"Doctor Strange" Review (Spoilers)
Nov. 26th, 2016 11:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matt_zimmerAlso reviews for the latest episodes of Supergirl, The Flash, Gotham, Lucifer, Marvel's Avengers: Ultron Revolution, Star Wars Rebels, Elena Of Avalor, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Family Guy, American Dad, The Last Man On Earth, Van Helsing, and Scream Queens.
Doctor Strange
Meh. I've seen better, I've seen worse.
I will say this. This may not have had the best visual effects in a superhero movie I've ever seen. But they were definitely the weirdest and most interesting. I will not dismiss that.
I like that Mordo is a straight up good guy to start off with. That will make what happens in the sequel much worse.
I really loved the gag of the mop falling over being the thing that made Strange's girlfriend jump back. Because that's realistic. The mop falling over is Carrie's hand coming out of the grave in the final scene. It's dumb after everything that happened, but it's the fact that she thought that nightmare was over which is the reason the mop is terrifying.
I really liked Wong. The Ancient One was pretty good too.
How was Cumberbatch? Again, it surprises me how well Marvel casts these movies, when DC gives us Batfleck. They really make it seem effortless, don't they? And they have NEVER given us a miscast that had ANY of the fans up in arms the way half of the cast of Batman v Superman did. Marvel wouldn't even consider Jesse Eisenberg for Lex Luthor. The idea would be ridiculous to consider, even if he ultimately wound up doing a passable job. For Marvel and casting, they realize the optics of the casting are just as important as the performances themselves. And they are. That is why Sherlock is such a great casting choice.
I love that Strange was a meticulous face shaver and groomer, until his accident made his hands so shaky the effort was no longer worth it. How many movies based on comic books actually give the comic book character a rational excuse for their facial hair?
I kept thinking a couple of years ago the dude who played Hannibal Lecter on TV will be only cast as villains for the rest of his life. This movie confirms that theory.
Loved the tag with Thor. This was the first time Chris Hemsworth was chosen for an end credits scene. I hope Strange is at the beginning of the third Thor movie.
I liked the movie, but I didn't love it. ***1/2.
Supergirl "The Darkest Place"
Now I'm starting to see the wisdom of the series starting off by having J'onn assume Hank Henshaw's identity. That is one bad dude.
Loved Alex telling off Maggie like that. And I think the worst part of Maggie's apology at the end is that it's clear she DOES like Alex that way, but is too scared to admit it. For someone who claims to want to empower Alex's fearlessness about her sexuality, Maggie is unable to practice what she preaches.
Thanagar is a thing in this corner of The Arrowverse. It's weird that it wasn't really brought up on Legends of Tomorrow (at least that I can recall).
Love the Batman reference, even if they aren't allowed to explicitly say they are referencing Batman.
At first glance, J'onn is being unreasonable to M'Gann. But just based on everything he knows about the situation, he was right to be p***ed. He may be wrong. But he absolutely has a right to be wrong in that circumstance.
Surprised Supergirl learned the Lena connection so quickly. Interested where they will go with that. The idea of Lex Luthor as a poor misunderstood soul shows that unlike his sister (who seemed well aware of her brother's faults) Lex's mother is outright delusional and crazy. Pretty much the last person who should be heading a large government organization (hint hint).
Good episode. ****.
The Flash "Killer Frost"
I think the interesting thing about this episode is that everyone who was mad at Barry was right to be mad at him. Frankly, were I Cisco, my response to the friendship question wouldn't be "I don't know." It would be full-stop no.
As for Caitlin, I'm upset that it's going to happen, but as we can see, it's a work in progress, so nothing is set in stone yet.
Julian was right to have Barry quit. I almost resent the fact that he's Alchemy because he is totally right that anyone who is covering for someone the way he is covering for Caitlin isn't serving justice and cannot be trusted in a law enforcement position. But the fact that he's Alchemy means he doesn't actually have the high ground, even if it's hinted he doesn't even KNOW he's Alchemy. But him being Alchemy answers the question of why he didn't exist before Flashpoint. I didn't actually expect to get a definite answer for that but it's kind of cool we did.
