Justice League Action "Repulse!" and "Trick Or Threat" Reviews (Spoilers)

[matt_zimmer]

Also reviews for the latest episodes of Teen Titans Go!, DC Super Hero Girl, The Flash, DC's Legends Of Tomorrow, Arrow, and The Powerpuff Girls, the season premiere and second episode of Samurai Jack, the latest episode of Legion, the season premiere of Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy, the latest episodes of Star Wars Rebels, Once Upon A Time, The Lion Guard, Elena Of Avalor, and Power Rangers Ninja Steel, the season premiere of Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the latest episodes of The Simpsons, Grimm, Sleepy Hollow, Bob's Burgers, The Last Man On Earth, Making History, Family Guy, Colony, Bates Motel, and The Blacklist: Redemption.



Justice League Action "Repulse!"

Does Diana Prince wear glasses? Because there is no reason Steve Trevor cannot know she's Wonder Woman.

James Woods is a pretty good Lex Luthor. I was afraid they'd go comical with him and they didn't. I liked him saying he had delicate skin because he was a redhead. I always forget that about Lex.

Why is Lex even going on the mission? Other than trying to sabotage it what did he bring to it?

To be honest, this was not as good as the past few weeks. ***.

Justice League Action "Trick Or Threat"

What a great ending! Loved how scary Cain was.

Batman totally said bejeepers.

I love that they had a lollipop stick stand in for Constantine's cigarette.

Liked Klarion's goth black eyeshadow and lipstick.

Pretty great. ****.

Teen Titans Go! "The Gold Standard"

Okay, now I know what the Gold Standard actually is. I loved Beast Boy punching President Nixon. It was a unilateral move. Nobody wants to be called Nixon.

I love that the Titans are too stupid to realize they can move their hats themselves, and don't need to waste two wishes on that. The fact that Robin never gives out wishes shows he's a bad friend. But it's not like his friends wouldn't waste them.

Do you know what bums me out about the cereal? That is now clearly a major part of Leprechaun mythology, whether we want it to be or not. Marketing sucks.

Pretty good. ****.

DC Hero Super Girls "Around Metropolis in 60 Seconds"

Removes hat.

My, friends, today we are here to say goodbye. The death was quick, and unexpected, and like a punch in the gut. Today, we remember the four minutes of my life I will never get back. They had potential to be great minutes, and never bothered anybody. It is a tragedy they were taken from me in the way they were.

Lights a candle in my brain. 0.




The Flash "Into The Speed Force"

I love that the Speed Force is actually angry at Barry. And it's kind of right to be. Rick Cosnett saying that they wouldn't be nearly as accommodating as last time was a super cool moment.

Interesting that Snart sacrificed himself because he wanted to be like Barry. Still waiting for him to come back for real.

I love that the first people to get the megawin against Savitar are Jessie Quick and HR. Jessie is right that she IS the Flash on Earth 2 so she has every right to try this herself. She did great. HR was particularly funny this episode too.

I also like that Barry and Iris can talk out their relationship problems like adults instead of lobbing insults at each other like Oliver and Laurel. I still have no idea on Earth why we were supposed to ship Oliver and Laurel in the first place.

Pretty good, if not great. I don't have high hopes for next week, but Victor Garber being involved means it's at least going to be interesting. ***1/2.

DC's Legends Of Tomorrow "Moonshot"

I immediately knew that Rip's malfunction during the entire episode was that Sara was a better captain than he was. Because she is and always has been. You can see how increasingly uncomfortable he is that everyone else (even Rory!) seems to completely trust her when she has been at this for far less time than he was. It's kind of funny and kind of sad at the same time.

Loved Ray getting the best of Eobard at the end and figuring him out.

The Banana Boat Song thing was dumb. It wasn't even that funny (although the fact that they played it over the end credits suggests the producers think so) and I'm a little appalled it worked. Some genius Stein is.

The goodbye between Nate and his grandfather was the best part of the episode. Stuff like that is why I watch the Arrowverse, not the superheroics. And unfortunately Legends Of Tomorrow has far less of it than the other Arrowverse shows. I will definitely acknowledge when they do right by the drama.

Better than average. ****.

Arrow "Checkmate"

We should have suspected Talia was behind all this for revenge for her father. I think Oliver is right that Ra's would be ashamed of her. Oliver beat him using the rules Ra's set up. Talia whining about that means she didn't understand her father's teachings at all.

I knew that Chase was going to kill his wife immediately. I have no idea why Oliver let them hug after he brought her there. It was pretty obvious.

I really enjoy the fact that Quentin is fully on Team Arrow, and all of that rage is now hitting the right targets. Paul Blackthorne knows how to bring it.

Honestly, I expected this episode to be better than it was. ***.




The Powerpuff Girls "Green Wing"

Buttercup is a cow's name.

The earwax joke was super gross. I hated it.

