So, this was a weird day for me. As I sit down and really think about the rankings, I realize that none of the episodes I watched were really deserving of an A grade. This might be the first day since I started doing the daily roundup that that is the case. And, the best things i did watch, didn’t have audio description. Welcome to my twilight zone.

1) Gaslit (Starz)

English Audio Description Available?: No

This Watergate drama continues to be compelling material. I almost gave this an A, except there are themes it picks up and drops, like brief mentions are enough. We see Martha’s (Julia Roberts) nightmares early on, but they don’t remain pervasive, and despite being told to become the narrator for her own story, the episode focuses on other things. Perhaps, setting us up for more in Episode 5, but in Episode 4, it felt like it just was moving chess pieces around. In a way, the people behind the watergate scandal come across as so inept, with so much posturing about who is closer to the president, that it’s possible (in the world of Gaslit) that Nixon knew nothing, and just hired a team of idiots. That’s definitely an interesting way to go with this.

Episode Grade: A-

2) Atlanta (FX/Hulu)

English Audio Description Available?: No

In the third episode, the gang visit a billionaire’s house, where audio description would have been nice. There are several moments where knowing the visual presentation would have allowed me a more complete experience. So really, this episode ends up with a slightly lower grade simply because it wasn’t easy to follow and understand from a blind perspective. Get on that shit Hulu/FX.

Episode Grade: A-

3) The Hardy Boys (Hulu)

English Audio Description: Yes

This Canadian import continues to be a “this would be the best CW show”, as our titular leads continue to investigate. It’s a little hard to take this seriously now that one of them is actually The Eye, but I’ll keep on this ride for now.

Episode Grade: B+

4) The First Ladies (Showtime)

English Audio Description: No

So they are actually going there with Eleanor. OK then. I thought they might just be suggestive, but we’re going straight into the fire with a female love interest. I’m sure that makes this series somehow stand out among the myriad of Roosevelt movies and TV shows, but it’s detracting from her actual accomplishments. Then again, who accomplished anything in Episode 6? Certainly not Michelle, who was very sidelined as Barack dealt with whether or not to support gay marriage, and in Betty’s storyline she was trying to get the equal Rights Amendment passed. Meanwhile, Eleanor’s storyline was trying to find her girlfriend a job so they could stay close. Which First Lady won? Once again, Betty Ford, and the wonderful Michelle Pfeiffer being given the most to do.

Episode Grade: B

5) The Golden Girls (Hulu)

English Audio Description Available?: No

Sophia and Blanche start dating the same man. Hilarity ensues.

Episode Grade: B

5) Cheers (Paramount Plus)

English Audio Description Available?: No

An episode that featured quite heavily on Coach, and was even a bit heavier in tone than I expected.

Episode Grade: B-

6) Close Enough (HBO MAX)

English Audio Description: Yes

I finally started the third season of this show, only to be disappointed by the season premiere. This show is hit or miss for me anyway, and some episodes are hilarious, and others I just don’t understand. I didn’t really like or get the Season Premiere.

Episode Grade: C-

8) Anatomy Of A Scandal (Netflix)

English Audio Description: Yes

God this was boring. Tried out the first episode, and I didn’t care about anything. A politician gets caught in an affair. OK. There really wasn’t much to this… until the last 5 seconds, and now I’m like, do i come back to figure out what the fuck that was? Is this show about to go in a complete 180 direction? Good lord. You can’t just direct a very bland pilot with dull and derivative characters and then suddenly change the entire game in the last 5 seconds. That doesn’t make your show good. it just means we have to come back to figure out what that was. But unless this improves a lot, even the answer to the question won’t be enough to keep me watching beyond the second episode.

Episode Grade: D+