Welcome to Last Week in TV. We're back with lots of episode awards after a short hiatus. Since the TV world doesn't stop while I take a short vacation away from it, I am of course still behind. I haven't seen all the new shows that premiered yet so I will review Of Kings and Prophets, The Real O'Neals, and The Carmichael Show next week. I will tackle The CW shows then too. This week it's about marathon viewing and cop procedurals mostly. Because I took time off, there are 2 episodes of the week. The Goldbergs had my favorite episode of everything I watched in hiatus. How to Get Away with Murder had my favorite episode last week. This week's nominated episode is a bit tricky too. Technically the first one randomly picked was Dominion but I am going to hold that until Easter weekend because I have a few more days then to marathon season 2. The second one randomly picked was The Listener, episode 1.08, but I can't find it through my usual measures. Therefore I will either review an episode I can find or the third episode randomly picked, The Guild. If you would like to nominate an episode, please fill in the short 2-question form below.
Before commencing with the column as usual, I would like to explain the format to people new to Last Week in TV. There was some confusion in the last one. The reviews in this column are purposefully brief in order to focus on a wider number of shows. Because there are typically between 15-22 episodes covered, there is no time to go into depth with each of them. If that is what you prefer, there are numerous excellent reviewers at SpoilerTV. Almost every show I cover here is also covered in depth by someone there. I encourage you to check out their in-depth analysis. This column has a different purpose that is not for everyone. These are just short impressions with much of the content covered through episode awards that are often snarky. Hopefully they spark conversation and inspire you to create your own episode awards for the shows you watched last week. Not everyone will agree on an episode and that's okay. Not everyone will enjoy this format and that's okay too. The good thing about SpoilerTV is that it covers a variety of opinions and more than one format so hopefully everyone's TV needs are covered. If this format works for you, then I'm glad. Add your own TV thoughts and episode awards in the comments section. Until then, happy TV viewing.
Episode of the Week
Note - Due the mini-hiatus, I have chosen 2 episodes for Episode of the Week. The Goldbergs had my favorite episode of the column hiatus but How to Get Away with Murder had the best episode that aired last week.
The Goldbergs (3.13-3.17)
I've missed The Goldbergs. I've missed the combination of heart and laughs . When The Goldbergs is on fire, there's no other comedy on air that can touch it. Out of everything I've watched in this mini-column hiatus, my favorite is episode 3.16 of this show. Yes, it has a baffling movie tie-in but it also had the Goldbergs protecting and supporting each other and that's my favorite thing about the show. I adore Pops telling Murray that he's family and that family takes care of its own. I'm a big fan of episodes that focus on the adults' relationships with each other. Then to have both Adam and Erica carry the message on with Barry was the icing. Add to it that I laughed throughout the episode but especially during the Home Games montage and you have everything I love about The Goldbergs in 22 minutes of pure entertainment. So in honor of the Home Games, The Goldbergs gets the gold from me this week - even if it didn't technically air this week. Oh and for the record, nothing beats Theme from Rocky XIII in Weird Al's repertoire. Yes, Smells Like Nirvana comes close and is dearer to my heart but still Rocky beating up liverwurst takes the highest honor. No one should outgrow Weird Al. Just saying. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGJd8FLAqRA
Grade: A- (episode 3.16) / B+ (overall)
Best Reason to Watch - as always, it's the combination of heart and laughs
Best Episode - Edward 'Eddie the Eagle' Edwards (3.16) for its overabundance of heart that still made me laugh
Best Awww Moment - Murray and Beverly cuddle in front of the football game / Barry and Erica cheer up Adam after his breakup
Best Scene - Pops tells Murray it's okay to rely on family so Murray asks Beverly for help
Best Twist - the actors playing the game show scouts were the actual kids who got on Double Dare
Best Translator - Erica, who can translate football into scrapbooking and vice versa
Best Bromance - Home Games
Best Reference - The Goonies
Best Nostalgia - Double Dare / Weird Al
Worst Reference - the futon aka the pinnacle of bad college furniture
Biggest Egads! - Who would pay $90 for a VHS movie?
Biggest Question - Why is an ABC show doing its best to promote a Fox movie?
Biggest Missed Opportunity - I really wanted to know what Murray would do for Valentine's Day for Beverly
Sweetest Apology - Adam tells Emmy that they will still be friends in the nursing home
Most Thoughtful Apology - Murray makes a scrapbook for Beverly
Most Creepy - Barry touching Lainey's face in his Lionel phase
Most Impressive - Geoff nailed the Dirty Dancing lift
Most Wonky Timeline - Yes, The Goldbergs timeline is all over the 80's, but no way Patrick Swayze played a bouncer before Dirty Dancing. Roadhouse was 2 years later. They should have stuck with greaser, Civil War stud, or American defender.
Most Funny - montage of Lionel busts
Most Depressing - People outgrow Weird Al. I still haven't. Well, the good songs….and Galavant.
Most Persistent - Barry and the busts / Geoff with Erica
The "Oh Poor Baby" Award - Dana and Adam break up
The "I'm with You" Award - Erica, you are right. That Lionel Ritchie video has a definite aroma of stalker.
The "Say What?" Award - I thought for sure that Murray and Beverly danced in the episode where they renewed their vows
Best Quotes -
1. Pops: "That's what family does. We take care of each other. There's no shame in that." Murray: "Yeah well, it feels like there is." Pops: "I know that's how it was in your family, but now you're my family and this is how we do it."
2. Beverly: "I don't mean to judge any of you but you're all terrible. Best of luck."
3. Murray: "I will kill you with this spatula, you thoughtful, thoughtful man."
4. Murray: "You think firewood grows on trees?" Pops: "Yes, that's what trees are. Wood."
5. Erica: "Why are you narrating your kitchen experience?"
6. Erica: "Who gets haunted in a good way?" Barry: "Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams." Erica: "Okay that was a fantastic example."
7. Pops: "Yes, I do sample from the salad bar of life."
8. Beverly: "Well you raised me to offer support and guidance and strong arm anyone into doing exactly what I want." Pops: "That's what you thought I meant when I said follow your dreams." Beverly: "Yes."
