Weekly TV Reviews (Spoilers)
Reviews for the latest episodes of Teen Titans Go!, DC Super Hero Girls, and DC's Legends Of Tomorrow, the season premiere of iZombie, the latest episodes of Lucifer and Unikitty, the season finale of Marvel's Spider-Man, the latest episodes of Big Hero 6 Shorts and Elena Of Avalor, the first two episodes of Elena Of Avalor: Scepter Training With Zuzo, and the latest episodes of Star Wars Rebels, Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel, and American Dad!.
Teen Titans Go! "Beast Girl"
Meh. They never really explained where the Opposite Titans came from, so I'm annoyed. If Beast Girl DID come through a mirror, how did the other Opposite Titans? I don't ask for much from this show, but we should at least have gotten that.
The wieirda, weirde, weirdi, weirdu, and weirdsometimesy thing was funny.
My favorite moment was Beast Boy gratefully thanking Robin after he tells him he doesn't contribute much. Which pretty much says everything about the character right there.
Underwhelming. **1/2.
DC Super Hero Girls "Fish Out Of Water: Part Two"
Okay, the last minute of this sucked, but everything else was awesome.
Really digging Firefly after all. Legitimately scary and menacing, which is I think a first for this show. I like how Mera at first tries to distract him by babbling.
I would have given this five stars were it not for the sitcom ending. ****.
DC's Legends Of Tomorrow "Here I Go Again"
Sigh. The Groundhog Day episode. Considering this show is time travel, it should have happened before this. We have a couple of things to discuss about Groundhog Day before we get into this.
Ray mentions Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Cause And Effect". Fun fact: that episode was actually created before Groundhog Day. You can tell just because they misused part of the premise in that nobody was actually aware of the loop until it was too late, whereas Bill Murray knows what's happening the entire time and so does Zari. While Cause And Effect was certainly the best sci-fi telling of that premise, the human element of someone feeling like they are living in hell being trapped in the same day is something that only occurred in pop culture after Groundhog Day.
Okay, we've established some of the history of the trope. Now it is time to discuss the drawback of the trope: And for a serialized show based on epic cliffhangers, this drawback can be deadly. But the Total Reset Button is hit at the end of the episode (by design) so if it's not a movie where you see Bill Murray goes through spiritual growth, you are basically wasting 45 minutes to engage in the trope. The trick is making it so that the 45 minutes are memorable, say something new about the premise, and are entertaining enough that the viewer won't mind things literally being held back for a week. How this this version do?
A disaster. As fun as it was watching it, that ending was SO bad, that I won't be able to enjoy it a second time. The show decided that getting out of Groundhog Day wasn't enough. They decided to add an extra M. Night Shamaylan twist: It was all a dream / simulation! I do not understand how the writers do not get that that is literally the only other trope more hated by fans than the Total Reset Button, but Legends Of Tomorrow pretty much doubled down on making the episode pointless. The writers said "You think this episode is already a waste of time? HERE is how you piss off a loyal fan. Step aside for a second, Danny Cannon. Lemme try something."
I just could not get over how even more disappointing a premise this turned out to be than that is already was without the twist. Besides, the episode was already borrowing several extra sci-fi elements from various franchises. For instance, Zari learning the violin struck me less as Bill Murray learning to play the piano (since it didn't actually happen) and more of Picard's Flute from The Inner Light, in that it was an entirely new skill passed on to the person from a computer simulation.
I was less amused at the idea that Mick secretly writes romance novels in his spare time, and more with the idea that the series thinks I SHOULD be amused by that. Writing is a legit hobby. It's weird than I'm supposed to think Rory is unexpectedly soft for it.
For the record Amy Pemberton is super hot. Possibly we got that disappointing ending simply because the writers wanted her to show up again on camera to take advantage of her hotness when she is usually in a thankless role. But I'm thinking they should have used a different excuse in a different episode.
I love that Nate's go-to in that scenario is "Groundhog Day", and he'll instantly believe it. I like that because I cannot be the only person who has secret codewords in my head should an unexpected sci-fi scenario happen, such as meeting a me who traveled back in time from the future to warn me about something. It's a nerdy thought experiment, and I will never tell anyone else my codewords, just in case I come back in time in a Dolorean and state there is something wrong with my kids. And I love that Nate is the seem kind of geek I am.
And the no consequences montages are always great, although were I Zari I would have attempted suicide before the last loop. You are supposed to test the limits of how far-reaching the loop actually is. And if that means you accidentally wind up killing yourself because the loop isn't THAT far reaching, well being stuck in the loop is the worse fate. The death is the way out. The reason Bill Murray started killing himself was desperation. And if that IS Zari's default mood by the end of the episode, she should have tried it before then.
For the record, even if the thing wasn't a simulation, it probably wouldn't have worked. Because the ship exploded when she was unconscious, and she just had to start over instead.
But man, that ending ruined everything. It's too bad, because the episode did something recent genre shows (like Star Trek: Discovery) have done with the premise, that I think is awesome, but is pointless because of the simulation. But one of the best newer twists on Groundhog Day there is is when the Loop is destroyed before the crisis is averted. And it could all be completely solved with just ONE more loop. But you don't get it, and are flying by the seat of your pants. That would have given the episode actual stakes. But since it's a simulation, there are none.
It says something that the only part of the episode that seemed to matter was the 30 second ending involving characters who were not even series regulars. And it doesn't say something good.
A waste of an episode and a total disappointment. I wish they could go back in time for 45 minutes and do the premise right. But we're stuck with the final loop we are. **1/2.
DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow “The Curse Of The Earth Totem”
The problems this episode had were cosmetic and superficial. It’s the kind of episode you nitpick for the fake-looking costumes and beards, not the actual story or drama.
Is Blackbeard actually real? If so, why was he on Once Upon A Time? Either this show made a mistake or that one did.
I love Blackbeard. Unreservedly. I’d love him if he were simply a coward. I’d find that funny. But it goes FAR further than that. He is completely adverse to conflict, which for a pirate is hilarious. So much so that when his crew plans a mutiny, he joins them against himself rather than fight them. I’d appreciate the idea of a cowardly Blackbeard. But one whose cowardice actually makes him smart and cunning is irresistible.
I like that Ray saved Nora at the end. Most people are not cut out to be murderers, and I’m glad the show’s perspective is that Ray is one of them. I especially found it interesting that Damien immediately was willing to trade the Totem back for her life until Nora got the upper hand. First genuinely decent thing I have ever witnessed Darhk do.
Wally and Rip were fun. I was all smiles when they stole the coat.
The one story weak link in the episode is Sara and Ava’s date. It hits on all of the first date disaster clichés, and is outright badly written. But see, part of me thinks that’s a good thing. We are at the point where pop culture can have a lesbian date be badly written and boring, and seem normal and average for it. The fact that the series didn’t feel the particular need to make this plot amazing, or feel any sort of social responsibility to step up their game shows that things have changed a LOT in the last five years.
Enjoyable episode. ****.
iZombie “Are You Ready For Some Zombies?”
This is a crucial episode. Last year’s finale was the shark jump. And it was SO far over the shark, that there is no going back. This episode is SO important because it will inform us about how much the series will suck from here on out. Will it be a bonafide disaster? Or merely disappointing every week?
Based on this, it will probably merely be a disappointment. But I am well aware that until last year’s finale, the premieres and finales on this show used to be amazing, and now they aren’t, and I suspect won’t ever be again.
The series’ problem now is tone. It’s still trying to be a comedy with Liz eating a superfan’s brain and acting nuts. But there is nothing funny about the current scenario. Major’s heart seems to break when he learns there are zombie kids on the street turning tricks for food. But that’s his fault and the fault of everyone at that organization. They did that. On purpose. And because they did, the show is bonkers for trying to do the season from the zombie’s perspective. The zombies were not the villains on this show before last year’s finale. After what they did, they clearly are (Liv notably excepted) and I don’t really care about their trials and tribulations navigating the mess they purposefully created.
I think the season premiere did one good thing: It bumped up Robert Knepper to a series regular, and sort of turned him into a religious zombie nutball. Seeing him in the main title before he was credited in the cast was surprising enough. But referring to him as “The Prophet” is extremely intriguing to me, and is pretty much the only thing in the series I have major questions about. Mostly because for the rest of the scenarios, I’ve stopped caring completely.
This was written by Rob Thomas, so it should have been amazing. But I guess disappointing is the new normal. Unfortunately, because this episode WAS written by the creator and best writer, it stands to reason every single episode in the season that isn’t will be worse. So even if this episode is a mere disappointment, a bonafide disaster in the coming weeks is not out of the question. **1/2.
Lucifer “High School Poppycock”
Okay, the episode sucked. Let’s get that opinion out of the way immediately. But it DID raise a ton of questions for me about writing and the nature of writing. Which fascinates me.
