TV Report Card: Week of December 2, 2012

I was so behind on my television watching that I didn't have time to put together a full fledged TV Report Card this time around (and for a second there I wasn't sure if I was going to post one at all). I know, I'm the worst.

Sunday
The Walking Dead: "Made to Suffer"
For a mid-season finale, "Made to Suffer" didn't have the pop of last year's but it was still an improvement over most of what we got in Season 2. I thought the assault on Woodbury was decent enough, and I really liked Carl's role this time around, but I could've done without Michonne and the Governor brawling. GRADE: B

Homeland: "Two Hats"
Boy did Homeland cause an uncalled for ruckus? I for one didn't hate "Two Hats," but what do I know. Sure it was silly but I don't tend to watch the show so closely that I get distracted by the implausibilities. Was it great? No. Heck, it wasn't even all that good but Homeland didn't deserve the backlash either. GRADE: C+

Monday
How I Met Your Mother: "Lobster Crawl"
To some extent I can overlook the stalling and how unfunny this show has become because it has far worse sins, namely ruining Robin as a character. She's no longer the independent, strong woman that Ted stole a blue French horn for. Nope, now she's a stereotypical "want what you can't have" crazy person. What a shame. GRADE: D

Castle: "Secret Santa"
I guess having a dead Santa was kind of entertaining, but this one didn't quite click for some reason. I guess it had to do with Rick's over-enthusiasm for Christmas and Kate's Scrooge-ness that didn't sit well with me. It could be argued that they were in character but it felt lazy. GRADE: C+

Tuesday
Ben and Kate: "The Trip"
I thought that the reason for Kate and Will's fight (and possible break-up) was weak because we've seen it all before, but I did like that we got a BJ/Tommy story that had little to nothing to do with what the Foxes were up to. GRADE: B-

Hart of Dixie: "Sparks Fly"
After an unintentional absence due to my oversight, Hart of Dixie's back on the Report Card with an OK episode. The farcical nature of the bachelor auction probably wasn't needed, but it did create some funny moments. I just don't know how I feel about Zoe and Wade at this point. GRADE: B-

Happy Endings: "P&P Romance Factory"
Penny's trouble with men has gotten stale, but I liked everything else especially Brad going off the deep end while being a cliched trophy wife.

Go On: "The World Ain't Over 'Til It's Over"
I could watch Ryan and Anne trade barbs all day, but the rest of the episode left a sour taste in my mouth. I didn't buy that Yolanda and Sonia would care enough to sabotage Wyatt's proposal, and I don't think Mr. K's strong enough to head up his own story as this point. GRADE: C+

New Girl: "Bathtub"
Still don't care about Schmidt and Cece, and unfortunately the rare Jess/Winston sub-plot didn't quite gel either. Thankfully, we got more Jake Johnson genius and Olivia Munn as a stripper. GRADE: B-

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23: "Whatever it Takes..."
Usually, I don't complain about little things but watching an episode that was clearly from Season 1 was distracting. Luckily, JVDB was back in DTWS mode (and we found out how he became close to June's mother), but everything else was too out of place to ignore. GRADE: C+

The New Normal: "Baby Proofing"
I liked the fact that Bryan was not in soapbox mode and in my life is about to change mode because it suits him better. As does a less politically incorrect version of Jane. Didn't care for David though because his obsession with safety felt out of character. GRADE: B

Wednesday
Arrow: "Vendetta"
Even though they rushed the Huntress arc, and it was accompanied with some horrible acting on both parts, I have to admit that I liked what they did. As for all of the stuff going on around Oliver and Helena, I could've done with out most of it (i.e. Tommy and Laurel). GRADE: B-

Nashville: "Where He Leads Me"
I'm still digging the new direction that Nashville's heading in. Juliette's more interesting when she's not boffing Deacon (the same's true for him) and I kind of like her QB boyfriend. I wasn't jazzed about the proposal but I'll roll with it since she's up to something. I even liked the continuation of the young'uns love triangle which is rare. Let's just ignore the political stuff, OK? GRADE: B

American Horror Story: Asylum: "Unholy Night"
Ian McShane as a Santa suit wearing serial killer. That is all. GRADE: B+

Thursday
The Vampire Diaries: "We'll Always Have Bourbon Street"
I'm still over Damon and Elena. I still hate her. And I still love Caroline when she's not tied at the hip with Tyler. That pretty much sums up my thoughts on this one. GRADE: C

Glee: "Swan Song"
I didn't love or hate "Swan Song"... I just didn't really care about it at all. It spent way too much time in New York pretending that it's a magical place where somewhat talented people have their dreams come true with little to no effort while putting the more interesting collapse of New Directions on the back burner. Yawn. GRADE: C+

Elementary: "You Do It To Yourself"
I'm never going to turn down learning more about Sherlock and Watson, so the issues she had with her ex were good enough to establish her character. I just wish this show would incorporate more interesting cases week in and week out. GRADE: C+

Friday
Nikita: "Sideswipe"
We all knew that Sonya was the mole, so I'm glad they got it out of the way even if it only introduced another insider. At least Amanda's a more entertaining villain than she was last season, and I liked the introduction of Cyrus. As for Alex's return to drugs and Sean... moving on. GRADE: B

As you can see, no 30 Rock this week because I still haven't watched the latest episode. Again, I'm the worst. Sorry.

