he threatens Vega. It's downright chilling. Then when things are at their bleakest and the countdown clock hits zero, Booth will not let the Jeffersonians give up. Yes, he's a little harsh in his manner but he's a ex-Ranger on a mission and his resolve bucks up the ever analytical Zack, who has started to feel the whole thing is a waste. I love how Booth reminds them that the countdown is just math and that Brennan and Hodgins know how to work the impossible, how he reminds them that they are all brilliant and that no one else can do the things that they can together. They're a team and they work together until everyone comes home. In the end, he's telling the troops to have faith like he has faith, which lead to….

Faith vs. Science - I generally hate when Hollywood brings God, religion, or faith into the discussion. The only 2 groups that Hollywood still gives itself permission to hate and ridicule is white males and Christians. You can see it every time they bring up religion. It's getting so whenever a crime procedural has a Christian character, you can pretty much be assured that they are an adulterer, thief, abuser, or murderer. Therefore, I was really nervous when Booth and Brennan start talking about faith in the beginning of the episode. Booth is a believer; Brennan is not. What works so well in this episode is that both sides are given some validity. In the end, it is Hodgins that questions Brennan's self-proclaimed "non-faith" as he explains that she does have faith, just that her faith is in Booth and the people of her team. On the other side, the experience in no way changes Brennan's opinion about God as she tells Booth in the church where he stops to pray. It's a good reminder that the two sides are not enemies and quite frankly they have more in common than people admit. It does not have to be faith vs. science. You can believe in both.

Overall, I think this episode is a strong example of how a crime show can be a procedural but still have relevance. You don't have to have a serialized storyline to have strong character development or to delve into deep subjects. The best procedurals remember that while an episode is often built on the back of the case, the show is always built on the back of its characters. By mixing up character interaction, adding internal intensity, and taking characters out of their comfort zone, viewers get to see their favorite characters in a new light and watch those characters grow. No matter whether it's procedural or serialized, that's just good TV.

Episode Awards:

Best Reason to Watch / Best Character Interaction - Brennan and Hodgins
Best Scene - Hodgins tells Angela that he's too afraid to sleep in a moment of pure vulnerability
Best Snark - Booth, especially to those he feels are capitalizing on the misfortune of others
Best Character Background and Development - Hodgins
Best One-Shot Character - Agent Sanders, who is obviously still traumatized by the death of the twins
Best Trivia - I stopped watching Bones long before it's finale, but apparently Bones read the note she writes in this episode on her wedding day.
Best Quote - Brennan: "If we're less than 4 feet beneath the surface, this charge could blow us to freedom." Hodgins: "And if we're buried more than 4 feet deep?" Brennan: "Then the concussion will turn our brains into jelly." Hodgins: "Well then we can run for Congress so it's a win-win."
Biggest Douche - Vega
Biggest Aww Moment - Brennan and Hodgins hug before making their last ditch effort at escape
Biggest Joker - Hodgins, even in dire situations

Biggest Surprise - Brennan initiates the hug with Hodgins
Most Heartwarming - one brother gives his life to help the other / the father learns that he could not have possibly prevented his sons' deaths, even if he had paid the ransom
Most Disgusting - unsterile leg surgery in a car
Most Kick Butt - Booth, going after anyone in his way
Most Empathetic - Bones tells the father that his sons' deaths were peaceful
The "Welcome Back" Award - Benito Martinez from Supernatural, The Blacklist, HTGAWM, and American Crime / Julie Ann Emery from Better Call Saul and Major Crimes / Charles Mesure from Crossing Jordan, V, Desperate Housewives, The Magicians, and OUaT / Salli Richardson-Whitfield from Stitchers and Eureka

Great Quotes:

Hodgins: "No offense, and I'm not just saying this because you filleted me with a knife, we are out of air. We don't know if our message got out, much less if anyone understood it and we are buried underground. What you have is faith, baby. Sorry. The baby thing is a reflex."
Booth: "Man. Two kids, huh? I liked it better when they were aliens."
Booth: "I am not going to help you disrespect God in His own house."
Camille: "They'll fire you." Booth: "Oh, that's cool. One less reason to wear a suit."
Brennan: "I'm worried you have Compartment Syndrome." Jack: "Is that terminal? I mean within the next few hours?"
Hodgins: "There's something you don't know about me. I'm rich." Brennan: "Me too." Hodgins: "No, no, you're well off."
Hodgins: "Upside, me not breathing doubles your survival time." Brennan: "I'm not interested in surviving that way."
Brennan: "Oh thank God, I didn't kill you."
Brennan: "What are we surrounded by?" Hodgins: "Pain, despair…"
Hodgins: "If you can perform surgery out of thin air, then I can pull a little thin air out of thin air."
Brennan: "I'm okay with you thanking God for saving me and Hodgins." Booth: "That's not what I thanked Him for. I thanked Him for saving all of us. It was all of us, every single one. You take one of us away, and you and Hodgins are in that hole forever. And I'm thankful for that." Brennan: "I knew you wouldn't give up." Booth: "I knew you wouldn't give up."