I was unhappy by the end of this. **1/2.
Gotham "Mad City: Time Bomb"
Tabitha is right. Butch is sweet. Totally a guy worth losing your hand over. What is amazing to me is I'm betting he wasn't trying to manipulate her when he said that. He was legitimately trying to comfort her no matter what decision she ultimately made. And his sincerity is the thing that makes her willing to sacrifice for him.
I love Butch's moment there because he shares a very similar view of love that I do. If someone doesn't exactly love you the same way you do them, that's okay. You can love them enough for both of you, and if you can't, that still doesn't make your feelings less valid. I think unrequited love can be a beautiful thing. Butch is not a creep or a stalker. So it doesn't bother me in the least that he loves Tabitha more than she will ever love him. He doesn't make her feel weird about it. Which means he is truly worthy of her sacrifice, whether she loves him or not. He's sweet.
I think much less of Ed. Not because he's a monster (although he is) but because he's stupid. The only thing torture is good for is extracting confessions. Even most innocent men will confess to ANYTHING to get the pain to stop. The fact that Butch refused to do so until it was too late should have set off alarm bells that the guy was innocent. For someone who is so good at making people suffer, Nygma has no idea how truly low most people's threshold for suffering actually is.
I loved Barb's scene with the fetish shopkeeper because it wasn't just a threat she was making by torturing him. It was a bribe. At. The. Exact. SAME. TIME! Using the exact same actions! I freaking love that idea. If the show is truly going to explore the depths of human depravity, I appreciate it when it is least kind enough to show me something I haven't seen before.
If I were Oswald, I'd be worried. Because if friggin' Barbara Keene can put it together so easily, what hope does Ozzie have of putting one over on the Riddler? If Ed wasn't so blinded by loyalty, he probably would have already figured it out.
I am very glad Mario is infected. Not because I want Jim and Lee together (I don't; he sucks), but because it explains a whole heckuva lot of what is going on in the episode. It explains why the Court of Owls wants him dead. It explains what dark secret he is hiding. And it explains why Lee is drawn to someone so flawed (he is innocent deep down). Frankly, without that reveal, the episode might have lost a great deal of its logic.
Ivy doing that to Alfred was beyond creepy. Worst thing in the episode. I nearly lost my lunch. Could you imagine Alfred having to explain that to Bruce if Ivy blabs? Holy cow, and Alfred's usually the guy who holds Bruce's bad decisions over HIS head.
The stuff with Bruce and the Whisperers was cool, but I kind of think the final fight between the Whisperers and Owls sucked butt. It sort of took the energy out of the room of Bruce being involved in a top-secret plan and world. With both of those guys dead, Bruce is back at square one. And since I know he isn't actually going to stay there forever, it just makes it seem like the show is spinning its wheels. Don't get me excited about a team-up between Bruce and an underground society against the Court of Owls, and then take it away from me by the end of the episode. It's rude.
I liked far more in this episode than I disliked. But the things I liked (Butch's sincerity, Barbara's torture scene) rank among my favorite things the series has ever done. ****1/2.
Lucifer "Homewrecker"
I liked it okay, but the episode got something completely wrong. And since its an ertswhile cop show, the thing it got wrong is REALLY surprising.
The husband and wife confessing to the exact same crime doesn't mean both of them are going to go to jail. It means both of them are going to get off. Two confessions to the same crime? If they have separate lawyers, that simply creates reasonable doubt in both cases. Without direct evidence, what the husband and wife just did is what is known as the perfect crime.
I would take the moral of self-sacrifice due to true love more seriously if I didn't know both of those people were going to be freed on technicalities. How does a show about a character known for creating binding legal contracts know so little about the actual law?
Only really good thing was Amendiel's pained reaction to seeing his mother in the club. That was funny, especially when it dawned on me precisely why he was so grossed out and upset.
The rest of the episode wasn't great. **1/2.
Marvel's Avengers Assemble "World War Hulk"
Two things I liked.
