Last Week in TV - Week of April 19 - Reviews and Episode Awards

Welcome back to Last Week in TV, one day late. Sorry about that but this cold is still kicking my butt. As such, some shows are left unreviewed again. This week we say goodbye to Scorpion (definitely coming back) and Fresh Off the Boat (on the bubble for renewal). I don't know about you guys but this cancellation season is going to be rough for me. Most of the new shows I liked will not be renewed and since my returning shows were often less than spectacular, that is terrible news. Here's hoping you are doing better. As always if there's a great show I'm missing, nominate in the short form below. Next week I'm reviewing Merlin, episode 3.12, which is a funny coincidence because I was just talking about that show on another post. Until new week, happy TV viewing and remember that comments make the discussion go 'round.

Show of the Week:

The Flash - 1.19 - Who is Harrison Wells?

The Flash isn’t messing around in its plot development. Once Barry became suspicious of Wells, it has gone in fast forward to bring this story to a head. To be honest, I didn't expect this until season 3 at a minimum so I am riding the high here. I love that they found Well's hidden man cave in this episode so there's no way Caitlin can deny his involvement now. Plus it means that the finale has to put Barry vs. Wells and that should be one fantastic fight. As for the episode itself, I liked the idea of a shapeshifter but not necessarily the fact that Barry was outwitted twice. That's two times too many for a guy as smart as Barry. Other than that, this was a solid episode with great pacing and great reveals. I like that Eddie comes clean to Iris about working with The Flash, but I'm guessing that's as far as it goes. No big secret identity reveals there. Perhaps that's Iris' one true function on the show - to be the person everyone protects and the only one who doesn't know Barry's secret identity. As such, she needs to go. She's dead weight in a show that moves to quickly to be carrying her around. Perhaps she can go to the spin-off and actually become a character instead of a plot device there.

Grade: A-

Best Reason to Watch - forward advancement on the Harrison Wells storyline
Best Scene - Barry, Cisco, and Caitlin find Wells' hidden room and the Reverse Flash suit
Best Advice - Joe councils Quentin to reconcile with Laurel
Best Relief - Caitlin realizing that Fake Barry is the one who kissed her
Great Nickname - Everyman, so Caitlin should come up with others / Cisco's Canary Cry works too
Worst Day - having a killer impersonate you pretty much sucks
Dumbest Smart Guy - Barry, who didn't even suspect that it was FakeEddie at the door and then hesitates with FakeCaitlin
Most Helpful - Cisco, who helps Laurel perfect her sound chip
Biggest Crush - Cisco on Laurel as the Black Canary
The "Welcome Back" Award (character) - Captain Lance, one of the few things I miss since dropping Arrow
Best Quotes -
1. Eddie: "I figured we could ask her a few questions." Barry: "Like why anyone in their family thought that naming a kid Hannibal wouldn't mean he'd grow up to be a criminal?"
2. Laurel: "As promised. Hey, you show this to anyone I'll kill you." Cisco: "That's just an expression, right?" Laurel: "Nope."
3. Cisco: "Please tell me that's not what I think it is." Lance: "Okay, that is definitely a hand." Cisco: "Okay, see I thought it was a foot but a hand is just as bad."
4. Joe: "Scared is a good thing. Scared keeps us alive."
5. Caitlin: "I can't believe you're pulling the dad card. It's a dirty pull, Barry."

Nominated Show:

The I.T. Crowd - 1.01-1.04 - The Red Door

Note - The nominated episode was 1.04 but since I hate to start things in the middle I ended up watching the first four episodes. The review and episode awards are based on all four.

I'm not sure British comedy is for me. Don't get me wrong. There were some laugh out loud moments throughout the first 4 episodes of The I. T. Crowd. In fact, I chuckled so hard in some places that I could barely breathe. Still much like Mr. Bean, which I hate, the humor was far too silly and it lacked the trademark heart I need to make a comedy successful to me. Between the potty humor, which does nothing for me, and the tendency to repeat things over and over again, which comes off more annoying than funny, I ended up disliking large portions of the first four episodes. The characters are interesting if a bit flat and the idea that one can be hired as manager of the IT department without even knowing to plug in the computer makes for some great situations. In fact many of the problems reminded me of my own days running tech support for my school. You really do need a tape recorder reminding people to turn the computer off and then back on since that fixes the problem 90% of the time. That's the best long-running gag of the show.

