The Super Bowl: Probably the best SB I’ve watched live; I may not like Brady & Co., but they put on an amazing show. Same thing goes for Gaga, who delivered the best halftime show this side of Prince; subtly political but primarily energetic and fun.
The Good Place: Michael Schur is his generation’s Norman Lear, and Kristen Bell is possibly the most likable person on the planet. But my favorite part? Listening to Adam Scott’s character repeatedly refer to Fake Eleanor as “Trashbag”; I thought of you girls every time he said it, and again every time F.E. made that confused, hurt little face in response.
The Magicians: How the hell can I be on a nerd-nexus like Tumblr this often without anyone telling me about The Magicians? You’ve let me down again, assholes. But more importantly, how the hell can a show with such a bland title, no-name cast, and mind-bogglingly derivative premise be that good? Its one weakness –the fact that it isn’t about anything in particular, and thus doesn’t feel Important like BSG or Buffy– is the biggest clue to how it manages to work so well. The arm’s-length camera work, the drab color grading, and the actors’ weirdly grounded performances all contribute, but the real star is the story structure; it feels like someone has finally figured out how to evolve beyond The Whedon Method of genre storytelling by stubbornly refusing to linger on melodrama and relentlessly culling or subverting every obligatory story beat it can find. All the big stuff you expect from a “mature viewers” show about gods, witches, and wardrobes clocks is there, but trimmed of all the fluff and irony.
The Expanse: Just started it, so all I can say so far is that it’s ambitious, and WHAT IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY IS THAT MESS ON TOM JANE’S HEAD?
A Series of Unfortunate Events: As with Harry Potter, I think I’m just too old for this shit. There’s nothing technically wrong with it, but no amount of NPH and Warburton is enough to get me excited about warmed-over Roald Dahl.
Victoria/The Crown: So far, The Doctor’s royal drama is much stronger than his erstwhile companion’s, but I can overlook the intense Downton Abbey-ness of Victoria as long as the camera keeps making love to Jenna Coleman’s perfect face.
