It was a heavy week with 3 new shows premiering: Salem, Black Box, and Bad Teacher. Salem was heavily promoted and premiered to big numbers for WGNA. Not huge numbers for cable but it was definitely a success in getting information out about the station and should be a good tentpole for them to begin more original programming. Black Box and Bad Teacher were more of what I expect from midseason shows. None of them are shows I will likely watch again. The nominated show, The Middle, is an opposite problem for me. I'd like to see more of it but it isn't available on streaming and I'm not buying a show based on 22 minutes of it. I have no idea why ALL shows aren't streaming these days. Plenty of long-in-the-tooth shows are getting new life through Netflix. It or cable rerun blocks seem to be a sound financial investment these days.
If you would like to nominate a show, please fill out the 2 question box below. I am starting to plan my summer viewing so if you have a favorite older show that's available on Netflix or Amazon Prime, they are fair game as well. I keep telling myself I am going to finally check out Alias so hopefully this is the summer. Until next week, happy TV viewing!
Overall Awards:
The addition of Teen Grimm has the potential to be very appealing. She shakes things up and therefore should make her character interactions interesting. By staying with Nick and Juliette, she gives Juliette a reason to be on screen. More importantly, she gives Nick new purpose by making him her mentor. Right now Nick tends to sway between irksome and boring so giving new life to the character is a must. Besides, Teen Grimm can show him some of her fighting skills. Win-win. I'm also surprised by how much more I like Adalind now that she's a mom. I've said this before but again I felt sympathy for her. Once that sympathy was waning, she went back to scheming but now I understand her purpose in doing so, making it more appealing. Plus, she's starting her campaign with Renard, likely giving him more screen time. That's always a good thing. The only negative to this is that Prince Viktor is still hanging around like a piece of gristle stuck in the teeth. I hoped he would depart for a good long while, but no dice. I still miss Mama Grimm and I want Wu to smack all the Grimm Gang, but for me this is a renewed Grimm that makes me anticipate the next episode. Way to find the rails again!
Tom and Elizabeth interrogation scene
Not only is this the best scene of the week, but it is also the most intense even before the fight breaks out. Elizabeth Keen has proof that her husband Tom has been planted by some group into her life to spy on her. Her whole life has been a lie. After weeks of pretending like she doesn't know in order to get information, she snaps and alerts Tom to her knowledge. He runs but Red finds him and sends an extrraction team. As the scene starts, this is the first time Elizabeth can unleash all the pain and betrayal she's felt. Tom tries to keep it professional, citing that everything he did was for his job, but for her it is very personal. Elizabeth: "Say something to your wife, who's dying in front of you. Say something." In response he brings up a sweet story from their third date. He knew he had her then and felt sorry for her. He never wanted this, but it was his job. Sympathy and sorrow over. Now it's time for answers. In a character twist, Elizabeth uses torture by breaking her husband's thumb with a wrench to get the answers she needs. It's a completely new side of her and one that makes her more like Reddington than ever. Sadly, it also means that Tom can get out of the cuffs. They have one epic fight, but he's an assassin and she's a profiler. He defeats her soundly and handcuffs her to the bannister. It seems like all is over but he throws one more curveball at her. He insists he's the good guy. Tom: "I am not here to hurt you, Liz. My job was never to hurt you. I'm one of the good guys. Reddington, he's not who you think." Liz: "I will find you." Tom: "I can prove it." He tells her to take the key from the lamp and get info from his social security box that will prove it. As he says goodbye, I am psyched to find out if he really is a good guy. I hope he is because he has a greater chance of returning that way and not dying. He's turned into the most fascinating character on the show.
This week TV had me heading to the iTunes and YouTube more often than usual and most of that was because of the music. From folk ballads to electronica, music has increasingly been a focus of my TV viewing. When it's bad, it can break a scene (talking to you sad plinky piano of Black Box), but when it's good it can make a scene more poignant and help me find a new artist to explore. That's you The Blacklist. Other times it stirs up nostalgia and reminds me of songs I haven't listened to in awhile. My favorites from this week include:
TURN - sea shanty Spanish Ladies by Sarah Blasko
Bad Teacher - Ladies Night by Kool & the Gang
The Blacklist - Change of Time by Josh Ritter
Surviving Jack - Friday I'm in Love by The Cure / Suicide Blonde by INXS
Nominated/New Shows:
Nominated Show -
The Middle has largely flown under my TV radar. It's not a bubble show, but it's not a breakout hit either. I don't hear people talking about it, but it obviously has a loyal fan base. Therefore I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm not a fan of Everybody Loves Raymond, and that's all I know Patricia Heaton from. I was a huge fan of the janitor on Scrubs though. Going in blind, I found the show enjoyable. Frankie is a kazillion times better than Debra for me, and I found the parents immensely relatable. The kids overdosed on quirky and I'm not sure what to make of them yet, but it is nice to see a normal family that obviously cares and doesn't feel the need to put each other down all the time. Still they don’t necessarily want to be around each other constantly either. I get that. I also appreciate their work ethic. I'm the Frankie in my family with a list of groans when I get home, but I'd like to be more like Mike with a dash (just a tiny one) of Sue. Overall I liked the characters, although Brick's voice annoys me, but I felt like I didn’t get a good feel for the show with this episode. Perhaps if I watch a few more episodes. Also while there was a lot of heart, it was a little short on out loud laughs for a comedy. Again I'm not sure if that is the typical style, if it's just the episode I picked, or if it's my general frustration anytime I have to Hulu a show. This would definitely be a summer show for me if past episodes were available on streaming. As it is, I'll have to wait until that happens or find a really good DVD sale.
