A weekly feature in which we're trying to find the most compelling, best acted, written, directed and just generally great, memorable scenes that we've seen in past seven days on TV.
2 BROKE GIRLS, "And the Two Openings", October 10, 2016, Actors: Jennifer Coolidge and more
The Scene: Sophie's water breaking
Marko Pekic: I expected for them to make a big deal about Sophie's delivery. But I never in a million years could anticipate her water break after a sneeze. And that for whole 20 seconds. The Niagara waterfalls envied Sophie in that moment.
BROOKLYN NINE-NINE, "The Night Shift", October 11, 2016, Actors: Andre Braugher and more, The Scene: Holt tries to get the squad to "turn up"
Laura Markus: Andre Braugher was on fire throughout the episode, and after his series of trying to get the squad to enlighten wasn't working, either by forced smiling or laughing, he then tried to organize a "hang". He learned about what Skrillex is, and compared him to John Phillip Sousa. He brought some snacks and wanted the squad to get the party started. But when no one was enjoying themselves, Holt had enough. He started yelling angrily, saying, "Sorry you're all miserable, but guess what. So am I. I'm exhausted all the time, I never see my husband, the late-night NPR programming is pure garbage. I'm done trying. We can all be miserable together. Just go home." It brought my heart to hear him talk about that, especially when he mentioned Kevin yet again. I hope they bring back Kevin really soon because I hate seeing Holt like this.
CONVICTION, "Bridge and Tunnel Vision", October 10, 2016, Actors: Hayley Atwell and more
The Scene: Hayes talks to her mother at a campaign event
Donna Chidley: Hayes and her Mother have another talk at an event. And the line 'Are you ever just my mother or is there always another angle' as she finds out her mother's visit wasn't to support her but to find out what case she was working on for DA Wallace.
DESIGNATED SURVIVOR, "The Enemy", October 12, 2016, Actors: Kal Penn and more
The Scene: Seth steps up
Darth Locke: Seth rises to the occasion and fills in the role of Press Secretary!
FREQUENCY, "Signal and Noise", October 12, 2016, Actors: Peyton List and more, The Scene: Raimy refuses to talk to her mom
Marko Pekic: Raimy not answering Frank and Julie's call over the radio. Peyton List is just killing it, the strength and vulnerability she is showing in only 2 episodes of Frequency is amazing. Seeing her suffering in 2016 was unbelievably moving and heartbreaking. Also picked by Aimee Hicks
FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, "La Llorona", October 11, 2016, Actors: D. J. Cotrona, Madison Davenport, The Scene: Kate breaks through Amaru's possession to talk to Seth
Klutzy girl: Kate breaks through Amaru's possession to talk to Seth, and he apologizes for hurting her - which she doesn't accept. DJ and Madie's acting in this scene was absolutely amazing, and the differences between Kate and Amaru are always quite clear. I'm loving this arc, no matter how painful it may be.
GREY'S ANATOMY, "Falling Slowly", October 13, 2016, Actors: Ellen Pompeo, Justin Chambers and more, The Scene: Mer, Amelia, and Maggie have lunch with Alex
Saloni G: Mer, Amelia, and Maggie have lunch with Alex at the clinic to discuss their day and their problems followed by Nurse Timir finding them and yelling at Alex. Reminded me very much of the earlier seasons and the gang having food together. Those scenes were precious.
HALT AND CATCH FIRE, "NeXT", October 11, 2016, Actors: Lee Pace, Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis, The Scene: The end scene
Pablozky21: The season finale of Halt and Catch Fire is one of the most riviting, bold episodes of television. There is no death, no sex, no ploy to get your attention, all the stakes are around the characters motivations, goals and how much they could hurt each other. It was a fantastic end to one of the best seasons of TV I have ever watched, and the end scene functions perfectly as both a series and season finale (thankfully season). It ends with Cameron, Gordon and Joe staring at their computer as they start on their project to start the first internet browser. The scene is simple, short, but it mirrors the beginning of the show with the original trio as all of them are ready to carry the burden of their past and move forward. Such a simple scene that conveys so much and says a lot with doing a little is one of the examples as to why this show is so outstanding. After 2 hours of intense emotional wreckage, this moment right here, showed why Halt is so incredible: it doesn't play with you just for the sake of it, it does give you satisfation and pay off.
HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, "Don't Tell Annalise", October 13, 2016, Actors: Viola Davis, Famke Janssen, The Scene: Annalise and Eve's final scene & The reveal at the end
Laura Markus: I won't lie and say I was completely on board with this scene. I loved their relationship so much and after the explosion that was Connor and Oliver breaking up I expected this would happen too. But man, it was so beautifully done that I have to give it praise. Thank you for bringing Famke Janssen back one more time. I thought the scene was very in character for both of them. Annalise just couldn't catch a break in this episode. Eve wants to move to San Francisco because she met someone, and all Annalise wants to know is if they love each other. Eve says that they do, so Annalise gives her blessing telling her go, and to let herself be loved. Because no one deserves to be loved more than her. Wow, can I give both of these ladies an Emmy? It was painstakingly gorgeous to watch these two powerful women do their craft. But I do hope Eve comes back again down the line.
Saloni G: Laurel is the other burned victim, she's alive, and she's pregnant! Twisty and so great.
