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Opie Is About to Scorch Some Earth and The 10 Best TV Episodes of the Week

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under TV Reviews | Comments (41)

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I’m not going to bother with an entire honorable mentions list this week, but I will touch on a few points about shows that didn’t make the top ten.

  • First, are there really four episodes of “Dexter” left this season? And did it really just get renewed for two more seasons? If someone were to ask you right now if they should watch “Dexter” from the beginning, how many seasons would you tell them to keep going before they stopped?

  • I was a bit disappointed that, after mostly ignoring Fat Mac’s fatness all season, they finally got around to explaining it and it was a somewhat underwhelming episode. I hope there’s a better episode ahead about how Fat Mac loses the weight.

  • I quit “Hell on Wheels” midway through last night’s episode. It’s not that it’s a bad show, it’s that the characters aren’t compelling, the story isn’t engaging, and it moves really slow. Oh, wait: Maybe it is a bad show.

  • I’m glad to have “Psych” back in my life after taking a season off, but this week’s episode reminded me why I took a season off.

  • “Revenge” is mellowing out, and without the introduction of new character with whom to take revenge on each week, it’s beginning to feel a little stale.

  • I’m quietly continuing to watch “Man Up” even though I panned the pilot and the damn reason is Dan Fogler (Balls of Fury) who I’ve hated in everything he’s ever been in. Except this. I don’t know why. But the show has been pulled from the midseason schedule, so there’s not much reason to continue now.

  • I have noticed that on “Up All Night,” they have managed to successfully tone down Maya Rudolph’s character. It’s a more consistent show now. I liked it this week, as well as “New Girl,” just not enough to break the top ten. Likewise, “American Horror Story had a good week, but the top ten was too strong to contain it.


    10. Community: An incredibly ambitious, creative, and well executed episode that featured a brilliant Dean Pelton impersonation by Joel McHale. I did not, however, find the episode all that entertaining.

    9. Boss: This was the first real episode of the season that didn’t end with Mayor Kane rising above an issue. Just as it looked as though Kane would salvage his office, they pulled the rug from beneath him. The nosedive is turning into a spiral, and I don’t know how they’re going to pull out of this mess. I can’t wait to find out.

    8. Happy Endings: Dave’s hair was the highlight in this week’s episode, plus a very special two-second appearance by Busy Phillips that made many of us long for the return of “Cougar Town,” which has been pushed back until late Winter/early Spring. Bastards.

    7. Parenthood: That was a classic parenting tantrum, and everything about it was real and honest and brilliant. In another subplot, Adam’s new hot secretary kissed him, and while I think that Adam is maybe possibly the most perfect husband this side of Coach Taylor and that he said the exact right thing the next morning (“I love my wife”), he still shouldn’t have put himself in that position. Should he tell his wife? That’s a hard one, although his wife had the scene of the week when she dressed down the bully that was taunting Max.

    6. The Good Wife: This investigation into Will Gardner is getting messy with Wendy Scott Carr aboard, and I have no idea what’s going on with this Dana/Kalinda/Cary sex triangle. Are they just screwing with each other’s heads? I also appreciated that Lockhart/Gardner lost a case (and ultimately, for good reason): Losing a case every once in a while builds some uncertainty around the cases of the week.

    5. The League: You have not lived until you’ve looked into the soul of Jeff Goldblum while he’s plowing Sarah Silverman over a table during a break from the Thanksgiving meal.

    4. Homeland: The Sunday night cable dramas used to be the highlight of the week, but now with “Dexter” and “The Walking Dead” limping through their seasons, “Homeland” is the best thing going. Right now, I’m confused as hell, but it’s a lot better than being bored to death.

    3. How I Met Your Mother: This is what it feels like to see Barney heartbroken? I don’t like it, folks. I don’t like it at all. Not nice, Robin. NOT NICE.

    2. Sons of Anarchy: [Spoilers] Opie is about to lay some shit down on Clay, and I cannot fucking wait, people.

    1. Parks and Recreation: What are you folks calling it? Beslie? Leslen? Whatever it is, it’s back on. Can this show contain two fantastically adorable couples? If any show can, it’s “P&R.” But if Ann and Chris get back together, the show may crash beneath the weight of its sweetness.









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    Comments

    I just knew this week's "The League" had to make the top ten. Jeff Goldblum as Ruxin senior was BRILLIANT casting.

