On the series finale of Treme, the darker side of Mardi Gras comes out when shots are fired during a celebration. While the event makes for dramatically interesting character combinations and has been a commonality shared by everyone in the city, even if they don’t go to anything related to the event itself, it can sometimes get the mix wrong and result in unexpected threats to people who just want to have the excuse to smile and let go. Not everyone thinks of Mardi Gras as a time for dancing and culture, spirit and tradition; some view it as a time where their misdeeds can be masked by the crowds clogging up the city, a time to settle the scores they’ve been wanting to settle for the last year. But is there a chance that someone we’ve come to know and love won’t make it out of Mardi Gras alive?

Elsewhere on Treme, Terry is offered a transfer from NOPD, while guardians send Albert home, Antoine goes to a Dr. John gig with his sons, and Davis takes care of his pothole.

The series finale of Treme airs Sunday at 9:00 on HBO.

What do you think will happen at Mardi Gras on Treme? Will Terry be happier now that he’s out of the department? Is going to the Dr. John gig going to inspire Antoine’s sons to get even more into music?

The post Treme Series Finale Preview: Will Mardi Gras End in Tragedy? appeared first on TVHackr.

On the next episode of Treme, it’s Davis’ 40th birthday and as such, he’s waxing philosophical about his place in New Orleans and how he’s not where he wanted to be when he hit this age. He does have an idea on how to leave his mark, though – running a music club, seeing as how several establishments have been shut down recently and his own band was denied their final show due to the club they regularly played being locked up. While this is impressively ambitious, as is the fact that he wants to place himself among the New Orleans greats when it’s all said and done, running a place like that isn’t as easy as drinking, listening to music, and closing up every night. It’s finances, networking, noise codes; it’s the stuff that Davis either doesn’t want to or hasn’t considered. Getting a club off the ground for someone with an established history in that aspect of the music industry is hard enough, so a man like Davis who hasn’t owned a club and doesn’t have the greatest business background/experience anyway is going to be next to impossible.

Elsewhere on Treme, Toni gets a break in her case, while Annie makes a decision about the fate of her band, Delmond receives an offer that he doesn’t think he can refuse, and L.P. returns to New Orleans.

Treme airs Sundays at 9:00 on HBO. You can check out a preview of the episode here.

Would opening a music club give Davis the type of legacy in New Orleans that he craves? Do you think that Annie will get rid of her band in search of solo stardom? Why would L.P. return to New Orleans after getting his article published?

The post Treme 4.04 Sneak Peek: Davis Worries About His Legacy appeared first on TVHackr.

On the next episode of Treme, Albert has extended the offer to Delmond to assume his duties as Big Chief should the cancer take too much of a toll on his well-being and knock him out of what could be his final Mardi Gras. Though Delmond is likely to be immensely honored and moved by his father entrusting something so precious with him, having to take on the responsibilities of Big Chief could have a negative impact on his playing career and force the ceiling on what he’s able to do as a trumpeter to drop down much lower than it had been previously. Delmond has put the halt on things for the most part since his father was handed his diagnosis, so a part of him, even subconsciously, would have felt a sense of relief when Albert passed; he could throw himself into his playing and embrace the comfort that music has brought him for so many years in a time when he needed it the most. But if his father is directly coming to him about becoming the new Big Chief, will he be able to turn that down and still live with himself?

Elsewhere on Treme, Davis turns 40, Toni gets a break in her case, Annie makes a decision about her music career, and L.P. returns to New Orleans.

Treme airs Sundays at 9:00 on HBO.

Do you think that Delmond would be able to admirably perform the duties of Big Chief? How will turning 40 impact Davis’ relationship with Janette? Should Annie dump her band and attempt to go national?

The post Treme 4.04 Preview: Will Delmond Become Big Chief? appeared first on TVHackr.

On the next episode of Treme, Albert’s costume making isn’t doing his health any favors, yet for the time being, LaDonna is trying to comfort him and respect his Indian heritage.. While she knows how important his Indian heritage is to him, he might as well have continued the chemo at this rate, since making the costume has left him even more physically exhausted than usual. It was already a process that had been wearing on him in recent years, given the fact that he’s not as young as he once was, but with his weakened state, he’s gotten more tired more quickly and seems to be driving himself into the ground over something that could leave him unable to enjoy anything else in his remaining time on Earth. LaDonna doesn’t want him to look back on the final months of his life and regret not spending it with his family and loved ones, so even if he doesn’t look quite as pretty as he could on Mardi Gras, she’s going to do her damndest to make him look up and realize just how much against the clock he’s working right now.

