A Man. And His Blog.

Wow, I am speechless. This could be considered one of the worst written series finales in history. It’s totally great for the writers to have the chance to write a proper series finale, but at least it should be logical. This one wasn’t logical. Of course I always knew Elliott (Mark Deklin) would be the guy for Bella (Elizabeth Reaser) at the end, but this way? Absolutely horrendous. The first 35 minutes the episode is still trying to get through Bella’s boyfriend of the week Roy (Michael McLafferty), and in the final minutes the whole ring thing was all about Bella? After we haven’t even seen Elliot for more than 10 minutes in the show, he’s proposing to Bella? After they don’t even have chemistry, she said yes? Muhahaha.

I can say that this finale completely ruined the series finale. Until the (non-)breakup between Bella and Roy, it was pretty much a normal episode. With the exception of the scene with Elliott and Cyrus (Amir Talai) in the vet clinic, there wasn’t even one single clue that Elliott and Bella would end up. It was all in predictions. I knew Elliott would be talking about Bella, when he mentioned the ring, but there was really no reason to believe it was Bella he was talking about. And the final scene with Marina (Anne Bedian) and Bella … didn’t even have a meaning. All of a sudden they are both talking about Elliott, and I don’t even know how they got there. Those final minutes were written in a terrible fashion, and I hope to have seen it once and this time only. Oh my crap, that reminded me of the “let’s finish it” finale of MERCY POINT, but I could excuse that, because those writers were able to write a finale on the stand. THE EX LIST had a couple of weeks at least to plan a proper finale.

Well, at least the rest of the episode was okay. Roy was in fact charming, and I would have liked for him to end up with Bella, despite the missing chemistry between the two (but it could have been there after a while…). I even would have liked when he had an ex list also, with the names of all the hundreds of girls he was screwing with. How funny could it have been, when the notebook was really Roy’s ex list with all the names, some crossed out and Bella somewhere in the middle? I think the writers had the same idea, but crossed it out of their minds for the twist of letting him have a past with Marina (WTF?) – which was a shame.

Augie (Adam Rothenberg) and Viv’s (Alexandra Breckenridge) sex troubles were also okay. A stereotypical storyline, and I knew it would end like it did, so I was pretty much not interested in which way they were going to get to the fast quickie in Augie’s break. The episode scored with Daphne’s (Rachel Boston) storyline though. Seemed like the writers were including Marty (Josh Braaten) into the character pool. I think he had more screentime than Daphne, and it was sweet how he was fighting for her after the “revelation” of him not being the one and only for her forever. Okay, clichéd story like Augie/Viv here, but it was cute at the end. The swinger story could have been more worked on though. I was ready to laugh right there, when Lindsey (Nikita Ager) took her shirt off, but it was cut short, since Daphne was … wherever she was.

All in all, I don’t think I will miss this show. Back in 2008 I was hoping for it to become a TIME OF YOUR LIFE like show, which I could watch when I’m in a bad mood, which turns up my mood during the night hours. A tiny little character-based soap with nice characters, which could entertain me up a bit. But soon THE EX LIST became boring, clichéd, didn’t make anything out of its story, almost didn’t know variety, and never developed its characters. It was a nice show, but it would have been more something for The CW back then. I can’t even think of a reason why Les Moonves was interested in picking this one up. 5/10

Legs...

A smile...

Well, interesting. Obviously the writers were already at a state, where they were saying goodbye to each other, bringing out the last drops of the show while closing the doors. Because this episode was good. This episode was different. This episode showed the “mystical” side of Bella’s (Elizabeth Reaser) misery. This episode finally mentioned fate and the characters discussed about it. As if the long run of the show was to turn it into a light fantasy show. Maybe something like SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE.

