TV Report Card: Week of November 25, 2012

Here is this week's TV Report Card:

Sunday
The Walking Dead: "When the Dead Come Knocking"

What Worked: As always, Rick and the prison worked for me. Even the silly cabin the woods scene was entertaining in its own way. But by far the best moment was one of the quiter ones as Carol and Rick shared that knowing glance in regards to Lori.

What Didn't Work: If the prison worked, that means Woodbury was once again the weakest link. I'll give it credit for the brutal interrogation scenes involving Merle and the Governor, but any goodwill was wasted on the boring Andrea and Milton subplot. Sure, it introduced some interesting questions but it took the wind out of the sails.

GRADE: B

Homeland: "Two Hats"

What Worked: I know that one of the cool things to do nowadays is to poke holes in Homeland's plot, but I thought that this was a decent enough episode. Nazir's plot and the taking down of his cell had enough tension (and I could appreciate them because I don't constantly nit-pick) and they helped keep things moving along. Ditto for Saul's fake interrogation.

What Didn't Work: While I'm not in the anti-Dana camp, I did find her annoying this time around, but then again she's always been annoying. I also could have done without Jess and Mike's sexy time because it was so telegraphed and anti-climactic. No pun intended.

GRADE: B

Monday
How I Met Your Mother: "Twelve Horny Women"

What Worked: Not much. I think I laughed a few times because of Brad's antics but that was about it. I suppose I also didn't hate the fake out involving Marshall but I'm so tired of this show trying to trick the audience.

What Didn't Work: There are certain standby gags that HIMYM insists on pulling out that just bore me to tears and one of them is the pointless competitions. I get the point behind these stupid games but I'm no longer entertained by them, so them trying to prove who was the biggest teenage bad-ass was a huge waste of my time. And that final bit about Robin re-thinking her feelings for Barney because he called off his pursuit was insulting.

GRADE: D

Tuesday
Ben and Kate: "Guitar Face"

What Worked: Even though this episode was Sitcom Writing 101, it was still successful at being a competent episode. Usually, I'm not a fan of the lead picking apart their new significant other as a way to protect him/herself, but Dakota Johnson can do anything in her own awkward way and win me over. And as always, I'm not opposed to more Geoff Stults. Man, I miss The Finder.

What Didn't Work: As much credit as I gave Dakota Johnson, the rest of the episode was a little too formulaic. While I got a laugh from Ben and Tommy, their story was very familiar and didn't bring anything all that new. As for BJ, she was downright dreadful and I'm shocked that people still think that she's the best part of this show.

GRADE: B-

Go On: "Back, Back, Back... It's Gone!"

What Worked: I was really excited when it looked like Carrie was going to play a major role in this episode but was even more upset when she was once again tossed aside for more Ryan and Lauren moments. That said, her presence alone was enough to keep me happy, and the episode subverted the Ryan and Lauren stuff just enough to keep it from being trite.

What Didn't Work: The rest of the subplots involving Sonia, Danny and George were decent enough, but I would have rather traded one of their stories in favor of more time with Carrie and Ryan. I know I'm getting repetative, but why does this show hate Allison Miller so much?

GRADE: B-

New Girl: "Eggs"

What Worked: Nick Miller's probably the funniest character on television right now and he's even better when he's teamed up with Winston. Those two had me rolling all episode long, but they also had a very human story that I could relate to. I still want Winston to be his own character, but I'll always be in favor of him being Nick's source of wisdom.

What Didn't Work: I haven't been loving Jess this season and her story about her biological clock ticking was OK but far from great. Even Cece's part didn't quite land because it felt like something we've seen a billion times before. Also, I don't care about Schmidt's sex life or the fact that he's in love with Cece. That ship's sailed.

GRADE: B+

The New Normal: "The XY Factor"

What Worked: I'm nowhere close to being a father, but even I could understand where Bryan was coming from when it came to the gender of his unborn child, and the added angst made the character even more sympathetic, so I couldn't help but smile when he realized that he could be a good father to a son.

What Didn't Work: Even though I thought that Goldie's story line worked this week, and I was happy that she's been given some direction, my beef has more to do with the fact that she's floundered for most of this season. The character really hasn't had much to do besides putting up with her wacky family, and there were even moments when she was nothing more than a prop. I hope we get more stuff from her moving forward; if not then I'll be convinced that Ryan Murphy hates blonde, pregnant women. Or he cannot write for them at the very least.

