NEW SHOWS
The Mindy Project – “Concord” (B)
An opportunity to get away from Danny’s wedding (which I am only disappointed we’re missing because it means no Chris Messina or Greta Gerwig) leads to a very Three’s Company plot. There’s nothing particularly wrong with this episode, I just wanted it to be a lot funnier, especially because Sakina Jeffrey kills it on the reg.
Designated Survivor – “The Interrogation” (B-)
Kind of clumsy and very talky, but the cast is still doing their best to keep it believable. In light of the election results in the real world, this is going to be very interesting to see if it reacts in any way to a Trump administration.
South Park – “Oh, Jeez” (B-)
Even Trey Parker and Matt Stone were shocked that Trump won, and they had to change a lot of stuff last minute. That stuff is quite funny, but this episode doesn’t make a ton of sense if you haven’t been keeping up with this season’s espionage arc, which I have not. Still, gathering all the trolls in Copenhagen, then Rickrolling them instead of killing them, was hilarious.
CURRENT SHOWS
The Good Place
“The Eternal Shriek” (A-)
“Most Improved Player” (A)
“Someone Like Me as a Member” (A)
Cemented its status as one of the best shows of the year. We’re now grappling with heavy ethics and morality and philosophy, along with playing by the rules of this ever-expanding world and providing more laughs than ever before. I would give Emmys to Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, D’Arcy Carden and Adam Scott (guest starring as a Bad Place architect) and the writing staff. I’m only disappointed we won’t get any new episodes until 2017.
OLD SHOWS
Community (Season 3) – “Remedial Chaos Theory” (A+)
Had to pull out this episode, which I initially was watching because this reality, where Donald Trump is going to be president, seems like “the darkest timeline.” I already thought this was probably the best episode the show ever did, but I was struck even more because in the “right timeline,” it’s not like everything is perfect. But they all get together to put aside their pettiness and dance and eat pizza. We still have work to do, but we can at least do that while we figure it out. Because it’s really only the darkest timeline if we turn on each other.