LUCIFER, "Sin-Eater", October 10, 2016, Actors: Tricia Helfer, Tom Ellis and more, The Scenes: Charlotte's punishment is revealed & Charlotte finds out about her power
Darth Locke: Charlotte finds out her punishment is to take on the role of Charlotte's former life. Tricia Helfer has always been able to make a meal out of simple scene just because she delivers such great reactions! The scene itself is also great not just because of the touche between Lucifer and herself, but because it presents viewers with a really fun concept that we're going to be playing with and surely Lucifer's unconventional family is about to grow and throw some more monkey wrenches onto itself. I'm looking forward to this!
Prpleight: Lucifer’s mom finds out she does have power. A mugger threatens her. Her reaction catches the thief off guard and he falls back on the standard. He attacks. Her reaction shocks her as much as it surprised him. The look on her face when she realizes what this means was priceless and had me wondering what the future holds. I’m excited to see.
Aimee Hicks: Lucifer reveals that his punishment for his mom is that she must live as Charlotte.
MODERN FAMILY, "Weathering Heights", October 12, 2016, Actors: Rico Rodriguez and more
The Scene: Manny's speech at the end
Saloni G: The ending scene where Manny talks about being the kid of an immigrant Latino woman and an affluent American man and the positive impacts of the two worlds. A very sweet moment.
NEW GIRL, "Homecoming", October 11, 2016, Actors: Hannah Simone, Nora Dunn and more, The Scene: Cece supports Schmidt
Justyna K: After spending the day trying to make a good impression and bond with Schmidt's mother and failing, Cece sees people laughing at Schmidt when he chooses to confront his old bullies and stands up for him in front of his former classmates. She introduces herself as Schmidt's wife and threatens to fight anyone who goes up against her husband. It was both funny and heartwarming moment. The thing that Cece and her mother-in-law clearly have in common is how much they both care about Schmidt and in the end his mother realizes that and accepts Cece as her new daughter. I was always a fan of this lovely couple so I'm happy to see Cece and Schmidt doing so great in their new life together. Scenes like that, with hilarious reactions and lines but a lot of heart, are what truly make this show work. Kudos to cast & crew!
PITCH, "The Break", October 13, 2016, Actors: Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Kylie Bunbury, The Scene: Mike calls Ginny
Tonya Papanikolas: Mike calls Ginny on the phone when he's upset. What a nice twist! This was a surprising yet fun choice. You've been able to see their respect for each other but now they are moving into friendship. They're forming a great bond. They can tease each other. But they also trust each other and are there for one another when times are rough. And their conversation showed they understand each other. They don't have to talk about the bad things to be there for one another - they are just there. This was great.
SCORPION, "It Isn't the Fall That Kills You", October 10, 2016, Actors: Elyes Gabel and more, The Scene: Walter plummets to Earth
Prpleight: Scorpion generally spends the last half of each episode playing an escalating game of what’s the worst that can happen? I usually just chuckle and occasionally admire their creativity. This one actually left me holding my breath (or maybe it’s that I missed the first 5 minutes of the episode so it was unexpected). They came up with something so far off the charts that I couldn’t even begin to see a way out. The solution was kind of fun too. But I wanted to give them kudos for a jeopardy that stood out among the others.
SUPERGIRL, "The Adventures of Supergirl", October 10, 2016, Actors: Melissa Benoist, Calista Flockhart and more, The Scenes: Kara chooses to be a reporter & Kara tells Jimmy they shouldn't date & Alex fights Corben & Kara and Cat Grant talk about her future
Pablozky21: The season premiere of Supergirl was fun, light and everything nice, exactly what this show should be. During season 1 it couldn't exactly figure out what it wanted to do, but now it has it figured out. It was hard choosing a particular scene since the whole episode was great, but I went with this one since it showcases how far Cat Grant has come as a character: in the beginning, I hated her because she was pretty much a one dimensional bitch with no depth, but now we see how much she cared, even before we met her. While rough in her attitude, she sees potential in people and she is willing to nurture them, which showcases as a mentor way better than at any point on season 1. It was really cute when she revealed that she saw her as a reporter all the way back when they met. This is the kind of earnest interactions Supergirl needs to be pushing forward. This was a very positive outing to a very likely healthy life in The CW.
Marko Pekic: Kara tells Jimmy they shouldn't date. I've never felt the spark between them and Kara choosing herself at this point made so much sense. Did they drop this ship permanently? I doubt it. But the strength Melissa portrayed in Kara's choice was really one to remember.
Donna Chidley: Kara and Cat Grant talk about her future, Cat tells Kara that she is afraid to take the next step. Also, hints at Cat's possible departure. Also picked by Louis Rabinowitz
Aimee Hicks: Alex fights Corben.
