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The Weekly Power Rankings: Annie's Not Wearing Pants Edition

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under TV Reviews | Comments (29)

anniesnotwearingpants.jpg

A few notes about those that missed the cut this week:

  • “Doctor Who,” fell from number one to out of the top ten all together with a stand-alone episode. The stand-alone eps haven’t been as good in the Matt Smith era, although I think I prefer the overall Moffat mythology to the Davies mythology (read also, C. Rob’s recap of this week’s episode).

  • I know it was the season finale of “Fringe,” but after it, I deleted the show from my DVR season passes out of principle. Hopefully, I can beat back the urge to add it again next season. I thought the ending was a weak Shyamalan cop-out. The only saving grace to the season came when Seth emailed me after watching it and (spoilers) suggested that we might need another Joshua Jackson obituary. It was lame ending to the season, but it fit perfectly into the Pajiba mythos.

  • The first post-Michael Scott episode of “The Office” was terrible.

  • It wasn’t good enough to break the top ten (or even 15), but “Chuck” had its first decent episode in months, as Chuck finally revealed to his sister that he’s not only a spy, but that the intersect is in his brain. But the big revelation, which was actually kind of smart, was that Agent X is Volkoff, which allows them to bring back the season’s only bright spot, Timothy Dalton.

  • “Breaking In” had its first weak episode of the season, “Modern Family” just missed the cut, and thanks to a Los Angeles based episode and Beckett in a bathing suit, this week’s “Caste” was one of the first in a while I actually managed to watch in its entirety.

    10. Chicago Code: Alderman Ronin Gibbons returned this week, and the noose tightened around him. I’m certain he’ll pull out of this predicament, but I’m curious as to how he’ll manage it. And I know that few of you are paying attention to this show, but Jason Clarke is brilliant in it, as is Matt Lauria for those of you looking for a post-“FNL” fix. For as much attention as “The Shield” received, I’m perplexed as to why “Chicago Code” is not receiving similar acclaim.

    9. The Good Wife: I liked this episode as much for itself as for what it portends: A major shift. Peter Florrick looks to be the chief antagonist, with Cary being his right hand man. This is going to be fun, and I look forward to watching Alicia take down her soon-to-be ex-husband this season and next, although I like Cary so much that it’d be nice to give him a win every once in a while, too.

    8. 30 Rock: I thought the season finale was hilarious, notwithstanding the creepy subplot between Jack and Kenneth. Overall, I thought this season was better than last, but short of the almost perfect season two.

    7. Game of Thrones: I am really enjoying “Game of Thrones,” but — as someone with no knowledge of the novels — I’m a little anxious for the dragons and wizards to arrive. They’re going to arrive, aren’t they? It’s that kind of show, isn’t it? And those evil creatures beyond the wall that were introduced in the first scenes of the pilot — where are they? Bring them back! See also TK’s review.

    6. The Killing: Another solid episode, but I have to admit that I’m getting a little frustrated with the drama. The murder investigation at the center of the show is still gripping, but the side plots — the engagement, the political campaign, and even the grieving family, have lost a lot of their interest. Plus, there’s been no growth of character. And I hate to say it, because I think Mireille Enos is doing a bang-up job, but, I’d really appreciate it if the Sarah Linden character betrayed some emotion occasionally. The grim listlessness is making her a hard character with which to sympathize.

    5. Cougar Town: It was one of those weeks where the dramas hit lulls, while the comedies soared, and “Cougar Town” was once again brilliant. I want to be friends with these characters. In fact, I only just realized that, of the 10 or so “celebrities” I follow on Twitter, eight of them are connected to “Cougar Town” or “Scrubs.” Clearly, Bill Lawrence creates people we want to Twitter-drink with.

    4. Happy Endings: Immediately after the two episodes this week aired, there was some real consideration to putting it above “Parks and Recreation.” They were hilarious, starting with the gaycist episode and ending with one of my favorite sitcom episodes of the season. If you’re not watching “Happy Endings,” the second episode brilliantly hit a lot of Pajiba touchstones, not just mocking hipster douchebags but likening them to zombies in a hilarious homage scene that had hipsters Romero-shuffling after a food truck. Fantastic. Get thee to the bandwagon.

    3. Parks and Recreation: Perhaps the comparison to “Arrested Development” was misguided, but it is achieving the same brilliant success that early seasons of “The Office” accomplished, and it’s doing so without making us feel intensely uncomfortable. I wonder, though, how much I’d love the show without Ron Swanson, who Paul Southworth brilliantly compared to “Oscar the Grouch with a meat fetish.”

