Audio description. It’s time Hollywood made that the norm, isn’t it? Anyway, i digress.

10) Outlander (Starz)

English Audio Description?: No

Status: Final Season

So, I realized before starting to watch Season 7, i couldn’t remember where we left off. This show is hard enough to watch without audio description, but on top of that it has long gaps between seasons. So, like I did with The Witcher, I’m rewatching a bit. However, I only dropped back 1 season, to Season 6. Even with that, how the season opened, I was like… did I need to rewatch five? I remember they had aged up the grandson, and there was a plot involving the tribe and Jamie trying to negotiate, but S6E1 felt like a jump. Even so, it should help me get my bearings some before starting before launching into Season 7. While this show has one of the best themes, the lack of audio description by Starz really makes this sadly…

Final Grade: Unwatchable

9) The Full Monty (Hulu)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Limited

I’m sorry, but what the fuck is this? A charming comedy about unlikely strippers waited until those men were ancient, and revived as a TV series (not even with the entire cast), and no one is dancing anymore, nor do I feel like they can. Instead, the main characters are the kids who have grown up, including Dez, who is an absolute loser of a protagonist, and spends the entire pilot stealing shit. in case you were hoping for a comedy, there are no laughs to be had here. We have a storyline where one of the guys wants to buy (I assume his grandson) a powered wheelchair, but they are poor. Everyone is poor. And old. And everything they seem to have or own or work at are all falling apart. I’m not sure what this trend is of continuing to reboot things from years ago just so we can see these versions of once beloved characters as near death, but this takes the wind out of the charm that was the Oscar nominated 90’s comedy that became a sensation that spawned a stage musical. This is so far removed from that. There’s a scene where one of the guys has a gun pointed at a dog, and i honestly believed he was going to pull the trigger, because comedy doesn’t live here anymore. And the weirdest thing, is that one of the guys was fired mid-production for a Me2 scandal type thing, and there’s this whole big conversation from our leading men about how the world is full of snowflakes after one of them is fired from using “love” to address a woman at their job. The very thing that the actor was fired for, they have an entire scene where these guys rail on the decline of civilization by snowflakes and how they don’t understand how a word they’ve used for 70 years now is putting them in cancel culture. One of the most frustrating experiences I think I’ve had with a TV show in a long while.

Final Grade: D

8) Young Sheldon (MAX)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Renewed

A rather basic episode where the twins become latchkey kids when their Mom is offered a job at the church. Hilarity mostly ensues.

Episode Grade: B

7) All In The Family (FreeVee)

English Audio Description?: No

Status: Ended

It’s interesting to see a 70’s sitcom handle rape. In a sitcom. With Archie bunker. I’m not sure this 100% works now, but I’m sure this was incredibly groundbreaking in its time. Honestly, for me, I saw a lot in the “meathead” that I didn’t like more than anything else. He’s supposed to be the strong sensitive type, but there is a lot about his yelling that reminded me of Archie, and really made it feel like somehow Mike thought it was Gloria’s fault, even if it wasn’t said. it’s all in how you choose to approach the conversation, and I just thought this wasn’t handled as well, but I’m giving it some points for daring to even be on television in the 70’s.

Episode Grade: B

6) Designing Women (Hulu)

English Audio Description?: No

Status: Ended

There’s something about listening to a girl who sounds 20 talk to Hal Holbrook, who sounds 70, and talk about how she desires to take him to bed. Really? However, bonus points for a Hal Holbrook guest appearance.

Episode Grade: B+

5) I Am A Virgo (Amazon)

English Audio Description?: yes

Status: not Yet Renewed

An interesting science fiction comic themed story about a young man who is 13 feet tall, and how the world will react to him. The pilot did intrigue me, but it has a lot of peripheral plot elements that I’m not sure how they will affect the story. Plus… mike Epps? I have yet to truly appreciate any dramatic work of his.

Episode Grade: B+

4) Home Improvement (Hulu)

English Audio Description?: No

Status: Ended

Jill’s mom is home for Christmas, and she’s dating someone new. This has Jill in a bit of a mood, as she struggles with the idea that her mom seems to have moved on from the death of her father, and might even be happier with this new guy. Actually, one of the better episodes. Meanwhile, Tim is offering comic relief by trying to have the most intense Christmas light display.

Episode Grade: A-

3) Everwood (FreeVee)

English Audio Description?: No

Status: Ended

Colin is starting to remember… is that a good or bad thing?

Episode Grade: A-

2) The Righteous Gemstones (MAX)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Not Yet renewed

My only advice to the writers and producers would be to be careful not to reduce John Goodman’s presence too much. He’s kind of the glue that holds everything together. As critically adored as Succession is, I promise it wouldn’t be where it was if Brian Cox had left early on in the series, and we were just left with a mess of Roy sibling nonsense. Someone has to feel like they are the calm center, and Jesse is hilarious, but he’s not a calm center.

Episode Grade: A-

1) Glamorous (Netflix)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Not Yet Renewed

I was worried for this show, but I love the energy. The pilot is great, and set up every character you feel like you need to know. There’s a plot, story, character motivations. Whether you like this and it’s your thing, you can’t deny that this show has an excellent pilot. I’m looking forward to more.

Episode Grade: A