A Tearful Goodbye - Psych Series Finale/Season 8 Reaction/Review

It's never easy to say goodbye to something that you've loved for a long time. On Wednesday that is exactly what I had to do to one of my favorite shows, Psych. Now I know that I had been harsh on Season 7 of the show in the past but as someone who has followed the show for so long it was rather emotional to see this hilarious series come to a conclusion. The finale itself is hard to judge; on one hand it is an emotional and teary eyed finale that brings the series to a solid conclusion. On the other hand, it feels a little empty and some characters don't seem to get their due. Anyways, let's get into it.

The episode opens up on a note I really didn't expect. When I reviewed Season 7, I mentioned that it felt that Shawn as a character hadn't really developed over the course of the show. Sure, he grew up in certain ways, but at his core it didn't really seem like much had changed for his character from Season 1 to Season 7. However, this episode opens up with no jokes, no shenanigans. Instead we get Shawn Spencer speaking from the heart; this is the real Shawn, not the one who hides away in his jokes and pop culture references. Season 8 of Psych has had a feel of finality to it, things have changed and it appears that all the characters are ready to move on with their lives. Speaking of which, the entire episode is centered around Shawn's futile attempts to tell Gus that he's planning to join Juliet in San Francisco. There is a case in this episode but it serves more to show us that Shawn isn't really needed in Santa Barbara anymore. He's now outclassed by the SBPD's new Head Detective Brannigan and she beats him to the punch for every part of the case. The case itself is rather boring and like I said earlier, serves more as a way to show us that Santa Barbara doesn't need Shawn anymore. However, there's some hilarious scenes throughout the episode like Shawn and Gus sharing a drivers ed car and some classic Gus screaming over a dead body. All the while, Shawn continues to fail to tell Gus that he's leaving which leads us to the end of the episode and the series.

The bromance lives on

Since Shawn cannot bear to break the news to Gus or any of the main cast in person he leaves them all video messages. All of them are especially touching and show how the relationships between all of them have changed over the years. In Lassiter's video message, Shawn finally decides to reveal to Lassiter that he's not a psychic after all, this coming after Shawn acknowledges that Lassiter is truly his friend. However, instead of listening to the words that he's wanted to hear for so long, Lassiter elects to eject the disk and break it in half, choosing to continue to believe that Shawn was for real. Shawn leaves one's for Woody and for a random Dobson character who is introduced simply so Val Kilmer could finally make an appearance on the show (much appreciated by the way). The most touching of them all however is the one that Shawn leaves for Gus which actually brings the main character to tears. Psych has often struggled with the writing for when things are supposed to be serious but they nailed it here. Shawn laments that their adventures together have prevented Gus from living the life he's always dreamed about and that if he hadn't walked into his office 8 years ago, Gus might have gotten a normal life. Gus isn't pleased with this however and after changing his mind about 3 times chases Shawn to San Francisco where he has surprised Juliet and Chief Vick at a crime scene. Gus arrives and chastises Shawn for leaving him and convinces Shawn that he'll move to San Francisco too and Psych will continue to operate. So with all of the main cast all tied up we could finally move onto the big surprise at the end (wasn't really a surprise). Shawn proposes to Juliet in a way that only Shawn Spencer could before a thief makes off with engagement ring. Shawn, Juliet, and Gus then pile into a car and the thief into the sunset as the screen cuts to black. So there, 8 seasons culminated into literally 20 minutes.

Psych's final episode does a lot of things right. It ties up several plot points from the season and the relationships between several of the characters. Seeing Lassiter break the disk rather than hear Shawn admit he is not a psychic was a really strong scene. It was nice to see that Lassiter, who detested Shawn for most of the series, finally give a show of respect to him. However, the finale also does a few things wrong. For one, the touching and heartfelt conclusion of the series is packed into the last 15-20 minutes of the episode, most of that time is spent between Shawn and Gus reconciling and Shawn proposing to Juliet. We get jerked around from one moment to the other that there doesn't feel like there is much time to digest what's going on. Most of these moments have been set up throughout the season so there's at least some pretense to build of off which allows them to move to each storyline quickly. Everybody seems to get a happy ending but even with this pretense it feels a little too crammed together. Maybe it would have been better to avoid having a case altogether and focus on the character interactions (asking Psych to put aside jokes and focus on characters? Please). To be honest, aside from from Shawn and Gus, there really isn't much time to close things off with the other characters. It was surprising we even saw McNabb's storyline get closed off with with clarity than Henry's. I suppose that the episode was mostly going to be about Shawn and Gus but there's no excuse for two characters of the main cast (Juliet and Chief Vick) to only be in the episode for about 15 minutes. Also, I can't say that I was too happy with the way Gus ended the show. After all, throughout the run of the show Gus has been looking for love and many times it has ended terribly mostly due to the writers screwing him over. (his "break-up" with Rachel in Season 7 was an abomination of writing). It was sad to see him end the series still attached by the hip to Shawn without a girl of his own. However, despite my grievances with the series finale there's not much I can do to change it and obviously a series finale never pleases everyone. Overall it's a happy ending that should leave the fans satisfied knowing that even though we won't see it, Shawn and Gus will still be together solving cases.

Shawn and Juliet get their happy ending even if the latter wasn't present for most of the episode...or the season for that matter.

So where does Psych's eighth season stand overall? I thought that it was actually a well-done season and a return to what made Psych so good in the first place. The opening episode of the season was a brilliant one with Cary Elwes coming back in to play the role of Pierre Despereaux. Seeing Shawn and Gus in England was absolutely hysterical. It felt as though this season was a throwback to the earlier seasons. The jokes were crisp, the shenanigans were refreshing, and overall it felt like the writers actually cared as opposed to their terrible job in Season 7. Sure, there were some forgettable episodes thrown in there (the Lassiter focused second episode comes to mind) and Anthony Michael Hall's character was poorly written. Trout was implied to be a very skilled policeman and yet the show turned him largely incompetent and overly strange. It's obvious you're not supposed to like him but he didn't even make a good straight man to Shawn and Gus. However, these bad episodes were counteracted by some really great Gus themed episodes. Also, this being the final season we got to see some heart warming scenes between each other the characters. Like I said before, the season clearly builds to it's end. However, like the finale, there are several key things missing. Juliet, Henry, and Chief Vick played very small roles in the final season which feels like a disservice considering that they are main characters. Since the show was canceled midway through the season and only consists of ten episodes things once again felt a little rushed and somewhat forced. Perhaps a better way to think of the show is a ten episode long farewell tour for the show. In closing, Season 8 is not the best season of Psych but it's definitely not the worst. It actually produced one of the best episodes of the show ever ("Cog Blocked"). It's an enjoyable final season even with it's imperfections; a 3/5 in my book.

