57 Channels and Only This Is On: 8/12/2018

Claws: Well that was an, um, interesting way to end the penultimate episode before what is presumably explosive final episode. We will get to finally see what side the Russians are on. And I only have to guess Desna has a contingency plan know that she knows her future husband owns all that property.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

The Affair: Well, that was shocking. When they said Alison was dead, my initial cynic television watcher was it really was not her. But then Noah identified the body. Although I have a sinking suspicion that we do not know the whole story. We do have two episodes left so it seems safe to assume we will get Alison’s perspective of her last days. But is it going to be next week or the finale. Do we even need a conclusion to the Helen and Vic storyline?

Sharp Objects: Well we knew she cut herself, but that was a lot of scars on Camille, some I wonder how exactly was she able to contort her body into making. But nothing changed this week to made me question my prediction that Amma had something to do with the murders.

Harlots: So Lucy has shacked up with a killer and is not at all fazed by the news. Oh, and he is in cahoots with Liv Tyler’s brother. Battle lines are being redrawn. But that is not the worst news for Margaret Wells, her plan to unseat Quigley completely unraveled. But hey, at least she got one daughter back. Although she may not be with her daughter long after confessing to murder. Did she do that just to get Lord Fallon arrested? Lucy cannot take the fall if her mom already confessed.
You can stream Harlots on Hulu.

Castle Rock: Oh wow, they let the nameless inmate out. And he noticeably did not shake the lawyer’s hand so clearly just a touch can make people go insane. And maybe even less than a touch because it seemed by the just the presence caused that family to get very aggressive with each other. But he does seem to like high places, kind of reminds me of the mascot from what think was the first episode. So Tessa Altman talks about how all this weird stuff happened in this town before she was born and it presumably stopped when the warden first took the inmate, which we now know Pangborn knew about, and now things are getting weird again. But how long until we know what exactly is going on. Sure the inmate told Pangborn that he is not the Devil but of course the greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was to make people think he doesn’t exist.
You can stream Castle Rock on Hulu.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 8/5/2018

Claws: I was convinced when Desna was arrested the task force was just using her to get to the Russians. But apparently she was the big fish they were talking about. And it does not seem like Desna is interested in giving them the Russians in exchange for some deal because Slata gave her a great lawyer. Instead she makes a deal with Slata to kill her fiancé in exchange for more franchises even though the Feds are on to her. There has to be another play here because that does not seem wise.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

The Affair: Wait, what? So hot starlet beds Vic two weeks ago and then this week, all but confesses to Helen and then has sex with her too. Is a threesome coming in two more episodes? It still seems like an obvious solution to have her carry Vic’s baby. Then we had two Whitney mentions this episode yet in episode seven we have not actually seen her yet despite the actress still being in the title sequence. But are we already to the flash forwards from the start of the season? That seems quick, but it has been a few episodes since they did one of those scenes.

Sharp Objects: I came away from the first three episodes thinking three different people did the murder. There was an interesting theory of two different people killed the two girl, but I am even more convinced that Amma was involved in at least one, if not both murders.

The Bold Type: Wait, they are not really going to have this big decision storyline for Jane where she struggles between choosing the humanitarian doctor or the douchebag writer, are they? That has to be one of the easiest decisions ever. Although for some reason, a lot of female television character ends up picking the bad boy.
You can download The Bold Type on iTunes.

The Challenge: Final Reckoning: Well, that had to be up there with one of the worse episodes in the history of the show. Without any actual challenges, the first three fourths of the show was a bore. Then eliminating people on the double cross was just lame. That was made even worse by only Big Brothers competing to get back into the game. I know I say this a lot, but I really wished The Challenge would just go to the Survivor format of one elimination per episode.
You can download The Challenge: Final Reckoning on iTunes.

Harlots: Oh my, there is a little Quigley growing inside Emily Lacey. Or so she says. Interesting that Lucy has been mostly away from everyone this season.
You can stream Harlots on Hulu.

Castle Rock: I had a sinking suspicion the prison guard would not be on the show long. But I have to wonder if touching the man in the box was what hastened his demise. The dude did tell his cell mate not to touch him and the next day the Nazi dies of aggressive cancer. Did that fist bump inspire the shooting spree? As for other unanswered questions, just what happened to Henry? The creepy old man told Henry that h knew that he never touched him. Did he just admit participation in the abduction? And does Henry really know? I do not believe we have heard his version of the story yet. Not even a “I have no memory of the time I was missing?” And just what happened to his father? Is what we saw Molly do last week reliable, or is that just what she thinks she did? The father did write “Henry did it.” But did what? Is pushing him over the cliff too obvious.
You can stream Castle Rock on Hulu.