I write. I’m not great, but I’m not terrible. But it’s definitely a hobby for me, and I like what I have come up with. But this episode states a problem that I had no idea that other writers struggled with. Apparently the author Kathleen got into so much trouble because she had no idea how to end her fantasy series. Which fascinates and worries me. I’ve heard of writer’s block before. I’ve gone through a bit of it myself, and just stopped writing for 15 years. But the notion that somebody would start and commit to an epic fantasy series without knowing how to end it strikes me as something that should never be true. Apparently part of the joke is that the Class of 3001 books are kind of dumb and badly written, but the writers of Lucifer are basically stating that it is common for a writer to simply make things up as they go along. That worries me. Not only because I never have done that in my entire life, but because it hints that the writers of this show don’t have a larger gameplan, and don’t seem to think there is a problem with the fact that they don’t. What worries me is that this plot turn makes it sound like the writers thinking an author of a series writing by the seat of their pants is normal. And if it is, that fascinates and disturbs me. Disturbs me because it suggests all of Hollywood is on shakier ground than I ever suspected, and fascinates me because I’ve never had that problem. I write the endings and climaxes to the stories in my head first. My problem has always been getting from the beginning of the story to the awesomeness that the endings will be. I still haven’t gotten there yet. But I definitely know what the endings are, and I know they are fantastic. Which is why I’m writing all that I am in the first place. Paying my dues to get there. It would never occur to me to publish the first part of a story with no clue how it ended, and if that’s something a ton of writers actually do, it’s no wonder most fantasy books and TV series ultimately have such underwhelming endings. I feel better about my project after seeing this episode. But much worse for all of the unfinished shows and books I follow. It suggests professional writers are worse at their jobs than I am as a hobbyist. Which should never be true.
For the record, hearing Kathleen’s original ending to end things with the characters talking out their problems and making peace is an ending I would love unreservedly in any action oriented show I watched. That’s basically the entire reason Star Trek: The Next Generation and Captain Picard were so awesome in the first place. The publisher finding that idea more boring than a space war is missing the forest for the trees. Exploring character dynamics and conflict resolution is the most important part of any given story to me. That’s probably the precise reason Star Trek was my go-to fandom growing up. Any sci-fi hero can shoot their way out of a problem. But convincing the bad guy it is in their best interest to stand down is a special kind of awesome. This may be just me, (and it probably is) but I always love those endings more than the shoot-outs and the slugfests. I personally think Batman Beyond: Return Of The Joker is the best Batman film, live-action or animated, because the climax was talky and psychological, rather than action-packed. And I find those things far more riveting than bullets or explosions.
Linda saying that she’s not selfish and is always the one who listens to other people’s problems shows she IS selfish. That’s her job. She gets paid for that. And she wants to act like she should be treated as some sort of altruist for it. True, Amenadiel and Maze never pay for her advice. But they’re her friends. They shouldn’t have to. Linda thinks she is a martyr simply for passing the barest standards of human friendship and decency. Which is another reason I think she is the worst character on the show.
I am very aware Tom Welling was not contracted for this episode. It feels very strange that Lucifer is so obsessed with Cain’s problems and he isn’t even there. Television is often too cheap for its own good.
The episode tried to play it as funny that Chloe was getting into the books and acting the hot mess, but I wouldn’t advise trying something like this again. Lauren Germann has no comic timing and sensibilities. You’d figure they’d make sure she did before leaning so heavily into her for funny scenes, but in the writers’ defense, it’s not like she’s ever needed to try and be funny before this. But Germann is NOT funny at all. For the record, she’s not a good dramatic actress either, and even if Chloe isn’t the worst character the show, I’ve always believed Germann was the worst actor. By far. The fact that I don’t get what Lucifer sees in someone that morose and boring shows that the entire show is flawed from the ground up, entirely due to that piece of miscasting. Lucifer might wind up a good series when all is said and done. But it’s the fact that it completely miscast the crucial female lead which is why it will never be a great one.
Making it up as they go along. Will wonders never cease? **1/2.
Unikitty "Birthday Blowout"
That was... exhausting. This show is dialed up to 11 on every little thing, and it gets tiring, even after 11 minutes.
Any good things? I really like how personally offended Master Frown got upon being called a bingleberry. Because as far as I know, that means nothing. Brock laughed at least. I also laughed at him wishing he wasn't on fire, and Unikitty reminding him not to say the wish out loud, while she stomped on him.
Mostly though, by the end of the episode, I felt old and cranky. I think it's the lines. *.
Unikitty “Lab Cat”
Bold prediction: Hold my feet to the fire over this if I’m wrong. I could be. Seriously, feel free to rub my nose in it if I am. But I suspect that within two years this show is going to be as widely despised by fanboys as Teen Titans Go! is right now.
Don’t believe me? It has the exact same problems that show had at the beginning. Shockingly, people will not remember that the initial responses to Teen Titans Go were widely favorable. It was cute and funny and a little over the top.
And it started OUT a little over the top. But they foolishly decided that they should keep upping the ante in horrible behavior and extreme humor, more and more every episode, and it got to the point where a large part of the later seasons are absolutely unwatchable. This isn’t Unikitty quite yet. But this episode shows the exact same trajectory. Like an episode from midway through TTG’s first season, it’s not overly offensive... yet. But it’s definitely more extreme than how the show started off, and it keeps getting more and more-so every week. That’s this episode.
Hold me to that prediction, folks. If I’m wrong, I’ll eat crow. But the parallels are eerie. You like the show now, but will you still tolerate it when it makes up CN’s entire schedule? Because 11 minutes of this is already a bit tough to take. Imagine the show having enough episodes for CN to repeat marathon it on a daily basis. You’ll be tearing your hair out. I seem to recall nobody had an actual problem with TTG when it aired once a week either. But here we are. I think we are in for an eventual trainwreck. My early negative reviews will probably seem prophetic in retrospect to everyone who read them and scoffed at them for being too harsh. The warnings signs are all here for this happening. I’m going out on a limb and predict this show is the next most widely loathed CN show.
Anything I liked? The LEGO opening of the old lady dog walker trying to herd dogs. That was so funny. But it was pretty much downhill from there. **.
Marvel's Spider-Man "The Hobgoblin: Part One"
The first part was mostly good, but there were some aspects of it that didn't hang together well.
First off, why is Doc Ock a villain at all? I don't think we ever got a satisfactory answer for that. He does not need to be a criminal to get New York to recognize his genius. He just needs to stop doing dumb stuff. I would think that would be far easier (and cheaper) for him to achieve than his master plan of creating the Sinister 6.
Secondly, while I appreciated Norman getting into Harry's head at the end of the episode, were I Harry, I'd not only realize that Norman is full of crap about Spider-Man, but probably that Peter was right about his father all along. The good news is that Norman doesn't know Spider-Man is Peter. But Harry does. So he should instantly realize the idea of Spider-Man having a master plan to take over the city and have Ock take the fall is nonsense. If only for the fact that Pete is an awkward 16 year old kid, and no awkward 16-year-old kid actually wants that. The fact that Harry grew up with, knew, and was friends with Peter BEFORE he become Spider-Man should tell him instantly Norman has an ulterior motive at trying to pit him against him.
But when Harry says he just wanted to be a hero, and Peter assures him that he is? That was the single best moment of the season.
Here's something dumb. If Ock is so smart, why after he mind controls Spider-Man, doesn't he unmasked him? That would be my first instinct, especially considering he used to work with him. And yeah, Spidey feels embarrassed by that particular team-up, and it being with that particular sociopath has got to be a bit humiliating. He might has well have gone crimefighting with Donald Trump. It's like "How could I not get this before? What is wrong with me?" And that is the correct reaction.
I also really liked his "I'm sorry. Did you say something? I couldn't hear you. Just kidding. That was really LOUD. And obnoxious." That had to be one of the funniest lines ever in a Spider-Man cartoon. The sarcasm is particularly biting in that moment because Peter seems to be throwing in the villain's face that he is so loud and stupid that Peter can just point that out without having to bother come up with a clever joke. The fact that there was nothing clever about that wisecrack made it the most clever Spider-Man wisecrack ever.
Good first part. ****.
Marvel's Spider-Man "The Hobgoblin: Part Two"
I loved that. Unconditionally. Honestly? That is exactly what a season finale for an action cartoon should be. We haven't gotten a proper season finale for an action cartoon since JLU went off the air. Everything else seems to be either a cliffhanger, or in the case of Ultimate Spider-Man or Transformers Prime, a proper series finale. This is how drama cartoons need to end their seasons. All of them. Action cartoons are far too risky a prospect to definitively count on another season coming. This wrapped up the arc, and left some stuff unresolved for a future season. Which is how it should be. And the last image of Peter enjoying the statue was an actual victory, and an actual nice moment to end the season on. Which is what cartoon season finales need to be doing.
I love that Harry doesn't blame Peter at the end of the episode. Maybe you'd grumble that it took him long enough to come around, but even if that particular bit of character growth was later than it should have been, I'm glad it still happened. Whatever happens to Harry next season, I sincerely hope this contentious aspect of his and Peter's friendship is over. Or if there is a new contention, that it is of a more evolved kind such as different goals, rather than a misunderstanding of somebody's actual intentions. I hope I'm right about that. I hope.
The episode was predictable in that it used the exact same Goblin twist The Spectacular Spider-Man used. But whereas that Norman seemed like an evil genius for that scam, this Norman strikes me as completely batpoopy. Did he actually think that would work? He's nucking futs. The only good part of the plan was the wheelchair. But see, that's why it's such dirty pool. That's why it's unforgivable. He's engendered unearned sympathy and used it to betray his own son. And I would think that the wheelchair being the alibi would have made Harry never forgive Norman had he survived. If Norman's actions were as righteous as he claimed, he wouldn't be faking being a cripple in a wheelchair to frame his kid. That's just low.
In fact, it was the wheelchair that instantly told me it was Norman. He was far too attached to staying seated throughout the episode to be innocent.
I love the clue that Peter finds out the Hobgoblin isn't Harry is the fact that Norman claims he can't wait to unmasked Spider-Man. Norman has no way to KNOW Harry already knows the ID, but because he does, Spidey instantly sees through the scam.
