NEW SHOWS
This Is Us – “Katie Girls” (A-)
I didn’t quite love Kate’s anesthesia hallucinations, but any time the show focused on the fundamental decency of Jack, it becomes one of my favorite things on TV. And look at that, Kevin gets an emotional scene that works.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – “The Gang Solves the Bathroom Problem” (A-)
For the second time this season, the show has taken a topic that seems spectacularly ill-conceived for its particular brand of humor, yet turned it into one of the funniest episodes of the year. It’s not as crazy as the Time’s Up episode, but it does everything the show does best, namely showing how awful everyone in is in their own unique, horrifying ways.
The Good Place – “The Snowplow” (B+)
The show charges ahead, ending with yet another twist. Whether this turns out to be another brilliant example of painting itself into a corner, it can’t help but feel a little bit like it doesn’t even know what it’s doing. So I’ll just have to trust Michael Schur that it will be worth it.
BINGEING
American Vandal – Season 2 (A- average)
I was a big fan of the first season, so I expected this follow-up to be very funny and very clever. What I was not expecting was a season of television that explored identity and alienation in the social media age. A more sincere show might have come off as corny, but couched in jokes about poop, it has even more of an impact.