Since I’m basically in a long term relationship with my TV, I made sure we got our quality time in. As i saw yet another debate rage on about the lack of audio description on a certain streaming service, and with certain shows mentioned, I feel like there’s always time to mention checking out the audio description project: adp.ACB.org

If my lists aren’t enough for you, they have a comprehensive list of what has audio description, and where you can watch it.

7) Wolf Pack (Paramount plus)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Y’all, this series is not good. I see that it’s based on a series of books. My best comparison is the recently cancelled Vampire Academy on peacock, which had much better acting, writing, and storytelling. Two episodes in, and these characters largely keep repeating their trust issues. That one kid went home, and his mom (played by what must be a soulless Terminator) gives him some bullshit speech, slaps him, and then goes to bed. You would think her personality would kick in the next morning after some coffee. you would be wrong. And her husband just mopes around like he’s permanently tethered to this soulless human being, and he’s fucking miserable about it. Meanwhile, we’ve got a girl hanging out with her little brother in a hotel room. Her brother is now a parrot and just repeats words she says after the trauma of losing his house I suppose, and she’s so concerned with it that she runs around the building to test her wolf skills. I really do want to watch a show starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, but this show doesn’t actually star Sarah Michelle Gellar. This is a show that barely uses its biggest name, and is hoping her fans will come and check this show out. Sarah, please, do a different show.

Final Grade: C-

6) Madoff (Netflix)

English Audio Description?: Yes

After two solid episodes, this one felt more like a cluster data dump as it cracked the hour mark. It wasn’t as interesting as previous episodes. It’s weird to note pacing issues in a docu-series. But, the third episode slowed down a bit for me. I love the constant audio description notes of Bernie smoking cigars. He’s like a cartoon villain from a 90’s kid show.

Episode Grade: B-

5) Mayor Of Kings Town (Paramount Plus)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Everytime I go to put this show on, my mom comes in with “oh, its the snow plow guy”. Jeremy Renner’s career has now been reduced to being run over by a snow plow. To be fair, she rarely knows an actors name. IT’s just the association that makes me laugh. At this point, I feel like I am owed a Dianne Wiest stand alone episode. Just her. No one else is allowed in the episode.

Episode Grade: B-

4) Kindred (Hulu)

English Audio Description?: Yes

It’s not that Episode 5 is bad, but it is really hard to ignore that they time jump, and this slave owner buys Kevin’s excuses again about his lack of belongings. I know Kevin made a last minute call to go back with her, but he’s still dressed in modern clothing, and no one finds this oddly suspicious. Meanwhile, this Luke guy… he’s gonna be trouble.

Episode Grade: A-

3) The Recruit (Netflix)

English Audio Description?: Yes

in a very tight day, I do want to note something similar about The Recruit that I mentioned yesterday about The Last Of Us. I’m also now 5 episodes down in The Recruit, and the amount of character interaction and world building they’ve done in five episodes is also remarkably good, like The Last Of Us. It makes you feel like you’ve been watching the show a lot longer than you have. I’m not a fan of max trying to seduce him in this episode, as I feel like it throws off her dynamic. She’s trying to shift her power around to include having some sexual control over him, and she’s too smart for that. I always had envisioned Max as not needing to occupy her life with that bullshit, but here she is, seducing like she’s Xenia Onatopp.

Episode Grade: A-

2) Leopard Skin (Peacock)

English Audio Description?: Yes

I reached the end. I have no idea if there will be another season or not, but this concept, this show, is absolutely bonkers. I loved it. It feels like the kind of thing Steven Soderbergh might have directed if he made a TV show. It’s stylistic, unpredictable as hell at times, and resolves in a manner that seems to both be a satisfying conclusion, while also being still a giant question mark. Things may never be answered, but I feel like part of the allure of Leopard Skin is that it refuses to make sense or explain itself entirely ever. Not in a bad way, but in a kind of playful way, Based on it being on Peacock, I’ll bet this is a one and done.

Episode Grade: A, Series Grade: A

1) Harley Quinn (HBO MAX)

English Audio Description?: Yes

i did wait until Valentines Day to catch this one off, and slightly longer episode of Harley Quinn that was packed with jokes. I love this show so much, possibly more than James Gunn and his body of work. This is the one thing he *cannot* touch. In fact, why not expand this universe? I’d love to see rotating limited series spin-offs centered around other villains, starting with Bane. I’ve always loved what they’ve done with Bane on this show, and making him such a prominent figure in this special was amazing. I love that he gets hung up on little things. Anyways…

Episode Grade: A