How to Get away with Murder - 2.14 - There's My Baby
After a very slow start, this season of How to Get Away with Murder has turned into an intense thriller just like last year. In this penultimate episode, the stakes are even higher as secrets are revealed and the characters prove that getting drunk in the midst of problems is a very, very bad idea. I had pegged Mahoney as the actual murderer that his son was on trial for being so having him be Wes' father was a complete shock to me. It was a great twist but here's hoping that it doesn't make Wes even stupider than he has been all season. While I enjoy Adam Arkin on my screen again, I really do not need Wes confronting him about his parentage. Still the back story has made for interesting story fodder and it explains why Annalise, an accomplished professional, cares in the least about Wes. They've done a great job tying things together. Yet the most intriguing part of the season is still Lila for me. Why did Frank kill her for Sam? What leverage did he have? Why did Laurel spilling that Frank killed her cause Annalise to run off like that instead of confronting him? This whole episode brought up more questions and revisited older ones. I'm not expecting answers to even most of them in the season finale but I know there's going to be one heck of a twist at the end. It's How to Get Away with Murder so there basically has to be.
Grade: A-
Best Scene - the DA interrogations
Best Acting - Annalise breaks down over her dead baby
Best Character Interaction - Bonnie and Frank / Annalise and Wes
Best Twist - Mahoney is Wes' father
Biggest Ho Hum - Caleb is missing. Does anyone besides Michaela actually care?
Biggest Letdown - nothing about Phillip went anywhere
Biggest Smart Alec - all of the students (except Asher) while being investigated by Denver
Most in Need of a Gag - Laurel, who can't be trusted with anyone's secrets
Most in Need of Brain Bleach - me after Asher and Michaela hook up - ugh!
The "Truth is Spoken" Award - Bonnie says they are all bad people because they are
The "Welcome Back" Award - Cicely Tyson as Annalise's mom
Best Quotes -
1. Bonnie: "Stop apologizing. We're all bad people. That's the only thing we have in common."
2. Annalise: "What is this? A homeless shelter? Get out."
3. Annalise: "He's just trying to scare us. Talk to him. You'll be alright." Asher: "Will I? Because I haven't done these like everyone else, who seem to be really good at them." Annalise: "You will be too and you know why? Because you're smarter than people think."
4. Connor: "So good luck screwing me because you're not really my type."
5. Eve: "Okay I get it. You feel like you owe him something as to why. But he's not a child or your child. He's a man and he can handle the truth." Annalise: "How did this become my life?" Eve: "Because you're messed up like all of us."
Nominated Episode
Legend of the Seeker - 2.03 - Broken
I marathoned Legend of the Seeker a few years ago because of some SpoilerTV fans. I liked it but because I watched it so quickly, I don't really remember it. I did however remember this episode because it gave back story on Cara. It is also about the time that I decided I liked Cara better than Kahlan to the shock of most Legend of the Seeker fans. In many ways, I see the resemblance of this crew to the recent ensemble of The Shannara Chronicles. Kahlan is the super special princess like Amberle. Cara is the hardened woman with a scarred childhood that makes her tough, independent, and yet still vulnerable in a way that Amberle is not. Richard, well, he's the mostly less stupid Wil, who if I remember right does NOT sleep with both female leads. So score one for him. As for this episode, I liked the action. I'm a sucker for a good sword fight, which is why I watched the show to begin with. I also liked Richard playing conflict mediator and his inherent belief in the goodness of people, even those who have previously done evil things. Still this episode is high on emoangst and speeches and has less action and humor than I remember in the series, which knocks the grade down a bit. I do however recommend the series as a whole to anyone who loves fantasy epic adventures and has a tolerance for the cheesy special effects that come with a fairly small budget. My guess is that at least one character will take your fancy and you'll happily go along for the ride. I would however suggest not mega marathoning it because the plot gets muddled and things run together. This is a good one to watch a few episodes a week instead of the entire 44 episodes in a few days.
Grade: B
Ranking - already watched the whole series
Audience - those who like high fantasy epics with strong female characters and a dose of humor
Best Reason to Watch - Cara back story / sword fights
Best Scene / Best Action - town sword fight to free Cara
Best Character - Cara's sister
Best Job Perk - being a Mord-Sith means everyone is so terrified of you that you pretty much get what you want until someone gathers enough courage and people to fight back
Worst Job Perk - no one wants a Mord-Sith in their town so you're basically persona non grata to everyone
Worst Twist - Cara killed her father / Cara's teacher is Mord-Sith and the one who brought her into it
Worst Welcome - Cara's brother-in-law turns her into the authorities
The "Poor Baby" Award - Cara's father has his throat burned out
Most Bloodthirsty - Captain Arturius
Most Played - Flynn when Zed used magic against him
Biggest Super Special Snowflake - Kahlan
Biggest Hero - Richard, who defends Cara even when it's not popular
Biggest Hypocrite - Kahlan, yeah this is about justice. Okay then.
Best Quotes -
1. Nathair: "In this world, it is kill or be killed. If you want the death of a thousand little nibbles, that is you decision to make but if you consider your life more important than a rat's, then you must kill them."
2. Cara: "You think just because you were poked a few times with an Agiel you know anything about me? Being chosen by the Mord-Sith was the highest honor of my life." Richard: "Your pride is going to get you killed." Cara: "I'd rather die than grovel on my knees and beg for mercy."
3. Flynn: "And the Seeker? Ha! If he were so good, you'd have think he'd have found me by now. I think that old fool of the First Order gave the Sword of Truth to the wrong farm boy. That's what I think."
4. Kahlan: "I have looked into this woman's eyes and I see now that she is truly remorseful. Her life was taken from her as a child. I will not take it from her again."