SUPERNATURAL, "Keep Calm and Carry On", October 13, 2016, Actors: Jensen Ackles, Samantha Smith and more, The Scenes: Dean and Mary reunite & Mary Winchester sees Baby after 30 years
Justyna K: This is the premiere I was waiting for the most. And I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed. Mary Winchester coming back to life is already one of my favorite plots on the show in years. It takes me all the way back to season one and the story's beginning, and I'm very much excited to see where it goes from here. Every single moment with Mary is one I'd love to mention but the reunion with Dean as the episode starts has to be my favorite. Dean has been through so much and his reaction says everything. In the first minute he's in shock, he can't quite believe his mom to be "really real". But he quickly understands how hard and impossible all of it must be for her and he becomes his usual protective, putting his family first, self. Dean tells Mary her story and introduces himself as her adult son. It's all so much, it's everything and no words can quite express what these two must be feeling in this moment. It was beautifully done and acted. Jensen Ackles and Samantha Smith are working so well together. The only thing that I was really missing there is Sam. I can't wait for him to reunite with Dean (and find out he's alive!) and with Mary. That's a family reunion I never expected and I'm most excited to see. Kudos to cast & crew for the brilliant work on the show and this premiere especially! Season 12!
Kollin Lore: Mary Winchester meets Baby after 30 years. The Winchesters 1967 Chevy Impala, Baby, was the one pure constant through the boys' childhood and days of monster hunting. It was a character in itself that witnessed the birth of Dean, helped Sam fight back against Lucifer by reminding him who he was through the army man in the ashtray, and so many other milestones in theirs and their parents lives. It was thus, a strangely, but powerfully sentimental moment when Mary Winchester, after 30 years, reunites with Baby and caresses its hood and tells her how much she misses her. We also got some humour with Castiel watching on, confused as heck, and then when Mama Winchester looks at the backseat, then at Dean, to imply his birth - Dean's reaction was priceless. It was quite the humorous and emotional moment packed within in a very strong premiere.
Klutzy girl: Dean and Mary reunite. This is the boys' mother and her death is the reason why they're hunters. It made me emotional to see them hug - and Mary taking down her own son was hilarious. This is the most excited I've been about the show in a long time and I can't wait to see more of Mary's interactions with her sons.
THE FLASH, "Paradox", October 11, 2016, Actors: Grant Gustin, John Wesley Shipp and more
The Scenes: The Flash meets Dr. Alchemy & Jay talks to Barry about the time travel
Geo N: When The Flash meets Dr. Alchemy and takes out The Rival for the second time.
Louis Rabinowitz: Jay tells Barry about the consequences of time travel.
THE GOOD PLACE, "Chapter 6: What We Owe to Each Other", October 13, 2016, Actors: Ted Danson and more, The Scene: Michael decides to leave
Pablozky21: The Good Place has been steadily my favorite comedy this fall, and it keeps surprising me. Every week the fun intertwines with the plot and the mysteries of the good place and surprises me in more than one way. This week's surprise is Michael's decision to leave: while hinted, this abrupt decision once again changes the status quo of the show and I love that they are doing stuff where you say "Ok, what now?". It has peaked my interest in the same level as drama shows usually do.
THE MIDDLE, "The Core Group", October 11, 2016, Actors: Patricia Heaton, Neil Flynn and more, The Scene: The dinner table scene
Nirat Anop: I loved seeing the Frankie and Mike sitting together with their children and their significant other. It really showed a family spirit, the craziness but also, how much this family has grown. It's beautiful to see how their characters have developed into such great people and even if their partners are somewhat odd, I'm intrigued to see where they will go with this. I did love Cindy's reaction to the lack of shrimp and Frankie's attempts at trying to talk to the Core Group.
THE REAL O'NEALS, "The Real Thang", October 11, 2016, Actors: Ramona Young and more, The Scene: Allison wears the Rainbow socks
Laura Markus: Oh, how I missed this show. This episode proved that this show absolutely deserved that renewal. The amazing rainbow bat-phone scene with so many cameos was close to being the best, that was until the end of the episode. Kenny was so used to being accepted by pretty much everyone when he came out. He didn't realize that not everyone has this immediate luxury like he does. So when he urges Allison to come out to her parents, he later sees that this is a harmful decision, and he races along with Jimmy, Shannon, and Pat to try and undo this. It's heartfelt, and I have to believe that Noah Galvin learned a thing or two from this. Allison was an amazing character, showing Kenny that someone did come out on National Coming Out Day; she came out to him, and wore his rainbow socks. She's sassy, brilliant, and subdued. And I hope they bring her back because this scene was marvellous in every regard.
THE STRAIN, "Collaborators", October 9, 2016, Actors: David Bradley, Kevin Durand, Jonathan Hyde and more, The Scenes: Fet tells Setrakian that his grandfather killed Jews during the holocast & Eldritch takes the filtered ‘White” from Setrakian
Tonya Papanikolas: Fet tells Setrakian that his grandfather killed Jews during the holocast. This was a powerful scene for so many reasons. It was placed perfectly after the flashback of his grandfather, showing that he'd basically been held hostage by Eichhorst. Setrakian then points out some people will do anything to survive. And he says it with no judgement. He is not blaming Fet's grandfather for what happened. He shows a deep understanding and forgiveness of the situation. Considering his Jewish background and time in a concentration camp himself, this was powerful. Setrakian is so wise. I love that he offered Fet forgiveness and hope for the past. He was the perfect person to tell Fet he needed to forgive his own dead father because it frees Fet. I love the themes of redemption in this show. This scene was emotional and it was wonderfully constructed with the build-up of the flashbacks - and it offered some rare personal insight into Fet's family and gave him a chance to show an emotional side. Plus it showcased the growing bond between Fet and Setrakian. They are not usually ones to talk about their personal lives but this was a perfect opportunity. Great scene all-around.
