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matt_zimmerAlso reviews for the latest episodes of Batwoman, and Black Lightning, the season premiere of The Flash, and the latest episodes of Superman & Lois, DuckTales, Bless The Harts, The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, Family Guy, Clarice, and The Blacklist.
WandaVision "The Series Finale"
I liked everything except for the very final cliffhanger tag. That was unnecessary and confusing.
But I liked most everything else. I also suspect a lot of people are going to be disappointed. That mind-blowing cameo Elizabeth Olsen teased on the level of Luke Skywalker obviously didn't happen, and people are gonna be mad. The only reason I'm mad is because it was such an unforced error on Olsen's part. The finale was fine. But now the reception is going to be disappointment.
The reality of Quicksilver was admittedly pretty underwhelming however.
Has anyone brought up that the visual effects were amazing? Because there will be a test later and that will come up.
I liked most of it though, and the emotional beats hit fine, until the final tag where it's hinted Wanda has learned nothing. I don't even understand why they NEEDED that final tag. It just made the episode and the series worse for it existing. ****.
Batwoman "Do Not Resuscitate"
Calling this week a misfire. The problem with the show is that I like Ryan and Mary. And Jacob and Sophie keep screwing them over. That's not fun to watch.
Jacob shuts down Mary's clinic for the sole reason that he's a despicable person with no redeeming qualities. I am so sick of this character.
Sophie turns Ryan against Angelique right when she's dying of a terminal illness, and could use some support. Sophie claims she's been in love before, but I like Ryan telling her that she probably didn't fight for that love. Seeing the way she mistreated Kate last season means Ryan was spot-on.
I like Ryan dressing down Luke for how he'd been treating her. But by the same token Luke being a jerk isn't a reason to keep the Kryptonite wound a secret. Batwoman being impaired effects how everyone does their jobs and not just Ryan.
Not interested at all in the stuff with Alice and Ocean. Don't care about or like either of those characters.
Didn't like this week. *1/2.
Black Lightning "The Book Of Reconstruction: Chapter Four: A Light In The Darkness"
Well, that's a good way to accommodate Lightning's actress' hiatus.
Tobias continues to be one of the single most disgusting villains on television. It's angers me how open and obvious he is and is still getting away with it. I admit, I have real-world hang-ups about that specific thing, but those hangs-up are why I'm so angry. I'm not saying it isn't credible. I'm saying it's infuriating and something about the show I hate.
I have to say seeing Jen's face as she witnessed Jefferson's primal scream made me realize that is the last moment you'd want your daughter to witness. Because Jen's perspective isn't that it's animalistic or hardcore. It's freaking embarrassing. Which only his daughter would be accurate enough to think.
I continue to love Lala. Tobias can talk him down as predictable, but him cautioning Jefferson to leave the ring before he's killed is why I like the character. He can claim it's because he'd go down for it if Jefferson Pierce was killed in his ring. But on some level I believe it's because he cares what happens to him.
Speaking of which, I liked the young guy speaking up in the bar at how Black Lightning positively changed his life, and got everyone there to affirm how much they valued him. I don't know if that's something Jefferson deserved to hear after his antics tonight. But it's definitely something he NEEDED to hear.
I was an annoyed as Grace for Anissa being unsure about her "Feng Shui". I'm sitting here thinking about this episode and it's actually the plot turn that angers me most. You want to get into a flame war with trolls who hate this show, I don't think this specific small throwaway scene would get their ire (or even particular notice). But it makes me angrier than anything else this week because it is badly written. It's a terribly written plot point written by someone who is uncomfortable writing real adult relationships and thinks making couples fight about stupid things is a good substitute for that. Granted, Lynn and Jeff fighting over the stupid things is a hallmark of the season and the show, but this particular thing is so stupid I cannot believe an adult wrote it, a producer didn't send the script back with a note saying "You're an idiot. You know that, right?", and the network actually didn't step in to throw-down some serious, much-needed quality control. It actually made it to air. A grown woman just married a person, and the idea that they are going to have to share a living space never occurred to her. It's infuriating how stupid and sloppy a plot point it is. What infuriates me most, and you can call me crazy for this, is that nobody else but me will care. Anybody else talks about this episode, that specific thing will be beneath their notice. It is the thing in the episode however that drives me up a wall. It is also the specific kind of stupid, badly written thing you could only see in a Berlanti show. What do Black Lightning, Arrow, Riverdale, Titans, and Blindspot all have in common? A scene this stupid could occur on each of these shows and actually make it to air. Now Riverdale and Titans are nothing BUT scenes like this, but you don't see this garbage on any modern show but a Berlanti one. Maybe a David E Kelly show. But that's the only other outlier to something this dumb. And it drives me bonkers.
