Another comprehensive look at my active watchlist. How much do I really like that show? Where do the new shows stack up? What is being eliminated from the watchlist? Find out in this silly thing I’ve started to do.
Winner: Cobra Kai (Netflix) with audio description- After an excellent penultimate episode that gave me damn near everything I wanted as a fan of the show, I’m giving Cobra Kai the top spot on my rankings. It has one episode left, and Severance has two. plus, the Harmony centric episode this week of Severance was my least favorite, which certainly made things a bit more interesting. Excellent audio description.
Runner Up: Yellowjackets (Paramount Plus) with audio description- The top is really tight, but a really strong fourth episode, with a big twist at the end I did not see coming allowed Yellowjackets to move up a bit.
#3- Severance (Apple Plu) with audio description- Even with one good not great episode, this season has been so tremendously interesting and intriguing, I’m not knocking it too far down. Plus, Patricia Arquette was really good in the episode. I’ve just never wondered what her characters life is like.
#4- From (MGM Plus) with audio description- Only slipped because I didn’t watch another episode since the last rankings. Since I’m doing a long term catch up, I can move a little slower. But, From is still excellent, and you can get audio description only if you do MGM Plus as a channel add on to your Prime Video subscription.
#5- Reacher (Amazon) with audio description- A slight increase from last week. I’m loving the plot this season, I’m loving the audio description, and I’m really connecting with Duffy as a new character.
#6- The Traitors (Peacock) with audio description- I don’t do reunion specials, so this will be the last time this season of the US version makes my list for a while. I dropped it down a notch because Peacock’s audio description on the finale is not properly laid, and is too distracting. No spoilers about how it ends, but I was surprised it ended that way. I do plan on jumping into The Traitors UK next week, which I assume still has no audio description.
#7- Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (MAX) no audio description- A show I just simply need in my life. The only reason it isn’t higher is the lack of audio description if you watch next day air. I believe this gets audio description much later.
#8- Daredevil: Born Again (Disney Plus) with audio description- It has a lot of potential. this series could really go either way, but I’m excited enough to debut it this high, and see what happens from here. Charlie Cox is a great Matt, I’m hoping they don’t forget about Karen, and Kingpin’s storyline is eerily similar to our current times despite being filmed in 2023.
#9- The White Lotus (MAX) with audio description- Holding pretty strong. while I feel the show has given depth to its male characters, I’m still waiting for them to flesh out the ladies like they have Walton Goggins and Jason Isaacs.
#10- Abbott Elementary (Hulu) with audio description- Edges out St Dennis Medical, since I didn’t watch a new episode of the medical comedy this week, and i really appreciated how Abbott Elementary tackled book bans.
#12- St Dennis medical (Peacock) with audio description- Still one of the brightest and funniest new shows. It has a second season commitment already. I’m excited. I hope it doesn’t turn into another American Auto.
#13- Mythic Quest (Apple plus) with audio description- Another one of my favorite comedies, which also has a very strong ensemble. I’m going to miss this show, but they really aren’t even working on the titular game anymore.
#14- Pop Culture Jeopardy (Amazon) with audio description- It’s hard to place a game show, but this last episode, I feel like I could have beaten all three teams of three.
#15- Elzabeth (Paramount Plus)- with audio description- Slipped a bit just because I didn’t watch a new episode last week. i would have, but we had the Oscars which took up my Sunday night. So now I’m just a little behind. Again, I’ll keep saying, it would be nice to see a nomination for Carrie Preston.
#16- the Daily Show (Paramount Plus) no audio description- Second program with no audio description that I also need in my life right now.I really hope Jon Stewart gets a 2 hour Elon interview. No interruptions so he can’t claim editing. Air that shit live.
#17- Ghosts (Paramount Plus) with audio description- Just a steady and reliable comedy every week. The last episode brought back an old friend, and uncovered where “the Pursuit of Happiness” might have come from.
#18- Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Disney Plus) with audio description- The Marvel fan in me is still enjoying the show. Also, nice spin on a classic Spidey-line. I think I have one episode left.
#19- Vietnam: The War That Changed America (Apple plus) with audio description- Five episodes down. This is a fantastic docuseries. Really well done, and the audio description is very strong for this genre.