    Posted by: MelBivDevoe at November 21, 2011 2:55 PM

    • Temple Grandin!!!
    Cow.
    it still makes me laugh.

    Posted by: shawnp at November 21, 2011 3:00 PM

    I'm still laughing at Jane's "Temple Grandin!" re: Dave's hair.

    Posted by: Courtney at November 21, 2011 3:01 PM

    Clay should have gotten what was coming to him a while ago. I have a feeling it won't be in the next episode though...

    Posted by: DeistBrawler at November 21, 2011 3:05 PM

    shawnp and I are of the same mind apparently.

    Posted by: Courtney at November 21, 2011 3:05 PM

    I thought that episode of Community was as funny as any show's. I watched it again and I found more things to laugh at! I guess it's different strokes for different folks since I cannot stand the saccharine seeping out of nearly every P&R episode this season. How many 'sweet' couples do you need? I like the show but it has become cloying with all these purposefully 'sweet' moments. OK I won't crap on a great show. WHITNEY SUCKS11!!!1
    And Sons of Anarchy is fucking scary and amazing.

    Posted by: severine at November 21, 2011 3:06 PM

    I can also not wait for Opie to get all up in Clay's business, but as far as season finales go, that episode was a real piece of shit.

    My wife and I kept looking at the time, like, "How can this entire season possibly end in the next ten minutes? How are they going to resolve anything?"

    Clearly, the intent was not to actually resolve anything, but only to set up the next season. Where the hell did Abel's mom come from? In the last episode? Seriously?

    Anyways, I know not everything can be resolved at the end of a season of television, but one or two things would have been nice. That episode seemed like it should have been the second-last episode of a season, not the last.

    Posted by: Pfft at November 21, 2011 3:07 PM

    Anyone willing to speculate (or dream-script) on Clay's murder?

    I'm for giving him over to The Wahewa for one of their buried-waist-deep-crawling-with-ants specials, while Gemma watches and knits until his last breath.

    Posted by: PaddyDog at November 21, 2011 3:09 PM

    Pfft: You're in for quite a treat because that wasn't the season finale. There are three episodes left.

    Posted by: Dustin Rowles at November 21, 2011 3:09 PM

    Dustin - I should feel incredibly stupid right now, but to be honest I'm just really excited to hear that news. Why did I think it was the finale?

    I think there's something wrong with me.

    Posted by: Pfft at November 21, 2011 3:13 PM

    They did extend it to an hour and a half, which might give you reason to believe as much, and to be honest, after reading your comment, I had to double check to make sure it wasn't the season finale myself because if it was, I was about to shoot fire from my ass.

    Posted by: Dustin Rowles at November 21, 2011 3:14 PM

    Oh yeah... That 90 minute business was definitely the source of all my issues. Thanks for sorting that out.

    Posted by: Pfft at November 21, 2011 3:16 PM

    Pfft...I'm kinda with you on the Season Finale thing, but I thought that last show there was setting up what would be the finale THIS week. But now I am super-stoked to know we have 3 eps remaining. Makes sense though. Would be hard to bring the issue with Clay and the Cartel business to a close in a single 60 min episode.

    Posted by: PissBoy at November 21, 2011 3:19 PM

    Why does everyone think Opie is going to win when he and Clay get into it? There is the distinct possibility that Opie is going to die. Which is the best part about this series. Everyone but Jax and possibly Gemma could die at any moment. Although if Clay dies I don't know what the main focus of the show would be.

    Speaking of death, RIP Kozik. Too bad - if everyone had waited a little while you would have found out that Prime Suspect was cancelled, and then maybe you wouldn't have died.

    Posted by: Three-nineteen at November 21, 2011 3:23 PM

    I don't even remember what happened on this week's Psych - but I was heavily under the influence of post-surgery pain killers.

    Posted by: hbender at November 21, 2011 3:25 PM

    Community blew my mind. Between last week's Kiss from a Rose, and this week's Joel McHale as the Dean, my wife and I have never had to pause a show so often to catch our breath.

    As great as Luis Guzman was, it feels like their first bit of (albeit successful) stunt casting. I'm worried that the show is officially in "Save our Bluths" mode. At least it looks like if these are the last episodes, they're going to make them some of the best.

