2009-10 Jumping the Shark (Not Really)

This was a great year for TV - all of my shows had excellent seasons: House, M.D., The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Bones, Community, 24, Chuck, White Collar, Psych, Burn Notice, Stargate Universe, V, South Park, Hell's Kitchen, and Lie to Me.

The phrase "jumping the shark" has been thrown around constantly this year by TV reviewers, bloggers, and commenters, mostly referring to how many of these shows have had two main characters hook up, which is one of the favorite "jump the shark" categories. Some of them may be true, some may be artificial ratings boosters, but they all seemed to work well for the shows this year.

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

House, M.D.
This season's finale ended with House and Cuddy (a.k.a. Huddy) finally getting together. This has been building for years, ever since it was revealed that these two had a past. House's mental and emotional problems aren't going to make things easy for them, and I don't see it lasting beyond the first few episodes next season.

The Big Bang Theory
The season started on an unexpected note, when Penny kissed Leonard after being gone for a few months. This was something you figured was coming, since Leonard's feelings were well known since the pilot episode, but it still made for a good comedic moment. Of course, the two of them were so different that it just couldn't work, and the relationship ended hilariously, as Wil Wheaton broke them up late in the season so he could win a bowling match and a bet against Sheldon. I'd expect them to remain friends but not try getting back together again, unless they really plan to jump the shark in the future.

How I Met Your Mother
The series started with Robin and Ted hooking up, but since you knew she wasn't "the mother", it couldn't last. This season, Robin and Barney got together, giving Barney the opportunity to actually mature as a human being in a relationship, but after they went down in flames, Barney was back to his old self, returning to his greatness.

Bones
In a flashback episode, it was revealed that Bones and Booth almost coupled up when they first met, but ended up avoiding it. Back to the present, Booth wanted to give it a shot again, but was rejected, leaving the two of them slightly more awkward than before when left alone. This is one where I think they will try it again, since Brennan is slowly growing as an emotional person, and she'll eventually be ready for a real relationship, maybe in time for sweeps week next season.

Community
There was weird sexual tension between Jeff and Britta from the beginning - the two of them were originally supposed to be the focal point of the show, until it turned out that the other characters, especially Abed and Troy, were funnier, at which point they stole the show. Jeff and Britta had a brief encounter during a game of paintball, but left it at that. In the season finale, Jeff was torn between Britta, who actually still had feelings for him, and a minor character that he had a brief relationship with earlier, but ended up choosing neither, opting instead for Annie, a girl barely half his age. This was a weird twist, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out next year.

24
Jack's been in failed relationships before. In the first season, he was going through a rough patch with his wife, but by the end of the day, they were back together again, with a new baby on the way. Unfortunately, his wife was murdered at the end of the day, which was one of the first of many terrible things that keep happening to him. He finds happiness again in season 4 with Audrey Raines, but that too ends tragically as she's involved in some of the events of the sixth season, and is shaken up to the point where she no longer can bear to be with him. In the 8th and final season, Jack tries one more time, this time seemingly out of the game and together with FBI agent Renee Walker. To add to his pain, she is shot by a sniper, leading Jack on a rampage, taking down everyone involved, and anyone in his way. There are supposed to be plans for at least a couple movies based on the 24 series with Jack coming back, but with all the tragedy he's suffered, I doubt he'll ever be able to love again.

Chuck
Chuck and Sarah (sometimes referred to as Charah) got together this season, something you knew was coming eventually. This dynamic has worked very well this year, bringing up all kinds of possibilities, including the two of them trying to run away together, before realizing that they really still wanted to be spies. Chuck's character is significantly different from what it was when the show began - he's more confident and he's an actual spy (although still a little clumsy), but the show is still funny and entertaining, and his relationship with Sarah will likely last throughout the remainder of the series.

Psych
Shawn and Juliet have been awkward around each other for most of the series, and the two obviously have chemistry together. It's been a fun secondary plot throughout the series to have them always tiptoe around each other, but last season's finale with Shawn and his girlfriend Abigail breaking up leads me to believe that the two of them will hook up early in this upcoming season. However, the overall feeling of the show tends toward not letting them stay together - I forsee a breakup by around midseason, but of course they'll still be friends and work together.

Hell's Kitchen
Ramsay has been in love with his own ego since his first appearance on television. I don't see this changing anytime soon.


Tags: review tv

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