My Week in TV: 21/04 to 27/04

Here is my (very belated) ranking of the TV episodes I watched last week. I'm happy to say that I actually enjoyed all the episodes I watched. (beware spoilers):

11. Modern Family: "Australia" (Season 5 Episode 20)

The three not-so-modern families were back and it was not a brilliant episode but it was not a terrible one, either. Claire and Jay's work story was uninspired, Cam and Mitchell's was so revealing of their awful personalities, Phil and Gloria's was quite ridiculous but not as much as Manny and Luke's. This show should be called Pettiness and Boobs. So, the best story was the one with Hayley, Alex and Lily (it didn't hurt that the first surfer was really very hot and not just a normal guy playing the part of a hot guy with pitiful results).

MVP: Aubrey Anderson-Emmons as Lily. She's only six but she could be the next (or maybe the next one) Aubrey Plaza.

10. Bad Teacher: "Pilot" (Season 1 Episode 1)

I fell in love with Ari Graynor when I saw For a Good Time Call, and when I read that she was headlining the Bad Teacher show I knew that at least, I'd watch the pilot. And yes, it was nothing new, in fact it was quite a lot of old stuff but she is so charismatic that I'm going to give the show a chance.

MVP: Ari Graynor, of course.

9. Orphan Black: "Governed by Sound Reason and True Religion" (Season 2 Episode 2)

Not a lot happened in this episode, although it is a huge relief to find out that Mrs. S is not evil... or is she? Cosima and her new lab did not seem very compelling but at least it looks that she is still a little wary of Dr. Leekie (what a name!). I think that if one of the clones is going to be a traitor is obviously going to be Cosima and I'm not going to like her if she is. Alison is still the most interesting clone and (see MVP) Maslany's more nuanced performance. And I just want Helena to join forces with the other clones and be the funny sidekick she can be.

MVP: Maslany playing Alison although Maria Doyle Kennedy as Mrs. S is always golden.

8. Glee: "Opening Night" (Season 5 Episode 17)

                                       

Santana is back! My boyfriend was just telling me about rumours that she is being demoted in the next season and I hope it's just gossip because she is the best thing in the show. This was a quite nice episode, even if basically only Rachel was allowed to sing. Sue's fling, while completely weird and seemingly pointless (is this really why she is moving to NYC if she does?) was helped by a wonderful and game Jane Lynch. And there was not a lot more going on, I liked this episode Tina (there is a new one in each of the episodes she appears in, she changes on demand) and even Kurt was somehow tolerable. Not a classic but one of the best episodes this season.

MVP: Jane Lynch, for reminding us why she deserved that first season Emmy.

7. Parks and Recreation: "Moving Up, Part 1" (Season 6 Episode 21)

This was a great finale but I preferred the second part in Pawnee rather than this one on San Francisco. Leslie met Michelle Obama! Ben and Andy trying to get wifi for Pawnee was really funny, (they could be the new Toledo) especially the end, being solved with the Cones of Dunshire. If that game existed we'd have it by now.

MVP: Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, meeting the FLOTUS and being her awesome self.

6. Grey's Anatomy: "Change of Heart" (Season 10 Episode 21)

There's only three episodes left in this season and so far, there hasn't been a fire, a flood or a famine so I'm starting to get worried. In this episode, we learn that Cristina was robbed and that she should have been the Harper Avery recipient. Nevertheless she is more worried with those pesky dying kids. One of the sisters doesn't make it but I'm more involved in the bubble-boy case. His mother does not want to put her kid at risk and Miranda is not very happy about it. Meanwhile, in sitcom territory, Meredith and Derek consider enslaving his sister but she proves useless. And the biggest news of the episode... Jackson and April are pregnant!

MVP: I think I'm going to go with Sarah Drew as April Kepner. It is a character I generally dislike but Drew is quite good at humanising her so she doesn't just look like a Jesus-freak.

5. Galerías Velvet: "Los Restos del Naufragio" (Season 1 Episode 10)

Hello there, Miguel Ángel... This episode was so tense with the store empty because people are too narrow-minded to buy Raúl de la Riva's designs (which, admittedly, I'm not to fond of, myself). Everyone working in the galleries is getting nervous but Cristina (because she is an angel) saves the day by having her friends place orders for the dresses. Manolito is going away and Rita and Pedro kiss (not because they're happy the kid is leaving). And, what else? Oh, yeah, Luisa may be a murderer... God, I love this show so much. The episode ended with Don Emilio having some kind of attack but I have already seen episode 11 so I'm not too worried.