I have a lot of reservations about the season, particular regarding the character of Harry Osborn. But the finale addressed those concerns, and was pretty satisfying in its own right. Five stars. *****.
Big Hero 6: The Series "Baymax And Go Go"
LOL at Baymax on rollerskates! That went just about as badly as I could have hoped. Go Go hopes you don't tell ANYBODY about this. *****.
Elena Of Avalor “Science Unfair”
Can I just say how dumb the idea it is for someone to state that Guinea pigs’ fur needs to be groomed once a day? Forget natural selection and how disastrous that would be for any mammal to be true. But Guinea Pigs are the disposable pets kids get because their parents don’t want them killing anything bigger. The Guinea Pig’s entire selling point is that it is cute and worthless at the same. Cute enough to make a little kid happy, but slight enough to have the kid move onto to something else after it dies, in the way they wouldn’t if it were a dog. I was very sad when my guinea pig died as a kid. But my rabbit dying was way worse, and I don’t think I could have handled losing a dog or a cat. The idea that guinea pigs need to be groomed daily flies in the face of why they are a good first pet in the first place.
I love that one of the kids is in a wheelchair. And it doesn’t freaking come up. It’s normal. That is awesome. Full stop.
It strikes me that a magical hammer that hammers stuff itself is a bad idea for the reasons the episode showed. Those kids barely had a handle on that thing when they knew what it was, and were using it as intended. It is a definite safety hazard.
The song this episode sucked. Usually the songs aren’t great, but when we get a real atonal and not cleverly rhymed one, it would be review malpractice not to point it out.
Pretty cute episode otherwise. Shruki is coming. ***1/2.
Elena Of Avalor: Scepter Training With Zuzo “The Heist”
That was cute. ****.
Elena Of Avalor: Scepter Training With Zuzo “Royal Treasury Escape Room”
Seems kind of unwise to have lethal traps such as giant metal balls and axes in a training session with an actual princess. What would happen to the kingdom if something happened to her? **1/2.
Star Wars Rebels "Jedi Night"
I knew Kanan was going to die. And that just made it all the more awesome. It's not a surprise at all. But it is the proper culmination of the episode.
It is clear Kanan knew he was going to die too. If it's due to Jedi powers or a vision, we aren't clear, but he seems to be tying up loose ends all throughout the episode. Him cutting off the back manbun and the hippie beard also suggests he wants to look his best for Hera in the end. And I knew it was coming and I love that it did.
Speaking of loving things, I personally think Admiral Thrawn is the best Star Wars villain of all time. He's not quite as great as Scorpius from Farscape. But he's great for the exact same reasons. He looks scary and alarming as hell, and yet speaks in a soft British whisper. He is actually superior to Scorpius in one significant way. Scorpius occasionally lost his cool. When he started roaring and drooling, crap was about to get real for the Moya Crew. Thrawn has never so much as raised his once in the entire time we've known him, no matter the circumstance, win or lose. So even if he's technically less scary than Scorpius, he is far cooler, at least as far as temperaments go.
When he asks Price how the interrogation is going, and Price is all, "I haven't actually started the questions yet," I was like, "Oh, now I get it. She's THAT chick." And I instantly hate her.
Thrawn using the artifact against Hera was so smart. Much like Price, he doesn't ask any relevant questions. But I think he did far more damage to her than the constant electroshocks and truth serums could have done. Hera was fighting those with all she got. Once Thrawn got entirely in her head, she's a bit off her game for the rest of the episode. And considering Thrawn knows she's in for more torture, perhaps breaking her spirit is the thing that will get her to break her silence. And I love that.
Why is it that every other random Stormtrooper on this show sounds exactly like Steve Blum? I wouldn't actually mind it if he actually varied the voices or their modulation. But as of now, he's basically Zeb and half the Empire.
Funniest moment was Hera commiserating that the Stormtroopers in front of her were very unlucky to be where they were before Kanan comes out of nowhere and slaughters them. You can complain that as a kick-butt female heroine, Hera might come across as more nurturing and more of a den mother than she should for that specific role. But because she's actually nice, she gets moments like that.
The den mother complaint is something that was (rightfully) aimed at Captain Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager. But if the writers of that subpar series ever gave her such real and warm and funny moments as this, I would never bring it up.
I also laughed when she pointed out Kanan handing her the artifact wasn't a gift because she already owned it. It's like the guy can NEVER do anything right on that side of the relationship. Even after all that, even after how much it means to Hera, she's can't even give him that victory. That's hysterical.
The fact that like Kanan, we have never seen Ezra, Zeb, or Sabine in the Post Episode IV era, makes me very worried for those three characters. You know the pit in their stomach Clone Wars fans had over Ahsoka the entire time? That's me right now.
Amazing episode. *****.
Star Wars Rebels "DUME"
A little too TV-Y7 for its own good.
But before we talk about what Disney XD refused to let the episode do, I want to talk about why the opening scene resonated so much to me. I watch this show and see the movies, but as far as Star Wars fans go, I am pretty non-committed to the franchise. I think the movies are fun, but the morality is often fudged up, and the writing and acting often atrocious. That's my view of the original trilogy, AND the prequels, and all of my subsequent Star Wars opinions evolved from that. So trust me when I tell you that Star Wars is a franchise that I don't actually love too many things about.
But there's one thing I have always loved, and it's something I don't even think the franchise should get to take credit the for. But a LOT of times, the politics and the good and evil narrative of the franchise often mirror the real-world in startlingly similar ways. It could argued that both Episodes II and III of the prequels are staunch criticisms of the Iraq War and the Bush Administration. And yet, since this was Lucas' plan going back decades, they actually CAN'T be. And yet it can be interpreted that way by someone who isn't really thinking about the long-term ramifications of the franchise. One of the cool things about Star Wars is that quite often it is unintentionally relevant, whether it planned to be or not. And that's the cool thing about Star Wars. Star Trek is very VERY careful to try and make the proper allegories fit into real world politics that the audience understands. And Star Wars does the exact same thing often completely by accident! Considering the thought and effort Gene Roddenberry and his producers put into the morality fables and allegories, it seems quite unfair Star Wars winds up often eating it's lunch as far as being topical goes. And I love that about Star Wars and always have.
The topical moment for me was Price wanting a parade. You could argue that with the controversy over Trump's proposed parade that THAT'S the accidental real-world parallel Star Wars crazily got right. And I'd believe that even a week ago. Maybe even a day ago.
But I just read a news article where an anonymous White House source claimed that the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High was a quote "reprieve" from the scandals Trump had been currently facing. The White House source saw those dead kids as an opportunity and nothing else. And suddenly when Price says upon seeing the smoldering carnage and wreckage "Let's throw a parade!" I was thinking Star Wars has even better timing than South Park. And South Park at least usually has a lead time of about a week. I read that particular article the same night this aired. This episode had to have been in the works for over a year. And yet it seems like it was written specifically for today. And that is the very best thing about Star Wars in my mind. I don't care about the ambiguous Jedi nonsense, and I think that nobody who describes the Force actually GETS the Force. But when Star Wars is not dealing with the supernatural fantasy elements, it usually winds up socially conscious about the era the project is made in. Often entirely by accident. And I love that.
Now to get to the Disney XD interference.
Ezra NEEDED to say the word "Dead." Surely, Disney XD could understand that just for this ONE moment, and let them get away with it JUST this once. Right? And yet, they couldn't. And suddenly what should have been the most powerful scene in the episode feels unfinished, and tonally wrong. And I blame the censors for that entirely.
The other terrible TV-Y7 thing, was of Sabine deciding to spare Rook's life. And that's entirely on the writers. I almost could have forgiven that if they hadn't pointed out that since they killed Kanan, they should have a big gun taken out too. It's actually sort of insulting to Kanan to say this guy is worth one of him, but like, I GET the argument.
But there is no upside to letting him live, especially considering how dangerous and detrimental to the Rebel plans as he usually winds up being. Instead of Sabine smugly dusting off her hands after painting the guy and sending him on his merry, I was like "She botched that". She was like "THAT will send a message." Do you know what would ACTUALLY send the proper message? Painting and desecrating his dead body before shipping it back on the bike. THAT is the proper message that the Rebels aren't messing around anymore. And I can't even blame the censors for that. That's entirely on the producers that they raised the idea of killing Rook and then wussed out. It's especially galling to realize that a Star Wars project that did not air on Disney XD would probably give us the gruesome resolution I just described. And I wish we had gotten that.
Still, was anyone surprised Sabine beat his invisibility field using paint? She's the resident artist. If she DIDN'T beat him that specific way, because of that specific invisibility defense, I'd think there was something wrong with her.
I'll say one thing about that Stormtrooper who got all knocked the h*ll up: I would NOT like to wake up to Rook sniffing around my body either. That is a moment that would make me question me life choices and ponder a career change. Immediately.
The Loth Wolves on this series seem to be exactly as damaging to the heroes' chances of understanding the stakes and how to win as Yoda's mumbo-jumbo was in the Original Trilogy. It's not quite as bad as Yoda, as they are creatures. But saying unhelpful ambiguous nonsense that is equally likely to be wrong as it is right is a classic Yoda move. I hate these kinds of Star Wars characters.
I noted in the last review Thrawn never loses his cool. And he held on here. But he came closer to losing it than he ever did. He did not raise his voice at Price, but his voice took a pointed tone it had not taken in any previous scene or episode. That's how you know Kanan done good.