    2. Community: I thought “Parks and Recreation” was funnier this week, but “Community” was slightly more entertaining, plus it gets bonus points for degree of difficulty. It was one of those episodes that I appreciated even more on a second viewing.

    1. Justified: I’d be a fool not to put the season finale of the brilliant second season of “Justified” at the top of the rankings this week, although it wasn’t a completely satisfying conclusion for me. I thought they did a great job with the Mags Bennett storyline (although not putting a bullet in Dickie’s head was an opportunity missed), but there was no real resolution to the Art/Raylan/Winona tension. It’s like there was a scene missing, where Winona confessed to Art that she was behind the robbery/return, which is what provoked Art to bring out the cavalry to save Raylan. Plus, the pregnancy “bombshell” was dumb, and not because of Winona. I’m apparently the only fan of the show in existence who actually likes Winona. I understand her motivations. But the pregnancy was just useless to the story, and if it is part of next season’s arc, then just hold it until next season. See also Agent Bedhead’s finale review.










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    Comments

    I am so glad that you mentioned Happy Endings. I started watching that show because I have a fondness for Eliza Coupe and it has turned out to be hilarious. I love the characters and the situations are gold. The Zombie contest, the She-Ra persona at Krav Maga, the gaycist. I really love this show and it cracks me up! So glad to see it on your list!

    Posted by: Nimue at May 9, 2011 2:58 PM

    • Loved Justified's ending. I think they left Dickie alive as he's a wild card (no clue what he'll do). And who knows what Art will/won't do next season.

    I’m a little anxious for the dragons and wizards to arrive. They’re going to arrive, aren’t they? It’s that kind of show, isn’t it? And those evil creatures beyond the wall that were introduced in the first scenes of the pilot — where are they? Bring them back!

    Surprise! It's not that kind of show. Oh you'll get some magic, but it's not the Merlin/Gandalf kind. And the white walkers are not going to be seen again till Season 3.

    Posted by: Fredo at May 9, 2011 3:20 PM

    I LOVED that zombie episode of Happy Endings, it's definitely shaping up to be a great show.


    I’m apparently the only fan of the show in existence who actually likes Winona.

    Yup.

    Posted by: Even Stevens at May 9, 2011 3:24 PM

    Happy Endings sealed the deal with me when Casey Wilson candlefist double punched her birthday cake.
    I need a gif of it.

    Posted by: shawnp at May 9, 2011 3:25 PM

    Oscar the Grouch with a meat fetish is now the only acceptable definition of "Ron Swanson" in the character dictionary. Brilliant.

    This is a great list. I'm so glad you liked Community better after watching it again because it felt like you were falling out of love with it and you were always such a champion for it! Don't "Fringe" Community Dustin. Never "Fringe" Community.

    Now I'm off to download Happy Endings. Thanks for the tip.

    Posted by: becks at May 9, 2011 3:25 PM

    Parks and Rec was a little weak, but that's only when you compare it to how utterly brilliant the rest of the season's been. I guess that, given the shortened season and the threat of cancellation, the writers really went all out on plots and hilarity and character development. This was a great one for Leslie and Ron's relationship.

    Hour long episodes this week and next! I'm gonna be ecstatic.

    Posted by: Figgy at May 9, 2011 4:03 PM

    And I watched it a little late, but I didn't think The Office was that horrible. Sure it was BAD for the show we once knew, but there were some nice moments. Pam's mocking the juggling was great, even though the juggling was excruciatingly bad. Then some of Kevin's and Ryan's lines were good, and I'm glad Will Ferrell is gone because he was insufferable.

    The show won't survive without Michael. It can't, and it shouldn't.

    Posted by: Figgy at May 9, 2011 4:07 PM

    Me too Figs!

    Posted by: becks at May 9, 2011 4:07 PM

    How do you know Oscar DOESN'T have a meat fetish? He seems to be the type to enjoy a good piece of steak, and occasionally one of the lesser Muppets goes missing. I prefer to think of Ron Swanson as Oscar with a Trim.

    Posted by: Mrcreosote at May 9, 2011 4:14 PM

    I don't know why, but I feel the opposite about The Killing - all the police work was starting to wear me out, while the side-dramas kept me interested. Then again, I can't stand procedurals, so maybe it's just me.

    Don't get me wrong, I like seeing the investigation progress, but I was starting to get those awkward "suspect of the week" jitters for a while there. I hope they can keep this pace without resorting to cliches.

    And the Bennet sub-plot was just what the show needed to take it from "interesting murder mystery" to "holy shit police drama." I can't wait for this week's episode.