Lastly, I suppose it's time for me to write my final words about Psych. I'm definitely going to miss this show which is something that I couldn't really say after Season 7. I'm really happy that Season 8 ended the show on an imperfect but good note. Psych stood out to me more than other detective shows because it was led by a lovable cast and had great writing. It suffered in it's later seasons but any show that goes eight seasons is bound to have some hiccups. Psych lasted eight seasons which is a very impressive accomplishment. It was the first live action show that I followed intently over the entirety of it's run and I'm going to miss tuning in every Wednesday to watch Shawn and Gus solve another murder with plenty of hilarious hijinks. It was always a unique blend of pop culture (mostly 80's) and bromance that made Psych work. I'm going to miss this show so much and I want to thank it for giving me so many memories over the years and catchphrases to use. There's some rumors out there that the show could be getting a big screen adaptation. Whether it does or not I'm always going to look fondly upon this show. Thanks for everything Shawn, Gus, Juliet, Lassiter, Henry, and Chief Vick; it's been a great ride.

Goodbye, I'll miss you all

The Champions League Final Eight: Who Advances?

Over in the states, the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament is up and running. In Europe, the "Elite Eight" of their most prestigious football tourney was set this morning. There weren't many surprises, other than the fact that the four principal favorites (Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and PSG) were spread across the four ties. Whether this is some wizardry by UEFA in order to get the final they want is up for debate but even so, the quaterfinals look to some of the best games of the competition.

FC Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid

Atletico have the tools; can they advance?

The last all-Spanish tie in Champions League came in 2011 when Barcelona defeated Real in the semis. The tie involves Barca and the lesser known neighbors from Madrid who have been causing problems for both La Liga heavyweights this season. This tie is difficult to call based simple off the fact that the three meetings between the two this season have been draws with a total of two goals scored. Atletico would appear to have all the things necessary to beat Barcelona, they've proven they could go toe to toe with them in an away leg. They have a star striker and strong back line, things that are invaluable in European competition. However, as a whole they still lack the European experience, the European experience of Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi. Barcelona is struggling in Spain but European competition is a different beast. Atletico has the tools to beat Barcelona, whether they'll be able to win has yet to be seen.

Prediction: Barcelona advances

Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund

The Bale-Ronaldo partnership is flourishing

Last year a strife-stricken Real Madrid team received a capitulation at the hands of Robert Lewandowski and Dortmund. However, this year the roles are reversed as it is now Dortmund who enter the game strife-stricken and Madrid enters in superb form. Rather than the bland, counter-attacking side that Jose Mourinho would put out each week, Carlo Ancelotti has turned Real into a maurauding force that has eased the burden on Cristiano Ronaldo. Real are rich with attacking options: Ronaldo, Benzema, Gareth Bale, Angel Di Maria, Luka Modric, etc. No team in Europe can match that level of attacking firepower. Madrid has been coldly dispatching everyone in their path. Dortmund meanwhile has seen their fortunes turn for the worse. Last years hero against Madrid, Lewandowski, is suspended for the first leg, robbing Dortmund of their attacking fulcrum. Also, if their display in the second leg against Zenit is any indication, the Dortmund defense might not be up to the task of stopping such a powerful opponent.

Prediction: Real Madrid, Dortmund will do enough to make things interesting but Real's form is too good at the moment

PSG vs Chelsea

The best strikers in Europe face their toughest test yet

Here we come to the most intriguing tie of them all. One one hand we have PSG who view this tie as a chance to prove that they are ready to make the leap into European royalty and claim the Champions League. For them, this would be proof that they have advanced under manager Laurent Blanc. For Chelsea, this offers Jose Mourinho a chance to go up against his former Inter man, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The press conferences before these two games will be absolutely absurd if these two are involved. However, on the pitch, Jose Mourinho has brought his "boring" counter attacking style to Chelsea and it is that style that gives Chelsea the edge in this tie. Ibrahimovic and striking partner Edinson Cavani still get in each others way too often and even if they didn't, Mourinho is a master of taking the other team's star player out of the equation. However, the real question is whether Chelsea have enough attacking quality to hit at PSG, something that Thiago Silva will look to negate. Chelsea still lack an elite striker, their current strikers are all shadows of their former selves. PSG has those elite strikers, capable of drumming up magic which defies the tactics which Mourinho holds so dear. With that in mind, PSG should take this one.

Prediction: PSG win what should be a tense two legs

Bayern Munich vs Manchester United

United will need something special from their stars to beat Bayern

The Manchester United fans who have been so dormant during their shambolic season were out in force after their comeback in the second leg against Olympiakos. United fans are so ecstatic that they're hoping that such a win will lead United down the path of that 2012 Chelsea team which fluked their way to the title. However, such hopes were probably dashed when they received Bayern Munich in the draw, the cup holders and undoubtedly Europe's best team. The real question here is whether United stands a chance over the course of two legs. Yes United were impressive at home against Olympiakos but it should also be noted how open at the back they were. The game was largely a back and forth affair, the scoreline hardly reflecting how close the game actually was on the pitch. Bayern Munich is not Olympiakos, they have a ruthless streak that will punish United if they are that careless again. To win against Bayern, United will need their team in top form and they'll especially need the van Persie who showed up against Olympiakos. However, given that United have been a massive wild-card this season, it's hard to give them much of a chance.

