Seven shows enter the fray. One comes out on top. Which one will it be?

7) The Equalizer (CBS/Paramount Plus)

English Audio Description?: Yes

i always think it’s hilarious that of all the companies that could show their generosity and donate their funds to a good cause, that the audio description is sponsored by Toyota. I mean, of all the brands out there positioned to uniquely use audio description to boost their brand, you would think Toyota wouldn’t be the first thought. However, every week, I’m constantly reminded I can go places. Thanks, Toyota. In many ways, there’s something nice about a company doing something that has little to no benefit to them, but just because it seems like the right thing to do. The episode was fine, it just wound up the least interesting of the seven things I watched yesterday.

Episode Grade: B

6) Rami (Hulu)

English Audio Description?: Yes

I always appreciate parts of Rami, as I think his perspective is unique and needed in this atmosphere. Particularly, I liked how he treaded very dangerous waters when he met up with a girl, and made a comment about how religion doesn’t really matter that much. Like, his character is Muslim, but not devout. Then the woman gives him a pen and paper and asks him to draw Mohamed, and all the controversy surrounding South Park and a similar storyline came flooding back. I sat there wondering… will he do it? His commentary just on this singular action alone is an example of why I look forward to Rami, even if not everything works.

Episode Grade: B+

5) Archer (FX/Hulu)

English Audio Description?: No

While the episode does feature always hilarious moments, and as the show is deep into it’s run, I’m not giving up shows I was watching before my vision loss, someone should have told Archer that their action sequences make it less fun to watch when you’re blind. It’s like watching one of my favorite things, but feeling like somehow it doesn’t love me anymore.

Episode Grade: A-

4) Devil In Ohio (Netflix)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Four episodes in, and I’m not really certain if all this will pay off. It’s not necessarily scary, and it barely qualifies as creepy. It just sits in this mysterious mode where they are dangling a carrot with the promise of more. It’s just intriguing enough to keep you moving forward, but I can also see this being a show where the ending is not what anyone wants or expected.

Episode Grade: A-

3) Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO/ HBO mAX)

English Audio Description?: No

This week, Oliver took a look at the monarchy. I appreciated his point of view, some of the quotes he managed to get, and if I accept the facts at face value, they certainly are troubling. The guy that came off most like the asshat of the year was the guy trying to sweep the treatment of the aboriginal peoples of Australia under the rug, like those people should be happy, and just accept manifest destiny and colonization. You know, those British folk really liked that place so much they only sent their best and brightest there in the first place. It’s not like… it was a prison colony.

Episode Grade: A-

2) Vampire Academy (Peacock)

English Audio Description?: Yes

While one of our leads was trying to figure out what kind of bender she would be (Fire? Water? Air? Earth?), Rose was trying to survive a tribunal. In the second episode. Man, this show moves fast, but it also finds really interesting ways of expertly putting backstory in without it feeling unnecessarily expository.

Episode Grade: A

1) Never Have I Ever (Netflix)

English Audio Description?: Yes

There was a lot to love about the 9th episode of the season, which started off with Davie being elated that her relationship with Dez was going so well. Then came the concert, the first one since her dad passed, and she could see him in the audience. This caused her to retreat, where Dez’s mom seemed really understanding, but then ripped out the rug from the relationship. And to make matters worse, Dez basically did’t even fight for Davie because his mom pays for his cell phone. Girlfriends area. Dime a dozen, but a cell phone is forever. We also saw Ben take an important step in being a major player for Davie’s attention in the final season by doing the right thing, and Paxton got into college and had to find out how to tell Trent. Trent ended up OK, thanks to his amazing girlfriend, and a certain milestone they crossed together. To wrap this story, and why this hit #1 today. A very nice conversation between Davie and her mother, where she reminded her daughter how special she is, and how she sees her late husband from time to time as well. Without being the season finale, it sure did have a lot of great moments.

Episode Grade: A