Grade: C (with 1.02 being the best episode and 1.03 the worst)
Ranking - 1
Audience - anyone who loves British humor

Best Reason to Watch - the characters
Best Character Interaction - Roy and Maurice
Biggest Laugh - Jen gets Roy out from under the desk by claiming she sees a guy taking off his shirt only when the women come over to look, he's a schlub
Most Fun - Roy and Maurice make the stress management leader stress out
Most Intriguing Character - Richmond Avenal, who has a Dark Shadows vibe going on
Most Intriguing Place - the green door
Least Helpful - dialing 16 numbers in an emergency
Worst Plan - KISS makeup at a boardroom meeting
Worst Party Story - that time you hired prostitutes
Best Reference - the A-Team / Tim Burton
Worst Reference - dial-up internet
Best Quotes -
1. Maurice: "Did you and her hit it off?" Roy: "Define hit it off." Maurice: "Did she continue talking to you once you'd fixed her computer?" Roy: "No."
2. Roy: "We don't need no education." Maurice: "Yes, you do. You just used a double negative."
3. Roy: "Yeah you know I shouldn't have used the word plan. I've clearly gotten you overexcited."
4. Maurice: "I'll level with you Roy. I don't think I'd flourish in a prison environment."
5. Maurice: "I'm a 32 year old IT man who works in the basement. Yes, I do the whole Lonely Hearts thing."

New Show:

Safe House - 1.01 - Pilot

Safe House has taken a suspenseful and intriguing premise and tampered it down into all mood and lingering setting shots. Who knew a show about people with assassins after them could be so boring? It doesn't help that the dad is a complete prick and the son has no common sense. I don't care about any of these people in the pilot. The worst thing a TV show can do is bore me so it was a bad sign when I wanted to grab my tablet to play games about 20 minutes into the pilot. Even the cliffhanger of Moron, Junior getting taken doesn't inspire me to care enough to watch the next episode. Maybe it will pick up, but quite frankly this is one show that would benefit from being procedural…and having a new editor. Marsha Thomason deserves better than this.

Grade: D
Ranking - 1
Audience - those who like atmosphere over pacing

Best Reason to Watch - Doctor Who is in it and at 4-episodes, it's shorter than Gracepoint
Best Scene - Robert burns the news clippings about his old case
Best Action - the attempted kidnapping of the younger son
Biggest Brat - Sam, who won't even call his dad back after he was attacked
Most Shoddy Police Work - no one thought to go by the house and check it out / Robert doesn't call the police when they are being followed so that they can arrest the guy
The "Welcome Back" Award - Christopher Eccleston of Doctor Who fame / Marsha Thomason of White Collar

Weekly Shows:

AD - 1.03 - The Spirit Arrives

Grade: B

Best Reason to Watch - the church begins
Best Character Interaction - Peter and his daughter
Biggest Hmm - Where was Peter's speech to the crowd outside the room they were staying in that converted thousands in one day? That's a huge event in the life of the early church and yet it is missing here.
The "Way to Bring Down the Room" Award - Maya asks if they will be killed if they are caught
Most Powerful - prayer more than any of these soldiers and revolutionaries
Most Insightful - Claudia
Most Lethal - Boaz's nifty spring-set weapons
Least Politic - Pilate, who will come to rue his rash decisions
Best Quotes -
1. Maya: "Are you afraid?" Peter: "I am. Not of the Romans or the priests. I'm afraid I may not be the person that Jesus thinks I am." Maya: "I always felt safe when you were home like you knew exactly what you wanted and how you were going to get it." Peter: "Back then all I wanted was fish. Fish meant money and money meant food and clothes. Life was simple." Maya: "And now it isn't? What would he do if he were here?" Peter: "He'd pray."
2. Simon: "He said he'd build his church. How? With what?" Peter: "I don't know." Mary: "He'll build it with 2 things that are lacking in this room - belief and patience."
3. Peter: "It's through Jesus that this man walks again. God sent us His servant, Jesus, and God raised Him again from death. We are His witnesses and the Holy Spirit is with us and makes us strong. Jesus is alive. Let all Israel know. God made Jesus, Lord and Messiah."
4. Claudia: "I've been with you long enough to know when something's troubling you." Pilate: "I'm not troubled." Claudia: "Don't confuse me with other people's wives." Pilate: "How could I?" Claudia: "If you deal honestly with me, I'll stand beside you."
5. Peter: "So many questions." Maya: "You taught me to ask questions, remember?" John: "She's definitely your daughter."

The Royals - 1.06 - The Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Fortune