MVP: Asier Etxeandía as Raúl de la Riva. He plays nervous in a really funny way and (as my boyfriend said) his scenes with Aitana Sánchez Gijón are always a highlight.

4. Parks and Recreation: "Moving Up, Part 2" (Season 6 Episode 22)

I loved the San Francisco half, but the Unity Concert one was amazing, hitting that funny and emotional spot that the show manages to hit in the best episodes. Of course, I loved that Leslie gets to stay in Pawnee for the next season. Parks and Rec would not be the same thing anywhere but Pawnee. Where else would you find these people? I think one of the best things about this show is that most of the characters are so good in a moral sense that it is refreshing in this age of antiheroes. They love each other so much, they are always willing to help, to sacrifice and in a comedy. It feels really special and I cannot wait for season seven.

MVP: Mo Collins as Joan Callamezzo, letting us know what the Joan is.

3. Hannibal: "Shiizakana" (Season 2 Episode 9)

This was a very bloody and very scary episode. The animal-killer was great and really intriguing. I like this Margot character a lot and I loved her scenes with Will. Also, that ending was so great. This show is rapidly becoming one of my favorite shows ever.

MVP: Mark O'Brien as the very chilly Randall. Sadly, he's dead but happily, he's dead (he meant to kill Will!)

2. Game of Thrones: "Breaker of Chains" (Season 4 Episode 3)

                                       

Who likes Sam? Why is he still on the show? Why did he have two scenes in this episode? I really hate him and Gilly. And I'm not very invested in the storylines north of Winterfell. But that's the only complaint I can have about this show. I'm having a hard time thinking about this episode on its own because I have already seen the next one but I'll try. Arya and the Hound could headline a spin-off and I'd be there every week. The scene with Daario defeating the champion of Meereen was a lot of fun. Littlefinger kills the Fool and Sansa is going towards that crazy aunt of hers. And poor Tyrion is imprisoned although it's impossible that he killed Joffrey. Oh, and I still love Davos very much.

MVP: Emilia Clarke as the titular breaker of chains is very good in this episode.

1. Mad Men: "A Day's Work" (Season 7 Episode 2)

This episode was so perfect. Peggy mistakenly assumes that the flowers on her secretary's desk are for her from Ted. This storyline might have been sitcomy in any other TV show, but here, it tells us so much bout about Peggy and about her relationship with Shirley. By the way, Shirley and Dawn calling each other by their own name was too funny. Bert turns out to be a racist and Joan doesn't know what else to do or how to juggle all her duties at the agency. Luckily, her fairy godfather, Jim, tells her that she should go upstairs and be an account woman exclusively. This results in Dawn being the new Joan, and those are some very big shoes to fill. The story I liked best, tough was Don's and Sally's. She uses the funeral of a friend's mother to go shopping in New York and finds out that Don has been fired.

MVP: Kiernan Shipka as Sally Draper. The producer or casting director who found an eight-year-old that would grow up to be this accomplished actress can be very proud. Her uncomfortable scene with Lou was amazing as her heart to heart with Don.

My week in TV!

First, a disclaimer, I am Spanish, so I see every TV show the day after it airs in the States. That's why last Sunday's episodes count as last week. To talk about TV I decided to rank the episodes in the week. So, here it goes, from worst to best. Obviously, Spoilers ahead.

8. The Simpsons: "Luca$" (Season 25 Episode 17)

A million years later, I'm still watching The Simpsons. It feels like comfort/junk food. The episodes have been generally weak this season but every one has a few funny moments. Nevertheless, they tend to have this gimmick that I hate in which all the stories in the episode (two usually) come together for the resolution.

From this one I remember Lisa's story about the competitive eater kid but it was not very remarkable.

MVP: The squirrel?

