Quick Thoughts: DON'T TRUST THE B---- IN APARTMENT 23, "Love and Monsters"

Once again, I don't have a ton to say about this week's Apartment 23.

I suppose I would've liked it if we got more of James Van Der Beek, but I did enjoy what little we did get from him and I kind of got a kick out of seeing him interact with Mark. As for the latter's upcoming infatuation with June, I don't hate the idea but I wasn't clamoring for it either.

Chloe's need to destroy people's lives for fun could've been a source of some dark humor, but it never quite gelled. I did appreciate how it all ended up being a spoof on romantic comedies, but Happy Endings told that joke so much better. Speaking of Happy Endings, nice Zach Knighton cameo in June's video.

At the end of the day, "Love and Monsters" had a few chuckles baked into it but not much else.

Quick Thoughts: NEW GIRL, "Halloween"

Admittedly, I'm not the biggest fan of Halloween themed episodes or the holiday for that matter, so being barraged by them in one night wasn't as fun as you'd might think, and New Girl's was one that I thought was good but not great.

To be fair, "Halloween" only used the holiday as a motif rather than a subject as all of our main characters had to face their relationship fears, and I'm more receptive when shows take this approach rather than just focusing on tricks, treats and slutty costumes. Out of all of the relationship stories, the one I couldn't really stand was Schmidts because he crossed the line from lovable d-bag to outright jerk. I get that he's still hung up on Cece and hasn't taken to her new relationship very well, but his non stop insults towards Robbie got old really fast. Also, what was the point of Winston and his girlfriend? We rarely saw them together, and when we did it was nothing but drama, so why should I care if they break up or not?

On the flipside, Jess and Nick's realization that what they thought they wanted didn't match up with what they actually wanted was a good one. Sure, it's just another step towards one another, and I'm still not opposed to their eventual pairing as long as it feels earned.

So, I can't rank "Halloween" up there with the all-time great New Girl episodes, but it accomplished its task in an efficient manner. Can't argue with results.

Quick Thoughts: BEN AND KATE, "Scaredy Kate"

It's a shame that Ben and Kate has not found a sizable enough audience to keep it going past its first season because the show's starting to find its groove. Once again, "Scaredy Kate" didn't stray too far from the typical Halloween episode routine, but there was so much to like about this one.

As always, Kate dancing will win me over, so her awkward Robot at the neighbor's party sealed the deal for me. Not only did I get a kick out of watching her dance, but Dakota Johnson's so great at her frazzled, socially inept yet still adorable routine that I can't help but be smitten by her time after time. Even though we've seen her be uncomfortable around men and hesitant to get back into the dating game, it works every time and I'm glad that Geoff Stults has found work on another FOX show that's not long for this world. I can't wait to see what's in store for these two.

Ben and Tommy getting high and trying to navigate their night could have been a slapsticky disaster, but I really enjoyed how it was used to set up some deeper issues that exist between the two best friends. Sometimes, Tommy's such a loyal friend that we forget that he had a life while Ben was away, and it was nice to see the show acknowledge his feelings and needs, and it was even better that Ben accepted them rather than disregard them. Good stuff from Nat Faxon and Echo Kellum.

Heck, I even liked BJ's sub-plot about her stealing from Kate's neighbors because in the end it had nothing to do with the premise. From the looks of it, the writers feel like BJ saying wholly inappropriate things to and about Maddie equal comedic gold, and while I do get a kick out of the shtick from time to time, it's not something I watch the show for. That said, Lucy Punch killed it tonight as her story commented on how Halloween affects the upbringing, socialization and sexualization of girls. Maybe the message of dressing daughters up in princesses costumes will lead them to a life of skankery was heavy handed and a little off center, but I applauded the show for taking that kind of stance.

Ultimately, "Scaredy Kate" was a solid half-hour of television that kept me laughing and it's always good when a comedy does just that.

Quick Thoughts: RAISING HOPE, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Me What to Do"

Raising Hope is a show that I enjoy more often than not but don't take the time to write about it because it's consistent and knows what kind of show it wants to be. While I commend it for being so steadfast, that kind of self-awareness doesn't make for the most interesting write-up, so you know "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Me What to Do" had to be great since I'm going out of my way to jot down some thoughts.

First off, Burt in a gay bar was a pure genius. I've been on my soapbox clamoring for Garrett Dillahunt to get some kind of recognition for his work on Hope because he's by far the funniest of a very entertaining cast. I get why Martha Plimpton's the face of the show at this point, but I challenge anyone to watch this episode and not laugh when Burt dresses up as a Village People version of a mail man because he brings the biggest package. That, along with the fact that he and Jimmy never made fun of the gay community, and instead they poked fun at themselves for being so uninformed made for a laugh-out-loud and enjoyable episode.

If I had to poke holes in "Don't Ask," I'd have to say that I wasn't 100% in love with Jimmy and Sabrina's plot about being egg/sperm donors for her gay friends. All of the insecurity and hair-brained schemes came off as very tired and unoriginal, and I felt bad for the guys who kept getting their hopes up just to be disappointed by these two. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure deciding to help someone start a family is not something one should take likely, but the show was a little reckless with this one. I suppose it's a good thing that we just met these people and haven't had the time to invest in them.

I still don't think I'll be dedicating that much time to Raising Hope, but I do enjoy showing it some love from time to time, especially when it churns out solid episodes like this one.

Episode Review: HAPPY ENDINGS, "Sabado Free-Gante"

In a sea of Halloween themed episodes, Happy Endings only made reference to the holiday during its cold open. From that point on, "Sabado Free-Gante" was a typical outing that was mostly hit but with a few misses.

The first of the three plots focused on Dave and Alex's decision to move in together. The real estate agent, who prided herself on finding her clients their perfect places, was taxed after every apartment she showed them was not good enough. After getting to know them a bit, it dawned on her why they were being hesitant and called them on their crap. Instead of doing the logical thing and holding off on moving in together, Dave and Alex decided on a place once and for all.

I can understand why most people probably hated this one because it's once again the most cliched sitcom storyline of the bunch, and I don't deny that the whole on-again-off-again crutch has limited appeal, but I like these two characters enough to put up with the non-sense. It's clear that things are not going to end well, especially with Penny waiting in the wings, but it feels like the writers are fast-tracking their rekindled romance in order to get it out of the way (most shows wouldn't have them obviously doubting their decision so early on). Sure, everything that's going to happen between the two of them will be a stall and ultimately pointless, but I'm rolling with it for now.

Meanwhile, a once again unemployed Brad was having trouble adjusting to a new life sans his high-end routines that included healthy meals, shopping for clothes, working out with his trainer and catching a steam. Max, being his GFF (gay fat friend) decided to show him how to do all of those things for free, and we got to see them crash addict meetings and kids birthday parties. Even though Brad was having fun, he came down to earth after seeing one of his old work colleagues and realized that he needed to find a happy balance between being a workaholic and living freely.