Prediction: Bayern wins handily

The Sad Story of Tottenham Hotspur

In Greek mythology there is the myth of Sisyphus, the man who was tasked with rolling a large boulder up an also large hill. However, every time the boulder would get near the top it would roll back down the hill without fail. It is such a story that relates to the woe of Tottenham Hotspur, that wee little club in North London that so desperately wants to get that boulder to the top of the hill but will fail every time. Yesterday, Tottenham watched the boulder come crashing down yet again this season as they were felled by their hated rivals, Arsenal. With the team now out of the race for Champions League and reeling in the race for Europa League, it's time for them to face some facts.

Arsenal and Spurs had their first match in 1887 but weren't considered rivals until 1913. It was then that Arsenal made the bold decision to move into North London, just four miles away from White Hart Lane, the home of Spurs. Since then each match between the two is known as a North London Derby, one of Europe's fiercest rivalries. The rivalry has continued on and off the pitch with one theme persisting throughout the years: Arsenal's ability to always beat them. For example, in 1919 the English First Division expanded by two teams and there was a vote to elect which teams would get those spots. The first spot was awarded to Chelsea, who despite being in a relegation zone were allowed to stay. This left one spot open and both Arsenal and Spurs bid on the spot. Spurs had finished in 20th and were confident of their chances. Arsenal however had finished 6th in the Second Division. Arsenal won the spot with 18 votes going in their favor while Tottenham was snubbed. Incidents like this have given Tottenham somewhat of a spurned younger brother feeling in that they have been without fail second to Arsenal throughout their existence. The statistics tell a similar story as Tottenham claim 49 league wins against Arsenal compared to Arsenal's 66. Tottenham's trophy cabinet displays 14 domestic trophies while Arsenal have claimed 25 (also Arsenal has 13 league titles while Tottenham can only claim 2. Their last one coming in 1961).

Spurs have had their share of great players over the years, like Gareth Bale. However, rarely has that turned into the success they desire.

Tottenham, despite this second rate status, have been trying for years to elevate themselves not only into England's elite circle but Europe's as well. They are a rather popular worldwide, the 12th most supported team in the world with numbers estimated at around 11m. However, every time that Spurs believe that they have elevated themselves to that level, they soon learn otherwise. Their rivalry with Arsenal has always been viewed as a benchmark game, one that would signify that they are ready to compete in Europe. This isn't exactly an ill-concieved notion, Arsenal have proved over the years that they can compete on an even level with any team in Europe even in recent years where they have lost many of their best players. Spurs have claimed victories against Arsenal over the years which are then followed up by crushing blows in the next game between the two. In the past two seasons, Tottenham has been locked in a race with Arsenal for a spot in the top 4. Last season in particular, Spurs enjoyed a 7 point lead in the standings at one point, which they then quickly bottled and found themselves out of Europe's top competition yet again. Driven by this failure, Tottenham then recommitted themselves to their European dream, which is how we come to the present.

Spurs success during the 2012-2013 season was entirely driven by superstar Gareth Bale. A typical Spurs match would have them play mediocrely for about an hour before getting a highlight reel goal from Gareth Bale to literally steal away the three points. Despite Bale's best efforts, Tottenham still found themselves behind Arsenal and out of a spot in the top 4 at the end of the season. Rumours swirled about Gareth Bale being courted by Real Madrid. Knowing that keeping Bale away from Madrid would be impossible, Tottenham then went on a spending spree to rebuild. The idea was that Tottenham would lose their star but would make the team as a whole better. The spending spree yielded Paulinho, Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli, Christian Eriksen, Vlad Chiriches, Etienne Capoue, and Erik Lamela. Spurs fans were ecstatic, their team had the financial muscles and seemingly the talent to compete with England's elite. There was even belief that maybe Spurs could win the league. Flash forward to the present: Spurs currently sit in 5th place, 7 points behind 4th place Manchester City who have three games in hand. Spurs goal differential is -1 and they can't claim a single win against any of the teams in the top 4. The seven summer signings have been abysmal, only Eriksen and Chiriches have made positive contributions. Soldado has struggled to find the net from anywhere except the penalty spot, Chadli and Paulinho have been ineffective on the field, and Lamela (a record signing by the way) has struggled with form, injuries, and just about everything since joining Spurs. The fact that Emmanuel Adebayor, an ostracized man at the start of the season, has been Spurs best player has been telling.

The summer signings were meant to signify a new era at Tottenham. Instead, they've led to greater regression

The signs were there from the beginning. In August, Arsenal, who hadn't yet made a single move that transfer window, beat Spurs team which had just had 100 million invested in it. Tottenham's losses to Arsenal have only been by one goal however. Their losses against Manchester City and Liverpool have been even more of a reminder that Spurs still can't compete with England's elite. A 3-1 loss to Benfica at home in the Europa League should be a reminder that they aren't ready for Europe either. All of this have made one thing abundantly clear: Spurs have no identity. Or perhaps they do, as second fiddle to Arsenal. All jokes aside however, this season has brought Tottenham's lack of a history and identity to the forefront. They lack the trophy cabinets of Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United and they lack the cash reserves of Manchester City and Chelsea. The biggest part of their identity is their rivalry with Arsenal. However, results like the one yesterday prove that Spurs still lag behind Arsenal in not just talent but mental toughness as well. There isn't even a defined Spurs style of play. Arsenal is known for their fluid passing, Chelsea for their defensive discipline, City and Liverpool with their attacking flair. There is no pride in a player wearing the Spurs shirt, no loyalty to the club. Rather, Spurs represents a stepping stone towards bigger things. Spurs have rarely had a player like Tony Adams, Frank Lampard, or Steven Gerrard; a player who lives and breathes the spirit of the club. The players lack a pride for the shirt which could come from the fact the team is made up mostly of internationals. Manchester City makes that work because they have the money to afford any player they want and the collective individual talent seems to work out. Arsenal make it work because of international exposure, international players grew up supporting Arsenal and want to play for them. Spurs have no such cash reserves and no such international reputation. Spurs manager Tim Sherwood said after the Arsenal loss that perhaps Spurs need to sink to dark depths in order to come out well on the other side, using Liverpool's resurgence this season as an example. However, Liverpool will always be able to lean on their history and reputation even in dark times. There will always be players who will want to play for Liverpool because they grew up supporting them, even if they're not English. Liverpool also have a strong leader with a vision in Brendan Rodgers. Tottenham have yet to find a manager of that caliber.