I love that Star Wars seems to often be a time capsule of our currently fudged-up world. And I am a little disappointed that this particular Star Wars series is stuck on a kiddie networks along with trashy Disney XD kidcoms while doing so. This episode would have been far stronger if it weren't. ****.
Star Wars Rebels “Wolves And A Door”
I really liked the moving animation on the painting.
I also liked when Hera felt Kanan’s presence near her to center herself.
The wolves’ trip through what looked like a hyperdrive field was cool.
Was surprised to see The Emperor.
I like that Zeb is afraid of the wolves, and that his wolf bites Chopper and carries him in his mouth.
Good episode. ****.
Star Wars Rebels “A World Between Worlds”
That was terrific.
First off, the animation in the World Between Worlds was jawdropping. SO amazing. And this is the scariest I’ve ever seen Palpatine. Ever.
I knew Ahsoka wasn’t dead, but I wasn’t positive it would be this series that got back to her. But her ending with Vader in season two was so ambiguous, and we never saw a body, so they perfectly set up the trick they pulled here. It’s clever. Still no explanation as to why we have never seen her in one of the movies, but she may survive this series yet.
Speaking of the movies, I love that they looped in important dialogue from all of them. It really made the Star Wars franchise feel cohesive and whole in a way the franchise usually doesn’t feel.
I love Malcolm McDowell’s character. I love that he states that he’s not an artist, but more of a critic, and warns Sabine not to confuse his pleasantness for weakness. I regret both that he was killed off and introduced so late in the game anyways. I love the idea of a bad guy who has his goons slam the hero into a chair so he can serve them tea. That’s awesome.
The last episode didn’t actually feel much like the series was wrapping up. This episode DID give me that feeling. I’m excited for next week. *****.
Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel "Making Waves"
Buckle up. I am about to bash this episode unmercifully. There have been worse Power Rangers episodes than this. But the reason this one pissed me off so much is because all of the mistakes were unforced errors that would never occur to even the sloppiest of fanfiction writers, much less professional producers that actually put the episode to screen with that particular script, instead of scrapping it entirely, and starting over from scratch.
Let us itemize the suck.
1. The first and main thing I objected to is something I cannot believe I just witnessed. I should not have to object to it. I feel dumber for having to complain about this. But this is 2018. Television should NOT still be this bad. If they did this exact thing on the first season of the original MMPR, I'd chalk it up to the sign of the times, and the fact that even the good kids shows back then like Batman: The Animated Series were actually clumsily written. But in 2018? No excuse.
Okay, so it is credible to me that Sarah tells her dad that Hayley's mom likes spicy food. Telling a person what their potential date likes to eat is actual legitimate dating advice. People would like to know this before the date.
But then Hayley tells her mom that Sarah's dad like spinning around, and my brain is pretty much destroyed. Do I even HAVE to explain how dumb that is? How does spinning around have anything to do with dating? Even worse is the idea that the writers actually made it come up. On a little kids' carousel of all places. I do not simply think the writers of Power Rangers are bad writers. That would be one thing. I actually think they are legitimately stupid people. That is not only not something a competent writer would never do, but it's not something that would occur to a PERSON who never writes anything at all to do either. I should not have to nitpick this idea. A grown @$$ adult who gets paid money to write for television professionally should already know this. This p!sses me off so much because in a sane world, in a show with writers who aren't actual idiots, this would not be an actual problem. It would never occur to anyone except for the genuinely stupid writers of this show. And considering they are writing for children, that p!sses me off. I see a cr@ppy show, I can just turn it off (which is frankly something I should have done to this show ages ago). But little kids are impressionable. If they know nothing but entertainment this stupid and badly written, it strikes me that they will know nothing else. It is probably not a coincidence that the current Golden Age of Television started about a generation after cartoons started becoming high quality in the early 1990's, and improving from there. If this episode is the best a kid is gonna see, they won't know any better than to accept utter cr@p as acceptable. I resent a lot of stuff I used to love growing up when I rewatched it years later, because I believed the adults writing it did wrong by me back in the day. This spinning idea is something so bad, I cannot think of the cr@ppiest live-action sitcom from my youth that would use that idea. MAYBE Small Wonder. Maybe. But that's it. And that p!sses me off.
2. Victor and Monty try to claim a prize for biggest fish for dressing Monty in a fish costume. On the one hand, it almost fits, because the entire franchise involves people taking rubbery, fake-looking monster costumes seriously. But read that sentence again. And punch yourself in the face repeatedly because it is less painful than having to watch that.
3. This one annoys me, but it's a problem not only for all superhero kids shows, but ones geared towards adults like The Arrovverse. But Hayley and Sarah's parents should recognize their voices as the Power Rangers immediately. Hayley tries to disguise the voice for a second, but her and Sarah are quickly back to talking normally soon after. This supposedly is the conceit of superheroes that we have been conditioned to accept. But I don't accept it. It is not freaking good enough, and never has been.
4. The fourth thing that pissed me off is Mick. What I hate about him is that the writers think his lessons are clever. They aren't. They are patronizing and insufferable. If I were a teenager in high school, and an adult did the "opposite suggestion to what the right idea is" line to me, I would instantly know they were talking down to me, and b.s.ing me, and thought I was stupid, and were treating me that way. He's a troll, and should be treated as such. That is a move that will impress a five year. Granted, the show's target audience is five year olds, but the Rangers are high school teenagers. The proper response to Mick doing that is "Eff you, Mick you insufferable b@stard!" Not only would they instantly know what Mick was doing, but they would be insulted by it. And I hate that this show confuses ham-fisted and obvious platitudes as actual wisdom. It's not like the Rangers aren't all dumb as rocks anyways, but maybe the right answer is that they SHOULDN'T be dumb as rocks in the first place.
5. Sarah's Dad invents a drone to "catch fish without hurting them". If you don't want to hurt a fish, there is no point in catching them. A truly humane person would simply leave them alone. Even a marine biologist, a person who DOES study fish would know this.
Were there any things in the episode I liked? I felt like Hayley's mom and Sarah's dad had genuine chemistry, and I like that they both figured out they had been had, which suggests they are both smarter than their children. Of course, Hayley's mom isn't actually TOO smart, because upon the spinning suggestion, she didn't smack her daughter across the head and say "B****, please!"
The other thing I liked was hearing the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers theme song again. That was fun.
But I have incredibly low standards for this show and it seems to keep failing them every single week. I used to follow Power Ranger Super Samurai and Mega Force. Not religiously. I only saw each episode once. But neither of those versions (especially not Samurai) had the same kinds of bad writing problems associated with both Dino Charge and Ninja Steel. And I'm not sure why that is. But both of the sets of writers for these two most recent seasons need to be fired from the franchise, and never hired in Hollywood ever again. And at least Dino Charge had the awesome Ryan Carter in the back half of the season, which made up for a LOT. Ninja Steel has nothing so good going for it. 0.
Power Rangers: Super Ninja Steel “Game Plan”
If this review is entirely about Power Rangers, I’ll be surprised.
I don’t want to get off on a rant here... but Dennis Miller totally sucks. I could be wrong.*
The biggest question this raised for me is “Why the frak wasn’t Commander Riker court-martialed for doing the exact same thing Preston did here? How is it that Burnham is a mutineer and that traitor Riker skates entirely? How is it Riker gets to end that episode sitting on the bridge next to Picard as if nothing happened?” You know your Star Trek is messed up when Commander Riker is more detestable than Wesley Crusher for an episode. And Wesley Crusher was already plenty detestable in that episode.
Where was I? Oh, I liked that they actually spent money and created game graphics for the device, and was tickled when it looked like the monster would be a little CGI cartoon creature. And then he turns into a Japanese rubbery monster (that looks nothing like the CGI design by the way) and I remember exactly how hamstrung by the Japanese version this show actually is.
I am not simply mad that Victor does the Roadrunner gag to sneak playing the game in class. I am mad that it worked. I hate this show. The lady losing her wig was similarly cringe-inducing.
“It’s like fish having to swim or bees having to buzz.” I understand this show has terrible, unintelligent writers, and possibly the stupidest writers on television. Stipulated. But when it comes to the fictional hall of fame of a character who can’t come up with a decent simile to save his life, Mick is probably gonna the bring home the gold. I say this because it’s far from the first time he’s said something that dumb and clichéd.
I think Mick and Levi are overthinking things about how to get the kids to stop playing the game. What they should do is invite all the parents to the school to play, and then have the parents be super into it. Then the kids would break the devices on principle. Leave it to this show to always take the least funny option.
I am so pissed off at Star Trek right now I am barely aware that I just watched a Power Rangers episode. **1/2.
*I’m not.
American Dad! "Paranoid Frandroid"
Is it just me or does Klaus totally suck?
I was wondering how Stan would explain Francine still being alive to the CIA and then when I saw the funeral I was like "Oh, I get it. They're super dumb." Makes sense.
Love that Roger is dressed like Langly from The X-Files.
Steve and Snot will NEVER get laid. Worst pick-up attempt EVER.
Good episode but I wanna just smack Klaus. ****.
American Dad! "The Census Of The Lambs"
That's exactly what I imagine a Law and Order convention would be like. Ice-T's cameo at the end was cool because boarding schools are for suckers.
Barry's modeling plot could be summed up by Toshi asking why they were jealous of him. That nude photo of him and the wrinkly pug was nasty.
Speaking of fat people, Tuttle lost weight.
The cheerful guy in the hole was so funny.
Lots of people have two hats. Worst suspicious clue ever.
Poor Jim. Is his name even Jim?
Funny episode. ****1/2.