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 4, 2012

No fluff or frills, here's this week's TV Report Card:

Sunday
The Walking Dead: "Killer Within"

What Worked: Pretty much everything that happened at the prison was gold. Obviously, we got so more crazy, zombie-killing action, but we also got some major twists and turns as two main characters died. Anytime a show can make me care about the passing of one of its most unlikable characters, it's a triumph and "Killer Within" was able to do just that in regards to Lori.

What Didn't Work: I wish we had gotten to know more about T-Dog before his demise, but oh well. Also, every time the story shifted to Woodbury, I found myself losing interest because it revolved around characters I don't care for or don't know enough about. This episode was a major argument for a one on, one off formula for the rest of the season, but I doubt that's in the cards.

GRADE: A-

Homeland: "A Gettysburg Address"

What Worked: I know that some people love to nitpick when it comes to Homeland, and I'm sure they had plenty to complain about during this one, but I thought it was a fine episode. I thought that it was a decent enough bridge between last week's excellent "Q&A" and whatever's on the horizon. That said, nothing really stood out but it was good enough.

What Didn't Work: The Mike, P.I. subplot needs to wrap up soon because it's not gelling with the rest of the series, so I can understand why some would be irked by it. Dana's story has also failed to take off, and I didn't need to spend time with her at the hospital when it could've been spent on terrorism and espionage.

GRADE: B-

Monday
How I Met Your Mother: "The Autumn of Break-Ups"

What Worked: Not one thing.

What Didn't Work: This episode as a sitcom at every level. It didn't make me laugh once, it made me hate every character involved, and I couldn't wait for the whole thing to be over. The funny thing is, I forgot that HIMYM was even back last week. It's too bad I can't go back to the time when I didn't have to bother watching this show. If I had to pick the thing I hated the most, I'd have to go with the assassination of Victoria's character, but Marshall's unfunny bit was a close second. Hell, I don't even care about Ted and Robin anymore because this show has even ruined them for me.

GRADE: F

Castle: "The Final Frontier"

What Worked: Castle always works best when it doesn't take its cases too seriously, so a murder at a sci-fi convention was right in the show's wheelhouse. Of course, we got some Firefly winks and nods, but I was happy that it focused more on Kate than on Rick. Plus, I'm never going to complain about seeing her in a skimpy Star Trek-esque outfit.

What Didn't Work: Aside from the sci-fi backdrop, it was your typical police procedural story. I shouldn't be blaming Castle for doing what it does, and I admit that I'm starting to tire of the genre, but when you take the geeky stuff out of the equation it was your standard cop show. Again, it's Castle being Castle, so I can't complain too much.

GRADE: B

Wednesday
Arrow: "Damaged"

What Worked: It was nice going back to the island and getting more of Oliver's origin story, and I appreciated how we got some glimpses of his sage-like mentor. I'm probably more excited about these elements than I am about what's going on in the States. That said, I'm always in favor of a scheming John Barrowman.

What Didn't Work: I think it was smart to bring Diggle into the fold, but I did feel that the show played the "have the vigilante and his alter-ego in two different locations to clear the latter" card a little too soon. It probably made sense within the context of a 13-episode run, so it had to be accelerated , but I would've liked to see Queen dangle a little bit more or had this episode occur down the line.

GRADE: B

Modern Family: "Arrested"

What Worked: On the last installment of The Small Screen Podcast, I mentioned that I like Modern Family more when it shakes up the dynamics, so I enjoyed watching Cam and Mitchell being brought into the Dunphy's orbit as Phil and Claire had to deal with Haley's arrest while at college.

What Didn't Work: It shouldn't be shocking that I hated anything and everything that didn't revolve around the main storyline. I still dislike the Pritchetts, and adding Shelley Long didn't help at all. In fact, that character's such a cartoon that she actually made me hate them even more. Going back to Haley real quick, I was a little irked that the show kicked her out of school because that move felt very status quo.

GRADE: B-


American Horror Story: Asylum: "I Am Anne Frank, Part 1"

What Worked: I have to admit that adding Anne Frank, or someone who thinks she's Anne Frank, was a compelling move and it revitalized the series for me, especially when it looks like she might be correct about Arden's backstory. Is it silly? Sure, but then again this is American Horror Story, so I'll go with it.

What Didn't Work: On the flipside, adding evil Nazis to a narrative that already has the Devil, aliens, flesh-eating mutants and serial killers might be a step too far. To me, take out the alien abduction storyline (at least keep it as Kit's alibi but not making it real) and turn down the insanity by a notch, and AHS could flow better. Also, let's cut out the unnecessary conversion therapy in future episodes (I get its point, but it was hard to watch).

GRADE: C+

Nashville: "Move It on Over"

What Worked: I suppose I kind of liked Deacon becoming a soul-saving super-hero as he somehow convinced Juliette's mom to go to rehab when her own daughter couldn't make a dent. Also, I'm still enjoying the young trio over the vets even though Avery's sabotaging of Scarlett and Gunner's pitch was a bit contrived.