(Here comes the part that is more difficult. I, an Arsenal fan, have to try and say nice things about Spurs)

Spurs need to build around players like Eriksen

What we have here is a matter of a small football club trying to be something it's not. Football is very much a traditionalist and elitist sport and it can be very difficult to break into that elite circle without huge financial backing or a once in a generation manager like Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger. So what exactly should Tottenham do? The first thing would be an acceptance from around the club that this team isn't Chelsea, Arsenal, or Manchester United. I'm not saying that Tottenham should just resign themselves to being a team that can't compete for silverware. The idea is to create their own identity, something that distinguishes themselves from the rest of English football. What they need is an innovator; someone who can bring something new to the table. It's not as if Tottenham doesn't have a talented side. They have a great goalkeeper in Hugo Lloris, a good rock in the defense with Jan Vertonghen, a creative genius in Christian Eriksen, and, as much as I hate to say it, a striker who can be brilliant when on-form, Emmanel Adebayor. What this team needs is a strong leader who can rally the troops and end this perennial culture of losing. Spurs do have some people they can lean on. Current Holland manager Louis van Gaal is a club legend and would be a great choice for Spurs. For one, he understands what it means to play for Spurs and could instill some pride in the shirt. Second, he's just a good manager.

(Now here's the part where I explain why that won't happen)

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your viewpoint, it is unlikely that Spurs' misfortune is going to end any time soon. After all, if Spurs do have a tradition it is one of falling short of expectations and finding some way to mess things up. I understand that I am an Arsenal fan and my viewpoint will be perceived as biased. However, there is truth to what I am saying. It depends on what Spurs do this summer. The first temptation, in classic Spurs fashion, will be to clean house and move the underachievers out. While this is a classic tactic and works at most clubs, it would only set Spurs back. Arsenal showed this season what continuity can do for a side and while some players in this Spurs side should definitely be sent packing, there are some who should stay. A clearinghouse would only upset the balance of the team more. The second temptation will be to spend again; after this past summer I shouldn't have to explain why that would be a bad idea. All of this obviously comes back to chairman Daniel Levy who was responsible for the summer spending spree. While most of the blame can (and should) be placed on the on-field performance; one can't ignore the fact that Levy wasted the Gareth Bale money and has only held back the team rather than advanced them forward. Until Spurs are able to shake off this legacy of failure and avoid such tragic boardroom errors, it is unlikely the team will ever move forward.

Making the Case for Liverpool

This has certainly been an entertaining season in the Premier League. There are four teams that each could make equal claims for the title and the idea that it could all come down to getting results on the final day of the season is a tantalizing prospect for any fan of English football. Liverpool have bene an interesting case in terms of mounting a title challenge this season. They've managed to hang around and with recent form have closed the gap on their competitors. Despite this, Liverpool still can't seem to get the respect that Chelsea and Man City command. However, I'm going to get on the bandwagon and say right now: Liverpool has as good as a shot as anybody to win this thing.

Why Liverpool?

1.) That offense

Liverpool is getting contributions from everyone, not just the stars

Everybody knows about Liverpool's deadly striker tandem of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez who have combined for 42 goals in the Premier League this season. That total alone is better than every team in the Premier league except for Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City (Liverpool also leads the division in goals for with 73). Does anybody really want to cross Liverpool's offense right now? Sturridge and Suarez are the obvious stars but attention must be paid to Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling, and Steven Gerrard. Liverpool has the ability to run and gun with anybody and their players are rounding into form at the right moment this season. This is same team that delivered maulings to Arsenal, Tottenham, and Everton. This team can score with the best of em.

2.) The schedule

Man City beat Liverpool at the Etihad but what about Anfield?

One of the advantages of Liverpool's schedule is that they are out of all cup competitions which will allow them to attack every Premier League game with fresh vigor. However, the one caveat to this is that Manchester City and Arsenal will likely be knocked out of the Champions League shortly which will remove a few games off their schedule. However, Liverpool's remaining schedule is remarkably favorable to them. While the home/away ration of the final ten games is 50/50, their toughest remaining games are at Anfield (Chelsea, Manchester City, and Tottenham). After seeing what Liverpool did to Arsenal at Anfield there's no reason to believe that they couldn't get results in those games. The Chelsea and Man City fixtures are actually so close to each other that it wouldn't be unreasonable to see Liverpool surge into first place with two games to go. Meanwhile, their rivals have to face much greater challenges. Arsenal's form is slipping at the wrong time and they still owe Chelsea a match at Stamford Bridge, not to mention a visit from Man City this month. Man City have a visit to the Emirates to worry about and theres a little fixture against United that is always a challenge, even is Man U haven't entirely been themselves this season. If Liverpool can get points in the rest of their fixtures they'll be in great shape.

3.) Steven Gerrard

This might be Gerrard's best chance to finally win the league

In his illustrious career at Liverpool, captain Steven Gerrard has won just about everything there is to be won. He's won European Cups, FA Cups,  League Cups, and has even won a few individual awards himself. However, there is one honor that has eluded him his entire career: the Premier League title. Gerrard isn't getting any younger and he's running out of time to win one. This might be the best shot he's had in years. Can you imagine Steven Gerrard tearing up the pitch like in the old days, terrorizing defenses with his powerful shot. Gerrard always gives 100 percent on the pitch but the allure of a title push might lift Gerrard to greater heights and take Liverpool with him.


Why Not?

1.) Defense

Liverpool owe most of their success this season to their offensive prowess. However, it is this style of play that sometimes turns out to be their biggest downfall. Liverpool love to press up the pitch and play a fast-paced and attractive style of football. However, many times this can leave them wide open at the back, an obvious problem when playing a team like Manchester City who have players with blazing speed like Jesus Navas or Chelsea's Eden Hazard. Martin Skrtel has been a revelation this season but Daniel Agger and Kolo Toure can hardly be called sure things. The return of Mahamadou Sakho from injury should certainly help things here. At the same time, Liverpool have shown the ability to produce goals out of nowhere. Perhaps Liverpool's offense will continue to mask their defensive problems.