American Dad! “Shell Game”
Wow, that episode sucked. It is surprising how stupid and unfunny both of those plots were.
Any good things? I don’t think Morning Mimosa will ever get old, so it’s probably smart that the show knows enough to shove it into an episode that is otherwise terrible. Because it WAS terrible otherwise. *.
Teen Titans Go! "Beast Girl"
Meh. They never really explained where the Opposite Titans came from, so I'm annoyed. If Beast Girl DID come through a mirror, how did the other Opposite Titans? I don't ask for much from this show, but we should at least have gotten that.
The wieirda, weirde, weirdi, weirdu, and weirdsometimesy thing was funny.
My favorite moment was Beast Boy gratefully thanking Robin after he tells him he doesn't contribute much. Which pretty much says everything about the character right there.
Underwhelming. **1/2.
DC Super Hero Girls "Fish Out Of Water: Part Two"
Okay, the last minute of this sucked, but everything else was awesome.
Really digging Firefly after all. Legitimately scary and menacing, which is I think a first for this show. I like how Mera at first tries to distract him by babbling.
I would have given this five stars were it not for the sitcom ending. ****.
DC's Legends Of Tomorrow "Here I Go Again"
Sigh. The Groundhog Day episode. Considering this show is time travel, it should have happened before this. We have a couple of things to discuss about Groundhog Day before we get into this.
Ray mentions Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Cause And Effect". Fun fact: that episode was actually created before Groundhog Day. You can tell just because they misused part of the premise in that nobody was actually aware of the loop until it was too late, whereas Bill Murray knows what's happening the entire time and so does Zari. While Cause And Effect was certainly the best sci-fi telling of that premise, the human element of someone feeling like they are living in hell being trapped in the same day is something that only occurred in pop culture after Groundhog Day.
Okay, we've established some of the history of the trope. Now it is time to discuss the drawback of the trope: And for a serialized show based on epic cliffhangers, this drawback can be deadly. But the Total Reset Button is hit at the end of the episode (by design) so if it's not a movie where you see Bill Murray goes through spiritual growth, you are basically wasting 45 minutes to engage in the trope. The trick is making it so that the 45 minutes are memorable, say something new about the premise, and are entertaining enough that the viewer won't mind things literally being held back for a week. How this this version do?
A disaster. As fun as it was watching it, that ending was SO bad, that I won't be able to enjoy it a second time. The show decided that getting out of Groundhog Day wasn't enough. They decided to add an extra M. Night Shamaylan twist: It was all a dream / simulation! I do not understand how the writers do not get that that is literally the only other trope more hated by fans than the Total Reset Button, but Legends Of Tomorrow pretty much doubled down on making the episode pointless. The writers said "You think this episode is already a waste of time? HERE is how you piss off a loyal fan. Step aside for a second, Danny Cannon. Lemme try something."
I just could not get over how even more disappointing a premise this turned out to be than that is already was without the twist. Besides, the episode was already borrowing several extra sci-fi elements from various franchises. For instance, Zari learning the violin struck me less as Bill Murray learning to play the piano (since it didn't actually happen) and more of Picard's Flute from The Inner Light, in that it was an entirely new skill passed on to the person from a computer simulation.
I was less amused at the idea that Mick secretly writes romance novels in his spare time, and more with the idea that the series thinks I SHOULD be amused by that. Writing is a legit hobby. It's weird than I'm supposed to think Rory is unexpectedly soft for it.
For the record Amy Pemberton is super hot. Possibly we got that disappointing ending simply because the writers wanted her to show up again on camera to take advantage of her hotness when she is usually in a thankless role. But I'm thinking they should have used a different excuse in a different episode.
I love that Nate's go-to in that scenario is "Groundhog Day", and he'll instantly believe it. I like that because I cannot be the only person who has secret codewords in my head should an unexpected sci-fi scenario happen, such as meeting a me who traveled back in time from the future to warn me about something. It's a nerdy thought experiment, and I will never tell anyone else my codewords, just in case I come back in time in a Dolorean and state there is something wrong with my kids. And I love that Nate is the seem kind of geek I am.
And the no consequences montages are always great, although were I Zari I would have attempted suicide before the last loop. You are supposed to test the limits of how far-reaching the loop actually is. And if that means you accidentally wind up killing yourself because the loop isn't THAT far reaching, well being stuck in the loop is the worse fate. The death is the way out. The reason Bill Murray started killing himself was desperation. And if that IS Zari's default mood by the end of the episode, she should have tried it before then.
For the record, even if the thing wasn't a simulation, it probably wouldn't have worked. Because the ship exploded when she was unconscious, and she just had to start over instead.
But man, that ending ruined everything. It's too bad, because the episode did something recent genre shows (like Star Trek: Discovery) have done with the premise, that I think is awesome, but is pointless because of the simulation. But one of the best newer twists on Groundhog Day there is is when the Loop is destroyed before the crisis is averted. And it could all be completely solved with just ONE more loop. But you don't get it, and are flying by the seat of your pants. That would have given the episode actual stakes. But since it's a simulation, there are none.
It says something that the only part of the episode that seemed to matter was the 30 second ending involving characters who were not even series regulars. And it doesn't say something good.
A waste of an episode and a total disappointment. I wish they could go back in time for 45 minutes and do the premise right. But we're stuck with the final loop we are. **1/2.
DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow “The Curse Of The Earth Totem”
The problems this episode had were cosmetic and superficial. It’s the kind of episode you nitpick for the fake-looking costumes and beards, not the actual story or drama.
Is Blackbeard actually real? If so, why was he on Once Upon A Time? Either this show made a mistake or that one did.
I love Blackbeard. Unreservedly. I’d love him if he were simply a coward. I’d find that funny. But it goes FAR further than that. He is completely adverse to conflict, which for a pirate is hilarious. So much so that when his crew plans a mutiny, he joins them against himself rather than fight them. I’d appreciate the idea of a cowardly Blackbeard. But one whose cowardice actually makes him smart and cunning is irresistible.
I like that Ray saved Nora at the end. Most people are not cut out to be murderers, and I’m glad the show’s perspective is that Ray is one of them. I especially found it interesting that Damien immediately was willing to trade the Totem back for her life until Nora got the upper hand. First genuinely decent thing I have ever witnessed Darhk do.
Wally and Rip were fun. I was all smiles when they stole the coat.
The one story weak link in the episode is Sara and Ava’s date. It hits on all of the first date disaster clichés, and is outright badly written. But see, part of me thinks that’s a good thing. We are at the point where pop culture can have a lesbian date be badly written and boring, and seem normal and average for it. The fact that the series didn’t feel the particular need to make this plot amazing, or feel any sort of social responsibility to step up their game shows that things have changed a LOT in the last five years.
Enjoyable episode. ****.
iZombie “Are You Ready For Some Zombies?”
This is a crucial episode. Last year’s finale was the shark jump. And it was SO far over the shark, that there is no going back. This episode is SO important because it will inform us about how much the series will suck from here on out. Will it be a bonafide disaster? Or merely disappointing every week?
Based on this, it will probably merely be a disappointment. But I am well aware that until last year’s finale, the premieres and finales on this show used to be amazing, and now they aren’t, and I suspect won’t ever be again.
The series’ problem now is tone. It’s still trying to be a comedy with Liz eating a superfan’s brain and acting nuts. But there is nothing funny about the current scenario. Major’s heart seems to break when he learns there are zombie kids on the street turning tricks for food. But that’s his fault and the fault of everyone at that organization. They did that. On purpose. And because they did, the show is bonkers for trying to do the season from the zombie’s perspective. The zombies were not the villains on this show before last year’s finale. After what they did, they clearly are (Liv notably excepted) and I don’t really care about their trials and tribulations navigating the mess they purposefully created.
I think the season premiere did one good thing: It bumped up Robert Knepper to a series regular, and sort of turned him into a religious zombie nutball. Seeing him in the main title before he was credited in the cast was surprising enough. But referring to him as “The Prophet” is extremely intriguing to me, and is pretty much the only thing in the series I have major questions about. Mostly because for the rest of the scenarios, I’ve stopped caring completely.
This was written by Rob Thomas, so it should have been amazing. But I guess disappointing is the new normal. Unfortunately, because this episode WAS written by the creator and best writer, it stands to reason every single episode in the season that isn’t will be worse. So even if this episode is a mere disappointment, a bonafide disaster in the coming weeks is not out of the question. **1/2.
Lucifer “High School Poppycock”
Okay, the episode sucked. Let’s get that opinion out of the way immediately. But it DID raise a ton of questions for me about writing and the nature of writing. Which fascinates me.
I write. I’m not great, but I’m not terrible. But it’s definitely a hobby for me, and I like what I have come up with. But this episode states a problem that I had no idea that other writers struggled with. Apparently the author Kathleen got into so much trouble because she had no idea how to end her fantasy series. Which fascinates and worries me. I’ve heard of writer’s block before. I’ve gone through a bit of it myself, and just stopped writing for 15 years. But the notion that somebody would start and commit to an epic fantasy series without knowing how to end it strikes me as something that should never be true. Apparently part of the joke is that the Class of 3001 books are kind of dumb and badly written, but the writers of Lucifer are basically stating that it is common for a writer to simply make things up as they go along. That worries me. Not only because I never have done that in my entire life, but because it hints that the writers of this show don’t have a larger gameplan, and don’t seem to think there is a problem with the fact that they don’t. What worries me is that this plot turn makes it sound like the writers thinking an author of a series writing by the seat of their pants is normal. And if it is, that fascinates and disturbs me. Disturbs me because it suggests all of Hollywood is on shakier ground than I ever suspected, and fascinates me because I’ve never had that problem. I write the endings and climaxes to the stories in my head first. My problem has always been getting from the beginning of the story to the awesomeness that the endings will be. I still haven’t gotten there yet. But I definitely know what the endings are, and I know they are fantastic. Which is why I’m writing all that I am in the first place. Paying my dues to get there. It would never occur to me to publish the first part of a story with no clue how it ended, and if that’s something a ton of writers actually do, it’s no wonder most fantasy books and TV series ultimately have such underwhelming endings. I feel better about my project after seeing this episode. But much worse for all of the unfinished shows and books I follow. It suggests professional writers are worse at their jobs than I am as a hobbyist. Which should never be true.
