Josh: No Ordinary Family: Episode Eight (recap) & Nine (review)

Last week was my mother's birthday so I was unable to watch or review episode eight and this is late because I was busy last night. Anyway, here's a recap of eight and a quick review of nine.

1.8 - NO ORDINARY ACCIDENT - Recap
Jim's enemy, a group of carjackers, crash into Mr. Litchfield, JJ's math teacher, and pierces Litchfield's aorta, prompting Stephanie and JJ to operate on him. Meanwhile, Jim starts to lose his powers, and Daphne tries to impress Brett by lying about her speaking Japanese (from Wikipedia).

1.9 - NO ORDINARY ANNIVERSARY - Review
On Jim and Steph's eighteenth wedding anniversary a series of arson attacks on random buildings are being undertaken by another super. George persuades Jim with help from Steph to leave their posh dinner to take on the task on tracking down the criminal. They soon do and in the process discover Jim is fire-retardent as he does battle with the serial arsonist who is finally clobbered by Steph. But, the Watcher breaks the arsonist out of a police van but Jim and Steph stop him by crushing him to death. In punishment in his failure to release the genetically modified arsonist, the Watcher does not receive what seems to be a regular dose of 'powers'. Doctor Francis Chiles, who works at Global Tech and has been spying on Steph for Dr King, sees Dr King dispose of the Watcher's injection fluid.
Elsewhere, as the parents are out JJ in a bid to gain money for a stereo, sets up a poker game against the jocks of school. He starts to win with his super-brain but when the rules change he has to ask Daphne's help to win. But, after Katie and new boyfriend Will (secretly the Watcher) visit and Will blocks Daphne's powers, Jim's anniversary present is broken. So, the siblings venture to their school to fix it giving away their prize money to a dim-witted night guard. The gift is repaired and the parents do not find out.

Another example of just how good No Ordinary Family can get with the write dialogue and action. It seems ABC has saved wisely before splashing out on inch-perfect CGI with the arsonist/Steph warehouse chase scene. This episode was jam-packed with superb high octane action which saw Julie Benz's Steph introduced to Jim's crime-fighting ways. Also, it's good to see the heroes aren't so good and perfect as they finally kill the arsonist. Sadly, the sub-plot concerning the siblings was just another repitive storyline where they used their powers for money or greed. If only the pair were put into a proper plot which was the main one and was much more interesting than what they're constantly put in. However, the return of the heavily featured story arc cheered me up as the mysterious Watcher's story is unveiled and Dr King is slowly turning into the dominating villain.
Thanks, Josh,

Josh: No Ordinary Family: Episode Seven (review)

NO ORDINARY MOBSTER
JIM/GEORGE: After failing to imprison mobster; Luka, George enjoys himself at his own surprise birthday party before taking home colleague; Amanda. As the pair arrange a date Amanda is shot down and George assumes it is the mobster who he threatened to bring down his gang leader. So without asking Jim gets invovled and takes matters into his own hands confronting Luka, but Jim's mask slips and Luka sees him. Luka then tries to get out of his jail sentence by informing district attorney George that he saw what he thinks is the police's 'super-cop'. Yet, the pair strike a deal, and Jim who had previously feared for both his and family's lives, is spared. But when Luka is taken to his cell, the mysterious Watcher who also knows Jim is involved in some way, kills Luka to stop him telling about the supers.

STEPAHNIE: Dr King attempts to stop Steph carrying on the research of a late doctor who used to work at Global Tech. He was researching super powers alike the Powells' but Dr King tells Steph that this work led to Dr Poulsen's suicide later on. This is confirmed when Steph visits the doctor's disabled wife who informs her that Poulsen came home one night, injected them both and they had superpowers for a while. Then the powers faded and the doctor, in insanity, killed himself as he saw his wife's ability to walk again disappear. But, behind Steph's back, Dr King tellls Watcher to spy on the Powell's to see what they know. Also, it seems the Poulsen's story about losing powers leading to death is a lie.

JJ: When Katie's internet date with a stranger goes wrong and she is stood up, JJ soon steps in. Steph has asked Katie to further JJ's intellect by tutoring him but he has other ideas. He creates a faux identity online and organsises a date with Katie but of course he chickens out of telling her the truth and leaves her alone. But soon enough, the Watcher appears and pretends to be Katie's date - Will.

DAPHNE: When a boy at school suddenly splits from his moaning girlfriend, Daphne agrees to go on a date with him to the Modernism art museum, where the girlfriend didn't want to go. Daphne has no idea about Modernism so borrows her dad's art books, makes JJ quick-read them and she is able to hear what he's reading. So, the date goes successfully but Daphne is immediately broken-hearted when the boy gets back together with his ex-girlfriend the next day.

