Yesterday, we lost a former First Lady with Roslyn Carter, who made it to 96. We also lost an actor I had forgotten could still be alive, Joss Ackland, who made for a mean villain in in the Lethal Weapon franchise, but also appeared in 90’s Disney films including A Kid In King Arthur’s Court and the Mighty Ducks films. He looked so old even then, that I never would have imagined he made it to 2023. RIP to both.

1) Get Gotti (Netflix)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Limited

A docuseries chronicling how they finally nailed mafia boss John Gotti, but also a look at a period in time when Gotti was somewhat of a celebrity.

Episode Grade: A-

2) Pain Killer: The Tylenol Murders (Paramount Plus)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Limited

Basically, the reason we now have tamper proof caps on everything. An interesting look at this mystery especially if you weren’t around at the time of this event.

Episode Grade: A-

3) For All Mankind (Apple Plus)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Unknown

In the second episode, Danielle is back trying to acclimate to Happy Valley, which we learn may not be so happy, as they treat those workers down below like garbage. but, they should just be happy to be on Mars, right? Meanwhile, Margo gets caught up in some shit, Eleta is done with NASA, and Kelly might soon be as well. I have a feeling something is brewing with the Russians and North Koreans, and there’s a reason that they agreed to cycle through who was in charge of Happy Valley.

Episode Grade: A-

Scavengers Reign (MAX)

English Audio Description?: Phenomenal

Status: Unknown

What. Is. This. I dare you to drop some acid and watch this show. It is the weirdest fucking thing I think I’ve ever seen. it is seemingly plotless, with a few humans on another planet dealing with the alien life in incredibly cool and inventive ways. It truly seems to have no forward momentum, and just shows a handful of characters interacting with their environment, but the amount of imagination that went into creating this nightmare planet is astounding. I do miss having a plot, but at the same time, I’m floored by how utterly bizarre this show is. If you aren’t squeamish, I would recommend at least one episode. It’s so very very weird.

Episode Grade: ?

Technically, it is a curiosity that warrants one episode of viewing, but by abandoning the typical plot structure of a show, it doesn’t make me want to necessarily watch more. Pilot episodes are different than all others, because you are never guaranteed to get more than that one episode, either from a pitch perspective to a studio, or your audience. If you don’t give them a reason to come back, they won’t. The strongest reason to come back is that this is bizarre, and the audio description is straight fire trying to explain and describe all the uniqueness this show has to offer visually. in many ways, it is stunning, but from a script point, it lacks considerably.

5) I Am groot (Disney plus)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Unknown

A little while back I reviewed the first episode of Season 2, which i admitted at the time felt like cheating. I acknowledged, at the runtime of each episode, I should have just watched the whole thing. So, I did. I watched all the remaining season 2 episodes, from Groot acquiring a nose to the highly entertaining Watcher episode.

Final Grade: B+

6) The Guilded Age (MAX)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Status: Unknown

Some performances are great, but the show does have a massive ensemble, and a lot of stories to juggle. Some of the actors don’t feel right for the period, and are a bit too modern, like Cynthia Nixon. Christine Baranski is a little like the Maggie Smith of the show, in that she gets the best lines, and feels like she’s controlling scenes she isn’t even in.

Episode Grade: B-