Elsewhere on Treme, Janette and Davis spend New Year’s Eve together, while Antoine picks up another job and NOPD retaliates when Terry gets called to testify.

Treme airs Sundays at 9:00 on HBO.

Will Albert’s health allow him to complete his costume? Are Janette and Davis going to make things official and define their relationship status soon? How will Terry handle being on the bad side of NOPD?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxeV44BnY3k

The post Treme 4.03 Preview: LaDonna Comforts Albert appeared first on TVHackr.

On tonight’s episode of Treme, Annie wins a song of the year award for “This City” and Marvin again broaches the topic of her working with the Nashville studio musicians that he previously suggested. That’s not the way that she wanted to move to the next level of her career, not after her band has been as loyal to her as they have, but if she wants to make real noise in the industry, it’s something she might have to seriously consider. While she could make a pretty decent living as a touring act in Louisiana, she’s already seemed to reach the apex of what she can do there and in order to keep growing as a musician, a move outside of the state might be her only option at this point. But will Annie sacrifice fulfilling her potential in order to avoid having to be the one to end her relationship with the band?

Elsewhere on Treme, Albert gets bad news about his cancer, while Delmond plays with Terence Blanchard in New York and violence hits one of Antoine’s students.

Treme airs tonight at 9:00 on HBO.

Should Annie agree to work with the studio musicians in Nashville? How will Antoine respond to this latest incident? Is this the moment when Albert gives up and accepts his fate?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnv1i5X87Ik

The post Treme 4.02 Preview: Will Annie Cut Her Band Loose? appeared first on TVHackr.

This week on TVHackr, we talked about an important How I Met Your Mother milestone, what to expect on FX come January, and a new Netflix deal with Disney, while the internet touched on sexy newscasters, Facebook TV reminders, and ratings winners and losers.

ABC Picks Up Full Seasons of The Goldbergs and Trophy Wife, Cancels Back in the Game
ABC gave out full seasons to new comedies The Goldbergs and Trophy Wife while extending Super Fun Night and cancelling Back in the Game.

Bob’s Burgers Recap: Breadsticks and Butt Punches
When Linda feels that her date night with Bob has gone stale, she decides to take flying lessons, only to find out that her teacher has other things in mind.

Witches of East End 1.05 “Electric Avenue” Recap
While Ingrid finds her own way of grieving the loss of Adam, Freya is forced to deal with Dash’s ex and Wendy’s spell has adverse effects on Maura.

Community: Vince Gilligan to Guest
Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan is set to appear on an upcoming episode of Community, which returns this January on NBC.

Castle Review: “Like Father, Like Daughter”
When Alexis enlists Castle’s help on a case she’s working with her professor, he and Beckett uncover evidence that local police had previously overlooked.

How I Met Your Mother 9.08 Review – The Lighthouse
While Barney gets caught in the middle of a conflict between Robin and Loretta, Ted and Cassie try to enjoy a trip to a lighthouse.

Treme Season 4 Spoilers and Trailer: Thirty-Eight Months After the Storm
HBO has released a trailer for the final season of Treme, as well as episode descriptions for the final five installments of the David Simon drama.

Helix to Premiere Friday, January 10th on Syfy
Syfy has announced that upcoming scripted drama Helix is set to premiere Friday, January 10th at 10:00, with the first episode to repeat several times the following day.

‘Vegas’ alum Jason O’Mara headed towards USA Network
Jason O’Mara has joined USA pilot Complications, where he’ll be playing an ER doctor. The series was created by Burn Notice‘s Matt Nix.

FX Sets Premiere Dates for Justified, The Americans, Archer, and Chozen
FX has revealed its winter 2014 schedule, which includes the return of Justified, a relocated Archer, and the second season of The Americans being delayed.

Scandal Casts Olivia’s Mom: Khandi Alexander to Play the Part
Treme alum Khandi Alexander has been cast as the mother of Olivia Pope on Scandal. She made her first appearance this past Thursday.

