The second half of the season is fast approaching, and I thought this would be an ideal time to reflect on my season so far, giving my opinion on all of my shows whether they have exceeded my expectations or failed to improve from last season. I won't go into too much detail as I could be here all day talking about them; I will just give you a brief overview of what I think.
I currently watch 12 Shows, with 3 having just ended their seasons. I have also dropped two shows which I don't normally do, but I couldn't force myself through another episode anymore, those two being Elementary and Resurrection. This season there has also been a vast amount of new shows, but only 4 new ones I have stuck with all the way through.
Now let's get on with the review, I will be going in alphabetical order. I will also give each show a grade from A-D with D being the lowest.
American Horror Story
Best Episode: "Orphans"
This Season has been somewhat of a disappointment, when it got announced that the new season would take place at a freakshow I was quite excited, but after watching the first 10 episodes I have to say this is probably the shows weakest season. The show hasn't been that scary or gripping, in fact for me the best part about the season has been the clown. He at least added the sense of fear, and horror to the show, so it was a shame when they decided to kill him off. I absolutely don't care about Elsa and her singing career, and the fact that all the freaks are being killed off, and none of them bother to question Elsa is utter rubbish especially after those who did question her previously ended up dead. Also the killing of Frances Conroy and Kathy Bates characters was beyond frustrating as they portrayed two of the more interesting characters. Frances Conroy in particular portraying Gloria has been excellent, her scenes with Dandy have been the best scenes from the first half of the season, so it is a shame we won't see any more of them. Another thing I continue to dislike is the constant need to create a love life for whoever Evan Peters portrays, is it really necessary or needed?
The quality has started to pick up a little in the last two episodes (9 and 10), and has become slightly more interesting to watch, but it shouldn't take this long to get good. The ratings in recent weeks have reflected the declining quality of the show with only 3m viewers tuning into the latest instalment. The show definitely isn't the hit it used to be.
Grade C
Gotham
Best Episode: "Lovecraft"
The batman trilogy is among my favourite films of all time, so I was excited when FOX announced Gotham. The first half of the season hasn't been perfect, but it has huge potential to become an established show that can last for a couple of seasons. So far I have really enjoyed what I have seen of Gotham, and after each episode I found myself wanting to watch the next one, but there are things that they do need to change. The quality is there, and most of the time it produces some really interesting episodes, but the dozen cast members underused and the brief appearances by some make it hard to get invested into a character.
I do like the weekly cases we get as it does keep the show fresh and without the need to re-use the same ideas, and it’s also a good way to introduce new villains, but the show needs to pace itself for it to work to full effect. Introducing a new villain in a mask each episode isn't always the best idea. I would much rather have one central villain in a story arc than seeing countless one time criminals who wear a mask. The best episodes for me have actually been the ones without a case of the week, these episodes were action packed and contained an intriguing storyline that had me hooked from beginning to end. More of them please!
Another downside I have with the show is the cast, there is way too much. Gotham fails to share the screen time between the cast meaning some episodes we don't see some of the regular cast or they make pointless appearances (cat). The show has so many interesting characters that have yet to really be explored (Riddler). I would like to see more of cast we already have explored, and there stories before we get introduced to new villains or more people (Harvery Dent, Scarecrow). They should just stick with the cast that they already have for now so we can get familiar with them, I mean I don't even know what Gordon's boss is called or Barbra's ex.
Whilst there are a few low points about Gotham, there are also some highs like Jada Pinckett Smith and Robin Lord Taylor's portrayals of Fish Mooney and Penguin. They both have been exceptional in their respective roles, especially Robin. Whenever he is in a scene I know it’s going to be good.
Grade C
Gracepoint
Best Episode: "Episode 8"
It was a thrilling series with lots of twists, and some decent acting, but it failed to change itself from Broadchurch. Whilst I wasn't expecting major changes from the original I expected a decent amount of changes to happen especially since Gracepoint was 2 episodes longer than Broadchurch. I felt let down by the lack of changes made, especially given that the only notable difference was that Tom went missing in one episode. I expected better. The writing for the finale was terrible, how they rushed to a confession from Joe Miller without any build up to it, then a sudden twist about how Tom Miller was the killer. It all seemed as if the writers had no idea how they were going to change the ending. The killer shouldn't have been someone from the Miller family, it should have been someone entirely different like the priest.
