On-Season Week 27

WEEK 27

The only change from last week is the return of Quantico, which raises our number of shows to review to five. Can it produce after the cliffhanger promised return of Caleb? Meanwhile, expect Scott Grimes (ER) to show up in NCIS LA and Shinwell gets in trouble in Elementary. Speaking of, let's go!

Elementary - 5x17 "The Ballad of Lucy Frances"

"A gunshot identification system picks up on a man being murdered, and the recording suggests this is because he has kidnapped someone. Meanwhile, Shinwell is targeted in a drive-by."

The title of this episode seemed like a reference to some Arthur Conan Doyle short; imagine my chagrin, therefore, when it was actually to do with the theft of a legendary guitar belonging to Eric Clapton, apparently named the "Lady Frances". Also, to the Elementary writers I'd just like to point out that their new and appropriately-named "BulletPoint" system is moot: Person of Interest had ShotSpotter and ShotSeeker in New York before you lot came along. Keep up.
   Unfortunately the murder, which was as clever as it was convoluted, didn't reach a conclusion half as interesting as it hoped, with a record mogul ordering the first murder and John Doman's Senator Slessinger orchestrating the second one - in which he used the Lady Frances as the murder weapon - in order to keep his nephew quiet that he had been rigging the crime statistics to get elected. Also, to the Elementary writers I'd just like to point out that their Senator Slessinger played by John Doman is moot: Person of Interest had Senator Garrison played by John Doman in New York before you lot came along. Keep up.
   Meanwhile, Shinwell becoming the target of a drive-by was used as an uninteresting lead-in to the next episode, because the writers, after an episode earlier in the season where Sherlock and Joan had to prove Shinwell hadn't killed someone in the present, have apparently decided that wasn't enough filler and now Sherlock and Joan have to prove, presumably, Shinwell didn't kill someone a decade ago.
   What a bore.

   VIEWERS: 4.37m

   DEMOGRAPHIC SHARE: 0.6

VERDICT: There's only one important question after this episode: is Sherlock's hair going to grow back before the series is cancelled? 3/10

NCIS: Los Angeles - 8x18 "Getaway"

"Eric and Nell are sent undercover at a couple's retreat."

The last time I physically cheered a show must have been the final scene of Conviction where Hayes stopped Sam from getting fired by kissing him and suggesting he claim sexual harassment - and I like physically cheering for shows. And that's what I did today, when, FINALLY, Eric and Nell had a proper relationship kiss - right after Eric shot the fleeing car and caused a badass explosion. It was building up all episode, starting right when couples' therapy began and Eric revealed to Nell the moment he "fell in love with her". You could just see the slight frown from Nell as she tried to figure out if he was being genuine or creating a cover story, so I'm glad she worked it out and it was her who went for the kiss first, as she's been the holdout.

Nell goes in for a kiss with Eric

   But really, the plot wasn't anything special. I'm not sure I could even explain it really: something to do with a terrorist group wanting hard drives that contain a list of IRS agents, since they fear some IRS agents have gone undercover in their group after it got tax breaks, and the couple Eric and Nell were tracking had hacked that list under duress. That duress was in the form of the woman's sister, giving Sam and Anna something to do.
   Anna's partnership with Sam, odd as it is, was fun, and she filled in for Callen while he dealt with his own mini sideplot: Hetty sent him to an address which he later found out was Joelle's home address, her real address, where she has a husband and a six-year-old son. What the hell? Talk about a shock! She also remained unapologetic for the way she used him, and claimed to know nothing of Sabatino's location (this mole arc isn't over yet). Whether this gave G the closure Hetty hoped I don't know, but it was very good nonetheless.
   In the final notable part of the episode: Dave Flynn was back! Dave was one of the characters in the NCIS: Red backdoor pilot that CBS never picked up. He was the tech guy and was drafted in to cover OSP while Eric and Nell went undercover (while I don't buy Scott Grimes as a tech geek, it was fantastic to see him nonetheless!)

   VIEWERS: 8.99m

   DEMOGRAPHIC SHARE: 1.2

VERDICT: So much substantive character stuff in an episode that saw Eric and Nell take centre stage, and guest stars from Dave and Anna. One of the most complete NCIS LA episodes of the season. 9/10

Quantico - 2x14 "Lnwilt"

"The Farm recruits meet with their new boss after the G20 summit and begin the hunt for those who collaborated with Lydia to retrieve the hard drives."

