(S02E08) "You believe in Santa Claus?" - Lightman

Ho Ho Ho... you're going to Afghanistan. Not exactly a Christmas present to be happy about. Having said that, Cal must surely be happy about what he accomplished in last night's episode of Lie to Me.

Sent to a US Marines outpost in the middle of the desert near Kabul, Cal was tasked with uncovering the truth about a deep-cover US operative who got left for dead and had to join to Taliban to survive. Cal was able to get plenty of info from his subject about two missing Marines but we ended up learning far more about Dr. Lightman as a result of his methods.

(S02E08) I feel like a traitor for saying this because I really did like her character, but I'm loving the show with Elle no longer around. Am I crazy or is it a lot better? JJ and Garcia are both getting move involved with the cases as a result and the overall tone of the show is lot more upbeat. Even jovial at some points. Despite the grim circumstances of this episode (a serial bomber), there was a lot of joking around. I liked it.

Morgan and Gideon had a laugh at the expense of Reid ("Ever talk to someone who wants to continually show you he's smarter than you?") and there were tons more sexual innuendos between Morgan and Garcia than usual. The phone conversations between those two are always funny, so the more the better. I'm just really digging the direction the show is taking and I hope it keeps up once Paget Brewster joins the cast in next week's episode.

(S02E08) Once again, another impressive episode. I'm pretty convinced this show can do no wrong. Well... everything about it is wrong, but you know what I mean. Now that they're done exploiting religion, politics seemed like the next best target. Mac started complaining that liquor taxes were killing Paddy's profits and Dee suggested that the guys vote for lower taxes next time the polls are open. Vote?!? What a terrible idea. And politics? "One big ass-blast" according to Mac. But Frank points out that any lowlife can run for office, solicit bribes, and then take the money and run. Genius.

(S02E08) I hate how this show makes me want to cry every five minutes. A dramedy with so many depressing topics (drug use, alcoholism, cancer, divorce) shouldn't be this good. But it is.

Beth and Huff are still going to couples therapy but it doesn't seem to be working. They argue just as much with the therapist as they do with themselves. The episode opened with them at their session and it was interesting that it started off that way because it led to both of them seeking therapy on their own terms later.