Best of the Week: 17th-23rd Jan
A weekly post with the purpose of highlighting the shows I watched during the week and how I ranked them. It’s not intended as a list of all shows on the air, only those that I actually watched during the week. Watching something on Monday that aired on Friday won’t make the cut.
Like everything on this site it’s for my own enjoyment but feel free to comment.
Just under two weeks until Lost premieres. Oh my God I can’t wait. I tried to get as much TV watching in as I could this week but I haven’t felt too crash hot. Plus I watched a lot of late night talk shows and finally saw Sherlock Holmes and The Fantastic Mr Fox so all that ate into the time I could spend on prime time TV. I’m also trying to catch up on The Mentalist, The Office and I’ve started to watch Chuck so I’m going right back to the beginning on that one.
1. Archer “Diversity Hire” (1×03) – The show’s only three episodes old and it’s already getting hard to come up with ways to say it’s damn funny and the best show on TV. So aside from that I’d also like to mention the fabulous voice work by all of the actors. Every single one of them does a superb job. Roll on the next episode. 8/10
2. 30 Rock “Winter Madness” (4×11) – The gang head to Boston as a reason for Jack to meet up with Nancy. I loved when Tracy said nothing bad could happen and behind him Pete says “smash cut to”. It’s writing like this which makes the show so damn good. 7.5/10
3. Better Off Ted “Lust in Translation” (2×10) – I really enjoyed this episode. All three stories were fun. Especially Ted and Greta using the translator with Phil’s voice while having sex. The episode also had more great stuff with Linda and Veronica. Whenever those two are together it makes for some awesome scenes. 7/10
4. Fringe “What Lies Below” (2×13) – A good standalone episode. That’s been a hard thing to come by this season. I especially liked the idea of a virus decimating the Earth hundreds of thousands of years ago and then being defeated by a volcanic eruption. It seems very X-Files to me but not in a derivative way. I wasn’t too fond of Peter going crazy from the virus but I guess there had to be personal stake for everyone involved. And there was once again more hints as to Peter’s death and Walter getting an alternative. The next episode is titled “The Bishop Revival” so I’m really hoping that the show finally deals with what Walter did after the original Peter died. 7/10
5. Community “Interpretive Dance” (1×14) – This episode was actually an improvement over the last few but it still wasn’t anything too great. Danny Pudi continues to be the best thing about the show but he doesn’t seem to be getting much to do. I’m not to fond of the idea that Britta is gonna be jealous of Jeff and the accounting teacher. I don’t want another will they or won’t they show. 6.5/10
6. How I Met Your Mother “Jenkins” (5×13) – Yeesh. Talk about fucking average. HIMYM is fast becoming a hit or miss show. One week it’s brilliant and the next it’s barely acceptable. It was nice to see Amanda Peet on the show but she was completely wasted with such a shitty story. The same happened with Rachel Bilson last week. They better not fuck up Carrie Underwood’s appearance. 5/10
7. The Mentalist “Bleeding Heart” (2×12) – Eh. Eco-terrorism and local council politics don’t make for a good episode. Average as always but Jane wasn’t really that compelling this week. And as much of a fan as I am of Robin Tunney in Empire Records and Encino Man I’m fast approaching a can’t stand her attitude to her on The Mentalist. Her performance/character just rubs me the wrong way. Amanda Righetti too. I really wish there were more Red John stories on the show ‘cos a couple per season isn’t anywhere near enough. 4.5/10