Out of the three stories, this was the one that I was most indifferent about. Most of the time, Brad and Max are a killer combination, and I did find them funny throughout but it wasn't anything special. I guess seeing Max teach Brad how to live like a slacker had some promise, but we all knew that it wasn't Brad's style and it wasn't going to stick. So, in the end it was all a wacky diversion, which is fine but it didn't fundamentally affect Happy Endings.

Finally, there was the plot involving Penny and Jane buying a car. For some reason, Penny felt the need to get new wheels, and Jane being a master negotiator insisted on helping her get the best deal possible. Once at the dealership, Jane schooled Penny on the tricks on the trade. After all of the zany antics, which included Penny walking through a window, she ended up purchasing her new car with little to no assistance from Jane because she was playing her own game in order to get her way.

This final sub-plot was by far my least favorite because it was an example of Jane at her worst. I get that these kind of shows need a type A personality who is hyper competitive, but it can get really grating when Jane gets rolling. Usually, she's counterbalanced by Brad, and thankfully Penny was around to do the same because too much of Jane could be disastrous.

Other Odds and Ends:

• I was OK with the fact that this wasn't a true Halloween episode, but I would love to see more of the Jackson 5 marionettes.
• Max and Dave trying to get into the impenetrable piñata was one of the best cut-away gags yet.
• Penny loves Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. Further proof that she's my dream woman.
• I sure hope Jane working for the Car Czar was just a throwaway joke.
• "Shut up, LaToya!"
• "Aw, hell no! You two whiteys are moving in together? Jive-ass turkeys!"
• "That thing's jumping like Kris Kross."
• Brad: "Man, you honkeys going to like it here."
  Penny: "Let's check out the bafroom. See where dees whiteys do they bizness."
  Brad: "You people are getting way too comfortable."

Two episodes into Season 3, and Happy Endings has yet to hit its groove, but it's still been able to make me laugh more often than not, so I'm still going to count it as a win.

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 41: Preempted by Life... and Baseball

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 41. After a brief hiatus, Kristal and I are back to talk about new developments involving the SHIELD pilot, the latest renewals and full-season pick-ups, what we're watching, and which new shows are our favorites and which ones have disappointed us. Check out the episode breakdown if you want to avoid any possible spoilers.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:15

TV News: 1:16 - 23:23

• SHIELD pilot developments: 1:16 - 6:54
• Renewals and Full-Season Orders (emphasis on Homeland, Arrow, Bob's Burgers and Elementary): 6:55 - 16:38
• Up All Night's format change: 16:39 - 23:23

What We're Watching: 23:24 - 1:00:55

• The Walking Dead: 23:24 - 33:03
• Mockingbird Lane: 33:04 - 40:15
• Supernatural: 40:16 - 48:30
• Parks and Recreation: 48:31 - 1:00:55

Favorite New Shows: 1:00:56 - 1:07:10

• Ben and Kate: 1:00:56 - 1:04:22
• Go On: 1:04:23 - 1:07:10

Most Disappointing New Shows: 1:07:11 - 1:18:26

• Nashville: 1:07:11 - 1:14:24
• Revolution: 1:14:25 - 1:18:26

Closing: 1:18:27 - End

Check out the episode below, download it over at iTunes or stream it on Stitcher:

For more, follow us on Twitter:
Kristal: @kristal_bailey
Marcos: @poppas2cents
Screen Invasion: @screeninvasion
Invasion Radio: @invasionradio

Episode Review: THE WALKING DEAD, "Walk with Me"

After two zombie-filled hours, The Walking Dead decided to slow things down with "Walk with Me." Now, that's not to say that nothing happened in this episode because interesting stuff did happen. It's just that the action and tension of the prison was replaced by the seemingly quieter (but still exciting) world of Woodbury.

The hour kicked off with a helicopter going down. Andrea and Michonne made their way to the wreckage to check things out, but they found that most of the crew was already dead. All of a sudden a group of survivors showed up to also investigate the crash site, so the two hid in the forest. The band of humans rescued the only living survivor and killed the freshly turned "biters." As Andrea and Michonne watched from a distance, trying to avoid capture, their two pet zombies started making a commotion so Michonne had to decapitate them. They thought they were in the clear, but one of the survivors crept up behind them and revealed himself to be Merle. An overwhelmed and still not 100% Andrea passed out.

Andrea slipped in and out of consciousness as they made their way to some mysterious location. When they finally made it to their destination, Andrea's tended to by a nurse but they're also being closely watched by guards. Merle chatted with Andrea, and the audience got a re-education on the events of last season, and he filled in the blanks about what he's been up to since the rooftop in Atlanta. Merle and Andrea's reunion was interrupted by the man in charge known as the Governor, and he introduced the women to the sanctuary known as Woodbury. After the nickel tour, Andrea and Michonne decided to accept the stranger's hospitality and stick around while they recover even though the latter was suspicious of their new surroundings and host.

While our heroines settled down in their new surroundings, the Governor interrogated the pilot who survived the helicopter crash and found out that there were other National Guard members waiting for his return. The Governor promised to bring them back, but he had ulterior motives. Instead of helping the remaining Guardsmen,  the Governor had them slaughtered them and took their supplies. When they returned to Woodbury, he made up a story about getting there too late and how the biters got to them first, but they couldn't let the supplies go to waste. If the killing and lies were not enough to convince the viewers that the Governor's a shady individual, the episode ended with him in a secret room staring at a wall made of decapitated heads floating in aquarium tanks.

So, the zombie killing was kept to a minimum during "Walk with Me," but the introduction of Woodbury and the Governor was effective enough to compensate for the lack of action. David Morrissey had an amazing coming out party as the nefarious antagonist, and I appreciated how he's created a more layered character as opposed to someone who was purely evil right off that bat. That said, it was pretty obvious that he had a dark side because Woodbury's too good to be true and only someone who's not all there can create such a facade.

Speaking of Woodbury, I'm interested to see how the show will mesh the two new locations. Since I've never read the books, I have no idea where The Walking Dead is going with these locales, but I have to assume that the Governor and Rick are headed to an inevitable showdown. Regardless, I was instantly intrigued by the newest haven because it opens up a whole new world to explore. Plus, we know how badly things can go when the story's confined to one location. I just hope the writers can strike the right balance between Woodbury and the prion until the two are thrown together.

My only real gripe with the episode had to do with Michonne. Since her introduction during the Season 2 finale, the web's been buzzing about how great she is as a character, but we know more about the Governor than we do about her. Now, I'm willing to give the show some time to develop her, but I'm getting the feeling that she's going to be relegated during this season and will not live up to the hype. Maybe I'm pushing the panic button too soon, but three episodes in and all we've seen is her look for medicine and cut off the heads of her two zombie pets. That might be enough for now, but I'm starting to get antsy when it comes to her. She has made Andrea more interesting though, so at least there's that.

Other Odds and Ends:

• I kinda felt bad for Michonne's walkers.
• Oddly enough, it was good to have Merle back.
• From the looks of it, Daryl's the key to some major plot developments. I can't wait to see where they go from here.
• Man, that final shot of the Governor was creepy!