    And I'm fidgetting thinking about the Old Testament levels of wrath Opie is about to bring. He's great as the gentle giant type (not minutes earlier talking to Lyla calmly about her leaving him) but when he puts on his war face, he's maybe the scariest guy in the club.

    Posted by: Markus at November 21, 2011 3:29 PM

    Opie has to win because I do not like Clay.

    I'm hoping Clay manages to finish Tara off. I didn't like her to start and the dead hand is not making things better. I've also always sort of had the feeling that Jax (sp?) would be the one to kill Clay.

    However it ends up happening, I think there are at least a few more major deaths coming.

    Posted by: Pfft at November 21, 2011 3:31 PM

    Three-Nineteen:

    I'm not assuming Opie will win, but Clay now has Opie, Jax, Unser, Tig and above all Gemma who want him dead. Those are pretty tough odds to beat.

    To your other question: I've never seen Clay as the main focus of the show but even if he were prior to this, I don't see what else they could do with him now that they've written him into a spot beyond redemption. There's lots of scope after killing him off to set season 5 up for a power struggle in the club, or even a take-over from Redwood or elsewhere. I just don't see how they can keep him alive when he's already lost everyone who kept him in power to begin with and unless he joins the cartel and becomes an enemy to the club, where else can he go?

    Posted by: PaddyDog at November 21, 2011 3:35 PM

    Homeland is my favorite--I usually watch it twice, it's so good.

    I'm really not understanding Gemma's sudden switch to letting Opie do the deed. Did I misunderstand the other week when she told Wayne, "the son will handle it"? I thought she meant Jax. And frankly, I think it should be Jax.

    I understand Tara being so upset, but re-smashing her arm was just beyond stupid and unbelievable. I felt sorry for her up to that point.

    Posted by: Cindy at November 21, 2011 3:38 PM

    Sutter can't kill off Opie. I would probably stop watching if that were to happen no matter how good everyone else is (and I bet a lot of other viewers would too). YOU CAN'T KILL OPIE!

    Posted by: MissRos at November 21, 2011 3:48 PM

    Cindy - I think she said "A Son." I'm not sure, though.

    Posted by: Pfft at November 21, 2011 3:56 PM

    I've re-watched that bit where Gemma is talking to Unser about 10 times and, again, I'm pretty sure she said A Son.

    Posted by: MissRos at November 21, 2011 3:56 PM

    We gave up on Hell on Wheels last night. It went something like this:

    Mr. Julien: Do you want to watch Hell of Wheels?
    Mrs. Julien: [shrug]
    Mr. Julien: [deletes show from DVR]

    Posted by: Mrs. Julien at November 21, 2011 3:58 PM

    Parks and Rec made me so happy! I cannot wait for the next 3 episodes of Sons. Please, please can we have more of scantily clothed Opie? Perhaps a shirless Opie delivering the inevitable Clay beat down!

    Posted by: MissNev at November 21, 2011 4:00 PM

    Am I the only one who is liking Hell on Wheels? I think the story is quite engaging and the characters are interesting. Last week's The Swede was awesome!

    Posted by: Matthijs at November 21, 2011 4:12 PM

    Re: Dexter - If you're not going to watch every season (and I don't know why anyone wouldn't), I guess one could get sufficiently caught up by watching season one and season 4 (Trinity).

    BTW, loved Dave's awful perm on "Happy Endings". Back in college, a friend of mine got an ill-advised perm we all dubbed the "poo doo". He sheepishly admitted he wanted to look like Christopher Atkins in "The Blue Lagoon". (Yes, I'm that old.)

    Posted by: SugarKane at November 21, 2011 4:15 PM

    Yes, I'm gonna be that person. I believe Jeff Goldblum and Sarah Silverman were actually in the bathroom. No table involved.

    Posted by: Slash at November 21, 2011 4:36 PM

    "Revenge" is mellowing out a bit from the "takedown of the week" approach that started teh show. BUT, adding the real Emily in to the mix should shake things up. That and absolutely everyone except Jack & Declan are manipulating SOMEONE. The amount of deception on the show is getting staggering. Also really unbelievable but still fun.

    SoA has been outstanding. The emotions that swept over Jax face when he saw Gemma in the chapel was some incredible acting from Hunnam. He really deserves an Emmy nod for this season.