Geo N: Eldritch takes the filtered ‘White” that Setrakian compounds for him.
THIS IS US, "Kyle", October 11, 2016, Actors: Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz and more, The Scenes: Rebecca visits "Shakespeare" & Kate sings at the retirement home & Randall realizes how little time he has with his birth father
Tonya Papanikolas: Rebecca visits "Shakespeare". What a touching, emotional scene where Rebecca shares her fears about being able to move forward with the baby and not bonding with him. And he shares, in turn, that the baby was born out of love and advises Rebecca to give the child his own name. This was a tenuous meeting and situation, and yet they both were open with one another. I love that she tracked him down and wanted to know her child's story. I loved his trepidation. He clearly wants to see his son and know him but Rebecca won't allow it. That still leaves questions as to if she ever allowed it. But regardless, this was a touching scene.
Klutzy girl: Kate sings at the retirement home. Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time is one of my favorite songs and Chrissy Metz has a fantastic singing voice so I absolutely loved her cover. But to see the montage of various moments - Rebecca going to find William, William getting tested and Randall waiting for him - elevated the scene to absolutely amazing.
Luana Arturi: Randall realizes how little time he has with his birth father. Sterling K. Brown and Ron Cephas Jones are always amazing but in this episode they broke my heart. As Randall realizes he could've known him longer, and is afraid the family is gonna fall in love with William only to lose him, he decides to make the best of the time they have left and get to know him better. Also the music couldn't have been better, I melted as Jackson C. Frank's "Blues Run The Game" played on the background.
WESTWORLD, "Chestnut", October 9, 2016, Actors: Thandie Newton, Anthony Hopkins and more, The Scenes: Maeve wakes up in the Westworld control center & Dr. Ford dabbles in "magic" & Dr. Ford rejects Quarterman's new storyline
Justyna K: The show continues to be wonderfully done. The story is haunting and meaningful and actors' performances - absolutely mesmerizing. This time, it's Thandie Newton who steals the hour for me, especially in the sequence when Maeve wakes up from a horrific dream only to discover the terrifying reality. The fact she was able to wake herself up is interesting on its own but her wandering around the Westworld control center left a powerful impression on me. And the final part, where she sees what happens to the bodies of all the hosts killed during the day, including the one she knows, leaves her completely broken, falling down in despair, before she's put to sleep once again. Thandie Newton portrayed the fear, pain and shock of her character perfectly. It's the episode's most memorable performance and we're left again, thinking about the nature and complexity of this world, and what a word "human" truly means. Or should... Kudos to cast & crew for their work on the show! Can't wait to see what's next.
Nirat Anop: This was an incredible scene, Maeve’s ability to awaken herself in the face of terror is a fascinating idea to showcase. To see something inhuman evolve and adapt to their surroundings is captivating but to pair that with Thandie Newton’s phenomenal performance, is award worthy. The way she grappled with the fear, shock, and the inability to comprehend what she was witnessing was stunning. To see the face of death, to stand their helpless and to fall down in devastation evokes such haunting emotions. Life is precious yet these repairman/cleaners toy with the lives and bodies of the hosts like that of factory farmed animals.
Darth Locke: Dr. Ford dabbles in "magic". Perhaps it's just my own history of almost always being captivated by Sir Anthony Hopkins, but again I find myself fascinated by scenes with his character seemingly interacting with a boy android possibly playing the role a child "guest" and how Ford's dialogue encapsulated on familiar lines pertaining to magic and magicians, like that of the film adaptation of The Prestige, other conversations that relate to playing God and the Devil/evolution, design, and deeper levels, and fathers and sons, while also perhaps showing us more of Westworld's mythology with Ford's own romantic inclinations by creating a world of wonder for his androids, in which we witness the boy take cues to conjure up the sound of a bell and interact and question the control of Ford's movement with an android snake!! In addition these desert scenes with Ford were in between scenes that featured The Man in Black/Gunslinger's Cantina shootout in seeking a deeper level of "the game" also expounding on playing God and Devil and experiencing a world with meaning, including that the image of the child is here to provide the meaning one might be searching for and the duality of that notion's own abuse in being a becoming and alluring attraction and not something entirely pure. These things (along with a few other things) also reminded me of The Mask of Zorro, a film Mr. Hopkins also co-starred in! What I love is that in such a short period of time, there is already so much to think about and so many things one could take away from an episode and the thrill trying to think about where all of these chips are really going to fall!
Kollin Lore: Dr. Ford rejects Quarterman's new storyline. It was very satisfying to see the colourful, overconfident jerk Simon Quarterman put into his place by his superior. Dr. Ford's speech about what the guests want was written and delivered with quite the eloquence and resonance.
Louis Rabinowitz: Maeve finds her way into the labs where the residents are created.
YOU'RE THE WORST, "The Only Thing That Helps", October 12, 2016, Actors: Chris Geere and more
The Scene: Jimmy gets some closure
Luana Arturi: Chris Geere was amazing in this scene as his rage and his heartbreak meshed together when he kicked his dad's ashes, deciding Ronny didn't get to affect his life anymore, and finally crying and letting out every feeling he'd been avoiding.
