Somehow around cramming all the Star Wars movies before Friday, I actually manage to squeez in a few TV shows. This was a pretty easy day in terms of ranking.
1) The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray (Apple Plus)
English Audio Description Available?: Yes
It’s official. I’m invested. I’m hooked. Episode 4 saw Ptolemy blowing everyone away with his lucidity, as he continues to try and use his last days to solve the murder of Reggie. I’m betting it was hilly. That kid is sketchyAF. Jackson is doing some great stuff here, but I need to also give a shoutout to Dominique Fishback.
Episode Grade: A
2) The Chase (ABC/Hulu)
English Audio Description Available?: Yes
Brad got brutalized. Just absolutely brutalized. He wasn’t even close.
Episode Grade: A-
3) The Great North (FOX/Hulu)
English Audio Description Available?: no
Of all of Fox’s recent animated attempts to lock in this empty block in the lineup between 3 other long running shows, The Great North far outpaces the others, and has become the show I could see myself actually watching for the long term. Two seasons in, and I’m loving it.
Episode Grade: A-, Season 2 Grade: A-
4) Life and Beth (Hulu)
English Audio Description available?: Yes
So, this show, in its third episode, is still one that makes me laugh only intermittently. And some of the jokes are so random. Amy Schumer’s black friend making fun of her voice and saying it was like she was trying to offer reparations… I get it. It’s supposed to be funny, but it’s also the kind of conversation people don’t normally have. At times, Life and Beth wants us to take it seriously, like it has something to say, and then at other times it’s nowhere near the base of reality. Is this the new Better Things?
Episode Grade: B+
5) Black Gold (Paramount Plus)
English Audio Description Available?: No?
I don’t know what happened. I feel like the first episode had audio description, then 2 and 3 don’t. Weird. Anyway, this climate change/ Exxon whistleblowing documentary by Darren Aronofsky was interesting, but I feel like it also could have easily just been a movie. I’m not sure we benefitted from this format in the long run. It just felt like a long documentary that was broken into 3 episodes because no one had any faith that people would watch a long documentary. Just keep telling people its from Darren Aronofsky, and people will come. I did.
Episode Grade: B+, Series Grade: B+
7) Jeopardy (Syndication)
English Audio Description Available?: No
Once again, when jeopardy is dead last, you know it was a pretty solid day. I got 22 correct, a huge increase from last nights 10, and this time I got that Final Jeopardy. Ryan logged another win. I believe if he wins tonight, that makes 10 wins.
Episode Grade: B