Unlike last season, I'm OK if The Walking Dead lays off the gas and tones down the action if they're giving us solid episodes like "Walk with Me." I don't think the show needs to go back to an endless debate about survival and ethics, but it doesn't need to be a pure zombie shoot 'em up either. It's all about balance, and for now I'm happy with the medium that the show has achieved.

TV Report Card: Week of October 21, 2012

Despite the fact that some of my shows were preempted by Presidential debates and baseball, it was a busy week in real life so this may not be the most coherent write-up. As always, pardon the mess and here's this week's TV Report Card:

Sunday
The Walking Dead: "Sick"

What Worked: Another solid episode that kept things relatively simple. Having Rick deal with the inmates created the right amount of action/suspense, but it also was a great way to show the viewers how Rick's changed over the months. Old Rick would've spun his wheels in regards to the convicts, New Rick was a man of action. The quieter Hershel-centric scenes also worked for the most part.

What Didn't Work: While I'm glad that Lori was able to realize how horrible she was last season, the episode spent more time on her crumbling marriage than I would've liked. It just feels like the schism between her and Rick's going to dominate a lot of the prison narrative, and I don't care enough about them at this point. Carol's C-plot also didn't quite click for me even though it was a logical plot thread.

GRADE: B+

Homeland: "New Car Smell"

What Worked: Obviously, the ending was amazing because the show once again proved that it's willing to amp up the tension and burn through story. Most show's wouldn't have had Carrie confront Brody and have him arrested so soon, but Homeland's always been special. I just hope the show runners don't run out of momentum come the finale.

What Didn't Work: I liked most of this episode, but I was bored by Jessica which was a shame since she had a standout moment last week. I also wasn't a fan of the new guy because he's so clearly a romantic foil for Carrie that his introduction came off as clunky and lazy. The fact that "New Car Smell" didn't address Brody's previous mission was also a bummer, not because it annoyed me but because I wanted a reason for the naysayers to be shut up.

GRADE: B+

Tuesday
Hart of Dixie: "Suspicious Minds"

What Worked: Honestly, I didn't really care for this episode, but if I had to pick something positive to write about I'd go with the banter and role playing that occurred between Zoe and Wade. I'm never a fan of "casual" relationship storylines, but Bilson and Bethel keep things interesting.

What Didn't Work: Pretty much everything else. Lemon's pregnancy scare was beyond stupid, and I'm tired of the writers moving her around. I get that all of the upheaval will make more sense once she settles down, but right now it all feels scatterbrained. Speaking of Lemon, her family's reliance on her was equally tired and a waste of time. Still don't care about Lavon vs. Ruby or George's lovelife (but it was fun watching him struggle with breaking up with what's her face). Oh, and don't get me started on Zoe's childish response to seeing Wade with another woman. My eyes still hurt from rolling so much.

GRADE: C-

Ben and Kate: "Emergency Kit"

What Worked: Ben's emergency drill worked better than it should have but that had more to do with the heart warming scenes involving Kate and Maddie towards the end of the episode. While this one was pretty broad from the get go, I thought that the sweetness was still there and made up for the sitcom-iness of the rest of the episode.

What Didn't Work: I could not have cared less about BJ and her flirtations with Rob Corddry's character. And what was the point of Ben's ex showing up? I got that she was the personification of everything that Kate fears, but her presence never really gelled.

GRADE: C+

Happy Endings: "Cazsh Dummy Spillionaires"

What Worked: In spite of my love for Happy Endings, I have to admit that its Season 3 premiere was not its strongest outing. That said, I got a kick out of Brad's routines with Sin-brad, and I'm never going to complain when Eliza Coupe decides to walk around naked. Also, the Alex and Dave stuff was not as objectionable as it could've been.

What Didn't Work: Even though we all know that these six people truly do care about one another, Max and Penny's plot came close to crossing the line into outright mean territory. Sure, it was fun seeing Max "Misery" his best friend in order to get closer to her physical therapist, but there are limits.

GRADE: C+

Go On: "Any Given Birthday"

What Worked: Obviously, Go On is Ryan's show but "Any Given Birthday" felt like a truly Ryan-centric episode. I liked the scavenger hunt and how it was a way for us to learn more about him. Plus, I'm always going to be happy when Steven shows up and his scenes with Sonia worked surprisingly well.

What Didn't Work: Not enough Carrie! I know that she's just Ryan's assistant, but she's gotten next to nothing to do since the pilot, and I'm still more intrigued by her relationship with Ryan than his wholly staged will they/won't they with Lauren (I'm not opposed to their hook-up though at this point). Also didn't love the reemergence of Janie, but I do enjoy the chemistry between Matthew Perry and Christine Woods, so I'll let it slide.

GRADE: B+

New Girl: "Models"

What Worked: I loved everything about the boys' storyline, especially Nick not knowing how to return Schmidt's love, and seeing how they became friends was a novelty but still fun. What was even better was how Winston continues to be the voice of reason, and hopefully the writers can turn that trait into a full blown character sooner than later.

What Didn't Work: While I didn't hate Jess and Cece's plot, it couldn't keep up with the boys' especially since it was pretty much the exact same story. The bit with the car was a tad too slapsticky for my liking but Zooey made it work as much as she could, and luckily she had the rest of the cast to do the emotional heavy lifting.

GRADE: B-

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23: "A Reunion"

What Worked: Since I'm a child of the '90s, I'm also going to love it when Apt. 23 relies heavily on James Van Der Beek's Creek days because he's so good at mocking himself, and adding Busy Phillips and Mark Paul-Gosselaar to the mix was just icing (could've done without Malcolm).

What Didn't Work: All of the "move forward and don't look back" stuff was a bit heavy-handed, and I'm still not 100% on board with Dreama Walker's performance, and I just don't care about her hangups at this point, but there was enough JVDB absurdity to keep me happy.

GRADE: B-

The New Normal: "The Godparent Trap"

What Worked: I appreciated The New Normal addressing faith, religion and how the gay community can help shape both if they're willing to fight for it because this show doesn't shy away from saying what's on its mind and bringing touchy subjects to light. Andrew Rannells also had a strong performance in this one.

What Didn't Work: Having David and Bryan searching for godparents was very mechanical. It was like Ryan Murphy and Ali Adler wanted a "Grilled Cheesus" episode but within the context of family, and godparents were the logical way to do it. Also, what's the point of having Goldie around at this point? Sure, she's the surrogate, and thus the show would not exist without her, but she's not doing much and has pretty much become a prop. They might as well have cast Jenna Uskowitz in the role.

GRADE: C+

Sons of Anarchy: "Toad's Wild Ride"

What Worked: There were some tense moments between Unser and Clay that kept things interesting, and I can't help but wonder how Sutter's going to write Clay out of the corner this time. For some reason, I have a feeling that Juice's going to take the fall.