The episode contained a significant moment that registers with me for it's unusualness this season. Jefferson apologizes to Lynn and she owns her poo too. First time that happened this season. Literally every other conversation these two have had ends with one, the other, or both walking off in a snit. It wasn't a very graceful reconciliation as far as performances or writing goes. But it's interesting for the fact that it's literally the first time it's happened this year. Those two characters seem to otherwise hate each other like poison.
I can't really fault too much in the episode. But the Anissa and Grace thing hit me SO bad, I'm docking two entire stars on general principle. I'm sure you will think I'm being too harsh but dumb writing like that offends me so much because it shouldn't exist. Worse, it doesn't NEED to exist for a given show to function. Grace and Anissa are adults with their own agency. They have plenty of real things they could believably conflict about instead of the writers turning to the viewer and saying, "Hey, did you ever think that when people get married they have to live with each other? That it's an adjustment? Isn't that an amazingly original idea I just had? I'll put it into the show because I'm just that deep. Berlanti won't notice how dumb this is because Cheryl Blossom is feeding her murdered uncle to her relatives on Riverdale this week. Isn't it great how easy it is for a stupid person to get a paid writing gig in Hollywood?" Me? I'm mad instead. Go figure. Writing this bad should not happen. But Berlanti is spread so thin there is literally NO quality control on his shows, and nothing ever gets sent back to the drawing board. (And I say that last sentence hopefully. I'd shudder to think what was SO bad for Riverdale and Titans that it was actually nixed.) ***.
The Flash "All's Well That Ends Wells"
So is Tom Cavanaugh now off the show? I have two conflicting thoughts about that.
The first thought is immediately negative. Look at how great all that Council Of Wells stuff was! The show will be markedly worse if he's not a part of it.
The second thought is more practical. Just based on the way he died and left, I think this was Cavanaugh's decision, and it had been in the works for awhile. And I can be upset over losing the character (which is actually what you want in a death scene) but what I CANNOT dismiss is that rarely when a character either leaves a show or is killed off, are they given such a satisfying and meaningful send-off. The last one I remember putting in this much effort was Steve Carell's last episode of The Office. That's how long its been. Most TV shows act like cast comings and goings are routine and no big deal. I think they have to act like that for fear of upsetting the audience. But I want to be allowed to be upset. I want to be able to think Nash's death was both rawest of deals and the only way it coulda gone down at the exact same time. If Cavanaugh IS off the show, they gave him a perfect last episode.
If he isn't and another unheard of Wells pops up next week, I'll be a bit relieved, but also super annoyed that this perfect last episode was wasted on a fake-out. But the episode was so perfect for Nash that I am very skeptical it's a fake-out.
Do you know what I don't like? Both Cisco and Caitlin are absent in not only the season premiere, but Wells' last episode. But to be perfectly clear, that is almost certainly a scheduling issue due to Covid and not something in the show's control. If they could have gotten both those actors for this episode, they would have. I won't penalize the show for it.
I'll tell you what didn't work: Cecile and Top. She goes to Joe saying "I was the D.A. who put her away so she'll trust me as her defense attorney." The lawyer drama on Berlanti has always been beyond shaky, even laughably so as far as this show, Arrow, and Riverdale are concerned. But because Cecile was the one who put her away, that's the precise reason she WOULDN'T trust her, and would wind up pulling a stunt like the one she did. Why did nobody think to point that out? It's not like Cecile wouldn't have tried anyways and everything would have played out the exact same way. Except I think both Cecile and the writers are very stupid and bad at their jobs if they believe Cecile putting Top in prison is the thing that will endear her to her. And it's a stupid thing to have to complain about. No other current franchises besides Berlanti shows (and David E Kelly) pull this kind of nonsense. It's really aggravating to have to badmouth the show in the very episode Tom Cavanaugh brings the freaking goods.
And you know what? I would be very inclined to knock off a star or two from the final grade for this stupidity, but I'm like "Stupid writing does not get to rob me of being amazed by how Cavanaugh went out. I'll vent in this review, but all it is is venting." That stupid line and scene does not have the power to wreck my buzz from the great thing I just saw. I will not LET it have it that power. *****.
Superman & Lois "Heritage"
To be truthful, I had some very serious misgivings last week. And if I want to be candid, I'll need to fess up that these feelings existed due entirely to my unfamiliarity with the tone and aesthetic, rather than failings in the plot or concept (like I claimed). I think I might have seriously botched last week's review. Most of my reviews I will stand by to the death. I think I missed the boat there.