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger: Early in the season, I notice the actress who plays Dagger on Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist which led me down a rabbit hole of her music career, including a soundtrack for the show where she covers soft rock gem Come Sail Away. So as the opening strums of the song playing as the voodoo priestess told of each Divine Pairing, I knew what was coming… and it was horribly awesome. As for the show itself, I am not entirely sure what is going on with Evil Cop. Did Cloak kill him? Is he in some dream state in Cloak’s mind, sort of like the scientist? Can Cloak bring him back whenever he wants? And is Lady Cop just Lady Swamp Thing now? I would be fine with that as long as she does not start growing moss on her skin.
You can download Marvel's Cloak and Dagger on iTunes.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 7/29/2018

Claws: Didn’t they just pull the surprise arrested by cops in the final scene just two episodes ago? Not only was that shocking and left us guessing what happened next, it seems pretty obvious to me all that will happen with Desna is the cops will try to get her to turn on the Russians which she will be eager to do. The only question is where will the show go in season three with the Russians (presumably) out of the picture and the cops aware of Desna illegal activities?
You can download Claws on iTunes.

The Affair: Is this is how Anton gets to the east coast in the future? On a college visit? And what happened to those future scenes, they just gone forever? And a little disappointing that we did not get a Helen segment so we can see what prompted that tweener rant by the son. Maybe the next episode. But that had to be the shortest segment ever. The Noah segment only lasted twenty minutes. Then Alison is stuck in another estranged father who wants a kidney storyline. There have been way too many of those on television. But if Cole was on his walkabout and Alison fled to California, just who was watching Joanie?

Sharp Objects: The biggest thing to stick out this week, well other than how the girlfriend weirdly is eager to play house while wearing her cheerleader outfit in out of season, was how drunkenly adamant Amma was about how her friends would do anything for her. “Anything!!!!” Would they kill for her? These dead girls are Amma’s peers and the one kid did say a woman in white abducted one of the girls, although the yanking of teeth seemed a bit much for teenaged girls. Then there is Camille’s roommate who I have now watch die tragically twice in the span of the month, the first being the ritualistic drowning on The Handmaid’s Tale. Is that actress now officially the teenage girl version of Sean Bean who is just brought in to die tragically?

The Challenge: Final Reckoning: I like the new voting system as much as I hate it. I also wished the Challenge would go with the Survivor hidden votes because the votes do seem very bandwagon at times. But then I do not like that the people who get votes in have to choose between the people who voted for them. You might as well just pencil in Bananas/Tony and Brad/chin implant dude to the finals because teams will only vote foe other teams they think they can beat (I.e. weak teams) and those voted in will avoid strong teams unless there is some anomaly in the voting thanks to the weekly winners getting two votes and cannot be chosen.
You can download The Challenge: Final Reckoning on iTunes.

Harlots: I think that was the first times the Wells ladies spoke this season not pretending they had a major falling out. I was beginning to wonder if Margaret was still in on the plan to bring down Quigley. But Emily Lacey, shunned by both houses is actually picking a side. But the big plot twist is the little harlot is turning on Emily Lacey to help Quigley. But will she tell her of Charlotte’s plan?
You can stream Harlots on Hulu.

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger: Finally the voodoo family is back. Only in New Orleans can someone go around town spitting liquor and no one give them a second look. Then the younger one can block Dagger’s new skill of stealing someone’s hope and even got in a great dig: calling her a strangely aggressive tiny girl. Which begs the question, can Cloak steal someone’s fears?
You can download Marvel's Cloak and Dagger on iTunes.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 7/22/2018

Claws: Well that was some inappropriate bedside manner from Jenn. Sad thing is was that the moment she started touching him; I knew that was exactly where they were going with that. And Jenn blaming Desna for Bryce felt a little misguided. It was Bryce and Uncle Daddy who went there to kill Slata, you cannot be mad at someone else when they start shooting back.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

The Affair: No future Noah / Cole segment at the beginning? Instead we get a present day Helen / Vic trying to have a kid. Then we get the mild surprise of starting with a Vic-centric half episode. Which was just his mid-life crisis mixed with rich person bucket list. I just said the last time Vic was on the show he was my most standup guy on the show and now he is blowing curing kid disease to go joy riding with a starlet’s daughter… in more ways than one. But hey, if Helen will not give him a baby, the daughter might be the better option anyway. Speaking of old dudes spreading their seed with younger women… poor Cole, went through all those exorcism steps only to learn that is what led his father to kill himself.

Sharp Objects: I came away from the premiere thinking the step-father did it (mostly because the actor is evil in pretty much everything I see him in) but this week we had one eyewitness say a woman in white did it which makes me think the mother is a doth protest too much type a person. Then we learn the murderer yanked out teeth with pliers and then a couple scenes later the sheriffs fixing a stop sign… with a forking pair of pliers hanging on the sign. It cannot be that obvious, can it? The sheriff seemed kind of offended at the idea of a women doing the deed.

The Bold Type: Um, Jane, have you never seem a clarinet case in your life before? That was way too big for a clarinet. But I could have done without the very special episode about guns. And a bit eye rolling that Sutton is turning Betsy into earing. And it was a bit weird how many times they said Sutton’s last name this episode, maybe more times in the entire first season, considering her last name is shared by the most famous gun control legislation of all time.
You can download The Bold Type on iTunes.