#20- SNL (Peacock) with audio description- It is getting a huge boost from the 50th Anniversary. it was ranked much lower. Let’s see if it can hold the goodwill gifted to it.
#21- Have I Got News For You (MAX) no audio description- The other program of this ilk, that I just need in my life right now.
#22- Running Point (Netflix) with audio description- Two episodes in and I’m still enjoying the potential of where her new comedy series can go. it slipped just a bit, but not much.
#23- Celebrity Jeopardy (Hulu) with audio description- it is still fun to play along. We really do need to define what a celebrity is though.
#24- School Spirits (Paramount Plus) with audio description- This last twist, with the Marigold Room, and what Janet sees, and the choice Maddie might make is intriguing, I also love that Peyton list has another show when cobra Kai is over.
#25- Win Or Lose (Disney Plus) with audio description- The Disney Plus series has been trending upward after a really strong third and fourth episodes. Hopefully, it will continue the momentum.
Natlock (Paramount Plus) with audio description- This came in super hot, but I’m starting to feel the lag as Maggie’s season long arc has been given extra episodes beyond the ten episode initial order for Season 1. It probably should have just stuck to the initial order, because it is losing its spark a bit, though KAthy Bates is still excellent.
#27- Harley Quinn (MAX) with audio description- Easily my least favorite season. i don’t know why, but it just isn’t gelling. We’ve moved out beyond the Bat family, checked out Metropolis, King Shark’s kids are here, and Frank is prominent again. Where is Bane, and why is he not in every episode?
#28- Tracker (Paramount Plus) with audio description- It is just a steady reliable performer on my list. Justin HArtley is engaging enough to keep me interested each time out, but I wouldn’t ever say this was peak television. it feels just different enough from an average procedural to keep my attention.
#29- The Rookie (Hulu) with audio description- No new episode this week, so really not much change. I still want better writing for this season.
#30- American Idol (Hulu) no audio description- if you told me 20 years ago that one day Idol would be this low, I’d have called you a liar. But, even though I love Idol, it is really hard to continue to make excuses for the lack of audio description given that The Voice manages to do it, and America’s Got Talent does it for the live shows. if their biggest competition can figure it out, and ABC can throw audio description on the Bachelor, why on earth doesn’t this show have audio description yet?
#31- The Masked Singer (Hulu) no audio description- Creeping right behind Idol. same reason, though I know FOX transferring to Hulu is the additional barrier. So, Idol has no barriers, and this has one tiny barrier of making sure the audio description makes it from FOX to Hulu.
#32- Zero Day (Netflix) with audio description- This has dropped since I’ve seen how they intend on using the memory gaps with DeNiro’s character, and the implausible reasoning they barely try to explain themselves. Two episodes left, so I’m finishing it. Honestly, DeNiro alone would have likely caused me to finish it.
#33- Paradise (Hulu) with audio description- I’m still divided on that finale. I liked parts of it, but parts of it didn’t work. Paradise was a very inconsistent show with some really high peaks, but some valleys too. The actors were solid, but that reveal at the end just felt like they went for characters no one paid attention to because they were intentionally underdeveloped.
#34- going Dutch (Hulu) no audio description- I like the show, I just wish it had audio description. Audio description would probably put this closer to ghosts, but still under it. Denis Leary is excellent casting in this.
#35- the Great North (Hulu) no audio description- Another reliable comedy with no audio description, that I wish did have it, and it would probably go higher if it did.
#36- Love You To Death (Apple plus) with audio description- this import is actually pretty solid. It continues to grow on me. It is up from last week. I liked the episode where they had to fake being a couple so she could keep her apartment.
#37- Grosse Point Garden Society (Peacock) with audio description- down a bit from last week. I didn’t think the second episode quite held up to the charm of the pilot. I’m still hoping this Good Girls/Desperate Housewives look-a-like ends up with the same success as those hit programs.
#38- Survivor (Paramount Plus) with audio description- I’m getting engaged in a show I haven’t seen in over 20 years. The audio description is really strong in the challenges and location description, though I could use more in who these people are, and what they look like.
#39- XO Kitty (Netflix) with audio description- Not much change from last week. It did wrap its season, so it won’t be here next week. I’d definitely watch a third season. it just isn’t the show that gets me out of bed in the morning. I also wouldn’t be angry if it didn’t come back.
