Even though I always write about what I watched the previous day, I want to acknowledge that I’m currently writing this on my birthday. So tomorrow’s blog, will reflect what I watched on my birthday. And for my birthday, as you may have seen a large article from me, Hulu decided to gift me The bear without audio description for Season 3. One of their current tentpole shows, and no one bothered to make sure it would be accessible when launched. It is incredibly dehumanizing to be an afterthought.

Instead, i watched The Boys (Amazon), which continues to find new ways of grossing you out, and featuring things you might not have seen before. This week we ask the question of what would happen if animals were given V. Also, Huey finds out what happens when his dad is given V, and Homelander lets his son make a choice of his own. Somehow, this was the most human Homelander has ever been, a fleeting glimmer of it, but still human. Also, A-Train is on Sage’s list, Sage is on Firecracker’s list, and I really need Jeffrey Dean Morgan to pick up a baseball bat.

Geek Girl (Netflix) depressingly started to go into the ramifications of this girl following a path that likely would never have been offered to her. I think this was the episode where I started to turn from the series. There are “consequences”, beyond not telling Nat, that involve her dad losing his job, and we see the stepmother crying because she’s pregnant, and clearly this isn’t the best time. Sadly, the first couple episodes sold us on “Geek” girl, by showing us a clumsy, bookworm type girl, with one friend, who is constantly bullied. So, she does kind of need validation in her life. As someone who was also bullied, if I had been offered the same opportunity, I would have snatched it. Self worth is important, and while I think this character lets a lot roll off her, starting to pile up a list of bad things that come about when she finally has something good happen to her isn’t a great look for the series.

Trying (Apple Plus) had our parents doing an interview about how easy it is to adopt, and fit the kids into your home, at the same time Princess is swiping a credit card and trying to find her mother by flying to Spain. I thought this episode would end differently, with both of them going, but instead, Nikki is now off to meet Princess’s mom. that is love. And I love this show.

Evil (Paramount Plus) continues to get darker, but those final moments with Leland and Cheryl are great. I love the end to this episode, and poor Andy. poor Andy who never deserved any of this. Also, the girls have got to have some self restraint occasionally. Enough weird shit has happened in their life that you would think by now, they would approach things with some trepidation.

Since I couldn’t watch The Bear, I started My Lady Jane (Amazon) and blew through the first three episodes. This is a series that reminds me of The Great, Dickenson, and Catherine Called Birdie. All rolled into one. The snarky narrator (built in, not audio description) is perfect. My biggest problem is that the episodes are too long. This should be a half hour show, so it never overstays its welcome. Every episode made me laugh, and had really strong moments, but it also dragged. Every episode felt too long. The acting is solid, it’s history adjacent, and if you like the shows listed above, you will probably like this. The audio description, by the good folk at Media Access Group, is well produced. It isn’t as pronounced as other shows, due to the built in narrator that has to comment occasionally, taking up space where there would be audio description, but I thought what was there, when it could be, contributed.

I also got to watch the Season 2 launch of That 90’s Show (Netflix), which I can’t imagine actually got a second season. the best audio description comes at the beginning, when three of the main characters are fighting over who gets to hug first when their missing link comes back, and the description of how they fight to get to her was funny enough. I’m surprised this show is still a thing.

And, I looked at Supacell (Netflix), a limited British superhero drama. The audio description here is excellent. the character descriptions are excellent. I was thoroughly impressed by this track. I don’t really understand what the show is trying to do. it opened with a cool scene, and then started building other characters. This is just the first of six, but this audio description was easily one of the best of the day, maybe just behind The Boys.