Well, started off my morning with shitty news. Apple Plus has cancelled high Desert. honestly, I understand it. The pilot was off putting initially, but once you get past it, Patricia Arquette is doing a hell of a job keeping this thing together. And, Matt Dillon and Brad Garrett do a pretty decent job supporting her. I would have probably renewed this, and I’m sad to see this character go, but Apple released a lot of comedies in the Spring, and right after this was Platonic, which is a better show and really deserves a second season. Shrinking and The Big Door prize already got renewed.

12) The Muppets Mayhem (Disney plus)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Not Yet Renewed

Despite a solid cameo from Weird Al, this episode that involved getting trippy on old marshmallows, reminded me of my most recent thought. This would have made for a great film, but as a series, it’s lagging, and filling time. instead of trying to be a Daisy jones and the Six, it should have shot more for Almost Famous.

Episode Grade: B-

11) Bupkus (Peacock)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Renewed

This Christmas themed episode didn’t really work for me. Most of it just amplifies the loser vibe Pete is so accused of having all the time, and he seems to want to embrace it. For him to be a cast member from a show that produced radiant talent whose lives were cut tragically short by drug use, Davidson certainly has no problem making an entire episode about needing to score some drugs as he films scenes for a movie in a parking lot, while his role is reduced, and JJ Abrams can’t even be bothered to be there. On the flip side, Joe Pesci nails every scene he’s given. The true MVP. He doesn’t even feel scripted. There’s a line where Edie Falco is going to bring a plate to Pete’s entourage that lives in the basement, to which he’s surprised they’re even there, and his lines in this come so fluidly they feel like he actually just improvised his way through the entire scene.

Episode Grade: B-

10) Family Matters (MAX)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Ended

Laura wants to go to a dance, but no one asked her. So she feels like something is wrong with her, which isn’t helped when Eddie pays a friend to escort her to to the dance, and Carl tries to get Urkel to take her to the dance. This is still a part of the series where the show doesn’t revolve around Urkel yet.

Episode Grade: B

9) Home Improvement (Hulu)

English Audio Description?: No

Status: Ended

Jill is hit on at the gym, by someone she’s at least somewhat attracted to, and his response was that he thought Tim was Jill’s brother based on their short interaction. This causes Jill to spiral a bit, as she wonders what happened to the flame in their marriage?

Episode Grade: B

8) Boy Meets World (Disney Plus)

English Audio Description?: No

Status: Ended

Some recent drama on the Boy Meets world podcast run by Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, and Will Freidele, when the actress first cast as Topanga revealed she was fired, she believes, for not being pretty enough. This episode centers around the parents being out for the evening, the babysitter cancelled, Eric doesn’t have a license but he and Jason Marsden (Yes, Marsden. He also voiced Max in Goof Troop/Goofy Movie) need to meet up with some “hot babes”, so mr Feeney and Eric make a deal for him to watch the kids, where Morgan wants to play dress up, and Cory and Shawn keep watching an R rated film. Things get worse when Eric gets his dad’s car impounded.

Episode Grade: B+

7) The Good Wife (Paramount Plus)

English Audio Description?: no

Status: Ended

Alicia defends an 18 year old she used to babysit who was also a former neighbor, with Cary as her lead. He’s never actually been to trial, as he always pleads his cases down, so he’s quite awful in the courtroom, but has no problem taking responsibility to Diane for the eventual victory. I get it. Cary and Diane are the villains in the beginning.

Episode Grade: B+

6) Shiny Happy People (Amazon)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Limited

This docuseries wraps up for me, and i felt it was a strong series. It ends on one of those notes where you realize that the perpetrators are still being guarded and shielded today, and that the battle is still brewing. Again, if I find out anyone believes this IVLP nonsense, I’m cutting them from my life immediately. I do not need or want to know the thoughts of individuals who support this system.

Episode Grade: A-

5) Yellowjackets (Paramount Plus)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Renewed

Season 1, Episode 2 gave me a stronger look at the plane crash, and the aftermath, not to mention the survival instincts of those still alive. Meanwhile, in the adults the series is willing to say are still alive, Christina Ricci is delightfully batty in her role, and Juliette Lewis’s completely opposite personality compliments this weird relationship rather well.

Episode Grade: A-

4) The Walking Dead (Netflix)

English Audio Description?: No

Status: Final Season

Yumiko is put in an impossible situation, yet manages to make the right choice. Meanwhile, Pamela is having our gang all renditioned from the community, and as Daryl points out, “they even took Dog.” Who the hell takes a dog as a prisoner? LOL. But, a very satisfying death occurs, and this episode get the 4th place spot as a result.

Episode Grade: A-

3) The Other Two (MAX)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Final Season

I’m so disappointed this show is going three and done. This episode was hilarious, and the writers managed to make a play about AIDS funny, as a multiple night event that had Cary showing up to support his boyfriend Lucas led us to a very weird AIDS drama that talked very little about the disease. Meanwhile, Brooke gets sucked back into the life when Chase tries to date a normal girl.

Episode Grade: A

2) Succession (MAX)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Final Season

I know this is controversial, because Succession isn’t on top. The show is going to win the Emmy, and I liked something else a bit more. I actually think the finale has some truly great moments in it, where the siblings bond, the fight, Shiv has her life shattered, Kendall has his life shattered, and Roman realizes they are bullshit. All of them. Some moments hit me in different ways, like when Kendall exclaims that he’s the oldest, so he should be in charge. He’s not actually the oldest, one of the problems this show has is constantly ignoring Connor. Even in the finale, Alan Ruck has almost nothing to do. A lot of the supporting Waystar board, like Frank and Jerry take a huge backseat this episode, so we can focus more on the core three. To a lesser extent, Tom, Greg, and Mattsen, all have screentime. Otherwise, the finale felt slower, and had a lot of lingering moments for a show that moves generally pretty quick. I’m sad to see the Roy siblings go, but I’d also be lying if I said I thought this was the best episode of the season. Connor’s Wedding is unbeatable, and the Election night episode is pretty terrific as well, not to mention that the funeral episode had some great moments, and most every other episode did as well. Who ended up actually “succeeding?” Well, it may not be who you thought from the first episode, but I think the right choice was made.

Episode Grade: A, Season 4 Grade: A, Series Grade: A+

1) Queen Charlotte (Netflix)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Not Yet Renewed

Because of ratings, there has been some talk about a possible second season, though I thought this had such a beautiful ending. Another super sized finale, and it moved me enough that I let it beat Succession’s finale. Finale to finale, this one built on all of its promise, and finished with so many nice moments. Whether it was between Charlotte and lady Danbury when the Queen calls out Agatha for not coming to her about the issue of her son not inheriting the title, to Charlotte managing to find a way to bring George back to her, even when he’s consumed by the stars. Love is love, y’all, and Charlotte shows so much understanding, and doesn’t subject her husband to relentless torture. She just lets him be him, and almost like The notebook, she is able to pull him back. That final moment with the two of them under the bed together was one of the few things I’ve seen on TV in a while that generally moved me. I feel like I’m supposed to choose the Roy siblings bickering one last time, but there’s something about love conquering all in the most simple way that I have to put this on top. A perfect ending to this limited series. As much as I loved it, I wouldn’t want to mess around with a second season. This has such a perfect ending.

Episode Grade: A+, Series Grade: A