American Horror Story Renewed for Season 4 by FX
FX has renewed American Horror Story for a fourth season, though no details about the season’s focus/theme have been revealed as of yet.

Witches of East End 1.06 Preview: Ingrid Flashes Back to a Past Life
On the next episode of Witches of East End, Freya makes a shocking discovery at Fair Haven and Ingrid flashes back to one of her past lives.

Netflix Partners with Disney for Live-Action Marvel Series
There will be four new Marvel series coming to Netflix in the near future thanks to a deal the streaming service struck with Disney this week.

Boardwalk Empire Season 4: Spoilers for November Episodes
Coming up on Boardwalk Empire, Chalky and Daughter go on the run after a close call, while Nucky gets an important tip from Sally and Richard goes looking for Tommy.

Betrayal 1.07 Preview: Sara and Jack Deal with Their Affair Being Exposed
On the next episode of Betrayal, Sara and Jack must deal with having their affair exposed, while Zarek takes it upon himself to take care of Brandy for Karsten.

Reign 1.04 Sneak Peek: Mary and Her Ladies Prepare for a Costume Ball
This week on Reign, Mary and her ladies prepared for a costume banquet that was to culminate in an execution of an English envoy accused of spying.

Why People in Hong Kong Protest Over Bad Television (The Atlantic)
100,000 Hong Kongers took to the streets to protest the paucity of television channels made available to them, a number low enough to negatively impact the quality of shows they do get to see.

Evicted Greek TV channel goes on air from street (RT)
Despite the government shutting Greece’s former state broadcaster down, the network turned a street into its live audience, at least for a brief time.

12 TV Shows That Are Way Up—or Way Down—in the Ratings (E!Online)
Do you want to know the biggest winners and losers of the fall season? E!Online looks at shows that are either soaring in the ratings or still crashing down to Earth.

The 50 Sexiest in TV News (Mediaite)
Here, look at the pretty people charged with bringing us our news.

Facebook Adds Reminders For Upcoming TV Show Airings To Its Android App (Tech Crunch)
Ever forget to watch your favorite show? Well, you’re in luck, as Facebook has added TV reminders to its Android app.

The post The Week in Television Wrap November 2-8 appeared first on TVHackr.

Listed below are the dates, times, titles, descriptions, and repeat information for all five episodes of Treme this season.

SUNDAY, DEC. 1 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT) – “Yes We Can Can”
New Orleans celebrates the election of Barack Obama; Desautel opens her own Bywater restaurant; LaDonna rebuilds Gigi’s bar; school band director Batiste gets invested in his students’ lives.
Other HBO playdates: Dec. 1 (11:00 p.m.), 3 (11:00 p.m.), 4 (10:00 p.m.) and 5 (2:15 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Dec. 2 (10:00 p.m.), 6 (8:00 p.m.), 7 (11:00 p.m.) and 14 (10:00 p.m.)

SUNDAY, DEC. 8 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) – “This City”
Lambreaux learns his cancer has spread; Delmond plays with Terence Blanchard in New York; Annie wins song of the year for “This City”; violence strikes one of Batiste’s students.
Other HBO playdates: Dec. 8 (11:00 p.m.), 10 (11:00 p.m.), 11 (10:00 p.m.) and 12 (1:30 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Dec. 9 (10:00 p.m.), 13 (8:00 p.m.), 14 (11:00 p.m.) and 21 (10:00 p.m.)

SUNDAY, DEC. 15 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) – “Dippermouth Blues”
McAlary and Desautel spend New Year’s Eve together; Batiste picks up a movie job; LaDonna comforts Lambreaux; Colson offers to testify, and the NOPD retaliates.
Other HBO playdates: Dec. 15 (11:00 p.m.), 17 (11:00 p.m.), 18 (10:00 p.m.) and 19 (3:40 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Dec. 16 (10:00 p.m.), 20 (8:00 p.m.), 21 (11:00 p.m.) and 28 (10:00 p.m.)