After the finale I have to ask myself what the point in making Gracepoint was if Broadchurch had already aired in America, it seems like a waste of money and time. I can't imagine what FOX will do to Luther when they "remake" it. One thing is for sure I won't be watching any more American remakes.
Grade D
Grey's Anatomy
Best Episode: "Only Mama Knows"
Grey's Anatomy is the oldest show I watch, I can't believe it is in its eleventh season! Last season we saw fan favourite Christina Yang depart, and everybody knew that her leaving would leave a hole in the show. Her absence can be felt a lot in the first couple of episodes, and they just don't flow as well as when she was around. The storylines this season have been very poor, and is just another sign that the show has long past its prime. All the characters that made me love the show have either died or left (Mark, Lexi, Christina, George, Addison) with the exception of Alex, it just doesn't feel like the show it was 5 seasons ago.
The introduction of Maggie was nowhere near the big storyline I wanted for Meredith, it feels like they have run out of ideas, and we are starting to see the same material re-used. The one benefit though of introducing Maggie is that it gives Richard something to do, since he was side-lined the majority of season 10. Speaking of Meredith I am tired of seeing her and Derek fight, and actually also Arizona and Callie. We have seen it all before, and it is time for some new material because it gets to the point where it isn't enjoyable to watch anymore. The two other characters brought into the show this season are Dr Herman (Geena Davis) and Amelia Shepard who have been welcome additions, and are perhaps some of the only good things to happen this season.
Another problem I have had for years on Grey's is the overwhelming amount of regular cast. Some characters who have been on the show for years (Owen, Bailey) are given little to work with in terms of storylines, and only make brief appearances for a few scenes here and there. They need to get a formula that actually works like it did way back in season 5 where every cast member would get a good amount of scenes and lines per episode. The other thing that has continued to bother me is the upping of Jerika Hinton to regular. What was the point in doing that if she says about 1 word per episode?
Grade C
How to get away With Murder
Best Episode: "Kill Me, Kill Me, Kill Me"
It was so hard to pick a favourite episode from the first half of the season since every episode has been phenomenal. Shonda Rhimes has somehow managed to create another masterpiece; she really is the queen of television. Every episode has been perfectly written, and each time the ending would come around of an episode it would be hard for me to take my jaw of the floor, each episode always ended with a bang that would leave me hungry for more. It is an addictive show, one that has me on the edge of my seat wondering what will happen next. Viola Davis rightly deserves her golden globe nomination, she has been phenomenal, and she completely nails every scene with a passionate and emotional response to whatever is happening. If she doesn't win for best actress then something has gone wrong there.
It will be interesting to see what the show produces in its last 6 episodes; I can only imagine what they have left in store for us. If the Mid-season finale was that good I can't imagine how the first season will end. Now that the "flash forwards" have caught up with current events, I am really intrigued to see what they plan to do next, since the flash forwards have played such an effective role in the telling the story so far. I have to wonder what they have up their sleeves to maintain the quality we have seen this far. Whatever happens I'm invested into the show for the long term.
Grade A
Once Upon a Time
Best Episode: "Shattered Sight"
This is a strange one, I have to be completely honest, which is that I haven't enjoyed the frozen storyline as much as I hoped I would. I absolutely loved Season 3B with the Wicked Witch, but this storyline hasn't really caught my attention much. I have been a fan of the show from season 1, and have loved it ever since, but I think it's the new formula they have started with splitting the seasons in half that isn't working that great for me. I do like though how we get a variety of different Disney villains, and heroes appearing on our screens which is a benefit to having split seasons, but I haven’t been that invested into this storyline all the way through, I felt that it went on for a little bit too long. I loved a lot of episodes such as shattered sight, but some felt like filler episodes with nothing happening that would keep my interest all the way through.
One of the things I did like about the frozen storyline though was the snow queen. I have been huge fan of Elizabeth Mitchell's since LOST and loved her on V and Revolution, so I was eagerly awaiting her first appearance. She did not disappoint, and every scene she was in I loved, she was fantastic. The last scene we saw of her even had a few tears coming from my eyes; I think I was sadder that we wouldn't be seeing Mitchell again than the snow queen sacrificing herself.