As of now, I'm all about the return of a TV-PG Superman family show. It's long overdue.
It seems to me that Captain Luthor isn't actually evil. Which means he can be reasoned with. That's the hope at least. I don't want this poor guy being made the Big Bad of the series. I simply feel too bad for him for that. My heart would not be in Superman beating him up every week.
Here was something I WAS right about last week: I instantly disliked Kyle! Sam Lane also has the distinct knack of always being wrong, but the difference there is that I believe his heart is in the right place. I think Kyle is simply a scumbag. I don't think much of Lana Lang for marrying him.
I liked how Edge sort of turned the town meeting against Lois. I like how he turned it from a mandate on himself, into a mandate on her. He's bluffing, but a guy promising jobs can just as easily take them away, and he's given the crowd a good target to blame for it. I think it was a far more effective public relations tactic than rewriting her entire article at the Daily Planet. I wish the entire character were that smart, but rewriting Lois Lane says he isn't.
I like Beppo. She is going to be fun for Lois to work for.
I like Lois giving Jonathan his due in giving up his life for his brother. Especially because Jordan is taking him for granted, and leaving him holding the bag at school. I was very glad Jordan apologized to him. Because Jor-El may be a jerk (and he is) but Jordan having to hear his disappointing assessment isn't a tenth of the struggle Jonathan is being asked to endure while Jordan's at Superhero daycamp. And it's to Jonathan's credit he'll still try and help his brother after all that anyways.
I'm fully on-board the show now. I don't agree that it's grounded (as it is being billed). But it is told in a simpler, less complicated fashion than most Arrowverse stuff, which is something I like. The main cast is basically the four Kents. And they won't be killing off or threatening to routinely kill off those characters. As far as superhero shows go, this feels remarkably safe. Which is something I like. Which is something more superhero shows should try to be. Not all of them of course. But some of them. I didn't realize how much I needed superhero comfort food until I was gifted it these past two weeks. And silly me, I didn't recognize the gift for what it was after the Pilot because it had been so long before I had seen anything remotely like that in my superhero shows. ****1/2.
DuckTales "The Lost Cargo Of Kit Cloudkicker!"
Relax, nerds. I'm going to give that a SUPER positive review. But first some context.
I actually think Walt Disney Television Animation's output in the 1990's was generally speaking, dreadful. TaleSpin was a rare highlight, and has a special place in my heart for that reason. Everything else from that era besides it and Gargoyles varied between mediocre and terrible. Those two shows were the only stand-outs for the entire decade. But TaleSpin will always be special to me. Pretty much because it is the worst premise you could ever give a kids show, and kids loved it anyways. There is something respectable about that. Batman: The Animated Series and Gargoyles had their share of admirers too, but I truly think older fans responded more positively to those projects than little kids did. Kids loved TaleSpin, when by all rights they shouldn't have. Its main character is an adult and the kid sidekick is often absent. It's based on an old Disney movie few kids in 1990 had seen until it was rereleased that summer in anticipation to it. It was conceived of as a spin-off of DuckTales (hence the name) but wound up having zero ties to it. It was about old airplanes and pilots which was definitely not a huge kid fandom then or now. It was set in the 1930's. There should have been no market for this show, and even if there were, only adults should have liked it. But it was so fun and exciting kids enjoyed the ride anyways even not knowing all of the movie references and homages. TaleSpin was legit, well-written, decent animation for the time, good voicework and score, and a kicking theme song (arguably the greatest Disney Theme song of all time). The fact that it defied all odds to be a hit with kids is something I like.
So any homage that bills itself as a quasi-sequel to that is fine by me. Danger Woman Air Circus? Perfect end for Molly. Kit basically turning into Baloo with all of his laziness and irresponsibility and none of his flying skills? Also on-board the idea. Something that broaches the idea of The Wuzzles without actually using real Wuzzles? Also there for that. And Molly goes to the bank and buys out Higher For Hire just like her mother. Although I love that Kit's reaction is much warmer than Baloo's was. He's happy about it.
I don't recall us ever learning Baloo's last name on the show, but I have to say I am totally on-board Von Bruinwald. It's hinted in The Balooest Of The Blue Bloods that Baloo has some old-world DNA in his bloodline, and is related to people with money. That is a perfect name for that and the character that I'm loving to death.
Hearing the TaleSpin Theme music cue was pretty great. Although nobody ever actually said "Spin it!" in the show itself.
What aren't I loving? Dewey, per usual. He's why I can't give the episode a perfect five-star grade, and why we aren't allowed to have nice things. But literally everything else made me smile. I can't complain too much. ****1/2.
