TV Shows Watched: The White Lotus: S1E6 (MAX) with audio description, American Idol: S23E4 (Disney plus) no audio description, Dope Thief: S1E3 (Apple plus) with audio description, Adolescence: S1E3 (Netflix) with audio description, St Dennis Medical: S1E14 (Peacock) with audio description, and Have I Got News For you: S2E6? (MAX) no audio description
Best Episode: Adolescence- Sorry, Orgy Lotus, this Netflix limited just slaps. The third episode, which is basically just Jamie and his court appointed therapist, have a very long and uncomfortable conversation, and we see a very different side of Jamie than what we saw in the pilot.
Runner Up: The White Lotus- Sure, this episode got freaky. it deserves the mention. It also left off in a really interesting place. Of course, the internet really just wants to talk about that one scene…
Best Audio Description- The White Lotus- It doesn’t have the most effusive description of sexual acts that I’ve ever heard, but it is pretty good. At least everyone wasn’t thrusting all over the place, and we found different ways of describing the art of intercourse. Also, Tim’s fever dreams/nightmares get some bonus points.
Runner Up: Dope Thief- This show always seems to squeeze in some intense bloody action. One thing is for sure. Brian Tyree Henry’s character clearly has not seen the movie Seven.
Best Performance: Owen Cooper (Adolescence)- Jamie really takes center stage in Episode 3, presenting a little bit more of who this kid really is, but with really complicated layers of fear, expectation, and being a product of his environment (as he is currently in some mental hospital instead of a prison). For such a young actor,Cooper did a lot in an hour that was basically one long take.
Runner Ups- Patrick Schwarzenegger (The White Lotus), Alex Nivola (the White Lotus), Parker Posey (The White Lotus), Jason Isaacs (The White Lotus), Walton Goggins (the White Lotus), Brian Tyree Henry (Dope Thief)- Five members from the same show, and one from Dope thief. I had to choose Brian, because he seemed to be fully accepting that his death was imminent, even walking out ready to meet it, and you can feel scared stoicism in his stride. Meanwhile, the White Lotus got weird. Sure, Walton Goggins has been excellent all season, as has Jason Isaacs, but we got Parker Posey’s Victoria talking about what she would do if she were poor (as well as how Tim represents her in his dream), and then what is there else to say about Lachlan and Saxon? I mean, they are all the internet can talk about. I think my favorite scene between either of them was the realization hitting Saxon of what happened.
Best Moment Of Audio Description: Brotherly Love (The White Lotus)- No spoilers. if you know, you know. I will say, that there was this very specific description of Schwarzenegger’s ass right up at the top. very artistic, as he was slightly covered by a sheet while sleeping. then, it all went in a very interesting direction.
Runner Up: What’s In the Box? (Dope thief)- this scene was described well too. I think we all knew, and I think Brian knew, but he still had to see what was in the damn box.
Worst Of…- American Idol. My tolerance for your lack of audio description is non-existent now. I’m still at human levels of anger, and not yet at “the monkeys at the zoo are throwing poo at the guests”, but these audition episodes and Hollywood week episodes were shot a while back, and a halfway decent company could have put audio description on this by now. Again, when the shows that have been running as long as you have start adding audio description, and you keep your head in the pile of shit, it stops feeling like apathy, and starts feeling intentional. You’re getting to be like the last school in America that hasn’t desegregated, and the President is about to send in the troops ton make you. Don’t let it get to that point. Top Chef just gained audio description in Season 22, and if they can attempt to describe those dishes, someone can describe your singers.