Grade B
Person of Interest
Best Episode: "The Devil You Know"
When Person of Interest ended its third season it was anyone's guess as to what was going to happen in the new season. Whilst some people argue that the quality of the show isn't the same as it was back in season 1 I would disagree. Some episodes yes haven't been produced to the best of the shows abilities or executed perfectly, but each episode has still been enjoyable to watch.
I knew it would take time to get use to the new layout of the show with their new cover identities, but I think the change has been good for the show. They needed to move forward with the Samaritan storyline, and what better way to do that than to show us how vulnerable the team can be. The team machine have been the ones running the show, taking control of situations, putting an end to criminals for seasons now, so it has been interesting seeing a much weaker team that hasn't got much control anymore.
The writing for the show has continued to impress, and the more powerful and action packed episodes have been right on par with previous seasons. The episode “The Devil You Know” has been a particular highlight this season. It was an emotional rollercoaster for Alias, but it was needed as it really got us familiar with Dominic and his means to be “king”. I have loved how the show is slowly introducing new players into the mix that could cause serious problems for team machine. I always love how they have more than one enemy each season; it unlocks a wide range of possibilities as to which direction the show is going to take next. The new layout has even allowed a little more character development to happen, although the side storylines such as John and his shrink are really scenes that I don't think are needed, I don't really care that much about them either.
Grade A
Sleepy Hollow
Best Episode: The Akeda
Sleepy Hollow’s second season hasn’t really been as good as season 1, but I have still enjoyed it. John Noble has been an excellent addition to the cast; he has been fantastic as the villain so I am really glad he got upped to regular not just because I miss Fringe. I continue to enjoy Abby and Crane’s interactions, and when Crane continues to be puzzled by things in the 21st century it always amuses me. Their relationship this season has developed further from season 1, and they continue to get closer to one another, watching them two share a scene always puts a smile on my face. I also like the continued interactions between Abby and Jenny, and getting to know a little bit about their mother was very interesting to see, and I am glad they explored more of her backstory. I do wish we saw a little more of Jenny though as she sometimes only shows up in episodes for a brief scene.
After the finale I am curious to see what will happen next, and where the show will go in terms of story. The season so far has been enjoyable, with some episodes matching the quality of season 1, but some failing to do that, still I have managed to enjoy every episode. Sleepy Hollow has become a show I look forward to seeing each week, and I cannot wait for its return!
Grade B
Sons of Anarchy
Best Episode: "Red Rose"
The final season of Sons of Anarchy was a strong one, especially on the acting side of things. The first 6 episodes felt like a slow burn, but the latter half of the season really picked up and produced some of the best episodes from the shows 7 year run. The final season wasn't light on action, and blood thirsty deaths; there was a lot of it. This season I am sure everyone can agree that the cast really upped their game in terms of acting, they were already good actors, but they all went above and beyond to deliver some of the finest performances in television. Katy Segal, Jimmy Smits and Charlie Hunnam were particular highlights especially in "Red Rose" and "Papa's Goods". They were emmy worthy performances, I can't believe this show didn't get any recognition from the Golden Globes. It's absolutely shocking.
I felt that the final season wrapped the show up nicely, ending things at a good time whilst also leaving nothing too notable left without a resolution. The final season also had its fair share of deaths, most of the deaths though us fans were begging Kurt Sutter to pull the plug on them characters seasons ago (Gemma, Unser), but whilst some were less surprising some of them really shocked me. The killing of Bobby in particular was absolutely shocking. He was the most decent, and level headed of them all, so it didn't feel right when they decided to kill him, he was the one person I thought was likeliest to survive. His death though did have a huge effect on Gemma and Jax, which surprisingly is when the season for me really picked up, so in a way Bobby's death helped the show to produce not only good episodes, but outstanding performances by the cast as well.
Grade B
The 100
Best Episode: "Spacewalker"
The 100 has now become one of my favourite shows, its story is compelling to watch and their constant struggle to survive always keeps me engaged. The writing for this season has been incredible; there have been some really powerful scenes especially between Clarke and Finn. Speaking of Finn his death was a complete jaw dropping moment, I was expecting him to pay, and possibly die, but for Clarke to kill him was shocking. That is another example of how good the show has become. The writers have taken season 1's material and completely moved the writing to a whole new level.
