Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers out there. Tomorrow’s post will reflect what I chose to fill my time with on Turkey Day, but today’s recap is that pre-Thanksgiving window. I’m thankful for audio description, which allows me to watch a lot of programs. Only one program on today’s list doesn’t have audio description, and i am able to understand it better because I’m a long time fan. Otherwise, I think we’d have a very different relationship.

And, if you haven’t followed me yet on YouTube, I’m trying to break 100 subscribers over there as well. Http:\\www.YouTube.com/macthemovieguy, or just search john Stark.

Without further a doo doo as the French say…

5) The Rookie: Feds (ABC/Hulu)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Good lord, Wesley does get kidnapped *A Lot* I know for fans of Feds who maybe don’t feel like watching The Rookie, this might seem like a strange statement, but for those of us who watch the flagship and the spinoff, this episode was lazy as fuck. I don’t think there’s a living person who has been on the receiving end of this many hostage situations in their lifetime. He’s a perpetual damsel in distress, and now he’s in distress on the spinoff. I also noticed that the crossover didn’t matter when the episode needed to wrap with a dance party for Thanksgiving, as Angela and Wesley weren’t present. They’re apparently cool enough to swing in to boost ratings, but not enough to get invited over for whatever the hell this was.

Episode Grade: C+

4) New Amsterdam (Peacock)

English Audio Description?: Yes

I do not understand what was happening with Peacock yesterday, but I watched shows on four different streaming services, and the only one losing its damn mind was Peacock. I think my experience with trying to experience this episode was part of the reason this long time favorite of mine ends up at number four. My episode kept mysteriously starting over before finishing, and I’d try to find that exact point (which when you can’t see, is impossible). So I’d get close, and watch a little bit more, then it would maybe get a little bit further… but it really did not want me to finish this episode (eventually I did, but it took about twice as long as it should have) and all because it always started me over. It’s not like it crashed, and I had to restart the app, and it picked up where I left off. No, it just restarted the damn episode while in progress. As far as the episode itself, I feel like we just had an abortion centric episode, so roping Floyd back into a very similar storyline felt lazy. I actually hated Lauren’s case this week, where she ends up calling CPS and splitting up a brother and sister and their way of trying to survive after their parents both died from Covid. The system forgot about them, and with all that loss, they didn’t want to be split up. Then, we have Iggy, who bursts in near the end with his boldest and biggest most awesome moment, only to just a scene later reveal that he integrated Max’s system anyway. He threw a tantrum, then just rolled on over. It was a nice moment for Iggy to stand up for himself, as it has been a part of that character arc of his, but to see him back off so quick reminded me of the Iggy he’s not trying to be anymore, the one who gives in. Possibly my least favorite New Amsterdam episode in a while.

Episode Grade: B-

3) Devil in Ohio

English Audio Description?: Yes

If you thought I was going to come here and praise this episode, you are so wrong. I’m not really sure what burning down the house did, if he has insurance on it. Other than just make his work a waste of time. I don’t understand why Dani, on the biggest night of allergens, was by herself, and knows she’s allergic, but doesn’t wait till she’s home. I feel like kids who have allergies are taught early ono what to look out for, and to always have their meds around just in case. That dramatic moment where she runs in and tries to get to her epi pen was a reflection of not understanding that a kid as smart as Dani, would make a choice to put herself in that situation. Then, we have our other sibling, who got into a car with a random guy. Ummm… oK. So, Halloween just made everyone stupid? Who would do that? She’s not even in the car with a friend. May isn’t even there. She got into a car with a college aged kid she had never met before that night? Come on now. Who? I wouldn’t even do that, and I’m a guy. Let some random stranger drive me home. That’s how horror movies start. What a quick way to Killy he momentum of the series, by having all the characters make terrible life choices all at once.

Episode grade: B-

2) Archer (FX/Hulu)

English Audio Description?: No

That aforementioned show, with no audio description reached #2 this week simply because the others had oddly awful episodes. Yes, I still need action sequences in Archer to be described. It is a problem. However, I thought the beginning with the laugh track was a funny way to start the episode, and there were some zingers in here. The twist in the end about Ray also reminded us that there always actually is a linear story arc within the season.

Episode Grade: B+

1) Andor (Disney Plus)

English Audio Description?: Yes

With the caveat that I know there are two more episodes left, and I hope for the best with that child narrative thing this show decided to introduce, in so much as that they ahve two episodes to not do it. To shut that shit down. Otherwise, this episode was exciting as hell, as the prisoners took back their lives, overpowered the guards, and gave themselves a fighting chance. Plus, Stellan Skarsgaard sweeping in at the last minute to read that poor unfortunate man trying to “I have my family to think about” his way out of the rebellion, was a perfect scene. Andor just ran away with this trophy today.

Episode Grade: A