WWE RAW – August 19, 2013

 

WWE RAW – August 19, 2013

I want to let everyone know that I am open to feedback as to what you look for when you read these things. I am not much of a play by play reviewer. I prefer to discuss the story being told in the ring when I recap matches; however, I have a feeling that most of what we see tonight will require something closer to a play by play format given the nature of WWE TV and there is not much more you can do with promo segments besides calling what you see. A few years ago, I decided to follow the trend of not rating matches below ***. In these cases, I will highlight the things I found positive about matches that might have been just below that mark but I also want to say that I can be stricter at times than the general consensus. (Point of reference: I’d probably give Punk and Cena’s RAW match earlier this year closer to ***-***1/2 as opposed to the MOTYC status most people seem to place upon it). Keep in mind we watch to ultimately have fun, and I do still generally enjoy the show.

One Tree Hill: Danny Boy

"Danny Boy" - Pictured (L-R): Barbara Alyn Woods as Deb Scott and Paul Johansson as Dan Scott in ONE TREE HILL on THE CW. Photo: Brownie Harris/The CW ©2012 The CW Network. All Rights Reserved.

Quarter by Quarter Diary: BCS Championship 2012: Armageddon Edition (Alabama vs. LSU)

Pregame Thoughts:

Okay, the Monday Night of this game signifies my first class as a grad student. After talking to my professor, I discovered that due to the new structure of classes (they meet once a week for three hours) that we sadly can’t grab the syllabus and be home in time for kick off. With that said, I plan on doing a quarter by quarter reaction to this game to post at the end of this one. However, the end of this game will be a couple hours later than it is for the rest of you, as I’m avoiding all updates and will start the thing on my DVR when I get home to watch it “live.” Before I attend class, I wanted to at least present these pre-game observations and thoughts.  Check this post at some point tomorrow to get the rest of my reactions.

The Stinson Missile Crisis

Robin confronts the fact that Barney is in love.

People naturally fall in and out of relationships. However, the relationships that matter are the ones that seem to leave a residual aftermath that sometimes is not swept away for years to come. This reality gives meaning to the phrase “art imitates life.”  During last week’s “The Ducky Tie,” Victoria’s brief return redirected Ted’s sight towards the remnants of his off again/on again relationship with Robin. The remnants of this relationship can be representative of anyone’s poor timing when it comes to the realization of the impact a person can have over them.  However, Robin has a few remnants of her own to confront before she and Ted are afforded their final romantic closure (if that moment does ever come in the literal sense).

The Ducky Tie

Mosby and crew return to form!

During last week’s uneven two episode How I Met Your Mother premiere, I mentioned that I saw many promising themes developing over the course of “The Best Man” and “The Naked Truth.” Moreover, I felt this series would not deliver its audience astray despite the flaws during that opening hour. These two observations were only strengthened during “The Ducky Tie,” which delivered a rather inclusive, rarely dull 23 minutes  of television while showcasing this show’s capabilities when Bays and Thomas bring their ‘A’ game.

How I Met Your Mother: The Best Man & The Naked Truth

Barney and Robin Dance Their Way Into Season 7

After an uneven fifth season, How I Met Your Mother needed its sixth season to reignite the excitement in its fan base. The high points of the sixth season, represented the show at its absolute best. Season 7 picks up where Season 6 left off with Barney not sure which tie he should wear at his own wedding. The tie decision represents Barney’s own cold feet; however, this isn’t the over-the-top ladies man who has at moments been the staple of this show’s wackier side. No, this is an evolved Barney Stinson. He is about to fulfill his nuptials, but he’s wondering if he made the right decision; however, the decision he’s unsure of would make the Barney Stinson of earlier seasons furious. This new Barney is struggling with a more permanent decision. He wants to make sure he’s spending the rest of his life with the right one.