5. Zedd: "What you know about wizards could fit inside the teacup of a night wisp."
Guest Reviews
Agents of SHIELD - 3.11 - Bouncing Back
BY Swanpride
I needed a little bit to figure out why this episode was such a big let-down for me. On paper, it did everything right. Seeing President Ellis in person instead of just on the screen was a nice surprise. The new characters and their powers worked for me. The team even had to work around a language barrier this time around and Ward was delightfully creepy. But the actual plot was just so incredibly predictable. Just once I want to see an episode in a South-American country which doesn't do the old tired plot point of the government officials being corrupt. There might be a lot of truth in it but the whole concept is so overdone, I knew from the get go that Elena was not the villain in the scenario. In the end the episode boiled down to waiting for the characters to realize what the audience already knew. Thus said, I liked what was set up so far and the episode gets bonus points for finally addressing at least some overdue morality questions concerning the way S.H.I.E.L.D. treats Inhumans. And in the end, it was a good set-up for things to come.
Grade: C+
Best Reason to Watch - Secret Warriors!!!!!
Best Scene - The flash-forward in the beginning. Not only was it a fitting start for an episode with this title, it also gave us enough details to wonder about for the next three months.
Best Character - Joey and Elena are allotted quite a bit of screen-time, which pays off for both characters.
Best Team-up - Hunter and Bobbi. They really deserve each other.
Best Effects- The way they showed Elena's power is very neat.
Best Detail - Malick's emergency line having on-hold music
Best Prop - The back-up watch. A good solution to prevent the show from becoming overcrowded with characters while still allowing Daisy's team to grow.
Best Action - Yoyo vs Medusa gaze
Most creepy - Everything involving Ward. I never knew that the simple act of eating could be so unsettling to watch.
Most random observation - It never really occurred to me before, but fish actually are a Christian symbol
My prediction of the week - Coulson and Talbot working together should be a ton of fun.
Best Quote:
1. Hunter: "Tell me you didn't try one of those fish oil pills. I had my fingers crossed for x-ray vision."
2. Daisy: "How do you lose someone as big as Mack?"
3. May: "You joined the cavalry."
Criminal Minds – 11.15 – A Badge and A Gun
BY Emma
The case this week featured an Unsub that posed as an FBI agent to get access to his victims. It’s an effective rouse as most of us are taught from a young age that law enforcement are the good guys but I’ve watched this show for far too long to let anyone, law enforcement included, into my house without knowing them very well! The case moves along at a good pace and the Unsub is caught in the usual fashion. I feel the case of the week was deliberately straightforward as the real purpose of this episode was to set up the events for next week’s Derek-centric episode. There were some great team moments to remind us of how important Derek is to everyone, a great tease for Derek and Savannah’s future, and of course, the abduction to ensure we all tune in next week.
Grade: B
Best Reason to Watch – set up for next episode
Scariest Unsub Ever – the pretending to be law enforcement kind
Best Scene – Rossi and Garcia teasing Morgan about Savannah’s text
Best Character Interaction – Rossi, Garcia and Morgan
Worst Text Message – “We need to talk”
The “Nice Try” Award – Derek, trying to lie about his feelings to profilers
Best Code for “I’m Pregnant” – strawberry ice cream
The “Welcome Back” Award (character) – Agent Colfax played by Marisol Nichols
The “Welcome Back” Award (actor) – Carmine Giovinazzo formerly of CSI: NY
Best Quotes -
1. Morgan: “It’s Savannah. She wants to meet for dinner tonight because we need to talk. Trust me, I’ve gotten this text enough times in the past to know it isn’t good.” Rossi: “Hey look, all I know is Savannah is a wonderful woman and you two love each other. It’ll be fine.” Morgan: “Ya?” Rossi: “No, you’re probably completely screwed but good luck anyway.”
2. Garcia: “Why are you asking? Oh come on, really? The good guys are supposed to be good.”
3. Morgan: “Look, if I’m coming home to a firing line, I think I deserve to know that. Baby, seriously. Are you unhappy? Savannah, is it over?” Savannah: “No. I just want to tell you I’m happy. And maybe I’ll show you how happy when I get home.” Morgan: “Ok, I think I like the sound of that.” Savannah: “Boy you better check yourself. It’s not want you think.”
Criminal Minds – 11.16 – Derek
BY Emma
I watched this entire episode with my hands over my face, peeking through the cracks of my fingers. I expected one last bad guy to pop out of the closet and kill Derek. Criminal Minds rarely kills off a character when an actor leaves the show but Derek is so happy with Savannah, and now there is a baby on the way, so I just kept expecting him to die. I guess The 100 has finally started to affect the way I watch other shows! This was a heartbreaking episode with phenomenal acting throughout. I was doing fine until the scene with Derek and his dad at the stream, the safe place he created in his mind when he was molested as a boy. That scene started the waterworks and they didn’t stop until the end of the episode. Even though Derek survived this episode, and there is still one more before the official good bye episode, I still think that it’s Derek that will be leaving us. I just hope that it is because he wants a stable home life for his growing family and like Emily, he will come back to visit every now and then.
Grade: A-
Best Reason to Watch – all the Derek and his father moments
Best Scene – Derek proposes to Savannah
Best Use of Training – Derek disassociating himself
Best Continuity – Derek’s molestation as a kid (revealed way back in season 2)
Best Cause for Celebration – Derek is still alive
Most Surprising – No opening and no closing quote (has this ever happened before??)
Biggest Mystery – Why was Morgan targeted? What does the CIA have to do with this?
The “That’ll Give Me Nightmares” Award – Derek’s chest on fire from white phosphorus
The “Did That Just Happen?” Award – bad guy swallows sim card, Derek cuts it out of his stomach
The “Hmmmm” Award – If Derek’s Pops died when he was 10, why is he aged in Derek’s mind?
The “Who Has That?” Award – Copper sulfate, seriously, who has that in their house?
The “Welcome Back” Award – Danny Glover, one of my favorite actors ever
Best Quotes -
1. Garcia: “So I checked all the other cell signals in the area and they’re all legit aside from one that I was only able to find thanks to some technology no one outside this room needs to know about.”
2. Pops: “Oh man, you know how many knuckle heads I could’ve put away if I had your training? The question is can you apply that training to yourself?”
3. Pops: “No, I’m not ashamed. I’m proud.” Morgan: “Proud? How can you be proud?” Pops: “Because you turned your pain into your greatest asset.”