Quantico went away for a few weeks after dropping the resounding cliffhanger that Caleb would be returning - well, after the cliffhanger that the new team would work with President Haas's son. As it turns out, she has two of them (maybe I knew that in season 1) and what we get is actually Clay Haas rather than Caleb. Am I disappointed? Yeah - Caleb was one of the best parts of season 1 - but Clay looks like he can stand up in place of him (he made some cutting remarks to Shelby about her sleeping with their father), although his man management is poor.

Clay (left) shows the team to their new base of operations

   Clay lets the team fall into disarray as they search for the perpetrators of a cargo plane crash in attempts to discern if said perpetrators were funded by the information on the hard drives. During the typical undercover op at a gala, it took the return of Harry Doyle - who is not part of the team yet - to help Alex work it all out, and by the episode's end they have the first name in their hunt for all the terrorists. I'm glad to see Harry back (I was concerned he wouldn't be involved now the G20 had concluded), and it was interesting to learn he had been kicked out of MI6 well before the G20 summit, of course because of his breakdown at the end of The Farm training. All his appearances in the present back then had been without British government backing. Very interesting.
   The rest of the drama focused on the team dynamics, something that hasn't really been a part of the second season yet (and something it has really missed since season 1). Nimah and Shelby had their moments while both acclimated to their unfamiliar surroundings and Owen was released from prison to help the team he doesn't trust, although a final subplot came in Léon's paranoia that members of the old recruits are being secretly killed. Alex and Dayana didn't believe him, but for the cliffhanger Léon is kidnapped. Tasty.
   VIEWERS: 3.31m

   DEMOGRAPHIC SHARE: 0.7

VERDICT: Quantico's first procedural episode didn't look too bad. It may not be as twist-heavy now, but it still knows how to shock us. 8.5/10

Scorpion - 3x20 "Broken Wind"

"Scorpion attempt to fix a turbine for the Department of Energy, but while testing their solution Paige and Happy are stuck in a gondola that threatens to fall."

Scorpion needs to take a step back and remember one vital thing: it's a show built around a core cast that, for all the life-threatening situations it puts the characters in, will not kill any of them off. To continue writing episodes where the entire premise is that the characters must creatively rescue the others from life-and-death situations is therefore nothing but wasteful.
   Problematically for me this was a very good version of that rubbish Scorpion custom, with Paige and Happy suspended 100 feet or so in midair on a gondola whose cable is about to break and take them to their deaths. Creativity was key, especially when it came time for Paige and Happy to try and climb up the cable so Cabe could shoot the gondola off and reduce the weight: the cable was covered in grease which meant they would fall in seconds. How to stop them? By electrocuting them just enough that their muscles contracted and they physically couldn't let go of the cable. I mean, maybe I'm wrong but I still don't think that would have an effect on the slippiness of grease, but hey, Scorpion's general implausibility is one of its attractive features so I'll run with it.
   The underlying humour came from a war between Walter, Sly and Cabe, all of whom continued to try and convince Toby they would make the perfect best man. In the end he chose Paige to be his best ma'am, leaving Happy to select all 3 of the boys as her dudes of honour.
   It's also worth mentioning how this episode bought time for Paige and Happy to have an argument of their own, with Paige feeling that Happy doesn't treat her with respect. It was a stellar scene delivered well by Kat McPhee - you could feel how angry she was.
   Just like how angry I am that Scorpion did this stupid characters-we'll-never-kill-on-the-edge-of-death trope again.

   VIEWERS: 6.46m

   DEMOGRAPHIC SHARE: 1.1

VERDICT: A more enjoyable episode than "Ice-Ca-Cabes" with some heartfelt moments and typical humour, but really? Can it stop now, please. 7.5/10

The Walking Dead - 7x14 "The Other Side"

"The Saviours visit the Hilltop in search of a new doctor. Maggie confronts Daryl for being so distant. Sasha and Rosita go rogue in order to kill Negan, but one has a hidden agenda of their own."

There may not have been the giant confrontation between the Saviours and the Hilltop that I had expected, but with the lack of action came that terrible tension whenever the Saviours make a visit to one of the camps they've subjugated, that unpredictable feeling that anything could happen at any given moment. I like that.