What Didn't Work: I don't care about Rayna's husband or his stupid botched business deal, and I really don't care about his partner showing up out of nowhere. Other things I don't care about: the shady person taking pictures in an attempt to create a stupid affair. Focus on the music, damn it!

GRADE: C+

Thursday
The Vampire Diaries: "The Killer"

What Worked: You got to give TVD for being able to keep the pacing amped after three plus seasons, and I actually got a kick out of the whole hostage scenario in spite of its somewhat stale feeling.

What Didn't Work: Apparently, Elena becoming a vampire has not made her any less of an annoying character because she was making so mad during this one. I get that everything's more elevated now that she's turned, but I don't know how much more I can take if she ends up being even more of a brat who never listens. Also didn't care for the new triangle or Bonnie's conniving professor boyfriend.

GRADE: C+

Glee: "The Role Your Were Born to Play"

What Worked: I appreciate how small this episode felt. It really didn't worry about all of the relationship drama, rather it focused on two simple storylines: casting Grease and figuring where Will and Emma were heading. I liked that and how it stayed in Ohio versus jumping back and forth between Lima and NYC.

What Didn't Work: As one of the few Finn fans out there, I'm extremely frustrated by the two-steps forward, one-step back approach the writers take with him. For example, he finally got some direction and was willing to stick up for Unique, but then he dropped the r-bomb which deflated all of the good things he was doing. I get that his reactive personality makes him more realistic, but it's hard to root for him when he does stuff like that.

GRADE: B

Elementary: "Flight Risks"

What Worked: Everything that involved Watson's side mission where she learned a little more about Sherlock was interesting and kept me entertained, which was good because...

What Didn't Work: ...the rest of the episode was a chore to sit through. The case of the week brought nothing, and even Sherlock's involvement wasn't enough to keep my attention. I get why this show's been a modest success for CBS, but it needs to have more interesting cases if it wants to stick around for the long haul. It just has to because right now it's starting to become nothing more than an everyday, character-driven cop show.

GRADE: C

Friday
Grimm: "To Protect and Serve Man"

What Worked: I'm not going to complain about a Hank-centric episode that gives us more information about his background, and the concept of him and Nick saving a man on Death Row how was there because of a windigo had a lot of promise.

What Didn't Work: I don't think the show's mishandled the Ranard/Juliette storyline, and I liked how Monroe was brought into the whole thing at the end, but it shouldn't take 40 minutes for us to get our first Eddie scene. The more he's on the sidelines, the worse it is for the show because he's still the draw no matter how much the writers shove Hank down our throats.

GRADE: B-

Nikita: "Consequences"

What Worked: Amanda and Owen are back! I don't know if I completely loved their re-introduction, but they did ground the show in a sense of history that's been lacking this season. I just hope the show can capitalize and made Amanda the baddie she should've been last year.

What Didn't Work: I was never a fan of Alex and Sean, so all of his concern and his I love you fell on deaf ears. I'm just never going to get on board with these two. Also, having her go back to drugs felt forced because we all know where this story's going. I just hope Nikita surprises us with this new arc instead of going through the motions that we've all seen a million times before.

GRADE: B-

As you can see, no Revolution or Sons of Anarchy this week. I wasn't able to finish the former, but I'm planning to. Sons, on the other hand, might have lost its spot because of the past two episodes. I'm just tried of that show's need to use shock for shock's sake.

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 42: THE WALKING DEAD in APT. 23

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 42. This time around Kristal and I chatted about all things TV like the most recent episodes of Grimm, The Walking Dead, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, various news items, as well as Disney's latest big item purchase. It's also chopping block time as they discuss which shows have fallen out of their viewing rotation. Major spoilers forthcoming, so make sure to check out the episode breakdown. There are some clicks and pops throughout, so please pardon the mess. 

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:05

TV News: 1:06 - 22:10

• Disney's acquisition of LucasFilm: 1:06 - 7:55
• FOX cuts The Goodwin Games episode order: 7:56 - 11:27
• Boy Meets World spin-off: 11:28 - 14:15
• Aisha Tyler to Glee: 14:16 - 17:35
• Elementary lands post Super Bowl slot: 17:36 - 22:10

What We're Watching: 22:11 - 50:20

• Grimm: 22:11 - 27:31
• The Walking Dead: 27:32 - 44:02
• Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23: 44:03 - 50:20

TV Chopping Block: 50:21 - 1:05:16

• The Mindy Project and Modern Family: 50:21 - 1:01:14
• Revolution and Nikita: 1:01:15 - 1:05:16

What We're Looking Forward To: 1:06:16 - 1:06:59

• Glee and The Walking Dead

Closing: 1:07:00 - End

Check out the episode below, download it over at iTunes or stream it on Stitcher:

For more, follow us on Twitter:
Kristal: @kristal_bailey
Marcos: @poppas2cents
Screen Invasion: @screeninvasion
Invasion Radio: @invasionradio

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.