I like that the Blue Jeanie was defeated by shrinking the denim. That was clever.

Decent. ***.

The Powerpuff Girls "15 Minutes Of Fame"

Free comedy tip: Independent film parodies are exactly as boring, lame, and unfunny as independent films themselves. At some point, nobody is actually in on the joke.

Buttercup being surprised that was a comedy is Me vs. Wes Anderson.

ANY good things? I have to admit, I liked the ending. The giant cat being sent off to Citiesville to deal with their giant rat problem seemed kinda right. But that's the only thing I liked. *1/2.




Samurai Jack "Episode XCII"

That was great. I really love Scaramouch who is a classic comical Samurai Jack robot. I was afraid we wouldn't be getting those anymore with the darker tone and the fact that the show is on Adult Swim. But those kinds of villains are what makes Samurai Jack, Samurai Jack. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

The blood coming from the slain priestesses tells me not everyone in the future is a robot after all.

Love that there is no swearing (so far). Even if things seem grimmer, I am happy they are trying to keep things consistent with the TV-Y7 version. This could all change, but the fact that Jack saved the child and her mother at the beginning tells me this is the same show deep down.

Love that we haven't seen Aku yet. Make him something to build up to, instead of him fighting Jack to a draw every week.

Oooh, Jack lost the sword! Not good!

This is everything I could have hoped for. Let's hope the actual ending is this good. *****.

Samurai Jack "Episode XCIII"

The Daughters of Aku are pretty much the most dangerous enemies Jack has ever faced. And yet, the look on his face when he realized he didn't kill a robot, but a little girl, was haunting.

I didn't understand the deal with the white wolf and the green tigers, but the tigers' designs were fierce. Their jaws and teeth were actually scary.

I loved seeing Aku's morning routine at the beginning, and laughed at him playing shrink with himself. We need more stuff like that this season.

The music at the end was great.

Great, if not as great as last week. ****.




Legion "Chapter 6"

That was so boring! And the drool continues to be disgusting.

For the record, Geodon was not around in the 1970's.

Good things? Aubrey Plaza's butt and Bill Irwin with the scarfs. Total Mr. Noodle moment.

But that sucked. *.




Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy "Stayin' Alive"

Interesting Avengers line-up but I notice they changed Tony's voice. Weak cliffhanger too. But Rocket's love of duct tape will never get old. ***.

Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy "Evolution Rock"

The High Evolutionary was always the lamest thing about Spider-Man Unlimited, but this version didn't suck. Probably because he was crazy, which made him interesting for the first time ever. ****.




Star Wars Rebels "Double Agent Droid"

Here is something about AR-5. AR-5 is annoying. AR-5 is a jerk. But unlike C-3PO, AR-5 is never wrong. People should take his wise cautions far more seriously that C-3PO's "million to one odds" lamentations. To Han Solo's credit, he never took Threepio seriously. But Threepio sucks at his job compared to AR. And I wish people could understand that. ****.




Once Upon A Time "Murder Most Foul"

Aaaand Once is back to sucking again. Of course.

Seriously, producers? Hook killed David's father? They aren't even trying. This right here is what is known as unacceptable television. It would be considered the shark jump on any other series, but Once has already jumped the shark and nuked the fridge several times over.

How is it even possible he killed his father by stabbing him? His father died in a cart "accident"! How did the people trying to cover it up hide a friggin' stab wound from a sword? This is bad, unplanned writing. I am certain Hook having killed David's father is something that was only thought up this season. They would have structured his death better in earlier seasons if that wasn't the case. And it's the fact that they obviously came up with this on the fly, and hope we are too dumb to notice the plot inconsistencies which is why this show is currently the worst show I watch. Technically, Descendants: Wicked World is worse than this, but I've pretty much stopped watching that (and definitely stopped reviewing it). This, like House and The Office in their final seasons is the worst show I watch. And at least House and The Office waited until the final season to suck so bad. I have a feeling we have several more seasons this awful of this show in store for us. I feel dread and like The Office and House will feel dread for every new episode I watch.

And so much for David's vow to reform upon Emma learning the truth about what he and Snow did to Maleficent's baby. I'm sure the Forgiveness Fairy can overlook yet another murder if he feels really badly (again!) and promises not to ever do it again, unless he really feels like it, then the Redemption Fairy gives him another do-over. Duh! Winning! This b.s. "Good" label he and Snow claim for themselves is quite the racket they have going on there.

I'm not even going to talk about things I liked or didn't like, because by the end of that I was tired. Tired of this show, and the fact that they deliver rare good episodes as scraps for me to keep watching, but ultimately do this to the viewer over and over again.

This is the sixth season, and I've followed the series FAR too long now to have invested all this time and Blu-Ray money just to drop it. But this is the next version of House M.D. or The Office, in being a show I despise, that I watched to the series finale because I put too much time into it to quit. And every episode until that finale is gonna be a long slog from now on. I wish I had cut out earlier like I did for 24, South Park, and American Horror Story. I am fed up. 0.