Grade: B
Ranking: 2 because it's not available on streaming. It would be higher if it were.
Best Scene - Frankie and Axl compromise and negotiate on the car ride
Best Quote - Mike: "You got any coupons for picking up a couple idiots in Tennessee?"
Best Character Interaction - Mike and Brick
The "You're Even Creeping Me Out" Award - Sue won't take her eyes off her customers and can't read the social cues that she's freaking them out.
Goofiest Friend Bonding - the Sue and Brad stage slap
Best Twist - Frankie runs out of gas and didn't bring her wallet when she went to pick up Axl
Snarkiest - The garage mechanic, who made me laugh harder than the rest of the characters combned
Worst Present Ever - 2 minutes of tickle time. Say what?
The "Wow! That's Some Dedication to a Minimum Wage Job" Award - I have worked with a lot of teens, but I have never seen one so excited and eager to please at a fast food job as Sue. She may actually need some therapy.
Most Flexible - Axl. There's no way I could drive with one foot out the driver's side window. Not sure he should be doing so either.
New Shows -
That was definitely one of the weirdest pilots I have ever seen. It was a little gross, a little too much nudity, and a whole lot of What the Heck! There is no end to the downright bizarre in Salem. Basically it tells the story of John Alden, who has returned to Salem after fighting for years in a war against the French and Indians, only to find his love married to his biggest enemy and a town he despises on the verge of tearing itself apart. The twist is that there really are witches causing chaos in Salem. They're just not the ones on trial. On the surface, this show somewhat resembles Sleepy Hollow in that witchy stuff happened in the past and crazy visuals pop up when you least expect it. They have a similar revenge theme as well. Still, in tone they are quite different. Sleepy Hollow has a snarky, self-mocking tone with a lot of action, huge twists, and dabbles of camp. Salem appears to take itself much more seriously, which actually makes it an easy target to laugh at sometimes. The action was overrun in a quest to find the most shocking visual and the big ending twist was not surprising in the least. However, this is only the pilot and they could go a million different ways on the story foundation they have created. I could see this becoming a water cooler show if probably not a huge ratings hit for cable overall. It is certainly a hit for WGNA and probably a wise tent pole to start building a channel on. Based on only the 3-4 episodes of AHS I have seen, I'd say that Salem is built more to the American Horror Story crowd. Not for me, but this is likely to become someone's new favorite show.
Grade: C+
Ranking: 2
Best Quote - Corey: "This is the Alden house and there ain't any Aldens left so you are either a ghost or you're about to be one."
Most Missed - Corey, already and I'm not sure I'll even see anymore of Salem
Biggest WTH / Most Brutal - This may end up the hardest award to give this week by sheer volume of WTH moments in this episode. In the end writhing mud people and swallowing a toad barely miss out to Mercy, the witch hunting dog. Who the heck came up with this stuff?
Most Encompassing - Mary plans to turn the Puritans against each other in revenge and claim Salem for witches
The "Say What?" Award - Abortion by witchcraft? Huh?
Most Bizarre - In a show postulating demons, the strangest thing I saw was coin money that can be snapped in two by hand. Not sure I'd trust that.
Least Surprising - Hale is a witch
The Real Power - Tituba, who has power over Mary and thus power over all
Most Unique Punishment - Making the guy who sent your lover off live with a live toad in him.