The stories were good. Finally Daphne (Rachel Boston) had a story for her own, to do something, to make her shine as a character. Though her story couldn’t have been shorter, I loved that it could have prepared a story for the long haul, for something more than Daphne just being a sister. It’s great that Marty (Josh Braaten) came back and was not just written in for the wedding episode, because the writers chose to let Daphne have a fiancé and later a husband. With his restaurant story, I could have imagined something bigger, and with that smile on her face, after she told straight to him was just sweet. It was not a smile for the comedy of the show, it was just a sweet happy-end smile, which showed that she is happy in her current life. And this is more what the show previously offered with Daphne.

Also, Augie’s (Adam Rothenberg) story was okay. Finally he has something to do on his own, though the marketing gig couldn’t have been more of a cliché. First the “really cool” logo was declined, but when Augie went back to the roots, it is suddenly loved. Blah. In addition, the “rivalry” with Max (Edward Kerr) wasn’t really working. As if the writers wanted to let me believe Max hates Augie, because he knows Bella, and because he could play with Augie. The prom scene at the end was cute. But Viv’s (Alexandra Breckenridge) part of the story could have lived through a bigger preparation. Because I still don’t know why she wanted a prom night so madly.

And finally Bella’s boyfriend of the week Philip (Kristoffer Polaha). Boring character. And completely stereotypical in the world of THE EX LIST. When Bella isn’t even capable to change her ex-boyfriends, to make the audience believe the writers are serious about their show, then why should I care about the show then? Only her flings with Max were interesting, but only because it brought the question about fate in the room. Finally there’s some big discussion about it. Finally there’s doubt in Bella’s face. And finally I see why she takes her list seriously.

I don’t lose any more words about Cyrus’ (Amir Talai) story though. I try to like him, I try to see his importance with the show and with the other characters, but I wouldn’t even mind, when he’s vanishing without a trace. He’s completely useless at this moment, despite the fact that the writers tried to give him a story outside of his girlfriend carousel. 7.5/10

This ad really looks fugly

A relationship can't be hold on the beach!

A surprisingly good and fun episode. I never would have thought that, when the characters were talking about fun, the episode would in fact be fun. In addition, the writers did it another time: They played with the setup of the show, changed it up a bit, told a different story than expected.

Meaning: This episode wasn’t just all about Wade (Josh Stamberg), the boyfriend of the episode, instead Bella (Elizabeth Reaser) was having a relationship with his daughter Tyler (Ariel Winter), and it was more interesting than the actual romance. It was cool to see how Bella tried to build a connection with a little kid, just to go through her list and make sure if Wade might be the one. That made the story interesting, and it made it different. In addition, Tyler was a cool little daughter, who reminded me a bit of Sydney in PARENTHOOD, just older and typically Ocean Beach-ish. If the writers would have just made more about Tyler being an obnoxious little spoiled brat, instead of a lovable girl, who is scared of touching her clarinet, because she a) can’t play it, and b) is too scared to get a tone out of it, because she can’t play it. In fact, that was a story, which wasn’t given much attention. When the recital came, all eyes were suddenly on Tyler and her inability to play a solo. I mean, there was a lot of background story in this scene, yet nothing was used, and the “kicking ass” morale was repeated again. What a shame that this story was so thin at the end, and didn’t use anything to make it more special.

The B arc was okay. Finally the writers go into a little bit of an engagement story, and make Augie (Adam Rothenberg) question is he’s ready for the big step, and if Vivian (Alexandra Breckenridge) actually wants to be engaged. The latter question wasn’t really answered though, but I liked Augie’s awkwardness and that he was never sure about the topic. The search for a ring, the first try of popping the question, and finally giving her the necklace and having chickened out again – all good moments, which I liked, but which could have been worked on to make them better. Furthermore, I liked that Cyrus (Amir Talai) wasn’t having much screentime. I was actually thinking he would really move out and into an own apartment, because it was always awkward to see him living together with a loving couple. And I never saw him as the “child” Augie and Viv were raising, and that he was part of the family. Some parts were funny (“Your girlfriend never calls, your job never calls, we don’t call you, so you don’t need your phone”), but I have the feeling this story should have been a little bit more dramatic and emotional. It came off too comical to make me care. And that’s another problem the show has in virtually every episode. 7.5/10