1. They didn't permanently change Hulk's persona or design. Because that pudding bowl haircut is fugly.
2. Red Hulk repented at the end. It wasn't actually his fault that he wasn't able to stand up to the monster that Hulk was able to. Hulk is amazing. Red Hulk is not, and I don't see why he needs to be. But I love that he went away with the authorities quietly to sort things out. I love this version of Red Hulk because he is willing to take responsibility for his actions. And if he isn't going to be amazing, that's pretty much the next best thing. ***1/2.
Star Wars Rebels "Imperial Supercommandos"
Above Average. ****.
Elena Of Avalor "Elena And The Secret Of Avalor"
That was great. This should have been the Pilot.
I think the thing I love most about it is that you kind of think Estaban is a stinker for being a Collaborator with Shariki and the Invasion, but by the end, he (as always) winds up doing the right thing. That is what makes Estaban such a great G-rated antagonist. He's a hindrance, but not a bad guy.
I haven't seen Sofia the First, but from what I've seen here, it looks really cute. If it ever gets a proper DVD release of season sets I will definitely pick them up.
Wonderful. *****.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "The Super Shredder"
"Call me Father!"
Seriously, dude? Nah, nah, nah. That ship has LONG sailed. And the fact that it has is pretty much your own dang fault. I'm betting Karai might have been willing to listen to Saki's side of the story had he not mutated then brainwashed her. Does Saki actually believe Splinter killed Tang Shen? He might, even though he was there, and had to know at the time HE did it. It's possible Saki actually convinced HIMSELF of this fiction. Which is frightening.
And how does Saki expect to get a loving family reunion from Karai looking like that? It's kinda hard to want to hug and relate to somebody whose hand is melting off.
I always thought Saki was shortsighted, evil, and narcissistic. But I'm starting to question his competence to stand trial for his crimes. He is ten levels of crazy in this episode, and it isn't actually inconsistent with what we had been shown before. ****.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "Darkest Plight"
Lets get the props out of the way. It's not a bad episode, but it's not an amazing episode either. But the two things I'm gonna bring up are amazing.
Thing the First: That visual of a naked Rat King wearing a horde of rats as a giant rat shaped diaper will give me nightmares for weeks. Do you know the worst thing about American kids TV? It isn't actually scary. Brits know kids love being scared, and that's the kind of disturbing visual you'd see on Doctor Who (even if the character would be clothed during it). Kids will have nightmares from this. Which is good.
Thing Deuce: The reveal of the Rat King's decomposing, white-haired corpse. This is literally the hardest core thing the show has ever done. There are several other moments I wish the show had saved their censor capital for over this in the previous four seasons, but that was still a TV-14 shock in a TV-Y7 show. Congrats. ****.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "The Power Inside Her"
Just based on April's reaction after she thought she killed Donnie, I am now an April / Donnie shipper, and for the first time ever. She wouldn't have been as devastated as she was if she didn't have feelings deep down.
This kind of changes everything shipping-wise on this show for me. ***1/2.
The Simpsons "Dad Behavior"
This episode had so little going on during it. It is easily one of the slightest episodes the show has ever done, so even if there are a few good jokes, the entire thing ultimately means nothing.
Grandpa's thing was outright gross. There. I said it.
I love that Lisa and Marge seem to be having a secret fight in the background of the episode.
I love all the random things the chore monkeys took care of. Having an hostage negotiator settle a domestic dispute is handy. But he's NEVER getting that pacifier away from Maggie.
I would have liked the episode if it had actually been about something. **1/2.
Bob's Burgers "Large Brother, Where Fart Thou?"
What a sweet episode. I love that Louise hugged Gene at the end. Because she was right earlier. Gene doesn't do big brother things like call her "squirt". But him protecting her the way he did is the definitely of a big brother looking out for his kid sister. And I think that was the first time either of them experienced that dynamic.
I like Gene threatening that their boyfriend is coming over and he has a Soloflex.
I loved the scene of Bob, Linda, and Gerald. I love that Bob empowers Gerald at the end about his jokes and the importance of still doing them because HE finds them funny. Bob is amazing friend and an amazing guy.
I loved everything about this episode. *****.
Bob's Burgers "The Quirkducers"
Louise once again screwing things up because she doesn't think through the consequences of her actions.