Heartland - 9.16 – Pandora’s Box
BY BlueStar
Summary: In this episode Amy works with Ty to get a horse to allow them to give her the medical treatment she needs. During this time Ty debates whether or not to open a package given to him by his mother that his father had given her before he died. Meanwhile, Lisa has a health scare and Lou and Mitch find themselves stuck together at the Dude Ranch. Also, Georgie and Adam work through their issues. All in all, this was a solid episode with a couple really heartfelt scenes.
Grade: B+
Best Reason To Watch – The two longest lasting couples on the show both have some great moments
Best Scene – Lisa tells Jack she is scared about what her test results will be and he comforts her
Best Return – Marion’s journal
Cheesiest Joke – Adam: “What do you do with a sick chemist? Well, if you can’t Helium, and you can’t Curium, then you might as well Barium.”
Biggest Relief: Lisa doesn’t have cancer or any other serious disease
Must Be College Kids – The latest Dude Ranch guests put the furniture on the roof in revenge for Lou’s house rules (or they just got really drunk, or both).
Most Hard To Work With – Lou, whose perfectionism and harassing nature is enough to drive anyone nuts
Most Cliché Romance – Lou and Mitch have been fighting like cats and dogs but that’s covering up their feelings for each other
Most Complicated Award – Brad, who screwed up badly at being a father and a husband, but clearly cared for his family.
Most Fun Award – Ty and Amy ride off on his motorcycle to the post office.
Best Quotes:
1. Lisa: “I’m a little bit worried…I’m scared. So I just wanna do something or I may just fall apart.” Jack: “What’s wrong with that?”
2. Ty: “You had a real mom, Amy. She was there for you. My Dad was never around, and there’s nothing in a safety deposit box that is ever going to change that.” Amy: “I know. But I can’t help but wonder what’s worst. The chance that you might find something that you don’t like, or that you might never know what’s actually in that box?”
3. Lou: “You know what, this isn’t going to work. I’m just going to get a horse and ride back to the ranch.” Mitch: “Yeah, your high horse.”
Suits - 5.15 - Tick Tock
BY Laura Markus
I thought the intro and the outro were the strongest parts of the episode. While certain other scenes fell flat to me, opening with Mike in Harvey's apartment talking about the trial, then cutting to the trial was excellent, and the writing was great. Even in a Donna and Harvey scene, they couldn't resist talking about Mike.
- "I have a way, but you're not gonna like it." Nice quote, Mike. If this isn't the theme of the entire show...
- I did not like Rachel in this episode. But to make up for it, someone actually remembered the season 1 finale Dog Fight, the Clifford Danner case, and Clifford's mom. Give this person a raise! Clifford's mom was so sweet, and I actually liked Clifford a lot as a character and am kind of peeved they killed him off.
- Jessica was a queen. As per usual. Let's move on.
- Louis, why are you begging me to hate you more than I already do? Enough is enough already.
- And lastly, that beautiful outro. The music choice was fantastic, the directing was stunning, and the acting - well there wasn't much dialogue but their faces said it all. The chemistry Patrick and Gabriel continue to effortlessly breathe after all these years is astounding. Harvey, racing through the streets of 'New York' to save Mike was beautiful. Mike's closing statement was almost the saddest scene of the episode, but this took the cake.
Grade: B-
Suits - 5.16 - 25th Hour
BY Laura Markus
Once again, Suits has proven that the show's fundamentals and entire basis was formed surrounding the relationship between Harvey and Mike; it doesn't matter in what way. It started with their secret, and everything that has happened until now has to do with them. With Mike in prison, who knows what will happen to their relationship. I certainly have the right to be scared. On another note, there were two outstanding scenes I have to praise. The beautiful and tragic scene of Harvey provoking Mike to punch to see if he can withstand prison roughness. Absolutely stunning, and I would be lying if I said I didn't cry my heart out. And the ending scene, with the juxtaposition of Harvey and Mike talking about their lives, Mike walking into prison, and Jessica, Louis, and Donna arriving at the now empty Pearson Specter Litt. A clean slate was what they wanted, and they set that up quite nicely.
Grade: A-
Best Reason to Watch - They are actually putting Mike in jail, which is what a lot of people wanted.
Best Scene - Harvey provokes Mike to fight him in his apartment.
The "Awww!" Award - Mike telling Harvey that despite how things ended up, he would do it again.
Funniest Moment - Harvey yelling at Donna. It was pretty great.
The "Oh, Crap!" Award - Mike and Harvey's fight and their comedown.
Best Juxtaposition & Best Cliffhanger - Clean slates: Mike walking into prison and the empty firm.
The "Why You Always Lyin'?" Award - Harvey to Mike about his verdict.
Best Quotes -
1. Mike: "It's not your fault, Harvey. I made my case. I convinced you to hire me." Harvey: "I was the one that made the call." Mike: "You were. But it doesn't matter. 'Cause even knowing how it all turned out I'd do it again." Harvey: "I guess I would too, 'cause I never thought in a million years I'd meet someone dumb enough to be willing to go to prison for me." Mike: "I mean, Donna always said you were looking for another you. I guess you found one. [...] I guess it's time to get busy living and get busy dying." Harvey: "Well, that's god** right. [...] Watch your back in there, Mike." Mike: "I will."