The Lion Guard "Beshte And The Hippo Lanes"

Note to producers: Animals in the wild don't actually HAVE safe zones. The fact that the ones on this show actually have rules about this, means them eating each other is even more immoral than it seems at first glance.

Michael Dorn? Unlike Jack McBrayer, I don't think he's slumming. I just think he REALLY loves doing voice-work, and isn't as choosy as he should be. At least I hope that is what is going on.

Below average. **.

Elena Of Avalor "Crystal In The Rough"

How is it Kikay is popular? He is absolutely useless. He can't swim and he can't jump.

To be honest, I don't think Elena should have told him everything was going to be right as they were hurtling to their doom. Yet another example of an adult lying to a kid.

So-so episode. ***.

Elena Of Avalor "The Princess Knight"

If this was a complaining contest, Elena would be ready. Good line.

I liked this, and unlike Elena, had no complaints. ****.




Power Rangers Ninja Steel "Hack Attack"

I like Mick teaching Sarah a life lesson by being super annoying. Which describes this show in general.

How did Sarah win the archery contest if she didn't actually hit the target? You don't actually win archery tournaments by shooting the arrow farther than other people. Also, isn't Sarah using those hologram clones to win those activities actually cheating? I think so.

I noticed they used the Dino Charge theme during the climax. I understand why. It's the best remix of the original theme the show has come up with.

"I've fallen and I can't get up." When will pop culture retire that stupid joke?

How can Mick throw an astrostar to the Red Ranger while he is indoors, and the Red Ranger is in a Megazord? There aren't exactly windows in the Megazord either.

Better than average, but that isn't saying much. ***.

Power Rangers Ninja Steel "Gold Rush"

It's bad enough we have a Magician Power Ranger, now we have a cowboy one with a guitar sword blaster? Sheesh.

If Levi was kidnapped for months on end, how is it the disappearance of a famous celebrity was never noticed by anyone? And if it was, why wasn't it brought up in the episode? The episode acted like Levi had been doing music tours the entire time.

And finally, the Skull Gator is admittedly a freaky looking monster. But he was the only interesting thing in this dumb episode. **.




Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "Scroll Of The Demodragon"

Shredder again? This season is a disappointment so far. I can't believe they thought I couldn't tell that was Tiger Claw.

Still, I liked Mark Hamill as Kavaxis. The demon dragon has the most elaborate design of any other character on the show. I also like that Casey is still using the more classic design of the hockey mask (as seen in last season's finale).

But I was still disappointed. **1/2.




The Simpsons "22 For 30"

Bart was Homer's best mistake. He is also his Godfather, as nobody else wants the job.

I like that Springfield Elementary still has the banner that came with the gym.

Return of Puppy Goo-Goo!

I laughed at the joke of Marge wondering how Homer gained 12 lbs. chewing towels, and he reveals he had been putting jelly on them.

I like that Nelson's Dad turned out to be the Narrator.

Great episode. ****1/2.




Grimm "Where The Wild Things Were"

This was great but told me something bad. Two hours is not enough time for Grimm to wrap up what needs to be wrapped up, especially considering what they revealed here. Even if Grimm's last episode is great, it will not be as great as we all were hoping it could be a few seasons ago.

Is this time travel? The Schroedinger's Cat thing suggests it's merely an alternate timeline where the Grimms lost. But I still don't know what to make of the devil guy.

I love that Renard seems a little shocked and scared that the group found what the Royals had been searching for for centuries. He could have been a part of all of these amazing things all along if he hadn't been such a complete dirtbag. I think he fully appreciated what Meisner said for the first time. He chose the wrong side. And it's only upon seeing the stick that he gets that.

I hate this whole "I'm not Juliet and I never will be again." Because that's acting like Juliet was irredeemable person. She was totally fine before she became a Hexenbiest, and did all of the horrible things she did. Eve dismissing the Juliet who was evil, is also her dismissing the Juliet that was good, and that Nick loved. And she was the good person far longer than she was the bad person. That's partly what drives me so nuts about Eve. Not only is she not taking responsibility for the bad things she did, she also isn't giving herself credit as the woman who was mostly loving and supportive of Nick. And that is why the concept of her sucks so much.

This was great and better than I expected. It also blew open the mythology. Which is the complete wrong thing to do in the third to last episode. We really should be getting a sense of things wrapping up at this point. *****.




Sleepy Hollow "The Way Of The Gun"

That is literally the best cliffhanger the show has ever done. Ten times better than season one's finale cliffhanger. This tells me that even if Sleepy Hollow does not wind up a good series, this will at least be a good season.

I knew it was Molly pretty early on. I get why Malcolm recognized her. Why on Earth didn't Crane and especially Diane? I didn't buy that for a second.