The "Well That's One Way to Keep Your Secret" Award - Mary tells Cotton to stone press Corey
I laughed throughout this episode and that's the problem. It's supposed to be a drama. I'm supposed to feel empathetic toward the main character and her squeaky little kid voice. However with all this ham-fisted dialogue from cardboard flat characters, it's hard not to laugh even if you feel bad afterwards. Well the parts that did not feel like a PSA on mental illness at least. I did learn a lot in those 42 minutes that felt like 180. In all fairness, I usually do not like medical dramas because the medical often gets drowned out in the melodrama. Any show where the doctors spend more time getting it on than saving patients or their personal Issues with a capital "I" take over the hospital work leaves me bored and slightly disgusted. Looking at you, Grey's Anatomy. Black Box definitely feels like it shares the same address. This is a particularly bad pilot but it is still only a pilot. There's a chance that in the interim they addressed the more serious problems and subsequent episodes will probably plump up the characters. If you like soapy medical dramas, check it out. Me, I'd rather watch real surgery with a queasy stomach than more of this.
Grade: D-
Ranking: 1
Best Scene - Joshua stays with Cate at the hospital after she's admitted
Best Quote - Mahmoud: "I have bad news. Anthony has a brain tumor." Black: "Yes!" Mahmoud: "Okay and I thought I was weird. Since when is a mass in the head good?"
Best Reason to Watch - If the info is realistic, you will learn a lot about mental illness and the effects of bipolar disorder on everyone
Best Reason to Fast Forward Skip - sometimes the speeches feel like a PSA on mental illness / the writing
Most Soapy Plot Twist - Cate's daughter, Esme, thinks she's her aunt because her brother and his wife are raising her
Most Fun Character - Mahmoud. She's also criminally underused as the quirky sidekick.
Most Irksome - Cate consistently reverts to a pitched, slower, "talking to little kids" voice when she's talking to her patients. It comes off as condescending. Of course her "high as a kite," manic voice sounds like a little kid and that gets frustrating as well.
Best Character Interaction - Cate and her psychiatrist
Funniest Moment - Cate's reaction to the patient seeing elves
Biggest TV No-No: Why are there recapitations in the pilot? Why? If we haven't paid enough attention to something that happened no more than 15 minutes ago, a recapitation is not going to help. Better writing will. Argh!
Most Ham-Fisted Dialogue - This is actual dialogue in the pilot. I couldn't make this up.
1. Black: "What are you doing? You're supposed to be scrubbing in. If you're high , you're not operating on my patient." Bickman: "It seems to me that you're the one who's flying." Black: "You're turned on. God, you're a pathological creep." Bickman: "Dominating b**." Black: "Wait, wait, I'm engaged." Bickman: "What does that have to do with anything?"
2. Bickman: "Do you always get so worked up in defense of your patients? I mean it's cute but take my advice and detach. Emotions get in the way of everything. I told you I'd fix it and I will."
3. Black: "I can hear music. I can hear music. None of you can hear it because I'm incredibly special to God and you are nothing." Kid: "It's your cell, douchebag."
4. Black: "Talk to me. One reason." Hartramph: "Your work. If you're gone, the void cannot be filled. Dr. Catherine Black is needed and loved." Black: "Not for who I really am." Hartramph: "The best part of you is who you really are. The rest is a disease."
5. Black: "The brain is the ultimate mystery. That's why doctors call it the black box." - See what they did there? Get it? Clever, huh.
I'm really not sure how I feel about this show yet. On one hand, I did not laugh even once which is a bad sign for a comedy and the characters are all one-dimensional so far. On the other hand, there are a whole lot of good actors in this and I didn't find it completely offensive as a teacher so that's a plus. To be honest, it may also be that I'm being more generous than usual with this episode because it didn't drag on like the show I watched prior to it and it's late. Overall Lily is the best character but Irene has the most potential. Meredith is kind of stuck until she eventually learns to love teaching and to give up being shallow, or at least that's where this seems to be heading. In the end this will probably be a channel flip show. If I happen to come across it, I'll watch to see if it gets funny. If not, I'll forget about it.
Grade: C
Ranking: 2
Best Scene - The cafeteria walk
Best Quote - Bronwen: "Thanks. Adults are never honest." Irene: "Yeah, especially on E-Harmony."
Best Character - Lily. Yes she exudes that childhood wisdom only found in Hollywood, but she's also quirky yet relatable.
Most Needy / Most in Need of an Overhaul - Irene, who is way too low on self-esteem to actually work in a middle school. The kids would eat her alive.
Least Surprising - Meredith and Coach sleep together
Funniest Moment - When her doctor date pulls up, Meredith calls the car a hottie but the date is an afterthought
The "Say What?" Award - Since when can teachers ride the school bus to work? Actually when would anyone want to do that? I'd rather walk.
Biggest Reason They Need an Educational Consultant - Um, everything. No one gets hired without a police background check and usually an FBI check. Also, kids would never be able to leave the cafeteria en masse like that. Most of all, not that many parents would ever show up for a middle school Career Day. Maybe elementary.
