Today’s Guest-clacker, Alaina O’Connor, is a freelance writer/blogger obsessed with science fiction, especially science fiction television. Her love for all things geeky goes back to when she was a kid growing up watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. From there she sought out anything and everything related to science fiction television. Her favorites include: Farscape, Babylon 5, the X-Files, SG-1, Doctor Who, Lost, BSG and everything in the Whedonverse. Currently, she’s writing for allmovie.com and tvguide.com and working on revamping my blog unchartedterritories.wordpress.com.

Last Friday’s episode of Dollhouse marked the end of yet another Whedonverse show that was barely allowed to survive. All of the events leading up to the finale felt rushed, almost to the point where it became a chore trying to keep up with all of the exposition and plot points the writers frantically pieced together in the final episodes of the series, but I was pleasantly surprised how it all played out.

With “Epitaph Two,” you really got a chance to see where Joss’s vision for the show was headed. Had it been stretched out over another two seasons or so, Dollhouse could have been his masterpiece. The finale was exciting and also bittersweet. This time around at least there was a resolution to his story, as convoluted and rushed as it was, but upon reflection on his previous shows this raises the question: Is the Whedonverse cursed?

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OK … wait a moment … I can’t quite type, what with being doubled over in laughter from that question. Of course The Vampire Diaries‘ Elena can’t be the new Buffy, I really can’t believe I asked that. Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s untouchable (though I think Needie from Jennifer’s Body could come close if there should be  TV series) right? No more crazy talk.

I’ve been following The Vampire Diaries (embarrassingly enough, with rapt attention) since it premiered. Something about the blasted show has sucked me in uncontrollably. I suppose if Aryeh enjoys Make It or Break It and Ivey is digging Gossip Girl that it’s time for me to proudly shout my love for The Vampire Diaries from the rooftops (or at least when standing on a table), but instinct still has me hanging my head in shame as I admit that I watch it. Let’s look past the obvious therapy that I need and ponder the question: Can The Vampire Diaries‘ Elena fill the Buffy Summers void?

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The teaser of this week’s Lie to Me ended with the main character, Cal Lightman, seemingly shot dead. There’s been a buzz since the airing that, because there was never any doubt that by the time the end credits rolled the human lie detector would be back on his feet, the drama was all manufactured and, well, empty. Show runner Shawn Ryan has been fielding questions to that point on Twitter. The same sentiment can be found in the comments on Brett’s SG:U post. It begs the question: can television shows ever put their heroes in any realistic danger?

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(Buffy Season 4, Episodes 5-6)
(Angel Season 1, Episodes 5-6)

Change is brewing already on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A little abrupt, and saddening, but it will push the characters into new emotional territory. Never want them to stagnate too much.

Over on Angel, it was so good to see Angel doing something other than the whole brooding thing. The show is really coming into its own comedy-wise, which is important. I don’t need it as light as Buffy, but you can’t have characters like Cordelia and Doyle and stay that dark forever. Read the rest of this entry »

(Buffy Season 4, Episodes 3-4)
(Angel Season 1, Episodes 3-4)

Now that’s a crossover between two shows. Brilliantly and seamlessly handled. This is why I chose to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel back-to-back like this. I knew Whedon had dropped little treats like this in for his loyal viewers, and now I can pretend to be one, too.

It was also nice to see the return of some familiar faces to both series. As I said last week, the casts are pretty lean. And while I can forgive it as we’re getting settled into our new environments on both shows, it’s time to start stretching out and meeting new people, as well as reconnecting with old friends. Read the rest of this entry »

Pulling quotes from our favorite TV shows is one of my favorite things to do (true story), but why limit our quotes to just the shows, when celebrities — and some of CliqueClack’s greatest — say some of the darnedest things?  So, from time to time, we figured we’d share some of those funny lines.

Quotes from the Ether

“A chil[sic] day. Reflection.Shower No shave. Sneak in an episode of “Deadwood!” Ian McShane … What the F! Holy shitballs the M F C S is great!” – @Danny_Devito — who shared with us the above … er … picture. (via Twitter)

“Now I’m not just a good pooper, but an optimum one.” — David Duchovny, in his new Pedigree commercial

“sorority row opens today! bring on the blood the boobs and the comedy!!!” – @IMKristenBell — speaking directly to Brett’s heart. (via Twitter)

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(Buffy Season 4, Episodes 1-2)
(Angel Season 1, Episodes 1-2)

Welcome to the new and shorter-titled “Diary of a Buffy/Angel Virgin.” I’m a completist by nature, so if I’d been watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer when it was on, I would have surely tuned in to Angel. I’ll bet the vast majority of people who were watching did the same, or at least sampled Angel.

So far, both shows feel a little lean. They took two of the regular cast members of Buffy, and put them on Angel. Buffy is just making do with the smaller number, while Angel added one. After high school so much changes, so it’s pretty cool watching two different shows to see how everybody’s lives are moving in such different directions. Read the rest of this entry »