2 BROKE GIRLS, "And the Two Openings", October 10, 2016, Actors: Jennifer Coolidge and more
The Scene: Sophie's water breaking
Marko Pekic: I expected for them to make a big deal about Sophie's delivery. But I never in a million years could anticipate her water break after a sneeze. And that for whole 20 seconds. The Niagara waterfalls envied Sophie in that moment.
BROOKLYN NINE-NINE, "The Night Shift", October 11, 2016, Actors: Andre Braugher and more, The Scene: Holt tries to get the squad to "turn up"
Laura Markus: Andre Braugher was on fire throughout the episode, and after his series of trying to get the squad to enlighten wasn't working, either by forced smiling or laughing, he then tried to organize a "hang". He learned about what Skrillex is, and compared him to John Phillip Sousa. He brought some snacks and wanted the squad to get the party started. But when no one was enjoying themselves, Holt had enough. He started yelling angrily, saying, "Sorry you're all miserable, but guess what. So am I. I'm exhausted all the time, I never see my husband, the late-night NPR programming is pure garbage. I'm done trying. We can all be miserable together. Just go home." It brought my heart to hear him talk about that, especially when he mentioned Kevin yet again. I hope they bring back Kevin really soon because I hate seeing Holt like this.
CONVICTION, "Bridge and Tunnel Vision", October 10, 2016, Actors: Hayley Atwell and more
The Scene: Hayes talks to her mother at a campaign event
Donna Chidley: Hayes and her Mother have another talk at an event. And the line 'Are you ever just my mother or is there always another angle' as she finds out her mother's visit wasn't to support her but to find out what case she was working on for DA Wallace.
DESIGNATED SURVIVOR, "The Enemy", October 12, 2016, Actors: Kal Penn and more
The Scene: Seth steps up
Darth Locke: Seth rises to the occasion and fills in the role of Press Secretary!
FREQUENCY, "Signal and Noise", October 12, 2016, Actors: Peyton List and more, The Scene: Raimy refuses to talk to her mom
Marko Pekic: Raimy not answering Frank and Julie's call over the radio. Peyton List is just killing it, the strength and vulnerability she is showing in only 2 episodes of Frequency is amazing. Seeing her suffering in 2016 was unbelievably moving and heartbreaking. Also picked by Aimee Hicks
FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, "La Llorona", October 11, 2016, Actors: D. J. Cotrona, Madison Davenport, The Scene: Kate breaks through Amaru's possession to talk to Seth
Klutzy girl: Kate breaks through Amaru's possession to talk to Seth, and he apologizes for hurting her - which she doesn't accept. DJ and Madie's acting in this scene was absolutely amazing, and the differences between Kate and Amaru are always quite clear. I'm loving this arc, no matter how painful it may be.
GREY'S ANATOMY, "Falling Slowly", October 13, 2016, Actors: Ellen Pompeo, Justin Chambers and more, The Scene: Mer, Amelia, and Maggie have lunch with Alex
Saloni G: Mer, Amelia, and Maggie have lunch with Alex at the clinic to discuss their day and their problems followed by Nurse Timir finding them and yelling at Alex. Reminded me very much of the earlier seasons and the gang having food together. Those scenes were precious.
HALT AND CATCH FIRE, "NeXT", October 11, 2016, Actors: Lee Pace, Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis, The Scene: The end scene
Pablozky21: The season finale of Halt and Catch Fire is one of the most riviting, bold episodes of television. There is no death, no sex, no ploy to get your attention, all the stakes are around the characters motivations, goals and how much they could hurt each other. It was a fantastic end to one of the best seasons of TV I have ever watched, and the end scene functions perfectly as both a series and season finale (thankfully season). It ends with Cameron, Gordon and Joe staring at their computer as they start on their project to start the first internet browser. The scene is simple, short, but it mirrors the beginning of the show with the original trio as all of them are ready to carry the burden of their past and move forward. Such a simple scene that conveys so much and says a lot with doing a little is one of the examples as to why this show is so outstanding. After 2 hours of intense emotional wreckage, this moment right here, showed why Halt is so incredible: it doesn't play with you just for the sake of it, it does give you satisfation and pay off.
HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, "Don't Tell Annalise", October 13, 2016, Actors: Viola Davis, Famke Janssen, The Scene: Annalise and Eve's final scene & The reveal at the end
Laura Markus: I won't lie and say I was completely on board with this scene. I loved their relationship so much and after the explosion that was Connor and Oliver breaking up I expected this would happen too. But man, it was so beautifully done that I have to give it praise. Thank you for bringing Famke Janssen back one more time. I thought the scene was very in character for both of them. Annalise just couldn't catch a break in this episode. Eve wants to move to San Francisco because she met someone, and all Annalise wants to know is if they love each other. Eve says that they do, so Annalise gives her blessing telling her go, and to let herself be loved. Because no one deserves to be loved more than her. Wow, can I give both of these ladies an Emmy? It was painstakingly gorgeous to watch these two powerful women do their craft. But I do hope Eve comes back again down the line.
Saloni G: Laurel is the other burned victim, she's alive, and she's pregnant! Twisty and so great.