GRADE: B

Wednesday
Arrow: "Muse of Fire"

What Worked: I like the idea of Helena Bertinelli but we'll have to wait to see about the execution. Her introduction was decent enough, although I couldn't remember if her family's been a major player up until this point or if it was just introduced, and I'm glad that Oliver's been given a romantic foil for now because the rest of the characters are not pulling their weight in the love department.

What Didn't Work: So, that last comment had to do with the fact that I still do not care about Laurel and Tommy. His courtship was not cute, and the only positive this story brought to the table was the fact that Captain Jack's his father. Also, has the acting always been this bad? I know that Stephen Amell's chops haven't quite been there all season long, but it felt like everyone was too busy chewing scenery.

GRADE: B-

Modern Family: "When a Tree Falls"

What Worked: Luke got a few chuckles out of me, and the Phil/Jay combination's usually works for me but that was about it.

What Didn't Work: Cam in a tree was stupid. Cam in Cats was stupid. Mitchell giving in to Cam was stupid. Claire and Gloria at Costco was stupid. Alex trying to humiliate Haley was slightly less stupid but far more insidious and not very fun. At this point, I'm done writing about Modern Family. I'm just tied of writing the exact same thing over and over again, and I'm those few people who read these entries are just as burnt out on my indifference. I'll keep watching it, and I might add it back to the Report Card if it improves but that's doubtful based on the last two and half seasons. I just cannot do it anymore.

GRADE: D

American Horror Story: Asylum: "Dark Cousin"

What Worked: Maybe I've become desensitized but this episode did not seem as frantic as previous installments. The angel of death was a nice touch which was used quite effectively and I hope this was not the only time we got to see her. And there were some good performances as usual.

What Didn't Work: While I thought Sarah Paulson did a great job during the episode, I didn't care for the curve ball that was thrown at us after she escaped from Bloody Face's lair. I understand that they needed to get her back to Briarcliff (sort of), but having her get away from one monster just to encounter another was a little silly.

GRADE: B

Nashville: "Lovesick Blues"

What Worked: If the last two episodes are an indication of the new direction Nashville's going in, then I'm going to be a happier camper because I thought that this was another solid episode. Having Rayna and Juliette ditch their love triangle with Deacon in favor of actually making music has been a breath of fresh air.
Leave the lovey dovey angst to Gunner and Scarlet.

What Didn't Work: Do I really have to write it? Fine. Nothing will ever make me care about the mayoral campaign storyline. Nothing at all. It even upset me even more because the supposed clean Carlisle decided to jump in the mud with Rayna's husband (I honestly don't know his name at this point). Just horrible stuff all around.

GRADE: B+

Thursday
The Vampire Diaries: "My Brother's Keeper"

What Worked: As much as The Vampire Diaries has frustrated me this season, I still enjoy plent of aspects of the show. For one, I love Caroline Forbes. Love her. So, seeing her tear into Elena for being an idiot was amazing and made up for everything else in one single swoop. And I'll admit that my Caroline/Stefan shipper tendencies are speaking for me, but that's fine by me. Something else I liked, Jeremy stabbing Elena in the neck.

What Didn't Work: As you can see, I still hate Elena. She has never been my favorite thing about TVD and so far she's made me question why I'm still watching. Her damsel in distress routine's getting old because she insists on doing stupid things to get herself into trouble. I cannot have sympathy for a character like that. As for her romp with Damon? Yawn. I'm just glad they decided to pull the rug from under us by blaming a sire bond. That should make Dalena fans happy.

GRADE: C

30 Rock: "Mazel Tov, Dummies!"

What Worked: I guess the idea of Liz Lemon finally getting married has entertainment value, but I would've liked to have seen it be taken seriously. Sure, this was a 30 Rock wedding but still. Honestly, my favorite moments had to do with Jenna which surprised me since I don't like her, but watching her and Jack realize how their aging was bittersweet..

What Didn't Work: I honestly cannot think of why we needed Tracy around this week. To be fair, his story went along with the rest of the episode's theme but having him on his own can be a tricky thing to pull off, and unfortunately he didn't stick the landing.

GRADE:

Glee: "Thanksgiving"

What Worked: Much like The Walking Dead and Nashville, it's going to be easy to figure out how I felt about Glee. The stuff that revolved around McKinley and Sectionals worked for me because it was a good mix of old and new. Having the graduates come back to mentor the newbies was a good idea that I wish had developed more but it felt like Glee was successfully blending its two generations...

What Didn't Work: But then we had to go to New York to see what Rachel and Kurt were up to and all of the momentum was lost. Once again, I don't care about NYC and I don't know what Murphy and Co. have to do in order to get me invested. Having characters constantly going back and forth won't work but something needs to happen. And who cares what a Kiki is?

