NEW SHOWS
The Simpsons – “The Nightmare After Krustmas” (B)
As usual for latter-day Simpsons, it’s funny but never great. The multiple nightmare sequences are directed brilliantly, but it’s not going to endure like other Christmas episodes.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – “Captain Latvia” (B-)
A decent parody of Jingle All the Way, which was never that great to begin with. Confident Boyle is always fun, and he has plenty of awkward turns of phrase, but this is truly the weakest episode of the season.
Designated Survivor – “The Oath” (B)
A bit better than last week’s cliché cliffhanger (see below), but this one goes and pulls its own cliché cliffhanger: shots fired, but we don’t know who, if anyone, takes the bullet. I’m still intrigued enough to find out, but there are a ton of new shows starting in 2017 and this will be the first to go if it gets too crowded.
CURRENT SHOWS
Designated Survivor – “The Blueprint” (B-)
Was on its way to redeeming itself from last week, then went and pulled the laziest cliffhanger ever: the sudden car accident. Boooooooooo!