Bless The Harts "Big Pimpin'"
That was awful. There is one thing I liked (that we'll get to) but I hated everything else.
Louise is so annoying. I think the monster truck ending with Wayne was sort of fun but it certainly wasn't fun enough to justify how Louise and Jenny were using him.
And Brenda continues to be super gross and contemptible.
I think the thing that made me angriest was Violet and David for thinking that podcast of Betty lies about people who are murderers was a good idea. It never dawned on her that they'd be legally liable for anything that crazy old bat falsely accused people of? They are lucky they weren't sued into the poorhouse. And I always thought my opinion of Betty could never be lower but she surprised me. There is no bottom to this disgusting character.
I mentioned there was one thing I liked. I liked that Wayne immediately told Jenny Louise made him brush her hair and Jenny wasn't mad. I thought him offering to brush Jenny's hair to "make things even" was sort of sweet and endearing. But it was the only thing in the episode I liked.
The rest was utter trash. *.
The Simpsons "Wad Goals"
I cannot overstate how much I disapproved of that. And I'm wondering if the show REALLY wants to go there. REALLY? Fine, we will.
Like many shows in Hollywood, including Buffy The Vampire Slayer, which acted like Buffy was turning trick down at the docks by working as a fast food restaurant, The Simpsons, and this episode, looks down on the service industry. Oh, Heaven forfend, Marge isn't proud of Bart for having a job where he has to be polite to his employers! It's another thing to says The Simpsons has no idea what real-world people go through.
And here's me going there. Matt Groening went for plane rides with Jeffrey Epstein getting his gross feet massaged. Obviously, he thinks people who work for him are nothing more than prostitutes based on the company he keeps. The "sex cult" thing at the end of the episode made me cringe too. The show is in no position to throw stones about that because of Groening.
I don't disapprove of antireligious messages. But when they do them simply as a way to dump on people who aren't fortunate enough to be the ones who call the caddies is where I call b.s..
But hey, that reference to the Homer bush meme was pretty funny, right? And Stephen Root got his first Simpsons role, I guess.
A dud. At its worst and most tone-deaf, the show pushes my buttons. I'd say they know HOW to push my buttons, but they clearly believe this nonsense, so their cluelessness is unintentional instead. Which somehow makes it worse and less forgivable. *.
Bob's Burgers "Die Card Or Card Trying"
Linda is so annoying because she wants stupid things that nobody else does and always inconveniences the rest of the family to get them. So it was a bit refreshing that the moral to THIS episode wasn't Linda saying she might have gone a little overboard, but saving the camera and everybody admiring the picture. Bob's Burgers has a formula and I admire they strayed off the beaten path for this one. 3 miles in fact. Because Linda is super annoying. Did I mention that?
Bonus points for tying Louise's frustrating puzzle into the resolution. And I liked the Park Ranger too. I think he and the family think he has more authority than he does. I'm a bit surprised Bob himself didn't question that, considering he was the one who would supposedly have to pay a fine.
And why on Earth would Bob and Linda give Gene a harmonica for Christmas? Are they insane?
I was annoyed as I was watching this but it resolved itself okay. Just like the Tom And Jerry movie. ***.
Family Guy "And Then There's Fraud"
Wow, so there's something even more annoying than Conway Twitty. After seeing The Hudson Brothers in action, I want to board a time machine and punch every single person who used to watch that show in the face. Only because they deserve it. They actually deserve MUCH worse than that, but I am kind.
The Boston University slam was marvelous. I love their fight song.
I like how everybody in the episode is keeping an eye on Meg. She's not in trouble. She just should have a creek buddy.
Honestly, people can say that with Breaking Bad and The Wire off the air we are no longer living in the golden age of television. But we have nothing currently on as remotely bad as the Hudson Brothers. Even Jerry Springer is less embarrassing.
The Great North had a good week (even though I already reviewed it last week) but I'm giving the edge to Family Guy and saying it won the night. ****.
Clarice "You Can't Rule Me"
Neat cliffhanger.
I loved Clarice's roommate reading her the riot act for trying to use their friendship to help with her investigation. It's good the FBI's racial biases are going to be explored.
The show made a mistake. Terry Schiavo was mentioned, but that happened during the Bush Administration, and the show is supposed to be set in 1993.
I found the scene where Krendler explained to Clarice why he was hard on her interesting because I thought it was a very good reason.
Murray is turning out to be quite a character. He does not look like a typical actor cast as a series regular on most of television.
Another solid week. ***1/2.