SUNDAY, DEC. 22 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) – “Sunset on Louisianne”
McAlary celebrates his 40th; Bernette gets a break in her case; Annie dumps her band; Lambreaux insists that Delmond carry on as Big Chief after he’s gone; Everett returns to New Orleans.
Other HBO playdates: Dec. 22 (11:00 p.m.), 24 (11:00 p.m.), 25 (10:00 p.m.) and 26 (2:50 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Dec. 23 (10:00 p.m.), 27 (8:00 p.m.) and 28 (11:00 p.m.)

SUNDAY, DEC. 29 (9:00-10:15 p.m.) – “…To Miss New Orleans”
Colson is offered a transfer; guardians send Lambreaux home; Batiste takes his sons to a Dr. John gig; Hidalgo returns to Texas; McAlary revisits his pothole, now decorated.
Other HBO playdates: Dec. 29 (11:15 p.m.) and 31 (11:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdate: Dec. 30 (10:00 p.m.)

The final season of Treme premieres Sunday, December 1st at 9:00 on HBO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7juC9LoG-w

The post Treme Season 4 Spoilers and Trailer: Thirty-Eight Months After the Storm appeared first on TVHackr.

This week on TVHackr, we talked about Glee delaying their season premiere, the possibility of a 12 Monkeys series adaptation at Syfy, and new additions to Bates Motel, while the internet looked back on the best TV in 2013, suggested shows you should be watching on Hulu, and evaluated the representation of autism on television.

Helix Adds Hiroyuki Sanada, Kyra Zagorsky, and Mark Ghanime
Upcoming Syfy thriller Helix has made added three cast members, who join recently announced Billy Campbell. But who will they be playing and how will they figure into the show’s universe?

Low Winter Sun: A First Look at AMC’s Upcoming Cop Drama
Get a nearly five minute look at Low Winter Sun, which stars Mark Strong and Lennie James as Detroit detectives who collaborate on killing a fellow officer.

Glee Delays Production, Season 5 to Premiere September 26th
Due to the death of Cory Monteith, Glee has delayed its production until the beginning of August, thereby booting its season premiere from September 19th to September 26th.

The Walking Dead Season 4 to Premiere October 13th; Watch the Trailer Here
The first full-length trailer for The Walking Dead‘s fourth season was released at Comic-Con, along with a premiere date. What’s in store for the survivors this season?

Magic City Recap: A Dream in Tatters on the Sand
While Vera comes to a realization about her dancing career, Ben makes Stevie a tempting offer and Ike learns about the fate of Theresa.

Devious Maids Spoilers: Peri Becomes Paranoid About Spence Having an Affair
Coming up on Devious Maids, Genevieve hits a rough financial patch, endangering the jobs of Valentina and Zoila, while Carmen gets jealous when Sam starts dating.

Hit the Floor 1.09 Sneak Peeks: Ahsha and Jelena Battle for an All-Star Slot
Ahsha and Jelena are in the running for a performance slot at the All-Star game, Kyle has an unsettling encounter with a rich fan, and German might have had all he can stand of his girlfriend’s new personality.

Comic-Con News and Trailers: Once Upon a Time, Arrow, Bones, Family Guy, and More
Miss anything from 2013 San Diego Comic-Con? We’ve compiled the news items and trailer we missed in one handy place.

12 Monkeys Nearing Series Order at Syfy; BBC America Goes to Atlantis
While Syfy is said to be nearing a series order of 12 Monkeys, based on the Bruce Willis film of the same name, BBC America has greenlit Atlantis, a fantasy actioner from Misfits creator Howard Overman.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, and Totally Biased to Premiere September 4th on FXX
Three former FX series have been given start dates for next season, their first on fledgling cable network FXX, which opens its doors officially two days prior.

Bunheads Canceled by ABC Family
The Amy Sherman-Palladino ballet drama finished its first season this past February and joins The Lying Game in the ABC Family summer scrap heap.

The Fosters Recap: You Taste Like Badger, George
Ana won’t leave Mariana alone about the money, Callie stands up for Talya to Brandon, and Jesus takes matters into his own hands, potentially to Stef’s detriment.

News Roundup: Jason Momoa Joins Sundance’s The Red Road
The Game of Thrones star has signed on for the lead role in The Red Road, which follows a sheriff that has to negotiate a difficult relationship between his hometown and a nearby Indian reservation.

Bates Motel: Michael Vartan, Rebecca Creskoff, and Kenny Johnson Join Season 2
Bates Motel has added three recurring players to its second season, including a love interest for Norma and a member of the Bates family that has only been talked about to this point.