Finally, the return of the series story arc provides viewers with the best episode of No Ordinary Family so far. My predictions about this Guggenheim written installment was correct. Though it acted as a preview to the a major storyline it did brilliantly well as a normal episode. It was fantastic to see Romany Malco's George be given an episode for himself to gorge on with a surprise relationship. Also, it's great to see the Powell's secret powers being observed by the mysterious, dangerous Watcher who I've been wondering about for a while. Plus, the story foretold by Mrs Poulsen was something I almost believed, it would of been interesting if the secret was kept silent for a little longer. Instead the suspense of wondering if the Powells would go mad, damn you ABC for ruining mystery. Anyway, sucessful characterisation and gradual expansion of Daphne in the series.
Thanks, Josh.

Josh: No Ordinary Family: Episode Six (review)

'NO ORDINARY VISITORS'
JIM: Jim's self restraint is tested when his overbearing in-laws unexpectedly come to visit the Powells, forcing the family to not use their powers. So, Jim struggles to keep his mouth closed when Steph's father constantly degrades him. Meanwhile, Jim is sneaking out of the house during the night, assissted by George, to investigate the spike of home invasions in Pacific Bay. The police have no leads on who is part of the invasions but with Daphne's help Jim draws up a portrait of the gang-leader whose face was burnt by the son of the victimised family. Eventually, the news get hold of the image and the attacker sees his own face, making him go out to finish off the boy. But, just in time Jim saves the teenager - Trent, as the criminal fires shots. Finally, because of Jim's suspicous actions during the night, Allan (Steph's dad) wrongly accuses Jim of cheating on his wife but all is resolved when Jim tries to explain about the Powells' powers and the in-laws believe Jim is doing charity work. Jim is also finally accepted by Allan to of married the latter's daughter.

STEPHANIE: Steph is unable to use her powers of super speed when her parents come over, as she tries to persuaude her mother - Barbara that she has changed and she isn't always busy. Barbara soon becomes suspicous as she finds lots of trainers and snack bars in the master bedroom but Steph says the shoes are for the poor and Jim says the bars are for him. She is also unable to do any of her work at Global Tech but stil has chance to invite Katie to a disastrous dinner where Allan and Barbara explain their suspicions. The episode ends seeing Barbara tell her daughter that she wished she had been like her daughter when she was her age. This makes Steph happy.

JJ: Allan sees his grandson still as an idiot who he can take advantage of and get money off when the pair play pool. This frustrates JJ who is also being forced to keep his powers a secret but then Jim, also annoyed, allows JJ to use his super-brain. This gets JJ to beat his grandfather, win quite bit of money as well as Allan's beloved car. But JJ cannot drive this for two years, yet he has a car ready and waiting and his grandparents realise he is cleverer than they thought.

DAPHNE: Daphne discovers that when she touches another's skin she can not just hear their thoughts but see them too. This allows her to see the attacker who invaded the victimised family's home by touching Trent. But, after she helps the police by giving them a description of the criminal, Trent is tracked down and is just saved by Jim. Afterwards, she checks with Trent what happened and as she expected he denies anyone was involved with his escape. To end the episode, Daphne gets JJ's new car until he is legal to drive it.

Overall, one of the less strong episodes because of the lack of proper drama, filled with uncessary humour. Yes, I liked the idea of the Powells hiding their powers from the grandparents but a lot of the storyline wasn't needed. I was hopeful for a darker, more high octane episode after witnessing the opening minutes but I was disappointed when the exciting plot was nearly forgotten and used as an add-along. Also, the absence of the story-arc returns to annoy me, I think it's superb and yet ABC fail to show it in the episodes successing the pilot. Otherwise, it was an alright episode but not one of the best at all, I'm disappointed with Ali Adler's script here considering the other great installments he's wrote. Maybe Marc Guggenheim's 'No Ordinary Mobster' next week will make up for this week.
Thanks, Josh.

Josh: No Ordinary Family: Episode Four (recap) & Five (review)

EPISODE FOUR - NO ORDINARY VIGILANTE (RECAP)
A man whose son was murdered years ago, is out to deliver his own justice by shooting purse snatchers at a city park. Jim is then seen at the crime scene and is mistaken for the vigilante. Dr. Francis Chiles (Reggie Lee) becomes suspicious of Stephanie and Katie's behavior at the lab. JJ's mathematical abilities begin to increase and he uses them to join the football team. Daphne uses abilities to find out where a party is being held (from the Wikipedia page).