What Didn't Work: The rest of the episode was a complete dud. Why bring Jeff Winger just to make him a sniveling con-man? And I hated that final scene where Gemma got into a car accident, possibly hurting one of her grandsons, because it felt like yet another twist for the sake of being shocking and more of Sons being Sons.

GRADE: C-

Wednesday
Arrow: "Lone Gunmen"

What Worked: On the action front, Arrow still impresses. Although I would've liked more time with Deadshot, and it took too long to get to the actual showdown, the fight sequence was effective. I was also relieved that Oliver let Diggle in on his secret so early on in the show's run.

What Didn't Work: I'm getting a little tired of everything that's surrounding Oliver. I don't really care about Tommy and Laurel or his bratty sister, and they took up way too much time during this one. Also, the acting continues to be laughably bad (like the voiceovers for example).

GRADE: C+

Modern Family: "Open House of Horrors"

What Worked: Once again, all I could muster any positive feelings towards were the Dunphys. Claire going out of her way to scare Phil was funny, and Julie Bowen dressed as Little Bo Peep was super hot. It's just too bad that Alex has become insufferable now that Haley's not there to keep her in check.

What Didn't Work: Go ahead and guess? Pregnant Gloria's far more annoying than regular Gloria, and her increased hot-headedness pushed her beyond the scope of tolerable. Then there was Manny, but I'm just going to skip over him, and I didn't care one bit about Cam, Mitchell and Lily. Not one bit. Honestly, I don't know why I keep watching.

GRADE: C

Nashville: "Someday You'll Call My Name"

What Worked: In spite of my better judgment, I found myself actually caring about the young up-and-comers more than the established vets. Maybe it's because they're a symbol of a more pure and simplier music industry, but they kept me interested in an otherwise dull episode. Or maybe it's because their songs are vastly superior than anything Rayna or Juliette's cut so far.

What Didn't Work: It's too bad that Nashville insists on bogging itself down on too much melodrama like Rayna's daddy issues, Juliette's need to seduce Deacon or her junkie mother. I just want the show to focus on the music industry and not all of the insane personal junk that goes along with it. But I am appreciating Hayden's performance... wasn't expecting to.

GRADE: C+

American Horror Story: Asylum: "Tricks and Treats"

What Worked: So far, the story's still a little mish-mashed for my liking, but I thought the possession plot that was introduced was genuinely creepy and scary and opens up the show to a lot of potential especially now that Sister Eunice is hosting the beast. I'm also still liking Grace, and the escape sub-plot worked better than I was expecting.

What Didn't Work: I thought that everything involving Dr. Arden, namely the scenes with the prostitute, were overdone, and I don't know that I care all that much about Shelly or why she's in the asylum. It was just more style over substance, but I don't know why I'd be surprised that AHS has taken this approach knowing its pedigree.

GRADE: C+

Thursday
The Vampire Diaries: "The Rager"

What Worked: After last week's superb episode, TVD was bound to take a slip this time around, but "The Rager" was still very entertaining. While I'm still a little iffy about Elena's transition, the Salvatores trying to help her is at least an interesting way to keep the triangle fresh. That said, this episode really reminded me how much I enjoyed watching Stefan help Caroline with her transition and had me rooting for them to pair up once again.

What Didn't Work: I'm still bored by the Originals, and I didn't even care about Rebekah and she's the one I like. I suppose Klaus saving Conner could lead to some interesting twists and turns, but at this point I'm losing interest in him, his hybrids or his mission... whatever that is at this point.

GRADE: B-

30 Rock: "Unwindulax"

What Worked: Since SNL's at its best during an election season, it makes sense that Tina Fey's show would also do well with political material. Pretty much everything that involved Jack, Liz and their dueling ideologies worked for me (sans the good looking guy who I didn't recognize). Of course, the cherry was Tracy's knowledge of the nation and helping Liz figure out that Jenna was the key to the election.

What Didn't Work: Jenna may be the person who can determine who the next president is, but I thought her whole story was a dud. Then again, I've never liked her and never will so anytime 30 Rock dedicates too much time to her, I tune out. At least she wasn't totally annoying this time around.

GRADE: B-

Elementary: "The Rat Race"

What Worked: It's pretty clear at this point that the only reason to watch Elementary is Jonny Lee Miller. I'm continually impressed with his interpretation of the character, even if he's not as Sherlock-ian as he could be, and I'm still liking the exchanges between him and Watson.

What Didn't Work: I'm still not wild about the cases of the week because their not kooky enough like say what they do on Bones or Castle, and they're not as out there as what goes down on say Grimm. More often than not, they just fall flat. The secretary did it? Seriously? Luckily, there's so much more to this show than just its caseload, so I still have a reason to keep tuning in.

GRADE: B-

Friday
Grimm: "La Llorona"

What Worked: Like I've said before, Grimm works best when it's a dark, twisted, fairy tale version of a cop show that deals with domestic issues, so it tackling the La Llorona folktale made sense, and I have to say that the show did a good job with it. The episode was creepy enough, and its standalone nature worked in its favor. And we still got some mythology/overarching elements to keep us on the hook.

What Didn't Work: Another week, another under-utilization of Monroe. I get that Hank is really Nick's partner, and Monroe works best when he's paired with Rosalee, but I miss watching Nick and Eddie in full-fledged Grimm mode. Having him in a pretty throw away trick or treat sub-plot was also criminal even if he was funny at with what the material gave him.

GRADE: B

Nikita: "Innocence"

What Worked: Another solid hour of Nikita as it continues to go back to its roots as our heroes dedicate themselves to righting Division's wrongs while saving the innocent like this week's Liza/Sarah/Jessica. The mission of the week was a good enough callback to the show's original premise, and it had enough solid emotional moments to get me invested.

What Didn't Work: So far, I'm liking the back to basics approach, but Nikita needs a big bad, and I'm a little surprised that they haven't re-introduced Amanda. Honestly, she was no Percy last season and one of the the show's drawbacks, but a straight-forward rouge agent-of-the week setup can only go so far. I could also do without the unnecessary romance, but ah well.

GRADE: B+

There you have it. Another TV Report Card down, and it ended up being meatier than I thought. Next week's might be even more jam packed with the return of Monday shows, but I'm not sure how the lack of baseball will affect my line-up.

Quick Thoughts: GRIMM, "La Llorona"

It's not a secret that Grimm's been in a slump over the last couple of episodes, but it rebounded nicely with "La Llorona."

I'll say it again; Grimm works best when it focuses on domestic issues and gives them a dark, fairy tale spin to them. This time around, child abductions took center stage, and adding the Mexican folktale about a woman's ghost who takes and drowns kids really worked in this universe. It was genuinely creepy from start to finish.

The standalone feel of the episode also worked in Grimm's benefit because it didn't have to slavishly stick to mythology, but we still got little nuggets here and there like Juliette's bond with Renard and hints at what happened in Austria. A show like this needs to figure out the balance between episodic and serialized storytelling, and "Llorona" was a good example of mixing both styles.