Augie and his relationship ... always on the lookout for gifts for the girl

Wade's daughter is a bitch

This episode was completely alright. Nothing special, nothing much boring inside those 42 minutes. Nothing which bored me out of my mind (something the LUCK pilot did, which I watched before this episode), but nothing which would have awoken my interest for this show, if it would have survived for more than just 13 episodes. But I’m already believing the writers were on to writing those non-saying storylines, since the series premiere wasn’t a burner in ratings back then. Just getting the season finished, and that’s it. That’s what I am thinking at this moment…

Bella’s boyfriend of the week was okay. It’s nice to see that James (Ben Weber) wasn’t such an uber-character with ridiculous character flaws or something. Instead he just looked like he looked like, he was the most normal guy in a television show ever, and his “relationship” with Bella (Elizabeth Reaser) couldn’t have been more usual. She feels something for him, he has fun doing something with her, and at the end they can’t really get it in, because there is no spark. There was definitely a highlight missing in that story, but I’m kinda happy that the highlight was missing. It made the story so ordinary, which I liked, because it was … so damn ordinary. And not boring. How cool it seems to be, when you manage as a writer to not make an ordinary story so boring. So, that’s a plus here.

I just disliked how Elliott (Mark Deklin) was included in that plot. First off, his girlfriend Sara (Valerie Azlynn) seemed like the most clichéd girlfriend a guy like him could have. Second, the “clash” at the beach was riddled with stereotypes and predictable outcomes. Of course Bella would be “scared”, because she would lose Elliott (as her last hope) to a stunning blonde, and of course Elliott would be somehow involved in the story, because I think he will be the ex Bella marries at the end. So, not much surprises here, but what the hell… At least Elliott was included for once.

The side plots were forgettable though. The cooking course completely went by me and couldn’t have been stuck in boringtown for more than just an eternity. In addition, Augie (Adam Rothenberg) and Vivian’s (Alexandra Breckenridge) plot of how they met each other was missing. During the first flashback, when Bella and Augie were talking in the office, and Augie was still single, I was practically expecting for Augie and Vivian to go deeper into their origins. But it didn’t happen. Just a few words, just a couple of sidelines, and that’s it. Seriously lame. At least Cyrus’ girlfriend of the week was missing for once…

All in all, I will also have forgotten this episode after I have pushed the “Publish” button. But at least I’m going out with a better feeling than after the last episode. That’s a step into the right direction. 6/10

Someone is getting annoyed by Bella...

The ex is flirting with his new love interest

With every episode I understand why this show didn’t work with the audience. In fact they were pretty lucky not to have seen most of the series, since the later episodes seem like they were written to fill the season until the season finale, just so the writers don’t waste their time with developing the characters, or delivering Bella’s love life. This episode was booooooooring.

In fact, just one story was partly interesting: I always thought that Augie (Adam Rothenberg) and Vivian (Alexandra Breckenridge) are way too much of a lovely couple without troubles, and here Augie’s new client hits on his potential future wife, and Augie goes nuts (“going nuts” in a show like this means talking tough to a guy). The story was interesting, because it showed for the first time that neither of the two are pretty much the most truthful partner in a relationship like this, and even a woman like Vivian is about to lie. But then, Augie just “talked” to Rob (Ben Reed), and at the end Karma was on Augie’s side, because THE EX LIST is just a too brave show on a network, which gets an audience too old. In retrospective the idea for Augie and Vivian was nice, but the execution at the end was a party for lame people.

Also, Cyrus’ (Amir Talai) little romance of the episode was more interesting than Bella. Finally Cyrus had the chance for having a real girlfriend, having a real relationship, but then he fucked up all by himself. It’s nice it happened that way, because for once, Cyrus literally fucked up by himself. Samantha (Mandell Maughan) was interested in him, he was actually liking her … grounds for a real ongoing storyline with Cyrus and a girlfriend, who was not just a part of his life for just one episode. In retrospective  I’m disappointed that the break-up happened in such an unspectacular manner. Or that it happened at all. The show needed an ongoing storyline.