EPISODE FIVE - NO ORDINARY QUAKE (REVIEW)
JIM: After the mall that Jim and the rest of the Powells are shopping is victim to a strange earthquake, George thanks to his source in the police discovers it was man made. Supposedly it is a concussion grenade used by someone so that they have the chance to raid pharmacies across the city, stealing anti-epiletic drugs. It turns out that it is in fact a young girl, Rebecca Jessup, who is another super using her ability of shock waves so she can steal the drugs which he thinks can stop her condition. It is revealed she has been held prisoner by Dr Dayton many times before and her fate isn't shown after she is knocked out by Watcher. Jim and George have involvement with this storyline.

STEPHANIE: Stephanie is suspicous of JJ's strangely intelligent moments including when he saves a woman using his intellect in the mall. But, she is distracted elsewhere when Jim lies to her telling her a tape of him using his powers is in the police when in fact he wants her to get CCTV of the quake in the mall. Also, Steph employs Katie to crack a encrypted file they have found which has research on super-humans. She thinks this will help her understand the Powell family's problems with their powers.

JJ: After saving a woman from some wreckage in the mall and becoming a member of the football team, JJ is asked by his suspicous mother to be tested. He knows she thinks he has powers and he doesn't want her to know, so asks his friend to pee in the cup for him. So, while Katie tests the pee for traces of powers JJ absent-mindedly breaks the code for the files on her computer. Katie soon gets the truth out of JJ and she immediately tells Steph who passes it on to Jim. Also, JJ's friend didn't pee in the cup, his girlfriend did who turns out to be pregnant. At the end, JJ decides to quit the football team as using his abilities is cheating, and is knocked down when he tries to run for a try.

DAPHNE: Daphne is trying to get an after-school job on the other side of town when she sees both her English teacher and friend at a coffee shop. So, after using her mind reading abilities, she assumes the pair were sleeping together and are now over. She then accidentally humiliates her friend when she tells all to the principal. But it turns out that it was the friend's mum who was dating the English teacher and so again Daphne feels stupid.

Yes, this was yet again a brilliant episode which introduced a bit more humour like episode two but less action and drama. The brief involvment of the series story arc cheered me up slightly as it had been absent previously but it does need to be developed. Also, the story of JJ's friend's girlfriend being pregnant was unecessary and I was dissapointed Kay Panabaker's Daphne didn't have a bigger role. One episode she needs something of her own storyline instead of being an add-along to the rest of the character's plots. However, a strong, decent episode and I'm looking forward to next week's edition with anticipation - No Ordinary Visitor, when the grandparents arrive, how will the Powells cope?
Thanks, Josh.

Josh: No Ordinary Family: Episode Three (review)

Today, I have decided to organise the individual plots for each of the four main characters into sections so it's easier to read. So, here is my review of 'No Ordinary Family' episode three - No Ordinary Ring(each episode title starting with 'No Ordinary' by the way).

Jim: Jim is still practicing his super-human skills with George just in case he is needed for a crime, but for now he jumps his way to be on time to the tuxedo shop for a new suit for a wedding the Powells are attending. He misses the wedding but turns up at the reception where the procession are robbed of their prized possessions by an armed gang. They also take Stephanie's ring, so then Jim and George find out all weddings in the area are being targeted by the gang so they go to a wedding where Jim fails to capture Steph's ring. But second time around, after he throws one of the gang off the roof onto a police car, George gets hold of Steph's ring which was found on the arrested man. But, the offender isn't proven guilty of robbery so gets off. Meanwhile, Jim organises a moonlight dinner with Steph on top of an expensive restaurant where he returns her ring.

Stephanie: Steph, is closer to being able to get her plant project going but Doctor King asks her to take part in a physical test. So, naturally Steph is worried about her blood test as her blood is now full of weird DNA so Katie offers her blood up to the nurse. But then Steph reminds her that both their blood was taken when they took the job at Global Tech, so their blood won't match and both could end up fired. So, Steph uses her powers to break in Global Tech at night with another employee's card, and swaps Katie's blood with an old sample of hers. She thinks she's got away with it but Dr King has noticed the break-in, checked the CCTV and seen a strange blur near the testubes - STEPH!

