Post by UbiquitousWhat did you watch?
RIVERDALE / 2x01 / A Kiss Before Dying
[As Fred’s life hangs in the balance following the shooting at Pop’s
diner, Archie struggles with the emotional aftermath of what he
witnessed. Meanwhile, as Veronica steps out of her comfort zone to
support Archie, she learns that her father Hiram has arrived to
Riverdale earlier than expected. Elsewhere, at Pop’s diner, Pop Tate
recounts the chilling details of the shooting, which leaves Jughead and
Betty questioning the gunman’s true motives. Lastly, after running into
Cheryl at the hospital, Betty and Kevin are surprised to learn about the
fire at Thornhill.]
A mostly underwhelming season premiere, with most of it taking place at
Riverdale Hospital, which appears to have been built in the 1950s, with
no updates to the facilities whatsoever in the ensuing decades. Fred
slowly recovers and has dreams/visions that could have been written by a
high school-aged writer. We're minded that Cheryl is batshit crazy. Not
that her mom deserves much better, of course. On the age front, we learn
that Archie isn't old enough to drive, a reminder of how silly it is
when they writers place these kids in adult settings and situations,
whether sexual or otherwise. In the end, Fred recovers and Mom has made
it to town to help out, as well. And on the parents arriving in town
front, Veronica returns home to find that good old Dad has arrived
already. Lots of love shared. Or not.
Without a doubt, the best part of the episode occurs in the final 30
seconds, when we see that Ms Grundy has set up shop on the other side of
the river from Riverdale. We see her finish up a piano lesson at home,
followed by a kiss goodbye for her young student. So yeah, still
cougaring it. But not for long. Because an unknown assailant sneaks up
on her from behind and, if the amount of blood and the damage to her
neck are any indication, kills her. And it appears to be the same masked
man who shot Fred, making Archie the obvious common denominator.
Grade: B-
MR. ROBOT / 3x01 / eps3.0_power-saver-mode.h
[Elliot realizes his mission, and needs help from Angela; Darlene
worries about them coming out clean.]
"Okay. What qualifies as a visit? Do I have to leave the premises and
come back? Do I have to go home? Is it time-based? You see the faulty
logic here, don't you?"
"Well, he's kinda still alive."
"I know a space that has access. But you're not going to get in there
wearing that shirt."
"He started this, didn't he? I'm just helping him finish it. I'm pushing
him along. Isn't that what you do?"
"I've always wanted justice for her death. But how do you bring justice
to a conglomerate as untouchable as Evil Corp?"
Elliot recovers from his gunshot wound at Angela's place. When it's time
to leave and continue his mission, she loans him a Josh Groban shirt
because it's sheer perfection. (And a bit of fun in a show that trends
darker than dark.) Darlene reunites with Elliot and together they close
the backdoor and put a huge crimp on Stage 2 of the anarchy plan. Elliot
realizes the error of his past ways and wants Angela to get him a job at
Evil Corp so that he can finish fixing his mistakes. Unfortunately, Mr.
Robot is still in the picture and Angela is thinking of an even larger
reset button. And thinking of revenge for her mother. So while Darlene
is teaming with Elliot to undo their earlier actions, Angela is teaming
with Mr. Robot and Irving to bring Stage 2 to fruition. And more. And
Eliott is stuck in the middle because he can't possibly be anywhere
other than with Mr. Robot.
Grade: B+
DESIGNATED SURVIVOR / 2x03 / Outbreak
[President Kirkman is faced with a viral pandemic. Agent Wells and MI6
Agent Damian Rennett discover evidence that could change the lives of
members of the first family forever.]
This has been a borderline show for me since the beginning since I turn
to fiction to escape politics of any kind, not so that I can get more of
it in addition to real life. But the initial premise and mystery were
enough to hook me. Going into season two, it's obvious that (a) this
show has an identity crisis and (b) bears little resemblance to that
initial premise and that (c) the writers have no idea what to do with a
bunch of additional episodes that they probably weren't expecting to
get. As such, I'm literally fast-forwarding through everything in the
White House -- this week's viral outbreak (that will be resolved within
42 minutes) and Confederate monuments are a far cry from bombing
Congress -- at this point because it's not my thing and because I can't
stand New Guy at all.
Which leaves the Hannah stuff which, while far less interesting so far
than it was last year, is at least more in line with my own interests.
In short, it's the stuff that could have made an interesting show on its
own instead of being a small part of the bloated and generic thing that
we have. And at this point, Hannah has learned of some ties between the
First Lady's family and some possible shady contracts or deals done as
favors were called in to move The First Lady's father to the top of a
heart transplant list. Not quite "Who bombed the Capitol?" stuff, but
better than statues. Still, it probably would have been better to end
this as a one-season thing instead of trying to add to its lifespan like
this.
Grade: C- (D- for WH stuff, B- for Hannah stuff)
--
Jim G. | A fan of the good and the bad, but not the mediocre
"Captain, respectfully submit that the attractiveness of the ship's
occupant makes the rescue imperative." -- Lt. Gordon Malloy, THE ORVILLE