The Challenge: Final Reckoning: Nothing more annoying than the first couple episodes when it takes forever to get to the first elimination round. And it will be annoying is Bananas/Tony and Brad/tattoo guy dominate this season just because they are by far the strongest teams.
You can download The Challenge: Final Reckoning on iTunes.

Harlots: So Emily Lacey’s new “boarding house” is just a black chick, a little person, and, I guess herself. I cannot image that the brothel will be very successful. It seems like only a mater a time before she picks a side between Quigley and Wells.
You can stream Harlots on Hulu.

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger: So crooked cop has lady cop kill the drug dealer last week when it seemed to me that it would have been smarter and this week the crooked cop (presumably) kills the beat cop but lets the lady cop, who again is the bigger threat, live. Another confusing thing to me is just how do Cloak and Dagger’s abilities work together? He sees people fears while she sees their hopes, but together, they saw the comatose scientist in a Groundhogs Day loop and then saw when they touched her mother together, they saw her father slap her mother. Are they just seeing what that person is thinking right then and there? They need to explain that better.
You can download Marvel's Cloak and Dagger on iTunes.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 7/15/2018

Claws: Okay, things are starting to get confusing. Last week, Quiet Ann confessed to her lesbian lover who seemingly used that information to arrest the doctor but they just went on as nothing happened. Then this week Desna walked in on her man and Slata and they explained how they were playing Desna. What? Whose side is the Haitian on? He made plans with Uncle Daddy last season so who exactly is he playing? Things got convoluted in the second half of last season and it looks like they are doing the same this season. But as long as teenaged white girls are using Public Enemy as their dinner plans I will be entertained enough.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

The Affair: So it is confirmed Noah and Cole are looking for Alison in the future. Kind of boring but at least there is not going to be some stupid plot twist. Though maybe there still will be, maybe Alison is not alone. Noah’s daughter is still in the title sequence but is currently sight unseen and barely mentioned other than being at college with an age appropriate boyfriend. It took me a while to realize that was Alison’s new beau at the meeting. Weird that we learned that he had a wife in the future timeline. But it does say something that the most interesting part of a Cole/Alison episode is the one minute prologue. But is Cole really going to go for a walkabout in California, just where Noah is (though in the future they are in Pennsylvania)?

Sharp Objects: I actually watched the premiere back to back with Justice League and it left me longing for fun Amy Adams. And after looking it up, it has been eight years since The Muppets, maybe her last upbeat project. Someone needs to write her a comedy quick.

I’m Dying Up Here: Ron just continues to fail upwards, his own spin-off? Wow. He tried to get off that show all season only to get a raise for his troubles. Although, was that ending Ron dead from an overdose or just resting? But it was interesting after last season ended with another inconsequential club burning down that were some stakes at the end of the this season with the strike. Makes me wonder if Richard Pryor actually joined a strike like this.

The Bold Type: I certainly did not have Jane landing back at Scarlet in the back half of the season. I was actually thinking that reporting on someone else that had a run in with Jacqueline’s abuser actually made it less likely for Jane to get her job back but that ended up being the reason.
You can download The Bold Type on iTunes.

The Challenge: Final Reckoning: I wonder just how the person who is buried and who did the digging was chosen. Clearly Britni was put at a disadvantage. Poor Jenna, I am not sure Jemmy would have done much better. And just where was Banana’s partner? They just seemed to completely gloss over his partner was not there with no explanation. But the biggest question is how do you possibly get booted for fighting when a million dollars is on the line? You cannot goad me into a fight if for even a tenth of that.
You can download The Challenge: Final Reckoning on iTunes.

The Handmaid’s Tale: When Offred was having flashbacks to her other daughter, I thought, oh, no, after all that trouble other people went through, she is not really going to go back solely just for the other daughter. At least she gave the baby with Rory Gilmore who killed (?) Aunt Lydia and is punished with escape for it. I wonder if this was the first Handmaid he helped escaped. He had no children (that we saw) and was kind of old to be a new father yet was in the need for another Handmaid. Kind of annoying that Offred almost escapes in episode one, could have escaped in the antepenultimate episode if had not been for a frozen garage door. And then could have escaped for a third time this season, but decided to stay.

Then, oh snap, the cut off Serena’s pinky. Sure it does not seem that big a deal coming off an episode where the drowned a pair of teenagers. I actually thought Offred was going to offer, or possible Serena would ask, to go with Offred at the end. I wonder if Serena tries to leave next season, remember when she was in Canada, the American guy offered her a place in Hawaii.

And what of Offred next season? If they drowned the adulterers, what is the punishment for stealing a baby? It has to be worse than cutting off a finger. And just how does she expect to get her other kid back and reunite with her family? Sure Waterford offered more visits if she behaves but kidnapped what he thinks is his child is not really behaving? Does Serena help?
You can stream The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

Reverie: Finally something interesting… Mara’s brother-in-law survived the murder-suicide attempt. She has already entered the Reverie of a comatose patient, clearly she will do that again before the season is up.
You can download Reverie on iTunes.