2. Harvey: "What are you doing here?" Mike: "Harvey, I want to talk to you." Harvey: "Good, because I want to talk to you." Mike: "I want you to be my best man." Harvey: "What?" Mike: "Rachel and I want to get married." Harvey: "You're less than a day from prison, and you're thinking about dresses and flowers" Mike: "Harvey-" Harvey: "You know what? I'll be your best man on one condition." Mike: "That ship has sailed." Harvey: "The hell it has. We can still call Gibbs." Mike: "I am not calling Gibbs." Harvey: "Get it through your head. This is on me." Mike: "No, you get it through your head. I am not letting you go to prison for a crime that I committed." Harvey: "Well, I'm not letting you go when you were gonna be found innocent." Mike: "What did you say?" Harvey: "That's right, I lied. The verdict was not guilty." Mike: "No, I don't believe you." Harvey: "Then call the goddamn guy." Mike: "Why the hell would you lie to me?" Harvey: "Because the truth would have broken you." Mike: "Oh, except now you want to break me?" Harvey: "Because it's the only way you're gonna let me do this. You think putting a ring on Rachel's finger is gonna make everything go away?" Mike: "You know what, Harvey? You want to come to my wedding, you let me know." [glass shattering] Harvey: "You want to go to prison? Rule number one: never turn your back on anyone." Mike: "I know what you're doing, and it's not gonna work." Harvey: "I'm not trying to take your place anymore. I'm trying to get you ready like Gloria Danner asked me to." Mike: "Harvey-" Harvey: "Because you're weak." Mike: "I am not weak." Harvey: "Yeah, well, hit me." Mike: "No." Harvey: "Hit me." Mike: "Harvey, stop it. Listen-" Harvey: "No, you listen to me. You think you're not weak?" Mike: "You're only doing this because you feel guilty, all right?" Harvey: "Louis Litt got you in a headlock." Mike: "But I am not gonna hit you just because-" Harvey: "Tess's husband kicked you’re a**." Mike: "You can't handle the fact-" Harvey: "Logan Sanders hooked up with Rachel." Mike: "Stop right now." Harvey: "What do you think he's gonna do with her the second you get-" [Mike starts beating Harvey up] Mike: "Is that what you want? That I hate you, and that you made me do this? I'm gonna lose everything because of you!" [...] Harvey: "Mike, please. Let's call Gibbs. Mike: "I can't. I can't, Harvey. I can't."
3. Mike: "I know you're p** that I made a deal before you, but I need you to tell me that I made the right call." Harvey: "You did." Mike: "How can you be so sure?" Harvey: "Because I went to see the verdict foreman and he told me the verdict was guilty. Look, the idea of you going to prison was killing me, and I couldn't let it go unless I knew." Mike: "And now you can." Harvey: "I still wish you would've let me take the hit instead of you, but yeah, I can. Go home, Mike. Get whatever time you have left with Rachel." Mike: "It's gonna be easier now. I never thought the word 'guilty' would do that."
4. Mike: "How'd you know?" Harvey: "I knew, and there's no way I'm letting you do this alone."
5. Harvey: "God** it, Mike, don't do this. We can go to verdict." Mike: "Don't give me that. You weren't racing over to her office to tell her that the jury was back. You were going to jump on the grenade, and I beat you to it. Now I told you it's done, and it's done."
6. Harvey: "Donna, Mike just threw his whole life away, and there's nothing I can do about it, and the only way that I can accept it is if I find out what that verdict was gonna be."
7. Donna: "I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful bride." Rachel: "That's good, because I have never seen a more beautiful maid of honour."
New Shows
Damien - 1.01 - Pilot
Hmmm. I'm just not sure about this one. On one hand, I like Bradley James. On the other, I think Megalyn Echikunwoke may be the worst actress currently working in TV. She almost singlehandedly ruined The 4400 for me. On one hand, the mystery is intriguing. On the other, I have as much interest in humanizing the antichrist and I do in humanizing the devil. That being said, this pilot was a whole lot better than Lucifer. While Lucifer is a straight up narcissistic douche, Damien feels more layered and I'm not seeing a partnership love interest yet although that may come. Plus it's likely to be a serial show that builds on the mystery every week which I think will work better for this type of storytelling than the case of the week format of Lucifer. I'm tentatively giving this show 2 more episodes to make or break but either way I doubt it becomes weekly TV for me. I have no holes in my TV schedule and even one scene of Megalyn was enough for me.
Grade: C+
Ranking - 2+
Audience - those who like loosely based religious intrigue where the traditional bad guy is the morally ambivalent good guy
TV Formula - one part Dig plot + action + gore + a hot guy
Best Reason to Watch - the mystery
Best Scene - Damien breaks down at church
Best Flashback - Damien with his father at church earlier
Biggest Mystery - Why didn't they kill off Simone instead of Kelly or at least cast them differently?
Biggest Ewww - dog tearing Reneus apart
Most Creepy - Rutledge, who has to be Satan, right?
The "Welcome Back" Award - Bradley James from Merlin and iZombie / Barbara Hershey from Beaches and Chicago Hope / Tiffany Hines from Stitchers and Bones / Sam Anderson from Angel
The Family - 1.01 / 1.02 - Pilot / All You See is Dark
Although I was initially pretty excited about this show, it ended up committing the cardinal TV sin. It bored me. I doubt Adam is Adam but it makes no sense that this is a conspiracy so big that they had a doctor perjure himself and someone stole the dental files so there's no way to check them. She's a smalltime mayor for goodness sake. They needed to either make her a more spotlight worthy candidate or they needed to back it into reality. Plus it's yet another show where I cannot root for anyone because they are all awful. Every single one of them. You'd think that the guy wrongly locked up for murder would be a sympathetic character, but he's a full-on pedophile who was grooming the kid to be his victim. And he may not end up being the worst character. On the plus side though, the acting is top-notch. Joan Allen and Rupert Graves are phenomenal as a couple who don't just lose their son in a tragedy but their marriage and even themselves. The writing is also decent except for the pacing so that's enough for me to give it one more episode before putting it on the backburner.
Grade : C-
Best Scene - Claire sees Adam again for the first time
Best Reason to Watch - the acting
Worst Human Who Isn’t a Murderer or Pedophile or Politician - Bridey, who makes the alcoholic worse / Willa, who blackmails her own dad
Biggest Mooch - Danny
Least Surprising - the cop and the husband are screwing
Most Likely to Tell It Like It Is - Officer Meyer, who tells the family to stop blaming each other and focus on the missing kid
Most Creepy - Adam, who is probably not Adam
Most Cold - Claire won't let John hug Adam until they get inside
Dumbest Move - Willa breaks into Hank's house to collect evidence
Best Quotes -
1. Hank: "You're sorry for what happened to me?" John: "Yes, I am." Hank: "You happened to me. Your family happened to me. Did you want me to forgive you? This city was a mob. They were after me. I couldn't beat this monster no matter what and you people lit the torches." John: "Now wait a minute…" Hank: "You know what I thought about, John? When I laid in my cell, I thought about your boy - your beautiful little boy. I'd wished I did it. I wish I took him from you and hurt him. Wrap my fingers around his throat and watch the life drip from his little body, bit by bit. So don't feel sorry about what happened to me. I didn't spend a minute feeling sorry for what happened to you."