Finally Bella (Elizabeth Reaser) and her boyfriend of the week. First off: nice little twist with her gay ex Steele (Jay Hindle). Second: nice little twist that her boyfriend was not one of her exes. I would have loved it when the story of the show went overboard for an episode and delivers a completely different story. it would have proven that the writers knew what they wanted from their show back then. The thing is just: it never happened like I wanted it to, and even Dan (James Tupper) was revealed to be a “boyfriend” during Bella’s school years, even though it means she had only kissed him for five seconds. From there on out the story went completely downhill, uninteresting, and even boring. I didn’t care whether Dan was part of Bella’s competition in the flower business (the episode didn’t even recognize the story in a proper way to make it in fact a competition between business and not a wannabe-relationship); the conclusion of this story reminded me of writers, who just wanted to end their stories (because they didn’t wanna write anything more, and they were not having time).

All in all, I will have forgotten this episode after I have his the “Publish” button. Completely ridiculous. I wonder if the last four episodes of the show will be like this… 4/10

Waiting could have been a dream job...

Samantha could have been the dream girl...

This episode was alright. Nothing like the previous one and back to the roots of the show, but with a tiny little twist. This episode was kinda like the writers’ proof that they didn’t always want to have the Bella/boyfriend story and instead wanted to tell different stories.

Though I have to say I wasn’t really digging the story. Though having Bella (Elizabeth Reaser) date a much older guy with Harris (Kevin Sorbo), and let the daddy issues shines through was a neat idea, the story was crappy. It soon became nothing but Bella trying to teach Harris a few lessons about life, and it was obvious from the beginning that he wouldn’t be her soul mate. So, I don’t really know if the writers went to this story with the heart of the show, or if this episode was just showing that the writers can do something else too, and completely forget the prophecy for once. At least the relationship brought something else on the radar: Jimmy (William Russ) and his efforts to go back into the dating world. And boy did I loved Daphne (Rachel Boston) because of it.

First I liked that Jimmy was ready to date younger women, after he saw Bella with Harris, but I really loved, how Daphne reacted when she and Bella found Kate’s (Carrie Wiita) Facebook page. I was rofling myself away, when Daphne arrived in the music store and talked down to Kate. Unfortunately, it was all a little “twist”, and Kate wasn’t Jimmy’s date, but it was fun anyway. And proof that the writers want to keep the other characters in the game. And I was kinda scared they would forget Daphne after her wedding.

The rest of the story was okay. The discussion between Augie (Adam Rothenberg) and Vivian (Alexandra Breckenridge) could have been bigger (it was suddenly gone in the last third of the episode), and the cougar story with Cyrus (Amir Talai) and his kindergarten teacher could have been funnier. This way I was only thinking those stories were filler to keep the characters occupied, without thinking too much into a character arc. Augie and Viv could have a fight for once, and Cyrus could get a love story for an episode or two, then THE EX LIST would have real variety, instead of variety only with Bella’s exes. 6/10

This room was smoked in for millions of years

Over is the cougar lesson for Cyrus

The episode was okay. A bit boring most of the times, but I wasn’t that bored. But if THE EX LIST would have been a long-living show, and the fourth season would air right now, I would have doubted after this episode, if I’d continue to watch. The boyfriend-of-the-weeks are getting more and more boring, and somehow I’m not getting into the side plots, since they don’t develop the characters at all. If something would happen during the last couple of episodes…

So, Bella’s next ex Luke (Josh Cooke) was a total bore. There was nothing which brought me to care about his world-changing activities, or how he tried to convince Bella (Elizabeth Reaser) to follow him to Cambodia. In addition, the dinner with his parents (David Povall, Lisa Long) was a bore, as well as the first “meeting” between Bella and his parents, when she was furious about her bike stand being blocked. There was humor missing, there was seriousness missing, and somehow I even missed the plot, where Bella was hoping to find in Luke the future husband. It was instead just a warmed up relationship again, which looked more fake on film than it probably did on paper. Yeah, I didn’t like this storyline at all. Especially since it was completely predictable that Bella wouldn’t give up her flower shop and won’t follow Luke to Cambodia.