Grade: B-

Best Scene - Prudence tells off Cyrus
Best Back Story - Liam learned to play darts because he wanted to beat Robert at it
Best Character Interaction - Eleanor and Beck, who makes her tolerable
Most Interesting Twist - Jasper becomes Queen Helena's bodyguard
Most Charming - Prince Liam and his perfect line
The "Nope, Didn't Need That" Award - I don't need to see or hear Queen Helena and Jasper get it on
Most Handy - Marcus, who is way too smart and honorable for any of these fools…well except King Simon
Biggest Brat / Worst Player - Gemma, who gambles away Ashok's new car
Worst Flaunting of International Law - Eleanor and her diplomatic pouch
Best Love Affair - Ashok and his new car (McLaren Coupe)
Worst Timing - King Simon comes home right when Jasper is leaving the queen
Best Plan - Gemma decides she needs some alone time
Most in Need of Being Shot - Cyrus, please
Most Invasive - Eleanor when dressing Ophelia
The "Wow, She Might Actually be Human" Award - Eleanor loves bacon. She can't be completely evil.
Biggest Oops - Ophelia accidentally shoots Ashok with an arrow
Best Quotes -
1. Liam: "Good because you're fired for the weekend. The team can handle it. I'll re-hire you when we get back to London." Marcus: "Sir?" Liam: "I know I don't always make it easy for you, Marcus, but you deal with it and me with skill and grace, and I appreciate it. So enjoy the weekend, hang out, relax, and don't call me sir."
2. Omar: "What is this, huh? An episode of Glee?"
3. Beck: "Let's see if we can change your luck. It's easier if you have a system." Eleanor: "What's your system?" Beck: "Well I bet black because it's your favorite color. Odd, because, well you are. 17 because it's the age you were when I first saw you, 23 cause it's your favorite color, and 35." Eleanor: "Well what's 35?" Beck: "35 is the number of times you've taken my breath away in that outfit."
4. Prudence: "You're a good man and a great king and that matters immensely to all of us."
5. Liam: "You know it's a funny thing, pressure. Once you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, the rest of it is easy."

Scorpion - 1.22 - Postcards from the Edge (season finale)

I hate when shows end the season on a cliffhanger that is obviously going to be resolved in the first 15 minutes of next season's premiere so this episode was a refreshing change. In many ways this feels like the season 2 opener with last week's episode as the season finale. The big cliffhanger is resolved before the episode is over and we're assured that Walter will be right as rain, so no worries about him either. It means we don't have to waste precious moments of the season 2 premiere getting the team back together or waiting for updates on Walter. Sadly, it also means Walter will be smack in the middle of the return and not lying in a hospital bed. Oh well. I love how Happy's ingenuity and Cabe's heroism saves the day again, even though I don't agree with Paige's rash decision to keep Ralph near the team. She has to institute some real changes with him or else she's going to get Ralph taken away from her.

Grade: B+

Best Reason to Watch - the team's back together
Best Scene - Walter apologizes for being a douche to Cabe
Best Entrance - Happy comes through the ceiling to hop on Elia's conference table
Biggest Miss - the cops arrive just after Paige and Ralph leave for the airport
Sweetest Gesture - Sylvester brings balloons
Best Aim - Happy's syringe dart that drains the oil to put out the fire
The "Oh Yeah Right" Award - How did Toby, Happy, and Sylvester not see the damaged guardrail in the first place? Why did it take pinging his phone for it to click?
The "Where Did the Budget Go?" Award - the CGI for Cabe going to rescue Walter was simply terrible
The "Are You Kidding Me?" Award - How is Paige to blame for Walter being his typical douche self? Shut up, Happy.
The "Sucks to be You" Award - even nature is against Walter in this episode
Biggest Douche - for once it's NOT Walter but Merrick, Scorpion's second biggest prick
Least Fair - I want to see the hover board Sylvester is talking about
Best Quotes -
1. Walter: "Cabe…uh, Cabe, when I was 16 years old…" Cabe: "What I did with Baghdad was wrong. You have every right to be mad at me." Walter: "No, I was hurt and…uh, I overreacted. I was…uh, emotional and…uh, ineffective and if I'd been logical then I'd…uh, I'd have realized that man who knew me when I was younger would never hurt me on purpose." Cabe: "Thank you, Walter." Walter: "Cabe, you told me that when your daughter passed away, you'd visit her grave every Sunday." Cabe: "Yes, without fail." Walter: "The grass at her plot was always…uh, green, healthy and the others were brown. I hacked the sprinkler system. I…uh, watered it twice a day. The others were once a week." Cabe: "I always thought that was the groundskeeper taking pity on me because I was there alone." Walter: "No, it was me." Cabe: "Fifteen years ago you were so mad at me about Baghdad. Why would you do that for me?" Walter: "That's not the point. The point is that I don't want there to be any more secrets between us."
2. Walter: "Sly, do you remember that time when we filled that balloon with tapioca and then we took that catapult.." Sylvester: "Walter you don't need to take me down memory lane, but thanks. I love you too."
3. Elia: "I'm in the middle of a meeting." Happy: "And I'm in the middle of your conference table. You stuck your nose where it didn't belong, looking to break apart the only family some of us have ever known." Elia: "I was being friendly." Happy: "You were poaching our boss. Now he's missing and I'm not leaving here without that VIN number."
4. Sylvester: "Did you just flash your SCUBA certification?" Cabe: "Yeah, I don't work for Homeland anymore."
5. Cop: "The resources belong to trained rescue personnel…" Happy: "That don't have the brain power of me with a hangover and this guy when he's sleeping."
6. Happy: "I am going to hook Cabe up to the end of a crane like a wrecking ball and swing him out over the canyon to your car. He'll connect you via a safety line and we'll pull you both back in." Walter: "That's amazingly not the craziest idea that we've ever done." Happy: "It's been a busy year."