GRADE: B-

Elementary: "The Long Fuse"

What Worked: For the first time in a long time I was not bored by the case-of-the-week. Dr. Cuddy playing a hooker who tried to bomb her own business was entertaining enough to keep me from wandering off, and I liked how Lisa Edelstein once again played a character smitten with a Sherlock-ain character. I'd say she was in to the real deal, but we all know that Miller's version is as much Holmes as Dr. House was. Police stuff aside, I also appreciated the Sherlock and Joan moments as she prepped him for her departure. We all know she's not going anywhere but the idea of breaking them up was intriguing.

What Didn't Work: Even though I wasn't bored by this week's case, the procedural nature's still the show's biggest drawback. I don't expect CBS to stray from what it works, but Elementary's still not doing enough to make it standout from the rest of its ilk. Castle and Bones are just as by-the-book as this show, but there's enough unique elements to set them apart. Right now, Sherlock Holmes isn't enough to make Elementary more than what it's supposed to be.

GRADE: B-

Friday
Nikita: "The Sword's Edge"

What Worked: I got a kick out of this week's mission, but I found myself caught up more in the Alex and Owen moments. Now, I don't need Nikita to be bogged down in relationships, but the idea of Alex and Owen's far more interesting than her with Sean because Lyndsy Fonseca has way more chemistry with Sawa than she does with the other guy. Also, how good was Sawa in that interrogation scene?

What Didn't Work: I'm getting a little burned out with all of the distrust going around Division, and I felt that Ryan's getting an unfair shake since no one really knows how to run a covert, black ops outfit for good and not evil. But that's a minor quibble.

GRADE: B

TV Report Card: Week of November 11, 2012

Here is this week's TV Report Card:

Sunday
The Walking Dead: "Say the Word"

What Worked: It's starting to become pretty clear that the prison's the place to be this season because everything that had nothing to do with Woodbury was good. I especially liked how we got some great character moments from Daryl and Glenn to a lesser extent. Even Rick's psychotic warpath was entertaining and extremely disturbing.

What Didn't Work: As noted above, I could've done without all of the Woodbury scenes because they once again brought the episode to a halt. I don't care about Andrea's little crush on the Governor or how it's driving a wedge between her and Michonne because we've yet to understand what kept them together for so long. Andrea's choice of Woodbury over Michonne was supposed to be a huge betrayal, but it didn't play that way because we still don't know anything about the latter or their relationship.

GRADE: B+

Homeland: "The Clearing"

What Worked: Obviously, things are going to be good when the show puts Brody and Carrie together, and their little rendezvous in the clearing was another example of why Lewis and Danes won their Emmys. I was also relieved that Dana's silly hit-and-run arc blended well with the main storyline, and how great were Saul and Aileen.

What Didn't Work: I'm still not feeling Mike's amateur P.I. gig, but I was happy that it was addressed. Part of me wonders how much longer he is for this world. I'm sure there are some other things I could nit-pick about, like Quinn, but I'll leave that to the Internet since it just loves to complain about Homeland.

GRADE: B+

Monday
How I Met Your Mother: "Splitsville"

What Worked: Once again, not much. Maybe Barney's lie/truth that he used to help break up Robin and Nick, but that's a stretch since I never have cared about them as a couple.

What Didn't Work: Pretty much everything else. Like I've said over and over again, I hate Robin and Barney together so their final moments weren't cute but more of the same crap the showrunners have been shoving down our throats, and I can no longer tolerate it. I've also never liked pervy Lily, so her inappropriate comments throughout were annoying, as was Marshall. Oh, and don't get me started on how this episode made Nick into a complete idiot out of nowhere just to service the "plot." Ugh.

GRADE: D-

Castle: "Swan Song"

What Worked: I didn't love this episode, but that last scene where Beckett tricked the camerman into the broom closet and shut the door with a raspberry made up for everything else. To be fair, there were some fun jokes throughout, but I didn't care for the format.

What Didn't Work: Honestly, I'm surprised that it took Castle so long to do a documentary style episode since it's a trick that a few other procedural have used before. Off the top of my head, Leverage's "The Office Job" comes to mind but that was a straight play on The Office, so it worked better. Usually, I'm excited when cop shows do new things, but this one never clicked for me.