How does Gene even know what Double Dare is?
I love that we realize upon seeing the photo of her grandfather that the potato DOES look exactly like him. That was an amazing joke. I also love that the play ended with Tina and Jimmy Junior making out. Tina is a girl who gets what she wants.
Pretty good. ***1/2.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine "Mr. Santiago"
Jimmy Smits! This show knows how to lure the cop show mainstays.
I kind of like the idea that Mr. Santiago was screwing with Jake the entire time. And I especially appreciate Amy's perspective that her relationship with Jake isn't up to her father or Jake. I especially love the idea that it's not up to Jake. And I also love that he doesn't argue that. Because he SHOULD have a say about it but he always defers to her about everything.
Adrian Pimento's stuff with Holt was golden. They need to pair those two up more.
Gina naming the turkey after Boyle's son was a low blow. I love how appalled Boyle was when Amy used that name to threaten it. "Don't call it that." Right?
Terry's muscle's are just for show? Why don't I believe him?
I loved the idea that Amy doesn't need to fake-laugh after she threatens to slit their throats. They know she's actually serious. "Good."
Fun episode. ****.
Family Guy "High School English"
The good:
One of the most valuable services Family Guy has done for popular culture is point out that we don't have to love every "classic" story or movie just because generations before us loved it and decided it was a classic. It is perfectly okay to point out that Red Riding Hood is patently ludicrous and always has been. And this episode can point out that The Great Gatsby is a lousy "classic" because it's filled with plotholes and discrepancies. That's cool.
The bad:
What ISN'T cool is that the episode itself sucked. It was boring and the subject matter wasn't interesting. There is a reason literary classics don't usually get spoofed: Because they are boring. That is this episode in a nutshell. **1/2.
American Dad! "The Enlightenment Of Ragi-Baba"
Return of Morning Mimosa!
Coach and Carla is pretty much the weirdest Cheers ship ever.
Honestly? There were a couple of funny ideas and jokes but I didn't really like the episode all too much. ***.
The Last Man On Earth "Mama's Hideaway"
Didn't like it. The only thing I DID like is that Tandy didn't take advantage of Melissa. That has been his dream since season one and it shows how much growth he has gone through that he decided against it that easily. But I hated pretty much everything else about the episode. *.
Van Helsing "Last Time"
I knew it was Sam. It couldn't have ended any other way.
That being said, I think Vanessa is way off the mark in thinking Sam is insidious and been manipulating them from the start. That answer is far too easy and comforting. I think Sam is actually as gentle and well-meaning as he appears. And has a horrible compulsion he cannot control. He can be the warm friendly deaf guy AND a total monster at the same time. The fact that he is actually both is what is so horrible about the situation.
Never should have left him to die. They are going to regret that, especially since some earlier episodes hinted that Sam WANTED to become a vampire so he could hear.
What is it with Neil LaBute and torturing deaf people anyways? I'd think this was a good twist if this was the first time he did it, but it's not. It's super creepy and I think portraying a deaf man who secretly wants to be able to hear sort of flies in the face of everything the deaf community tries to do for itself. It would be one thing if LaBute simply tortured deaf people because it's horrible and shocking. But he doesn't really seem to understand what makes the deaf community tick when he does it either.
I wonder what the thing Mohammed didn't want Sam to tell Vanessa is. Something tells me we are still going to find out.
Part of me is mad that the show is predictable. And the other part thinks the show set this up perfectly and actually delivered. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. ***1/2.
Scream Queens "Blood Drive"
Hoffel is White Mammy's sister? Explains why she hates the Chanels. Doesn't explain how she knows Chanel #1 killed her sister. She was never found out for that.
It's confirmed Cassidy is the killer. Doesn't explain his medical condition though.
There's another Green Meanie out there? Could it be Hester? Or is it someone else? Chamberlain just became a dark horse due to the sinister look he gave upon hugging Zayday, but that might not mean much. Everyone on this show is always giving secret sinister looks.
You know what? John Stamos COULD pass for a 30 year old with bad skin. There is a reason "Grandfathered" was a decent concept for a show.