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger: The token Groundhog’s Day episode is beginning to be an annoying television trope. But it should be interesting how the doctor changes things. Though if his mind is as mushy as it was in the time loop, it may be a while before he can help anyone. And I cannot imagine Roxxon is keen on him being conscience again.
You can download Marvel's Cloak and Dagger on iTunes.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 7/8/2018

Claws: Finally the Quiet Ann-centric episode I never knew I needed. And I am still not sure I need it. I guess the AA Meeting was pretty entertaining. But, wait, Quiet Ann has a brother who is a gay politician? What? How have these groups of criminals not exploited that yet. But what is with that ending? Did Arlene fake getting fired in hopes to get a sting just like it went down?
You can download Claws on iTunes.

The Affair: Gee, the police got there pretty quick. Is the station right next to the school? But is there anyone Noah will not hook up with? How exactly was he able to stay faithful for twenty years? Or was Alison not his first affair. Then there was Helen and very telling she left after saying she could not live without her kids and did not say Vic. I almost thought she was going to say Noah first. But poor Vic, probably the most stand up person on the show, really the only one, and he just got a death sentence. Although making Helen raise a kid alone without him at his age is kind of selfless. I was waiting for Helen to ask, which one after that woman answered Bush. But I guess the oldest W. babies are only seventeen. As for the intro, it looks like I was wrong thinking that Noah and Cole were not looking for Alison because Anton’s comment about having a type pretty much confirms it. Which then begs the question, what the fork is Anton doing there?

I’m Dying Up Here: After a season of self-sabotage, Ron finally did the ultimate, he just upped and quit. But will it last or will he be happily back on the show by the finale last week? And just when you thought Bill’s dumbest thing he would do this week would be making fun a bunch of bikers, he tries to schedule a strike against Goldie. That will probably end p with his getting blacklisted more than getting paid by Goldie.

The Bold Type: I was wondering with Jane blaming a diversity hire for not getting a job if Kat would support her friend or call her out for being racist. I guess conflict should have been the obvious answer.
You can download The Bold Type on iTunes.

The Handmaid’s Tale: After everything that went down the last two episodes, they just yadda-yadda Offred getting back safe and sound. Or as safe and sound as a handmaid in Gilliad can be. And just when you thought Rory Gilmore’s life could not get any worse, she end up in the house of probably the most dysfunctional family in Gilliad. Then her commander asked if she healed properly. What exactly did they do to her? I assumed when it happened last season they removed her lady parts but since she is back to making babies, that cannot be the case. But holy fork, they punished the driver’s teenaged wife with death by public drowning?!? Out oll the cruel things they do in thid country, that may be right below the ritual rape.
You can stream The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger: Wait, wasn’t drilling for an “energy source” a plot point on Runaways? I wonder if it is connected even though Marvel television shows never reference each other except for the Netflix shows. Granted Freeform and Hulu are at least partially owned by Disney (and may soon be majority owner). Also the shows are on different coast. Still now that the Runaways have actually ran away, maybe they will make their way to New Orleans. But I will not hold my breath.

So there is a guy who worked with her father that Dagger cannot see his hopes. Instead they are locked away in his brain guarded by Cloak’s dark energy. Of course this begs the question is this because he is in a catatonic state or does the scientist was working on these powers when the rig exploded and he was the one that shut down his brain and is waiting for Cloak and Dagger to unlock it?

As for a question that likely will go unanswered on the show, why did the dirty cop have the hot lady cop kill his distributer? Didn’t he clear the streets of all the other drug kingpins to let this guy have a monopoly and get a cut for eliminating the competition? Doesn’t he need someone running the operation? Having the drug dealer kill the hot lady cop who is on to him seemed like the better strategy. Unless he is going to try to get her into his business. But still, it is not like she will be able to run the business.
You can download Marvel's Cloak and Dagger on iTunes.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 7/1/2018

Claws: Things are getting super weird. First they start with a fifties sitcom (right after the Brady Bunch homage last week). Then Desna’s boyfriend starts seductively feeding strawberries to his mother. Then the bizarre courtroom show of Jenn vs. Bryce. Jenn gets drunk in a way I would have never thought of. Oh and I just noticed the portrait of Bryce and Jenn in their bedroom which is… interesting.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

I’m Dying Up Here: Mocking Muhammad Ali has to be the dumbest thing Bill has ever done and he has done some really dumb things. But the stuff with Goldie and her daughter got really deep. So the daughter picks the sleaziest old dude as the guy she lost her virginity to. And then when Goldie almost kills him, Amanda just so happens to confess the only guy she had sex with is now dead. Pretty convenient which makes me wonder if she is telling the truth or not.

The Bold Type: For a prude who has only slept with now five guys and has had many super moral stands, it is weird how anti-religious Jane is. Sure, how her mom died is reasonable to turn her back on the church, but she does (mosty) seems to live by its rules.
You can download The Bold Type on iTunes.