7. Glee: "Bash" (Season 5 Episode 15)

I have a weird relationship with Glee. I cannot wait to see the latest episode when it's aired but I very rarely like them. This was a very special episode in a very bad way. Kurt gets bashed and we learn a lesson about homophobia. I'm not saying TV should not deal with social issues but it should not be done in this crass and clumsy way. Artie has a couple of lines where he is literally reciting statistics. Riveting television, for sure. To find a silver lining, I really liked Lea Michele in this episode, she shines when Rachel is mean and petty. And I think that the Mercedes/Sam thing is ridiculous. Again, it would be interesting to see how a show deals with an interracial couple and what that means today but not if it means that what we get is this. And also, where the hell is Santana?

MVP: Lea Michele as Rachel.

6. Community: "Basic Story (1)" (Season 5 Episode 12)

This season is ending! Time flies when you have fun and this season has been a lot of fun. I don't like to inflate Dan Harmon's ego but he really knows how to handle these characters. I don't care much for Jitta/Breff but the ending with the Dean, Abed and Annie so excited about a treasure was golden. What is going to happen to this show? Is it going to have a sixth season? As of now, I'd say it deserves it.

MVP: Alison Brie as Annie, like always.

5. Parks and Recreation: "Flu Season 2" (Season 6 Episode 19)

Parks and Recreation is going to have a 7th season, for sure. I was a little skeptical about it but since the news of Leslie's pregnancy I feel optimistic about it. I thought the three stories in this episode were very good and allowed everyone to shine. April being obnoxious and Donna laughing because of it is the stuff that dreams are made of.

MVP: Adam Scott as Ben, who plays drunk hilariously.

4. Grey's Anatomy: "I'm Winning" (Season 10 Episode 19)

Grey's Anatomy is possibly one of the most maligned shows on TV right now, but the truth is that the show has kept its quality for ten years and that is not easy. Sure, the show has changed but it is for the good. We are at a place right now where all the couples are consolidated. Even if they have problems, it is never in the shape of a conventional love triangle (even if Grey's Anatomy also mastered those). And thanks to that, this season has had one of the most interesting storylines of the year. Meredith and Cristina falling out due to their different approaches to their careers. And just when we thought they had put that behind them, Meredith admits that she's jealous of her friend. Really, there are very few better characters than Meredith Grey and it is a shame that Ellen Pompeo has never been nominated for an Emmy. On top of everything we get the sweetest Callizona scene. Great episode.

MVP: Sara Ramirez as Callie, on that machine that told her she was depressed.

3. Galerías Velvet: "La decisión de Alberto" (Season 1 Episode 8)

Galerías Velvet is a Spanish show that tries to mix Mad Men with Grey's Anatomy while keeping some of our idiosincrasies (there are two characters yelling all the time, that's Spain for you) and I am surprised to say that I enjoy it a lot. The lead actress (Paula Echevarría, in the picture) is not exactly great but she has her moments but, in general, the cast is great, mixing older actors with younger ones. The story is very soapy but very entertaining. And as a bonus, Miguel Ángel Silvestre is shirtless sometimes.

MVP: Miriam Giovanelli as Patricia, standing up for herself and facing the consequences.

2. Game of Thrones: "Two Swords" (Season 4 Episode 1)

We're back in Westeros! This is the first Game of Thrones episode that I've watched when it aired. I binged the first three seasons after the Red Wedding happened and everything. And it's so good to see that the quality is still top-notch. I'm going to watch the second episode in a couple of hours and I am dying! Regarding the picture I fear for Daenerys. She is trusting too much her power over the dragons and over the slaves. I hope she's not setting herself for betrayal (I have not read the books and I like to pretend they don't exist, by the way). I loved to see Brienne, and Tywin and Olenna... As my boyfriend said, this is the show that has the best handle on its ensemble. Everyone gets their scenes and if you miss someone it's always for a reason.

MVP: Maisie Williams as Arya. That last scene was so cool and so scary at the same time.

1. Hannibal: "Yakimono" (Season 2 Episode 7)

And the best episode of the week award goes to... Hannibal! Seriously, how good is this show? Will is released from the hospital/jail, Chilton is accused of being the reaper and Hannibal and I just want to slap Alana. Madds Mikelsen is hot, but don't be blind, girl! Plus, Hugh Dancy is hotter. I don't think Chilton is dead, as I've read some places. The bullet goes in his cheek and maybe that's not lethal? Not sure, but I hope he's not dead, I like the character.

MVP: Anna Chlumsky as Miriam Lass.

And that's it! Remember, reading is boring, TV rules!