2. Claire: "I waited 10 years to get my son back. You can wait 1 night."
3. Claire: "I gave up." John: "Well, we all did." Claire: "But I gave up on more than just him."
4. Hank: "Remember me? I'm the guy who killed you."
5. Claire: "You can't get a search warrant unless you have evidence and you can't get evidence until you have a search warrant." Meyer: "Welcome to the justice system."
6. Claire: "While it's lovely to have you back home again, could you refrain from taunting the media? I still have a job to get back to."
7. Meyer: "You want to kill him. That's understandable." John: "No, I want to kill everyone he loves."
Weekly Shows
The 100 - 3.07 - Thirteen
First off, this is by far the best episode of The 100 this season. It had great twists and most importantly, absolutely ZERO Arkadia. That's a win every time. I liked the flashbacks as a whole and I adored how they did the miraculous - made me finally interested in the Alie storyline. I was shocked in a good way when we learned exactly how connected Becca was to Polis. Taking the Alie chip out of Lexa's neck had my jaw dropped and me cheering. The flashbacks were superb, even in the parts I did not like, and it gives us another morally grey character in Becca. Was she as crazy as she seems or was there actual logic in her madness? This was more like The 100 I knew and loved in earlier seasons. While I'm not happy that my third favorite character on this show is dead, I do think that they treated Lexa's death with grace. I applaud the acting between Eliza and Alycia in the end, making the most out of an emotional scene. Still it was actually the care Lexa showed Titus, who shot her, that stuck out to me. Lexa was a powerful and intriguing character and she will be much missed. So will Polis because there is little reason to stay there much longer, leaving us in the story wasteland that is Arkadia. Ugh!
That being said, there are 2 major flaws in the episode that keep me from making it the show of the week. First off, logically it made little sense. Come on. A space station gets bombed out of the sky, does not burn up at all in re-entry, and then instead of shattering into a billion pieces upon landing, it remains upright and structurally firm enough to create an instant skyscraper apartment building? Really? Are you kidding me? That's beyond any stretch of the imagination. Must have been one heck of a building sized parachute. The second one is going to get me in trouble with many fans. It makes ZERO sense to me that Clarke still has romantic feelings for Lexa at all, much less enough for that sex scene goodbye. It shouldn't even make sense after Finn's death. No, I am NOT saying Lexa is to blame for Finn's death but she is directly involved with why Clarke made the decision to kill her best friend. I don't care if your best friend deserves it. You aren't going to become romantically intertwined with the person who activates their death. Would you want to screw the person who put the needle in your best friend's arm for the death penalty? It wouldn't matter if they were guilty or not. That person will forever be linked to the death of someone you cared about. To have Clarke still lusting after Lexa now is even more ludicrous to me. Lexa is directly responsible for Clarke having to face the Mountain Men alone. Whether you agree with Lexa's decision or not, it put Clarke in a very tough spot - one that ended with Clarke committing genocide. Clarke killed 26 innocent kids in part because Lexa betrayed her. There should be no way that she looks at Lexa and sees anything but her own worst moment in a life full of horrible moments. By this time, the only thing Lexa should represent to Clarke is death and her own guilt. It's not just that this is out-of-character for Clarke. It's out of character for humanity. Both the logic issues and the sex scene pull the grade down for me.
Grade: B
Best Reason to Watch- the huge leap forward in the plot
Best Scene - the ending
Best Character Interaction - Indra and Octavia, simply because the sex scene precludes me from thinking Lexa and Clarke should get it
Most Missed Already - Lexa, a bright shiny spot this season, who gave us a reason to hang out in Polis
Most Intriguing Character Now - Titus, who is the closest thing we've got to grounder history and culture, outside of Lincoln who is still locked up
Most Evil - Becca, who kills her own people because she thinks she's right AFTER killing most of the world
Biggest Eye Roll - Lexa and Clarke sex scene
Biggest What the Heck? - So a space station falls from space. It doesn't burn up in orbit. It doesn't shatter to pieces when it hits the ground. Instead it lands perfectly upright to create the world's first skyscraper that descends from the sky. Um, okay. If you say so. Sure.
Biggest Say What? - Since when is Murphy a friend to Clarke?
The "Congratulations, You Blew Up the World" Award - Becca
The "Welcome Back" Award - Roger R. Cross from Arrow and The Strain
Best Quotes -
1. Indra: "You see, even someone as slow and weak as you can put me on my back. I should have died on that field." Octavia: "We all die. You can either do that here feeling sorry for yourself or you come back with me and get your revenge. The choice is yours."
2. Lexa: "You were right, Clarke. Life is about more than surviving."
3. Titus: "My faith has got nothing to do with yours." Murphy: "Trust me. I have no faith."
4. Octavia: "If you're not there, you're not the person I thought you were."
5. Commander: "Becca, you already have the blood of billions on your hands. Is it worth risking the rest of us just to prove you're right?"
The 100 - 3.08 - Terms and Conditions
This is the first time I have liked Arkadia all year. It was also Kane-centered. Coincidence? I think not. I love how things are heating up in Arkadia as both sides play each other. By the way, Kane's team is smarter and has better morals, which is exactly why most of them are locked up by episode's end. Pike and Monty's mom continue to be psychotic and I continue to root for Alie to drop a bomb on Arkadia and end the whole mess. If Kane actually dies, that goes double. The best part of this episode was the two teams trying to outsmart each other and the politics were fairly interesting, although not Polis-level interesting. I also adore that Raven is slowly getting out of her zombie stage and that next episode may be the catalyst for turning both Bellamy and Monty back from the utter douches they currently are. Still, this episode is based almost solely on talking and pondering and arguing until the prison break. It's not so much exposition overload as it is talking through the character devolution that is already irksome. If anything had changed, if anyone had a revelation, then this would have been worth it. Instead, they all keep carrying on as they have been for several episodes. In other words, filler. We could have been in Polis dealing with the aftermath of Lexa's death instead of each character continuing to blather about how right they are. We know all this. I don't know how the grounder commander is chosen and that's far more interesting to me right now.