Sasha can't get a clear shot of Negan

   Their goal was simply to replace their doctor, the doctor Negan threw into the furnace after Dwight framed him for helping Sherry escape. So now the Hilltop are down a doctor, leaving Maggie's pregnancy once more without proper monitoring (who knows if that will be crucial later on). But Maggie was oblivious to this as she and Daryl hid from the Saviours; once safe, she called out Daryl for avoiding her, and in a heartbreaking scene he admitted he felt at fault for Glenn's death - and Maggie absolved him of it. Personally I put the blame 100% on Daryl - if he'd not jumped out and punched Negan then the only victim would've been that bitch Abraham - but hey, Maggie's just a better person than I am.
   The second plot strand was Sasha and Rosita going rogue, escaping from the Hilltop before the Saviours arrived intent on killing Negan. The drama between them came from their feelings for Abraham, but it's drama that just isn't interesting and, thankfully, in Sasha betraying Rosita and breaking into the Saviours' compound alone, they are now apart. Abraham ruining stuff from beyond the grave. Goddammit Abraham.
   The final shot sees someone arrive at the Saviours compound in silhouette, looking suspiciously like they're carrying a crossbow. Daryl? And is he here to help or to stop Rosita? Who knows, but with Sasha inside on a suicide mission it's going to be a tense final two episodes of the season.

   VIEWERS: 10.31m

   DEMOGRAPHIC SHARE: 4.7

VERDICT: Lowkey again, but better than before. Shame about Abraham causing drama after his death, because both Sasha and Rosita were way more interesting before this stupid you-stole-my-man beef. 7.5/10

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Scorpion - Walter: "Thanks to the DOE for giving us another shot; we love turbines - really big fans. You get it? Fans ...?"

BEST EPISODE THIS WEEK:

There are only two shows in competition for this spot: NCIS LA and Quantico, since none of the remaining three shows could cover glaring flaws enough to give themselves a chance. However, NCIS LA has to pip it to "best episode this week" ahead of Quantico, perhaps because of the two it was the only one to keep its promise to fans. The relationship with Eric and Nell, which has bubbled for nearly 7 seasons, finally seems like it's going to be a proper thing, as promised in the promo and delivered in the episode. Quantico's cliffhanger suggested the return of Caleb Haas, but tried to pull the rug by revealing his brother Clay as the team's leader instead. Not cool.
   Of course, NCIS LA did a little more than just hook up Eric and Nell. It's plot, while unimportant in the grand scheme of things, was interesting despite being done before in many other shows, we had the return of Dave Flynn (played by Scott Grimes who I adore), and Bar Paly appeared as Anna Kolcheck once again, this time to partner Sam in a way that would free up Callen to get some closure on Joelle. A substantive episode all-around built up of parts that fit together well. More of this is required.

UPDATE: RENEWALS AND EPISODE ORDERS

There's been a bit of drama this week with shows renewed and we've also got a bit to talk about with Lucifer, so let's start with the renewals.

   A few days ago CBS went - to quote a close friend - "full renewal", giving early renewals to 18 shows. I'll list those pertinent to this roundup; if anyone has any other shows they want to know about then don't hesitate to ask.

Bull (renewed for season 2)

Hawaii Five-0 (renewed for season 8)

MacGyver (renewed for season 2)

NCIS: Los Angeles (renewed for season 9)

Scorpion (renewed for season 4)

Although I'm dithering about whether I'll be reviewing MacGyver next year, the other 4 shows will be permanent fixtures on this roundup and I'm extremely happy they've all been renewed (not that it was ever in doubt). CBS has yet to announce a renewal or cancellation for Elementary, which is, as I've said many times before, likely cancelled.

There's also some drama to discuss with Lucifer. It was initially given a back nine episode order for season 2, bringing its total number of episodes to 22. However, due to FOX's scheduling issues, four of those episodes will be held over until season 3. It's unclear at this point if those four episodes will be integrated into the third season order or be added as extra, or if there's a grey area in between those two options, but what this means is Lucifer's second season will now only consist of 18 episodes, but season 3 will be anywhere between 22-26.

LAST WEEK'S ROUNDUP: On-Season Week 27

NEXT WEEK'S ROUNDUP: (will be posted here when complete)

Final thoughts

As usual there was a mixed bag this week, though the ranges were much vaster than normal, with a 9 for NCIS LA being thrice the rating I gave to Elementary, which gives Elementary the unfortunate recognition of creating the lowest-rated episode of a show that I will continue to review.
   But elsewhere, it's the renewals and scheduling mix-up that attract focus: we know that all of the CBS dramas on this roundup will be back next year (bar Elementary), so whether they're reviewed here next year or not they'll be around for us all to enjoy! And while Lucifer's in a bit of a limbo scenario at the moment, we could get a bumper-sized deal next year for our troubles! Let's cross our fingers!

Thanks for reading everyone and I'll see you next week!

Sam