Screencaps by Springfield! Springfield!,  FanPop, LiveJournal, Pinterest, Flickr, Fractured Simplicity, Bugs_n_Slime

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she reviews and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, loves live tweeting, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Previously she wrote a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

2017 Character Cup - Prediction Contest

Note:  If I have inadvertently misspelled someone's name or the show they are in, please let me know.  It's late and I'm not the best typist.

The nominations and rankings are done and now the real fun begins. Below you will find a complete list of characters that made it into the 2017 Character Cup, the official brackets, and homework.  (This should be the last post with a lot of information thrown at you.  Woo hoo!)  For those new to the Character Cup, one additional piece of fun is the prediction contest. How well do you think you know the SpoilerTV community? Whether you think you do or not, the prediction contest is a lot of fun and absolutely free.  This is your chance to guess which characters will win each round. Remember the prediction contest is about who you think will win, NOT who you want to win. Like last year we are using Challonge to run the prediction contest. You may have to sign up to use it (not quite sure), but it is completely free.  You have until noon CST on Saturday, May 27 to complete your predictions.  To participate, go here:

http://challonge.com/ccpredictions2017

Prediction Contest Rules:

1. Only one prediction per person.
2. When titling your prediction, please use your Disqus or SpoilerTV name.
3. Your predictions can be saved and edited up until predictions close, but to do so you must copy and paste a very, very long link to find your prediction again. It only shows up once so if you even think you might change predictions, I highly suggest saving the link. I will NOT be able to find the link for you.
4. All predictions must be finalized by noon CST on Saturday, May 27 to be eligible. Once the contest starts, no other predictions will be accepted.  (Yes, the contest will start on Saturday.)
5. Instead of using a weighted scale this year, each right answer will be worth 1 point no matter what round it is.
6. After every round, I will post our winners so far. The grand prize winner wins…bragging rights. Hey, I'm a teacher. I can't afford cool prizes. Unless you love Supernatural and then I have some leftover prizes you can win.  Or I have a ton of used TV DVD's.  Last year, Good Samaritan won with Kirov in a close second.  Good luck!

Bracket Ranking List:  

Characters are listed by their bracket ranking (based on nominations except with multiple characters for one actor) and I've included what shows they are from as a handy guide for predicting or voting.

1. Bellamy Blake (The 100)
2. Caitlin Snow (The Flash)
3. Lucifer Morningstar (Lucifer)
4. Jacob Stone (The Librarians)
5. Felicity Smoak (Arrow)
6. Leo Fitz (Agents of SHIELD)
7. Alex Danvers (Supergirl)
8. Sam Winchester (Supernatural)
9. Lucy Preston (Timeless)
10. Sara Lance (Legends of Tomorrow)
11. Spencer Reid (Criminal Minds)
12. Jughead Jones (Riverdale)
13. Killian "Captain Hook" Jones (Once Upon a Time)
14. Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
15. Martin Riggs (Lethal Weapon)
16. Jethro Gibbs (NCIS)
17. Michael Scofield (Prison Break)
18. Clay Jensen (13 Reasons Why)
19. Jane Doe (Blindspot)
20. Eleven (Stranger Things)
21. Jake Peralta (Brooklyn 99)
22. The Doctor (Doctor Who)
23. Walter Bishop (Fringe)
24. Jon Snow (Game of Thrones)
25. Annalise Keating (How to Get Away with Murder)
26. Klaus Mikaelson (The Originals)
27. Raymond Reddington (The Blacklist)
28. Liv Moore (iZombie)
29. David "Legion" Haller (Legion)
30. Sun Bak (Sense8)
31. Stiles Stilinski (Teen Wolf)
32. Dana Scully (The X-Files)
33. Norman Bates (Bates Motel)
34. Kate Beckett (Castle)
35. Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)
36. Meredith Grey (Grey's Anatomy)
37. Jane Villanueva (Jane the Virgin)
38. Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars)
39. Daryl Dixon (The Walking Dead)
40. Peggy Carter (Agent Carter)
41. Shadow Moon (American Gods)
42. Walter White (Breaking Bad)
43. Matthew Casey (Chicago Fire)
44. Sherlock Holmes (Elementary)
45. Jessica Huang (Fresh Off the Boat)
46. Steve McGarrett (Hawaii 5-0)
47. Gregory House (House)
48. Ben Linus (LOST)
49. Marty Deeks (NCIS:LA)
50. Sarah Manning (Orphan Black)
51. Jack Pearson (This Is Us)
52. Bonnie Bennett (The Vampire Diaries)
53. Jamie Fraser (Outlander)
54. Erin Lindsay (Chicago PD)
55. Maeve Millay (Westworld)
56. Harvey Specter (Suits)
57. James Cole (12 Monkeys)
58. Chuck Bartowski (Chuck)
59. Olivia Benson (Law & Order: SVU)
60. Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock)
61. Eliot Spencer (Leverage)
62. Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)
63. Matt Murdock (Daredevil)
64. Olivia Pope (Scandal)