There has been much character development on the show which is always a good thing, and I really did enjoy seeing Finn’s dark transformation from someone who wanted to help people to a person who massacred a load of grounders. The show is exploring new territories I wouldn't have imagined it touching, and the high level of quality compared to season 1 is visible. They really have outdone themselves. The multiple storylines for the season have been excellent, and I honestly can’t say which one I have enjoyed more since I don't think I have disliked a single scene the entire season, it's been that good. The second half can't come quick enough.
Grade A
The Middle
Best Episode: "Thanksgiving VI"
The Middle has been my favourite comedy for a good couple years now, it is a shame it doesn't get the recognition it deserves. This season on The Middle Axel has gone to college, and whilst you would expect him to be around a lot less he isn't, The Middle manages to make it work. The characters are all growing up, and that doesn't affect the show one bit, in fact I would say the show is improving each season. Every episode this season has been jammed packed with comedic aspects built around a storyline, from taking Axel to college to Mike buying a Christmas tree.
Sue continues to be the standout amongst the characters, and if she said nothing the entire episode I would still laugh. Her presence in a scene is enough to make me pull a smile.The holiday episodes are always standout episodes for The Middle, and this season continued with that, perhaps one day they can have a normal Thanksgiving without the drama that the episodes tend to bring… probably not. The Middle is one of the shows I always look forward to, and can easily go back and watch a random episode and thoroughly enjoy it. Bring on more of the hecks!
Grade A
The Walking Dead
Best Episode: "No Sanctuary"
The Walking Dead continues to outdo its previous season year after year, and it continued with that tradition during the first half of Season 5. The writers have told another compelling chapter in the series with the Cannibals, and The Grady Memorial and the actors on the show make it even more enjoyable to watch. The actors really get invested into the material they have to work with, and deliver some emotional, yet powerful performances. Mellissa McBride continues to be the star of the show for me, week after week she continues to impress with her phenomenal acting, especially in them one on one interactions she shared with Norman Reedus's Daryl.
I need to try and remember not to get too heavily invested into a character, as it's at the stage now where anyone of them could die at any moment. I wasn't expecting Beth to die at all, when Rick arrived at the hospital and they made the exchange I thought they were all going to make it out of there, but sadly the show lost another talented actress with her characters demise. As far as the villains go for this half it really shows you how diverse the enemies are, with Dawn having a more complex background compared to Gareth being a complete lunatic.
I do like that the show is continuing with the formula used for 4B which is to break the group down into smaller ones, it allows us to get to know the characters better, and for more interactions between characters to take place, instead of all out action. The creative aspect of the show has really been upped from season 4, with them producing even more gruesome zombies, and higher quality sets. The Walking Dead is one of my favourite shows, and I look forward to seeing what they have in store for season 5B.
Grade A
Z Nation
Best Episode: "Doctor of the Dead"
After being the designated reviewer for the show I had to watch all the episodes, but it wasn't a punishment. I have actually enjoyed Z Nation for what it is, a comedic take on a zombie apocalypse. Z Nation did have a bit of a rocky start to the season in the first couple of episodes with everything out of place, and the episodes not flowing as well as they should have, but at around episode 5 things started to pick up, and the show seemed a lot better. The episodes became enjoyable once they started to make sense, and I did start to get invested into the mission and the show.
As the season progressed everything I had mentioned in my reviews that I wanted to see changed seemed to take effect, such as the toning down of Citizen Z. I hated when he would briefly make an appearance that was irrelevant to the episode, it is a either a conscience or the writers were reading my reviews. The show wasn't made to be a serious one, so if you going into an episode with a picture of The Walking Dead in mind you will leave disappointed. It is more of a wacky Zombie show that is made purely to entertain you, whilst offering a half decent story-line. This is exactly what it does.
Grade B
Don't forget to check out other Mid-Season reviews by Ben and Gavin!
Ben's Mid-Season Review
Gavin's Mid-Season Review
As always thank you for reading! Let me know in the comments how your TV Season has been so far! The last thing for me to say is Happy New Year!