Fresh Off the Boat - 1.13 - So Chineez (season finale)

Fresh Off the Boat was a surprise in a season of poorly written and poorly paced comedies. It's one of the few new comedies that I actually watched on a weekly basis and never regretted it. Jessica was especially fun to watch and her character growth in 13 episodes was greater than some comedy characters in 3 seasons. (Looking at you, Sheldon.) Constance Wu's definitely the breakout comedy star of the year. I like how the show stepped away from being about Eddie and focused more on the parents. To be honest, I'm not sure I would still be watching if they hadn't since he's the least watchable character. Instead by focusing on Jessica and Louis, it retained the heart I need in a comedy while ramping up the crazy. What I like best about Jessica is that she has the same tendencies of Beverly Goldberg but she is rarely overly obnoxious about it. She demands a lot but she loves a lot too. I also admire how Louis and Jessica clearly love and support each other instead of tearing each other down. They have a great relationship that thrives in hard times and celebrates the good times together. All in all, Fresh Off the Boat is a winner. Here's hoping it gets a season 2.

Grade: B

Best Reason to Watch - Jessica
Best Subplot - Emery and Evan's refrigerator war
Best Reference - Stephen King / Boy Meets World
Worst Reference - Melrose Place
Most Surprising - Jessica puts Eddie's "F" on the refrigerator
Least Smart - Brian, who believes Eddie when he says he has Topanga's phone number especially since she's a fictional character
The "I Don't Blame Them" Award - I'd claim extra homework if my mom tried to feed me chicken feet too
Worst Teaching - Why when everyone else has a country does the one kid have Africa? Africa is a continent. Do they really think that all of Africa is the same?
Best Music - Opportunities by Pet Shop Boys / Kokomo by The Beach Boys
The "Welcome Back" Award (character) - Marvin
Best Quotes -
1. Jessica: "They have me, Louis. I'm just a Chipwich-eating American couch lady."
2. Eddie: "Dave, I may need to borrow your Bjork CD." Dave: "How do you know I have that?" Eddie: "Your taste in music sucks."
3. Jessica: "I like all of it. Melrose Place, rollerblading, mac and cheese. It's so easy to make. You just add water. It's cheese from water."

iZombie - 1.06 - Virtual Reality Bites

If ever there was a victim that needed to die on this show, it's this prick who ruins people's life because it's fun. I feel sorry for the murderer here. I also feel bad for Major, who just wants to do the right thing and is likely to die because of it. It will be a shame because I like him. I also liked the idea of a rich businesswoman clamoring for brains, but that seems to be over now. Jackie really should not have answered the door, but at least Liv and Ravi know what Blaine is up to. It will be interesting seeing how they break the news to Clive and if Clive will be able to do anything what with his boss being one of Blaine's clients. Things are about to get tricky and I can't wait. Liv versus Blaine ought to be fun. Go Liv!

Grade: B

Best Reason to Watch - Liv finally knows what Blaine is doing
Most Needing to Die - the dead guy who exemplifies the worst of humanity
Most Likely to Throw Up - me, just imagining Liv eating putrefied brain
Biggest Huh? - Do zombies get indigestion? If so, Liv is in real trouble after eating all that junk food.
Worst Dominoes Fail - delivery guy didn't get Jackie's order right in 30 minutes or less and ends up dinner
Least Surprising - the main guy in the video game world is really 14
Best Play - having Major on the autopsy table in the cold open
The "Honesty's the Best Policy" Award - I like that Liv tells Lowell the truth about Major so they don't drag everything out
Quotes -
1. Liv: "Must have doughnuts. Great. I ate Homer Simpson's brain."
2. Lowell: "So did you run out of napkins, or were you just fondled by an Oompa Loompa?"
3. Clive: "Way to stick the landing." Liv: "Sorry. Heavily medicated. Took a few pills for what ails me." Clive: "I hope you also took the bus."
4. Major: "I'm a social worker. My insurance covers like one Band-aid a year."
5. Tom: "Your optimism is tragic."

Forever - 1.21 - The Night in Question

Grade: B+

Best Reason to Watch - the truth about Abigail's death comes out
Best Scene - Henry gets the truth from Adam
Biggest Aww Moment - Henry tells Abe that it wasn't Abigail in the grave and they hug
Least Surprising - Adam is the one who kidnapped Abigail
Best Plan - Reece gives Henry the all clear to talk to the cop who might have killed Abigail
Worst Plan - Henry doing the autopsy on what he thinks is his wife
Best Music - We Might be Dead by Tomorrow by Soko
The "Welcome Back" Award - Boris McGiver from TURN, White Collar, and The Wire
Best Quotes -
1. Lucas: "Whoa, you have your own lair." Henry: "As you can see, we have much of the same equipment we have in the lab." Lucas: "You're a beautiful man. Just when I think you've peaked, you just go and take it to a whole new level."
2. Jo: "Did we just accuse a federal judge of murder?" Henry: "Damn did it feel good."