The Blacklist "The Cyranoid"
Liz disgusts me. I can't believe I'm still watching this show. What is wrong with me? 0.
WandaVision "The Series Finale"
I liked everything except for the very final cliffhanger tag. That was unnecessary and confusing.
But I liked most everything else. I also suspect a lot of people are going to be disappointed. That mind-blowing cameo Elizabeth Olsen teased on the level of Luke Skywalker obviously didn't happen, and people are gonna be mad. The only reason I'm mad is because it was such an unforced error on Olsen's part. The finale was fine. But now the reception is going to be disappointment.
The reality of Quicksilver was admittedly pretty underwhelming however.
Has anyone brought up that the visual effects were amazing? Because there will be a test later and that will come up.
I liked most of it though, and the emotional beats hit fine, until the final tag where it's hinted Wanda has learned nothing. I don't even understand why they NEEDED that final tag. It just made the episode and the series worse for it existing. ****.
Batwoman "Do Not Resuscitate"
Calling this week a misfire. The problem with the show is that I like Ryan and Mary. And Jacob and Sophie keep screwing them over. That's not fun to watch.
Jacob shuts down Mary's clinic for the sole reason that he's a despicable person with no redeeming qualities. I am so sick of this character.
Sophie turns Ryan against Angelique right when she's dying of a terminal illness, and could use some support. Sophie claims she's been in love before, but I like Ryan telling her that she probably didn't fight for that love. Seeing the way she mistreated Kate last season means Ryan was spot-on.
I like Ryan dressing down Luke for how he'd been treating her. But by the same token Luke being a jerk isn't a reason to keep the Kryptonite wound a secret. Batwoman being impaired effects how everyone does their jobs and not just Ryan.
Not interested at all in the stuff with Alice and Ocean. Don't care about or like either of those characters.
Didn't like this week. *1/2.
Black Lightning "The Book Of Reconstruction: Chapter Four: A Light In The Darkness"
Well, that's a good way to accommodate Lightning's actress' hiatus.
Tobias continues to be one of the single most disgusting villains on television. It's angers me how open and obvious he is and is still getting away with it. I admit, I have real-world hang-ups about that specific thing, but those hangs-up are why I'm so angry. I'm not saying it isn't credible. I'm saying it's infuriating and something about the show I hate.
I have to say seeing Jen's face as she witnessed Jefferson's primal scream made me realize that is the last moment you'd want your daughter to witness. Because Jen's perspective isn't that it's animalistic or hardcore. It's freaking embarrassing. Which only his daughter would be accurate enough to think.
I continue to love Lala. Tobias can talk him down as predictable, but him cautioning Jefferson to leave the ring before he's killed is why I like the character. He can claim it's because he'd go down for it if Jefferson Pierce was killed in his ring. But on some level I believe it's because he cares what happens to him.
Speaking of which, I liked the young guy speaking up in the bar at how Black Lightning positively changed his life, and got everyone there to affirm how much they valued him. I don't know if that's something Jefferson deserved to hear after his antics tonight. But it's definitely something he NEEDED to hear.
I was an annoyed as Grace for Anissa being unsure about her "Feng Shui". I'm sitting here thinking about this episode and it's actually the plot turn that angers me most. You want to get into a flame war with trolls who hate this show, I don't think this specific small throwaway scene would get their ire (or even particular notice). But it makes me angrier than anything else this week because it is badly written. It's a terribly written plot point written by someone who is uncomfortable writing real adult relationships and thinks making couples fight about stupid things is a good substitute for that. Granted, Lynn and Jeff fighting over the stupid things is a hallmark of the season and the show, but this particular thing is so stupid I cannot believe an adult wrote it, a producer didn't send the script back with a note saying "You're an idiot. You know that, right?", and the network actually didn't step in to throw-down some serious, much-needed quality control. It actually made it to air. A grown woman just married a person, and the idea that they are going to have to share a living space never occurred to her. It's infuriating how stupid and sloppy a plot point it is. What infuriates me most, and you can call me crazy for this, is that nobody else but me will care. Anybody else talks about this episode, that specific thing will be beneath their notice. It is the thing in the episode however that drives me up a wall. It is also the specific kind of stupid, badly written thing you could only see in a Berlanti show. What do Black Lightning, Arrow, Riverdale, Titans, and Blindspot all have in common? A scene this stupid could occur on each of these shows and actually make it to air. Now Riverdale and Titans are nothing BUT scenes like this, but you don't see this garbage on any modern show but a Berlanti one. Maybe a David E Kelly show. But that's the only other outlier to something this dumb. And it drives me bonkers.
