So, normally, I would explain to you what about each of these episodes I love. However, this year has kind of deflated me. In general, I have not posted as often as I would have liked, because I have not really been able to find the motivation. Moving forward, I plan to take a break from posting here at all, but will continue updating Twitter and Facebook with TV news and opinions. And hopefully, I will find my inspiration again in 2018. If nothing else, I will be working very hard to get Beto O’Rourke elected to the United States Senate in Texas.
But, for now, this is my list of favorite episodes, not necessarily what I believe are the best episodes of the year, just my favorites. I would still love to hear what are some of your favorites, so please share them with me in the comments!
Since the ATX Television Festival is starting tomorrow, my schedule is a little wonky this week. So, here are my favorite quotes from the past week and a half, mostly from shows currently on the air, but also other random things I happen to be watching.
The White Princess Duchess of Burgundy: We are none of us fearless, ma fleur tremblante. But we are women and we do what we must do.
Lady Margaret: Men are weak. Swayed by beauty. Women must be stronger.
Lucifer Trixie: You don’t have to speak in code. I can handle adult stuff.
Downward Dog Nan: Is it a bad sign if I like my dog less because he’s into Kevin?
iZombie Clive: How do you like old Earl now, ya damn dirty lich?
Blaine: That’s from an impotent proctologist, by the way. Enjoy!
Fargo Sy: The world… the world is wrong. Esther: What are you sayin’, huh? Sy: It looks like my world, but everything’s different.
Doctor Who Missy: Your version of good is not absolute.
These are my favorite quotes from the past two weeks, mostly from shows currently on the air, but also other random things I happen to be watching.
The White Princess Dowager Queen Elizabeth: What will you say to God when you see him? How will you explain all that blood on your hands?
American Gods Zorya: You believe in nothing, so you have nothing.
Mr. Wednesday: So you didn’t believe ’til you did, and then the world changed because you believed.
Supergirl Cat: I can imagine that you’re feeling afraid, and feeling like your world is spinning out of control but believe me, you have a power. And right now, you have a job to do. Resist. Resist these invaders with everything you’ve got. They come with empty promises and closed fists. They promise to make our world great again, and yet they know nothing about the people who make this world great. They think they can con us. And if that doesn’t work, what, they’re going to beat us into submission? They have no idea who they’re up against. Aliens and humans, we need to band together, and we need to stand up and fight back. Everyone needs to be a superhero. Everyone needs to get up and say, ‘Not in my house!’ Let’s prove to these thugs that we are strong, and we’re united, and we are not going to be conquered.
Lucifer Linda: You’re trying to Parent Trap God and the Divine Goddess?!
Jane the Virgin Rafael: When I think of family, you’re who I see.
Brockmire
Jim: You ever made eye contact with someone while they stuck a finger farther and farther up your butt? And you don’t know how much more you can handle, but they do?
Joe Buck: I am in the bathroom right now.
Jim: Ah, just answer the question, Joe.
Joe Buck: I was born in Florida. Of course I’ve had a finger in my ass.
Jim: Then you know what it’s like to be in love, Joe Buck.
12 Monkeys
Jones: My friend’s friend is no more trustworthy than my enemy’s enemy.
Jennifer: Okay, egg, listen up. You’re gonna see something weird. Don’t be scared, okay? Young Jennifer: Okay, chicken.
Jones: No god shall forgive us this sin. Perhaps none should. For that, all we have is each other.
Athan: The history I’ve seen is one of great women sung badly by clumsy men.
Deacon: It’s the beginning.
Jennifer: The beginning of the end.
These are my favorite quotes from the past week, mostly from shows currently on the air, but also other random things I happen to be watching.
The Leftovers Nora: If we can’t have a sense of humor about you being the Messiah, we’re gonna have a problem.
Supergirl Beth: You know it’s true what they say: behind every great man is a strong woman. Lena: I wouldn’t know. I’ve never stood behind a man.
Jane the Virgin Alba: You’re in a long term relationship with grief. But it has to evolve. And it’s okay to keep letting go. You have to.
The Flash Barry: I need to talk to me. Do you know where he is?
iZombie Liv: I believe God is a woman so, you’re really screwed.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Daisy: For what it’s worth, I didn’t…I didn’t totally understand him until I met you. So, I guess…I guess there was some good in him all along.