2.) Lack of Depth

For all the power that Liverpool boast in their starting eleven, their bench leaves a little to be desired. The best offensive catalyst off the bench for the team is Victor Moses and he's been inconsistent for most of the season. Each of the other three contenders has a man to call of the bench when they need offense: Arsenal has Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chelsea can turn to Andre Schurrle or Willian, and Man City has a host of strikers who can flip a game on it's head. Liverpool might be a player short in their big fixtures. The biggest nightmare is Suarez and Sturridge going missing in a big game (which has happened believe it or not). If those guys aren't on form on that day, Liverpool is going to need contributions from their bench.

3.) The Jose Mourinho Effect

The Special One has an annoying habit of playing games not to lose rather than playing to win. The Chelsea manager is not afraid to suck the life out of a match, especially against a team like Liverpool. Take for example the incredibly boring draw played between Chelsea and Arsenal at the Emirates in December. By no fault of their own, Liverpool will find themselves against a Chelsea team willing to park the bus instead of dropping points. Chelsea lack the dynamic strikers that Liverpool possess so trying to match them in attacking power, especially at Anfield would be foolish. On that day, Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez had better be up to the task or maybe someone like Jordan Henderson will be asked to step up.

Liverpool are the Premier League's hottest team, a title that has changed hands multiple times over the course of the season. However, what can't be denied is that Liverpool are hitting their stride during the most important time of the season. Yes, they have their flaws but Liverpool have more than enough on their side to overcome them. It's been 24 years since the Reds last raised a cup, in fact, they haven't won one since the establishment of the Premier League in the 90's. This year might just be there year, in fact, don't act like I didn't tell you so when they lift the cup.

What Exactly Makes the Perfect Game?

Have I really only posted once this month? How embarrassing...this semester of school has so far been unreal with the amount of work that I've had piled on me. That and a lack of inspiration has been keeping me from posting here. However, a sudden bit of inspiration hit me when I caught a brief respite from the harsh world of comparative politics. While scrolling through the articles on Kotaku I found that one of their writers had brought up the question of "what the perfect game is". It is a daunting one for sure; how can we really know exactly what the perfect game is?

The answer to the question is that the perfect game is different for everyone. However, through my experience, what exactly would I define as the perfect game? After all, games come in such shapes and sizes. For example, Super Smash Bros. or Mario Kart could be considered perfect games because they have huge amounts of replay value and have remained relevant to this day. However, if you're playing those games alone, are they really that great? Then there are games such as Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time or Final Fantasy VII where fanboys shove down you're throats how amazing they think their favorite game is. Those games have fantastic stories and were great in their time, but do they really hold up as well against other games? Some might argue that a game like Minecraft which just allows one to flex their creative muscles is perfect in it's simplicity. Even so, I never found those games engaging or immersive. Even among games that I have played, I struggle to figure exactly what I would consider to be "perfect".

Batman: Arkham City, Xbox 360 

I love the Arkham games; if there was an immersive game experience, this is definitely it. Arkham City is my favorite of the bunch because it opened up the world, gave you a city to fly around in and let you just simply be Batman (or in my case, Catwoman). The game plays great, however, it doesn't entirely hold up throughout the game. The plot is a bit of a letdown, feeling more like a mashed together freakshow of Batman villains loosely connected by a plot. The extra features never really appealed to me either. Flinging around the city as Catwoman is certainly fun; but could I do that for hours on end? Probably not; so Arkham City is not our perfect game experience.

Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, Nintendo Gamecube

This is where the rose tinted glasses begin to sink in. Sonic Adventure 2 is one of the most fun games I've ever played. Sure, it's plot was a bit convoluted, the voice cast is terrible, and the controls wonky, but the game itself remained so good. Extra levels gave it replayability as did the Chao Garden and it's simply fun to run around fast as either Sonic or Shadow. However, there's still a large part of the game that I barely even touched (the shoot em up levels and the treasure hunting missions). We play Sonic to run fast and while it's fun from time to time to play the other modes, it's not something that draws me back to the game. I'm here to play levels like "City Escape" and "Radical Highway". I love this game and I love replaying through it. The problem with SA2 is that it is clearly an imperfect game by conventional standards and obviously that means it can't be perfect.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Gameboy Advance

Discussion of this game will always lead back to games like Pokemon and other RPG's. Where exactly does one consider the game to end? Are the post game objectives worth dumping loads and loads of hours into in order to accomplish them? FFTA was a brilliantly executed game that I dumped loads and loads of time into when I was younger. There was nearly limitless combinations and ways that a player could succeed in the game and had a plot that was surprisingly deep for the games I played as a child. After the game was over, there was plenty of incentive to keep playing and I really wish I could have. Unfortunately, the game required to me to have a certain item that would allow me to progress through the game's final three side quests. I happened to have misplaced the item at some point during my playing of the game and had no idea that it would turn out to be so significant. Turns out that there was no possible way to recoup the item without cheats. Any game where it locks a significant portion of the game off to you because you lack certain items can't be considered perfect.

Super Smash Bros. Melee, Nintendo Gamecube

Super Smash Bros. Melee is a timeless game. It is one of the few games that you can break out at a party or when you have company over that everyone can play. Even people who are barely into video games have played a few rounds of Melee and even today it remains the gold standard of the franchise. However, like I said earlier, how much of the game do you really want to play though by yourself. Other than to unlock characters, the single player mode offers very little to the player. An infinitely fun game yes, but with nobody else around to play with, it quickly loses it's shine. Sure, the Adventure Mode is a fun thing to do every once in awhile and there's some neat challenges but the allure of those game modes doesn't last. By the time you've unlocked all the characters and Final Destination (the only stage that really matters) you pretty much have everything you need. Smash Bros. meant to be enjoyed with friends. A great game but not a complete experience.