My only real gripe with this one had to do with Monroe being stranded yet again in a minor sub-plot that really didn't go anywhere. That said, him dealing with punk kids had its moments, but I want him brought back into the main fold sooner than later.

Every show's entitled to have a few off outings, and Grimm's no different, but I'm hoping that "La Llorona" was a sign of a return to form for one of the more underrated shows on television.

Quick Thoughts: SONS OF ANARCHY, "Toad's Wild Ride"

I cut Kurt Sutter a big break last season after he backed away from killing off Juice and Clay because his decisions made sense to me. I don't think I can say the same about Season 5 of Sons of Anarchy, and I definitely cannot excuse him for "Toad's Wild Ride," an episode that I mostly disliked.

Let me start with what I did like. I wasn't too pleased when it was revealed that Clay was the mastermind behind the home invasions as a way to belittle Jax's authority, but I have to admit that there were some tense scenes between him and Unser that I felt were effective. I don't know if I trust Sutter enough to follow through with this one efficiently enough, and I have a feeling that Juice is going to end up being a sacrificial lamb, but so far I'm going with it.

Unfortunately, the rest of the episode was a dud. Joel McHale made zero impact as a sniveling con-man, and he was just a small example of how Gemma's plot just didn't work. Admittedly, she had a good scene with her son, but she's spinning so out of control this season that it's become silly. Usually, a fall from grace could be fodder for great drama, but Gemma's never been an interesting enough character to me, so wasting so much time on her downward spiral has fallen on deaf ears. And I'm just going to forgo acknowledging that last scene which was just Sons being Sons.

I wish there was more to dislike about SoA so it'd be easier just to cut bait and this point, but I still enjoy Charlie Hunnam's performance and Jax's narrative. I just wish everything around him was tighter.

Quick Thoughts: DON'T TRUST THE B---- IN APARTMENT 23, "A Reunion"

I don't have much to write about the premiere of Don't Trust the B---- except for I laughed a lot.

James Van Der Beek was the main reason I stuck with Season 1, even though I generally liked the show, so I was pumped because it was about him and a Dawson's Creek reunion. Some of the messages about moving forward and not looking back were rote, but there was enough absurdity to keep me laughing.

While I do want to show to be successful (that's probably not in the cards now that it has Happy Endings as a lead-in instead of Modern Family), I don't know if its a show that I'll spend too much time on. Stay tuned to find out.

Quick Thoughts: THE NEW NORMAL, "The Godparent Trap"

I can't say that The New Normal is all that funny, but it does have something to say and that's somewhat commendable even if the messages are a tad heavy-handed. It is Ryan Murphy after all.

David and Bryan freaking out over finding godparents for their unborn child seemed like it came out of left field, but I appreciated the discussion about faith, religion and how the gay community can help shape both if they're willing to fight for change. Was it preachy? Sure, it was but not many shows will broach the topic and treat it with respect while also taking shots at organized religion. Plus, Andrew Rannells was pretty great.

There were a few rough patches though. The whole "replace a dead pet to full the kid" trick has been done way too many times, but at least the show had enough of a self-awareness to point that out. I'm also getting the feeling that the show has no idea how to use Goldie at this point. Her shaken faith in David and Bryan should've been the emotional center of the episode, but it didn't click because she's still not a fully developed character yet, so I didn't feel for her when she bared her insecurities to the guys. In the end, it just came off as forced.

It's clear that The New Normal doesn't want or need to be for everyone. Ryan Murphy and his collaborators want to make a show for them and those who get their voices and opinions, and that's fine since I do from time to time, but the lack of mainstream appeal can only go so far. But like I wrote earlier, at least it has something to say.

Quick Thoughts: NEW GIRL, "Models"

While "Models" was a pretty entertaining episode, it was mostly due to the boys upping their game compared to what Jess and Cece did.

Obviously, I loved everything that involved Schmidt, Nick and Winston because their story had it all. Since it's been well documented that I'm a sucker for dudes acting like a couple, Schmidt's hurt feelings and Nick's inability to understand where his friend was coming from was gold, but it was also nice seeing their history. And of course, that scene where all of the emotions came pouring out just killed.

As for the girls, their story was fine but it lacked the same emotional punch as their male counterparts. Comically speaking, it relied too much on broad stereotypes (Cece's model friend) or slapstickiness (Jess trying to model), but that was fine in the end since the rest of the ensemble brought the wit. At least we got a boob fight out of it.

It might sound like I wasn't all that jazzed about "Models," but I did really enjoy the episode. It just wasn't as strong as some of the others.

Quick Thoughts: GO ON, "Any Given Birthday"

Like any show, Go On can be hit or miss sometimes, but "Any Given Birthday" was mostly hit and one of the funniest episodes yet.

I've said a few times now that Go On works as two different show, one's a workplace comedy and the other focuses on the support group dynamics, and so far the episodes that I've enjoyed the most are the ones that successfully blended the two. For example, Ryan's scavenger hunt had nothing to do with his job but "Any Given Birthday" was able to effectively use Steven in an oddball B-plot involving Sonia. On paper, Steven and Sonia shouldn't mix, but his drugged out shopping spree was hands down some of the best material to date and John Cho should submit this one for Emmy contention. What was even better was how seamlessly he's been integrated with the rest of Ryan's friends. After a few minutes, I bought Steven and Sonia's brief moments on bonding, and I was delighted when he got to tag along at the end of the night. I just hope Steven doesn't take a few steps back because of his altered state, but I'm confident that he won't since he's already been shown hanging with the support group already.

We also got more of a glimpse at how Ryan operates  In an odd way that probably says more about me, I totally understood why he would think that acting like a petulant child's a sign of affection because you only pull that crap with people you trust, and it allowed for some great one-on-one moments with Lauren. Speaking of, the writers really hung a lampshade on their inevitable hook-up, but it was another example of a contrivance that I went with because it felt earned.

Really, I don't have any major complaints about this episode except for the fact that Carrie was once again criminally underused. Sure, there was that brief scene at the studio, and I loved her hug (and Ryan's overblown reaction to it), but I really wanted her to be asked to join the gang and have some fun. Alas, she was relegated to being nothing more than a lackey, and I pray that she's given more stuff to do down the road. Also, I'm still not sure about the figments of Ryan's imagination, but Matthew Perry and Christine Woods crackle when they're on screen together so I'll go with it.

Go On's still far from a perfect comedy, but there's still a ton of potential there to keep me excited for the rest of the season. Hopefully, it can sustain some level of success and we'll be seeing it on NBC's schedule next year.

Quick Thoughts: BEN AND KATE, "Emergency Kit"

While I confidently say that I'm still a fan of Ben and Kate, I have to admit that I was not all that wild about this week's episode because it didn't strike the right balance of heart and comedy like I expected it to.

Now, "Emergency Kit" did have the warmer side covered because even though the set-up of Ben putting together a complicated emergency drill to rattle his sister was pretty broad, those final moments when the adults looked for a frightened Maddie and Kate being able to talk her down worked. The A-plot was by no means ground-breaking sitcom writing, but it hit the right marks when it needed to.

