I'm really glad Shrinking is back. It's best when it's a hang show, so I hope they keep avoiding the traps they keep setting for themselves. Agree that Gaby confronting Jimmy was the best scene in the episodes (and really quite screwed up of Jimmy!). I'm also really enjoying Harrison Ford, who seems like he's having the time of his life. Brian got the biggest laugh from me (when he found out about Jimmy and Gaby), so hopefully they can find a way to better integrate him into the show.
I’ve been enjoying The Penguin more than expected, but this week’s episode really was a standout. Agatha All Along has been a lot of fun and it was indeed amusing that both series did the “let’s take a step back to examine the relevant pasts of significant supporting characters” deal this week.
Superman and Lois still has its problems but I really do recommend that anyone who loves the big guy check it out. Just watch the flashback segments of Season 1’s “A Brief Reminiscence In-Between Cataclysmic Events“ if possible and then jump in with last week’s Season 3 premiere. I think it's a darned shame we’re not getting more.
I'm surprised at how much I've enjoyed The Penguin. The episode centered on Victor, played by Rhenzy Feliz was also very good. The series has been a little predictable at times, but those moments have been done well. Even though I knew what Sofia was going to do, it was done so well that I didn't mind.
So cool I'm contributing to a 'What's Alan Watching?' blog. Been going through the archives on first watches of 'Mad Men' and 'The Wire.'
Solid first two episodes - I love 'Shrinking' since Bill Lawrence just really nails a contemporary look and feel in his shows and it's a solid runtime of approx. 35 minutes
Regarding season 2 start, I agree with Alan that its nice the show is sticking to a more light tone when covering some heavy themes like trauma for instance. The writers find ways to sprinkle jokes in here and there to keep the levity present. I don't know about you, but I'm loving the bigger presence of Derek (portrayed by Ted McGinley). He nailed it in the first season and it's great to see him more involved i.e., him and Jimmy taking turns spying on what's going on in the backyards from each other's balconies.
Furthermore, I laughed out loud in the second episode when Brian finds out while hiking with Liz and Gaby about Jimmy and Gaby sleeping with each other. His 'F you' reaction to everything was phenomenal. It's great to see the lesser characters manage to come in and contribute to the laughs.
Finally, I will say that I liked how they put Sean as one of the new patients of Paul - I'm curious to see how the relationship develops as we get to see Paul more hands-on with his physiotherapeutic approach.
I agree that this week’s Agatha was, by far, the best episode of the season. It’s so good, I may watch it again. I like Penguin, but don’t love it. I say that without having scene the most recent episode. Also glad to hear Shrinking doesn’t make Jimmy a mess again, I much better enjoy the show as it is now.
"Shrinking" definitely feels like a Sepinwall kind of show, but I thought most of the first season was cringe. Jason Segal just appearing on screen is usually cringe, though by the end of the year I hated him less and hated the other characters more (of course not Harrison Ford). I was hoping fewer shows like "Shrinking" would get made in the future as it's the epitome of mediocrity.
I loved Season 1 of "Shrinking" so much, right up to that last 30 seconds or so, where they truly seemed to be setting up major legal and professional peril for Jimmy and the practice, and maybe Sean for his earlier altercation with the victim, and all sorts of other terrible possibilities. And now, not even Paul is going to hold Jimmy accountable? Everything's going to continue on as if he didn't tell an emotionally unstable woman to push her husband off a cliff?
EXCELLENT. I couldn't be happier. I just wanna hang with these people. I deeply do not want all the things I've imagined coming from that set-up. If they want to maybe explore actions and consequences through Brett Goldstein's character instead, I'm all for it, especially because it comes with Brett Goldstein.
Just ... could we end on a happy note this season? Please? We're coming back for Season 3, I promise. Don't make us worry so much in between.
You mentioned Pachinko S2 last week and suggested you might have comments this week. I didn't get to the finale until after that newsletter posted so I'll just mention here that I enjoyed the second season quite a bit. As you mentioned in your review, this show does a much more deft job with time jumps and recasting younger characters than HoD, and as a result I spent most of S2 dreading Noa's fate. The further the season progressed, the more he became the main character of the S2, so his absence in later timelines became more notable. Still not sure how I feel about the plot twist but it was a relief things didn't go in a darker direction.
The Solomon storyline of S2 was its weakest element and considering that was all new material, it's a little concerning for the show moving forward. But the acting remains excellent and this show continues to have the best opening credits sequence.
I really like the actors playing Solomon and Naomi, but if the 1989 timeline decided to only focus on Sunja and Mozasu, I wouldn't mind. (And Mozasu in general feels like a character who will need a lot of attention in the third season.)
The finale provides some hints that Mozasu is likely a bigger part of S3 (finally) but I wouldn't be surprised if much of that is in the 1951 timeline. Also feels like his 1989 storyline may end up bringing Noa back to the future.
The next work I hope is saved somewhere is your 'Ask Alan' from the Uproxx era (the Hitfix ones are on YouTube). Luckily, someone has all the Firewall & Iceberg podcasts saved.
I'm really glad Shrinking is back. It's best when it's a hang show, so I hope they keep avoiding the traps they keep setting for themselves. Agree that Gaby confronting Jimmy was the best scene in the episodes (and really quite screwed up of Jimmy!). I'm also really enjoying Harrison Ford, who seems like he's having the time of his life. Brian got the biggest laugh from me (when he found out about Jimmy and Gaby), so hopefully they can find a way to better integrate him into the show.
Yeah Brian nailed that scene - his reaction was priceless!