LUCIFER, "Sin-Eater", October 10, 2016, Actors: Tricia Helfer, Tom Ellis and more, The Scenes: Charlotte's punishment is revealed & Charlotte finds out about her power
Darth Locke: Charlotte finds out her punishment is to take on the role of Charlotte's former life. Tricia Helfer has always been able to make a meal out of simple scene just because she delivers such great reactions! The scene itself is also great not just because of the touche between Lucifer and herself, but because it presents viewers with a really fun concept that we're going to be playing with and surely Lucifer's unconventional family is about to grow and throw some more monkey wrenches onto itself. I'm looking forward to this!
Prpleight: Lucifer’s mom finds out she does have power. A mugger threatens her. Her reaction catches the thief off guard and he falls back on the standard. He attacks. Her reaction shocks her as much as it surprised him. The look on her face when she realizes what this means was priceless and had me wondering what the future holds. I’m excited to see.
Aimee Hicks: Lucifer reveals that his punishment for his mom is that she must live as Charlotte.
MODERN FAMILY, "Weathering Heights", October 12, 2016, Actors: Rico Rodriguez and more
The Scene: Manny's speech at the end
Saloni G: The ending scene where Manny talks about being the kid of an immigrant Latino woman and an affluent American man and the positive impacts of the two worlds. A very sweet moment.
NEW GIRL, "Homecoming", October 11, 2016, Actors: Hannah Simone, Nora Dunn and more, The Scene: Cece supports Schmidt
Justyna K: After spending the day trying to make a good impression and bond with Schmidt's mother and failing, Cece sees people laughing at Schmidt when he chooses to confront his old bullies and stands up for him in front of his former classmates. She introduces herself as Schmidt's wife and threatens to fight anyone who goes up against her husband. It was both funny and heartwarming moment. The thing that Cece and her mother-in-law clearly have in common is how much they both care about Schmidt and in the end his mother realizes that and accepts Cece as her new daughter. I was always a fan of this lovely couple so I'm happy to see Cece and Schmidt doing so great in their new life together. Scenes like that, with hilarious reactions and lines but a lot of heart, are what truly make this show work. Kudos to cast & crew!
PITCH, "The Break", October 13, 2016, Actors: Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Kylie Bunbury, The Scene: Mike calls Ginny
Tonya Papanikolas: Mike calls Ginny on the phone when he's upset. What a nice twist! This was a surprising yet fun choice. You've been able to see their respect for each other but now they are moving into friendship. They're forming a great bond. They can tease each other. But they also trust each other and are there for one another when times are rough. And their conversation showed they understand each other. They don't have to talk about the bad things to be there for one another - they are just there. This was great.
SCORPION, "It Isn't the Fall That Kills You", October 10, 2016, Actors: Elyes Gabel and more, The Scene: Walter plummets to Earth
Prpleight: Scorpion generally spends the last half of each episode playing an escalating game of what’s the worst that can happen? I usually just chuckle and occasionally admire their creativity. This one actually left me holding my breath (or maybe it’s that I missed the first 5 minutes of the episode so it was unexpected). They came up with something so far off the charts that I couldn’t even begin to see a way out. The solution was kind of fun too. But I wanted to give them kudos for a jeopardy that stood out among the others.
SUPERGIRL, "The Adventures of Supergirl", October 10, 2016, Actors: Melissa Benoist, Calista Flockhart and more, The Scenes: Kara chooses to be a reporter & Kara tells Jimmy they shouldn't date & Alex fights Corben & Kara and Cat Grant talk about her future
Pablozky21: The season premiere of Supergirl was fun, light and everything nice, exactly what this show should be. During season 1 it couldn't exactly figure out what it wanted to do, but now it has it figured out. It was hard choosing a particular scene since the whole episode was great, but I went with this one since it showcases how far Cat Grant has come as a character: in the beginning, I hated her because she was pretty much a one dimensional bitch with no depth, but now we see how much she cared, even before we met her. While rough in her attitude, she sees potential in people and she is willing to nurture them, which showcases as a mentor way better than at any point on season 1. It was really cute when she revealed that she saw her as a reporter all the way back when they met. This is the kind of earnest interactions Supergirl needs to be pushing forward. This was a very positive outing to a very likely healthy life in The CW.
Marko Pekic: Kara tells Jimmy they shouldn't date. I've never felt the spark between them and Kara choosing herself at this point made so much sense. Did they drop this ship permanently? I doubt it. But the strength Melissa portrayed in Kara's choice was really one to remember.
Donna Chidley: Kara and Cat Grant talk about her future, Cat tells Kara that she is afraid to take the next step. Also, hints at Cat's possible departure. Also picked by Louis Rabinowitz
Aimee Hicks: Alex fights Corben.