On the flipside, I did not enjoy BJ's story because it was odd for the sake of odd and was another reminder that the character's better in smaller doses. Also, I'm not the biggest Rob Corddry fan, so I was immediately taken out of any scenes that he was in. At least, it was a strong outing for Tommy as Ben and Kate's go-between. Something else that didn't quite work was Ben's ex. While Lindsay Sloane was charming in her own psychotic way, she just stuck out and didn't really play that much of a role, and I never quite understood why she was the catalyst for the entire episode.

In spite of a somewhat weaker episode, I still got a few laughs from "Emergency Kit" and I'm still enjoying the show. It's just a shame that it's looking like Ben and Kate's going to be another one-and-done though.

Episode Review: HAPPY ENDINGS, "Cazsh Dummy Spillionaires"

Happy Endings was a show that surprised me. When it debuted during the tail-end of the 2010-2011 television season and was being burned off at 10 o'clock on Wednesday nights, it looked like another short-lived Friends wannabe. And then it somehow became one of the funniest shows on television. While I have to admit that "Cazsh Dummy Spillionaires" was not the show firing on all cylinders, it was nice to have the gang back.

The end of Season 2 introduced some big questions for a show that usually throws plot aside for rapid fire jokes. Will Brad be able to get back on his feet after being laid off? What's going on with Dave and Alex? How will Penny react if the aforementioned get back together? Thankfully, the premiere didn't keep and loose threads dangling and it tackled most of the nagging queries.

It's been three weeks since Brad lost his job, and he was using his spare time to catch up on the hobbies that he previously abandoned like dance cooking and ventriloquism with his puppet, Sinbrad. You'd think that a hyper Type A person like Jane would be frustrated by her man just bumming around, but she was happy that he was taking time for himself... and that she was now the breadwinner thus making him her bitch. But apparently the role of househusband didn't suit Brad because he was able to get a new job and was hiding it from his significant other until he was busted during a fake bubble bath/nooner. Of course, Jane was not thrilled about the lying but she wanted her boo to be happy, and in the end Brad decided that he did need to spend some time on himself and quit his job.

As much as I like Brad and Jane, I was a little annoyed by their plotline because it just felt off from the get go. I get that Jane loved being in the power position now that Brad was unemployed, and I genuinely believed that she was afraid that they'd go back to not having as much time to spend together, but being annoyed by him working was asinine.  Yes, her reactions had more to do with the fact that he wasn't being honest and that she enjoyed spending more time with him, but it was so obvious that she loved being the only source of income, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he quit his job just to make her happy. At the end of the day, the outcome of this one rang extremely false to me.

Elsewhere, Penny's relationship with the guy she met at Brad's wedding progressed to the point where she felt comfortable enough base-jumping with him off the roof of a building. Since it's Penny, she backed out at the last second and ended up tumbling down a flight of stairs. Hence, the body cast. Max volunteered to take care of her but she became too demanding, and he was out until he met her cute physical therapist. From that moment on, Max "Misery-ed" Penny to keep her in the cast so he could get closer to his new crush. Crazy antics ensued, but Penny couldn't stay mad at him because she apparently did the exact same thing to him once before. The two of them would be perfect for one another if he wasn't gay and she still didn't have a thing for Dave despite her denial.

Usually, I'm not a big fan of friends being cruel to one another, and I have to say that the Penny/Max plot walked that thin line between playful ribbing and outright malice. I mean, there was a moment where he drugged her for goodness sake, and yet it all worked within the sociopathic framework that Happy Endings has created for itself. These people are horrible to each other and those outside of their group, but there's always an undercurrent of love and care that makes up for their awfulness, and luckily Max and Penny's story had the right balance of good and evil.

Lastly, Alex and Dave came clean about their rekindled relationship but they insisted that they were keeping it "cazsh." Things were going along smoothly until a bar tender hit on Dave, and Alex decided to set them up instead of being honest about how her feelings. Of course, her true feelings emotions, so she showed up at their date with a ginormous hunk who posed in Playgirl as a way to make him jealous. By episode's end, they realized that just being casual was not going to work, so they thought the logical next step was to move in together.

Alex and Dave have been problematic since day one, and many felt that they were the weakest links of Season 1. It's hard to argue with those criticisms because their shtick has always been the sitcom-iest of the bunch, so pairing them up once again could blow up in the show's face. That said, I'm OK with them exploring their relationship because we never saw them as a true couple. I don't think Happy Endings should bank on them by any means because they're still more interesting apart, and I don't see any long-term benefits of them doing the whole Ross and Rachel routine, but Dave taking a short detour from his path towards Penny could work as long as its short. As for their story during this episode, it was alright but nothing special. I could've done without all of the forced abbreviations and puns though.

Other Odds and Ends:

• Every show needs awkward, four-way high-fives.
• There was something extremely charming about Alex talking like a gangsta.
• As was her getting into a fight with a puppet.
• Damn, Eliza Coupe's body is banging!
• Yoko Uno's no Mandonna, but it's close.
• Ebony and Ebony... classic!
• "Trust us, the last thing we want is for things to get complicated like in It's Complicated, so we're just going to go with it like it Just Go With It and be friends with benefits like in No Strings Attached."
• "Yo' mama so fat, she died."
• "Two things you should know about me, Kent. I'm selfless, and I have moves like Jagger. Specifically, the ones he allegedly used on David Bowie in the '70s."
• "I'll tell you what doesn't count; the Miami Heat's most recent NBA Championship. It was an injury plagued, strike shortened season, therefore LeBron still needs six rings to even get in the conversation with Jordan."
• "You got so much done today my little stay-at-home husband, my cute little mister wife, my wifey, my girl, my little girl, my bitch! You, bitch! Who's my tiny, miniature bitch?"
• "That girl's so whack her first names should be Nick Nack Paddy. Aaaawwwww, snap!"
• "Dude, stall her!"
• "Max is Misery-ing me. He's like Kathy Bates only way fatter."

Like I said before, "Cazsh Dummy Spillionaires" was far from the show's strongest effort because some of the storylines didn't quite land, it almost tipped the scales towards despicableness and it was a little bit lazy, but it still made me laugh when it was all said and done. Can't complain about that.

Episode Review: THE WALKING DEAD, "Sick"

Episode 2 of the new season of The Walking Dead once again kept things relatively simple (if you don't count the massive amount of zombie kills), but it wasn't just chopping and shooting because "Sick" gave viewers a glimpse of what kind of man Rick has become since the start of his dictatorship.