The scene of Chanel and Munsch fighting over the liter board as apocalyptic music played is one of the funniest things the show has ever done. Would that there were more moments like that.
I love that a crab was supposedly found in Chanel's blood sample. Gross.
Not bad. ***1/2.
Doctor Strange
Meh. I've seen better, I've seen worse.
I will say this. This may not have had the best visual effects in a superhero movie I've ever seen. But they were definitely the weirdest and most interesting. I will not dismiss that.
I like that Mordo is a straight up good guy to start off with. That will make what happens in the sequel much worse.
I really loved the gag of the mop falling over being the thing that made Strange's girlfriend jump back. Because that's realistic. The mop falling over is Carrie's hand coming out of the grave in the final scene. It's dumb after everything that happened, but it's the fact that she thought that nightmare was over which is the reason the mop is terrifying.
I really liked Wong. The Ancient One was pretty good too.
How was Cumberbatch? Again, it surprises me how well Marvel casts these movies, when DC gives us Batfleck. They really make it seem effortless, don't they? And they have NEVER given us a miscast that had ANY of the fans up in arms the way half of the cast of Batman v Superman did. Marvel wouldn't even consider Jesse Eisenberg for Lex Luthor. The idea would be ridiculous to consider, even if he ultimately wound up doing a passable job. For Marvel and casting, they realize the optics of the casting are just as important as the performances themselves. And they are. That is why Sherlock is such a great casting choice.
I love that Strange was a meticulous face shaver and groomer, until his accident made his hands so shaky the effort was no longer worth it. How many movies based on comic books actually give the comic book character a rational excuse for their facial hair?
I kept thinking a couple of years ago the dude who played Hannibal Lecter on TV will be only cast as villains for the rest of his life. This movie confirms that theory.
Loved the tag with Thor. This was the first time Chris Hemsworth was chosen for an end credits scene. I hope Strange is at the beginning of the third Thor movie.
I liked the movie, but I didn't love it. ***1/2.
Supergirl "The Darkest Place"
Now I'm starting to see the wisdom of the series starting off by having J'onn assume Hank Henshaw's identity. That is one bad dude.
Loved Alex telling off Maggie like that. And I think the worst part of Maggie's apology at the end is that it's clear she DOES like Alex that way, but is too scared to admit it. For someone who claims to want to empower Alex's fearlessness about her sexuality, Maggie is unable to practice what she preaches.
Thanagar is a thing in this corner of The Arrowverse. It's weird that it wasn't really brought up on Legends of Tomorrow (at least that I can recall).
Love the Batman reference, even if they aren't allowed to explicitly say they are referencing Batman.
At first glance, J'onn is being unreasonable to M'Gann. But just based on everything he knows about the situation, he was right to be p***ed. He may be wrong. But he absolutely has a right to be wrong in that circumstance.
Surprised Supergirl learned the Lena connection so quickly. Interested where they will go with that. The idea of Lex Luthor as a poor misunderstood soul shows that unlike his sister (who seemed well aware of her brother's faults) Lex's mother is outright delusional and crazy. Pretty much the last person who should be heading a large government organization (hint hint).
Good episode. ****.
The Flash "Killer Frost"
I think the interesting thing about this episode is that everyone who was mad at Barry was right to be mad at him. Frankly, were I Cisco, my response to the friendship question wouldn't be "I don't know." It would be full-stop no.
As for Caitlin, I'm upset that it's going to happen, but as we can see, it's a work in progress, so nothing is set in stone yet.
Julian was right to have Barry quit. I almost resent the fact that he's Alchemy because he is totally right that anyone who is covering for someone the way he is covering for Caitlin isn't serving justice and cannot be trusted in a law enforcement position. But the fact that he's Alchemy means he doesn't actually have the high ground, even if it's hinted he doesn't even KNOW he's Alchemy. But him being Alchemy answers the question of why he didn't exist before Flashpoint. I didn't actually expect to get a definite answer for that but it's kind of cool we did.
I was unhappy by the end of this. **1/2.