Jobe is a good bad guy. He can make you FEEL the bad stuff he is going to do to you before he does it That's a special level of sick.

Either Jenny has the worst timing ever or the best. It depends on how lame the Alex / Jake ship will actually wind up being.

Crane doesn't know how to behave during a school play? I call b.s.. Completely. First off, Crane has seen Hamilton. He's seen modern plays, so he knows the etiquette. He wouldn't be doing that at a kids school play.

One of the negatives of the series going on for awhile, is that they can't do the culture shock reactions with Crane to contrast then and now anymore. I had honestly hoped they would have stopped that after season two, but now either Crane is an idiot, ot the writers think I am. Crane watches pop culture too, so I'm sure he's seen a school play portrayed on TV too. It is not the least bit believable that Crane doesn't get that.

That being said, I do like that Crane actually gives Molly negative feedback on the dancing. Because I don't think that's a culture shock moment. That an "Ichabod is too Asperger's for his own good" moment.

I saw they used a fictional President earlier in the season, so I'm a little surprise Michelle Obama was name-dropped. This hints at two things.

1. The writers are inconsistent, and the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing.

2. All of the Presidents up until Obama were the same, and they only fictionalized things to replace Trump.

I hope it's the second scenario, and that we don't find out Trump is President next week. Because the concept of the series depends on Crane being able to save America. If Trump is in charge, there is an argument to be made America doesn't deserve to be saved. It also make Crane's ideals about the country 100% false. Plus, it makes Dreyfuss taking over seem like an improvement.

That Michelle Obama line REALLY worries me. I hope it's the second scenario. The show will die in D.C. if it's the first.

But that was a great episode due to the cliffhanger anyways. *****.




Bob's Burgers "Like Gene For Chocolate"

Gene is Erin Chocovich.

"Ronnie joined the Peacecorp." "NOOOOOO!!!"

Why does the security guard have hairnets in his pocket?

The stuff with Bob and Teddy and the golf balls was golden.

"We failed." "No, YOU failed." Best "No, we did it!" subversion EVA!

I liked the resolution of Gene being giving a ton of the old formula candy.

Funny episode. ***1/2.




The Last Man On Earth "The Spirit Of St. Lewis"

I was SO frustrated when Lewis died. I was like "What's the point?" Mike's death I got. It was earned. But this? Ugh.

And then it gets Tandy to turn back on the lights and for Gail to move her fingers, and I realize again that the show knows what it is doing.

Erica being unnerved by Melissa uttering the words "racial slur" in her presence was the right reaction. That was not only a horrible thing to say, but a manipulative one as well. It's like Erica isn't even worth the slur itself. Women know how to destroy other women, but it's the fact that Melissa uses racism without ostensibly using racism, which shows that she's pretty much turned into a sociopath.

I was really unhappy with most of the episode until the very end. I expect next week will be better. **1/2.




Making History "The Shot Heard Round The World"

This show is not going to be very good, just because it is not going to go with the realism and pathos that makes The Last Man On Earth so effective.

Still, the moment where Davy looks up and says "Chris?" right before he dies was touching, cute, and hilarious at the same time. This probably won't wind up being a great show. But it will be a watchable one. ***.




Family Guy "Cop And A Half-Wit"

I liked the Tootsie Roll cartoon but I was mostly bored with this. **1/2.




Colony "The Garden Of Beasts"

The ad says that this is the most accidentally relevant show on television, and that pretty much sums it up. Red hats? For real. Scary.

I think Bram is in over his head. I think he is going to be in for a world of hurt.

Next week looks nuts. ****.




Bates Motel "Hidden"

I give Norman a lot of credit for two things:

1. Immediately leaving the house upon sensing things were going wrong.

2. Seeing Norma watching them, rather than Madeleine turning into Norma, and him going through with it. I was totally afraid they were going to do that. Glad they didn't (this week at least).

Romero doing all of the awesome things he did this episode, tells me I am rooting for him more than any other character.

I always thought it was a bit amazing that Chick is not the least bit frightened of Norman, despite all of the things he's done. But what's really weird is that Norman isn't afraid of Chick in the slightest. And he should be. Chick is four times his size and scary looking. And yet it never occurs to Norman that he is a person to watch out for, or not cross. Which is just about as strange as Chick's fearlessness towards him.

Do you know what I've noticed about ImagiNorma? She is ten times crueler and conniving than Norma really was. It's not just that Norman killed her as to why he sucks. It's that's he's defiling her memory and what a decent mother she was with every pretend conversation. Is this how he truly saw her? Because that's messed up. That wasn't Norma. At all.

Marion is coming. Can't wait. ****.




The Blacklist: Redemption "Operation Davenport"

The show is starting to get a little bit interesting. I didn't hate that. ***1/2.