The Handmaid’s Tale: I wonder why Offred did not run at the beginning. Was it just because she had just seen her daughter and realize she did not want to abandon her again? Was it because she was pregnant? Did she fear getting caught again? Then what about the Waterford’s visit maker her want to run? And are garage doors really that tough? And I think that is the first time I ever heard anyone call Mr. Waterford Fred. But is he and his wife really that stupid to not look for footprints in the snow? So what now? Offred is stuck in the middle of nowhere with no transportation and a new baby.
You can stream The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger: What a lame basketball game. So after seeing how horrible the lives of opposing team’s players are, Cloak (presumably) bricks the final shot. And yet, though the referee was clearly trying to throw the game, he does not even blow the whistle on the play. But Dagger is clearly becoming the star of the show as she is finally able to harness her abilities and then exploiting them for her own personal gains. And then pushing Cloak over the guardrail hoping it would trigger his powers was the best part of the show yet.

But the big reveal was that Cloak’s brother’s buddy is in cahoots with the officer that killed the brother. Huh? And it seemed like the friend knew the cop killed the brother. So were they working together back then? Did the friend learn of the murder later? And I wonder if Cloak’s storyline with his brother’s killer will end up tying in with Dagger looking into Roxxon.
You can download Marvel's Cloak and Dagger on iTunes.

Previewing Claws: Season Two

Claws was a pleasant surprise last summer with a decent mix of humor, action, and about one huge plot twist per episode. Seriously, do not ask me how Roller was able to survive being drowned, shot, set a fire, and being some weird od lady’s sex slave. But those elements did a good job at hiding some of its flaws like how Uncle Daddy goes way over the top every time he opens his mouth and maybe there was one too many plot twists. Sure, the funeral he arranged for Roller was great mostly because it was over the top but he could have toned it down in pretty much every other scene.

So the gist of the first season was Desna trying to get out from underneath the Dixie Mafia but ended the season under the thumb of the Russian mob. And if you thought the lady who was running the Russian mob last season was scary and ruthless, wait until you meet her family, notably Franka Potente (Run Lola Run) who wants to expand Desna’s opiate money laundering business and start a Magic Mike type review in South Florida. Oh yeah, and the season ended with Uncle Daddy buddying up to the Haitian mafia to battle the Russian mafia and the Haitian mafia just so happened to be run by Desna’s boyfriend.

And Desna is not the only one with problems, Desna’s autistic brother knocked up Virginia, Jennifer got caught hooking up with a rabbi, and it has not yet, but you know Polly banging the guy who runs the clinic will end badly. And things are set for a just as wild, or wilder in the seconds season. I am not sure what will make Desna go into a rage more, Virginia’s pregnancy or her boyfriend’s secret life (we do learn the answer to one of those pretty quickly and an annoyingly close call to the other). Then Potente just set everything aflame (literally in one scene) which just adds to the craziness. We even get a surprise marriage in the premiere (hint, it is not Virginia and Dean). The second season of Claws just may be wilder than the first.

Claws airs Sundays at 9:00 on TNT.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 8/19/2017

Orphan Black: 147 clones? Wow, Dyad was busy. They are apparently all dead now but I wonder how many dude clones were there. I was just disappointed they ruined Alison, turning her into a hippy for no apparent reason with two episodes left. I was hoping we would get a cheesy sitcom spin off with her and Donnie.
You can download Orphan Black on iTunes.

Ray Donovan: So are they going to continue to tease Abby’s death without actually saying the word or at least show the body? Sure Ray found her convulsing and foaming from the mouth, but we never heard what happened to her. Ray did mention the head injury from the car accident which of course was cause by the hot leaked actress. Except Ray did not bring that up when she showed of at his office. But I did find it interesting that she told Ray she “shot” her husband, not that she killed her. It would be more interesting if the husband is not dead because it seems like Ray cleans up a dead body at least one a season. I believe the very first scene of the series was Ray getting rid of a dead body.

Claws: I am not sure what was more entertaining, the Whitney Houston scene or the Humpty Dance scene. Still I do not understand why Roller and Uncle Daddy let Desna, and Virginia, live for trying to kill the former. And I am not sure if I am racist and think every black man looks the same, but I am pretty sure that was Desna’s doctor friend that the Dixie Mafia met with in the last scene.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

The Strain: So Setrakian has been part of a bone marrow experiment this whole time? And that was kind of an easy escape, why not try that earlier? And why I am complaining, why did the Master not swarm Eph after learning his location. New Horizons was right there presumably swarming with Strigoli.
You can download The Strain on iTunes.

I’m Dying Up Here: Bill got the chair? I know the show positioned him as the next big thing, but never really deserved it in my eyes. Then he did not even bother to kill himself afterward. The other big question beside how did Bill get on Carson, let alone the chair is what happened to Teddy’s club? Did someone set it on fire or was it electrical because the pimp said it passed inspection but not because he updated it. Not that I really cared because after watching the whole season, I wish we would have gotten a second season of Roadies instead.

Preacher: What the fork is up with the freaky dude with the eye? Seriously, the butter thing, what was that?
You can download Preacher on iTunes.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: She may look and act like a ditz, but, wow, Jenna looked like a beast as the only one who pushed her opponent off and she did it twice.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 8/13/2017

Ray Donovan: At the start of every season these days I usually start with complaining about having no clue with what happened last season. The good thing about Ray Donovan is usually the wrap everything up in a little bow at the end of each season so you really do not need much of a refresher. So when they run their “previously on” segment to recap last season, I could go, oh yeah, Ray and the family took down that Russian oligarch (although they were a season early on doing an evil Russian businessman storyline), now there is a fresh slate for the new season.

