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Louie “Untitled” Review (5×05)

8 May

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It’s difficult to write about an episode like this. I’m tempted to just write “Their smiling faces give me diarrhea” and be done with it, but alas, there’s stuff to unpack in “Untitled”. I don’t think I’ll ever really tackle the essence of the episode, but that’s okay; what definitely needs to be acknowledged is the fact that this is a great, surrealistic half-hour that has its foundation in both horror and comedy. I guess something like that is to be expected when you title an episode “Untitled”.

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Person of Interest “YHWH” Review (4×22)

6 May

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“We’re the Machine’s last hope.”

What an ending. What a finale. What a show. Somehow, Person of Interest has the ability to keep turning it up a notch, to keep delivering some of the most thrilling, compelling, and relevant television on right now. With “YHWH”, it concludes yet another great season in grand fashion, and what we’re witnessing right now is TV at its best. Who would’ve thought four years ago that this would eventually become such a layered and brilliant series?

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New Girl “Clean Break” Review (4×22)

5 May

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New Girl is built on character dynamics, on the shifting relationships between people and the everlasting bonds the loft members share. At its peaks, it can deliver some of the sharpest comedy on TV, but even at its lows, it’s still extremely entertaining to watch these people hang out and navigate their lives. “Clean Break” is a fantastic finale that brings it all back around to the history these characters share, and it’s a lovely, lovely way to close out season four.

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The Last Man On Earth “Screw the Moon” Review (1×13)

4 May

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“I want to be with the man who doesn’t have the heart to go through with it.”

Phil Miller’s (Tandy’s) characterization has been shaky the entire season, oftentimes relying on him being a full-on asshole in order to wring comedy out of various situations. Recently, however, the show’s been improving upon the writing of his character, and that’s on full display in “Screw the Moon”, the funny and satisfying season one finale. It’s a great way to end the season, and it certainly has me looking forward to season two.

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Mad Men “Lost Horizon” Review (7×12)

3 May

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“This business doesn’t have feelings.”

On paper, it seems like a perfect fit: Don Draper has the Miller account, Peggy and Joan are thriving, and everyone’s going on to do bigger and better things at McCann Erickson. However, “Lost Horizon” is an examination of what happens when reality doesn’t mesh with ideality, when the land and job and life of your dreams end up being a harsh slap across the face. It’s an episode that isn’t quite the all-time classic “Time & Life” was, but it’s still a great hour that has both an air of uncertainty and an air of inevitability to it; it’s clear that the end of the series is coming up quickly, and we know that we’re only going to be spending two more weeks with these wonderful characters.

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Penny Dreadful “Fresh Hell” Review (2×01)

3 May

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“Do you believe the past can return?”

“More than that. It never leaves us. It is who we are.”

Horror simply is not as effective if all we’re seeing is cheap scare after cheap scare. Horror is ultimately empty if the people involved are not well-formed or compelling, and Penny Dreadful is a show that clearly understands the importance of character. It’s a show that hinges upon mood and character, and by zeroing in on what exactly makes it so intriguing, it has the ability to draw you in and never let go; that’s the mark of good horror, and even though you may not characterize it as “scary”, there’s no denying that it’s a gripping, suspenseful, and poignant series.

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Saturday Night Live “Scarlett Johansson/Wiz Khalifa” Live Blog and Review (40×19)

2 May

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MAYWEATHER/PACQUIAO: This is actually a very clever opening, and although I couldn’t care less about the fight, this is a great way for SNL to acknowledge its significance ratings-wise. The physical comedy of Pharoah and Bryant “fighting” each other is absolutely hilarious. GRADE: B+

MONOLOGUE: Scarlett Johansson is awesome, but this monologue is pretty forgettable. The MILF comment is pretty funny, but the “Love to Love You Baby” bit isn’t the best. GRADE: C+

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Orphan Black “Formalized, Complex, and Costly” Review (3×03)

2 May

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“The boy clones are our brothers.”

Thematically, Orphan Black is oftentimes on point, posing questions about family and love and care in the face of danger. At its best, the series’s exploration of the sestras can deliver some of the most poignant, entertaining, and endearing moments you’ll ever see, and it’s when we return to this shared bond between them that the show becomes truly great. However, the writers do also have a penchant for attempting to juggle too many plot points at once, and there’s certainly a very scattered feel to the beginning of this season. Although I have confidence that it’ll all come together, not quite everything is clicking right now.

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Louie “Bobby’s House” Review (5×04)

30 Apr

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“Bobby’s House” tackles the questions about the Louie-Pamela relationship brought up at the end of “A La Carte”, and it’s a gloriously uncomfortable episode that further beats Louie down. That happens both physically and emotionally, as Louie not only gets into a confrontation with a woman and gets beaten up, but also is flat-out rejected later on by Pamela. The latter is especially a gut-punch for him because it follows a role-playing sequence in which he pretends to be a woman named Jornetha; brilliant name aside, it’s also a clear reversal of gender roles, and the cringe level is ratcheted up to 110% throughout. That’s Louie for ya, folks.

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Person of Interest “Asylum” Review (4×21)

29 Apr

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“The world is about to catch fire. Here’s your last chance to look away.”

Recently, Person of Interest has explored what happens when the old guard comes into conflict with the new, when finesse and intelligence go up against sheer power and influence. By drawing parallels between Elias/Dominic and The Machine/Samaritan, the show is delivering two compelling stories that intersect to form a greater tapestry, and it’s a masterful way to handle plot and character; it’s also a wonderful way to set up what should be a thrilling season finale next week.

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