Coulson: Hydra doesn’t think we’re smart enough to know when we’re being fed alternative facts to keep us afraid. To keep them in power. Remember, there are more of us than there are of them and, now that we know the truth, we have a choice to make. We all have the opportunity to be patriots. Will you take a stand? Are you going to hold them accountable?…A wise man once told me that a person can do anything once they realize they’re apart of something bigger. It’s taken me a while to understand that. For years, I was just a face in the crowd. A history teacher who spread Hydra’s lies. They seemed too imposing for any one person to fight. But now, I’m choosing to stand up. To become a part of something bigger. I really do believe that together we can accomplish anything. Because, the truth is, I’m not just a history teacher. My name is Phil Coulson, and I’m an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Several more premiere dates have been announced since I made my original lists, and I needed to include some of my favorite shows, as well as a few new shows that I am excited to check out.
1. The Americans, season 5 premieres March 7th on FX, stars Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Noah Emmerich, Holly Taylor, Keidrich Sellati, Costa Ronin, Frank Langella, and Margo Martindale. The idea of Russian spies operating within the United States hits a little too close to home these days, but this show is set in the ’80s, so we can still pretend it is mostly fiction, right? This is one of the best shows on television right now, and each season it continues to get better.
2. Hand of God, season 2 will be available March 10th on Amazon, stars Ron Perlman, Andre Royo, Alona Tal, Julian Morris, Garret Dillahunt, Dana Delany, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Cleavon McClendon, Elizabeth McLaughlin, Johnny Ferro, and Maximiliano Hernández. Judge Pernell Harris is facing trial for the murder of a cop. His visions are exposing a conspiracy that is bigger than he could have imagined, but his wife is still not on board. Is God speaking through him? Or is he losing his mind? I really enjoyed the first season of this show. It was not perfect, but it was intriguing, and I am interested to see where it goes.
3. Tangled, the movie Tangled Before Ever After will air March 10th on Disney Channel, Tangled: The Series will premiere March 24th, stars Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Clancy Brown, Julie Bowen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Diedrich Bader, Jonathan Banks, M.C. Gainey, Sean Hayes, Jeremy Jordan, James Monroe Iglehart, Richard Kind, Peter MacNicol, Jeffrey Ross, Jeffrey Tambor, Eden Espinosa, and Paul F. Tompkins. The truth is, I probably will not regularly watch this, because it is on the Disney Channel, and I am not really their target demographic. However, I love that this has been turned into a television show, and I will definitely make sure that my niece watches it, because she already loves the movie.
4. Shots Fired, the series premiere is March 22nd on Fox, stars Sanaa Lathan, Stephan James, Stephen Meyers, Will Patton, Mack Wilds, Aisha Hinds, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Conor Leslie, Dewanda Wise, Richard Dreyfuss, Helen Hunt, and Jill Hennessy. This 10-episode event series takes a look at our criminal justice system and centers around two fatal shootings in a small Southern town. This is extremely topical, and I have been reading some good reviews, so I am interested to see what they do.
This morning this list of 2016 Emmy Nominations was announced, and I had a few thoughts that I wanted to share. The full list of nominees can be found here: http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners There are several people and shows that were snubbed this year, and several nominations that I am really excited about, these are a just a few of each.
1. Tatiana Maslany
She was nominated for the first time last year, but I am thrilled to see her get recognized again this year. Not only does she play multiple characters every season, but she often plays those different characters playing each other. It sounds complicated, and it is, and she does it beautifully and with such nuance that I forget that it is only one actor playing all these roles.
2. Jane the Virgin
I have said it before, and I will say it again, but this is my favorite show on television right now and I cannot believe that neither Gina Rodriguez or Jaime Camil were not nominated for their work. I do not even know what else to say about that. Thankfully, Anthony Mendez was at least recognized for his amazing voice-overs.
3. Outlander
The only nominations they got were for Production Design and Costumes, which are all well deserved, but no where near enough. I have read the books, and usually know what is coming in each episode, and yet their performances continue to break me into a million pieces every week. Caitroina Balfe and Sam Heughan brilliantly explored the aftermath of last season’s sexual assault, but I think the second half of season 2 counts towards next years Emmys, including Claire’s miscarriage, so maybe that was the reason for the snub…?
4. William H. Macy
I love William H. Macy, and I love to see Shameless get recognized even a little bit but, for me, he is not the best performance on this show. Emmy Rossum and Jeremy Allen White have been killing it for a while now, and Ethan Cutosky was especially amazing this past season. I know this show can be sometimes be pretty dramatic, so maybe Carl’s storyline was just too serious for the comedy category, but I was incredibly impressed by him this year.
These are my favorite quotes from the past two weeks, not just from shows currently on the air, but also other random things I happen to be watching.
The Leftovers
Man at Bar: You pushed a little a girl into a well. You don’t want to sing?
John: I killed you.
Kevin: Nope.