Grade: B-
Best Scene - prison break plot so Kane can kidnap Pike
Best Character - Kane, of course
Best Reason to Watch - Raven pulling away from Alie
Best Reaction - everyone to watching Kane being marched into prison
Most Worrisome - this episode is Kane-centric, which better NOT mean that he's going to be killed
Biggest Hmm - Where's Abby?
Biggest Psychopath - Monty's mom, who needs to die just as much as Pike does
Biggest Laugh - Bellamy literally shoots the messengers
Biggest Surprise - Jasper was almost tolerable this episode
The "He Does Exist" Award - Lincoln finally graces my screen again. It's been too long, sir.
The "MIA" Award - Clarke, Octavia, Indra, Abby, and everything Polis
Best Quotes -
1. Bellamy: "You're a good man." Bryan: "Am I? Is this…is any of this worth lying to someone I love." Bellamy: "It is if you're protecting him." Bryan: "Unless the person he needs protection from is me."
2. Kane: "Assume there are eyes on us at all times." Harper: "Or we could just shock lash Pike's fascist a** and hand him to the grounders." Kane: "That would be murder, not to mention treason, and that's not who we are." Miller: "Maybe that's who we need to be." Kane: "Not yet."
3. Raven: "Favorite place?" Jasper: "Down here or up there?" Raven: "Either. Both." Jasper: "Starboard window bay. That has the best view of the moon on the whole damn ship and we used to get a little baked, sit back, watch the sky playing On Which Planet Would You Rather? Answer was always Earth. We were such dumba**."
4. Bellamy: "Keeping an eye on Sinclair was an easy call." Kane: "Was it? Spying on your friend, that was easy?" Bellamy: "People in camp are losing focus. There's a threat outside these walls…"Kane: "The threat's inside these walls. Can't you see that? Pike's turning us against each other." Bellamy: "Pike's the Chancellor. Have you forgotten that?" Kane: "No, no, I haven't." Bellamy: "Then do the right thing." Kane: "That's the problem. No matter how I look at it, I am."
5. Jasper: "Who is going to figure that out?" Raven: "I was thinking you." Jasper: "Uh huh. Well we were just talking about how I'm a drunken idiot."
Agent Carter - 2.06 -2.10 - Hollywood Ending
While I always enjoy Agent Carter, I'm not sure marathoning it works as well for me. I found myself getting weary of the plot by the time the series (probably) finished. Of course that might also be because of the incessant focus they put on the love triangle in 3 episodes that would have done better without it. I also feel like Carter wasn't as integral to the finale of this season as she was the last one. Add in a rift with Jarvis towards the end and I liked season 1 better than season 2. That's not to say that I didn't like this one because I did. Rose and Ana were both marvelous. I will miss them more than some of the main characters to be honest. I also like that Dottie rejoined them for awhile. She makes everything better and her scenes with both Carter and Frost were fantastic. Sadly neither she nor Carter got to do as much hand-to-hand combat as last season but those were still the best action scenes when they did. The scenes between Jarvis and Ana were great as well and I'm glad they gave James D'Arcy something to really dig deep on instead of all comedy. Watching him at Ana's bedside was heartbreaking. Kudos to both the acting and the writing there. All in all, while I was a little disappointed, I still prefer Agent Carter over all other comic-based shows. I am sad that it will probably not see another season, but not as sad as I would have been last year. They ended it nicely with only a small cliffhanger and who really cares about Thompson anyway?
Grade: B-
Best Scene / Biggest Aww Scene - Jarvis promises everything if Ana just wakes up and she does
Best Character Interaction - Carter and Dottie / Carter and Jarvis
Best Wife Ever- Ana Jarvis
Best Friend - Carter comforts Jarvis while he waits for his wife to wake up
Biggest What the Heck - Pop-up musical sequence about love triangles. I'm just astounded that we're wasting time on this when there's only 2 episodes left in probably the entire series.
Biggest Shock - Jarvis shoots Frost
Biggest Understatement Ever - Carter says she has a terrible idea and since that idea includes putting Dottie in the field, I think terrible is too mild a word for it
Biggest Laugh - Jarvis and Carter's charades while Dottie is under the hair dryer
Biggest Man of Action - Sousa, who doesn't talk about going into the danger zone but just goes / Carter and all the others who jump in to save him
Most Vicarious Thrill - Carter punches out Masters
Most Likely to Slit Your Throat in Your Sleep - Manfredi's mama
Most Intense - Sousa vs. Masters
Most Oblivious - Jarvis to the fact that Ana is worried
Most Amusing / Most Besotted - the love struck mobster Manfredi makes for pretty good comic relief
Least Surprising - Frost takes Dottie
Quickest Thinking - Sousa messes with Frost's math
The "Oh Poor Baby" Award - Jarvis fears that he's going to lose Ana
The "We Don't Have Time for This" Award- What the heck? We have places to break into and bad guys to catch. Why the heck are we wasting time on a freaking love triangle much less stopping mid-episode to have a car side chat about it? This isn't a freaking Impala and I really don't care.
The "Welcome to the SSR" Award - Jarvis' wife looks askew about Peggy's injury and the fact that she's still up and moving
The "You've Got to Die" Award - anyone who hurts Ana, the most amazing character on this show, must go
The "Welcome Back" Award - Angie / Dottie / Ana Jarvis / Rose / Michael / Stark
The "Welcome Back" Award (actor) - Tom Choi aka HistoryDad on Teen Wolf
Best Quotes -
1. Dottie: "It takes more than 6 walls to hold me." Carter: "Six?" Dottie: "We're in a cube, Peggy. Try to keep up."
2. Stark: "You kids are so cute. I bet you crammed for your finals and everything." Carter: "What are you shuttering about?" Stark: "The answer's right in front of you. How do the most successful scientists achieve greatness?" Jarvis: "Given your history, drinking copious amounts of alcohol and cavorting with loose women."
