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Reviews
Quantum Leap: The Family Treasure (2024)
Huge letdown after the best episode yet
"Off The Cuff" was potentially the best episode of the entire series, so it's extremely disappointing to follow it up with such a forced, preachy, hackneyed waste of time.
This did nothing to further the compelling Hannah storyline. It was inserted -- nay, wedged -- into the season for no good reason whatsoever.
And the thing is, it broke zero ground. It said nothing that hasn't already been said, over and over.
The people who make these shows keep acting like they have no idea why they fail. Not everybody is willing to push through like I am. I'm just tired of all these self inflicted wounds that imperil otherwise great series.
Night Court: Dan v. Dating (2023)
Best ep so far -- which is not saying much
Finally the show displayed some ability to make me laugh. Okay, more like a "chuckle." The date scene at the restaurant legitimately made me smile at times. Gurgs actually seemed a little likeable too for the first time, instead of just a neurotic mess.
The show has a long way to go to achieve any kind of longevity. Hopefully this is just the first step of many in that direction. The first three episodes were completely devoid of laughs, and most of the characters have been dead weight.
If I recall correctly, this is the first time they showed anything outside the courthouse. Maybe that's the key?
Evil: C Is for Cannibal (2021)
Flawed, but the best of season two
Season two had its ups and its downs (very down), but it ended with a bang. Okay, well it was a bang up until the very last minute, which disappointed heavily.
But before that, it was packed with twists and turns and OMG moments. It pushed the show's mythology forward (which happened a lot in season 1 but slowed way down in season 2). It had gruesome and intense moments. It showed some real humanity in Kristen for a change, and it stepped up Leland's shock value to a whole new level.
In addition to the final minute, the only complaint is that the move to streaming has given the show too many opportunities for unnecessary sexual imagery. I loved watching season one with my tweenaged son, but it's harder now. For once though, I DIDN'T have to spend a whole episode explaining the constant half truths and misunderstanding of the Church.
Anyway, I'll leave it with this: Sister Andrea is a BAD-ASS!!!!!!!
Evil: B Is for Brain (2021)
Good way to revive a struggling second season
After three bad episodes (the cringey Zombies, appalling Cop, and boring Silence), Brain took us in a far better direction. After a pointless first few minutes, it found its footing. Not surprisingly, the Leland/Sister Andrea scene stole the show, but the technology "visions" were fascinating, and I couldn't wait to see what was next.
Unfortunately, I have to agree with Andy that Kristen has become very unlikeable in season two. Hopefully she can return somewhat to season 1 form at some point. Back then, she was already flawed -- as any good character is -- but in an interesting way. Her flaws have become too extreme. For example, the supermarket scene didn't make her a likeable badass -- it made her seem out of control.
Anyway, more Leland, more Andrea, and more assessments like we had in season 1, please.
Evil: C Is for Cop (2021)
It's been done. A lot. This was just noise.
A drama series doing an episode about racist cops targeting people of color in 2021. Sorry, they all did it. And, sadly, Evil didn't really even try to do a clever take on it. I'd like to give them credit, and assume that they wanted people to notice how judgmental an adulterating murderer was about it. I'm not sure that was intentional though.
That's two pretty bad episodes in a row. Hopefully they get back to what made the series SO GOOD in season one, but which they have shown only in flashes so far in season two. The real world is sad enough. Let's get back to the fun stuff, before we feel like giving up.
Quantum Leap: Salvation or Bust (2022)
A shockingly hackneyed episode
Other than the final 30 seconds, this was a really bad episode. For a show that the producers want to use to bust stereotypes, this episode played up every stupid western stereotype in the most unrealistic way, using painfully unconvincing dialogue and eye-rolling character tropes. This might have been tolerable if the plot and action had been the least bit entertaining. And why does nobody pay attention when Ben would be apparently talking to himself in public? At least there have been more hits than misses so far, and the twist at the end could set up some more good ones down the road.......
Young Sheldon: Four Hundred Cartons of Undeclared Cigarettes and a Niblingo (2022)
A surprisingly bad episode
Last season had so many intense and touching scenes for a comedy, but this episode just plain missed the mark. Dale was the only real comic relief, and the scene between George Sr. And Georgie in the car was kind of touching. But the scenes with Mary and the church just didn't work, and I think she overreacted to a couple nasty churchgoers. Pastor Jeff tried to reach out, and she shut him out. I though Sheldon was going to save the episode with his speech at the church, but even that failed. And there simply weren't enough laughs. The good thing is that there's a lot of time to pull the season out of the ashes of Episode 1.
Young Sheldon: A Pink Cadillac and a Glorious Tribal Dance (2022)
How did this script get approved?
A shockingly bad episode in an otherwise great season. Lundy episodes are all brutal, but this is the worst yet. Considering this was a spring break episode, it appears to be aired out of order in January, with none of the continuing storyline from the previous episodes. What the heck happened here?