Best Music - Meredith leads the Safety Patrol into the cafeteria to Ladies Night by Kool & The Gang
Weekly Shows:
This episode had some shocking twists in as much in what they didn't do as in what they did. First, Simcoe still is not free although that looked exactly like where the story was heading. I truly enjoy this twist, mostly because this cardstock villain is more tolerable in chains than in power. The second big twist was that when Mary went to confront Anna about her relationship with Abraham, instead of it becoming a chick fight, she gave her blessing provided they were discreet. Hate this twist. The last thing I want to see is an Anna and Abraham romantic relationship bloom. I'm tired of glorified adultery. On the plus side, Ben showed a lot of growth in this episode and I actually liked Caleb beyond just his snark. It was relieving to see a historical piece actually conform to the beliefs of its time. Looking at you, Dracula! Still the best part was again Abraham and his father. They approach things so differently it's surprising Abraham hasn't been cut off by now and daddy dearest really needs to learn to shut up before Abraham turns the tide of the war singlehandedly just to spite him. Speaking of, Abraham also showed more cunning in this episode than usual. In the pilot I wondered how he would ever be a convincing spy, but his negotiations over the hogs and the way he got the Hessians to talk was well-done.
Grade: B
Best Scene - Ben tries to talk Newt out of standing with his kin
Best Quote - Anna: "You have a plan?" Caleb: "Well, more an interesting way of getting myself killed. But you know, I'm trying to think of how I better the odds."
Best Character Interaction - Abraham and his father
The "It's Salem All Over Again" Award - Abraham's father is eager to accuse Anna of murder in order to get her cauliflower crop. A regular thief in the law, you are sir.
Most Effective Speech - Ben's in the house, which makes Newt hesitate and gives them the upper hand
Least Effective Speech - Abraham's father, who sends Abraham running to the other side
Most Historical - Caleb's view about a woman's place. This is one of the few historical dramas that gets it right.
Smartest Plan - Abraham bonds with Hessians over sauerkraut to find out they are headed to Trenton
The "Say What?" award - I understand marriages of convenience in this time period, but still. She didn't know her husband was engaged to another woman? Do they even talk?
Most Sadistic Bad Guy - Simcoe slow claps and basically gives "bravo" accolades to Ben for shooting his former men
The "This is Totally Going to Bite You in a Couple of Episodes" Award - Anna straight up lies to Abraham about Simcoe, even though Caleb was going to come clean
Best Music - The more modern take on the sea shanty, Spanish Ladies, which was also sung in Jaws and mentioned in Moby Dick and probably actually post-dates the American Revolution.
An utter disappointment of an episode, the writers fell badly in trying to cram far too many storylines in when they would have been much better off in simplifying the season once they realized they only had 6 episodes. With the exception of Artie and Steve and to a slightly lesser degree Claudia, nothing about this felt like a Warehouse 13 episode. There was very little humor, the dialogue was muddled when not completely anvilicious, and oh what a mess they made of the characters. I don't think Mrs. Frederic could be more out of character if they dressed her in a pink bunny suit and had her tell people's fortunes on the street. Even the long-lost agent friends we've never seen before were clumsy and awkward in their role as foils to this out-of-the-blue Pete and Myka relationship. When first time characters exposit that a relationship can be platonic forever and then suddenly one day just poof, become romantic, you know you've hit the very, very bottom of the writing well. It was a mini how-to lesson in exactly how NOT to write an episode. What a disaster! The only thing that saved it was Steve mediating, Claudia's family back story, and just how much Artie cares about Claudia.
Grade: C- (the grade gets worse in every rewatch it seems)
Best Scene - Artie and Claudia go back in his memory
Best Quote - Claudia: "Keeping me safe is not your job." Artie: "Yes, it is. It is precisely my job."
MVP - Steve, who if this whole Warehouse thing doesn't work out, could have a great career as mediator
Best Reason to Fast Forward - any talk about changing priorities, vibes, or romance
The "Oh Yeah, Right" Award - Claudia: "I'll leave it alone after this, I promise, but I need to know what happened." Anyone believing that probably fell for Nigerian prince e-mails as well.
Most Heartbreaking - Claudia watches her sister kill her parents
The "Miss Nosy" Award - Mrs. Frederic asks Myka if she wants to have kids
Most Used Word - fracking and no, not Battlestar Gallactica frakking.
The "Swing and a Miss" Award - Myka and Pete accuse the other agents of killing people but instead they were just getting married
Biggest Aww Moment - Young Claudia hugs Artie for comfort
Best Foreshadowing - 7 year old Claudia fixes a computer with just a few keyboard clicks
What a hot mess! This very special episode was brought to you by Love Geometry, now blazing on the CW Tour, and sponsored by an anti-drug PSA, spontaneous plot resolution, and more teen hormones than South Padre Island during high school spring break. Run because something in Louisiana is catching and its biggest side effect is emoangsting. Secondary effects include bad judgment, weepy speeches, and an overall sense of ennui. Where are the scientists from Helix when you need them? Because judging by previews for the next episode, things are only getting worse from here.