SUPERNATURAL, "Keep Calm and Carry On", October 13, 2016, Actors: Jensen Ackles, Samantha Smith and more, The Scenes: Dean and Mary reunite & Mary Winchester sees Baby after 30 years
Justyna K: This is the premiere I was waiting for the most. And I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed. Mary Winchester coming back to life is already one of my favorite plots on the show in years. It takes me all the way back to season one and the story's beginning, and I'm very much excited to see where it goes from here. Every single moment with Mary is one I'd love to mention but the reunion with Dean as the episode starts has to be my favorite. Dean has been through so much and his reaction says everything. In the first minute he's in shock, he can't quite believe his mom to be "really real". But he quickly understands how hard and impossible all of it must be for her and he becomes his usual protective, putting his family first, self. Dean tells Mary her story and introduces himself as her adult son. It's all so much, it's everything and no words can quite express what these two must be feeling in this moment. It was beautifully done and acted. Jensen Ackles and Samantha Smith are working so well together. The only thing that I was really missing there is Sam. I can't wait for him to reunite with Dean (and find out he's alive!) and with Mary. That's a family reunion I never expected and I'm most excited to see. Kudos to cast & crew for the brilliant work on the show and this premiere especially! Season 12!
Kollin Lore: Mary Winchester meets Baby after 30 years. The Winchesters 1967 Chevy Impala, Baby, was the one pure constant through the boys' childhood and days of monster hunting. It was a character in itself that witnessed the birth of Dean, helped Sam fight back against Lucifer by reminding him who he was through the army man in the ashtray, and so many other milestones in theirs and their parents lives. It was thus, a strangely, but powerfully sentimental moment when Mary Winchester, after 30 years, reunites with Baby and caresses its hood and tells her how much she misses her. We also got some humour with Castiel watching on, confused as heck, and then when Mama Winchester looks at the backseat, then at Dean, to imply his birth - Dean's reaction was priceless. It was quite the humorous and emotional moment packed within in a very strong premiere.
Klutzy girl: Dean and Mary reunite. This is the boys' mother and her death is the reason why they're hunters. It made me emotional to see them hug - and Mary taking down her own son was hilarious. This is the most excited I've been about the show in a long time and I can't wait to see more of Mary's interactions with her sons.
THE FLASH, "Paradox", October 11, 2016, Actors: Grant Gustin, John Wesley Shipp and more
The Scenes: The Flash meets Dr. Alchemy & Jay talks to Barry about the time travel
Geo N: When The Flash meets Dr. Alchemy and takes out The Rival for the second time.
Louis Rabinowitz: Jay tells Barry about the consequences of time travel.
THE GOOD PLACE, "Chapter 6: What We Owe to Each Other", October 13, 2016, Actors: Ted Danson and more, The Scene: Michael decides to leave
Pablozky21: The Good Place has been steadily my favorite comedy this fall, and it keeps surprising me. Every week the fun intertwines with the plot and the mysteries of the good place and surprises me in more than one way. This week's surprise is Michael's decision to leave: while hinted, this abrupt decision once again changes the status quo of the show and I love that they are doing stuff where you say "Ok, what now?". It has peaked my interest in the same level as drama shows usually do.
THE MIDDLE, "The Core Group", October 11, 2016, Actors: Patricia Heaton, Neil Flynn and more, The Scene: The dinner table scene
Nirat Anop: I loved seeing the Frankie and Mike sitting together with their children and their significant other. It really showed a family spirit, the craziness but also, how much this family has grown. It's beautiful to see how their characters have developed into such great people and even if their partners are somewhat odd, I'm intrigued to see where they will go with this. I did love Cindy's reaction to the lack of shrimp and Frankie's attempts at trying to talk to the Core Group.
THE REAL O'NEALS, "The Real Thang", October 11, 2016, Actors: Ramona Young and more, The Scene: Allison wears the Rainbow socks
Laura Markus: Oh, how I missed this show. This episode proved that this show absolutely deserved that renewal. The amazing rainbow bat-phone scene with so many cameos was close to being the best, that was until the end of the episode. Kenny was so used to being accepted by pretty much everyone when he came out. He didn't realize that not everyone has this immediate luxury like he does. So when he urges Allison to come out to her parents, he later sees that this is a harmful decision, and he races along with Jimmy, Shannon, and Pat to try and undo this. It's heartfelt, and I have to believe that Noah Galvin learned a thing or two from this. Allison was an amazing character, showing Kenny that someone did come out on National Coming Out Day; she came out to him, and wore his rainbow socks. She's sassy, brilliant, and subdued. And I hope they bring her back because this scene was marvellous in every regard.
THE STRAIN, "Collaborators", October 9, 2016, Actors: David Bradley, Kevin Durand, Jonathan Hyde and more, The Scenes: Fet tells Setrakian that his grandfather killed Jews during the holocast & Eldritch takes the filtered ‘White” from Setrakian
Tonya Papanikolas: Fet tells Setrakian that his grandfather killed Jews during the holocast. This was a powerful scene for so many reasons. It was placed perfectly after the flashback of his grandfather, showing that he'd basically been held hostage by Eichhorst. Setrakian then points out some people will do anything to survive. And he says it with no judgement. He is not blaming Fet's grandfather for what happened. He shows a deep understanding and forgiveness of the situation. Considering his Jewish background and time in a concentration camp himself, this was powerful. Setrakian is so wise. I love that he offered Fet forgiveness and hope for the past. He was the perfect person to tell Fet he needed to forgive his own dead father because it frees Fet. I love the themes of redemption in this show. This scene was emotional and it was wonderfully constructed with the build-up of the flashbacks - and it offered some rare personal insight into Fet's family and gave him a chance to show an emotional side. Plus it showcased the growing bond between Fet and Setrakian. They are not usually ones to talk about their personal lives but this was a perfect opportunity. Great scene all-around.