GRADE: B-

Tuesday
Ben and Kate: "Career Day"

What Worked: While I didn't think that "Career Day" was Ben and Kate's best outing, there were somethings that I liked about it. First, the show's been able to utilize Geoff Stults in an effective enough way to deepen my man-crush on him. Of course, Kate was as cute as ever, and Ben and Tommy were good together as always.

What Didn't Work: Having BJ in her own story was a misfire in my opinion because she works best with the rest of the ensemble and isn't a strong enough character to carry her own subplot. Also, this was one of those instances where Ben was too annoying for his own good and his sabotaging of Kate's date with zero comeuppance or true remorse was a little off-putting.

GRADE: B-

Happy Endings: "Boyz II Menorah"

What Worked: The combination of Max and Brad's always funny, so making them a bar mitzvah hype team was genius. I know that there are many out there who are not happy about Dave and Alex being back together, but I'm enjoying them for now, and even though their story was a little too cliched, I still got a kick out of their antics especially since it utilized the more tolerable version of Jane.

What Didn't Work: Like I mentioned, a lot of this episode relied too much on worn out tropes like slapstick comedy, people getting stuck in closets without phones, miscommunications and lies. That said, almost everything worked because of the rapid-fire nature of the jokes and most of them landed.

GRADE: B+

Go On: "Video game, Set, Match"

What Worked: It was nice finally getting some meaningful Ryan and Owen time since the show established it back in the pilot and we've seen only bits and pieces since then. If the writers play their cards right, these two can be the foundation for the show going forward, and that could only lead to good things.

What Didn't Work: At first, I wasn't too fond of the rest of the support group getting their own story, especially since it revolved around Yolonda. She has been one of the weaker parts of the ensemble because she's been playing the repressed Asian stereotype since day one. I'll give the episode credit for developing her and showing another side of the group's dynamic, and I did feel for her when she was ditched, but it would've worked better if both storylines meshed better. We also needed more Carrie.

GRADE: B

New Girl: "Menzies"

What Worked: Part of me wonders how much better this show would be if it was all about Nick because he was by far the MVP of this episode. His plot about venting to a silent, wise old man had me in stitches because it let Jake Johnson just riff and it was all gold. I know that New Girl needs the ensemble, but right now Johnson's the main reason I check in.

What Didn't Work: Having an entire episode revolve around Jess and her menstration cycle was old and unfunny, even if it did try to tie in to her larger arc, and even Winston using fake sympathy PMS as a way to cope with his break-up fell a little flat. As for Schmidt and CeeCee, I no longer care about them as a potential couple.

GRADE: B

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23: "Sexy People"

What Worked: The idea of James Van Der Beek winning People's Sexiest Man Alive was novel enough and had potential, especially since it was able to give us more insight on his relationship with June. Her manufactured crush on him was worth a few laughs, mostly due to JVDB egging her on, but it was smart that the show squashed any real romantic avenues.

What Didn't Work: Even though Chloe played a vital role in the episode, she was still the weakest link. Once she got JVDB on the cover, the rest of her time at People stopped being relevant and that's when things started to wobble. Krysten Ritter was still good, but her actions meant very little after a while.

GRADE: B

The New Normal: "Unplugged"

What Worked: While I didn't love this episode, it was competent enough and wasn't a bust. For me, the best parts had to do with the Sing set visit and all of the Glee in jokes that probably didn't make sense to those unfamiliar with the show. I hope we get to see more of Bryan's worklife because we all know how much I dig self-deprecating Glee jokes.

What Didn't Work: The concept of the episode was tired right off of the bat. Yes, we live in a more plugged in world, but having the main characters go without their electronic devices is one of the newest comedic cliches and I'm already tired of it.

GRADE: B-

Wednesday
Arrow: "Legacies"

What Worked: I find that I enjoy this show more when Thea and Oliver are getting along and she's not acting like a total brat. That's to say that I kind of liked the first part of this episode, but it started to unravel pretty quickly. I suppose getting more glimpses of the island didn't hurt and Riggle's influence on Oliver's commendable but I didn't love this one.

What Didn't Work: It's too bad that Thea went back to her drunken, smart-ass ways, and to make things worse was the fact that she did it because of a schoolgirl crush on Tommy. As for him, I wonder if anyone truly cares about him and Laurel at this point because I couldn't stop rolling my eyes every time they should up on screen together. The thing is, I should've liked this one since I'm a sucker for heists, but even that plot was bogged down with heavy-handed themes.

GRADE: C+

Modern Family: "Mistery Date"

What Worked: Not much. Phil had a few funny scenes but anytime he was with Matthew Broderick, I cringed. I did like Alex and Claire together because that's a relationship that doesn't get too much exposure on this show and it should.

