Staff Writer
Game
of Thrones (HBO, Sundays
at 9 p.m.):
The fifth season of HBO’s fantasy series continues the show’s winning streak,
despite containing some of the unevenness of prior seasons. The series focuses on several royal families
trying to secure power in the fictional world of Westeros. The show is strongest during changes in the
status quo, and the newest episode is no exception. Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) is being
forced to build new alliances in a foreign land, and Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) must
deal with the fallout of last season’s explosive finale. The performances, as usual, are phenomenal,
and the show is great at giving characters interesting ways to reveal different
parts of themselves. This isn’t even to
mention the show’s increasingly astonishing special effects, which are featured
prominently in the new episode.
The
sheer number of plots in the show means that some story threads were left out
of the first episode, and not all of the characters are equally entertaining. The plot of Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia
Clarke), for example, seems to simply be stalling until it can reach the
conflict it has been promising for seasons. It is too early to judge the season
based on one episode, and it is still unclear if all of the show’s plotting and
scheming is really leading to a satisfying end, but for now the show is as
confident and fun as ever.
Recommended if you like: The Lord of the Rings, Breaking Bad,
Spartacus
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Silicon
Valley (HBO, Sundays
at 10 p.m.):
The first season of the Mike Judge-created satire was one of the funniest
surprises of last year. It focused on a
group of young programmers struggling to establish a technology-based startup
company in the titular location. The series
may sometimes use cheap stereotypes about the programmers and technology
companies featured in the show, but it always seems to find to deliver comic
moments without using clichés, turning a potentially tired concept into
something genuinely witty and unique. The
show is impressive in how it manages to simultaneously mock and celebrate the culture
it portrays, and its depiction of Silicon Valley as an area obsessed with its
endless stream of new apps and inventions is both humorous and accurate. However, the show’s excellent writing and
strong characters mean that you don’t have to possess an understanding of
tech-culture to enjoy the show. If
anything, the show’s sitcom sensibilities are even stronger than last season. The jokes are more absurd and the writers are
taking more comedic chances. If the show
continues this increase in quality, it is destined to be a classic.
Recommended if you like: The Office, Office Space, Eastbound &
Down
Daredevil (Netflix): Netflix took a big chance with its new
superhero show, and for the most part it appears to have paid off. The 2003 Ben Affleck movie of the same name
wasn’t able to tap into what made the Marvel comic-book character, a blind man
who uses his heightened other senses to fight crime, so interesting. However, the new TV show has a better sense
of the story it wants to tell. By
honoring its source material while offering something fresh, Daredevil is able to do the
impossible. Charlie Cox manages to play
the titular hero with a sensitivity that lends the show a level of humanity,
and the show is smart enough to take time to develop its characters. Vincent D’Onofrio is appropriately
threatening as the villain, and Rosario Dawson delivers a strong performance as
a mysterious woman who helps Daredevil.
The
show’s atmosphere, dark and claustrophobic, owes a lot to the Dark Knight trilogy, and it trades
lighthearted comic-book action for a more realistic and gritty story. It largely works, and future seasons may be
able to add some color to its story, but it would be nice to see the show have
a bit more fun with itself. Regardless,
the show is both a success for Marvel and Netflix.
Recommended if you like: Arrow, The Flash, Spiderman
The
Comedians (FX, Thursdays
at 10 p.m):
In keeping with the trend of veteran actors using TV shows to stage a comeback,
Billy Crystal has turned to FX for a chance at a career revival. Co-starring Josh Gad (Frozen, The Book of Mormon), The
Comedians is a smart and funny show, even if it tends to be formulaic. Each actor plays a (hopefully) fictionalized
version of themselves as they try to work together on a show for FX. The constant glances to the camera will be
familiar to anyone who watched The Office
or Parks and Recreation, and the fake
comedy they are working on wouldn’t feel out of place next to the variety shows
from 30 Rock and The Larry Sanders Show. The show-within-a-show
concept hasn’t felt fresh for a while, and the series borrows themes and jokes
from other sitcoms, but the charisma and comedic timing of the two stars keeps
the show funny throughout.
Unlike
some shows that use the “mockumentary” format and feel obligated to maintain a
sense of realism, The Comedians isn’t
afraid to go big with its jokes. It’s
able to use the audience’s familiarity with the two leads to skip most of the
exposition and build-up that weighs down a large majority of comedy
pilots. The jokes come early and often,
and they are genuinely funny from the beginning. There’s a lot of self-deprecating humor
throughout, with both actors making fun of their past flops and failed
projects, but it will be interesting to see how long the real-world references
will work. Crystal and Gad have a strong
chemistry with each other, and the show thrives when they are simply having a
conversation. Plus, you will be
disappointed when the credits show up, which is maybe The Comedians’ biggest accomplishment. There are ways that the show
could improve and gain a more unique voice, but the pilot has a lot of
promise.
Recommended if you like: Extras, 30 Rock, The Comeback