Daphne - Daphne's childhood friend who she hasn't talken to for years, asks if she can come round to the Powells as they haven't done so in ages, when in fact when Daphne reads her mind, she doesn't want to be alone. So, when her friend comes round Daphne reads her mind again and discovers that her parents are splitting up, but when she asks her friend about it she thinks Daphne is weird so runs off. Daphne then complains to her parents that she needs to talk to someone about her abilities and her friend is the one, and as she tries to explain to her friend she gives in to her parents' pleas and lies to her friend. Meanwhile in her life Daphne is suspicous of Jim's vigilante actions and discovers he is fighting crime.

JJ: JJ is still being accused of cheating at school as well as being blackmailed by Daphne as she is keeping his secret about his powers. He is doing her homework and in return, she does him a favour by reading the mind of a girl he likes. But the girl thinks he's a tool but Daphne lies and says she only dates Jewish boys. So, JJ uses his genius brain to quickly learn Hebrew and he pretends to do religious things when the girl comes over to study. He freaks her out when he reveals he's trying to be Jewish, she's confused so leaves, leaving JJ to have a go at his older sister for lying to him.

Opinion: Congratulations to ABC for creating yet another great episode of this hit drama, because it was just as good as the first two. Of course I was disapointed that they skated over the previous murder of Yvonne with only a brief mention from Jim. Also, I was slightly annoyed that they didn't include the story arc about Dr King and the Watcher but nevertheless the main plot was strong and interesting. The comic inclusion of Jim trying to dance was pretty funny and I liked the slow-mo break in from Steph. Also, I like how the show dealt with Daphne's storyline about lying and I thought JJ's storyline was a bit cheesy but still of good proportions. I'm looking forward to next week's episode and I hope you are for this review!
Thanks, Josh.

Josh: No Ordinary Family: Episode 1&2 (recap)

"You can't fly but you can jump." George.
Plot: 'No Ordinary Family' is an American television series from the company - ABC, which is a sci-fi, comedy drama which began airing last year in September over in the USA. But, on British channel; Watch (part of the BBC), it began last week with a double-bill.

Episode One sees the Powell Family, who are dysfunctional family living in fictional Pacific Bay, California. Father and police sketch artist; Jim (Michael Chilkis) decide to take the family on a holiday to South America as they do not talk much to each other anymore and he feels left out. But, all goes wrong when their plane crashes into a river in Brazil, which seems to give them supernatural powers. Jim is first when he saves his colleague Detective Yvonne Cho (Christina Chang) from a gunman in the office, by catching one of the bullets. So along with his friend and comic book fan; George St. Cloud (Romany Malco) he develops his new abilities by trying to fight crime and discovers he can jump miles at time and is super-strong. He does this and is able to successfully draw perfect images of the offenders for his superiors.

Meanwhile, his wife; Stephanie (Julie Benz), discovers she can run incredibly fast, can heal quickly and has a really fast metabolism which helps her keep slim. So, with her friend and lab-assistant (Katie Andrews -Autumn Reeser) at her company; Global Tech, she uses her powers to her own advantages. This includes getting a sample of the water in the river that her family were subjected to in Brazil but she finds nothing in it. But at the same time she is in the middle of a project about an amazing plant which intrigues her boss. But her boss; Doctor Dayton King (Stephen Collins) is more or less the bad guy, who employs 'The Watcher' (another 'super'(Josh Stewart) to keep an eye on other supernatural humans, which leads up to the murder of Yvonne in episode two.

And then we go back to Jim and Yvonne's children; JJ (Jimmy Bennett) and Daphne (Kay Panabaker) who also have powers, but JJ keeps his secret as the powers he owns make his parents proud. You see JJ, has gained a 'super-brain' and is now highly intelligent unlike his previous self which was rather 'dumb'. But this causes his disbelieving teachers to doubt him and accuse of him of cheating, which makes Jim upset. On the other hand we have Daphne, a rebellious teenager who is dating the bad boy of her school, who is now telepathic. This new power is hard for her to handle at first but then she controls and is able suss out her boyfriend is cheating on her with her best friend.

Opinion: An exciting and addictive double-bill of this US drama has intrigued me to review it because I think that it is so good. In comparison to other US super-hero shows like Heroes and Smallville, which I never watched as I think them not good, this is a feel good family show. It has all the basic elements of a normal superhero themed programme and all the original abilities you get with it but this show has a nice twist to it. The show has light-hearted humour, strong fantasy action and an interesting adult take on both the parents and children's lives. It also has a good focus on topics such as teenage sex, dyslexia and relationship problems. If people reading this haven't already tuned in then do, you haven't missed much important plot because I've summarised all here. Tune in tonight at 8pm on Watch, I urge you, this is a great show that I'll be reviewing here every Wednesday starting tomorrow.
Thanks, Josh.