For the record, hearing Kathleen’s original ending to end things with the characters talking out their problems and making peace is an ending I would love unreservedly in any action oriented show I watched. That’s basically the entire reason Star Trek: The Next Generation and Captain Picard were so awesome in the first place. The publisher finding that idea more boring than a space war is missing the forest for the trees. Exploring character dynamics and conflict resolution is the most important part of any given story to me. That’s probably the precise reason Star Trek was my go-to fandom growing up. Any sci-fi hero can shoot their way out of a problem. But convincing the bad guy it is in their best interest to stand down is a special kind of awesome. This may be just me, (and it probably is) but I always love those endings more than the shoot-outs and the slugfests. I personally think Batman Beyond: Return Of The Joker is the best Batman film, live-action or animated, because the climax was talky and psychological, rather than action-packed. And I find those things far more riveting than bullets or explosions.
Linda saying that she’s not selfish and is always the one who listens to other people’s problems shows she IS selfish. That’s her job. She gets paid for that. And she wants to act like she should be treated as some sort of altruist for it. True, Amenadiel and Maze never pay for her advice. But they’re her friends. They shouldn’t have to. Linda thinks she is a martyr simply for passing the barest standards of human friendship and decency. Which is another reason I think she is the worst character on the show.
I am very aware Tom Welling was not contracted for this episode. It feels very strange that Lucifer is so obsessed with Cain’s problems and he isn’t even there. Television is often too cheap for its own good.
The episode tried to play it as funny that Chloe was getting into the books and acting the hot mess, but I wouldn’t advise trying something like this again. Lauren Germann has no comic timing and sensibilities. You’d figure they’d make sure she did before leaning so heavily into her for funny scenes, but in the writers’ defense, it’s not like she’s ever needed to try and be funny before this. But Germann is NOT funny at all. For the record, she’s not a good dramatic actress either, and even if Chloe isn’t the worst character the show, I’ve always believed Germann was the worst actor. By far. The fact that I don’t get what Lucifer sees in someone that morose and boring shows that the entire show is flawed from the ground up, entirely due to that piece of miscasting. Lucifer might wind up a good series when all is said and done. But it’s the fact that it completely miscast the crucial female lead which is why it will never be a great one.
Making it up as they go along. Will wonders never cease? **1/2.
Unikitty "Birthday Blowout"
That was... exhausting. This show is dialed up to 11 on every little thing, and it gets tiring, even after 11 minutes.
Any good things? I really like how personally offended Master Frown got upon being called a bingleberry. Because as far as I know, that means nothing. Brock laughed at least. I also laughed at him wishing he wasn't on fire, and Unikitty reminding him not to say the wish out loud, while she stomped on him.
Mostly though, by the end of the episode, I felt old and cranky. I think it's the lines. *.
Unikitty “Lab Cat”
Bold prediction: Hold my feet to the fire over this if I’m wrong. I could be. Seriously, feel free to rub my nose in it if I am. But I suspect that within two years this show is going to be as widely despised by fanboys as Teen Titans Go! is right now.
Don’t believe me? It has the exact same problems that show had at the beginning. Shockingly, people will not remember that the initial responses to Teen Titans Go were widely favorable. It was cute and funny and a little over the top.
And it started OUT a little over the top. But they foolishly decided that they should keep upping the ante in horrible behavior and extreme humor, more and more every episode, and it got to the point where a large part of the later seasons are absolutely unwatchable. This isn’t Unikitty quite yet. But this episode shows the exact same trajectory. Like an episode from midway through TTG’s first season, it’s not overly offensive... yet. But it’s definitely more extreme than how the show started off, and it keeps getting more and more-so every week. That’s this episode.
Hold me to that prediction, folks. If I’m wrong, I’ll eat crow. But the parallels are eerie. You like the show now, but will you still tolerate it when it makes up CN’s entire schedule? Because 11 minutes of this is already a bit tough to take. Imagine the show having enough episodes for CN to repeat marathon it on a daily basis. You’ll be tearing your hair out. I seem to recall nobody had an actual problem with TTG when it aired once a week either. But here we are. I think we are in for an eventual trainwreck. My early negative reviews will probably seem prophetic in retrospect to everyone who read them and scoffed at them for being too harsh. The warnings signs are all here for this happening. I’m going out on a limb and predict this show is the next most widely loathed CN show.
Anything I liked? The LEGO opening of the old lady dog walker trying to herd dogs. That was so funny. But it was pretty much downhill from there. **.
Marvel's Spider-Man "The Hobgoblin: Part One"
The first part was mostly good, but there were some aspects of it that didn't hang together well.
First off, why is Doc Ock a villain at all? I don't think we ever got a satisfactory answer for that. He does not need to be a criminal to get New York to recognize his genius. He just needs to stop doing dumb stuff. I would think that would be far easier (and cheaper) for him to achieve than his master plan of creating the Sinister 6.
Secondly, while I appreciated Norman getting into Harry's head at the end of the episode, were I Harry, I'd not only realize that Norman is full of crap about Spider-Man, but probably that Peter was right about his father all along. The good news is that Norman doesn't know Spider-Man is Peter. But Harry does. So he should instantly realize the idea of Spider-Man having a master plan to take over the city and have Ock take the fall is nonsense. If only for the fact that Pete is an awkward 16 year old kid, and no awkward 16-year-old kid actually wants that. The fact that Harry grew up with, knew, and was friends with Peter BEFORE he become Spider-Man should tell him instantly Norman has an ulterior motive at trying to pit him against him.
But when Harry says he just wanted to be a hero, and Peter assures him that he is? That was the single best moment of the season.
Here's something dumb. If Ock is so smart, why after he mind controls Spider-Man, doesn't he unmasked him? That would be my first instinct, especially considering he used to work with him. And yeah, Spidey feels embarrassed by that particular team-up, and it being with that particular sociopath has got to be a bit humiliating. He might has well have gone crimefighting with Donald Trump. It's like "How could I not get this before? What is wrong with me?" And that is the correct reaction.
I also really liked his "I'm sorry. Did you say something? I couldn't hear you. Just kidding. That was really LOUD. And obnoxious." That had to be one of the funniest lines ever in a Spider-Man cartoon. The sarcasm is particularly biting in that moment because Peter seems to be throwing in the villain's face that he is so loud and stupid that Peter can just point that out without having to bother come up with a clever joke. The fact that there was nothing clever about that wisecrack made it the most clever Spider-Man wisecrack ever.
Good first part. ****.
Marvel's Spider-Man "The Hobgoblin: Part Two"
I loved that. Unconditionally. Honestly? That is exactly what a season finale for an action cartoon should be. We haven't gotten a proper season finale for an action cartoon since JLU went off the air. Everything else seems to be either a cliffhanger, or in the case of Ultimate Spider-Man or Transformers Prime, a proper series finale. This is how drama cartoons need to end their seasons. All of them. Action cartoons are far too risky a prospect to definitively count on another season coming. This wrapped up the arc, and left some stuff unresolved for a future season. Which is how it should be. And the last image of Peter enjoying the statue was an actual victory, and an actual nice moment to end the season on. Which is what cartoon season finales need to be doing.
I love that Harry doesn't blame Peter at the end of the episode. Maybe you'd grumble that it took him long enough to come around, but even if that particular bit of character growth was later than it should have been, I'm glad it still happened. Whatever happens to Harry next season, I sincerely hope this contentious aspect of his and Peter's friendship is over. Or if there is a new contention, that it is of a more evolved kind such as different goals, rather than a misunderstanding of somebody's actual intentions. I hope I'm right about that. I hope.
The episode was predictable in that it used the exact same Goblin twist The Spectacular Spider-Man used. But whereas that Norman seemed like an evil genius for that scam, this Norman strikes me as completely batpoopy. Did he actually think that would work? He's nucking futs. The only good part of the plan was the wheelchair. But see, that's why it's such dirty pool. That's why it's unforgivable. He's engendered unearned sympathy and used it to betray his own son. And I would think that the wheelchair being the alibi would have made Harry never forgive Norman had he survived. If Norman's actions were as righteous as he claimed, he wouldn't be faking being a cripple in a wheelchair to frame his kid. That's just low.
In fact, it was the wheelchair that instantly told me it was Norman. He was far too attached to staying seated throughout the episode to be innocent.
I love the clue that Peter finds out the Hobgoblin isn't Harry is the fact that Norman claims he can't wait to unmasked Spider-Man. Norman has no way to KNOW Harry already knows the ID, but because he does, Spidey instantly sees through the scam.
I have a lot of reservations about the season, particular regarding the character of Harry Osborn. But the finale addressed those concerns, and was pretty satisfying in its own right. Five stars. *****.
Big Hero 6: The Series "Baymax And Go Go"
LOL at Baymax on rollerskates! That went just about as badly as I could have hoped. Go Go hopes you don't tell ANYBODY about this. *****.