Gotham "Mad City: Time Bomb"
Tabitha is right. Butch is sweet. Totally a guy worth losing your hand over. What is amazing to me is I'm betting he wasn't trying to manipulate her when he said that. He was legitimately trying to comfort her no matter what decision she ultimately made. And his sincerity is the thing that makes her willing to sacrifice for him.
I love Butch's moment there because he shares a very similar view of love that I do. If someone doesn't exactly love you the same way you do them, that's okay. You can love them enough for both of you, and if you can't, that still doesn't make your feelings less valid. I think unrequited love can be a beautiful thing. Butch is not a creep or a stalker. So it doesn't bother me in the least that he loves Tabitha more than she will ever love him. He doesn't make her feel weird about it. Which means he is truly worthy of her sacrifice, whether she loves him or not. He's sweet.
I think much less of Ed. Not because he's a monster (although he is) but because he's stupid. The only thing torture is good for is extracting confessions. Even most innocent men will confess to ANYTHING to get the pain to stop. The fact that Butch refused to do so until it was too late should have set off alarm bells that the guy was innocent. For someone who is so good at making people suffer, Nygma has no idea how truly low most people's threshold for suffering actually is.
I loved Barb's scene with the fetish shopkeeper because it wasn't just a threat she was making by torturing him. It was a bribe. At. The. Exact. SAME. TIME! Using the exact same actions! I freaking love that idea. If the show is truly going to explore the depths of human depravity, I appreciate it when it is least kind enough to show me something I haven't seen before.
If I were Oswald, I'd be worried. Because if friggin' Barbara Keene can put it together so easily, what hope does Ozzie have of putting one over on the Riddler? If Ed wasn't so blinded by loyalty, he probably would have already figured it out.
I am very glad Mario is infected. Not because I want Jim and Lee together (I don't; he sucks), but because it explains a whole heckuva lot of what is going on in the episode. It explains why the Court of Owls wants him dead. It explains what dark secret he is hiding. And it explains why Lee is drawn to someone so flawed (he is innocent deep down). Frankly, without that reveal, the episode might have lost a great deal of its logic.
Ivy doing that to Alfred was beyond creepy. Worst thing in the episode. I nearly lost my lunch. Could you imagine Alfred having to explain that to Bruce if Ivy blabs? Holy cow, and Alfred's usually the guy who holds Bruce's bad decisions over HIS head.
The stuff with Bruce and the Whisperers was cool, but I kind of think the final fight between the Whisperers and Owls sucked butt. It sort of took the energy out of the room of Bruce being involved in a top-secret plan and world. With both of those guys dead, Bruce is back at square one. And since I know he isn't actually going to stay there forever, it just makes it seem like the show is spinning its wheels. Don't get me excited about a team-up between Bruce and an underground society against the Court of Owls, and then take it away from me by the end of the episode. It's rude.
I liked far more in this episode than I disliked. But the things I liked (Butch's sincerity, Barbara's torture scene) rank among my favorite things the series has ever done. ****1/2.
Lucifer "Homewrecker"
I liked it okay, but the episode got something completely wrong. And since its an ertswhile cop show, the thing it got wrong is REALLY surprising.
The husband and wife confessing to the exact same crime doesn't mean both of them are going to go to jail. It means both of them are going to get off. Two confessions to the same crime? If they have separate lawyers, that simply creates reasonable doubt in both cases. Without direct evidence, what the husband and wife just did is what is known as the perfect crime.
I would take the moral of self-sacrifice due to true love more seriously if I didn't know both of those people were going to be freed on technicalities. How does a show about a character known for creating binding legal contracts know so little about the actual law?
Only really good thing was Amendiel's pained reaction to seeing his mother in the club. That was funny, especially when it dawned on me precisely why he was so grossed out and upset.
The rest of the episode wasn't great. **1/2.
Marvel's Avengers Assemble "World War Hulk"
Two things I liked.
1. They didn't permanently change Hulk's persona or design. Because that pudding bowl haircut is fugly.
2. Red Hulk repented at the end. It wasn't actually his fault that he wasn't able to stand up to the monster that Hulk was able to. Hulk is amazing. Red Hulk is not, and I don't see why he needs to be. But I love that he went away with the authorities quietly to sort things out. I love this version of Red Hulk because he is willing to take responsibility for his actions. And if he isn't going to be amazing, that's pretty much the next best thing. ***1/2.
