One of those super chill days where I cleared a lot off my watchlist. This list doesn’t even include any films watched.
1) The Orville (Hulu)
English Audio Description?: Yes
Listen, Seth, I know that secretly you want to be done with this show for some reason. unfortunately, and I say this as a huge Family Guy fan from back in the day, this is the best thing you’ve ever done. This third episode, which featured a handful of the crew landing on a planet that showed life where there wasn’t supposed to be any was quite amazing. Sending each person into their own personal hell, and that reveal at the end, might have constituted the single most thrilling hour of TV I watched this week.
Episode Grade: A
2) Solar Opposites (Hulu)
English Audio Description?: Yes
Hulu lands the top two spots. This was tough, picking between Solar Opposites and Harley Quinn here because they are both amazing. Soalr’s nonsensical approach to hobbies, as well as spending a great deal of time in the wall with the wall people (which should be it’s own show) just made me crack up.
Episode Grade: A
3) Harley Quinn (HBo MAX)
English Audio Description?: Yes
But then again, the second episode of Harley featured not just a brooding Nightwing, but BANE! Of all the side characters in this show, the way they handle the humor with Bane always gets me laughing. I had totally forgotten how much this show made me love Bane, and his return in the second episode gave me life.
Episode Grade: A
4) The Staircase (HBo/HBo MAX)
English Audio Description?: Yes
in the 7th hour, Michael mulls a deal, while other parts start to unravel. Sofie starts to pull away when she realizes her Prince Charming does enjoy the company of men, but if you really want to know why Episode 7 was so darn good, Toni Freaking Collette. That’s why. She’s spent so much time lurking in flashbacks, that we’ve never really gotten to know her. But this episode really gave her some truly brilliant moments, as she slowly built her anger to peak “I’ve had enough!” And watching those moments, first with her employers who totally approached a situation in the most tone deaf fashion, and later with michael, who contributes nothing while Kathleen earns everything. Toni Collette… you were robbed of an Emmy nomination.
Episode Grade: A-
5) That Damn Michael Che (HBo MAX)
English Audio Description?: Yes
Once again, I remember laughing, but if you asked me about the sketches, the one I can remember is one I probably shouldn’t be the one repeating. But, Che always has something to say, and that was relevant again this week.
Episode Grade: B+
6) Evil (Paramount Plus)
English Audio Description?: Yes
So, I admonished this show last week for continuing to turn Evil into a ball of nonsense. This episode, which dealt with a haunted radio frequency on a stretch of highway, really started to pull the show back in the right direction. Add to that, and I loved watching Kristen stick it to the contractor. That was also a great moment. The creepy Skype call at the end even worked for me. This episode was much better balanced, and still featured more demons than I would have preferred, but at least felt more on track to blend the show in a more effective way.
Episode Grade: B
7) Irma Vep (HBo MAX)
English Audio Description?: Yes
Sometimes, it’s Ok to just acknowledge that something is not for you. I started a handful of shows last week, and most of them didn’t work, and two I decided not to come back for a second episode. But, I did try Irma one more time, and it didn’t change the needle for me. I think the show is trying too hard to be artistically clever at the detriment of natural character development and a structure that would make a hell of a lot more sense. I’m OK that you like this. I just think this is an acquired taste, and some people will undoubtedly love it. I don’t watch Euphoria either, and lots of people love it. But, I won’t be back. I’m not sure this show is terrible, but I am sure it’s not for me.
Episode Grade: C-