Geo N: Eldritch takes the filtered ‘White” that Setrakian compounds for him.
THIS IS US, "Kyle", October 11, 2016, Actors: Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz and more, The Scenes: Rebecca visits "Shakespeare" & Kate sings at the retirement home & Randall realizes how little time he has with his birth father
Tonya Papanikolas: Rebecca visits "Shakespeare". What a touching, emotional scene where Rebecca shares her fears about being able to move forward with the baby and not bonding with him. And he shares, in turn, that the baby was born out of love and advises Rebecca to give the child his own name. This was a tenuous meeting and situation, and yet they both were open with one another. I love that she tracked him down and wanted to know her child's story. I loved his trepidation. He clearly wants to see his son and know him but Rebecca won't allow it. That still leaves questions as to if she ever allowed it. But regardless, this was a touching scene.
Klutzy girl: Kate sings at the retirement home. Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time is one of my favorite songs and Chrissy Metz has a fantastic singing voice so I absolutely loved her cover. But to see the montage of various moments - Rebecca going to find William, William getting tested and Randall waiting for him - elevated the scene to absolutely amazing.
Luana Arturi: Randall realizes how little time he has with his birth father. Sterling K. Brown and Ron Cephas Jones are always amazing but in this episode they broke my heart. As Randall realizes he could've known him longer, and is afraid the family is gonna fall in love with William only to lose him, he decides to make the best of the time they have left and get to know him better. Also the music couldn't have been better, I melted as Jackson C. Frank's "Blues Run The Game" played on the background.
WESTWORLD, "Chestnut", October 9, 2016, Actors: Thandie Newton, Anthony Hopkins and more, The Scenes: Maeve wakes up in the Westworld control center & Dr. Ford dabbles in "magic" & Dr. Ford rejects Quarterman's new storyline
Justyna K: The show continues to be wonderfully done. The story is haunting and meaningful and actors' performances - absolutely mesmerizing. This time, it's Thandie Newton who steals the hour for me, especially in the sequence when Maeve wakes up from a horrific dream only to discover the terrifying reality. The fact she was able to wake herself up is interesting on its own but her wandering around the Westworld control center left a powerful impression on me. And the final part, where she sees what happens to the bodies of all the hosts killed during the day, including the one she knows, leaves her completely broken, falling down in despair, before she's put to sleep once again. Thandie Newton portrayed the fear, pain and shock of her character perfectly. It's the episode's most memorable performance and we're left again, thinking about the nature and complexity of this world, and what a word "human" truly means. Or should... Kudos to cast & crew for their work on the show! Can't wait to see what's next.
Nirat Anop: This was an incredible scene, Maeve’s ability to awaken herself in the face of terror is a fascinating idea to showcase. To see something inhuman evolve and adapt to their surroundings is captivating but to pair that with Thandie Newton’s phenomenal performance, is award worthy. The way she grappled with the fear, shock, and the inability to comprehend what she was witnessing was stunning. To see the face of death, to stand their helpless and to fall down in devastation evokes such haunting emotions. Life is precious yet these repairman/cleaners toy with the lives and bodies of the hosts like that of factory farmed animals.
Darth Locke: Dr. Ford dabbles in "magic". Perhaps it's just my own history of almost always being captivated by Sir Anthony Hopkins, but again I find myself fascinated by scenes with his character seemingly interacting with a boy android possibly playing the role a child "guest" and how Ford's dialogue encapsulated on familiar lines pertaining to magic and magicians, like that of the film adaptation of The Prestige, other conversations that relate to playing God and the Devil/evolution, design, and deeper levels, and fathers and sons, while also perhaps showing us more of Westworld's mythology with Ford's own romantic inclinations by creating a world of wonder for his androids, in which we witness the boy take cues to conjure up the sound of a bell and interact and question the control of Ford's movement with an android snake!! In addition these desert scenes with Ford were in between scenes that featured The Man in Black/Gunslinger's Cantina shootout in seeking a deeper level of "the game" also expounding on playing God and Devil and experiencing a world with meaning, including that the image of the child is here to provide the meaning one might be searching for and the duality of that notion's own abuse in being a becoming and alluring attraction and not something entirely pure. These things (along with a few other things) also reminded me of The Mask of Zorro, a film Mr. Hopkins also co-starred in! What I love is that in such a short period of time, there is already so much to think about and so many things one could take away from an episode and the thrill trying to think about where all of these chips are really going to fall!
Kollin Lore: Dr. Ford rejects Quarterman's new storyline. It was very satisfying to see the colourful, overconfident jerk Simon Quarterman put into his place by his superior. Dr. Ford's speech about what the guests want was written and delivered with quite the eloquence and resonance.
Louis Rabinowitz: Maeve finds her way into the labs where the residents are created.
YOU'RE THE WORST, "The Only Thing That Helps", October 12, 2016, Actors: Chris Geere and more
The Scene: Jimmy gets some closure
Luana Arturi: Chris Geere was amazing in this scene as his rage and his heartbreak meshed together when he kicked his dad's ashes, deciding Ronny didn't get to affect his life anymore, and finally crying and letting out every feeling he'd been avoiding.