Elena Of Avalor “Science Unfair”
Can I just say how dumb the idea it is for someone to state that Guinea pigs’ fur needs to be groomed once a day? Forget natural selection and how disastrous that would be for any mammal to be true. But Guinea Pigs are the disposable pets kids get because their parents don’t want them killing anything bigger. The Guinea Pig’s entire selling point is that it is cute and worthless at the same. Cute enough to make a little kid happy, but slight enough to have the kid move onto to something else after it dies, in the way they wouldn’t if it were a dog. I was very sad when my guinea pig died as a kid. But my rabbit dying was way worse, and I don’t think I could have handled losing a dog or a cat. The idea that guinea pigs need to be groomed daily flies in the face of why they are a good first pet in the first place.
I love that one of the kids is in a wheelchair. And it doesn’t freaking come up. It’s normal. That is awesome. Full stop.
It strikes me that a magical hammer that hammers stuff itself is a bad idea for the reasons the episode showed. Those kids barely had a handle on that thing when they knew what it was, and were using it as intended. It is a definite safety hazard.
The song this episode sucked. Usually the songs aren’t great, but when we get a real atonal and not cleverly rhymed one, it would be review malpractice not to point it out.
Pretty cute episode otherwise. Shruki is coming. ***1/2.
Elena Of Avalor: Scepter Training With Zuzo “The Heist”
That was cute. ****.
Elena Of Avalor: Scepter Training With Zuzo “Royal Treasury Escape Room”
Seems kind of unwise to have lethal traps such as giant metal balls and axes in a training session with an actual princess. What would happen to the kingdom if something happened to her? **1/2.
Star Wars Rebels "Jedi Night"
I knew Kanan was going to die. And that just made it all the more awesome. It's not a surprise at all. But it is the proper culmination of the episode.
It is clear Kanan knew he was going to die too. If it's due to Jedi powers or a vision, we aren't clear, but he seems to be tying up loose ends all throughout the episode. Him cutting off the back manbun and the hippie beard also suggests he wants to look his best for Hera in the end. And I knew it was coming and I love that it did.
Speaking of loving things, I personally think Admiral Thrawn is the best Star Wars villain of all time. He's not quite as great as Scorpius from Farscape. But he's great for the exact same reasons. He looks scary and alarming as hell, and yet speaks in a soft British whisper. He is actually superior to Scorpius in one significant way. Scorpius occasionally lost his cool. When he started roaring and drooling, crap was about to get real for the Moya Crew. Thrawn has never so much as raised his once in the entire time we've known him, no matter the circumstance, win or lose. So even if he's technically less scary than Scorpius, he is far cooler, at least as far as temperaments go.
When he asks Price how the interrogation is going, and Price is all, "I haven't actually started the questions yet," I was like, "Oh, now I get it. She's THAT chick." And I instantly hate her.
Thrawn using the artifact against Hera was so smart. Much like Price, he doesn't ask any relevant questions. But I think he did far more damage to her than the constant electroshocks and truth serums could have done. Hera was fighting those with all she got. Once Thrawn got entirely in her head, she's a bit off her game for the rest of the episode. And considering Thrawn knows she's in for more torture, perhaps breaking her spirit is the thing that will get her to break her silence. And I love that.
Why is it that every other random Stormtrooper on this show sounds exactly like Steve Blum? I wouldn't actually mind it if he actually varied the voices or their modulation. But as of now, he's basically Zeb and half the Empire.
Funniest moment was Hera commiserating that the Stormtroopers in front of her were very unlucky to be where they were before Kanan comes out of nowhere and slaughters them. You can complain that as a kick-butt female heroine, Hera might come across as more nurturing and more of a den mother than she should for that specific role. But because she's actually nice, she gets moments like that.
The den mother complaint is something that was (rightfully) aimed at Captain Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager. But if the writers of that subpar series ever gave her such real and warm and funny moments as this, I would never bring it up.
I also laughed when she pointed out Kanan handing her the artifact wasn't a gift because she already owned it. It's like the guy can NEVER do anything right on that side of the relationship. Even after all that, even after how much it means to Hera, she's can't even give him that victory. That's hysterical.
The fact that like Kanan, we have never seen Ezra, Zeb, or Sabine in the Post Episode IV era, makes me very worried for those three characters. You know the pit in their stomach Clone Wars fans had over Ahsoka the entire time? That's me right now.
Amazing episode. *****.
Star Wars Rebels "DUME"
A little too TV-Y7 for its own good.
But before we talk about what Disney XD refused to let the episode do, I want to talk about why the opening scene resonated so much to me. I watch this show and see the movies, but as far as Star Wars fans go, I am pretty non-committed to the franchise. I think the movies are fun, but the morality is often fudged up, and the writing and acting often atrocious. That's my view of the original trilogy, AND the prequels, and all of my subsequent Star Wars opinions evolved from that. So trust me when I tell you that Star Wars is a franchise that I don't actually love too many things about.
But there's one thing I have always loved, and it's something I don't even think the franchise should get to take credit the for. But a LOT of times, the politics and the good and evil narrative of the franchise often mirror the real-world in startlingly similar ways. It could argued that both Episodes II and III of the prequels are staunch criticisms of the Iraq War and the Bush Administration. And yet, since this was Lucas' plan going back decades, they actually CAN'T be. And yet it can be interpreted that way by someone who isn't really thinking about the long-term ramifications of the franchise. One of the cool things about Star Wars is that quite often it is unintentionally relevant, whether it planned to be or not. And that's the cool thing about Star Wars. Star Trek is very VERY careful to try and make the proper allegories fit into real world politics that the audience understands. And Star Wars does the exact same thing often completely by accident! Considering the thought and effort Gene Roddenberry and his producers put into the morality fables and allegories, it seems quite unfair Star Wars winds up often eating it's lunch as far as being topical goes. And I love that about Star Wars and always have.
The topical moment for me was Price wanting a parade. You could argue that with the controversy over Trump's proposed parade that THAT'S the accidental real-world parallel Star Wars crazily got right. And I'd believe that even a week ago. Maybe even a day ago.
But I just read a news article where an anonymous White House source claimed that the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High was a quote "reprieve" from the scandals Trump had been currently facing. The White House source saw those dead kids as an opportunity and nothing else. And suddenly when Price says upon seeing the smoldering carnage and wreckage "Let's throw a parade!" I was thinking Star Wars has even better timing than South Park. And South Park at least usually has a lead time of about a week. I read that particular article the same night this aired. This episode had to have been in the works for over a year. And yet it seems like it was written specifically for today. And that is the very best thing about Star Wars in my mind. I don't care about the ambiguous Jedi nonsense, and I think that nobody who describes the Force actually GETS the Force. But when Star Wars is not dealing with the supernatural fantasy elements, it usually winds up socially conscious about the era the project is made in. Often entirely by accident. And I love that.
Now to get to the Disney XD interference.
Ezra NEEDED to say the word "Dead." Surely, Disney XD could understand that just for this ONE moment, and let them get away with it JUST this once. Right? And yet, they couldn't. And suddenly what should have been the most powerful scene in the episode feels unfinished, and tonally wrong. And I blame the censors for that entirely.
The other terrible TV-Y7 thing, was of Sabine deciding to spare Rook's life. And that's entirely on the writers. I almost could have forgiven that if they hadn't pointed out that since they killed Kanan, they should have a big gun taken out too. It's actually sort of insulting to Kanan to say this guy is worth one of him, but like, I GET the argument.
But there is no upside to letting him live, especially considering how dangerous and detrimental to the Rebel plans as he usually winds up being. Instead of Sabine smugly dusting off her hands after painting the guy and sending him on his merry, I was like "She botched that". She was like "THAT will send a message." Do you know what would ACTUALLY send the proper message? Painting and desecrating his dead body before shipping it back on the bike. THAT is the proper message that the Rebels aren't messing around anymore. And I can't even blame the censors for that. That's entirely on the producers that they raised the idea of killing Rook and then wussed out. It's especially galling to realize that a Star Wars project that did not air on Disney XD would probably give us the gruesome resolution I just described. And I wish we had gotten that.
Still, was anyone surprised Sabine beat his invisibility field using paint? She's the resident artist. If she DIDN'T beat him that specific way, because of that specific invisibility defense, I'd think there was something wrong with her.
I'll say one thing about that Stormtrooper who got all knocked the h*ll up: I would NOT like to wake up to Rook sniffing around my body either. That is a moment that would make me question me life choices and ponder a career change. Immediately.
The Loth Wolves on this series seem to be exactly as damaging to the heroes' chances of understanding the stakes and how to win as Yoda's mumbo-jumbo was in the Original Trilogy. It's not quite as bad as Yoda, as they are creatures. But saying unhelpful ambiguous nonsense that is equally likely to be wrong as it is right is a classic Yoda move. I hate these kinds of Star Wars characters.
I noted in the last review Thrawn never loses his cool. And he held on here. But he came closer to losing it than he ever did. He did not raise his voice at Price, but his voice took a pointed tone it had not taken in any previous scene or episode. That's how you know Kanan done good.
I love that Star Wars seems to often be a time capsule of our currently fudged-up world. And I am a little disappointed that this particular Star Wars series is stuck on a kiddie networks along with trashy Disney XD kidcoms while doing so. This episode would have been far stronger if it weren't. ****.
Star Wars Rebels “Wolves And A Door”
I really liked the moving animation on the painting.