Supernatural - 10.19 - The Werther Project

It's good to have Purgatory and Benny back. They were the only good things about season 8 and Benny was killed off way too soon anyway. If Taxi Driver hadn't blown all canon about Purgatory and hell to smithereens, I wouldn't have minded staying there a bit longer here. As it is, Skin still stands as the best episode to take place in Missouri but this one wasn't too bad. Sam's determination to save Dean at all costs is still a plus, but only because Dean realized that they could work the problem together to get better results. After all, we can't have Supernatural without Sammy any more than we could have it without Dean. It's also nice to get confirmation that although they will soon forget (and by "they" I mean the writers), it is always better having Winchesters work together. Better for the plans and much, much better for the audience. It was nice to have Hallucination Rowena as well. She's as devious as the real one so good luck keeping her chained up, Sam. I don't think it'll work.

Grade: B

Best Reason to Watch - Sam is one step closer to curing Dean
Biggest Confirmation - Dean is thinking about killing himself
Best Continuity - Benny and Purgatory
The "Say What?" Award - Since when does Sam just plead at the door instead of breaking it down to rescue the woman? I call shenanicanon.
The "Back Up the Truck" Award - Mr. Sinclair, there is nothing wrong with being a librarian. You obviously haven't seen The Librarians.
The "Oh Poor Baby" Award - Sammy is giving up most of his blood to get into the box
The "Busted!" Award - Dean climbs into the car with Sam while he's trying to save him
Biggest Brat - teenage Suzie, who demolishes her house and lets out the bad stuff
The "No Duh" Award - it always works better when the Winchesters work together
Least Surprising - Rowena wants Sam to kill Crowley
Worst Celebration - Dean takes beer from a blood-soaked fridge
The "Welcome Back" Award (place) - Purgatory / Supernatural goes back to my home town of St. Louis. The first time was in Skin with ShifterDean.
The "Welcome Back" Award (character) - Benny, who left the show far too soon
The "Welcome Back" Award (actor) - Kavan Smith of Stargate, Eureka, and The 4400 fame
Best Quotes -
1. Dean: "The universe is trying to tell us something we both should already know. We're stronger together than apart."
2. Rowena: "I'm over 300 years old. Beauty sleep isn't optional."
3. Dean: "Hey, I'm bummed out too but you are just a figment. Okay? You're…you're subconscious junk my brain's throwing up to distract me from getting back to reality." Benny: "Figment? Junk? Well I'll try not to be offended."
4. Sam: "Get away from me. No don't, don't. Dean, it's the only way. It needs Legacy blood, enough to take a life." Dean: "Well it doesn't have to come from just one Legacy does it? If it needs more blood, it can have mine."
5. Benny: "In this place, you don't have to go looking for a fight. All you have to do is be still for one moment and that fight will come to you. That's why you're here, Dean. That's the purity you crave. Killing with no consequence."

CSI: Cyber - 1.07 - URL, Interrupted / 1.08 - Selfie 2.0

It really sucks to be right sometimes. I called the ex-girlfriend from the first mention, but I would rather it have been a child. At least then you can confront them about the evil of their choices but an adult has zero excuse. Actually a teen has no excuse either. They know that words hurt too. To see the lack of regret in these teens for cyber torturing Zoe is scary. Most actual teens are very empathetic when you show them how their actions make others feel, thankfully. Most are not sociopaths like Hollywood likes to make them seem. Speaking of sociopaths, the second episode was very disturbing, like Criminal Minds-level disturbing. We did get back story on Avery and the Krumitz and Nelson bromance is developing nicely, but I could have done without this case of the week. The idea of girls being shackled in a sociopath's basement for years is unnerving to say the least.

Grade: B / C

Best Reason to Watch - all the ways technology is scary
Best Scene - Krumitz and Nelson celebrating their new clues together
Most Fun - Nelson and Krumitz's growing bromance
Biggest Lesson - never turn on your location services EVER
Biggest Sign that Civilization is Dying - none of these kids who cyber bullied Zoe show any remorse at all
Best Aww Moment - Avery tells Krumitz how much she appreciates him
Best Back Story - Raven's hacking career / Avery's dead client
The "Oh Please No" Award - Tell me this poor kid wasn't getting bullied by her dad's ex. It would be even worse than if it were horrendous kids.
Best PSA - anti-cyber bullying
Creepiest Business Idea Ever - wearing a mask in public to keep security cameras from noticing you
The "A Little Warning Please" Award - no close-ups on dead girls with bugs all over their faces
The "Welcome Back" Award - Rosanna Arquette from Royal Pains and a whole lot of movies
Best Quotes -
1. Mundo: "What are picture frames for?" Raven: "Parent, grandparents, you know…old people." Mundo: "I would get mad at you but I walked myself right into that one."
2. Zoe: "To everyone who cyber bullied me, know that your words mean something. That cruel comment that you type without second thought could destroy someone's life. Your words are weapons. Be careful how you use them."
3. Raven: "Worst guidance counselor ever."
4. Jennifer: "I feel so awful for Zoe. We've been friends since preschool." Avery: "I don't think I've ever called one of my friends a heinous b** or told them I wish that they would die a slow and painful death." Jennifer: "Well some friends deserve it."
5. Nelson: "That's what I'm talking about. Babyface and Big Boy, heating up."

