Six shows on the block today. Did I like all of them? Is something atypically up front, with at least one of these shows airing their season finale? Trying to build some suspense here.
6) A Friend Of The family (Peacock)
English Audio Description?: Yes
What on God’s green earth is happening on this show? Was this really the best structure they felt like we needed for this show? The first episode went from 0-100 in a blink of an eye, and we never really got to know anybody. Then the second episode was creepy as hell, but I still have no idea who these people are. Third episode, this one, decides to turn back time to how these two families met.Like, this dude was a walking red flag. I don’t understand how Colin Hanks’s character (who is based on a real person, by the way) would allow himself to be talked into giving a handjob. I cannot watch shows with idiots in them. You know who should have abducted their kids? Child protective services. Both families. CPS. Neither of them really should be in the custody of small lives.This isn’t like Dr Death, where you felt for the patients, because it was the system making it hard to track his errors, so how were they supposed to know? Nope. This guy was a creepy motherfucker from day one, and if the real family is reading this, this show just shows everyone how dumb you are.
Episode Grade: C (We’re getting into cancellation territory here…)
5) The Watcher (Netflix)
English Audio Description?: Yes
i feel like when all this is said and done, I’m going to hate Ryan Murphy. It’s not that I think that this show is bad, there’s a huge gap between #5 and #6, but there’s something to be said about “Based On A True Story” and then having this show play out like some fever dream. I’m trying to hold on to my full judgements until I know who the watcher is. In the second episode, two potential (and rather entertaining) prospects were wiped right off the table. And, I agreed with Bobby. That story was a lot for a three year old to convey to his dad. Dad likely got something a bit less obvious and just filled in the gaps. Sidelining the family at the hotel doesn’t help strengthen the show either. you don’t just sent Naomi Watts to a hotel. She’s better come back.
Episode Grade: B+
4) Reboot (Hulu)
English Audio Description?: Yes
I really truly enjoyed this whole episode. If I had to pinpoint, because these rankings are so close, the reason Reboot wound up in 4th, it was likely that the joke about the terrier being just a bit much. Instead of having a psychopathic dog, and having two characters act like that was totally normal (with the ex-girlfriend even saying she hasn’t seen him this happy), I felt like the joke was lost. I think there were different ways for that joke to land. They chose the roughest path, on a day where I watched some truly hilarious and great television.
Episode Grade: A-
3) This Fool (Hulu)
English Audio Description?: Yes
I think this was my favorite episode of the show so far, and it couldn’t even reach number one today. That is how tough this was. In the 9th episode, the charity is looking for a nice big donation from some wealthy folk, but there are some initial misgivings about the concept. Some really solid jokes are dropped, and the episode ends perfectly. It’s a great set up and punchline finish, and the best this show has offered so far.
Episode Grade: A
2) Andor (Disney Plus)
English Audio description?: Yes
Yes, at the end of the day, in the weirdest Sophie’s Choice moment of my life, Andor gets the runner up slot for its Season Finale. It could have easily been on top and I would have still had a time picking through those other two. But, despite the funeral of Cassian’s mother, and that cliffhanger ending of “will Cassian die!?” I saw something else that really just was everything I ever needed and then some. Sorry, Cass.
Episode Grade: A
1) Abbott Elementary (ABC/Hulu)
English Audio Description?: Yes
This was last weeks episode, by the way. Not the not the one that aired last night. No, someone in the writers room asked themselves the question “What if Ava had to teach a class?” And I’m so glad they did. Watching Ava take over Janeane’s class due to a lack of substitute teachers was non-stop hilarious. Janelle James usually just walks in, makes a gag, and leaves, and it’s brilliant. But this whole episode was basically centered around her, and every interaction she had with anything was just so perfect. It proves how James deserves an emmy herself, and why Abbott Elementary is keeping network TV on the map. This was instantly one of my favorite Abbott episodes of all time. It wasn’t just good, or great, it was perfect.
Episode Grade: A+