The res was good though. The “discussion” between Augie (Adam Rothenberg), the hoarder, and Viv (Alexandra Breckenridge), the girl who moved in six months ago, but never really “lived together” with Augie, was nice. When I was talking about the side plots not developing the characters, I somewhat mean this story as well, but at least it showed the relationship between Augie and Viv a bit more, and that the writers show there is something in this relationship.

But what the episode saved was Cyrus’ (Amir Talai) storyline as super-sib. It was hilarious to see that he is trying anything to get a girl and a date, and never realizes that he’s totally failing. Count me in to the laughing ones, when Cyrus’ kid was actually a full-grown “bro”, who was probably freshly released out of prison and ready to nail all the women. In fact, I was believing that Garvy was just being a “kid”, because he wanted to pop the foster home lead like Cryus wanted. The story was hilarious, when Garvy (Robbie Jones) turned out to be a creep in the form of a buddy, and when Cyrus was practically scared of him. Unfortunately, it was not the lead story (well, why should it be), but it’s nice that Cyrus is always good for the hilarious stuff, though he could need a character-based storyline for once. 5.5/10

Bella has a diaper in her hands

New bros in da house, ready to drink and watch porn

There wasn’t missing much, and it could have been a really great episode. But now I’m starting to get annoyed about all the predictability at the end, when it comes to Bella’s (Elizabeth Reaser) ex of the week. Of course her relationship of the week would end somewhat in a disaster at the end of the episode, and of course the status quo would be back to square one with the “separation”. If the story would only become something of a mystery, with giving clues to who the soul mate might be over the course of the series, not just the episodes.

But the episode was good. I totally hate weddings, but here I loved it. I could never believe that Daphne (Rachel Boston) didn’t annoy me with her way-too-happy-for-me behavior, and with her supergreat wedding everybody is loving and having fun with. For TV standards, the wedding really was great, and it looked even more cooler, since it was on the beach. You can throw all kinds of parties on the beach, and they will always look fucking great. Other than that, involving Steve (Reid Scott) and therefore Bella’s prophecy into the wedding seemed to be a ridiculous idea, but since Steve was still engaged, the writers finally had some variety and showed a different side of the plot. With it, the episode didn’t even really focus on Bella and Steve, and remained with Daphne’s and Marty’s (Josh Braaten) wedding. Added were the crazy parents Fiona (Wendie Malick) and Jimmy (William Russ), who ended up having sex again (at least for one night), which could have freaked out more people than just Bella (I was missing Daphne’s point of view here), as well as the stereotypical wedding virus, which affected Augie (Adam Rothenberg) and Viv (Alexandra Breckenridge). And what I meant with “it could have been a really great episode” is, if the writers would have abandoned the boyfriend crap for one episode (or would have made it a minor plot only, for one or two acts) and only focused on the wedding and how people were cheering/affected/etc.

Because the awkwardness of Bella’s parents, as well as Augie and Viv really had great storylines, even though they were short. Even Cyrus (Amir Talai) got back his status as comic relief and had to proof himself as chick magnet, when he got “threatened” by the Mitchmeister (that guy was hilarious). But I always knew that Cyrus always went over the top with his flirt attacks, and is never able to find a woman for himself (which is wy I totally loved the moment, when one of the girls totally showed him her back).

At the end, Steve got his goodbye a bit too fast, and all the talk with him being the supposed soul mate, who failed to deliver wasn’t much effective. 7.5/10

Bella surprisingly catches the bouquet...

