DVR Purge: 4/21-4/27

More season finales and no season premieres. The season just keeps getting leaner.

 

Past Purges   

Archer "Archer Vice: Arrivals/Departures"

So ends another season. Certainly the most experimental season yet. It's funny how a show as without conscience as this one still feels to need to make our protagonists not villains by having the cocaine-selling all part of a CIA plot to balance their budget. This has been a fresh season albeit not my favorite. When we return to ISIS, which looks to be the case, next season, it will feel different than it was before.

Oh, and FX, what the hell! You couldn't list the episode as going slightly longer so the last thing I see isn't a closeup of Archer hearing white noise with no idea what happens before it goes to credits? Was that the end? Did he have one last funny thought? I don't know, because I'm not sure when the credit role happened.

Agents of SHIELD "The Only Light in the Darkness"

I hate Ward in the best way right now. He's finally an interesting character. The distrusting viewer in me is still looking at things like the lie detector test (passing by being honest about liking Skye) as a way to try to set him up as a protagonist again by season's end. Until that happens, it's interesting watching him interact with all the regulars with the knowledge that he's the enemy. The Angel in Season 2 of Buffy comparison has been made countless times that I've read already, but it really is an excellent one to be made. I know this much, there's no coming back for him in my mind after killing Oswalt's Koeing. I don't know why I keep feeling the need to say this, but another very solid episode.

Other thought:

-Poor Fitz. While I'm against trying to couple off him and Simmons, it's still rough to see him unable to be open with her.

-Poor Coulson. He has solid reasoning for not revealing himself to his cellist. That doesn't make it any easier.

-Poor Skye. Trapped on the plan with Ward. That must be awful even before knowing he's bad.

-I'm loving the Tardis reference and within the universe, they mention Romanov, Banner, Hill, and Rogers. The show is embracing the fact that they know they are about 3 tiers below anything that's happening in the movies.

The Mindy Project "An Officer and a Gynecologist"

This had the most funny lines since "Mindy Lahari is a Racist" (I haven't gone back and counted, but I'm standing by it). It's no coincidence that it involved Mindy mingling with young people.

Some good line:

"Are you Sue Robertson?" "No, I'm Beverly something."

"Who do you think you are? Rick Santorum. Obviously not, because you're not hot."

"...That recycling makes America look poor? Thank you."

"How many hours of energy did you drink?"

"You're like a pelican in a fishing net right now."

Fargo "The Rooster Prince"

Ok, Billy Bob Thorton is the best thing on this show. I feel confident saying that two episodes in. The show as a whole has been enjoyable so far, but it doesn't get much better than him in the post office, picking up his delivery.

The Middle "The Wind Chimes"

I like whenever Frankie and Mike bond over essentially being awful people. When he started complaining about all the people he yells at for her, I thought they were showing why she is toxic for him, but they somehow managed to turn that into a sweet moment of how much he cares for her, even if he doesn't show it much.

Oh, and I love Brick "working" for the pretzel company.

Suburgatory "No, You Can't Sit with Us"

I get it. Tessa in her attempts to stop the "mean girls" tends to become one herself. I feel like this is the plot of about every third episode for her. This version didn't offer any new perspective on pagents that I haven't seen before. The only inspired writing this week went to Victor-Ha who the writers seem to enjoy more than any other character right now.

Modern Family "Australia"

Seriously? Another vacation episode! How many weeks ago was Vegas? Modern Family is falling back on a few too many of it's old tric- wait - what's that? Any excuse to put Haley and Gloria in bikinis? Objection withdrawn.

At least this was a strong episode. A lot of physical comedy for Phil. Cam and Mitchell got to be the worst people alive, but they stayed on each other's side. Manny and Luke were teenage boys. Lily continues to be awesome. Via Alex, the show mocks it's own voiceover reliance. Simply a great example of what Modern Family does well.

The Americans "Martial Eagle"

I'm pretty sure the opening sequence, in addition to fueling Phillip's great scene with the minister later, was there to really remind the audience that our protagonists get their hands very dirty. They are not good guys. There are our leads. It's easy to forget that.

Parks & Rec "Moving Up: Part 1 and 2"

Had that been the series finale, I couldn't've been more pleased. It did it all right. All of it.

We start with the trip to San Francisco (location episode: +1 point). Michelle Obama shows up for a guest spot (stunt casting: +2. Amy Poehler's amazing reaction: +5). Leslie took the job she'd have to be insane not to (Smart characters acting smart: +4). Cones on Dunshire return and Ben is "the architect" (Callback: +2. Ben being a nerd: +1). "We're in Endor" (Ben being a geek: +1). Andy asks to bring back Power Rangers (Nostalgia: +1). Jerry ruins the menus for Tom's Bistro (Dammit Jerry!: +1). Ron Destroys a chair because it is too perfect and looks factory made (Ron Effing Swanson: +1). April is a competent but awful waitress simultaneously (April being a misanthrope: +2). Craig and Donna being a surprisingly perfect team (Donna makes everyone better: +3). Oh, and there's a whole second episode to get to (Double the fun: +4). The unity concert got all sorts of guest singers, half of who I'd didn't know (Musicians I knew: +3. Musicians I didn't know: +2. Bobby Knight reference: +5). Donna's cousin finally shows up (Call back and guest star: +3). Ron defeats Tammy 2 (Ron shows growth: +3) but still eats a lot of meat (Ron Swanson, carnivore: +1). Tom's Bistro is a success (Tom actually succeeding: +2) despite the Fonz's best efforts (Ayyyyyyy: +3). Jean-Ralphio and his sister return (Three cheers for Ben Schwartz and Jenny Slate: +3). Everyone is instantly ecstatic to hear about Leslie's new job (Characters who like each other: +6). Lil' Sebastian hologram (Miniature horse call-back: +3). Ben rolling his eyes at the hologram (Ben not being from Pawnee: +1). Johnny Karate concert (Andy is a solo-superstar: +1). Mouse Rat reunion (The rock gods shine upon us: +3). Duke Silver is revealed to all (Duke Effin' Silver: +5). Leslie doesn't have to leave Pawnee by instead moving her office to the refurbished 3rd floor (Side story payoff: +2). There's a three year time jump (Unexpected twist: +3). The triplets look adorable (Leslie and Ben make good babies: +2). Andy's arm is in a sling (Some things never change: +2). Dammit Terry (Name changes: +1). Jon Hamm shows up (Inheriting guest stars from 30 Rock: +3).

I don't know if you're counting, but Parks and Rec. just set the new record for points scored in an episode.

The Big Bang Theory "The Anything Can Happen Recurrence"

Amy Farrah Fowler dressed as a Catholic school girl. That is all.

Hannibal "Shizakana"

They are moving back into "killer of the week" stories, which I like. It was escalating too quickly before the last couple weeks and this show is too methodical to sustain that for long.

Mad Men "Field Trip"

Don's back! Sort of. Boy was that awkward. It's interesting to see everyone's responses. Peggy's is certainly the most layered. In fact, I'm not sure what to make of it still. I have to say, I was surprised to see how quickly Don accepted the stipulations of his return (that sound like they are designed to get him fired). Don can't possibly be earning his redemption, can he? There's no way that's where this story is going. I mean, Don not drinking? C'mon.

And Betty is just annoying.