Twisted 1.08 Sneak Peeks: Danny and Lacey Continue Sneaking Around
While Danny and Lacey continue their secret relationship, Kyle puts more pressure on Karen and Rico battles the complicated feelings he has for his best friend.

Mistresses 1.09 Preview: Would Elizabeth Grey Have Killed Tom?
Karen deals with the bombshell that Elizabeth dropped at the end of last week’s episode, Savi and Joss’s mother Janet comes for an unexpected visit, and April tries to decide whether to be truthful to Lucy and Richard.

Sons of Anarchy Season 6 to Premiere Tuesday, September 10th
FX has announced that biker drama Sons of Anarchy will be premiering its sixth season on Tuesday, September 10th with a 90-minute episode.

The Fosters 1.09 Sneak Peeks: Callie Enlightens Brandon on Being a Foster Child
While Callie tries to help Brandon understand the twins better, Lena learns about the secrets that her children have been keeping.

FX to Air Marathons of American Horror Story and Louie
In honor of their Emmy attention, the second season of American Horror Story and the third season of Louie will be marathoned on FX in August.

BBC America Announces Premiere Dates for Ripper Street, Law & Order: UK, and More
At their TCA session, BBC America announced its plans for the rest of 2013 and the beginning of 2014, including the returns of Orphan Black, Ripper Street, and In the Flesh.

Tyrant Casts Mehdi Dehbi and Moran Atias
FX drama pilot Tyrant has named its first two cast members in Mehdi Dehbi and Moran Atias. But who will they be playing on the series?

Syfy to Wrap Sinbad, Primeval Early with Marathons
Syfy will end the runs of international acquisitions Sinbad and Primeval: New World early by showing day-long marathons of each, including episodes not yet aired in the United States.

Treme Season 4 to Premiere Sunday, December 1st at 9:00
The five-episode final season of Treme will premiere Sunday, December 1st on HBO, with Boardwalk Empire having ended its fourth season the previous week.

Cinemax Announces New Clive Owen Series The Knick
Clive Owen will star in a 10-episode Cinemax series about Knickerbocker Hospital in 1900 New York, which will be directed by Steven Soderbergh.

Hit the Floor Season Finale Sneak Peek: Olivia Delivers a Crushing Statement to the Press
On the season finale of Hit the Floor, Olivia has to man a press conference about the death of a Devil Girl. Which dancer will meet their maker come Monday?

Hit the Floor: Who Could Die in the Season Finale?
One Los Angeles Devil Girl will not make it to the second season of Hit the Floor. Who is most likely to die during the first season finale?

Lesbians Are Having the Best Summer Ever on TV (Vulture)
Vulture concludes that lesbians are having a pretty darn good summer, thanks to representation on Orange is the New Black, The Killing, The Fosters, Pretty Little Liars, Under the Dome, Mistresses, and True Blood.

5 Shows to Watch on Hulu Right Now (Vulture)
Now that we’re in a pretty calm part of the TV summer, do you need something to watch on Hulu? Vulture has five suggestions of series to dive into.

The best TV of 2013 (so far) (The A.V. Club)
The A.V. Club has compiled what they believe to be the greatest television of the year thus far. Did your favorite show make the list?

Is Chromecast Google’s Trojan Horse For Television? (Forbes)
Forbes argues that Google has created the Chromecast, a device that will let you stream web video on your TV, as a way to dip its toes into the television market. Is a network next?

Rise in injuries from falling television sets: study (New York Daily News)
Television sets injure one child every 30 minutes in America, and the rate of  emergency room visits is increasing with the popularity of flat-screen TVs, per the New York Daily News.

Television on the Spectrum: The Best (and Worst) Depictions of Asperger Syndrome on TV (Flavorwire)
Flavorwire examines 15 portrayals of autistic characters on television and rates the best and worst of the bunch. Just how honest is TV’s latest trend?

Why is TV so bad at music shows? (The Guardian)
The Guardian laments the lack of a great music show a’la Top of the Pops and CD: UK, as well as analyzes the state of music show television.

Sports Fans Slowly Move From TV to the Internet (AdWeek)
According to AdWeek, while 94% of fans watch sports on television, digital media are gaining in popularity.

