I expanded a bit more with my amount of shows. But even with 8 irons in the fire, it may not change the show at the top.

8) Shantorum (Apple Plus)

English Audio Description?: Yes

It wasn’t a bad day for TV, this just happened to be the show that ends up at the bottom of this list. I’m not getting as engaged in Shantorum, despite Charlie Hunnam. In this episode, we learned a bit more about the underbelly, and i can’t help but think that he was supposed to come here to reform his image and he’s not even trying. What was that whole scene with his professor in the first episode? He’s still walking a very questionable line, just in a new locale. We got to see what I can equate to a mob boss, who seems to think Lin is useful. I still really don’t know about this show.

Episode Grade: B-

7) The Great North (FOX/Hulu)

English Audio Description?: No

The final episode before winter break wasn’t as funny as some others, and it lacked audio description. In fact, it was the only show I watched that lacked audio description.

Episode Grade: B

6) The Equalizer (CBS/Paramount Plus)

English Audio Description?: Yes

I mostly liked this Bodyguard knockoff, except that when it came time to check out the B-story with her daughter learning self defense, and actually kicking a bullies ass, we had some weird angry version that belittled her daughter for wanting to, and being able to defend herself. If that was my daughter, we’d be having ice cream. Fuck that kid and his broken arm. Bullies need to find out in life that there’s someone always bigger than them, that’s just quieter, and waiting. I lost a lot of respect for Robin this episode.

Episode Grade: B

5) The Imperfects (Netflix)

English Audio Description?: Yes

I’m not sure the introduction of nano bytes this close to the end of the only season of this show ever helped. I was hoping we were wrapping up some mysteries, but sadly these guys thought Netflix would give them a second season. Guys, Netflix doesn’t do that. That’s not their brand. Their brand is to launch a ton of new shows, cancel most of them, and renew the worst ones.

Episode Grade: B+

4) Avenue 5 (HBO/ HBO MAX)

English Audio Description?: Yes

I’d better hustle through this before HBo decides to pull it from it’s entire streaming service like they just did to Westworld. I thought this weeks episode, which ended in the cruise ship finding another floating ship in space to help them, was brilliantly played, and really turned around this whole nonsense with flying into the sun.

Episode Grade: A-

3) Atlanta (FX/Hulu)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Donald Glover kept this episode pretty straight forward. Earn took his family camping for his daughters birthday, and spent the episode really just sitting in being a family. He wasn’t trying to make a joke. There wasn’t another stoy to have to pay attention to. It was just a family, and Earn’s desire to keep his family unit with him as he continues to rise up in the world. I appreciated what he tried to do here, stepping out of the comfort zone of the show. It just wasn’t my favorite thing I saw this day.

Episode Grade: A-

2) The Rookie (ABC/Hulu)

English Audio Description?: Yes

The two big storylines ended up being Nolan walking his boot through her first time potentially being responsible for someone’s death. That gravity clearly wore on her. Meanwhile, Grey and his wife are in New York to visit their daughter, who doesn’t show up, and who isn’t responding to text messages. Grey and his wife start out in what seems like just a case of “oh, she’s probably just hanging out with her boyfriend or something” into a plot that thickened rather fast. Watching that story evolve, and allowing these characters the chance to take center stage really made this episode feel like something special as it leads to a father rescuing his daughter in another city. Grey has a very particular set of skills.

Episode Grade: A

1) Vampire Academy (Peacock)E

Mulish Audio Description?: Yes

I think this was the episode I realized I was hooked. I finally knew all the major players, I had characters I am rooting for, characters I’m rooting against, answers i need, mysteries to uncover, and it only took six episodes. But this episode, which managed to balance its large ensemble quite well finally did it for me.

Episode Grade: A