    My only fear with Justified is a major re-shuffling of the deck, which is how we went from Raylan/Ava and Gary/Winona to Boyd/Ava and Raylan/Winona. With Boyd, Arlo and Dickie somehow all still alive (seriously, I know someone somewhere had to lose some money on those odds) I'm hoping they don't just start having people switch loyalties episode to episode next season. Too many wildcards now that the Bennets are mostly dealt with.

    Posted by: Markus at May 9, 2011 4:26 PM

    I had The Killing DVR'ed since the first episode, waiting for a good day to watch them. I started Saturday and I'm already up to episode 6. I like it that much.

    Posted by: chad at May 9, 2011 4:44 PM

    It’s like there was a scene missing, where Winona confessed to Art that she was behind the robbery/return

    I think she did confess. I don't think it will make a lot of difference in Art's attitude towards Raylan though. He still helped conceal a crime. It might at least be a start to repairing their relationship.

    Posted by: Paultera at May 9, 2011 5:39 PM

    Oh, Fringe. I discovered when I put on the recording to watch it yesterday that somehow it cut off after 47 minutes. So I missed the last 13 minutes of the SEASON FINALE (most likely because Mr. Siege had some sporting event he HAD to watch.) Can anyone tell me whether it's worth putting on the Fox OnDemand (that can't be fast-forwarded) to see those last few minutes? Please please tell me we're not staying in the weird future world!

    I think they were never expecting to get renewed, so they had to scramble this season to figure out how end things without completely finishing the show.

    Posted by: Siege at May 9, 2011 5:41 PM

    Agreed, Figgy. Imagine if his last episode had been the series finale?

    Speaking of better realities...

    Posted by: RobP at May 9, 2011 6:02 PM

    Breaking In sucks. I know you like C Slater and the black guy is funny, but everything else is shit. The lead, the plots, the love interest, her boyfriend. I watched 3 episodes and I hope I won't be bored enough to watch a 4th one.

    Posted by: kerokan at May 9, 2011 6:09 PM

    On the recommendations of the 'Jiba, I finally checked out Happy Endings and...I made it through 7 minutes of the episode before I couldn't take it anymore.
    Seriously. Mocking hipsters is not only overdone, but unnecessary (already funny on their own). The dialogue? Punchline punchline punchline, gotta make sure the laughs are coming. The characters? I was reminded of It's Always Sunny..., except watered down by the S&P of broadcast tv.
    Don't know what system you're using to rank episodes, but perhaps it could stand for recalibration.

    Posted by: Jim Doggie at May 9, 2011 6:17 PM

    Siege - no, we're not staying in Future World. Season 4 of Fringe will essentially be The Search for Spock Peter - not being entirely sure what you saw last at the 47-minute mark, I'll pick it up from Peter realizing that Walter, Peter, etc. were The First People who sent the pieces of the machine back in time. Peter then gets in both machines to form a "bridge" bringing the two universes together to save them both, as one cannot exist without the other. Having done so, Peter blinks out of existence while telling Walter and Walternate and Olivia and Fauxlivia to work together because "if one side dies, we all die." We then see many Observers assembled on the lawn of Liberty Island, where September (The Observer who appears in every episode and we're most familiar with) has a conversation with another Observer.

    "You were right, they don't remember Peter." - Older Observer
    "How could they? He never existed. He served his purpose." - September

    That purpose is why September saved Peter from the lake, why he told Walter he was "important," why The Observer had to test Walter to make sure he was willing to let him die, etc. Now, either Peter did exist and they don't remember him or he entirely didn't exist on Earth-1 at all. What caused everything to begin if Peter doesn't get sick? Well, as we saw in the season 2 episodes "Jacksonville" and "Peter," Walter and Bell were edging closer and closer and closer to violating the other universe entirely without Peter - transporting cars, stealing technology for modern cell phones in 1985 after observing them in their viewing window, etc. In episode 1 of season 4, I'm betting they'll make it clear that it started for a different reason now - maybe Nina gets sick and William wants to save her, who knows. We'll find out soon. It's certainly not a "weak Shyamalan copout," it sets in motion a very interesting basis for season 4. In any case, it just underlines how incredibly wrong and quick to jump to conclusions the "this just means the season will end in the most dramatic rose ceremony ever!" crowd was after the events of the episode "Concentrate and Ask Again."

    Posted by: Jack at May 9, 2011 6:19 PM

    Siege - forgot to add, according to their AV Club interview, the "Fringe" people wrote "The Day We Died" without giving any consideration to whether or not they'd be picked up.