Civilization V, PC

Quite simply, Civilization V is a phenomenal game. There's something great about a game that allows the player to leave their own imprint on it. Civ V is an immersive experience that can cause you to lose track of time. It's that way because there really is no "right" way to play it, the player can play which ever way they want. Take over the world? Why not? Make the Iroquois a world power? Why not? Cross Ghandi and have him plunge your Civ into nuclear winter? Why not? Civ V is probably the closest thing on this short list to perfection. After all, the experience changes just about every time you play based on what Civ you are and who is surrounding you. However, even with these variations in gameplay, Civ V does start to get a little boring. You start going through the motions, running your Civ becomes more like a chore than anything, you start realizing that you do the same things just about every game. Even so, it's still an entertaining game.

So there are five significant games that I have played through that have still stuck with me. Each comes close to being perfect but just misses in key areas. The criteria for a perfect game must be very high indeed. When judging a game today, it is the same way that one judges a movie, Tv show, or even a piece of art. What emotions does the game evoke from you and most importantly, was the experience of the game worth it? Games aren't simply about reaching point B from point A anymore. The games that have gotten this right and that can still hold up to games of a similar style are the ones that should be regarded as perfect. So, what would be my perfect game?

I'm not sure where to even start with this game because it really is perfect in so many different ways. It has everything that somebody could want from a video game: plot, great character, great dialogue, visuals, gameplay that is out of the world fun (and different to boot), and loads of things to explore outside the main story. Paper Mario is an RPG in a rather untraditional sense. It is able to perfectly blend together the platform elements of Mario that have made him such a video game icon and a unique style of turn-based combat that keeps the player engaged. At no point was Thousand-Year Door ever boring, it kept me engaged from beginning to end. The story takes you to the farthest reaches of the Mushroom Kingdom and even took you into space. Sure, it's the same old "Peach gets kidnapped" story that Mario has been dealing with since his introduction but it's given a twist as Bowser isn't the one responsible. In fact, we get to see a whole new cast of villains and the game is better off for it. Thousand-Year Door is also incredibly challenging, the type of game that actually gives you a sense of accomplishment when you complete it. However, an important distinction to make here is that it never felt frustrating. Every time I lost I simply felt driven to get past that part, never any sense of defeat. The ability to be challenging as a carrot on a stick to the player, rather than being challenging for sake of being a hard game is an undervalued trait in gaming.

The place where Thousand-Year Door really show's it's polish is the character dialogues which are hold-your-sides funny at times. Rather than some RPG's, where the unskippable cutscenes are a drag because of bland dialogue and boring characters, Thousand-Year Door made every scene a must-watch event as you didn't really know what one character would say next. I've played through the game several times through at this point and this aspect of the game has never gotten old to me. I enjoy this game more and more each time I play through it. Not to mention that the game has tons of other things to keep you occupied. Thousand-Year Door is one of the few games that makes me want to earn 100% every time that I play. It's the back to back boss challenge near the end of the game, the slow grind of the Pit of 100 Trials, the expansive Mushroom Kingdom underground, and the want to keep boosting up your stats. No game has ever evoked that kind of drive out of me. It's the kind of game that I want to play again and again without ever getting stale. Thousand-Year Door is quite simply the best game I've ever played.

Retracing the Steps of this Game - Ranking the Episodes of Sherlock

If there is one thing that humans do, it's make lists. We make lists for EVERYTHING. Anything where we can make case that something is better than another thing needs a list that affirms our belief and causes us outrage when it doesn't. Ranking things is almost like human nature. Why certainly I'd rank Filet Mignon higher than a burger served at a grimy burger joint, let's make a list that affirms that belief shall we? Regardless, put away my snide remarks and now focus on this. I am going to rank the episodes of Sherlock. Why exactly? Because I am acting on my human compulsion to make a list, that's why. Actually, in truth, I believe that since Season 3 has concluded, now is the time to make a list. Six episodes was a tad to small and now nine episodes is just one from being ten which makes this a pseudo-Top Ten despite lacking ten episodes. Either way, I digress, here's another grand list. Disclaimer, I absolutely love Sherlock as a show. I don't think any of these episodes are bad television. So if I say harsh things, keep in mind that I am judging each episode alongside it's companions.

9.) "The Blind Banker" (Season 1, Episode 2)

To be honest, I barely remember this happening

Alright, I'm going to spoil a part of this list for you. I had a hard time deciding which episode between this one and "The Hounds of Baskerville" was truly the lowest ranked episode of Sherlock. My reasoning for "The Blind Banker" to occupy this spot is because while I remember a great deal about "Baskerville", this episode in particular seems to be nearly missing from my memory (this includes having watched it this past weekend). What I do remember is a rather confusing case (even by Sherlock's wacky standards), lots of John and Sherlock ho yay, and nothing much really happening. There's an over the top, crossbow wielding villain who just seems a little out of place in this incarnation of Holmes. Keep in mind, there are no bad episodes of Sherlock. There's still plenty to enjoy in this episode, there's even a Chinese circus, but unfortunately it pales in comparison to the other eight which occupy this list.

8.) "The Hounds of Baskerville" (Season 2, Episode 2)

This fabulous pose turns out to be the highlight

A disturbing trend about Sherlock is that through it;s first two seasons, the middle episodes of it's three parts usually turned out to be of lesser quality. "The Blind Banker" and "The Hounds of Baskerville" both apply. This is another case in which Sherlock tried something new with mixed results. While in "The Blind Banker" it was melodrama, "Baskerville" attempts to be legitimately scary. Sherlock and John investigate a man who is haunted by what he calls "a giant hound".  The idea of Sherlock, a notorious and stubborn rational thinker, even somewhat believing in the existence of a giant hound is rather farfetched. However, this episode does produce Sherlock busting out the fabulous pose above so there's that. There's also some pretty phenomenal lines ("your name is Greg?") and watching John run around screaming while Sherlock watches from afar is pretty hysterial. Unfortunately, the whole product doesn't really match up.