#40- Berlin ER (Apple Plus) with audio description- A solid medical drama imported from Germany for Apple, that has really decent audio description. I’ve almost seen as many episodes of this as I did The Pitt, and I prefer this show.
#41- Prime Target (Apple Plus) with audio description- I think that was the finale? Maybe? it felt like it could be. Not the most exciting show from start to finish, but it did start ticking up at the end.
#42) Surface (Apple Plus) with audio description- I’m not entirely sure this show needed a second season. I hate to say that. I still think Gugu Mbatha Raw is doing fantastic work, but I’m not nearly as entrenched in the mystery this time around.
#43- toxic Town (Netflix) with audio description- Good acting, and a story you cheer for, plus a short run is keeping this around the same ranking. I did enjoy when the narrator referred to something as “dodgy” in the audio description. Not my favorite track of the year, but not the worst.
#44) invincible (Amazon) with audio description- Again, i like the show, I don’t love the show. sometimes, the show runs a bit long. I’m 4 episodes deep into the new season.
#45- Suits LA (Peacock) with audio description- Having seen the pilot twice, and now the second episode, I was maybe a little bit too harsh on the show right away, though it has a long way to go if it ever wants to be near the quality of the flagship program.
#46- court of Gold (Netflix) with audio description- A solid docuseries that I only have 1 episode left to watch.
#47- The Leopard (Netflix) with audio description- i started this international entry, and it is an Italian period drama with pretty solid dubbing, and a fantastic audio description track from international digital center. It remains to be seen if the actual plot can pull me in further than debuting just barely in the Top 50.
#48- Will Trent (Hulu) with audio description- No new episode this week hurt it a little, but the third season hasn’t been as strong as the previous two.
#49- The Eastern Gate (MAX) with audio description- An international entry from MAX with an espionage angle. I’m a little lukewarm on it right now, after two episodes, but we shall see. I haven’t really recommended it in any category yet. If it doesn’t tick up, I could see this falling off the list before I finish it.
#50- Are You Smarter than A celebrity (Amazon) with audio description- I still haven’t finished this season, so it is floating still on this list.
#51- Krapapolis (Hulu) no audio description- Not quite on the level of The Great North, but I give it a looksie from time to time. it does have a very talented voice cast, but I do wish it had audio description.
#52- Clean slate (Amazon) with audio description- the last episode centered around voting had some funny moments so it slid up just a little bit in the rankings.
#53- Shifting Gears (Hulu) with audio description- i want to love a Tim Allen/kat Dennings show narrated by Dave Wallace. i really do. This show just isn’t getting banner writers in he room.
#54- 1923 (Paramount Plus) with audio description- I didn’t really change it from last week because I haven’t watched the second episode of the new season. My biggest complaint was feeling very lost the whole premiere. That definitely affects how I enjoy this, even with Helen Mirren, Harrison ford, and Timothy Dalton.
#55- Black Ops (Hulu) no audio description- not the worst series. I’m not sure if I’m continuing with it. It is a dark comedy, and the season is really short, but I’m annoyed at the lack of audio description.
#56- Papa’s House (Paramount Plus) with audio description- The Wayans need to write their own material. Bring the whole family back. This show needs better writers, or it won’t survive this season.
#57- nine Bodies In A Mexican Morgue (MGM Plus) no audio description- An interesting premise, but without audio description, it is really hard to follow. i doubt this repeats on my watchlist. the sad thing is, i really think I’d like this one if it had audio description.
58th- the Kardashians (Hulu) with audio description- Clinging on for dear life. i didn’t watch a new episode last week.
#59- How Disney Built America (Hulu) no audio description- No real change. i didn’t watch another episode.
#60- The Baldwins (MAX) no audio description- I’m at least a little intrigued that they filmed this around his court case, but nothing about this feels real.
Danger Zone: Muslim Matchmaker (Hulu), Cassandra (Netflix), and Happy’s Place (Peacock)
removed From watchlist: The Pitt (MAX)- It’s just been too long, and Berlin ER is a better medical drama. And, an instant death for With Love, Megan (Netflix) which has to be the most mind boggling use of a celebrities platform and development deal.
