American Gothic (1995) s01e19 “Strangler” [1998] D: Doug Lefler. S: Gary Cole, Lucas Black, Paige Turco, Brenda Bakke, Sarah Paulson, Nick Searcy, John Mese. Cole and Paulson go full magical in the opening, resulting in Cole hiring the ghost of the Boston Strangler (Gareth Williams) to take Paulson out. Ghosts can kill ghosts. Williams tries to bring her out by befriending Black. Williams is pretty dang evil, and it’s a great episode for Searcy, but there’s a lot wrong. Especially the direction.

American Gothic (1995) s01e20 “Triangle” [1996] D: James Frawley. S: Gary Cole, Lucas Black, Paige Turco, Brenda Bakke, Sarah Paulson, Nick Searcy, John Mese. Icky episode about Cole mind controlling Turco and Bakke into needing him over self. Except it started as a showcase for Turco until she completely disappears for the finish. And Mese gets a bunch. It has occasional moments but it’s got a bad vibe. And the special effects are all either bad or ugly. It’s a sharp decline.

American Gothic (1995) s01e21 “The Buck Stops Here” [1996] D: Lou Antonio. S: Gary Cole, Lucas Black, Paige Turco, Brenda Bakke, Sarah Paulson, Nick Searcy, John Mese. Lots of problems with the episode, but considering how more mythology they get into the one episode… It’s impressive. They do a fine job getting the show to a finale. Too bad the budget’s gone (it looks very daytime soap), and all the ideas for Black are bad. But guest star Brent Jenning does get one surprisingly outstanding scene.

FROM (2022) s03e02 “When We Go” [2024] D: . S: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, David Alpay, Ricky He, Chloe Van Landschoot, Avery Konrad. The monsters have finally killed someone everyone likes, so we get a rather affecting episode. Lots of mourning, lots of anger, lots of bad ideas. We’ve also got guest star Robert Joy bringing a level of humanity to the show we don’t often get. Really good episode for Perrineau, He, and Van Landschoot. The cliffhanger’s dirt cheap, though.

Grantchester (2014) s09e05 “Episode 5” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth. There’s been a murder at Ainsworth and Green’s daughter Skye Lucia Degruttola’s office. It’s a little about the family, a little about the murder, a lot about the sexism women faced and face in the workplace. Degruttola is around but doesn’t get much; Johns gets a deserved spotlight. And Nair’s in a bad mood thanks to unexpected news.

Grantchester (2014) s09e06 “Episode 6” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth. The mystery this episode’s a showy affair involving archeologists and fraud. The meat of the episode is Nair breaking bad (turns out he’s a GRANTCHESTER vicar, after all), Weaver (who directed too, quite nicely) finding out Dimsdale’s keeping secrets, and Ainsworth being stoned on housewife’s helper. Nair’s arc mostly just reminds his character is still too unsubstatial.

Tulsa King (2022) s02e03 “Oklahoma v. Manfredi” [2024] D: Joshua Marston. S: Sylvester Stallone, Jay Will, Max Casella, Annabella Sciorra, Neal McDonough, Frank Grillo, Andrea Savage. It’s the trial episode, something the show wastes no time with. Stallone does a good job with it, though when he questions ex-girlfriend, Savage… it reminds of a more charming era. Grillo shows up to talk tough with Stallone; also fine. The episode’s usually better than fine, rarely worse. McDonough’s just a lousy season villain is all. Eh.

Agatha All Along (2024) s01e01 “Seekest Thou the Road” D: Jac Schaeffer. S: Kathryn Hahn, Joe Locke, Debra Jo Rupp, Aubrey Plaza, Emma Caulfield Ford, David Payton, David Lengel. Direct(ish) sequel to WANDAVISION has Hahn playing a prestige series detective, except her latest case starts throwing her. There’s Plaza’s FBI agent, come to help, only Hahn can’t quite remember their history. And then suspect Locke is pretty sure he knows Hahn’s secrets too. Shame she doesn’t herself. Hahn’s good, Plaza’s good, good production, but it drags.

FROM (2022) s03e01 “Shatter” [2024] D: . S: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, Hannah Cheramy, Pegah Ghafoori, Elizabeth Moy, Simon Webster. Okay season premiere has some excellent work from Perrineau. He’s trying to hold things together as the survivors run out of food (and the monsters notice). Meanwhile, Sandino Moreno is on the outside trying to figure out what to do next. Some decent mythology building, but still lots of bad acting. Bailey’s better than usual, ditto He.

