I watch terrible television so you don’t have to.
Quick note: I took an unscheduled hiatus last week due to work and travel. This week is also light for the same reasons.
New This Week
FBI (Wednesday, Paramount+)
Last week: after chatting with her old friend Jessica (Charlotte Sullivan) about the joys of single-motherhood, Maggie (Missy Peregrym) told Isabel (Alana de la Garza) that she was considering IVF. Midway through the episode, Jessica was found unconscious and I immediately knew where this was going. It ended with Jessica dying in surgery, leaving her five year old daughter in Maggie’s care.
This week: Maggie refuses Isabel’s offer of bereavement or family leave. OA (Zeeko Zaki) reveals he’s back together with his Random Girlfriend aka Gemma. Isabel gets her neighbor and his son through a security blockade put up because of a clash between a mega right wing congresswoman and some anti-fascist protesters— and then they are immediately blown up. That’s right all, this week’s “sympathetic” villains are anarchists who want to blow up MAGAs. Importantly, none of them are really shown to be sympathetic— they are angry and aggrieved white men who choose violence —and I am actually very pleased by that. I don’t want the angry, aggrieved, violent, white men to get the same treatment as the refugees, and apparently neither does Wolfverse so this week’s You Tried star is upgraded to Good Job.
Plus the anarchists are being tricked by a Russian spy and I love Russian spies!
But the best parts of the episode were all centered on partners, which is, of course, cat nip for me. Jubal (Jeremy Sisto) noticed how personal this case came for Isabel (her neighbor’s son died and it leads to her ignoring the feds and arresting the Russian which gets a US spy killed in retaliation) and checked in with her. Scola (John Boyd) refused to leave Tiff (Katherine Reneee Kane) behind to be caught by the Russians. And Maggie and OA spent the whole episode supporting each other through their personal drama culminating in a quarrel over which one got to throw themselves in front of the bomb. Maggie won and when she headed out she said, “Watch my six.” to which OA answered “Always.” and I am still swooning.
FBI: Most Wanted (Wednesday, Paramount+)
Both last week and this week were centered on saving young men from violent lives. Last week two young Black basketball players were used and abused and one ended up on a killing spree. This week the (otherwise innocent) son of a hitman found out his father’s drug kingpin boss killed his mother and goes after him. Remy (Dylan McDermott) was able to stop him and save him.
And then there’s Corey (JD Martin), Remy’s nephew, who is taking a break from medical school to find himself. Remy shows some tough love that works, and Corey decides to go to Cambodia to figure out his life. I wish I had a rich uncle to send me on a soul-searching vacation when I’m feeling lost (which I am right now for the record)!
The episode ends with Remy saying “I got you, kid.” and that works as a thesis statement for the character and I wish it didn’t work so incredibly well on me.
Alert Missing Persons Unit (Wednesday, Hulu)
The missing person was a bossy busybody elected to Neighborhood Watch and I spent the whole episode expecting her to be the butt of every joke and instead, her whole story was heartwarming. She was formidable with the kidnappers. It turned out she was taken because of a kid she took under her wing, who thought of her as a mom. And when she was found she was presented with a card signed by the entire neighborhood and a declaration of love.
The team’s relationship moves were less cute. Nikki (Dania Ramierz) and Mike (Ryan Broussard) were in a fight all day but Nik didn’t want to admit it. Meanwhile, Jay and Wayne (Alisha Ahamed) finally kissed. But then she revealed her intel about the guy who confessed to blowing up the mob bosses in the premiere which strongly suggests that Nikki’s new boss is at least covering up the truth if not in on the crime and Jay’s response was to rush off to immediately tell Nik. Jay runs out on Wayne and Mike storms off when he arrives, leaving Jay and Nik to bicker their way into admitting they trust each other more than anyone else. I feel kinda bad for Wayne and Mike but Jay and Nik have the kind of too messy, too much, codependent conflagration of a relationship I seek out to ship.
Chicago Med (Thursday, Peacock)
Last week: Zola (Sophia Ali) convinced an abused woman to donate her abuser’s organs so a man she and Crocket (Dominic Rains) saved with a fake lung contraption that included breast implants could get his lungs but PLOT TWIST, the abuser was not actually dead. Also, Liliana’s (Alet Taylor) bad news brother Pablo is back and sues Ripley (Luke Mitchel) for malpractice.
This week: Zola was suspended for almost killing a guy so Crocket overcompensates by yelling at his other residents. The hospital wants Ripley to settle the suit but Dr. Charles (Oliver Platt) wants to teach Pablo a lesson. Dean (Steven Weber) and Hannah (Jessy Schram) continue to be the best part of the show and a lot of relationships move forward: Sharon (S Epatha Merkerson) brings Dr. Washington (John Earl Jelks) to her family birthday party. Maggie (Marlyne Barrett) admits she is interested in the EMT. At Hannah’s advice, Dean opens up to Margo (Beth Lacke) about his regrets and vulnerabilities. And Hannah and Ripley make plans for their first date for the fourth episode in a row, maybe they will actually meet up someday.
9-1-1 (Friday, Hulu)
Last week: helicopter pilot Tommy Kinard (Louis Ferrigno Jr.) helped the 119 find Athena (Angel Bassett) and Bobby (Peter Krause) in their capsized cruise ship.
This week: Buck (Oliver Stark) was jealous of all the time Eddie (Ryan Guzman) was spending with Tommy. It got out of hand, resulted in a fight, Tommy came over to talk about it and KISSED BUCK. BUCK KISSED A MAN.
Also Watching
Top Chef in Wisconsin. And Star Trek: Discovery‘s final season began. If you want to know my thoughts, head over to AntimatterPod.com!
Mental Illness Sidebar
Last week Barnes (Roxy Sternberg) and her wife were in couples counseling with Remy’s therapist (sure, why not) when she got called in to handle an active shooting. Not a good look.
Ship of the Week
Wild that there are so many to choose from this week. Buck and Tommy had the biggest impact I’d say, though it’s just a kiss and a promised date. Jay and Nik chose each other over their current relationships which I don’t want to want but here we are. However, the truth is I’m not over Maggie and OA and that wasn’t even the ‘right’ kind of ship.
Song of the Week
Show of the Week
Against all odds, FBI.
What are YOU watching?