7.) "The Empty Hearse" (Season 3, Episode 1)

This episode, much like this kiss, is really just fantasy/fanservice

Sherlock's return was extraordinarily entertaining. In fact, I don't think I have ever laughed harder watching an episode of Sherlock than I have for this one. Sherlock makes his grand return from the dead, there's plenty of scenes in which characters in the show try to figure out how he survived, John gets them kicked out of three public places (not to mention he's engaged), and generally the whole thing is a rather silly affair. However, it's in this case that this silliness turns out to be a weakness. The whole thing is just so farcical and silly, that despite it's entertainment value, lacks the depth and wit that the series made its trademark in the first two seasons. Rather, it's much more of a tribute episode for the fans, which given how long we had to wait for it, is almost fitting. It's wonderful, it sets the tone well for the season, but it just feels shallow.

6.) "A Study in Pink" (Season 1, Episode 1)

Introducing our resident sociopath

"A Study in Pink" is the definitive Sherlock episode. If you want to give anyone a good glimpse as to what the show is all about, this episode is certainly fitting. Here we find all of the quick wit, depth, and excellent plot that defines the series. Of course, this only makes sense given that this is the first episode but even so, it's remarkably enjoyable. As far as first episodes go, it's certainly something else. It introduces our protagonist beating a corpse with a riding crop, introduces us to the wonderful character of John Watson, and has the two meeting and interacting for the first time. Hell, Sherlock refers to a string of suicides as "Christmas" and almost joyfully places himself into the episode's brilliantly done climax. Yes, this episode showcases Sherlock Holmes in all his sociopathic glory (a high functioning one no less). "A Study in Pink" is certainly an underrated episode of Sherlock.

5.) "The Great Game" (Season 1, Episode 3)

A fitting introduction for a fantastic villain

If "A Study in Pink" was the perfect introductions for Sherlock and Watson, then "The Great Game" serves to introduce Sherlock's greatest adversary, Jim Moriarty. Moriarty was a name that had been teased through the show's first two episodes before finally rushing to the forefront in this episode. The entire episode turns out to be a "game" between Moriarty and Sherlock, with the former revealing himself during the episodes climax. Moriarty turns out to be worth a wait, a giggling and twisted version of Sherlock. The show seems to cast Moriarty as what Sherlock could become if he decided to use his talents for crime rather than for good. The episode itself moves at a quick clip with Moriarty putting Sherlock through his paces. However, rather than cringe at the sadistic tone that the game takes, Sherlock revels in it, loving the fact that there is someone who can match his wit. However, Sherlock vastly underestimates Moriarty's resolve in the game which proves fatal for some of his victims. Then, there's the cliffhanger of the episode which sent Sherlock fandom into blind rage (but not for the last time). All around, a star episode.

4.) "The Sign of Three" (Season 3, Episode 2)

"Let's play a game, let's play MURDER"

I'll admit, "The Sign of Three" definitely isn't your prototypical Sherlock episode and it lacks the dramatic punch of "The Great Game" which makes it's appearance so high on this list somewhat interesting. However, for what "The Sign of Three" lacks in drama it makes up for it with crafty storytelling and character development. John and Mary are finally getting married and Sherlock is giving the best man speech. The premise of the episode would seem more fitting for a sitcom rather than a show like Sherlock. For a while, the episode seems to play out that way, Sherlock's speech is utterly hilarious and offensive and yet it comes all the way back around into something really touching. The episode's story plays out in a similar way as Sherlock recounts two cases in which he and John were never able to solve. Like Sherlock's speech, these anecdotes seem rather random and gives the impression that the episode lacks focus. Over the course of his speech however, Sherlock puts two and two together as he weaves the cases together and solves them both at the wedding. "The Sign of Three" can be a little confusing but like Sherlock's best man speech, it comes together beautifully at the end.

3.) "His Last Vow" (Season 3, Episode 3)

 

The first two episodes of Season 3 got some stick from fans who felt that it deviated a little too much from the traditional Sherlock formula. "His Last Vow" however, was able to turn that criticism into a strength. Starting with our introduction to the new villain, Charles Augustus Magnussen, who was a cool and calculating menace rather than the giggling madness of Moriarty. Kudos goes to Lars Mikkelson, who's performance becomes the defining piece of a masterfully done episode. Like most of Season 3, there's a large focus on character development, especially that Mary Watson, and yet it manages to turn Sherlock's hunt to take down Magnussen into something exhilarating. From the moment Sherlock enters Magnussen's mansion in the episode's climax, each following event is jaw dropping. A dark, complex, and sometimes heartwarming episode brought the series back to it's roots and reminded the fans that Sherlock hadn't lost it's way (a ludicrous claim in itself if you ask me). 

2.) "A Scandal in Belgravia" (Season 2, Episode 1)

The one villain Sherlock can't defeat.

Now we start getting to the best of the best, when an already brilliant show manages to elevate itself to another level. That was the feeling with "A Scandal in Belgravia". Not only was Irene Adler brilliantly done by Lara Pulver, but the masterfully crafted story, which involves Sherlock going up against an enemy that he's not entirely sure how to combat, is something to savor. From Adler's initial introduction, to her confronting Shrelock entirely in the nude, to the episode's brilliant climax, "A Scandal in Belgravia" took the show to new heights. For one, we got some depth to Sherlock's character, proving that he's not entirely a sociopath even if he doesn't understand love. Not to mention a hilarious Christmas party involving all the characters. If "A Study in Pink" laid out the initial blueprint for how a Sherlock episode should be done, "A Scandal in Belgravia" redefined it and improved it. It elevated the depth of the show, it's humor, and expanded on Sherlock's human element without it feeling forced or tacky. A prime example of Gatiss and Moffat's brilliance.

1.) "The Reichenbach Fall" (Season 2, Episode 3)

The Final Problem, that of which one survives...