The episode contained a significant moment that registers with me for it's unusualness this season. Jefferson apologizes to Lynn and she owns her poo too. First time that happened this season. Literally every other conversation these two have had ends with one, the other, or both walking off in a snit. It wasn't a very graceful reconciliation as far as performances or writing goes. But it's interesting for the fact that it's literally the first time it's happened this year. Those two characters seem to otherwise hate each other like poison.
I can't really fault too much in the episode. But the Anissa and Grace thing hit me SO bad, I'm docking two entire stars on general principle. I'm sure you will think I'm being too harsh but dumb writing like that offends me so much because it shouldn't exist. Worse, it doesn't NEED to exist for a given show to function. Grace and Anissa are adults with their own agency. They have plenty of real things they could believably conflict about instead of the writers turning to the viewer and saying, "Hey, did you ever think that when people get married they have to live with each other? That it's an adjustment? Isn't that an amazingly original idea I just had? I'll put it into the show because I'm just that deep. Berlanti won't notice how dumb this is because Cheryl Blossom is feeding her murdered uncle to her relatives on Riverdale this week. Isn't it great how easy it is for a stupid person to get a paid writing gig in Hollywood?" Me? I'm mad instead. Go figure. Writing this bad should not happen. But Berlanti is spread so thin there is literally NO quality control on his shows, and nothing ever gets sent back to the drawing board. (And I say that last sentence hopefully. I'd shudder to think what was SO bad for Riverdale and Titans that it was actually nixed.) ***.
The Flash "All's Well That Ends Wells"
So is Tom Cavanaugh now off the show? I have two conflicting thoughts about that.
The first thought is immediately negative. Look at how great all that Council Of Wells stuff was! The show will be markedly worse if he's not a part of it.
The second thought is more practical. Just based on the way he died and left, I think this was Cavanaugh's decision, and it had been in the works for awhile. And I can be upset over losing the character (which is actually what you want in a death scene) but what I CANNOT dismiss is that rarely when a character either leaves a show or is killed off, are they given such a satisfying and meaningful send-off. The last one I remember putting in this much effort was Steve Carell's last episode of The Office. That's how long its been. Most TV shows act like cast comings and goings are routine and no big deal. I think they have to act like that for fear of upsetting the audience. But I want to be allowed to be upset. I want to be able to think Nash's death was both rawest of deals and the only way it coulda gone down at the exact same time. If Cavanaugh IS off the show, they gave him a perfect last episode.
If he isn't and another unheard of Wells pops up next week, I'll be a bit relieved, but also super annoyed that this perfect last episode was wasted on a fake-out. But the episode was so perfect for Nash that I am very skeptical it's a fake-out.
Do you know what I don't like? Both Cisco and Caitlin are absent in not only the season premiere, but Wells' last episode. But to be perfectly clear, that is almost certainly a scheduling issue due to Covid and not something in the show's control. If they could have gotten both those actors for this episode, they would have. I won't penalize the show for it.
I'll tell you what didn't work: Cecile and Top. She goes to Joe saying "I was the D.A. who put her away so she'll trust me as her defense attorney." The lawyer drama on Berlanti has always been beyond shaky, even laughably so as far as this show, Arrow, and Riverdale are concerned. But because Cecile was the one who put her away, that's the precise reason she WOULDN'T trust her, and would wind up pulling a stunt like the one she did. Why did nobody think to point that out? It's not like Cecile wouldn't have tried anyways and everything would have played out the exact same way. Except I think both Cecile and the writers are very stupid and bad at their jobs if they believe Cecile putting Top in prison is the thing that will endear her to her. And it's a stupid thing to have to complain about. No other current franchises besides Berlanti shows (and David E Kelly) pull this kind of nonsense. It's really aggravating to have to badmouth the show in the very episode Tom Cavanaugh brings the freaking goods.
And you know what? I would be very inclined to knock off a star or two from the final grade for this stupidity, but I'm like "Stupid writing does not get to rob me of being amazed by how Cavanaugh went out. I'll vent in this review, but all it is is venting." That stupid line and scene does not have the power to wreck my buzz from the great thing I just saw. I will not LET it have it that power. *****.
Superman & Lois "Heritage"
To be truthful, I had some very serious misgivings last week. And if I want to be candid, I'll need to fess up that these feelings existed due entirely to my unfamiliarity with the tone and aesthetic, rather than failings in the plot or concept (like I claimed). I think I might have seriously botched last week's review. Most of my reviews I will stand by to the death. I think I missed the boat there.
As of now, I'm all about the return of a TV-PG Superman family show. It's long overdue.