This time around the action was contained to the prison with half of the group dealing with the convicts who were left behind, and the other half keeping an eye on a one-legged Hershel. The main question was what should be done with the prisoners. After Rick went head to head with the Tomas, the leader of the new band of misfits, it was decided that the two groups would share the fortress. Since it was obvious that there was enough food to keep the stowaways alive for almost a year, Rick decided to help them set up shop in their own cell block, and he along with Daryl and T-Dog would give the newbies a crash course in how to survive in this new world for half of their rations. Tomas reluctantly agreed, but things quickly went sideways when they ran into multiple herds of walkers, and he had to take out one of his own guys during one of the skirmishes. At that point, Rick and Daryl were distrustful of Tomas, and sure enough he sicked a walker on Rick but his trusty second-in-command was there to make the save. Rick didn't have the patience to put up with that kind of betrayal, so he embedded a machete into Tomas' head and chased another prisoner into a courtyard full of zombies and let them have at him. He decided to have mercy on the surviving two and let them live on their own side of the prison.

Meanwhile, Lori and the rest of the group looked over Hershel since he had passed out and remained unconscious. Maggie tried to prepare Beth for the real possibility that their father may not survive, but her sister refused to give up hope. Things were not looking good, and they didn't have enough supplies to keep Hershel alive, so Carl took it upon himself to find the infirmary. Even though his side mission was a success, Lori scolded him in front of his new crush, and he ran off after Beth also reprimanded him. There was a moment when it looked like Hershel had passed away, but a quick thinking Lori was able to resuscitate him with mouth to mouth.

After the entire ordeal, Lori was able to get away for a bit until Rick found her and reassured her that she was not a horrible mother. When she brought up their marriage and whether or not she was a good wife, Rick avoided the conversation, thanked her for saving Hershel's life and patted her on the shoulder before walking off.

In some ways, "Sick" was not very different than some of the weaker Season 2 chapters. The story was confined to one location, and there were some discussions about what's right and wrong in the post-walker world, but it didn't spin its wheels like those that came before it. Instead of taking days to figure out what to do with the prisoners, Rick made a firm decision to let them live in a separate cell block without any debate, and he did not hesitate to kill those who posed a threat to him or his group. The Rick of old would not have acted so swiftly or savagely, but this was a new Rick, and boy was he more entertaining to watch.

What made his evolution even more griping was the fact that you can tell that he's still a good person deep down. He may have killed Tomas and let the walkers devour the other guy, but you could still see the toll that his actions had on him. It's this kind of murky morality that should have underlined all of last season, but the show was too afraid to go there. Thankfully, that's no longer the case.

Another reason why "Sick" worked better than previous installments was the emotion that was involved. It wasn't all about dark Rick disposing of random people because the Hershel plot grounded the episode due to its life or death stakes. Hershel and his family probably suffered the most during Season 2 because they were given the least amount of development, but somewhere along the way I started to care about the old guy and his daughters, and this story gave Lauren Conrad and Emily Kinney some good material to work with.

The only downside of the episode was the overabundance of Lori. Again, she drags the show down whenever she's on screen, but at least she was self-aware enough to admit that she's a horrible person. I don't know if it was enough to get me to actually care about her, but at least she's unlikable now instead of wholly detestable. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that her marriage will be a major plot point this season, and I'm already bracing myself for disappointment on that front. Then again, she very well may surprise us all.

Other Odds and Ends:

• Carol's C-plot about her practicing her Cesarean skills made sense, but it also kind of stuck out and felt like it was shoved in to let us know that someone's watching the prison.
• I don't know why, but the fact that they left Hershel's leg behind in the cafeteria made me laugh.
• Come to think of it, this was a pretty funny episode in a twisted way because watching the prisoners shank the walkers while our heroes looked on was worth a few chuckles.
• Honestly, I was a little sad to see Big Tiny and Tomas go. I actually thought they could've made things even more interesting.
• I still don't like the idea of Carl having feelings for Beth, but I couldn't help but feel for him when Beth scolded him for disrespecting his mother.
• Speaking of Beth, I'm still digging her in spite of her limited screen time. I guess I really can't blame Carl.

"Sick" proved that it could keep the zombie-killing action revving while also giving the audience some decent character development and emotional moments. It's just too bad that it took the show so long to figure out how to make it all work, and part of me is still not sure it can keep it going, but at least it looks promising after two episodes.

TV Report Card: Week of October 14, 2012

OK, hopefully this edition of the TV Report Card will be more substantial than the previous ones, but I ask that you pardon the mess in advance. Without further ado, here is this week's TV Report Card:

Sunday
The Walking Dead: "Seed"

What Worked: It's not a secret that Season 2 of The Walking Dead had some issues, but "Seed" did a lot to help viewers forget them. Turning TWD into a zombie, shoot 'em up style video game and a reliance on classic horror tropes was a good move, and while I don't expect the show to rest on its laurels, it was a strong opener that emphasized gore over mindless chatter.

What Didn't Work: Some of the characters are still insufferable, namely Lori. To be fair, she wasn't highlighted too much, and she wasn't as annoying as she was last year, but I still don't care about her and am actually rooting for her zombie baby. That said, she has helped make Rick more interesting.

GRADE: B+

Homeland: "State of Independence"

What Worked: Most of the emotional beats were spot on like Carrie finding out that she was right, Brody's reactions to what he had to do for Abu Nazir and Jessica's disappointment in her husband. Speaking of Jessica, this was probably Morena Baccarin's best outing yet due to her character actually having something to do.

What Didn't Work: I can harp on the contrivances that muddied up Brody's story, but I just went along with the implausibilities and didn't let them effect my enjoyment of the episode. Sure, it was all silly but I'm confident that the writers will explain why he was asked to take the tailor to the safe house, but I doubt it will appease those who had issues with it the plot detail to begin with.

GRADE: B-

Monday
How I Met Your Mother: "Who Wants to Be a Godparent?"

What Worked: I guess the idea of Marshall putting together a game show to figure out which member of the gang should be named godparent was a funny idea in theory, but it felt too broad even by this show's standards.

What Didn't Work: Maybe it's because I don't have direct experience with what the characters are going through, but I thought that Ted, Robin and Barney's reactions to Marshall and Lily not having as much time for them was childish and self-centered. Again, this storyline may have had some truth baked into it, but I couldn't have cared less about it and was annoyed by it all. The lack of laughs didn't help either.

GRADE: D+

Castle: "Murder, He Wrote"

What Worked: It was nice seeing Rick and Kate away from the precinct for a little bit, and the boys trying their darndest to figure out who Beckett was dating was cute in its own odd way. Kudos to Ryan for keeping their secret for now, but I do hope he tortures them a little bit more before revealing what he knows. And of course there were too many great Caskett (nice fan service BTW) moments to count.

What Didn't Work: The cast itself was only OK and was too silly for my liking but that's not really a problem because Castle works best when its not taking itself too seriously, and yet there was something about this one that was harder to go along with.

GRADE:

Revolution: "Soul Train"

What Worked: "Soul Train" kind of had a Firefly vibe to it because of the train and people dressed up in color-coded coats, and for the first time I found myself interested in the brewing civil war. It was also a good episode for Giancarlo Esposito's character due to some effective flashbacks.