What Didn't Work: Anything that didn't involve the Dunphys just angered me. Heck, I don't even remember what Jay did this time around. Putting two of the most annoying characters together, Cam and Gloria, was a recipe for disaster. And my dislike for Manny was only heightened as he went on his idiotic quest to find the girl at the bar mitzvah. Thankfully, Luke was around to redeem that subplot but he could only do so much.

GRADE: C-

American Horror Story: Asylum: "I Am Anne Frank, Part 2"

What Worked: The second installment was a slight improvement over its predecessor but still had too much going on. It wasn't as frantic, but it still could do with one less plotline. I'll admit that I should've seen Bloody Face's true identity sooner, but I have to credit the the writers for duping me long enough to make the reveal work.

What Didn't Work: The alien stuff still isn't working for me, and even adding Grace to the mix didn't win me over. Also, I didn't quite buy Sister Jude's little outing but that might have to do with the fact that I started tuning out about mid-way through the episode. I'm sure if I re-watch "Anne Frank, Pt. 2," I'll appreciate more... maybe.

GRADE: B-

Nashville: "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)"

What Worked: I have to give it to Nashville because this was the first episode that I really liked. Juliette's road to redemption worked for me, and I was happy to see Rayna in an actual music-based storyline instead of watching her be torn between two men. Ditto for Deacon. I even warmed up to the mayoral storyline ever so slightly.

What Didn't Work: Let me clarify that last bit. I sorta liked Carlisle's end of the political bits, but I cannot stand Rayna's husband or father, so I got bored every time they showed up to twirl their mustaches. Unfortunately  I don't see this aspect of the show improving since it look like Carlisle might jump in the mud with his opponents.

GRADE: B+

Thursday
The Vampire Diaries: "We All Go a Little Mad Sometimes"

What Worked: As much as I enjoy this show, I have to admit that it's been frustrating me over the last couple of episodes. The only part of this episode that I enjoyed was Stefan and Caroline's scheme to free Elena but that's because I like those two together so much that I'll put up with them risking their lives to save one of the most annoying characters of all time.

What Didn't Work: I'm just going to say it: I hate Elena. She's whiny, sanctimonious, ungrateful and a pain in the ass. I'd go off on her for treating Stefan like crap over the last couple of weeks, but I stopped caring about their relationship seasons ago, and now he can go off and find someone more deserving of his affections (like Caroline or even Rebekah). Let Damon have Elena because she's just going to take him for granted too. I'll be honest, part of me wanted her to off herself. I'm not even going to get into the other stupid love triangle or whatever Bonnie's been up to.

GRADE: C+

30 Rock: "Aunt Phatso vs. Jack Donaghy"

What Worked: Watching Jack and Tracy go head-to-head over a character the latter created based on the former was fun, and it allowed for Tracy to get some actual character development and growth. Speaking of growing, I also appreciated Liz's dilemma and it looks like the end really is near since she's going to have to pick between work and life.

What Didn't Work: Hazel has been one of the worst things to happen to 30 Rock, so the fact that she had a major role during this episode knocked the grade down a full point. I just don't understand why the show felt the need to introduce this kind of character to an already outlandish show, and the sooner she goes away the better.

GRADE: C+

Glee: "Glease"

What Worked: Having the majority of the action revolve around the musical was another good move on the show's part, and I was glad that the new characters were given some more depth as a way to let them shake off their 2.0 status. It was also a pretty good episode for Finn even though I wanted more closure on what he said to Sue last week.

What Didn't Work: I realized that I no longer care about what's going on in NYC or about the former couples. The second the focus moved from Lima to Rachel, I lost interest, and I couldn't stand having to put up with a mopey Kurt. As for Cassandra's reemergence  who didn't see her seduction of Brody coming weeks ago? For now, I'd be happy with Glee sticking around Lima from now on but we all know that's never going to happen.

GRADE: B

Elementary: "One Way to Get Off"

What Worked: Like always, the Holmes and Watson moments worked for me, and it's been interesting ever since Irene Adler was brought up due to the friction that it's caused. We all know that the two leads will make up in the end, but this temporary rift has livened things up for now. I also liked how we got more of Holmes' bond with Gregson.

What Didn't Work: It's good that the relationships are keeping my attention because the case once again failed to deliver. I will say that the idea of a wrongfully accused serial killer had some juice, but it felt like the previous episode about the kid napped kid who ended up being the real bad guy. It was too familiar and was too much of a retread.

