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House of Cards – Season 1

“Chapter Four” (A-)
We get down to business in this installment as Frank sacrifices a sheep that refused to become a wolf like him. The back-office dealings with Kevin Spacey are what I love about this show and there are plenty of moments here, including great facial expressions from everyone getting cornered by him. But there’s collateral damage too as Frank twists the knife in Peter’s back by keeping him from testifying to keep a naval shipyard in his district open. So much for Peter’s sobriety. And then there’s Zoe, using an expletive from her boss’s lips to gain even more power, only to give it up to Frank quite literally. The twists and turns keep me coming back, especially with an ending as powerful as this one.

“Chapter Five” (B)
Less important events dominate this episode, as the teachers’ union lobbyist cuts the legs out from under his wife’s fundraiser by having the all-union staff at the hotel where she’s hosting go on strike. But Claire and Frank won’t let a little thing like no place to go ruin their evening, and they set up right outside, letting the sounds of protestors fuel their own manipulative drives. The way they serve the lobbyist his comeuppance is literally a dish best served cold. But again, the ending is absolutely fantastic. Corey Stoll finally steps it up a level to show he’s just as Emmy-worthy.

“Chapter Six”
See below.

“Chapter Seven”
I didn’t realize a third hour of this show would be so hard to keep up with, and it kept snowballing from there. What’s killing me is still trying to keep up with Hannibal and Arrested Development, which are too good to put off. So the plan now is to watch at least two a week and, if there’s more time (like there should be next week), I’ll add at least another episode.

Sports Night – Season 2

“Kafelnikov” (B+)
Much like Hannah’s sudden OCD in Girls, Dan’s sudden anxiety issues come out of nowhere. But on Sports Night, the mental illness is handled much more gracefully. It helps that Josh Charles continues to knock it out of the park. While the Y2K story dates this show in horrible ways, Joshua Malina continues to be fantastic as the overachieving Jeremy. And then there’s Robert Guilliame as Isaac to add some class to the proceedings with his reason not to fear the future: “I’m the managing editor of Sports Night. A hundred years ago I wasn’t allowed to vote.”

“Shane” (B+)
Did you know that sports sometimes actually play a crucial role in Sports Night? Here, Casey tries to defend the titular ballplayer, a new Yankees addition, after he slams the whole city of New York. But neither Dana nor Isaac will allow him to lose his journalistic integrity to help a friend, no matter how important he was. And the Dan stuff gets deeper, as he has a nervous breakdown while trying to pronounce Yevgeny Kafelnikov. This season is tough to love, but I think it’s figuring out where it wants to go.

Freaks and Geeks – Season 1

“Tricks and Treats” (A-)
Lost a half-step or two for being mostly slight, but then gains it back for taking down safety-obsessed parents. John Francis Daley’s performance as Sam is just heartbreaking in this episode, as his attempts to remain a kid end in public humiliation. Still, I think this is the funniest episode yet, mostly because Martin Starr is dressed as The Bionic Woman.
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House of Cards (U.S.) – Season 1

“Chapter Two” (A-)
Improves upon the premiere in every way. Frank’s conniving to get rid of Michael Kern (Kevin Kilner) as Secretary of State is absolutely genius and makes for riveting television. Sure, using
“Free Bird” during a scene at a hippie-burnout’s trailer is way too on-the-nose, but a show that constantly breaks the fourth wall is not about subtlety, especially if there’s also a scene where one woman accuses the other — a rising star — of sleeping with someone to get there. Also, I wish they were channeling Robin Wright’s terrifying iciness into a better story.

“Chapter Three” (B)
A bit of a downgrade because it’s difficult to care about anything other than Frank in this episode, and while that story’s important in terms of making Frank sweat, its actual plot is incredibly stupid. To wit: A teenage girl is killed texting while driving about a peach-shaped water tower that Frank has fought to keep. Somehow the county commissioner, a bitter rival of Frank’s, wants to pin this girl’s death on him. Clearly only the girl is at fault, but we all know how crazy and gullible people can be, and political careers have ended over dumber things. Other things that happened, on a scale of mildly interesting to could-not-care-less: Zoe lets her national profile inflate her ego and flirts with Frank, Peter and Christina attempt to be more honest with one another, and Claire tries to hire an ailing activist.    

“Chapter Four”
I could blame this on the wedding I attended this weekend, but this is all on me having too many other things going. If I can’t catch up next week, I’ll only be doing two episodes a week from here on out.  

Sports Night – Season 2

“Cliff Gardner” (A-)
William H. Macy is the only actor on this series to be nominated for an Emmy. While that’s a disgrace on the Academy’s part for the snub, it’s not hard to see why he was shortlisted. Initially perceived as a disrupter and an interloper, his triumphant speech to the CSC suits bent on removing Isaac and dumbing down the show reveals he’s on our beloved team’s side. It’s terrific.

“Louise Revisited” (B)
The stop-and-go nature of Dana and Casey’s relationship can often be frustrating, but that’s only because you root for both of them so much. This episode’s definitely a step-down from the previous installment’s brilliant speechifying that is Sorkin’s bread-and-butter. This season is messy, but it’s working its way out of the corner it’s painted itself into with some poise.

Freaks and Geeks – Season 1

“Beers and Weirs” (A)
Ah, throwing a party while the parents are out of town. It’s been done to death, yet Freaks and Geeks finds a way to dig deep into each character’s (sometimes conflicting) motivations. While some strange and uncomfortable stuff happens, nothing ever gets too out of hand. Even so, the episode is engaging from beginning to end. The show manages to show the full range of emotions high schoolers experience without ever getting whiny. That’s what I love about it and why, only two episodes in, I’m ready to declare it one of my favorite shows of all time. Is it too early to say that? Who cares! I’m in love!
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