... and Daphne is shockingly surprised

The episode was alright, though I found myself laughing through it, despite reasons for it missing. But that’s the magic of the show: Somehow the characters stay interesting, light-hearted and funny enough, so that the stories are logical, eve for an illogical (or rather unbelievable) series like this.

Josh (Michael Landes), boyfriend of the episode, was okay. I loved that his mother basically ruled his life, and that she probably tried to get Bella (Elizabeth Reaser) away from her son even from the grave – or so is Bella thinking. I already loved the flashback scene with Arlene (Deborah Van Valkenburgh) messing up the little sex session going on between Josh and Bella, and I loved the scenes, where Bella was almost keen to believe that Arlene is destroying her relationship from the paradise. Beginning with the bees, the seagull (and I expected for it to shit on Bella’s head – would have been more funny, definitely), and finally the storm, which hit every time, when the two kissed. But the story could have continued to go this way, instead of Bella becoming Josh’s new “mother”, after realizing she just did his laundry and cooked for him. How cool would the story have been, when it would be “mother destroys relationship from the dead” all the way, instead of Bella becoming Josh’s replacement mother? And how was she not able to realize sooner that she is becoming the surrogate mother?

The rest of the episode was okay. Salt and pepper were missing in Augie’s (Adam Rothenberg) storyline, even though the whole beauty thing was partly hilarious, and I wanted to see more of Cyrus (Amir Talai) and Daphne (Rachel Boston) winning over Nicole (Tracy Pacheco) for Cyrus, so that he can kill it some nights later. I actually liked that Daphne was totally in the game of being the fake date and the fake girlfriend during the fake break-up – it showed that the friends are still totally friends and have fun to hang out with one another. I kinda miss those scenes in other television shows, and it could be one more reason why THE EX LIST worked for me. But since the show is all about Bellas exes, Cyrus and Daphne almost didn’t get any worthy screentime, and their story was only third row.

But hey, the series is still sexy and entertaining. I couldn’t even count the numerous shots of a sexy woman in front of the camera, making a sexy move, or just being sexy. This is like the most pornographic material in television without any kind of pornography. Or it just shows how beautiful California is during the summer. 6/10

For the first time, Bella does not feel awkward in bed

Doesn't Viv look extremely ... erotic in here?

It was a surprisingly good episode, considering that the first half was pretty much boring. I had the feeling that the writing was highlighting the story only in the second half, instead of trying to get into the story from the beginning.

Shane (Brian Van Holt) as the boyfriend of the episode was charming. For the first time, the relationship was actually working, despite Bella (Elizabeth Reaser) wanting to cross him off the list at the beginning, since his childish behavior didn’t change. So, it was a nice surprise that it was all just an act, and I really liked Shane in the second half. He actually cared about Bella, and the scene with his sister and her two kids was sweet. These are moments in THE EX LIST, which make the series a little highlight – though it is nothing but a relationship between two TV characters, who won’t be together after the end of the episode, it was a sweet little family moment for a family themed series (or something else).

The rest of the episode was just a bit boring. Cyrus’ (Amir Talai) efforts to teach Alana (Morgan Snyder) some surfing lessons were alright, but since he had to massage Mini Van (Kaleti Williams), I was thinking that this would be funny. It just wasn’t. At least I could laugh about Augie (Adam Rothenberg) and Vivian (Alexandra Breckenridge) and the shower head. First a bit awkward, but in the middle of the episode I could laugh about it. And it was quite surprising that the writers were so open with the story. Letting Viv say that her fantasies are her fantasies and nothing for Augie to talk about had some balls (in every other show like this, the fantasy-discussion would have resulted in a fight between boy and girl). But still, the whole thing about the shower head was a bit too awkward for me – and which woman is living the fantasy in a shower, where everybody in the apartment can hear?

At the end, the second half couldn’t really help forgetting the first one, but it was a nice episode. 6/10

Daphne, in a middle of a photo shoot, is annoyed

It's a family moment