3. Frost: "What do you think of my research?" Wilkes: "I think you're a mass murderer of rats."
4. Dottie: "What can I say? I'm a giver." Carter: "Just so we're clear I know you'll try to run and I'm prepared for it." Dottie: "Just so we're clear I know your deportation offer is a lie and you can never be fully prepared for me." Carter: "Then we're in agreement. You'll help me get what I need and then I'll lock you back up in this cell."
5. Sousa: "So she's a real crazy." Carter: "She's a genius." Sousa: "Can you decipher it?" Carter: "I don't speak megalomaniac. Fortunately Howard Stark does."
6. Stark: "What am I doing wrong, Jarvis?" Jarvis: "Sir, we are standing before an incomprehensible rip in the fabric of our world. Use a 7 iron."
7. Stark: "Jarvis, you just hit a woman with my car." Jarvis: "I know, sir." Stark: "She's a two-time Oscar nominee." Jarvis: "Miss Frost is quite resilient. She's fine. Trust me."
8. Ana: "Careful what you ask me. I've had just enough wine that I might answer honestly."
The Big Bang Theory - 9.16 / 9.17 - The Positive Negative Reaction / The Celebration Experimentation
I'm not sure we needed an entire episode devoted to people saying nice things about Sheldon but since he does get and give his fair share of abuse, it was a nice switch up. Too bad it started dragging in the middle. I actually preferred the previous one about Bernadette's pregnancy better even though I laughed more in the second one and it had better references. West not knowing that Affleck was going to be the new Batman made me chuckle but Penny's bathroom Comic-Con line was the clear dialogue winner. Still 9.16 had more heart and was more relatable than most episodes are. The idea of parenthood is enough to scare anyone into wondering if they are prepared for it. I thought Bernadette rocked this episode and yet it was Howard that made the most growth. I adore that he has come up with a new patent idea just to be able to support his child more. It should be interesting to see how a baby changes the dynamics of the show. I'm guessing Stuart will be called to babysit a lot.
Grade: B / B-
Best Reason to Watch - lots of heartfelt moments
Best Awww Scene - Bernadette tells Howard she's pregnant via Post-It notes
Best Friend - Penny offers to stay in the bathroom with Sheldon throughout the party
Best Speech - Wil Wheaton's toast to Sheldon on his birthday
Best Montage / Most Funny - karaoke
Most Cringeworthy - Barry hitting on Leonard's mom in front of him
Biggest Awww Moment - Leonard calls Sheldon his brother
The "Poor Baby" Award - no one ever tells Stuart anything
Best Guest Star - Adam West
The "Welcome Back" Award (character/person ) - Wil Wheaton, Leslie Winkle, Stephen Hawking, Beverly
Best Quotes -
1. Penny: "Hey, you want to just bring a few people in here? You know Wil Wheaton in the bathtub. Batman on the toilet. It will be like the weirdest Comic-Con together."
2. Howard: "Okay, how about this for an invention? Slightly bigger cocktail umbrellas." Leonard: "How is that a new invention?" Howard: "I don't know. All Apple does is change the size of things and we keep buying them."
3. Howard: "Maybe that's an idea. Guidance systems for drunk people." Raj: "They have that. It's called Uber."
4. Leonard: "You know what we should do?" Sheldon: "All get vasectomies so this doesn't happen to us?" Leonard: "Go out and celebrate. But not your worst idea."
5. Amy: "How do you feel about balloons?" Sheldon: "Mylar balloons, yes. Latex balloons, no. water balloons, I will jump off the roof and aim for your car."
6. West: "I never had to say 'I'm Batman'. I showed up. People knew I was Batman."
CSI: Cyber - (2.14-2.17)
I like Cyber but marathoning it, especially right after marathoning Major Crimes and Rizzoli & Isles really points out its flaws. Major events happen in one episode and then never are mentioned again. Hello, death of Python…maybe. I still don't know if it happened or if it was all just a dream. What's up with that? Or subplots are suddenly dropped in, forgotten for several episodes, and just when you forgot that they ever existed, come back to take up space. Looking at you Nina stalker subplot. It's to the point where I'm not sure if they are airing the episodes out of order or if the writers simply don't talk to each other and the show runner is on an extended holiday. Good thing I kind of care about many of the characters or else I would have been gone a long time ago. As it is, I'm just playing out the string until this show is cancelled.
Grade: C-
Best Reason to Watch - Nelson is free but the program is in jeopardy
Tech to Fear of the Week - the government's almost limitless ability to track where you are and what you do via the internet if even half of these plots are true
Best Action - Elijah vs. Vega
Best Twist - DB and Avery are talking about a ping pong match
Best Bud - Krumitz , who helps Nelson with the paperwork even though he won the bet
Worst Plan - killing Grace to save her
Worst Job - sorting through the worst of the internet
Least Interesting - Elijah's stalker Nina subplot is back and really, really boring
Least Logical - Why exactly do people wait until CTEC flies to their city before they have the police enter the crime scene? This will never ever make any sense.
Most Diabolical - Python drives right by Elijah, knowing that he can't pursue her and save Grace too
Most Surprising - DB has never been to Paris
Most Right - Raven when she tells Nelson that Avery will NOT put his interests first, which she knows because Avery was a witch to her at her probation hearing
Biggest Rip-Off of Se7en - Sasha kills the vice violators and then plans to use herself as the example of the last one
Biggest Facepalm - DB picks up the bag with the head in it with his bare hands, no gloves - Arggghhhh!
Biggest Awww Moment - Avery and Grace's mom reunite
Biggest Hmm - So, they aren't going to do anything about dead or mostly dead guy Vega was torturing?
Dumbest Criminals - the teen girls who are so busy trying to be famous that they get themselves trapped
The "Say What?" Award - THAT's the end of Python? Really? How anticlimactic!
The "I'm with You" Award - Nelson calling out Avery about Raven was exactly in line given that the circumstances are ultimately the same
The "Please Stay Lost" Award - Nina and Fake Grandpa
The "Welcome Back" Award (character) - Vega / Greer
The "Welcome Back" Award (actor) - Gabriel Tigerman aka An