TV Week: 3-9 Mar 2013

NEW SHOWS:
Girls – “It’s Back” (B+)
Once again, a fascinating story that’s incomplete because we have to deal with Hannah’s crap. Read my review here.

The Simpsons – “Gorgeous Grampa” (B-)
A bit of a nasty episode, and not in a way I really enjoyed. But it did feature a musical number and jokes about old people. Call me ageist, but The Simpsons always finds a way to make those jokes hilarious.

The Following – “Let Me Go” (B+)
Though the show could go anywhere from here, and that’s exciting, I feel like this is as good as this show gets. I hope that for season two, Fox will hire a bunch of the writers from Breaking Bad, since they’ll need the work and really make this show as good as it keeps trying to be.

Community – “Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations” (B)
While many will say this is the best episode of the season so far, I actually had some issues with it, mainly that it felt like there was too much story to fit into 22 minutes. Bring back your extended episodes, NBC!

Catch you later: The Americans

DVR BINGE:
Grey’s Anatomy – “This is Why We Fight” (B)
I occasionally watch this show with my girlfriend, and this episode really wasn’t that bad, because it dropped most of the silly relationship stuff for some real stakes: the fate of the hospital and everyone’s job. Debbie Allen was doing terrible work here, though. I blame the writing.

Legit – “Love,” “Anger,” “Justice,” “Family,” “Health,” “Hoarders” (average: B+)
Really glad I didn’t give up on this show. My dream is now for DJ Qualls to get nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. While the last three weren’t as great as the first three, I’m still really digging this show and its relaxed vibe, even in the face of everyday annoyances.

OLD SHOWS:
The Simpsons (Season 5) – “Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy” (A-)
A really great visual essay on feminism and idealism in the face of a society full of idiots.
Lisa: “It’s awful being a kid. No one listens to you.”
Grampa: “It’s rotten being old. No one listens to you.”
Homer: “I’m a white male, age 18-49. Everybody listens to me – no matter how dumb my suggestions are!”

Breaking Bad (Season 4) – “Salud,” “Crawl Space” (average: A)
The best one-two punch since “Half Measures” and “Full Measure,” these episodes ratchet up the tension and action like never before. While “Salud” is terrific, it pales in comparison to “Crawl Space,” which might just be the greatest single episode of television ever produced. No hyperbole—in just 50 minutes, a million insane things happen and the show keeps it all together even when the characters can’t anymore. The last two minutes are the most terrifying I’ve ever seen on TV.

Animaniacs (Season 3) — “A Hard Day’s Warner/Gimme a Break/Please Please Please Get a Life Foundation,” “The Tiger Prince/All the Words in the English Language/The Kid in the Lid/Method to Her Madness” (average: B+)
I recently discovered The Hub is showing reruns of this, along with basically every show I watched as a kid. It’s a fun nostalgia diversion, but some of these 20-year-old references reek. Still, some of the more biting sketches work to this day. And now I feel super old.

Note: Next week I’m on vacation, though I will still try to have my full review of Girls up before then.

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