The post The Week in Television Wrap July 20-26 appeared first on TVHackr.

The late start is due to True Blood‘s reduced episode order booting the start of Boardwalk Empire up by two weeks and the decision to air Eastbound & Down and new comedy Hello Ladies following the Prohibition drama. As such, Boardwalk will wrap its fourth season on November 24th, with Eastbound & Down and Hello Ladies doing so a week prior, pointing to HBO doubling up on Treme episodes for two weeks. The final episode of the Emmy-nominated series, which stars the likes of Melissa Leo, Clarke Peters, and Khandi Alexander, will likely bow on Sunday, December 15th.

Of course, there’s always a chance that the network will run the episodes on a weekly basis and into the following month, though considering how viewership declines in the United States in late December, it would make more sense to double up. There’s also no word on whether the series finale of Treme will be extended beyond the normal hour timeframe; the series has exceeded the bounds of pay cable dramatic time limits on more than one occasion.

Had HBO decided not to bring Treme back this year, it could have slid into the January drama spot that was vacated by Luck in 2011. The network opted not to bring a drama into their first quarter last year in replacement of the canceled horse racing drama and used buzz-y comedies Girls and Enlightened instead. With Enlightened canceled and the ratings for Girls down, it seems like HBO will bring detective drama True Detective into the mix in 2014, possibly sandwiching Girls in between it and a new comedy.

Will you be watching Treme this season? What do you think will happen during the fourth season? How should the show come to an end?

EDIT: According to The AV Club, Treme will be airing on a weekly basis, meaning that the series finale is scheduled for December 29th. Apparently HBO’s apathy toward the show outweighs any concerns they might have about poor late December ratings.

The post Treme Season 4 to Premiere Sunday, December 1st at 9:00 appeared first on TVHackr.

In creating my list of the top TV episodes of the calendar year, I decided to institute a one-episode-per-show cap. Doing so would allow for a better variety of programs to be given recognition and frankly, it’s boring seeing the same small group of shows mixed and matched on a list like this.

10. Archer S03E08 “Lo Scandalo” (FX)
Air Date: February 16th
Episode Description: Malory turns to Archer and Lana for help when she finds herself in a compromising situation with the Italian prime minister.
Why?: Archer has managed to successfully lampoon and pay tribute to the spy genre for three seasons, but it was a dip into the world of the closed-room murder mystery that was even more impressive. Taking a cue from Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, “Lo Scandalo” finds Malory alone in her apartment with the body of the Italian Prime Minister, who had been shot to death. The only thing is that there were no signs of a break-in and Malory had the only gun in the place, a gun that she said she fired at three intruders before getting hit herself. Although piecing together what happened provided great framework for the episode, it more importantly got every character together in one location and allowed them to bounce their crazy off of one another, climaxing in a wonderfully Archer-ian dinner party and a shrug of an ending is all the funnier for its apathy.

9. Treme S03E10 “Tipitina” (HBO)
Air Date: November 25th
Episode Description: In the Season 3 finale, Janette clashes with Tim over an unauthorized benefit for a local institution. Meanwhile, Davis orchestrates his exit from the music business, but not before one more gig with an old friend; Delmond reconsiders his participation in the jazz center’s plans; Terry vents his frustration over his colleagues’ ostracism; Toni sees a chance for justice in an important case; and Annie’s album gets released.
Why?: The third season finale of Treme could have made for a moving, enormously satisfying series finale. Many of the characters had their stories tied off through departures (Sofia going to college), new beginnings (Sonny getting married), or answers that they had been chasing all season long (Toni and the murder case), and there was enough emotional closure to things like LaDonna’s trial to where it felt like The End. However, on a show like Treme, there’s never really an end; nothing gets wrapped up neatly and tidily, nor will there be any fairy tale conclusions to speak of. Rather, Treme is a story about picking up the pieces following a disaster and surviving, something that will continue no matter how far in the rearview mirror Katrina appears to be.

