TV Report Card: Week of December 9, 2012

There's no good excuse for the shoddiness of this week's TV Report Card. I was just lazy.

Sunday
Homeland: "In Memoriam"
Honestly, I can understand why this episode was so frustrating to some because it did continue to test plausability, but that's why I think I enjoyed more than others. I'm so tired of people complaining about this show that I've come to embrace and champion it silliness just to spite those who nit-pick. It once again was far from great, but I enjoyed it. GRADE: B-

Monday
How I Met Your Mother: "The Over-Correction"
I'm so tired of HIMYM wasting time patting itself on the back because of their clever terms like "over-correction." I don't doubt that there are douchey people out there who use these kind of things, but I wouldn't watch them week in and week out, so I don't know why I continue with this show. I also could've done without the return of the Playbook, Marshal and Lily's parents, and pretty much everything that happened during this episode. GRADE: D

Tuesday
Hart of Dixie: "Blue Christmas"
I've never been a fan of the "over-critical" parent visits episode, so I didn't really care for Zoe's mom showing up, but some of the Christmas themed antics were fun, and I appreciated the time spent on her and Wade. Elsewhere, I'm glad we're done with Lavon and Ruby for now, and George and Tansy continue to entertain. GRADE: B


Happy Endings: "To Serb with Love"
This wasn't my least favorite episode of Happy Endings, but it wasn't close to being one of the show's best. Everything was just too Sitcom 101 like the slap-stickiness of Jane's Gallagher bit, Dave and Alex keeping secrets, and Penny self-sabotaging herself with a list of Pete's faults. It's all been done before and better than this attempt. GRADE: C+


New Girl: "Santa"
The multiple holiday parties gimmick was fun for a bit, and I like how naturally Olivia Munn fits in on this show, although I was disappointed that we didn't get some kind of Perfect Couples mention since David Walton was also guest-starring. Speaking of Walton and Munn, why is this show wasting time with potential love interests that we all know will not last? Good stuff from Winston, but I'm still over Cece and Schmidt. GRADE: B-

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23: "Bar Lies..."
I'll say it again, watching a Season 1 episode was distracting because it robbed the show of any narrative momentum. That said, I did get a few chuckles thanks to JVDB's DwtS stint and Chloe renting out his apartment while he was gone. GRADE: C+

Wednesday
Arrow: "Year's End"
Copycat plots can be interesting, and I actually liked what Arrow did with the trope, but it could've gone on a bit longer in spite of the fact that it was obvious who the dark archer was. So, I guess I should be thankful that the show did not unnecessarily string the audience along, but it could've been better executed. GRADE: B-

American Horror Story: Asylum: "The Coat Hanger"
After a crazy-bananas Christmas episode, AHS slowed things down by its standards with "The Coat Hanger" which didn't work as well as its predecessor but had its interesting moments. The idea of Sister Jude being captive in her own asylum could be interesting, as could Lana's miraculously unaborted baby. That said, present day Bloody Face hasn't captured the imagination just yet. GRADE: B-

Thursday
The Vampire Diaries: "O Come, All Ye Faithful"
As always, there were things I liked about this episodes and things I didn't. I'm still on board with the idea of Jeremy as a hunter and the possibilities that go along with Damon being his guide, but I dislike Elena so much at this point that I'm actually rooting for her brother to take her out. With no Elena, that means Stefan and Caroline can finally be together. Speaking of Caroline, why should I care about her and either Klaus or Tyler at this point. As for them, I still don't get why the hybrids are so important. GRADE: B-

Glee: "Glee, Actually"
Over the years, Glee's Christmas episodes have been a mixed bag, and while "Glee, Actually" was an improvement it still wasn't the show's best effort. Admittedly, I liked the Artie and Puckerman vignettes more than I should have, and the Sam/Brittany and Marley/Sue stuff was inoffensive in spite of the silliness, but the NYC story ruined the entire thing for me. GRADE: C+

Elementary: "The Leviathan"
Everyone knows that I'm a sucker for heists, so having Sherlock figure out how to break into a impenetrable safe was fun. I could've done without some of the cliched family scenes involving Watson, but overall it was a decent enough episode. GRADE: B-

Even though I didn't hate "Diamond in the Rough" as much as previous Modern Family episodes, I'm sticking to my promise to refrain from writing about the show. Like I said before, if it gets appreciably better, then I might add it back to the rotation, but for now I'm OK with taking a break from Modern Family.

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 18, 2012

Thanksgiving seriously cut into my time, so this is going to be a very bare-bones edition of the TV Report Card.

Sunday
The Walking Dead, "Hounded"
I bought the bait-and-switch involving Rick and the phone calls, but I could've done without Woodbury and Merle's hunting party for Michonne. GRADE: B-

Homeland: "I'll Fly Away"
I'm always going to be a fan of Carrie and Brody on their own, but Dana's story took a slight step back, and who didn't see Nazir showing up at the end of the episode? GRADE: B

Monday
How I Met Your Mother: "The Stamp Tramp"
It wasn't the worst episode ever, but it still wasn't any good. When are the writers going to learn that trying to come up with new pop culture catchphrases and strained sports metaphors can only go so far? GRADE: D

Castle: "After Hours"
An episode that takes Kate and Rick into the depths of NYC after midnight should be exciting, but this one was only OK. GRADE: B

Tuesday
Raising Hope: "Candy Wars"
One of the funniest episodes of television so far. GRADE: A-

Ben and Kate: "Reunion"
I was happy that it wasn't a full Thanksgiving episode, and I liked that we got more of Will, but the BJ and Ben stuff was so tired. GRADE: B-

Happy Endings: "More Like Stanksgiving"
Happy Endings isn't the new Friends yet, but some more Thanksgiving episodes like this one and it could get there. Plus, The Real World: Sacramento and Dave facing the hardships of his Native American brethren. Funny stuff. GRADE: B+

Go On: "Dinner Takes All"
I was expecting more from Lauren Graham, and we did not get enough of Carrie. I have a feeling I'm going to be constantly let down by this show's criminal under-utilization of that character. GRADE: B-

New Girl: "Parents"
It was OK. I appreciated how the episode tried to subvert the idea of Jess and Nick, and I liked the dueling Schmidts, but overall it was decent enough. GRADE: B-

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23: "It's a Miracle..."
Chloe was better this time around than usual, but James Van Deer Beek was wasted in spite of him having a few good lines and moments. GRADE: B

The New Normal: "Pardon Me"
This one was hard to sit through because the main characters came off as kind of selfish. Usually, that's not a bad thing, but it didn't work this time around. GRADE: C+

Wednesday
American Horror Story: Asylum, "The Origins of Monstrosity"
Sure, there was a lot of exposition but the episode was twisted enough to keep things interesting. Quinto was creepy as all get out, and we got to see a priest use his Rosary as a whip/garrote. GRADE: B

Thursday
Glee: "Dynamic Duets"
Probably one of the best episodes in a long time because it successfully meshed theme, music and story. Yes, Glee's always done that but it wasn't as clunky this time around. GRADE: A-

So, there you have a very rushed and to the point TV Report Card. Hopefully, I'll be able to dedicated more time to next week's. See you then.

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 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.