NEW SHOWS
The Night Of – “Season of the Witch” (A)
Just an incredible episode of television. Intense, funny and impressively stylish, this seals its place as the best show on TV right now.
Casual – “Death and Taxes” (A-)
Miraculously, the show got out of the corner it painted itself in, turning in its best episode of the season. Its melancholy Leon montage was incredible, and the characters were forced to get real. And this time, only once did I shout at the screen, “No! What are you doing?!”
Triumph’s Summer Election Special 2016 (B+)
Not quite as funny as his earlier special, mainly because there are only two candidates to make fun of. But yet again, his funniest moments come not from his pranks or jokes about the nominees, but from his sorta-terrifying encounters with real people who might actually be voting in November.
OLD SHOWS
The Office (Series 2)
“Merger” (B+)
“Appraisals” (A-)
I imagine if anyone had any complaints about the first season of this show, it would be how unlikable David Brent is. So instead of softening up his edges to make a second season more popular, it doubles down on his worst tendencies. It’s amazing how this show holds up, not only because it’s still so funny, but also because how much it comments on sexism and political correctness. And not in an eye-rolling way either.
The Wire (Season 5) – “Transitions” (A-)
Baltimore continues to be ruthless as the commissioner is pushed out, the cuts continue at the paper and Marlowe has Prop Joe executed.