    Posted by: Jack at May 9, 2011 6:21 PM

    some things bear repeating:

    winona needs to die. but now she's pregnant and that would just be mean.

    okay, next season she can have the baby and die in the finale. of course, boyd unwittingly is somehow involved.

    in the fourth season, raylan seeks revenge and, of course, has to tangle with his nemesis boyd. this fourth season ends with a major shootout where both raylan and boyd die. cue credits. end of series.

    might as well kill ava while we're at it.

    who's with me?

    Posted by: splinter at May 9, 2011 6:26 PM

    Jesus, you watch a lot of TV. A few thoughts on the shows I *do* watch:

    The Office--I am almost ready to walk away from this show, full stop, but I think it could totally survive without Michael. But that would require them to do WITHOUT a Michael, and I don't think they know how to do that. There's a ton of comedic talent in that cast and if they rely on a doofus boss to make use of that, that's their total and complete failure.

    The Killing--Look, I like a moody thriller as much as the next cultural elitist, but this is getting ridic. If verisimilitude is boring, then don't be so true-to-life. I'm hanging with it for the season, but I'll be honest--sometimes this show makes me appreciate Law & Order: TMI because it cuts out the boring, procedural parts.

    Justified--WHY, oh WHY, couldn't have Dickie taken the dirt nap and left Mags for next season?!? I'll grudgingly admit that it's a better season-long narrative, but I long for more Mags and for Dickie to rot in an unmarked grave.

    Posted by: The Wandering Parakeet at May 9, 2011 6:37 PM

    Bill Lawrence has tweeted at me a few times. I'm not proud to admit how psyched I was.

    His shows are gold, Jerry! Gold!

    Posted by: Internet Magpie at May 9, 2011 6:52 PM

    Danny Masterson tweeted me cuz I ranked on Xenu.
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    How I love Steven Hyde

    And what was wrong with Modern Family this week? Mediocre MF's are still better than all the other shows.

    Cougar Town is brilliant, didn't realize Bill Lawrence created it. That explains everything. Scrubs, oh poor underrated unawarded Scrubs, is still one of my fave shows ever.

    Trying to get my offspring to watch Cougar Town. I've decided that they want Monica to hang with Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, Joey and Chandler and not her new friends.

    Soup is not a meal, Jerry....

    Posted by: kirbyjay at May 9, 2011 7:07 PM

    Aaaaaand everyone except Cary and Eli need to die on The Good Wife. It is the most overrated and irritating show on television. I mean that literally.

    So much hate in my heart for that show. I am giving it up.

    Posted by: BalladofMaxwellDemon at May 9, 2011 9:08 PM

    Re: "The Killing"

    WILL SOMEONE PLEASE MAKE IT STOP RAINING?? THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!

    Posted by: Uriah Creep at May 9, 2011 10:27 PM

    I don't think Winona confessed. But the deus ex machina ending, while exciting, felt forced. I think this was the first time Raylan was "saved" by anyone, and it happened twice. I think Art has had it with him, Raylan has been a mess this season. Hopefully with Winona pregnant he starts to rein it in a bit because his behavior has been erratic as hell. Great season, though. The final moments of gunfire were at least as intense as the pinned-down finale last season.

    We know Boyd is now the power in Harlan. Going to be interesting to see what that does to Raylan and Boyd's "friendship". And I would have lost moeny on that bet as to who survived. I called Arlo and Dickie as a sure thing in the death pool. Especially when Dickie started smacking Raylan with the baseball bat.

    Also loved Community. Can't wait for this week to see how it ends. And I totally want two 6 shooter paint ball guns. That episode must have just been a blast to film.

    Posted by: TylerDFC at May 10, 2011 7:16 AM

    ok, this is insane. the header used the words "Annie" and "pants" and I'm the first (only) one to immediately go to Youtube & watch the Eryhah Badu video of "Annie (don't wear no panties)"?

    BEST thing she's ever done.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcImfdLyn1Q

    Posted by: Walter at May 10, 2011 8:33 AM

    It would be hard to stay "Caste" after seeing Beckett in a bikini.

    Posted by: Big Softie at May 10, 2011 1:11 PM

    Thank fuck you deleted Fringe from your DVR so we don't have to listen to you whine about how it doesn't match your expectations (your sci-fi/horror/most fantasy hating expectations) and how you just HAVE to give it up, but oh God it keeps drawing you in. Enjoy Cougar Town.

    Posted by: JustBill at May 10, 2011 2:43 PM

    My wife Cindy let me know about your blog, I just wanted to say it was a great post.

    Posted by: wp7 plan at June 9, 2011 2:13 AM