NEW SHOWS
Silicon Valley – “Two in the Box” (B+)
Gets a little in the weeds of its business venture, but then closes with one of the funniest, filthiest scenes to ever air on television. I was in tears.
Veep – “Nev-AD-a” (A)
This is the show firing on all cylinders. When it’s at that level, no show supplies better, wittier jokes more consistently. It also might be the best deployment for great guest stars of any show right now.
The Mindy Project – “Mindy Lahiri is DTF” (B+)
Confession Time: I love when The Mindy Project is unafraid to be dirty. And so when Mindy (with the help of invaluable guest star Eliza Coupe) starts using a hook-up app, the show has fun while also revealing the inevitable emptiness of sex without connection. So while I’m still a little grossed out by the idea of her and Jody getting together, I’m all in for this husky bartender wooing her.
The Americans – “The Magic of David Copperfield V: The Statue of Liberty Disappears” (A)
Not quite ready to call this the best episode the show has ever done, but it’s damn close. Everything comes close to falling apart, until Gabriel sees the toll the work has taken on Philip and Elizabeth and lets go of his anger. The expected time jump seems to show the family in good spirits, but it’s still rotting away inside.
CURRENT SHOWS
11.22.63
“The Truth” (A-)
“Happy Birthday, Lee Harvey Oswald” (B)
“Soldier Boy” (B-)
“The Day in Question” (B+)
This show never got into that upper echelon, but it was consistently enthralling. Even when it made questionable narrative and character choices, it was never boring. And in this age of glacially paced anti-hero dramas, it was nice to see a series with a mostly linear story and mostly good protagonist succeed.