GRADE: C

Friday
Grimm: "Season of the Hexenbiest"

What Worked: It was nice having Monroe back at Nick's side as they dealt with Adalind and her band of Wesen assassins. Speaking of Adalind, her return was very much welcomed and I hope she can be the big bad that this season needs. I still see a Buffy/Spike vibe when it comes to her and Nick, but her being a pain in his ass could be entertaining during the short-term.

What Didn't Work: For the first time in a while, I didn't care for Juliette and Renard's arc because she was written so poorly that I wanted to see her killed off all over again. I still think there's some potential with these two and the spell that they're under, and I'm really excited to see what happens now that Nick knows, but this was a pretty big speed bump.

GRADE: B+

Once again, no Revolution. I'm two episodes behind and have no desire to catch-up so I don't know when or if it'll be back. Sons of Anarchy is still too frustrating to deal with so it's in the same boat.

TV Report Card: Week of October 28, 2012

Hurricane Sandy's impact was limited to physical damage because she also affected the television industry as the networks made changes to their line-ups due to the storm. Since some of my shows were benched or moved around, I don't know how this edition of the TV Report Card will look like so pardon the mess in advance.

Sunday
The Walking Dead: "Walk with Me"

What Worked: Moving away from the prison could've been a risky move, but the introduction of Woodbury and the Governor was effective enough that I didn't even think about Rick and his ragtag band of survivors. David Morrissey had a fantastic debut, and I'm excited to see how these two new locales will mesh down the road.

What Didn't Work: We learned more about the Governor in one episode than we have about Michonne. To be fair, she hasn't been on our screens that much, but I'm not seeing how she's one of the best Walking Dead characters and I'm afraid that she's not going to live up to the hype.

GRADE: B+

Homeland: "Q&A"

What Worked: Pretty great stuff this time around from Homeland. Obviously, the highlight of the entire episode was the phenomenal interrogation scene between Carrie and Brody. Claire Danes and Damian Lewis were terrific and proved that their Emmy wins weren't flukes.

What Didn't Work: The Dana/Finn/hit and run sub-plot that was introduced was clearly the weakest element because it just didn't fit in with the rest of the episode or the series for that matter. Right now, I still have enough faith in the writers and believe that it will make sense in the near future, but for now it didn't make a lick of sense and I couldn't careless about it.

GRADE: A-

Monday
Castle: "Probably Cause"

What Worked: Even though it was clear how the episode was going to end, "Probable Cause" was still filled with twists, turns and tension. I'm glad that they finally brought back 3XK because that was an arc that had some meat to it but was dropped for no real reason. I even didn't mind the cop-out ending that ensured that it could keep going if the show wants it to.

What Didn't Work: In spite of its strengths, the episode was so predictable that it was knocked down a few pegs. Of course Rick was going to be cleared. Of course 3XK would show his hand since he's a Bond villain. Of course Kate would doubt Rick for a slight moment just to be back on his side. It was all old territory, and I'm surprised it took Castle so long to go there... if they haven't already and I'm just blocking that episode out of my mind.

GRADE: B-

Revolution: "Sex and Drugs"

What Worked: Apparently, on Monday night NBC stood for "Nice Boobs, Charlie." Seriously, her getting in and out of that tub was the best thing this show's ever done.

What Didn't Work: It was just too bad that everything around Charlie's smoking bod was clunky and uninteresting. I still don't care enough about Aaron to spend so much time on his backstory, and that fact that he had an Asian wife was so cliched that I immediately tuned out. Even the hook of the episode, Drexel trading medicine for a favor smacked of bait and switch because he wanted Charlie to kill someone instead of doing other things. I suppose I can credit the show for taking the unconventional route but still.

GRADE: C-

Tuesday
Hart of Dixie: "Walkin' After Midnight"

What Worked: I loved it how the show worked the Iron Bowl into Lavon's mayoral campaign, and I was a little surprised that it took so long. It was also a strong episode for Wade as he realized that cares about Zoe more than he's been leading on.

What Didn't Work: I still don't care about George's dating life, so anything that had to do with him juggling women or hitting on random bar patrons didn't land for me. Also, his sleep walking bit wasn't as funny as the show thought it was, but it did its job by forcing him to talk to Zoe about their feelings. Another romantic sub-plot that didn't work for me: Annabeth's crush on Lavon and Lemon's jealousy.

GRADE: B-

Raising Hope: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Me What To Do"

What Worked: First off, putting Burt in a gay bar was beyond genius because watching him adjust to the culture without mocking it was commendable. Plus, his bit about dressing as the Village People version of a mail man because he brings the biggest package was equally as brilliant. Garrett Dillahunt for an Emmy!