This is that episode, the best of the best, Sherlock's magnum opus. When Moriarty stated his intention to burn Sherlock in "The Great Game", we never could have understood what he exactly meant by that. Moriarty's master plan to destroy Sherlock's reputation and everything he holds dear is utterly terrifying. The episode feels as if it's thrown us into an alternate universe in which everything has turned on Sherlock. It's disorienting, it's creepy, and, like I said before, completely and utterly terrifying. Moriarty gets a major amount of screentime and manages to top all of his performances before then. Whether it's gleefully dancing while attempting to steal the Crown Jewels, sitting down to have a cup of tea with Sherlock, or telling us the story of Sherlock's fall as if it's a children's book. There's a reason why Moriarty is my favorite villain and such a beloved figure among Sherlock fans. This episode is of course known more for it's absolutely insane ending which sparked two years of impatient waiting by Sherlock fans and wild mass guessing as to how exactly he survived. The final showdown between the two rivals is jawdropping and the final scene on the rooftop is undeniably thrilling. This is the definitive episode of Sherlock, the one that will always be known as the show at it's peak. Sherlock will continue to be a great show, the episodes will continue to be great, but "The Reichenbach Fall" will remain the show's best.

Striving to Be the Very Best - Pokémon: The Origin Review

In my younger days one franchise dominated everything. This was before I become obsessed with anime, comics, or anything else. When I was younger, everything was about Pokémon. Pokémon was my first video game on my first gaming device ever, my Gameboy Color. Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue are two of the most legendary games of all time. I will always have fond memories of the obscene amount of hours that I put into that game. However, if there was always one grievance that I could make against Pokémon as a franchise, it was that the TV show didn't exactly match the high standard set by the games. I will always have fond, nostalgic memories of the TV since it was good in other ways, but it never felt true to the games. For one, Ash did not display any of the skill that your character did in the games and despite the show's claims of wanting to be "the very best", Ash still hasn't accomplished his goal of becoming a Pokémon master. Instead the show continues on and is an extremely poor product today which only serves as a platform to market each of the 800+ Pokémon that there is now. However, in October of last year, our prayers for a better Pokémon animated product were answered in the form of Pokémon: The Origin, a 4 episode miniseries that follows the story of the original Gameboy games. As it turns out, it's the Pokémon series that we've always wanted.

For anyone who has played the games before, this story should be pretty familiar. The Origin opens up in the familiar menus that we came to know so well over the years. A new game is selected and we're treated to a familiar scene where Professor Oak introduces us to the world of Pokémon. It should be noted here that this series takes place in the game universe and now the original series universe where Professor Oak bordered on insane doctor at times. We soon meet our protagonist Red, the character who we went on all those adventures while playing the original games. He and his rival Blue are brought to Oak's lab where he asks them to travel around the Kanto region and catch them all. He even gives them a starter Pokémon to boot. Red picks Charmander and Blue picks Squirtle, which is no surprise. After that the episodes play out in the same way that they did in the games. Red collects gym badges, catches new Pokémon, and we can feel the nostalgia coming back to us with every beautiful moment. There's this underlying feeling that this is the way the Pokémon TV series should have been from the start. The four episode run begins to feel like a constraint as many events are quickly run through. The four episodes each have one event to focus on (Red getting his first gym badge, Red in the Pokemon Tower in Lavender Town, Red facing Giovanni, and Red beating the Elite Four). While all of these events are awesome and seeing them play out in animation is even cooler, it just feels like a shame that so many events happen and aren't given their due. Wouldn't it have been awesome to see Red fight each gym leader? Or even one episode where Red just explores Kanto. As awesome as it is to see the memories from my childhood play out on screen I can't help but feel regret that the show didn't seize the opportunity to make even a 12 episode series out of this. That being said, the plot does move along at a good clip and certainly keeps you engaged. It does it's job of telling the whole storyline of the games and even pokes fun at itself in some instances. This is how a Pokémon series should be done. Even though I already knew how it would end, that didn't deter me from enjoying The Origin. In fact, my only grievance with the entire thing is that they included Mega Evolutions in the final episode, a game feature that didn't enter the Pokémon universe until the most recent generation which also came out this past October. When I played as Red that sort of thing didn't exist and doesn't belong in a series that is clearly meant for older Pokémon fans. If that was trying to sell me on Gen 6, it failed, badly.

This is the story of a boy and his Charmander

The question of what kind of character Red would be is a fair one since he was a silent protagonist in the games. I guess the best way to describe his character in The Origin would just be a better versing of Ash. There have been internet memes flying around for years about how much better Red is than Ash even before Red was even given animated form and personality, so he's coming in with an edge. Red represents everything that Pokémon is supposed to be about: fighting with heart, loving and respecting your Pokémon, and actually winning battles. These are all things that Ash, except for the maybe the first one, sort of failed at as a trainer. Red's awesome because he represents us, especially the version of us that was playing the game at the time. Blue, as the rival, is everything that he was in the games: cocky and snarky. It's cool to see him and Red actually interact rather than it just being a one way conversation.

Pokémon: The Origin is clearly meant for those Pokémon fans who played the games and who have been with the franchise for a really long time. It's really cool to see the whole world come alive and not the Kanto that we were shown in the original series. The Origin gives us the Kanto that we walked through and experienced. Even the nurses in the Pokémon Center give Red his Pokémon back with the familiar "Your Pokémon are now fighting fit! We hope to see you again!". Each episode ends with the game being saved, giving us a tally on how many badges and Pokémon Red has collected. It's a nostalgia trip for Pokémon fans and a damn good one at that.

Seeing the events unfold like they did in the games is a real treat for older fans

Being a massive nostalgia trip is no surprise that Nintendo went to great lengths to include all the original music from the games here. Of course it's all been remastered to fit an anime series and sounds phenomenal here. Red enters a Pokémon Center to the same music we heard in the games, battles have the same music, and you can recognize the music in the towns as well. Visually, the games come to life in vibrant colors as The Origin looks wonderful. The designs are clearly taken from the Gen III remakes of the games (FireRed and LeafGreen) and look great repurposed here. The battles look phenomenal as well and special notice should go to the animators for almost lampshading the ridiculousness of some of the locations of the battles that happen in the game (like inside an office building).

Pokémon: The Origin is meant for Pokémon fans who have played the games, it's that simple. Sure, one can enjoy this on the simple merit of it's awesomeness but they should be warned, it's not a superb anime. It's a little too short when it would have been better served extending out at least 5-7 more episodes. However, in the time it has, it turns into a wonderful trip down memory lane for any Pokémon fan. Watching this will make you want to "Catch em All!" all over again.

My Score: 4/5 (but a must watch for Pokémon fans)