8. Suburgatory S02E05 “The Wishbone” (ABC)
Air Date: November 14th
Episode Description: Tessa wants to spend Thanksgiving in New York City with her mother, who’s en route from Berlin, and her grandmother, though the holiday doesn’t turn out like she planned. Meanwhile, Dallas recruits George to prepare a feast, but he’s going to need help from a professional.
Why?: Suburgatory has problems deciding if it wants to be a day-glo cartoon satire of the suburban experience or a fairly mellow look at what it means to be an outsider. Its tonal inconsistency can be equally frustrating and exciting, in that you don’t know what shade of the show you’re going to get that week, particularly as it has all the bones to be truly great. The fifth episode of the season was the closest the show’s gotten to greatness and to do so, it had to strip away some of the sheen and amp up the earnestness. While not the funniest episode of the show to date, “The Wishbone” thoughtfully, carefully, and lovingly showcased the first meeting between Tessa and her birth mother, paying mind to the reaction of her father and all the conflicting emotions running in her head. It was sweet, it allowed the supporting cast to feel as real as they’ve ever been (particularly Dallas, whose heart is as big as her closet), and it used the “family holiday” to explore what it means for a family to change shape unexpectedly.

7. Awake S01E01 “Pilot” (NBC)
Air Date: March 1st
Episode Description: In the premiere of this drama, a detective awakens after his family’s car accident to discover he’s living in two parallel worlds. In one, his wife survived the crash and his son perished. In the other, his son continues to live but his wife was killed. While trying to regain footing in his complex double lives, he continues his efforts to crack cases in both worlds.
Why?: The pilot for Awake managed to make a complex premise and the use of two different realities digestible, immediately compelling, and devastatingly beautiful. Through the use of subtle stylistic choices (notably color, but also editing and wardrobe), the episode made both realities distinct places for Detective Michael Britten to try and navigate. The dual therapists, the crossover of tidbits from one world into the next, the grief that Britten has to overcome in order to figure out what’s real – it all should have been convoluted and overly melancholy, but it works outstandingly well in the Awake pilot and made it one of the more exciting shows to debut in 2012. The series as a whole leaned too hard on the cop-drama elements at times, though the cinematic, meditative first episode was as good of a start as they could have hoped for.

6. Californication S05E06 “Love Song” (Showtime)
Air Date: February 12th
Episode Description: Samurai comes down with a case of songwriter’s block and seeks Hank’s help in getting unblocked. So Hank teams with Kali to compose a tune, which harkens back to his first sojourn to Los Angeles with Karen and other happier times with Charlie and Marcy.
Why?: Californication is known for being rude, crude, and unapologetically lewd, a comedy dripping in machismo and reeking of beer and lost opportunity. It can be equal parts offensive and awesome, powerful and pungent, but no episode from the entire run matches “Love Song,” a romantic flashback-heavy installment that actually fleshed out the Karen/Hank dynamic while letting Hank be creative. We’re told that he’s this brilliant writer and that multiple industries (music, film, book) all want to work with the mad scientist, though “Love Song” is one of the few times where the hype and the results have matched one another. Hank is someone who is always capital-O On and doesn’t let down his guard that easily, making the choice to frame a songwriting session bent on producing a love song with the happier times of his marriage all the more poignant.

5. Veep S01E08 “Tears” (HBO)
Air Date: June 10th
Episode Description: In the Season 1 finale, a Ohio gubernatorial candidate balks at Selina’s endorsement due to her current unpopularity, but Mike and Amy try to make the best of the vice president’s emotions during their meeting. Meanwhile, Dan can’t shake the clean-jobs bill debacle, especially when it could be the subject of a Congressional hearing.
Why?: Throughout the cynical first season of Veep, VP Selina Meyer dealt with an onslaught of bad press and poor professional breaks that led her to become frustrated with the position. It’s a wonder that, after going so long without an unqualified win and seeing any political clout she had in this country vanish, she didn’t cry sooner, really. “Tears”, darkly acidic and cleverly plotted, finds the Veep on the campaign trail once again and attempting to turn a bad event into something she can use to her advantage, which shockingly works – for a while, at least. If there’s one lesson to learn from Veep, it’s that nothing ever changes in politics; all people like Selina, Dan, and Amy are faceless cogs in the machine that serve their purpose before being replaced by a newer, fresher model. If Selina can’t halt the inquiry into the Macauley amendment next season, her replacement will be coming sooner rather than later.