What Didn't Work: The reveal that Nate was really Tom's son was a bit clunky, and I'm not in love with the whole Rachel and Monroe plot, but once again Charlie was the show's weakest link. Tracy Spiridako's acting was woefully bad, and I didn't buy Charlie's change in character for one second. Heck, there was a moment when I wondered if the show would be bold enough to kill her off and let Billy Burke take the lead. I don't think it'd suffer without her at this point.

GRADE: C+

Tuesday
Hart of Dixie: "If It Makes You Happy"

What Worked: Ultimately, "If It Make You Happy" was a cute episode but far from a great one. Out of everything that happened, I suppose I really enjoyed the Zoe and Wade moments (of course) and the dust up between George and Brick but that had more to do with Lavon's assistance.

What Didn't Work: Honestly, I didn't love most of the stories during this one. Zoe trying to impress her alumni magazine was a bit shallow (I know that was the point), I don't care about Lavon's rivalry with what's her face or Lemon's juvenile reaction to George's date (although I like how the two were combined to give her some direction).

GRADE: B-

Ben and Kate: "21st Birthday"

What Worked: I liked how the show shook up the pairings this time around. While Ben and BJ had some plain odd moments, I liked the underlying sweetness of the Kate and Tommy moments (and I really dug his final fit of confusion). The twist ending where we learned that Kate's past birthdays were not spent sad and alone because she had Maddie was the right amount of sweetness to cap off the episode.

What Didn't Work: I wanted a little more from Molly since she was purely an example of Kate's past life and there to cause tension. Maybe we'll get to see more of her down the road, but introducing a character purely for plot is a tricky proposition and B&K didn't quite pull it off. BJ's jealousy was also a bit on the nose.

GRADE: B+

Sons of Anarchy: "Small World"

What Worked: Well, at least Opie's death finally had some ramifications. So at least there was that.

What Didn't Work: Other than Jax killing someone with a snowglobe, I didn't care for this episode. I'm so tired of Gemma at this point, and Clay's involvement with the home invasion smacked of this show trying too hard. Seriously, how stupid was Nero's old lady (and half-sister?) showing up and forcing them to get it on? And Otto's demands of Tara while she was trying to convince him to help out the club was just gross and off-putting.

GRADE: D+

Arrow: "Honor Thy Father"

What Worked: This episode highlighted some decent action sequences, and if the show can maintain this current level then it could be a wildly entertaining show even if there are other problematic areas like acting and story. That said, I liked some of the quieter moments like the one between Oliver and Laurel, and I appreciated getting more of his backstory.

What Didn't Work: Stephen Arnell has not convinced me that he's a believable lead or an action star, and his performance really lacks when he's asked to do anything other than brood. His spoiled playboy facade has suffered the most, and it's by far one of the more annoying aspects of the show. Also, still not loving the Revenge-iness of it all.

GRADE: B-

Modern Family: "The Butler's Escape"

What Worked: It was one of those rare occasions when I didn't even care for the Dunphy side of the episode. Phil being upset over Luke's lack of interest in magic was OK, but it felt a little out of character, but it was salvaged by the heart-to-heart between the two of them.

What Didn't Work: I hated everything else. Gloria's snoring was a non-story, and while I get Claire's joy in her step-mothers imperfection, it just made her even more detestable. She wasn't helped by the fact that she was shrewish after she got upset that Mitchell took credit for her handy work. Cam's sub-plot smacked of trying too hard and it all fell flat. I think I might be done with this show once and for all.

GRADE: D+

Nashville: "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)"

What Worked: I'm still enjoying the music side of things, and watching Juliette write that song with Deacon was entertaining even though I could've done without all of the seduction. I even liked the two young, up-and comers' story despite the fact that I cannot remember their names.

What Didn't Work: I'm already bored with the whole political angle, and Rayna's issues with her father are just an added layer of melodrama that bogs down the rest of the show rather than enhances it. And I don't know how to feel about this impending love quadrangle because it's all stuff we've seen before. In my opinion, Nashville needs to amp up the music business and leave the soapy stuff to the rest of ABC's line-up, but oh how I doubt that'll ever happen.

GRADE: C+

Thursday
The Vampire Diaries: "Memorial"

What Worked: This was pretty much a perfect hour of television. Everything worked from the introduction of a new hunter, to Elena's hunger, to the continued tension between the brothers, to Tyler's sacrifice for the team, to the shootout in the church, and of course that final scene involving Damon at the cemetery. What's the common denominator? No Originals. That and it was just non-stop craziness from the get go, but it all landed.

What Didn't Work: If I had to be nit-picky, I'd have to say that I didn't love the lantern memorial because it was a bit hokey. And what if one of those lanterns got stuck in a tree and started a wildfire?

GRADE: A-

Elementary: "Child Predator"

What Worked: Jonny Lee Miller continued to be the draw for me as he once again put on a pretty entertaining performance. I'm still impressed by Miller's take on the character, I'm happy that he didn't try to turn his Holmes into a carbon copy of anyone else's. Oh, and I'm still liking the relationship between Sherlock and Watson, and I hope the show doesn't muck with it.

What Didn't Work: I didn't love the case of the week, but that's OK since these kind of shows don't really need captivating plot devices if the characters and their relationships are clicking. The main reason I didn't care for this one was because the victim becoming the perpetrator's been done a million times before, and even a creepy teenager couldn't liven it up. I just wish he doesn't somehow become Moriarty by season's end.

GRADE: B-

Friday
Grimm: "The Other Side"
What Worked: Unfortunately, not as much as I would've liked. The Jekyll and Hyde aspect of this week's Wesen should've been easy pickings for Grimm, but it never quite gelled. That said, I liked how it was applied to a high school student and not some random meek person. I'll also throw David Giuntoli a bone and admit that his performance was better this time around. On top of that, Renard and Juliette's new subplot was more tolerable than expected.

What Didn't Work: Aside from the aforementioned, the addition of Renard's brother and Adalind's meeting was one plot device too many and it ended up making the episode feel too busy in spite of the fact that it progressed the season arc along. I would've preferred if it was included in a less jam-packed episode.

GRADE: C

Nikita: "3.0"

What Worked: For the most part, the Season 3 premiere was a solid hour of action. Having Nikita and the rest of the New Division take out one of its former agents was a decent enough set up, and the show once again impressed with a limited amount of resources. Plus, television's always better when Maggie Q's on the screen.

What Didn't Work: I have a feeling that the show has lost its way when it comes to Alex. Her posing as a crazy socialite could work for the short-term, but it's going to be a challenge to keep her plugged into the spy world. At least the show's aware of this problem, but I'm not sure I trust it to make it all run smoothly. Also, I really didn't care for Michael's proposal because I don't watch Nikita for gooey moments, and that one was too over the top for me. I did like the way she answered though.

GRADE: B-

So, another TV Report Card is in the books and it looks like my viewing rotation is firming up. There are a few shows still on the bubble (Nashville and Modern Family to name a few), but they can easily be replaced by the returning Happy Endings and Apt. 23. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.