    (You used a banned word, "teh." The system doesn't know it was an honest mistake. Apologies. -- DR)

    Posted by: TylerDFC at November 21, 2011 4:59 PM

    DR: Why is my comment not going through? What rule did I break?

    Posted by: TylerDFC at November 21, 2011 5:00 PM

    Three-nineteen,

    I looked at it from this perspective. Now that they've also brought Wendy back. Opie can certainly kill Clay. It's kind of obvious that Clay is going to have to die. I would prefer Opie do it considering Clay has now taken away his wife and father.

    If they kill Clay I'm pretty sure they should kill Tara off too.

    The reason being with both Clay and Tara gone Jax would have no reason to leave the club. Seasons could continue as he, the new President, tries to reorganize the club and make it what his father wanted.

    Posted by: DeistBrawler at November 21, 2011 5:07 PM

    I'm really disappointed by the lack of Office coverage. I thought it was one of the funniest episodes if the season yet it doesn't get its usual Friday morning coverage and no mention in the ten best episodes of the week it honorable mentions.
    As for Dexter, I would tell the person to keep watching. Sure, the last few weeks have been weak but the first four were really solid and I fully expect them to bring it all back around and have what I would deem a successful season like they usually do. Dexter has had that same kind of pattern, 4 good episodes, 4 bad ones, 3 good ones and finish it off with 1 great season finale. Well except seasons one and two which were pretty great all season.

    Posted by: sam at November 21, 2011 6:19 PM

    > Parenthood: That was a classic parenting tantrum, and everything about it was
    real and honest and brilliant.

    SErIOuLy ?! That's how some children act? Damn good thing then that I never
    wanted / had children. I would have just about duct-taped her mouth and arms
    and set her out on the porch for the coyotes.
    I'll say that dumping her off in her room and letting her destroy her room on her
    own steam was an acceptable Plan B... I suppose. Give the little twit something to
    clean and organize before she could come downstairs for her morning gruel.
    I don't know how parents do it. Really and truly. I chose to work with animals (dogs).
    Damn sight asier to train.

    Posted by: MsMoMo at November 21, 2011 6:27 PM

    That's a banned word? People write that on purpose? I am very old.

    Posted by: TylerDFC at November 21, 2011 6:53 PM

    That's a banned word? People write that on purpose? I am very old.

    Posted by: TylerDFC at November 21, 2011 6:53 PM

    This is intriguing, Tyler. Did you misspell a word into a banned word? Or did you write something on purpose that you think people don't normally write on purpose?

    I need to know more.

    Posted by: Riles at November 21, 2011 7:26 PM

    I know you don't watch the show, but I have to throw out some love for Glee's latest episode. It actually hit all the right notes. From the camp of Hot for Teacher to a sexual identity/coming out of the closet story arc that--even in the absurdity of outing a cheerleader in a political smear campaign--feels a whole lot more believable than the season one coming out story. The songs were great, the characters were written to act in character, and the structure of the script was right on.

    Posted by: Robert at November 21, 2011 8:32 PM

    Well, perhaps she did say "a son," but I still don't get it. Jax should be the one.

    Posted by: Cindy at November 21, 2011 8:50 PM

    I'm still betting Clay survives and goes to jail. Yup I thunk they will take the chicken-shit route.

    Posted by: logan at November 21, 2011 9:15 PM

    BESLIE FOREVAH.

    Posted by: figgy at November 21, 2011 10:40 PM

    I want to have sorbet with Jeff Goldblum.

    Posted by: jzhz at November 22, 2011 7:48 AM

    I think Opie and Jax both have strong arguments for who should get to take out Clay. Well, Jax WILL have a good one if Tara will ever get off her ass and show him the letters. I was a little disappointed last season when Opie finally found out what really happened to his wife and there were no repercussions for Tig or Clay, though that led to a very satisfying take-down of Stahl.

    There's a lot of time left in this season for where the tension is at. I don't know how Clay could possibly survive until next season and I don't know where they could go afterwards if he does bite it in the next few weeks. Yeah, they can have Jax rebuild or whatever but that just sounds dull compared to four seasons of the mystery of John Teller's murder.

    Posted by: Paultera at November 22, 2011 9:39 AM

    Great thread.. I had to scan it twice to understand it all though, haha!

    Posted by: shoes for zumba at December 18, 2011 6:24 PM