What Didn't Work: I didn't really mind Jimmy and Sabrina's story about them being sperm/egg donors for her friends because it was a nice way to explore their relationship, but I couldn't help but feel bad for the two guys who asked them because their hopes were unnecessarily dashed twice. Sure, they're only minor characters that we'll only see a handful of times in the future, but that entire plot felt short-sighted.

GRADE: B+

Ben and Kate: "Scaredy Kate"

What Worked: Pretty much everything because this episode did everything I asked from the show. We got frazzled, socially awkward Kate. We got silly, dancing Kate. We got smart and caring Kate. We pretty much got every version of that character that I'm smitten with and some got subplots involving the rest of the ensemble. While Ben and Tommy were funnier, BJ's moments with Maddie was a nice mix of crazy and warm.

What Didn't Work: I don't know if I can come up with anything that I didn't like about this one. I guess it could've been funnier, but I've already come to terms with the reality that Ben and Kate's not a laugh-out-loud kind of show. It's quick, charming and heart-warming.

GRADE: A-

Happy Endings: "Sabado Free-Gante"

What Worked: Even though it's based on a worn-out rom-com trope, I'm not hating Dave and Alex's rekindled romance because I know that it's only a placeholder until he hooks up with Penny. Usually, I'd hate this kind of storytelling, but the writers are burning through it so quickly that you can tell that they're not even taking it too seriously.

What Didn't Work: The combination of Brad and Max should've made me laugh more than it did, and I was largely indifferent about Brad's inability to cope with a less high-end lifestyle. Penny and Jane's plot about buying a car was by far my least favorite because it did nothing but highlight the latter's gigantic flaws in a way that wasn't amusing to me.

GRADE: B-

New Girl: "Halloween"

What Worked: I appreciated how Nick and Jess realized that what they thought they wanted didn't match up with what they really wanted. Yes, it was just another step towards their inevitable pairing but I think that the show's being smart about that journey, so I'm going with it.

What Didn't Work: Schmidt was at his all-time douchiness as he constantly insulted Cece's boyfriend and he strayed into insufferable territory. I get that he's struggling with seeing her with someone else, but I cannot root for him when he's being such a jerk. Also, why even bother with giving Winston a girlfriend if you're just going to forget about it?

GRADE: B-

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23: "Love and Monsters"

What Worked: I really didn't love this one, but I thought it was kind of clever how Chloe's story was supposed to be a riff on rom-coms, but it never quite came together like it could have. I also didn't hate seeing JVDB getting to know the guy June works with.

What Didn't Work: Aside from Chloe's A-plot, we did not get nearly enough of the Beek but I'm biased since he's the main reason I tune in. Similarly, I could have done without so much June because Dreama Walker's still not bringing enough to the party to make me care about her or the schlubby gut that they forced upon her.

GRADE: C

Wednesday
Arrow: "An Innocent Man"

What Worked: In spite of Arrow's glaring problems, I have to admit that "An Innocent Man" was one of the young series' better episodes. The main reason why I thought that this one was better than most had to do with the fact that Oliver opened up and shared his secret with Diggle which should liven things up. The complications between him, Laurel and his alter-ego was also more interesting than it had any right being.

What Didn't Work: Even though the story had to do with clearing the name of an innocent man, I found myself not really caring about the resolution because we all knew where it was going which speaks more to the formulaic nature of the show itself. While I enjoy some of the more serialized aspects of Arrow, its mark of the week premise has started to bore me.

GRADE: B

30 Rock: "There's No I in America"

What Worked: Per usual, all of the stuff involving Jack and Liz was gold, and their debate made Jenna entertaining for the first time in what feels like forever, but that probably had to do with the fact that they only highlighted why she's a horrible character. Tracy's history lesson was also worth a few chuckles.

What Didn't Work: Pretty much anything that didn't involve Jack and Liz. Pete's sadsack routine has never been all that funny to me, so using him as a symbol for how little things have changed since 2008 didn't work on me. And Kenneth was featured way too much.

GRADE: C+

Modern Family: "Yard Sale"

What Worked: I've got to say it again, why do I keep watching this show? I suppose I didn't hate Phil's bit with the motorcycle, and the end tag was the best part of the episode. And Alex's plot about whether or not her boyfriend was gay was decent enough.