I just mostly cringe through the cliches each episode. I wish stuff like this would stop getting made. Big money for junk content.
I’ve been enjoying The Penguin more than expected, but this week’s episode really was a standout. Agatha All Along has been a lot of fun and it was indeed amusing that both series did the “let’s take a step back to examine the relevant pasts of significant supporting characters” deal this week.
Superman and Lois still has its problems but I really do recommend that anyone who loves the big guy check it out. Just watch the flashback segments of Season 1’s “A Brief Reminiscence In-Between Cataclysmic Events“ if possible and then jump in with last week’s Season 3 premiere. I think it's a darned shame we’re not getting more.
I will have Jay Sherman saying “Buy My Book!” echoing around in my brain forever. That show never got the credit it deserved.
I'm both intrigued and scared to check out sushi glory hole now 😅.
I could watch a whole series about Sofia Falcone.
I'm surprised at how much I've enjoyed The Penguin. The episode centered on Victor, played by Rhenzy Feliz was also very good. The series has been a little predictable at times, but those moments have been done well. Even though I knew what Sofia was going to do, it was done so well that I didn't mind.
I like The Penguin. That’s about as much as I feel about it! Except of course that I definitely agree Sofia’s episode was the best by far.
So cool I'm contributing to a 'What's Alan Watching?' blog. Been going through the archives on first watches of 'Mad Men' and 'The Wire.'
Solid first two episodes - I love 'Shrinking' since Bill Lawrence just really nails a contemporary look and feel in his shows and it's a solid runtime of approx. 35 minutes
Regarding season 2 start, I agree with Alan that its nice the show is sticking to a more light tone when covering some heavy themes like trauma for instance. The writers find ways to sprinkle jokes in here and there to keep the levity present. I don't know about you, but I'm loving the bigger presence of Derek (portrayed by Ted McGinley). He nailed it in the first season and it's great to see him more involved i.e., him and Jimmy taking turns spying on what's going on in the backyards from each other's balconies.
Furthermore, I laughed out loud in the second episode when Brian finds out while hiking with Liz and Gaby about Jimmy and Gaby sleeping with each other. His 'F you' reaction to everything was phenomenal. It's great to see the lesser characters manage to come in and contribute to the laughs.
Finally, I will say that I liked how they put Sean as one of the new patients of Paul - I'm curious to see how the relationship develops as we get to see Paul more hands-on with his physiotherapeutic approach.
Can't wait for more!
I agree that this week’s Agatha was, by far, the best episode of the season. It’s so good, I may watch it again. I like Penguin, but don’t love it. I say that without having scene the most recent episode. Also glad to hear Shrinking doesn’t make Jimmy a mess again, I much better enjoy the show as it is now.
"Shrinking" definitely feels like a Sepinwall kind of show, but I thought most of the first season was cringe. Jason Segal just appearing on screen is usually cringe, though by the end of the year I hated him less and hated the other characters more (of course not Harrison Ford). I was hoping fewer shows like "Shrinking" would get made in the future as it's the epitome of mediocrity.
I loved Season 1 of "Shrinking" so much, right up to that last 30 seconds or so, where they truly seemed to be setting up major legal and professional peril for Jimmy and the practice, and maybe Sean for his earlier altercation with the victim, and all sorts of other terrible possibilities. And now, not even Paul is going to hold Jimmy accountable? Everything's going to continue on as if he didn't tell an emotionally unstable woman to push her husband off a cliff?
EXCELLENT. I couldn't be happier. I just wanna hang with these people. I deeply do not want all the things I've imagined coming from that set-up. If they want to maybe explore actions and consequences through Brett Goldstein's character instead, I'm all for it, especially because it comes with Brett Goldstein.
Just ... could we end on a happy note this season? Please? We're coming back for Season 3, I promise. Don't make us worry so much in between.
Sushi Glory Hole is a certified banger and an earworm for sure!
You mentioned Pachinko S2 last week and suggested you might have comments this week. I didn't get to the finale until after that newsletter posted so I'll just mention here that I enjoyed the second season quite a bit. As you mentioned in your review, this show does a much more deft job with time jumps and recasting younger characters than HoD, and as a result I spent most of S2 dreading Noa's fate. The further the season progressed, the more he became the main character of the S2, so his absence in later timelines became more notable. Still not sure how I feel about the plot twist but it was a relief things didn't go in a darker direction.
The Solomon storyline of S2 was its weakest element and considering that was all new material, it's a little concerning for the show moving forward. But the acting remains excellent and this show continues to have the best opening credits sequence.
I really like the actors playing Solomon and Naomi, but if the 1989 timeline decided to only focus on Sunja and Mozasu, I wouldn't mind. (And Mozasu in general feels like a character who will need a lot of attention in the third season.)
The finale provides some hints that Mozasu is likely a bigger part of S3 (finally) but I wouldn't be surprised if much of that is in the 1951 timeline. Also feels like his 1989 storyline may end up bringing Noa back to the future.
Everytime you mention Columbus Day, it reminds me of this piece you wrote about worst epiodes.
https://web.archive.org/web/20131115000335/http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/when-good-shows-go-bad-terrible-episodes-of-great-tv-dramas/
Nice job on finding out a way to make an old HitFix slideshow work. Those were among the first things lost in the switch to Uproxx.
Thank you! It took a few tries, but finally found a working link. The key is to add "http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/" in front of any now-Uproxx link when searching on archive.org.
The next work I hope is saved somewhere is your 'Ask Alan' from the Uproxx era (the Hitfix ones are on YouTube). Luckily, someone has all the Firewall & Iceberg podcasts saved.