Star Wars Rebels "Imperial Supercommandos"
Above Average. ****.
Elena Of Avalor "Elena And The Secret Of Avalor"
That was great. This should have been the Pilot.
I think the thing I love most about it is that you kind of think Estaban is a stinker for being a Collaborator with Shariki and the Invasion, but by the end, he (as always) winds up doing the right thing. That is what makes Estaban such a great G-rated antagonist. He's a hindrance, but not a bad guy.
I haven't seen Sofia the First, but from what I've seen here, it looks really cute. If it ever gets a proper DVD release of season sets I will definitely pick them up.
Wonderful. *****.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "The Super Shredder"
"Call me Father!"
Seriously, dude? Nah, nah, nah. That ship has LONG sailed. And the fact that it has is pretty much your own dang fault. I'm betting Karai might have been willing to listen to Saki's side of the story had he not mutated then brainwashed her. Does Saki actually believe Splinter killed Tang Shen? He might, even though he was there, and had to know at the time HE did it. It's possible Saki actually convinced HIMSELF of this fiction. Which is frightening.
And how does Saki expect to get a loving family reunion from Karai looking like that? It's kinda hard to want to hug and relate to somebody whose hand is melting off.
I always thought Saki was shortsighted, evil, and narcissistic. But I'm starting to question his competence to stand trial for his crimes. He is ten levels of crazy in this episode, and it isn't actually inconsistent with what we had been shown before. ****.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "Darkest Plight"
Lets get the props out of the way. It's not a bad episode, but it's not an amazing episode either. But the two things I'm gonna bring up are amazing.
Thing the First: That visual of a naked Rat King wearing a horde of rats as a giant rat shaped diaper will give me nightmares for weeks. Do you know the worst thing about American kids TV? It isn't actually scary. Brits know kids love being scared, and that's the kind of disturbing visual you'd see on Doctor Who (even if the character would be clothed during it). Kids will have nightmares from this. Which is good.
Thing Deuce: The reveal of the Rat King's decomposing, white-haired corpse. This is literally the hardest core thing the show has ever done. There are several other moments I wish the show had saved their censor capital for over this in the previous four seasons, but that was still a TV-14 shock in a TV-Y7 show. Congrats. ****.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "The Power Inside Her"
Just based on April's reaction after she thought she killed Donnie, I am now an April / Donnie shipper, and for the first time ever. She wouldn't have been as devastated as she was if she didn't have feelings deep down.
This kind of changes everything shipping-wise on this show for me. ***1/2.
The Simpsons "Dad Behavior"
This episode had so little going on during it. It is easily one of the slightest episodes the show has ever done, so even if there are a few good jokes, the entire thing ultimately means nothing.
Grandpa's thing was outright gross. There. I said it.
I love that Lisa and Marge seem to be having a secret fight in the background of the episode.
I love all the random things the chore monkeys took care of. Having an hostage negotiator settle a domestic dispute is handy. But he's NEVER getting that pacifier away from Maggie.
I would have liked the episode if it had actually been about something. **1/2.
Bob's Burgers "Large Brother, Where Fart Thou?"
What a sweet episode. I love that Louise hugged Gene at the end. Because she was right earlier. Gene doesn't do big brother things like call her "squirt". But him protecting her the way he did is the definitely of a big brother looking out for his kid sister. And I think that was the first time either of them experienced that dynamic.
I like Gene threatening that their boyfriend is coming over and he has a Soloflex.
I loved the scene of Bob, Linda, and Gerald. I love that Bob empowers Gerald at the end about his jokes and the importance of still doing them because HE finds them funny. Bob is amazing friend and an amazing guy.
I loved everything about this episode. *****.
Bob's Burgers "The Quirkducers"
Louise once again screwing things up because she doesn't think through the consequences of her actions.
How does Gene even know what Double Dare is?
I love that we realize upon seeing the photo of her grandfather that the potato DOES look exactly like him. That was an amazing joke. I also love that the play ended with Tina and Jimmy Junior making out. Tina is a girl who gets what she wants.