Grantchester (2014) s09e04 “Episode 4” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth, Skye Lucia Degruttola. New vicar Nair goes to a fancy party with some racists and hot-to-trot rich ladies, but a murder spoils any subplots for him. He does get to play detective and bond–ever so briefly–with Peake-Jones. Green gets the more involved family subplot, and Weaver’s got one spinning up. It’s a solid episode.

Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e04 “The Stunt Man” [2024] D: Chris Koch. S: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Michael Cyril Creighton, Molly Shannon, Richard Kind, Paul Rudd. Spectacular episode has the trio solving part of the mystery just to discover there’s even more to it. And with a returning guest star (Rudd, in his series best), plus some character development for Creighton. It’s a particularly good episode for Gomez, who gets a couple breathers from the boys. But will they pull off the latest reveal….

Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e05 “Adaptation” [2024] D: Jessica Yu. S: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Michael Cyril Creighton, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Molly Shannon, Paul Rudd. After a lackluster, if significant, resolution to the cliffhanger, the trio figures out how to filter down an increasing suspect pool. Along the way, they pick up a sidekick (Jin Ha), who just happens to be the screenwriter. And helpful for their process. There’s some great comic stuff from Short. The slow start pays off by the finish.

Slow Horses (2022) s04e03 “Penny for Your Thoughts” [2024] D: Adam Randall. S: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Jonathan Pryce. Lots of reveals this episode, along with a dynamite thrill sequence. While Lowden slowly figures out his French predicament (including angry villagers), Oldman plays with a deteriorating Pryce’s fate. Oh, and James Callis–out of nowhere with the agency, no pun–all of a sudden decides to start snooping on MI-5 corruption. Bet it figures in. Stellar stuff.

Slow Horses (2022) s04e04 “Returns” [2024] D: Adam Randall. S: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jonathan Pryce, Hugo Weaving, Saskia Reeves, James Callis. There are two unexpected uh ohs this episode. First, Weaving as the big bad. He’s a parody of a parody. And, wow, that “Yank” accent work. So that part’s concerning. Also concerning is the apparent final reveal, which doesn’t get explained just implied. It’s all of a sudden a soap opera. Thomas’s stuff’s the highlight. The rest flounders.

Tulsa King (2022) s02e02 “Kansas City Blues” [2024] D: Craig Zisk. S: Sylvester Stallone, Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Tatiana Zappardino, Garrett Hedlund, Dana Delany. Tiring episode setting up Stallone’s court case. He’s representing himself, only he doesn’t know season villain Neal McDonough is out to get him already. And then Frank Grillo’s also planning on attacking. Meanwhile, Stallone can’t even go to his hotel because of the reporters. It’s high wire drama. The finale features a truly desperate, utterly charmless cameo slot. Groan.

Grantchester (2014) s09e01 “Episode 1” [2024] D: Katherine Churcher. S: Robson Green, Tom Brittney, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth, Charlotte Ritchie, Bradley Hall. GRANTCHESTER makes no bones about the vicar change of the season. Brittney goes from not wanting a new job to everything in the latest case trying into an analogy. It must be fate. Or contracts. Green oscillates between seeming upset about change to obvious about it. It’s all well enough done, they’re just dragging out a lame duck.

Grantchester (2014) s09e02 “Episode 2” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth. Exit Brittney, who outlasted the lead he replaced. GRANTCHESTER just can’t have a married vicar as lead, which the episode unintentionally showcases. There’s so much history with Brittney’s character and the rest of the cast, the episode has to pick and choose who gets a proper farewell. There’s also a murder to keep things busier. It’s solid; Green’s fantastic.

Grantchester (2014) s09e03 “Episode 3” [2024] D: . S: Robson Green, Al Weaver, Tessa Peake-Jones, Kacey Ainsworth. Hot new vicar Nair comes to town and causes an immediate stir due to his skin color and Imperial origin. In other words, he’s of Indian descent and they’re all bigots. Ish. Meanwhile, Green is in need of a new vicar Watson and has to convince the new guy. It’s a pretty good intro, giving Nair a bunch too.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014) s11e22 “September 8, 2024: School Lunch Programs” [2024] D: . S: John Oliver. Funny “news of the week” segments–Trump and Vance are such good punchlines (for now)–and then a great feature on universal school lunches. Oliver gets some real big applause for the controversial position of not letting kids go hungry. But then the dessert’s just forced (Halloween-related) blah. Also: they ought to make the talking Reagan action figure.

Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e03 “Two for the Road” [2024] D: Chris Koch. S: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria. Excellent episode has the trio splitting up to hang out with their movie star counterparts. Longoria’s annoying Gomez, Levy’s fawning over Martin, and Galifinksnis can’t stand Short. They all go investigating together to some very, very funny results. Often involving the other guest stars, but the slightly off chemistry between the pairings is the key. Superb acting throughout.

Slow Horses (2022) s04e02 “A Stranger Comes to Town” [2024] D: Adam Randall. S: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas. It’s a particularly great episode for Scott Thomas and a decent or better one for everyone else. Oldman’s still early in the first act; Scott Thomas and Lowden are finishing it up. HORSES isn’t wasting any time tying the big arcs–they’re fused. And involve a big name guest star. Real good overall, if overly deliberate.

Tulsa King (2022) s02e01 “Back in the Saddle” [2024] D: Craig Zisk. S: Sylvester Stallone, Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Domenick Lombardozzi, Garrett Hedlund, Dana Delany. The show immediately cops out of the cliffhanger with Stallone spending a night in jail before getting bail. He then spends the rest of the episode planning on going even more legit than he has been in the era of legal weed. It’s a middling episode and a bad season premiere. Some solid acting throughout; all very professional.

Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) D: John Landis. S: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, Hector Elizondo, Timothy Carhart, John Saxon, Theresa Randle, Stephen McHattie. Dismal sequel has Murphy returning to Beverly Hills in pursuit of another killer–Carhart, who’s atrocious–this time at a theme park. Murphy teams up with Reinhold again (John Ashton wisely sat this one out, with Elizondo filling in). Truly terrible direction from Landis would sink it even without the lousy Steven E. DeSouza script and many bad performances.

Blondes at Work (1938) D: Frank McDonald. S: Glenda Farrell, Barton MacLane, Tom Kennedy, Rosella Towne, Donald Briggs, John Ridgely, Thomas E. Jackson. For their latest case, reporter Farrell and her copper boyfriend MacLane are working apart. Police captain Frank Shannon wants Farrell off the crime beat and is forcing MacLane to comply. So MacLane investigates with sidekick Jackson while Farrell snoops and sneaks. While the setup’s messy and the second act’s slow, it mostly works. The racism and bullying stink, though.

The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) D: Kevin Reynolds. S: Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce, Richard Harris, James Frain, Dagmara Dominczyk, Michael Wincott, Luis Guzmán. Well-mounted, poorly written misfire of a Dumas adaptation has an international cast playing French to cover hero Caviezel’s non-accent. He’s a good-hearted lad imprisoned because of his bad best friend, Pearce. Caviezel breaks bad, learns swords, and avenges himself. Caviezel ranges from woefully miscast to quite good (albeit as Dracula). Pearce stinks; so does Reynold’s swashbuckling.

Torchy Blane in Chinatown (1939) D: William Beaudine. S: Glenda Farrell, Barton MacLane, Tom Kennedy, Henry O’Neill, Patric Knowles, James Stephenson, Anderson Lawler. Profound racism abounds, but at least Farrell doesn’t hang out in CHINATOWN. And the racism is part of the story? Subtlety. MacLane’s tasked with protecting American graverobber Lawler from Chinese threats (they’re mad he’s looting jade); somehow, it will also involve senator O’Neill. Strong mystery, with good moments for Kennedy in particular, but ick. Also, they’re back in NYC?

Torchy Blane in Panama (1938) D: William Clemens. S: Lola Lane, Paul Kelly, Tom Kennedy, Anthony Averill, Larry Williams, Betty Compson, Hugh O’Connell. Lacking outing has Lane and Kelly taking over the lead roles as TORCHY and her copper boyfriend, respectively. They don’t have any chemistry; in fact, Kelly spends most of the movie lecturing Lane about her outfit and general lack of usefulness (sexist much?). Suspect Averill’s solid, Williams is lousy as a rival reporter, and Kennedy’s stuck holding it all together.