It is still pretty vague what the big storyline for the season will be. Ray does see a story about a famous person whose personal pictures are released on the internet, presumably without her consent (I believe a starlet earlier in the series tried to release her own sex tape so you never know). The actress in question, does randomly show up in her underwear and runs away. There is also a scene with Susan Sarandon which will probably have a bigger impact later this season.

Then there was the big plot point (and the reason I am writing this now instead of my usually preview because Showtime said no pre-air reviews), they killed off Abby… Maybe. They heavily hinted at it but stopped short of explicitly saying she was dead or showed a body. They annoyingly do this next episode two until we get definitive proof in episode three. We do get to see a lot more of Lili Simmons next week who shows up in Ray’s office. Though again, you will have to wait until episode three to learn just why she was walking half naked in the middle of the road at night.

Claws: So Roller did know Desna tried to kill her. At least he let her call Dean before offing her. Sure, she did save him but that also saved her too so not really to make things square between the two. But overall the weakest episode this season.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

The Strain: Wait, why is Gus still on the show? His little raid on a bunch of cops surveyed absolutely no purpose. If you are not working to bring down the Master at this point, go away. And why did Dutch up the stairs? That is bad horror movie logic, go down and leave. As she planning on jumping rooftops to escape?
You can download The Strain on iTunes.

I’m Dying Up Here: Am I supposed to care about Bill because I really do not. Nor his dad. I actually cared more about the dog then either of them.

Shadowhunters: So Haley Dunfey has a English accent now? Awesome. This girl really likes work, she is on one of the biggest shows on television doing twenty-four episodes a year yet keeps on showing up in numerous movies and shows. And she almost made this show enjoyable.
You can download Shadowhunters on iTunes.

Preacher: So what happened with the dude with the eye? He had a big part of last week but did not show up at all this week.
You can download Preacher on iTunes.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: Boooo, Jenna is the best post-Nany contestant on the show. Hopefully she makes her way back on the show next week. Her and Darrell.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 8/6/2017

Claws: So does Roller know who tried to kill him or does he really have selective amnesia? It is kind of a huge troll move if he does know at this point. Or he really fears the Russians and that he is throwing the scent that way?
You can download Claws on iTunes.

The Strain: Poor maid, Zach is totally going to get her killed soon.
You can download The Strain on iTunes.

I’m Dying Up Here: So the new guy pursues Cassie, gets a chance to nail her in the broom closet (because having sex apparently is the best way to end sexual tension), turns her down and then uses her as a wingman. Only on television or movies. But still, that is more believable than the other Boston guy banging the hot roommate in the baby’s room.

Preacher: So Preacher sinks the old cowboy in the bottom of a swamp and next week it looks like he will have another weirdo to deal with next week in the form of the dude we met this week.
You can download Preacher on iTunes.

Casual: I guess I was wrong that the season would end on a wedding. That is not to say we did not get any big news, Alex is going to be a father. Wow. That is a scary prospect. And his baby mama is not much of a responsible adult either. Should make for an interesting season four.
You can stream Casual on Hulu.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: That challenge was kind of disappointed. I think they have done ones like that before but it was much longer than one pass through. They should have done until one team had all the rings or the most rings after a time limit.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 7/30/2017

Claws: Of course Dean and Roller ended up at the same art exhibit. But c’mon Virginia, take a photo to show Desna. But who exactly was looking for Roller if everyone thought he was dead? Did Uncle Daddy investigate the hung up he had from last episode. So what is going to happen next week that will keep Uncle Daddy from killing Desna for trying to kill Roller? Cannot imaging that will come with a huge price.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

The Strain: Oh, hey, Gus has hair? The reverse Ephraim. We also get our first glimpse of Dutch and Setrakian who were still together. So how did they split from Fett?
You can download The Strain on iTunes.

I’m Dying Up Here: Maybe not the best sign on a show about comedy is that the hardest I laughed so far was at the Hispanic guy running from the cop. And he got caught.

Midnight, Texas: Well that was boring for a show about the supernatural.
You can download Midnight, Texas on iTunes.

Casual: Awe, the nineties, when bands like Local H could actually have a hit and people could waste money just to see a movie trailer. Alex and Valerie were still living together. I am not entirely sure we need to learn just where Alex’s obsession with waffles started.
You can stream Casual on Hulu.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: I understand not having a cameraman at the Redemption House full time, but how do they not have a security camera? From the description that is one of the most epic fails in reality production history.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 7/23/2017

Claws: So Jenn is going to put two and two together that the people who killed Roller were also Desna’s foster parents. I guess that would be a mighty big coincidence. Not that Roller is actually dead, he is hanging out by a mountain of public hair. Though I am not sure why he just does not snatch the buzzer from the old chick to keep him from shocking him.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

The Strain: Usually I complain during season premieres that I do not remember what happened and the short “previously on” segments were not cutting it. I was smart enough to go on YouTube before the premiere and watch a lengthy season recap. Oh yeah, Angel died, the councilwoman died; oh yeah and that little twerp of a son set off a forking nuclear bomb and doomed the human race simply because his father killed his vampire mother WHO WAS TRYING TO KILL HIM. Ugg. And now that twerp has an annoying haircut. Now we are hear nine months later (um, do does they make a new instructional video every month saying how long it has been) and the humans are essential enslaved. What exactly does Fett want with a nuclear bomb? Does setting off a second bomb end nuclear winter?
You can download The Strain on iTunes.