The Goldbergs - 2.21 - As You Wish

The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies and I've been waiting for them to do it ever since they had the Goonies episode. While not as epic as that one, this one had a lot of heart and I love that Beverly was competent and not as obnoxious as usual. These days she could make money through matchmaking. She's that good. It's always nice when there's a Beverly at school moment that doesn't make me want to throw something so bonus points for that too. Plus Erica doing her first bit of matchmaking created a great mother-daughter moment. Still it all comes down to Murray as usual. I love how Pops' story made him wish for some quality bonding time with Adam, who was brattier than normal in this episode. Therefore I also liked how Pops refused to bail him out when he learned how Adam manipulated Murray. Adam did need to keep trying at fencing and it led to the funniest dialogue of the night. Mostly though I love that Murray went ahead and watched the movie and then participated in Adam's version. That's just awesome and the hug Adam gives him is icing on the cake.

Grade: B+

Best Reason to Watch - Murray, Pops, and Adam's interactions
Most Fun - Murray dresses up like Andre the Giant's character
The "I Totally Get It" Award - The Princess Bride is one of the most entertaining movies ever made. I've probably watched it hundreds of times too. Plus it is the most quotable movie I know. "I'm not a witch. I'm your wife. But after what you just said, I'm not even sure I want to be that anymore."
The "Say What?" Award - No school I know of has ever said teachers can't hook up. They are more concerned about teachers and students hooking up, which is beyond disgusting and loathsome.
Best Psych Out - Adam giving the Inigo Montoya speech
Best Matchmaker - Beverly, who in her gossiping knows everyone
Worst Nostalgia - print encyclopedias / sharing one phone
The "Welcome Back" Award (characters) - Coach Meller and Miss Cinoman
Best Quotes -
1. Adam: "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." Fencer: "Your father is right there. He sold us our sectional."
2. Pops: "Point is watching her dance is one of the happiest memories of my life. Don't you want to have that with your son?" Murray: "Ulgh, why do you always have to tell such wonderful and touching cr**?"
3. Adam: "Please, fencing is my dream." Murray: "I thought your dream was to be cast as an Ewok." Adam: "I'm too big now. Things change."
4. Adam: "Do you like romance, pirates, wizards, Mandy Patinkin?" Murray: "That's a hard 'no' to all those things, but what I do like is my money well-spent and that's why I'm gonna force you to fence." Adam: "But I'll get poked again and it stings a little. Pops, you're the voice of reason. Help me out here." Pops: "Not after the way you manipulated your father, kiddo. That was a real putz move."
5. Murray: "I have to admit that your story about Bevvy dancing gave me hope. For a second I thought that me and Adam actually found something that we both enjoyed." Pops: "You know, this reminds me of a story." Murray: "Oh dear God, I'll work through it on my own."
6. Pops: "Don't just stand there. We're in F. Find first aid."

Young & Hungry - 2.03/2.04/2.05 - Young & Munchies / Young & Old / Young & First Time

Grade: B overall

Best Reason to Watch - funny situations
Best Scene - Sofia tries to tell Gabi about Josh but she's passed out
Best Episode - 2.04, which is surprising because usually Elliot is my least favorite character
Most Magical - whatever Gabi is doing to look refreshed and gorgeous after passing out on the couch during a bender
Most Surprising - Eliot's pot dream
Worst Plan - getting stoned before a meeting with your boss
The "Welcome Back" Award (actor) - Rizwan Manji from Backstrom
The "Welcome Back" Award (character) - Logan / Cooper
Best Quotes -
1. Logan: "SoB, are you sure there's marijuana in this?" Gabi: "Tons. It's like a Seth Rogan movie in there."
2. Gabi: "Oh wow, your doctor's office is really nice. At the clinic that I go to if you didn't have something walking in, you're gonna have something walking out."
3. Josh: "Andre broke up with Elliot because he's turning 40." Yolanda: "Out of all the reasons, that's what he picked."
4. Gabi: "Oh yeah, speaking of pushers, does Dime Bag Dave still live downstairs." Sofia: "No, he moved to jail."
5. Yolanda: "That was the worst kung fu movie I've ever seen."