4. Justified S03E10 “Guy Walks into a Bar” (FX)
Air Date: March 20th
Episode Description: Raylan struggles to keep Dickie Bennett in prison while also contending with the increasingly violent and unpredictable Quarles. Meanwhile, Boyd’s election in Harlan is approaching.
Why?: No other Justified villain will ever match up to the presence of Mags Bennett, but Robert Quarles was a damn good replacement nonetheless. His friendly persona among the Harlan residents masked a troubled man inside, a man who continued to struggle in moving on from childhood trauma and a man who would stop at nothing to fill the hole within himself with power, land, and money. In addition to a chillingly acted, impressively directed altercation between Quarles and Raylan at a local bar, the episode featured an unpacking of the man Robert Quarles is and the type of demons he had to fight to get this far. It made the man sympathetic for the first time by revealing how disturbed he was, which also raised the stakes for the rest of the season; once you knew what Quarles was capable of, he became more of a threat to Raylan and someone who needed to be put down before he got anyone else hurt.

3. Boardwalk Empire S03E11 “Two Impostors” (HBO)
Air Date: November 25th
Episode Description: Nucky and Eddie hide out with Chalky when Gyp descends on Atlantic City, where his band of thugs takes over the Artemis Club, forcing Gillian to reconsider her business model. Meanwhile, Luciano makes a risky move; and Richard suffers a setback.
Why?: For the past two seasons, Boardwalk Empire has managed to take its dangling plot threads and weave them together seamlessly during the final episodes, bringing enemies crashing against one another and paying off long-standing tension. Like the sublime “Under God’s Power She Flourishes”, “Two Impostors” was a highlight of its respective season, managing to make enthralling action (Nucky escaping his residence with Mr. Kessler after having to gun down three of Masseria’s men), political chess (Eli striking a deal with Capone and Torrio, Chalky backing Nucky rather than defecting to Gyp), and an impending sense of dread (Gillian being boxed in by Gyp, Owen’s ill-fated trip to the baths) coalesce into the sprawling, deeply satisfying hour of television.

2. Homeland S02E04 “Q&A” (Showtime)
Air Date: October 28th
Episode Description: Brody finds himself imprisoned again, only this time it’s in the United States. Meanwhile, Carrie’s rash judgment call at the hotel results in Estes trying to keep Jessica off their trail; and Dana’s relationship with Finn heats up as their date night takes an unexpected turn.
Why?: Once Carrie pulled the trigger on bringing Brody in for interrogation, I figured that Homeland would take a breath and feel out the next move it would make; the show had already executed several major plot twists in a row by this point and, in the interest of not burning through too much story, it seemed likely that they would slow down before revving up again. Not so. While the car accident was jarring and felt out-of-place at the time, it eventually tied in thematically with the rest of the season, casting Walden as a victim and pulling Dana farther from her father, and the nearly 15-minute uninterrupted interrogation of Brody by Carrie might’ve contained the best acting you’ll see in any episode of television from 2012.

1. Spartacus: Vengeance S03E05 “Libertus” (Starz)
Air Date: February 24th
Episode Description: Spartacus undertakes a mission to rescue Crixus from the Romans, but a famous gladiator from the House of Atiatus interferes with the plan; Ilithyia’s scheming begins to affect her marriage to Glaber.
Why?: The arena was the centerpiece of the Spartacus world, the culmination of the gladiators’ training and a source of entertainment to the bored Capuan masses. So much of the drama either took place in the arena or was focused on the different Houses jockeying for position that it seemed likely that it would be a part of the show’s DNA until the series finale, but in one breathtaking sequence Spartacus and his men destroyed the place they once felt most at home in. It was the final symbol of the season-long rebellion, it stirred the pot with Glaber, and it was only the fifth episode of the season.

The Next 10:
11. Childrens Hospital S04E07 “British Hospital”
12. Scandal S01E06 “The Trail”
13. Nashville S01E01 “Pilot”
14. Damages S05E10 “But You Don’t Do That Anymore”
15. The Borgias S02E09 “World of Wonders”
16. The League S04E02 “The Hoodie”
17. Cougar Town S03E05 “A One Story Town”
18. Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 S01E02 “Daddy’s Girl”
19. Parks and Recreation S04E22 “Win, Lose, or Draw”
20. Bob’s Burgers S02E02 “Bob Day Afternoon”

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