What Didn't Work: Since I hate Gloria, her ventriloquist bit was excruciatingly annoying and unfunny, but I chuckled when Luke admitted to being a manipulative little shit. To be honest, I don't even remember what else happened during this episode. I just know that I didn't really care for it, but what else is new.

GRADE: C

American Horror Story: Asylum: "Nor'easter"

What Worked: So far, I've liked how the possession storyline has progressed. We got some genuinely creepy stuff from Sister Mary Eunice as well as some darkly funny ones. Of course, Jessica Lange was good as Sister Jude went crazy, and I even found myself caring about the three escapees. Not so much about Shelley, but that was an interesting reveal at the end.

What Didn't Work: I don't want to be one of those guys who over-uses "a Ryan Murphy show," but "Nor'easter" and AHS:A are classic examples of his kind of programs because there's too much going on. We've got the devil, aliens and their robotic spiders, flesh-eating mutants, mass murderers, crazy doctors... all in one episode. If Ryan and Falchuk trimmed one (or two) of these elements, AHS would be a much tighter show... but that's not their style.

GRADE: B-

Nashville: "We Live in Two Different Worlds"

What Worked: Juliette's shop lifting made me sight last week, so I wasn't expecting to care about it as much as I did. I was impressed by how her antics were a commentary on celebrity, and we got some depth from a character that's only been a bratty temptress up until now. I still care more about Scarlett, Gunner and Avery than I do about the older triangle, and I was glad that we got a break from Gunner pining over his partner.

What Didn't Work: At this point, I do not care about Juliette's mother and she's taking up valuable time. Now, I can acknowledge that her precense has given us some insight into her daughter's backstory, but something about it just doesn't click for me. Maybe it's the cliched junkie spin on the character.

GRADE: C+

Thursday
The Vampire Diaries: "The Five"

What Worked: In a show with so much mythology, adding more facets could be tricky, but I thought that the introduction of the Five was well done and I'm actually excited to see where this story goes. Plus, it was a good Rebekah episode, and I'm always a fan of it when I'm not bored by the Originals.

What Didn't Work: My indifference towards Bonnie ruined the Elena/Damon moments because her concerned bestie rountine came off as annoying, and I would've preferred it if Caroline had been the one accompaning them on the college visit. Yes, it had to be Bonnie so we could get more information about the Five, but I'm never going to care about her or what she does.

GRADE: B

Elementary: "Lesser Evils"

What Worked: For the first time, I found myself not liking an episode of Elementary. As always, Jonny Lee Miller was great, and it was nice seeing some of Watson's former life, but that was not enough to keep my attention during this one.

What Didn't Work: I found everything that involved the angel of death boring. I didn't care who it was or why he or she was going what they were doing. I suppose having it be the janitor (who was a former doctor) could have been interesting but it's all been done before. And the added layer of intrigue only muddled things up. This one was a classic example of a police procedural and it came up short.

GRADE: C

Friday
Grimm: "The Hour of Death"

What Worked: Another solid episode of Grimm. The idea of a vigilante Grimm had a lot of potential, and while I didn't think the concept got enough time to breathe, it did make for an entertaining hour of television. Also, I'm always happy when they bring Bud back. I even liked the Juliette/Renard scenes but I think that had to do with the fact that this episode wasn't as busy as previous ones.

What Didn't Work: I get that most shows do not have the luxury of time and shortcuts need to be made, but I felt that Ryan being the self-hating Wesen posing as another Grimm was out of nowhere. I should've seen it coming since you don't book a squintern to just be in the background, but still. And where did Nick's pissiness come from? I get that he's frustrated, but the way he reacted to Juliette also didn't feel earned.

GRADE: B

Nikita: "True Believer"

What Worked: I appreciated the moment of self-reflection on Nikita's part and how she realized how she's become a part of the thing that she dedicated herself to destroying. It was by no means ground-breaking writing, but Maggie Q sold it. It was the bit of introspection that made the rogue agent-of-the-week device work this week, but it'll be nice to have Amanda back.

What Didn't Work: Once again, the lack of a true big bad exposed this season's weakness up to date. Third Wave had a lot of potential, but I started to lose interest when it became clear that it was only going to be around for this episode. Part of me wanted it to be the new entity that Nikita had to face, but it was not meant to be, and the the fact that it was all a giant scam was a bit of a letdown.

GRADE: B

So, another TV Report Card is in the books. As you can see, I didn't include Sons of Anarchy or The Mindy Project this time around. That's partially because I didn't watch the former and had no desire to catch up, and I have officially given up the latter because it hasn't made me laugh once over its first couple of episodes. Maybe they'll make a return... maybe not.