Backstrom - 1.10/1.11/1.12 - Love is a Rose and You Better Not Pick It / I Like to Watch / Corkscrewed

Grade: B- overall

Best Reason to Watch - Backstrom and Valentine
Best Reason to Fast Forward - Backstrom and Amy
Best Scene - Valentine tells Backstrom that his mother committed suicide and Backstrom starts to break down as he leaves
Best Back Story - Backstrom shows Valentine the bowl his mother made for him
Best Reaction - Valentine to Backstrom calling someone a prostatherapist / Gravely and Nadia to Backstrom's conversation in the box
The "Total Little Brother Move" Award - Valentine is frustrated with Backstrom so he steps on his sandwich
The "Well You Pegged That Right" Award - the therapist psychoanalyzes Backstrom into silence
Best Awww Moment - Valentine rescues the pot Backstrom's mother made
Least Professional - they all taste the wine in the actual office while on the job
Most Annoying - Valentine continues to lie to Backstrom even though it makes the case harder
Least Surprising - the fiancé did it
Most Surprising - the artistic side of Backstrom
Biggest Laugh - Moss Brady tells them Fitch is not dead so Backstrom has him taken to the morgue where he promptly faints
The "Welcome Back" Award - Frank Collison from Dr. Quinn and My Name is Earl / Haley Webb, who died too early on Teen Wolf / Ever Carradine from Major Crimes / Ian Tracey from The 100
Best Quotes -
1. Backstrom: "Don't be afraid to use your scary preacher voice. We're gonna bust this scumbag with God cop, bad cop."
2. Backstrom: "Paquet, why don't you make this in a way that people can read?" Nadia: "I make this in a way that everything is here. Okay, like reality, it's a little bit confusing but you cannot have it both ways."
3. Backstrom: "Plus the guy practically confessed." Gravely: "Okay by practically I assume you mean he completely denied it."
4. Valentine: "You know maybe you shouldn't have hookers come to your home when you're a cop." Backstrom: "It's not exactly a hooker. It's like a….um, prostatherapist."
5. Backstrom: "She came on to me because….I don't know. I saw deeper into her artistic soul than any other man ever had." Gravely: "That does not possibly seem like it could be true."

The Messengers - 1.02 - Strange Magic

I can see why the CW banished this show to Friday night purgatory. A twisted version of the apocalypse complete with an angry God and somewhat cheesy special effects has to be a hard sell. I'm a little more skeptical myself. Still, I like the characters so far, except for Vera. She is too shrill in her arguments so her voice goes through my head, which is weird because I didn't have a problem with the actress in Gang Related. Maybe as her doubt vanishes, she will grow on me too. The rest of the characters have been interesting, what little we know of them. Still the best reason to watch is the accelerated pacing, which already set up the quest of the show. To be honest, I don't expect this show to last for long so the big thing will be to see if it can end in a satisfying way. Taking down the Horseman of War would be a good start.

Grade - B

Best Reason to Watch - the overall quest is revealed
Best Scene - they all see themselves as angels
Best Power - healing
Most Annoying - Vera
Most Valid - Ben's wife makes a good point about soldiers' plights after they come home
Funniest Name - The Last Supper Bar and Grill
Biggest Hmm - Humans becoming angels? I don't think so. This isn't your Biblical apocalypse story.
Best Quotes -
1. Vera: "Are you trying to sound a**hat crazy right now?"
2. Rose: "It's no accident you're here." Joshua: "Do you know why?" Rose: "Yes, and I don't think any of us has a choice. We need to find and stop the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse." Vera: "Seriously, horsemen?" Joshua: "She's talking about war, pestilence, famine, and death." Peter: "That doesn't sound good." Rose: "It isn't, but they're regular people just like we are except the devil is tempting each of them to commit some kind of terrible sin and once they do, they're no longer human. They've broken a fateful seal." Joshua: "The 7 seals of the Apocalypse." Peter: "That sounds even worse." Vera: "It is. Each of the seals is like a stepping stone on the way to the Rapture."

TBBT - 8.22 - The Graduation Transmission

Grade: B-

Best Reason to Watch - Sheldon and Howard's interactions have become more civil over the years with Sheldon not mocking Howard's Masters degree even once this episode
Most Fun - rogue robot
Biggest Manipulator - Raj, who plays both of his parents
Best Speech - Leonard's high school graduation speech
The "Who Knew?" Award - tech support symbolizes nerd middle age
Best Quotes -
1. Leonard: "My point is while you're spending all this time of your own, building computers or practicing your cello, what you're really doing is becoming interesting and when people finally do notice you, they're going to find someone a lot cooler than they thought."
2. Raj's Dad: "I'm cutting you off." Raj: "Just to be clear - financially or mid-sentence?"
3. Howard: "One toy at a time." Sheldon: "Hmm, sorry. Yeah maybe it's for the best. I hear locomotive smoke is the second leading cause of death among train aficionados." Raj: "What's the first one?" Howard: "Suicide."
4. Leonard: "Short and sexy, that's my wheelhouse."
5. Sheldon: "I wonder if they make I Told You So cards in Braille."

