NEW SHOWS
Westworld – “Vanishing Point” (B+)
A tragic turn of events for some of the series’ darkest characters, but they brought it on themselves.
The Handmaid’s Tale – “The Last Ceremony” (A)
Perhaps the series’ most devastating episode yet, with a (sadly) timely scene of a child being ripped from her mother’s arms. The violence never ends, it just takes different forms.
CURRENT SHOWS
The Handmaid’s Tale – “Smart Power” (B+)
A sharp episode that takes us outside the world of Gilead to show the fraught political relationship the fledgling nation-state has with the rest of the world. It’s also shows an inspiring moment, letting the horrifying truth serve as the bomb to disrupt the people in power, instead of actual explosives.
Legion – “Chapter 19” (B) / season finale
A semi-frustrating ending to a semi-frustrating season. Making David the villain now seems like where it was headed all along, but the act of violence that makes him unambiguously the bad guy feels more horrifying than all the people he’s killed, because it’s such a personal violation. I wasn’t nearly as excited to watch this season as I was during its awe-inspiring first, but of course I can’t wait to see where they take it in Season 3.
Westworld – “Kiksuya” (A)
A stand-alone episode that nails its storytelling and emotions so well, it makes you wonder why the rest of the show can’t be this engaging on every level.