I’m Dying Up Here: Cassie is supposed to be the hot one on that comedy special? The others better be really funny. I wonder if CBS actually did a Women Are Funny Too special back then.

Preacher: Well that was some unnecessary flashbacks. It would have been more entertaining had we just got to watch them watching Bob Ross the whole time.
You can download Preacher on iTunes.

Casual: “Leah and Leon”: that sounds like a spinoff title. And of course she proposed with some weird big show. Oh my goodness. But poor Alex, the self-centered part of him thought he was going to be best man when he could not even get groomsman. But I fear him as the officiant. I guess the wedding will be the season finale. Kind of ominous if so considering the first two seasons ended with a funeral.
You can stream Casual on Hulu.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: So the Dirty 30 season started out with just 28 contestants. Okay, CT’s passport issues will eventually get fixed because he is in the “This Season On” package. But what went on with SmAshly (who looked a lot better with the shorter haircut)? She seems to quit every season, including last season right before the final. But actually left this time because the airline lost her bra? Do they not have Target in Columbia to get more? And they just let her leave this time, not even a TJ scolding. And then how can you have “the thirty dirtiest players in the history of the Challenge” then bring in about six new people. And what the fork is non-binary? Still the actually challenge was pretty entertaining. Shocking to see Darrell exit this early, though apparently not really, it is another season where people will be fighting to get back in the game apparently.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 7/16/2017

Claws: Are we really getting a second, oh wait Roller really is not dead, for the second time in three episodes? Ugg. Really an up and down episode, the opening was great (though I have to question why the doctor did not take off the pillowcase in the trunk). The parts with Desna’s brother is always a drag, but it was paid off with a great sequence where they cut back between the murders and the weirdly choreographed dance sequence. But to end with the tease of Roller not being dead again was a huge let down.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

Fear the Walking Dead: Poor hot chick, she was gone this whole time and does not even get her own episode; it was just one segment where we learned how she joined the Indians. And of course she was a Trojan horse. Plus that was a horrible cover story to boot. And what is with this mid-season crap. The main show does it to avoid Christmas, but a break in the summer is just silly and exploitative and just builds into the narrative that the franchise can only do premieres and finales and everything else is boring.
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes

I’m Dying Up Here: Oh hey, Bill’s dad is still around? Hasn’t been months? But that got dark real quick. And poor Johnny Carson, the first up and coming comic after a dude walks into bus tried to OD in his green room.

Preacher: So after a century in Hell, Hitler has turned into a pansy? Are we really supposed to feel bad for Hitler?
You can download Preacher on iTunes.

Casual: There is no television cliché I hate more than start an episode at the end and then show the x amount a time before place card. But this was weird because it had no bearing on the episode. It was almost like they thought, well we are paying all this money for a Fleetwood Mac song, might as well play it twice. And does Tommy not listen to Nice and Smooth because if he did he would know too much of anything makes you an addict.
You can stream Casual on Hulu.

The Bold Type: This may already be my favorite horrible show on television. Sorry Supergirl.
You can download The Bold Type on iTunes.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 7/9/2017

Claws: The only downside of watching screeners before episodes air is that sometimes you have to wait over a month to see a new episode. TNT made the first three episodes available before the show aired so I had to sit on Roller being alive for a long time while I sat and stewed on how he could have survived. Except it turns out he did not, Desna is just hallucinating him. Meh.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

Fear the Walking Dead: Okay, crazy person went and killed the family that left the compound, but why let them turn into zombie?
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes

Preacher: Whenever I know does something immoral, I tend to guilt them by saying, “you are going to spend all of eternity in hell with Hitler.” So I was not surprised when Eugene bumped into him there. I just hope they do not help each other escape.
You can download Preacher on iTunes.

Casual: I would be fine if the show would take a hard left turn and focus on Leon and the assistant.
You can stream Casual on Hulu.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 7/2/2017

Claws: Oh my goodness, that opening scene. Oh my goodness. Oh yeah, and that closing. I was spit balling that Roller was not really dead last week (the actor’s name is in the main credits so it is not entirely surprising he is not dead), but I never thought that Desna would be in on it. She did try to drown him, he did smack her around, she lit him on fire. I mean, dude got shot by Virginia. Or did he? Did she miss, did Roller and Desna plan this and loaded blanks in the gun hoping she would stick around and “save” Desna. The show has a lot of explaining to do next episode.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

Preacher: It hated the first season finale with a fiery passion. The opener was alright, but that angel killing himself montage just seemed to go on forever.