Grimm - 4.19 - Iron Hans

I hate this plot, everything about this plot, but the scene between Juliette, Nick, and Adalind at the precinct was well done. I can embrace this HexenJuliette plot if it stays as campy as this was AND most importantly, if she and Adalind die at the end. I don't want yet another potion to return Juliette back to normal because I have no sympathy left for her. She needs to go too since the writers still cannot find a story for her that doesn't make me want to ice pick my brain. It's been 4 years. That's long enough time to throw things up to see if something sticks.

Grade: B-

Best Reason to Watch - Juliette goes off the deep end
Best Scene - Juliette confronts Nick and Adalind
Best Reaction - everyone to hearing that Adalind is pregnant with Nick's child
Most Interesting Camp - getting in touch with your inner Wesen
Least Trustworthy - Adalind, who says she can suppress the hexenbiest in Juliette
Most Reused Plot - Monroe as bait
Worst Recurring Theme - Women pity parties on this show. Just stop, writers.
The "Welcome Back" award - Jeff Fahey from Under the Dome
The "Say What?" Award - Juliette tells Rosalee she's not complaining. Since when?
Most Worthy of Thrown Socks - Adalind, the pregnancy, Juliette - pick 1
Least Surprising - the daughter is the killer
The "Welcome Back" Award (character) - Sergeant Franco, who needs to be used more often
Best Quotes -
1. Adalind: "Juliette, listen to me. I came here because I have a way of helping you." Juliette: "I've had enough of your help." Nick: "Nothing's gonna happen here. I'm sorry, Juliette, but you have to leave." Juliette: "Really Nick? That's what I have to do. Let me tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to rip this little b**'s throat out." Nick: "You are in a police station." Juliette: "I am in hell, Nick, and it is time she went there with me."
2. Renard: "Well as long as we're digging up the past, we may as well dig up your mother."
3. Adalind: "Okay she may have beat up a couple people in a bar, and God knows we've all done that, but there is no way that she is going to betray Nick if that's where you're going."
4. Kenneth: "You know I admire loyalty when it's deserved but this borders on tragic."
5. Todd: "So you're a blutbad and you hang with a Grimm." Monroe: "I do." Todd: "You don't have a problem with that?" Monroe: "I don't and I'm not interested in your opinion if you do."
6. Adalind: "Of course it's not yours. Don't you think I know who I've slept with?" Renard: "Yeah well who haven't you slept with? Let's start there."

Community - 6.05 - 6.07 - Laws of Robotics & Party Rights / Basic Email Security / Advanced Safety Features

Grade: B- / B- / B+

Best Episode - 6.07 with its fun take on product placement and the fact that Britta was not annoying until the very end. That's unusual. Plus Frankie finally said what I've been saying for years. Dean is an idiot.
Worst Game of Charades - Britta with Elroy
Biggest Product Placement - Honda
Most Truncated - The story about leaked e-mails should have been a mass Greendale meltdown but they spent too much time on the set-up. I would have loved it to be more like the paintball episodes instead of basically skipping the aftermath. This is a case of too narrowly focusing on the main cast and poor pacing in what could have been the best episode so far.
Best Continuity - Jeff recounts his time as a fake lawyer / Troy and Shirley mentions / Natalie is Freezing
Most Bizarre - iPad fight / kid cop waxing poetic
Best Reference - daleks / West Side Story
Best Meta - Annie tells Britta not to say the name Subway without being paid for it
Most Missed - Troy and Shirley
The "Welcome Back" Award (characters) - Britta's parents who make every episode funnier
The "Welcome Back" Award (actor) - Billy Zane of Titanic fame
Best Quotes -
1. Abed: "…but I don't get anything out of parties. They're like conventions for every subject too boring to have their own convention and instead of Joss Whedon, the police show up."
2. Elroy: "These guys are giving hackers a bad name and hacker's already such a dumb name."
3. Annie: "Guys, do you feel like Elroy doesn't like us as much as we like him and each other?" Chang: "He probably doesn't know his role yet. I mean is he black Pierce, old Troy, or Shirley without a giant purse?"
4. Jeff: "Alright, knock it off. No one at this school should pick on any class of people. It's like watching magicians bully jugglers."
5. Britta: "We have to stop the people. Their freedom of speech depends on it."
6. Jeff: "As someone that got paid to keep people out, let me tell you….not every bad guy ends up in prison and not every prisoner is a bad guy."

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she recaps, reviews, and creates polls for The 100, Grimm, Teen Wolf, and others. She's addicted to Twitter, live tweets a multitude of shows each week, and co-hosts the Sleepy Hollow "Headless" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Currently she writes a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

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