It seems to me that Captain Luthor isn't actually evil. Which means he can be reasoned with. That's the hope at least. I don't want this poor guy being made the Big Bad of the series. I simply feel too bad for him for that. My heart would not be in Superman beating him up every week.
Here was something I WAS right about last week: I instantly disliked Kyle! Sam Lane also has the distinct knack of always being wrong, but the difference there is that I believe his heart is in the right place. I think Kyle is simply a scumbag. I don't think much of Lana Lang for marrying him.
I liked how Edge sort of turned the town meeting against Lois. I like how he turned it from a mandate on himself, into a mandate on her. He's bluffing, but a guy promising jobs can just as easily take them away, and he's given the crowd a good target to blame for it. I think it was a far more effective public relations tactic than rewriting her entire article at the Daily Planet. I wish the entire character were that smart, but rewriting Lois Lane says he isn't.
I like Beppo. She is going to be fun for Lois to work for.
I like Lois giving Jonathan his due in giving up his life for his brother. Especially because Jordan is taking him for granted, and leaving him holding the bag at school. I was very glad Jordan apologized to him. Because Jor-El may be a jerk (and he is) but Jordan having to hear his disappointing assessment isn't a tenth of the struggle Jonathan is being asked to endure while Jordan's at Superhero daycamp. And it's to Jonathan's credit he'll still try and help his brother after all that anyways.
I'm fully on-board the show now. I don't agree that it's grounded (as it is being billed). But it is told in a simpler, less complicated fashion than most Arrowverse stuff, which is something I like. The main cast is basically the four Kents. And they won't be killing off or threatening to routinely kill off those characters. As far as superhero shows go, this feels remarkably safe. Which is something I like. Which is something more superhero shows should try to be. Not all of them of course. But some of them. I didn't realize how much I needed superhero comfort food until I was gifted it these past two weeks. And silly me, I didn't recognize the gift for what it was after the Pilot because it had been so long before I had seen anything remotely like that in my superhero shows. ****1/2.
DuckTales "The Lost Cargo Of Kit Cloudkicker!"
Relax, nerds. I'm going to give that a SUPER positive review. But first some context.
I actually think Walt Disney Television Animation's output in the 1990's was generally speaking, dreadful. TaleSpin was a rare highlight, and has a special place in my heart for that reason. Everything else from that era besides it and Gargoyles varied between mediocre and terrible. Those two shows were the only stand-outs for the entire decade. But TaleSpin will always be special to me. Pretty much because it is the worst premise you could ever give a kids show, and kids loved it anyways. There is something respectable about that. Batman: The Animated Series and Gargoyles had their share of admirers too, but I truly think older fans responded more positively to those projects than little kids did. Kids loved TaleSpin, when by all rights they shouldn't have. Its main character is an adult and the kid sidekick is often absent. It's based on an old Disney movie few kids in 1990 had seen until it was rereleased that summer in anticipation to it. It was conceived of as a spin-off of DuckTales (hence the name) but wound up having zero ties to it. It was about old airplanes and pilots which was definitely not a huge kid fandom then or now. It was set in the 1930's. There should have been no market for this show, and even if there were, only adults should have liked it. But it was so fun and exciting kids enjoyed the ride anyways even not knowing all of the movie references and homages. TaleSpin was legit, well-written, decent animation for the time, good voicework and score, and a kicking theme song (arguably the greatest Disney Theme song of all time). The fact that it defied all odds to be a hit with kids is something I like.
So any homage that bills itself as a quasi-sequel to that is fine by me. Danger Woman Air Circus? Perfect end for Molly. Kit basically turning into Baloo with all of his laziness and irresponsibility and none of his flying skills? Also on-board the idea. Something that broaches the idea of The Wuzzles without actually using real Wuzzles? Also there for that. And Molly goes to the bank and buys out Higher For Hire just like her mother. Although I love that Kit's reaction is much warmer than Baloo's was. He's happy about it.
I don't recall us ever learning Baloo's last name on the show, but I have to say I am totally on-board Von Bruinwald. It's hinted in The Balooest Of The Blue Bloods that Baloo has some old-world DNA in his bloodline, and is related to people with money. That is a perfect name for that and the character that I'm loving to death.
Hearing the TaleSpin Theme music cue was pretty great. Although nobody ever actually said "Spin it!" in the show itself.
What aren't I loving? Dewey, per usual. He's why I can't give the episode a perfect five-star grade, and why we aren't allowed to have nice things. But literally everything else made me smile. I can't complain too much. ****1/2.