Grade: D / C- (but those 10 minutes had the most plot)
Best Scene - Grayson blackmails Drake
Best Quote - Drake: "You want a name. Me. I was a Trag. I'm not anymore, but I can get you the information you want. You've just gotta give me more time." Grayson: "You're saying you used to be a Trag. So how do I know you're not anymore?" Drake: "Because if I was, you wouldn't be alive."
MVP - Gloria. Who knew she could be so powerful? Glad she's on their side.
Best Reason to Watch - Um, well, that evil scientist plot was wrapped up quickly so if you skip this episode, you might wonder what happened. Plus some random people took some random things that will become all important in the next episode probably. Since I have no idea who took what or why, I can't fill you in. However Roman and Drake think it's a bomb and plan on stopping it. Some of the non-drugged characters have done a 180 and that could be confusing also. Mostly though, you could skip this episode and just watch the previouslies. Nothing really happened here.
Funniest Moment - High as a kite Roman saying, "I cannot be in 2 places at once."
Best Reason to Fast Forward - To be honest, I actually skipped the fast forward and just stopped watching the episode at the 38 minute mark. I knew Roman and Emery were going to take us out and I needed to fortify myself before it. I finished the episode the next day.
Worst Idea Ever - a choreographed dance to out yourself as a couple. Is Marshall High vying to be the next LaGuardia High? "Fame, I'm gonna live forever…"
The "Are You Kidding Me?" Award - Roman fell for the bumped tray routine? They obviously don't have spy thrillers in the Sector.
The "You May be High, but You're NOT Wrong" Award - Tripping Roman says the most honest words in the series so far. "Anytime I have to pick between you and what's best for the Atrians, I always choose you and it's always the wrong choice." Um writers, that goes for you too.
Most Evil - Shady Science Teacher wins all the awards in this category. She even has her own henchman.
The "Are Those Crow's Feet? Why Yes, They Are." Award - I'm not sure what it is about this episode's lighting but half the cast looked like they turned 30 in that high school.
Just once. Just once I would like the law to NOT arrive a mere 3 seconds after the bad guys get what they want. Just once I would like said bad guys to be caught in the first 10 minutes of an episode and let the story unfold from there. It could be that there's a higher bad guy. It could be that their dastardly plan is bigger than we thought. It could be about turning the bad guy and making them an asset. I don’t care. Let's just once foil the bad guy's plan first and then go to a bigger story. No? It's against TV law to change things up in a procedural? Darn! Then can we at least have the good guys miss them by a good 15 minutes or so. These near misses are just annoying and not only on this show. Surely ineffective Feds/Cops/Agents get stuck in traffic and end up late to work like the rest of us.
Other than that and The Blacklist's continual mission to afford us absolutely zero answers, this episode was one of the better ones. It all comes down to the tension between Tom and Elizabeth and the subsequent interrogation and fight scene. Everything about Tom has become thrilling and interesting, a complete 180. At first I wondered why they were bringing back the pilot bad guys, but it actually worked not only because they could extract Tom but mostly because it meant we didn’t need to spend time getting to know them. A minimal criminal of the week in the background provided ample time to concentrate on the real story, the confrontation. Kudos, Blacklist writers! Even better they left the ending open so Tom really could end up the good guy. I would love that. It makes him even more remarkable and hopefully ensures that he will be back some time, hopefully to confront Red next time.
Grade: B+
Best Quote - Tom: "It was the sweetest thing, and ever since that moment I just felt sorry for you because I knew…I knew that I had you. Part of me didn't want it to work, but it did."
Best Character Interaction - Tom and Elizabeth, by far.
Best Action - Extracting Tom
Biggest Moron - Elizabeth Keen. Use your best Hermoine voice and say it with me, "What. An. Idiot!" Red already has people following Tom and you know he's paranoid. Why not tail him yourself? Why heed a professional's warning to back off? It's not like your husband will recognize you if he sees you, right Lizzie?
Quirkiest Character Trait - Red always fills in personal details about his life to the people he's manipulating, threatening, or torturing. It actually makes him creepier instead of less.
Biggest Understatement - Ressler: "I think she's having troubles at home, sir."
The "What the Freaking Heck?" Award - Elizabeth uses a wrench to break Tom's thumb. Did not see that coming anymore than Tom did.
Best Twist - Red uses the Pavlovich Brothers to extract Tom before they are captured by Lizzie.