Official Brackets: 

If you click on full screen, you can see the whole thing. A downloadable copy is here.  If you would like a blank printable bracket to play along, click here.  Fillable brackets are here.  (Hint - download it before you fill it out or it won't keep what you typed.  Learned that from experience..ugh!)

2017 CC Brackets - Fixed by Dahne1 on Scribd

Picture Homework:

The first round will start on Saturday after predictions are in. Until then, I'm assigning homework. (I told you I'm a teacher.) I need good headshot pictures of ALL of the characters. Otherwise your favorite character is stuck with the first picture I find on Google. The guidelines are below. You can send them to me via Twitter @dahne1 or put them in the comments below. Thanks in advance for your help in this.  It's a tremendous time saver for me.


Picture Guidelines:

1. Must be clothed and PG please!
2. Clearly shows the character's face
3. Is just the character, NOT a group thing
4. Must be the character and not the actor (no premiere party or tabloid photos)
5. No gifs - jpeg or png only please

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she reviews and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, loves live tweeting, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Previously she wrote a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

2017 Character Cup - Nominating Polls

Over 500 nominations are in and it's shaping up to be a great Character Cup. However, with so many nominations, we're bound to need a couple of tie breakers. The first one up is for Grey's Anatomy fans. Both Arizona and Meredith got the same number of nominations, so it is time for you to choose your champion. Whichever one wins is guaranteed to enter the competition. The second poll is a little different. All the characters in the second poll just narrowly missed the cut to be guaranteed a spot in the Cup. Therefore, only the top voted characters will go on to the competition. (Also, any characters played by the same actor will go against each other at the earliest possible time in the contest. Next year, I will close that loophole in the nominating process.)

Remember that you can only vote once per poll and polls will close around midnight CST on Wednesday. Sadly, you must use a social media profile to vote and no results will be shown while voting is open. This is to reduce the desire for fandoms to vote multiple times and thus break the rules. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

After voting ends, I will post a complete bracket for the contest. You will then have a couple of days to compete in our Prediction Cup. It's a fun way to stay engaged in the contest even if your favorites are out, so tune in tomorrow for it. I anticipate that the actual Cup will begin on Sunday. Until then, talk up your favorites and tell us why you love them.

IMPORTANT INFO (for those that skipped the above paragraphs):

1. If you don't see your favorite characters, that does NOT necessarily mean that they didn't make it in. The top nominated characters are already set and don't need a poll.

2. You can only vote for 1 character per poll and no voting results will be shown until after voting ends. Yeah, I know that's mean. I'm having a hard time choosing only 1 too.

3. Polls will close around midnight CST on Wednesday.

4. In order to irritate any cheaterpants, you must log in with social media or create an account with Opinion Stage in order to vote at any point in this contest. (I know. It's ridiculous that people cheat polls that have ZERO impact on anything at all.)  I get that it is inconvenient, but we're trying to create the most poll integrity possible. Rules are still that you can only vote once per poll. Please be respectful of that and ensure a happy contest for all. If you have trouble signing in, please hit the comments below.

5. Speaking of comments, this is a great place to talk up your favorites. Happy voting!

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she recaps, reviews, and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, The 100, Grimm, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, live tweets a multitude of shows each week, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Currently she writes a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

Quote of the Week - Week of May 14

A weekly feature highlighting the best quotes on TV as picked by the Spoiler TV team. We'd love to hear your picks too so please sound off in the comments below.