I’m Dying Up Here: Holy Richard Pryor siting! Yeah, it is weird seeing real people show up on a program like this. Makes me wonder if these characters we are watching are real people who just never made it, based on real people who went on to make it and the names were changed for legal reasons, or just completely made up.

Casual: Isn’t Tommy running an Air BnB? I have to imagine there are rules against having sex with your tenants.
You can stream Casual on Hulu.

Pretty Little Liars: Well, twin Spencer as AD was a more sensible reveal than A being Alison’s brother who ended up being CeCe Drake which made absolutely no sense. Though I still do not understand why Wren did not try to connect Spencer and her twin when he found out.
Pretty Little Liars on iTunes.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 6/25/2017

Claws: The South really knows how to do a funeral. Up here we got the silly car processional. I want one of those New Orleans marching bands leading my death match (I will pass on Roller’s stripper brigade though). But goodness this show is much better than I expected. That opening scene was great, the running on the beach was hilarious. But that they only found Roller’s grills and random body parts really send up my Spidey senses. As I always say, if you do not see the body, they probably are not dead (and even then I may not be convinced). Sure dude almost drowned, got shot in the head, sank in a pool for probably minutes, got doused with gasoline, set a flame, and pushed out into the bayou. On the other hand, what exactly happened to the other body in the boat?
You can download Claws on iTunes.

Fear the Walking Dead: Last week everyone wondered just how Daniel survived the fire from last season. Except the episode started with him fleeing a zombie with a burn on his leg. Later he said he did not know how he survived. Meh.
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes

I’m Dying Up Here: I thought they set the show in the seventies so they could be as racist and sexist as they could but who would have guessed it was a puppet who crossed the line? And then kept going? But oh my, dude cannot continue being a comedian after that haircut, he looks like an accountant now.

Casual: Wait, Leon and the receptionist? Did I miss something or were they keeping that from the audience as well as everyone else on the show?
You can stream Casual on Hulu.

Pretty Little Liars: I completely forgot that they yet to reveal who killed Charlotte. And that was mostly lame. Mona did it… sort of, I guess it was self-defense? And so AD just ends the game because it? She does not even punish Mona? I guess it is not the end end because we still have the two hour finale.
Pretty Little Liars on iTunes.

The Challenge: Champs vs. Pros: I understand why they do the thirty-five percent of your weight thing, but man, that really does put the biggest guys at a massive disadvantage. And I do not understand the stagigy of the eating challenge, I would have eaten all the deserts first and only go to the other tables as a last resort.
You can download The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions on iTunes.

Previewing Claws

TNT and USA got on the scripted cable shows train before everyone else. But at the start of the decade every other cable channel got their own shows, some of the channels even carved out a niche in the prestige drama niche like AMC. With dwindling ratings, the originals had to evolve. USA fired the first shot with one of the best shows this decade, Mr. Robot, and TNT has been playing catch up ever since. I did not have much interest in their first attempt Animal Kingdom and the critics were mostly mum on the show. I really enjoyed their next new show Good Behavior, but again it never really caught on much with the critical kingmakers. Then there was Claws which is getting a lot of buzz. And it is well deserved.

What I liked most about Good Behavior is that I did not know where it was going and the few times I thought I knew where it was going, it went somewhere else and I really liked that feeling of uncertainness when on most shows today you know exactly where they are going sometimes within the first five minutes. Claws is like that in a way but when Claws goes in a surprising way, it is more like a soap opera cliffhanger than its prestige counterparts for better or worse (mostly the latter but the big cliffhanger in the third episode has a lot of explaining to do in the next episode).

Claws stars Niecy Nash (Reno 911) as the owner of a nails salon who has a tightknit employee base inkling Judy Reyes (Scrubs), Jenn Lyon (Saint George), and Carrie Preston (Crowded). Karrueche Tran, whose name I have heard before but I thought she was basically famous for being someone(s?) girlfriend who I did not care about, is the newbie who is not fitting in well with the crew. And that is really an understatement.

Oh yeah, and this nail salon is a money laundering front for Dean Norris (Under the Dome) affectionally known as Uncle Daddy by Jack Kesy (The Strain; he was the junkless rock star turned Master), who brings Nash into this operation, and being this is taking place in central Florida I spent most of the first episode wondering if Dean Norris had a couple kids with his sister, hence Uncle Daddy (the relationship becomes clearer in the second episode). And the other kid in the messed up family is Kevin Rankin (Friday Night Lights) who is mostly out of the fray of the business with his wife Lyon (though it is still unclear to me why they have one white child and a black one).

The weakest part of the show is when Nash goes home to her somewhere on the spectrum brother played by Harold Perrineau (Wedding Band), followed by Norris's bayou accent, and I really do not buy the nurse from Scrubs as a gangsta dressing lesbian, but everything else is just firing on all cylinder. And really do not tune in late because the beginning of the episode that I have seen so far are some of the best things I have seen on television recently.

Claws airs Sundays at 9:00 on TNT.