Bless The Harts "Big Pimpin'"
That was awful. There is one thing I liked (that we'll get to) but I hated everything else.
Louise is so annoying. I think the monster truck ending with Wayne was sort of fun but it certainly wasn't fun enough to justify how Louise and Jenny were using him.
And Brenda continues to be super gross and contemptible.
I think the thing that made me angriest was Violet and David for thinking that podcast of Betty lies about people who are murderers was a good idea. It never dawned on her that they'd be legally liable for anything that crazy old bat falsely accused people of? They are lucky they weren't sued into the poorhouse. And I always thought my opinion of Betty could never be lower but she surprised me. There is no bottom to this disgusting character.
I mentioned there was one thing I liked. I liked that Wayne immediately told Jenny Louise made him brush her hair and Jenny wasn't mad. I thought him offering to brush Jenny's hair to "make things even" was sort of sweet and endearing. But it was the only thing in the episode I liked.
The rest was utter trash. *.
The Simpsons "Wad Goals"
I cannot overstate how much I disapproved of that. And I'm wondering if the show REALLY wants to go there. REALLY? Fine, we will.
Like many shows in Hollywood, including Buffy The Vampire Slayer, which acted like Buffy was turning trick down at the docks by working as a fast food restaurant, The Simpsons, and this episode, looks down on the service industry. Oh, Heaven forfend, Marge isn't proud of Bart for having a job where he has to be polite to his employers! It's another thing to says The Simpsons has no idea what real-world people go through.
And here's me going there. Matt Groening went for plane rides with Jeffrey Epstein getting his gross feet massaged. Obviously, he thinks people who work for him are nothing more than prostitutes based on the company he keeps. The "sex cult" thing at the end of the episode made me cringe too. The show is in no position to throw stones about that because of Groening.
I don't disapprove of antireligious messages. But when they do them simply as a way to dump on people who aren't fortunate enough to be the ones who call the caddies is where I call b.s..
But hey, that reference to the Homer bush meme was pretty funny, right? And Stephen Root got his first Simpsons role, I guess.
A dud. At its worst and most tone-deaf, the show pushes my buttons. I'd say they know HOW to push my buttons, but they clearly believe this nonsense, so their cluelessness is unintentional instead. Which somehow makes it worse and less forgivable. *.
Bob's Burgers "Die Card Or Card Trying"
Linda is so annoying because she wants stupid things that nobody else does and always inconveniences the rest of the family to get them. So it was a bit refreshing that the moral to THIS episode wasn't Linda saying she might have gone a little overboard, but saving the camera and everybody admiring the picture. Bob's Burgers has a formula and I admire they strayed off the beaten path for this one. 3 miles in fact. Because Linda is super annoying. Did I mention that?
Bonus points for tying Louise's frustrating puzzle into the resolution. And I liked the Park Ranger too. I think he and the family think he has more authority than he does. I'm a bit surprised Bob himself didn't question that, considering he was the one who would supposedly have to pay a fine.
And why on Earth would Bob and Linda give Gene a harmonica for Christmas? Are they insane?
I was annoyed as I was watching this but it resolved itself okay. Just like the Tom And Jerry movie. ***.
Family Guy "And Then There's Fraud"
Wow, so there's something even more annoying than Conway Twitty. After seeing The Hudson Brothers in action, I want to board a time machine and punch every single person who used to watch that show in the face. Only because they deserve it. They actually deserve MUCH worse than that, but I am kind.
The Boston University slam was marvelous. I love their fight song.
I like how everybody in the episode is keeping an eye on Meg. She's not in trouble. She just should have a creek buddy.
Honestly, people can say that with Breaking Bad and The Wire off the air we are no longer living in the golden age of television. But we have nothing currently on as remotely bad as the Hudson Brothers. Even Jerry Springer is less embarrassing.
The Great North had a good week (even though I already reviewed it last week) but I'm giving the edge to Family Guy and saying it won the night. ****.
Clarice "You Can't Rule Me"
Neat cliffhanger.
I loved Clarice's roommate reading her the riot act for trying to use their friendship to help with her investigation. It's good the FBI's racial biases are going to be explored.
The show made a mistake. Terry Schiavo was mentioned, but that happened during the Bush Administration, and the show is supposed to be set in 1993.
I found the scene where Krendler explained to Clarice why he was hard on her interesting because I thought it was a very good reason.
Murray is turning out to be quite a character. He does not look like a typical actor cast as a series regular on most of television.
Another solid week. ***1/2.
The Blacklist "The Cyranoid"
Liz disgusts me. I can't believe I'm still watching this show. What is wrong with me? 0.