Biggest Tease - You promise me answers with that ending, but you've played that card over and over again. I no longer believe you, The Blacklist. You won't get my hopes up again.
My opinion of Growing Up Fisher seems to rise and fall on how I like Joyce in a particular episode. In this one, I thought she was great. There's nothing wrong with learning to stand up for yourself…although it is always good to have the facts first. What I really enjoyed in this one was that Katie and Joyce had some great mother-daughter bonding moments. It also helped that Mel finally lost. He can get a bit overbearing so it's nice to see him knocked down a peg or two.
Grade: B
Best Quote - Joyce: "You know I'm coming around on the cargo pants. I mean it's really like having 16 purses."
Best Moment - The judge threatens to hold Mel in contempt of court
Best Character Interaction - Katie and Joyce. It is good to see them encouraging each other and getting along. I like the girl power here.
Best Reason to Watch - Mel finally loses. He's been needing to for weeks now and it's nice it happened while Henry was around.
MVP - Joyce, who had by far the best lines of the night
Best Salesman - Henry, who turns buying a raffle ticket into standing up for all the non-popular kids and giving all kids a placed to feel loved and accepted
Most Nauseous - Pet nicknames Gummy Bear and Grizzly Bear. That's way too sugar sweet, especially said in teen love voice.
The "Okay Spill" Award - What exact combination of cereals leads to blue milk? That's too cool.
Best Return - Janice is back as the best office manager
All good things must come to an end. I thought this episode might hit an excellence trifecta for The 100, but sadly no. It got swamped down in the typical CW love triangle junk, the bane of my TV watching. Watching Raven's trajectory from overly excited and non-social cue reading reunited romance to jilted lover did zero for me except give me a headache from rolling my eyes so hard. She's a potential great character so hopefully they will leave off her mooning and get things back to normal. No killing off Finn either, by the way. That's just a cop out. On a more positive side, I did like learning about Octavia and Bellamy's relationship. They did a great job filling in the characters' motivations and it made their break at the end more poignant. Considering that Bellamy has to feel responsible for his sister's discovery and mother's death, it makes more sense as to why he would shoot the Chancellor and risk what he feels is certain death in order to make amends. It was also interesting to see the master manipulator being manipulated himself. It should be fascinating when Blake learns Bellamy is still alive. He won't be too excited that the one person who can link him to the Chancellor's almost murder is still very much kicking.
Grade: B-
Best Scene - Bellamy leads Octavia out into the Ark for the first time and she sees the moon rise
Most Intense - Bellamy and Octavia fight at the end
Best Quote - Finn: "I don't speak grounder, but I'm pretty sure this means keep out."
Cheesiest Line - Bellamy: "Storm's coming" complete with dramatic shutting of the gate.
Most Missed - Present day Ark. I wanted some follow-up to the people's deaths and seeing the rockets
Best Reason to Fast Forward - inevitable CW love triangle nonsense. Don't worry though. I'm sure there'll be even more fun love geometry in the future. Why stick with a triangle when you can have an octagon?
Biggest Awww - Bellamy names the new baby, Octavia
Biggest Surprise - Octavia could be missing for so long without Bellamy realizing it
The "Top-Notch Ninja" Award- the grounder takes John without anyone in the search party noticing
Best Guest Star - Red Shirt #2, aka Jason Dohring look-alike, played the pizza delivery guy in one of my favorite Supernatural scenes. He's the one who delivered the pizza to DraculaShifter in Monster Movie. DracShifter: "Is there garlic on this pizza?" PDG: "Did you ask for garlic?" Bwah!
Best Character Development - Bellamy, although Octavia was fleshed out nicely too
The "Aww, You Tried" Award - Bellamy tries to sneak Octavia into the Union Day Masquerade Dance. Darn solar flares messing with a good time.
SHIELD continues to up the ante on the battle between SHIELD and Hydra. I continue to like this show more. Right now, I am very intrigued by Ward and what he is going to do next. Is what he's telling Skye partly true or is it the consummate manipulation? I hope it's the latter to be honest, but I suspect he will die saving her from Garrett and then I'll be ticked off. However, I loved getting a glimpse of May's mom. She had me laughing from the beginning and I'm very curious as to what agency she worked for. I hope she comes back because I'd love to hear about May's back story. Sadly though, we said goodbye to Agent Koenig who I also liked from the start. I was less than thrilled by Coulson's continued tantrum that went so far as to possibly put his team in danger this time. At least he realized what a hypocrite he has been and hopefully will pull his head out of his butt in the future. He's the last person who should be upset about someone withholding information from him when he routinely withholds info from his team.