Pretty good. ***1/2.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine "Mr. Santiago"
Jimmy Smits! This show knows how to lure the cop show mainstays.
I kind of like the idea that Mr. Santiago was screwing with Jake the entire time. And I especially appreciate Amy's perspective that her relationship with Jake isn't up to her father or Jake. I especially love the idea that it's not up to Jake. And I also love that he doesn't argue that. Because he SHOULD have a say about it but he always defers to her about everything.
Adrian Pimento's stuff with Holt was golden. They need to pair those two up more.
Gina naming the turkey after Boyle's son was a low blow. I love how appalled Boyle was when Amy used that name to threaten it. "Don't call it that." Right?
Terry's muscle's are just for show? Why don't I believe him?
I loved the idea that Amy doesn't need to fake-laugh after she threatens to slit their throats. They know she's actually serious. "Good."
Fun episode. ****.
Family Guy "High School English"
The good:
One of the most valuable services Family Guy has done for popular culture is point out that we don't have to love every "classic" story or movie just because generations before us loved it and decided it was a classic. It is perfectly okay to point out that Red Riding Hood is patently ludicrous and always has been. And this episode can point out that The Great Gatsby is a lousy "classic" because it's filled with plotholes and discrepancies. That's cool.
The bad:
What ISN'T cool is that the episode itself sucked. It was boring and the subject matter wasn't interesting. There is a reason literary classics don't usually get spoofed: Because they are boring. That is this episode in a nutshell. **1/2.
American Dad! "The Enlightenment Of Ragi-Baba"
Return of Morning Mimosa!
Coach and Carla is pretty much the weirdest Cheers ship ever.
Honestly? There were a couple of funny ideas and jokes but I didn't really like the episode all too much. ***.
The Last Man On Earth "Mama's Hideaway"
Didn't like it. The only thing I DID like is that Tandy didn't take advantage of Melissa. That has been his dream since season one and it shows how much growth he has gone through that he decided against it that easily. But I hated pretty much everything else about the episode. *.
Van Helsing "Last Time"
I knew it was Sam. It couldn't have ended any other way.
That being said, I think Vanessa is way off the mark in thinking Sam is insidious and been manipulating them from the start. That answer is far too easy and comforting. I think Sam is actually as gentle and well-meaning as he appears. And has a horrible compulsion he cannot control. He can be the warm friendly deaf guy AND a total monster at the same time. The fact that he is actually both is what is so horrible about the situation.
Never should have left him to die. They are going to regret that, especially since some earlier episodes hinted that Sam WANTED to become a vampire so he could hear.
What is it with Neil LaBute and torturing deaf people anyways? I'd think this was a good twist if this was the first time he did it, but it's not. It's super creepy and I think portraying a deaf man who secretly wants to be able to hear sort of flies in the face of everything the deaf community tries to do for itself. It would be one thing if LaBute simply tortured deaf people because it's horrible and shocking. But he doesn't really seem to understand what makes the deaf community tick when he does it either.
I wonder what the thing Mohammed didn't want Sam to tell Vanessa is. Something tells me we are still going to find out.
Part of me is mad that the show is predictable. And the other part thinks the show set this up perfectly and actually delivered. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. ***1/2.
Scream Queens "Blood Drive"
Hoffel is White Mammy's sister? Explains why she hates the Chanels. Doesn't explain how she knows Chanel #1 killed her sister. She was never found out for that.
It's confirmed Cassidy is the killer. Doesn't explain his medical condition though.
There's another Green Meanie out there? Could it be Hester? Or is it someone else? Chamberlain just became a dark horse due to the sinister look he gave upon hugging Zayday, but that might not mean much. Everyone on this show is always giving secret sinister looks.
You know what? John Stamos COULD pass for a 30 year old with bad skin. There is a reason "Grandfathered" was a decent concept for a show.
The scene of Chanel and Munsch fighting over the liter board as apocalyptic music played is one of the funniest things the show has ever done. Would that there were more moments like that.
I love that a crab was supposedly found in Chanel's blood sample. Gross.
Not bad. ***1/2.