Torchy Gets Her Man (1938) D: William Beaudine. S: Glenda Farrell, Barton MacLane, Tom Kennedy, Willard Robertson, Thomas E. Jackson, George Guhl, Frank Reicher. Farrell and MacLane return after their bewildering recast. When they get a moment, they have chemistry. They have few moments. Most of the time is either master counterfeiter Robertson outwitting the cops or Farrell trying to crack the case. Lots of familiar faces playing different characters. And for some reason they’re in San Francisco now (previously NYC). Good enough.

Torchy Runs for Mayor (1939) D: Ray McCarey. S: Glenda Farrell, Barton MacLane, Tom Kennedy, John Miljan, Frank Shannon, Joe Cunningham, George Guhl. In their final outing (but not the last TORCHY), Farrell and MacLane find themselves at opposite ends of an issue. Farrell’s out to reveal political boss Miljan, while MacLane’s a cog in the machine. It’s a very slight story, without much drama or mystery. Milan’s a fine villain; Farrell and MacLsne just don’t get enough to do.

My Lady Jane (2024) s01e05 “I’m Gonna Change the World” D: Stefan Schwartz. S: Emily Bader, Edward Bluemel, Anna Chancellor, Rob Brydon, Kate O’Flynn, Henry Ashton, Oliver Chris. Bader finds an unexpected connection with Brydon when she discovers how intellectually stimulating the game of thrones can be to play. And downright fun. Bader and Bluemel are also getting hotter and heavier, what with mortal danger thrown into the mix. There’s a lot going on–particularly O’Flynn getting nimble in her plotting–and the show’s keeping pace.

My Lady Jane (2024) s01e06 “I Feel Free” D: Stefan Schwartz. S: Emily Bader, Edward Bluemel, Anna Chancellor, Rob Brydon, Kate O’Flynn, Henry Ashton, Oliver Chris. Bluemel has abandoned Bader to find a cure for his were-horse curse. O’Flynn is on the run and putting together an army to return for the crown. So Bader plays a round of the game of thrones and can’t always keep up. Busy, full, and building towards the series’s first consequential cliffhanger. Rather good stuff.

My Lady Jane (2024) s01e07 “Another Girl, Another Planet” D: Stefan Schwartz. S: Emily Bader, Edward Bluemel, Anna Chancellor, Rob Brydon, Kate O’Flynn, Henry Ashton, Oliver Chris. Bluemel has abandoned Bader to find a cure for his were-horse curse. O’Flynn is on the run and putting together an army to return for the crown. So Bader plays a round of the game of thrones and can’t always keep up. Busy, full, and building towards the series’s first consequential cliffhanger. Rather good stuff.

My Lady Jane (2024) s01e08 “God Save the Queen” D: Jamie Babbit. S: Emily Bader, Edward Bluemel, Anna Chancellor, Rob Brydon, Kate O’Flynn, Henry Ashton, Oliver Chris. Dynamite (better be) season finale with the show running head first into history. Except since the audience isn’t just Tudor nerds, they build all this other tension. It gets almost too much, as Bader’s attempts to save herself or at least Bluemel keep failing. And O’Flynn’s finally into her own as a villain. Killer action finale too. More please.

Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e02 “Gates of Heaven” [2024] D: John Hoffman. S: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Michael Cyril Creighton, Amy Ryan, Jane Lynch, Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Back home and fairly certain they’ve figured out the crime, the trio splits up to investigate. Gomez and Short go check out the strange riff-raff in the apartment side of the building, while Martin imagines (or does he) visits from Lynch and Ryan. Another beautifully paced episode. The “other part” of the BUILDING proves rather engaging.

Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e01 “Once Upon a Time in the West” [2024] D: John Hoffman. S: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Michael Cyril Creighton, Teddy Coluca, Meryl Streep, Molly Shannon. Interestingly plotted direct sequel to last season’s finale, except the dead body is gone and the trio have no idea what they’re missing. Then Hollywood comes a-knocking–more like pounding–on a rights deal for a film adaptation, and they’re LA-bound. By the end, the season’s set up. It’s a fabulously well-executed premiere.

Slow Horses (2022) s04e01 “Identity Theft” [2024] D: Adam Randall. S: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Christopher Chung, Rosalind Eleazar, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Kadiff Kirwan. The season kicks off with two (undoubtedly eventually connected) storylines. A terror attack in London occupies Scott Thomas and the main MI-5 contingent. But then Jonathan Pryce shoots Lowden (Pryce is suffering from dementia and thinks he’s being watched), which Oldman investigates. And barely informs the rest of the team about. But all is not what it seems.