Grade: B+
Best Scene - Skye realizes that Ward is Hydra, although I figured she would blame May for Eric's death first
Best Quote - Koenig: "The NSA's already got SHIELD on its watch list. Why poke the bear, the big, scary water boarding bear?" / Coulson: "Who did you say created this technology again?" Fitz: "Bruce Banner." Coulson: "Then I'm sure it will go off without a hitch."
Best Montage Scene - the lie detector test scene is pure filler but it was a great way to help us know the characters better. Kudos to a little character insight in a unique way.
Biggest Hypocrite - Coulson, but at least he realized it tonight
Biggest Mistake - Ward says that he killed Garrett, which would have automatically blown his cover later if Skye didn't accidentally blow his cover in this episode
The "I Don't Blame You" Award - I completely understand why May left. Coulson doesn't deserve her and I'm sure she could find others who do. I'm rooting for a May spin-off because that show would kick butt. Sadly, she'll return to be part of Coulson's crew instead.
Walking Deluminator Award - Daniels
The "It's a Recap Palooza" Award - As Ward tells his fake story, we see recapitations of what really happened last time. You know, just in case we missed the fact that Ward is working for Hydra. It's easy to forget those pesky minor details.
Best Answer to a Stupid Question (practical) - When asked what's in a box on a deserted island, Trip answers: "A sat phone, so I can call someone to get me off that island."
Best Answer to a Stupid Question (creative) - When asked the same question, Simmons answers the Tardis. Ha! Perfect geek answer.
Best Addition - Agent May's mom. I'd love to get more info on this family.
Dumbest Call - Coulson decides not to take May and he can't take Ward to a fight with a dangerous psychopath. Talk about throwing a fit to spite yourself. Way to put your team in danger because your feelings are hurt.
Another comedy hit for Surviving Jack. I really don’t know why the best comedies on right now are getting soft ratings while things like Two and a Half Men still get a 2.5 share. The Goldbergs, Enlisted, Surviving Jack, and Trophy Wife are more consistently funny than most comedies getting twice the ratings. For Surviving Jack, it is walking that fine line between cantankerous and abusive that allows me to chuckle at Jack's over-the-top declarations. Plus the fact that he adores his wife more than anything else. It's an unusual sentiment for Hollywood and more in line with comedies back when the show takes place. I miss those. It also helps that Christopher Meloni does a great job with his facial expressions to let the audience know there is more going on there. Overall, I would take this comedy over most available. Darn those pesky mid-season premieres. On a side note, I finally figured out where I know Rachael Harris (Joanne) from. She was one of my favorites on Best Week Ever and I Love the 80's.
Grade: B+
Best Scene - Jack unwittingly says the right thing when he says they will never stop being parents
Funniest Scene - George and Mikey put themselves in the pool after saluting with cadence playing in the background
Best Quote - Jack: "I am begging for them to need us less. We're never going to stop being parents. It's like a life sentence with no hope of parole." Joanne: "That's the sweetest thing you could have ever said to me. Thank you."
Best Character Interaction - Jack and the fireman. The fireman thinking the worst of Jack and Jack not caring was priceless.
Worst "Meet the Parents Dinner" Ever - nothing like your dad using chicken stuffing to explain your mother's reproductive system and your mom high on pain pills to kill the moment. Add in a porno movie and a fire and chances are your relationship's over. If your girlfriend has to take your mom's painkillers from her, it may not be the best impression.
Biggest Awww - Jack soft voices and tries to make sure everything is perfect for Joanne's recovery
Best Casablanca Synopsis Ever - "It's just a bunch of sad European guys making hard choices." / "Me, I prefer my war movies to actually have war in it."
The "No, Empty Threats Here" Award - Jack really does toss both his kids in the pool, along with Doug, and threatens to dunk Heather. Bwah!
Frankie's Favorite Childhood Moment - Dad tosses sister in the freezing pool. Ha! That is a classic.
Best Nostalgia - Fresh Prince of Bel-Air / hairspray napalm
I laughed more in this episode than I usually do with The Big Bang Theory and yet, it also had a lot of heart. That's the comedy sweet spot. Generally on a show this old, the characters are in a worn groove, similar to how the characters were feeling. By mixing up their interactions, it gives us a fresh glance at them. I really loved Leonard and Amy getting a scene with just them in it. It was touching and probably the most heartfelt since Howard had them all sing his love song to Bernadette. Kudos! Still it was beat out by the sheer reaction of Sheldon to the psychic, not to mention the crackling dialogue. I also like Sheldon and Penny together because she does get him to experience new things, which is always hilarious. Not sure I'd have any different reaction to Chinese served in a taco to be honest. This was TBBT at the best it's been in a long while.