The 100 -
1. Jaha: "Until 20 minutes ago, our people believed they were safe. They let down their guard. They picked their bunks. They unpacked their bags. They imagined their futures. You try to rip that from them now and, believe me, they will fight." (Milo)
2. Jaha: "Octavia, please. You can stop this. You're Skaikru. You're one of us." Octavia: "I'm one of you? You made me hide under the floor. You floated my mother. I'm not hiding now." (Diana)

Fargo -
1. Varga: "You have a fat wife." Sy: "Excuse me?" Varga: "Which part of what I just said is giving you trouble?" (DarkUFO)
2. Nikki: "You have made me the happiest woman ever. Now let's make a sex tape." (DarkUFO)
3. Nikki: "We got video evidence of Emmit screwing a secretary. It's a fact." Sy: "It never happened!" Nikki: "That doesn't make it any less of a fact." (DarkUFO)

Grey's Anatomy -
1. Meredith: "Don't do that. Don't apologize. If it was Derek, I'd already be gone." (Saloni)
2. Stephanie: "You've changed my life, Dr. Webber. You have. You've taught me how…you've taught me how to take my past and find my path. Thank you. I think I found it." Richard: "Which means?" Stephanie: "Which means, I quit." (Mark)

The Handmaid's Tale -
1. Offred: "This is a brutal place. We're prisoners. If we run, they'll try to kill us or worse. They beat us. They use cattle prods to try to get us to behave. If we're caught reading, they'll cut off a finger. Second offense, just the whole hand. They gouge out our eyes. They maim us in worse ways than you can imagine. They rape me. Every month. Whenever I might be fertile. I didn't choose this. They caught me. I was trying to escape. They took my daughter. So don't be sorry. Okay? Please don't be sorry. Please do something." (Kristie)

The Leftovers -
1. Matt: "The Sudden Departure was you." David: "Uh huh." Matt: "Why?" David: "Because I could." Matt: "You're gonna have to do better than that." David: "Why?" Matt: "Because there has to be a reason." David: "Why?" Matt: "Everything in my life, I've done for a reason." David: "Why?" Matt: "To help people, to guide them, to ease their suffering, even though I suffered myself. I sacrificed my happiness. I let my family abandon me." David: "Why?" Matt: "FOR YOU!!!" David: "Everything you've done, you've done because you thought I was watching, because you thought I was judging. But I wasn't. I'm not. You've never done anything for me. You've done it for yourself." Matt: "Is that why you're killing me?" (Milo)

Madam Secretary -
1. Blake: "Ma'am, I'm bi." Elizabeth: "Yeah. Bye. I'll see you in the morning." Blake: "No, I'm bi, ma'am. Bisexual. I know, you’re probably like, ‘What? Why is he telling me this now? But, uhm, I realize now my right to privacy is different than me choosing to be private and really has more to do with me trusting people with my private business, which is hard for me, because I’ve experienced a lot of biphobia from everyone. I mean straight people, gay people…it’s just, I’ve gotten used to keeping people at arm’s length. I’ve never felt the obligation to satisfy anyone’s curiosity by posting pictures of me with a boyfriend or a girlfriend on social media, like every other millennial. And I always justified that by thinking, 'What does it matter about me?’ I mean, there’s so many more important things going on in the world, who cares about my sexuality? But I realize now it’s m-maybe kind of the opposite. That if I can’t be honest about who I am, then how can I ever have an honest experience with them?” (Laura and Kristie)

Supergirl -
1. Cat to Winn, while under attack: "Okay, well it was nice knowing you." (Donna)
2. Alex: “Supergirl! We’re under attack! I’ve evacuated the DEO!” Supergirl: “Hang on! I’m almost there!” Alex: “There’s no time!” Supergirl: “All right, I’ll meet you outside!” (Donna)
3. Rhea, in a dream: "I'm sorry, who are you?" Cat: “I’m Cat Grant, known on Earth as the Queen of all media!” Rhea: “Oh, well, Cat Grant, I’m Rhea and Earth now has a new Queen.” Cat: “Oh, well, let me just give you a little bit of advice, Rhea, that tiara you have on top of your head, it’s overkill. Real royals, they don’t need to try that hard!” (Donna)
4. President, after morphing: “I suppose I owe you an explanation.” Cat: “At least tell me you’re still a democrat.” (Prpleight)

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she recaps, reviews, and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, The 100, Grimm, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, live tweets a multitude of shows each week, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Currently she writes a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."