Quantico
Ryan: A soldier isn’t a criminal just because you don’t believe in their war.
Supergirl
James: No hero can save everyone. Not even Superman. But a real hero never stops trying.
Fargo
Ed: Are you seein’ this?
Peggy: It’s just a flyin’ saucer, Ed. We gotta go.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Coulson: I’ll be damned. Tatooine.
You’re the Worst
Gretchen: After I cleaned the fries off your face and put you to bed, you said something to me that was pretty dark.
Jimmy: Don’t tell me.
Gretchen: Okay. I won’t… I love you too.
The Vampire Diaries
Stefan: You are my back-up. You’re just terrible at it!
Here are my favorite episodes of television from the past year in no particular order. If it is possible, there was even more good television than last year and it was very difficult to pick only eight episodes. They are not necessarily the BEST episodes from the year, just the ones that I enjoyed and the ones that affected me the most.
1. Justified – The Promise
I am not really sure what made me interested in checking out this show when it first aired. Timothy Olyphant was definitely a factor, but there just must have been something about those first trailers that drew me in. And I am so glad that they did because it quickly became one of my favorite shows on TV. Each season was engaging and they had some of the best guest stars of any show on TV. This finale not only wrapped up the season’s arc with an epic shootout, but also brought Raylan’s, Ava’s and Boyd’s stories full circle. Everyone ended up exactly where they should.
2. The Flash – Fast Enough / Arrow – Legends of Yesterday
Okay, so this is technically two episodes, but since it was a two-part crossover, I am counting them as one. There are so many things that I love about these shows, including the fact that The Flash has consistently had the best special effects of any show on TV and Arrow has the best stunts. I also really found the music in these episodes to be inspiring. It was subtle, but in the Flash episode, you could hear Arrow themes overlayed and in the Arrow episode you could hear Flash themes. It was beautiful and awesome. These episodes also introduced us to Hawkgirl, Hawkman and Vandal Savage, who will all be featured on the new series Legends of Tomorrow. I just love how these shows intertwine so seamlessly, yet still maintain their individual tones.
3. Outlander – Wentworth Prison
The performances in this episode from Sam Heughan, Caitroina Balfe and Tobias Menzies just blew me away and broke my heart. It was an incredibly difficult episode to watch, even as someone who has read the books and knew what was going to happen, but is was so well done. We saw just how evil and broken Black Jack Randall truly is and also what lengths Jamie would go to in order to protect Claire. It was an extremely powerful and moving episode of television, and one that will stay with me for a long time.
4. Playing House – Celebrate Me Scones
One word: Bosephus! This season finale also gave us Kenny Loggins and his pun-tastic green room, as well as Jeanine Willcall and a heartwrenching cliff-hanger. You would think that having one of my best friends from high school working at the network, I would be able to get *some* intel on whether or not there would be a third season, but my mind control skills do not seem to be working. I NEED MORE OF THIS AMAZING SHOW!
These are my favorite quotes from the past two weeks, not just from shows currently on the air, but also other random things I happen to be watching.
Master of None
Anush: I’ll just be doing some burpees over there in the kitchen.
Jessica Jones
Claire: You don’t need powers to be of use.
Empire
Skye: Thank you for seeing me.
Jamal: Thank you for letting me see you.
Kingdom
Ryan: Getting by is not an option if you can be exceptional.
The Leftovers
G.R. Leader: Violence is weakness.
Quantico
Natalie: Sir, with respect, when the people you trust the most are all on one side and you’re the only one on the other, what does that make you?
Superstore
Garrett: Yo, you should come with us, man. We’re gonna throw some mannequin limbs in the dumpster and watch garbage men freak out.
Jonah: That sounds awesome.
Garrett: It is awesome.
These are my favorite quotes from the past week, not just from shows currently on the air, but also other random things I happen to be watching.
Once Upon a Time
Arthur: You betrayed me. You broke the sacred trust of the Round Table.
David: You tried to trick me with a catchy title and a comfy chair.
Homeland
Saul: I’m not a statesman, Heir Düring. I’m a spy.
Quantico
Shaw: I teach the people who find people. You think I couldn’t find you?
The Leftovers
Laurie: I don’t want to hurt them, but they won’t jump out of the way.
Jane the Virgin
Rogelio: Cruise ships is where old people perform! I mean, who am I? Charo?!
Narrator: Never was there sounder advice from a tipsy hallucination.
Blindspot
Jane: It wasn’t your fault.
Kurt: I’ve heard that my whole life.
Jane: But you haven’t heard it from me. It wasn’t your fault. You told me Taylor was my starting point. I think you’re wrong. You…you’re my starting point.
My TV Family 