Grade: B+
Best Scene - Sheldon and Penny visit the psychic
Best Quote - Sheldon: "This is Asian fusion. For all you know there's a tiny Chihuahua in here." / Sheldon: "Oh that's a lot of incense or someone set a hippie on fire."
Best Character Interaction - Penny and Sheldon
Best Reason to Watch - mix matching the character interactions. More Leonard and Amy please.
Best Aww Scene - Amy tells Leonard about sometimes being jealous of Penny's relationship with Sheldon
Worst Product Placement Ever- I am never, ever watching that movie just from Howard and Raj's description. Blech!
The "That's So True" Award - Sheldon: "That's an easy guess. I'm clearly an annoying person. I have problems with both genders."
The "What the Heck?" Award - Amy in a Catholic school girl skirt and tie. Sometimes I'm not sure if she knows Sheldon at all.
Best Speech - Sheldon's "non-offensive" debunking of psychics
I'm officially tired of Mycroft. If having him back means Watson turns into an idiot, then no thanks. If it causes a rift between Sherlock and Watson all in the name of plot device, then forget it. Time for the next plot line. Here’s hoping that Mycroft's shady business all comes out in the next episode and Watson is recovered from the mob so we can get back to the business of keeping the world safer. Discord for the sake of discord does nothing for me. That said, it was cool to get Mrs. Hudson back and this episode's ending did a great job of raising the stakes on multiple levels. As for the crime of the week, to be honest, I forgot about it 2 days later and had to refresh my memory.
Grade: C-
Best Scene - Watson kidnapped
Best Quote - Gregson: "So you went looking for a missing person, and you came back with a cell full of heroin dealers."
Best Reaction - Sherlock's utter lack of enthusiasm at Mycroft being back
Most Bizarre - Blackmail by cue card. I love it.
The "It's About Time" Award - I am surprised Watson hasn't moved out well before this. I could only take so much time with Sherlock and then I'd need a break.
Worst Plan - Watson dating Mycroft. There is ZERO upside to this at all. In fact, it screams of future annoyance. Even if his brother wasn't Sherlock, this is just wrong to date your co-worker/friend/roommate's brother.
The "What the Heck!" Award - Sherlock hides heroin in his house. Are you kidding me? NO! I like that Sherlock is an addict but I don't want to watch him succumb. Time for an intervention. Where exactly is his sponsor again? He's been MIA.
Best New Job Potential - Watson. If she ever stops consulting with the police, she can make it as a professional thief. She pickpockets someone's id badge, picks locks, breaks into safes, and cons people into giving her access. She might as well partner with Mozzie and take the New York crime scene by storm.
Most Shady - Mycroft. Who was he talking to on the phone earlier? Why does he want Sherlock back in London? How far is he willing to go to get him out of New York? Who is he working with and what are their nefarious plans?
Dumbest Crime - illegal black market candy contraband. That's really a thing? Why?
The "See What Happens When They Put the Main Female Character in a Love Plot" Award - It always turns them stupid. What the heck! Watson knows better than to tail a known French mobster on her own. She just confronted Sherlock about being equally reckless and stupid on the anthrax case.
Best Reference - Sherlock subtly refers to Moriarty. I can't wait until she comes back.
Grade: B+
Best Scene - Teen Grimm finds out the truth about Wesen
Best Character Interaction - Nick and Teen Grimm
Best Action - Teen Grimm vs. Skalengeck
The "Yeah, You Thought It Too" Award - When Hank picks up the French fry and starts talking about it, I thought he was going to eat it, not use it as evidence and send Wu on a fry hunt
Best Self-Preservation - Monroe refuses to get in the back seat with Teen Grimm / Teen Grimm won't go into Aunt Marie's trailer
The "Hmmm" Award - the two Wesen who attack Teen Grimm don't react at all when they look into her eyes, which should be when they figure out she's a Grimm
The "You Couldn't Have Waited a Little Longer?" Award - Hank pulls Teen Grimm off of Nick way too early. She was pounding him pretty well and I still haven't forgiven the Grimm Gang for the Wu debacle.
Dumbest Recapitation Yet - going way back to the pilot, they show Nick rubbing wolfsbane on Hank's jacket for absolutely NO reason. Pure filler and bad filler at that.
Thank Goodness Award - Adalind says she's done crying. Good. I can't handle feeling sympathetic towards her for more than 2 minutes at a time. Go back to being the woman I root against please.
Most Gratuitous - 2 Teen Grimm shower scenes, neither of which seemed to have any purpose
Biggest Bwah! - Nick face palms Teen Grimm. It must be the Grimm version of a Gibbs slap.
The "Ha! I See What You Did There" Award - Teen Grimm's mug shot says T. Rubel, giving her the nickname Trouble.
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