I also liked when Hera felt Kanan’s presence near her to center herself.
The wolves’ trip through what looked like a hyperdrive field was cool.
Was surprised to see The Emperor.
I like that Zeb is afraid of the wolves, and that his wolf bites Chopper and carries him in his mouth.
Good episode. ****.
Star Wars Rebels “A World Between Worlds”
That was terrific.
First off, the animation in the World Between Worlds was jawdropping. SO amazing. And this is the scariest I’ve ever seen Palpatine. Ever.
I knew Ahsoka wasn’t dead, but I wasn’t positive it would be this series that got back to her. But her ending with Vader in season two was so ambiguous, and we never saw a body, so they perfectly set up the trick they pulled here. It’s clever. Still no explanation as to why we have never seen her in one of the movies, but she may survive this series yet.
Speaking of the movies, I love that they looped in important dialogue from all of them. It really made the Star Wars franchise feel cohesive and whole in a way the franchise usually doesn’t feel.
I love Malcolm McDowell’s character. I love that he states that he’s not an artist, but more of a critic, and warns Sabine not to confuse his pleasantness for weakness. I regret both that he was killed off and introduced so late in the game anyways. I love the idea of a bad guy who has his goons slam the hero into a chair so he can serve them tea. That’s awesome.
The last episode didn’t actually feel much like the series was wrapping up. This episode DID give me that feeling. I’m excited for next week. *****.
Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel "Making Waves"
Buckle up. I am about to bash this episode unmercifully. There have been worse Power Rangers episodes than this. But the reason this one pissed me off so much is because all of the mistakes were unforced errors that would never occur to even the sloppiest of fanfiction writers, much less professional producers that actually put the episode to screen with that particular script, instead of scrapping it entirely, and starting over from scratch.
Let us itemize the suck.
1. The first and main thing I objected to is something I cannot believe I just witnessed. I should not have to object to it. I feel dumber for having to complain about this. But this is 2018. Television should NOT still be this bad. If they did this exact thing on the first season of the original MMPR, I'd chalk it up to the sign of the times, and the fact that even the good kids shows back then like Batman: The Animated Series were actually clumsily written. But in 2018? No excuse.
Okay, so it is credible to me that Sarah tells her dad that Hayley's mom likes spicy food. Telling a person what their potential date likes to eat is actual legitimate dating advice. People would like to know this before the date.
But then Hayley tells her mom that Sarah's dad like spinning around, and my brain is pretty much destroyed. Do I even HAVE to explain how dumb that is? How does spinning around have anything to do with dating? Even worse is the idea that the writers actually made it come up. On a little kids' carousel of all places. I do not simply think the writers of Power Rangers are bad writers. That would be one thing. I actually think they are legitimately stupid people. That is not only not something a competent writer would never do, but it's not something that would occur to a PERSON who never writes anything at all to do either. I should not have to nitpick this idea. A grown @$$ adult who gets paid money to write for television professionally should already know this. This p!sses me off so much because in a sane world, in a show with writers who aren't actual idiots, this would not be an actual problem. It would never occur to anyone except for the genuinely stupid writers of this show. And considering they are writing for children, that p!sses me off. I see a cr@ppy show, I can just turn it off (which is frankly something I should have done to this show ages ago). But little kids are impressionable. If they know nothing but entertainment this stupid and badly written, it strikes me that they will know nothing else. It is probably not a coincidence that the current Golden Age of Television started about a generation after cartoons started becoming high quality in the early 1990's, and improving from there. If this episode is the best a kid is gonna see, they won't know any better than to accept utter cr@p as acceptable. I resent a lot of stuff I used to love growing up when I rewatched it years later, because I believed the adults writing it did wrong by me back in the day. This spinning idea is something so bad, I cannot think of the cr@ppiest live-action sitcom from my youth that would use that idea. MAYBE Small Wonder. Maybe. But that's it. And that p!sses me off.
2. Victor and Monty try to claim a prize for biggest fish for dressing Monty in a fish costume. On the one hand, it almost fits, because the entire franchise involves people taking rubbery, fake-looking monster costumes seriously. But read that sentence again. And punch yourself in the face repeatedly because it is less painful than having to watch that.
3. This one annoys me, but it's a problem not only for all superhero kids shows, but ones geared towards adults like The Arrovverse. But Hayley and Sarah's parents should recognize their voices as the Power Rangers immediately. Hayley tries to disguise the voice for a second, but her and Sarah are quickly back to talking normally soon after. This supposedly is the conceit of superheroes that we have been conditioned to accept. But I don't accept it. It is not freaking good enough, and never has been.
4. The fourth thing that pissed me off is Mick. What I hate about him is that the writers think his lessons are clever. They aren't. They are patronizing and insufferable. If I were a teenager in high school, and an adult did the "opposite suggestion to what the right idea is" line to me, I would instantly know they were talking down to me, and b.s.ing me, and thought I was stupid, and were treating me that way. He's a troll, and should be treated as such. That is a move that will impress a five year. Granted, the show's target audience is five year olds, but the Rangers are high school teenagers. The proper response to Mick doing that is "Eff you, Mick you insufferable b@stard!" Not only would they instantly know what Mick was doing, but they would be insulted by it. And I hate that this show confuses ham-fisted and obvious platitudes as actual wisdom. It's not like the Rangers aren't all dumb as rocks anyways, but maybe the right answer is that they SHOULDN'T be dumb as rocks in the first place.
5. Sarah's Dad invents a drone to "catch fish without hurting them". If you don't want to hurt a fish, there is no point in catching them. A truly humane person would simply leave them alone. Even a marine biologist, a person who DOES study fish would know this.
Were there any things in the episode I liked? I felt like Hayley's mom and Sarah's dad had genuine chemistry, and I like that they both figured out they had been had, which suggests they are both smarter than their children. Of course, Hayley's mom isn't actually TOO smart, because upon the spinning suggestion, she didn't smack her daughter across the head and say "B****, please!"
The other thing I liked was hearing the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers theme song again. That was fun.
But I have incredibly low standards for this show and it seems to keep failing them every single week. I used to follow Power Ranger Super Samurai and Mega Force. Not religiously. I only saw each episode once. But neither of those versions (especially not Samurai) had the same kinds of bad writing problems associated with both Dino Charge and Ninja Steel. And I'm not sure why that is. But both of the sets of writers for these two most recent seasons need to be fired from the franchise, and never hired in Hollywood ever again. And at least Dino Charge had the awesome Ryan Carter in the back half of the season, which made up for a LOT. Ninja Steel has nothing so good going for it. 0.
Power Rangers: Super Ninja Steel “Game Plan”
If this review is entirely about Power Rangers, I’ll be surprised.
I don’t want to get off on a rant here... but Dennis Miller totally sucks. I could be wrong.*
The biggest question this raised for me is “Why the frak wasn’t Commander Riker court-martialed for doing the exact same thing Preston did here? How is it that Burnham is a mutineer and that traitor Riker skates entirely? How is it Riker gets to end that episode sitting on the bridge next to Picard as if nothing happened?” You know your Star Trek is messed up when Commander Riker is more detestable than Wesley Crusher for an episode. And Wesley Crusher was already plenty detestable in that episode.
Where was I? Oh, I liked that they actually spent money and created game graphics for the device, and was tickled when it looked like the monster would be a little CGI cartoon creature. And then he turns into a Japanese rubbery monster (that looks nothing like the CGI design by the way) and I remember exactly how hamstrung by the Japanese version this show actually is.
I am not simply mad that Victor does the Roadrunner gag to sneak playing the game in class. I am mad that it worked. I hate this show. The lady losing her wig was similarly cringe-inducing.
“It’s like fish having to swim or bees having to buzz.” I understand this show has terrible, unintelligent writers, and possibly the stupidest writers on television. Stipulated. But when it comes to the fictional hall of fame of a character who can’t come up with a decent simile to save his life, Mick is probably gonna the bring home the gold. I say this because it’s far from the first time he’s said something that dumb and clichéd.
I think Mick and Levi are overthinking things about how to get the kids to stop playing the game. What they should do is invite all the parents to the school to play, and then have the parents be super into it. Then the kids would break the devices on principle. Leave it to this show to always take the least funny option.
I am so pissed off at Star Trek right now I am barely aware that I just watched a Power Rangers episode. **1/2.
*I’m not.
American Dad! "Paranoid Frandroid"
Is it just me or does Klaus totally suck?
I was wondering how Stan would explain Francine still being alive to the CIA and then when I saw the funeral I was like "Oh, I get it. They're super dumb." Makes sense.
Love that Roger is dressed like Langly from The X-Files.
Steve and Snot will NEVER get laid. Worst pick-up attempt EVER.
Good episode but I wanna just smack Klaus. ****.
American Dad! "The Census Of The Lambs"
That's exactly what I imagine a Law and Order convention would be like. Ice-T's cameo at the end was cool because boarding schools are for suckers.
Barry's modeling plot could be summed up by Toshi asking why they were jealous of him. That nude photo of him and the wrinkly pug was nasty.
Speaking of fat people, Tuttle lost weight.
The cheerful guy in the hole was so funny.
Lots of people have two hats. Worst suspicious clue ever.
Poor Jim. Is his name even Jim?
Funny episode. ****1/2.
American Dad! “Shell Game”
Wow, that episode sucked. It is surprising how stupid and unfunny both of those plots were.
Any good things? I don’t think Morning Mimosa will ever get old, so it’s probably smart that the show knows enough to shove it into an episode that is otherwise terrible. Because it WAS terrible otherwise. *.