This week, Around The Dial, we’re talking The Good Wife, Parenthood, Downton Abbey, Girls, Galavant, and Banshee. Shandle is way excited about the return of Girls. Way. Nanea continues to adore Galavant, now with extra Ricky Gervais, and Amy dug the hot sex in Parenthood. Spoilers abound, so proceed at your own risk.

The Good Wife, Season 6 Episode 12, “The Debate”

Nanea Hoffman

The Good Wife S6E12 The Debate

What I Loved:

– The unofficial kitchen debate between Prady and Alicia after the two of them sneak in there for sammiches because their meanie handlers won’t let them eat
– Alicia kicking the ass of the reporter who asks about her husband’s infidelity
– The moment between Alicia and Johnny Elfman (a.k.a. Hot Campaign Manager Guy). I finally learned his name because now I have a bit of a reason to.

What Could Have Been Better:

– You have Chris freaking Matthews on as a guest star and you don’t have him throw ONE tantrum? Disappointment.
– Maybe it’s because nothing could be as dramatic and vital as the actual conflicts and questions raised in real life by the Ferguson and Staten Island verdicts, but the show’s treatment of these issues (which, ok, good for not shying away from the topic) felt a little weaksauce.

What I’m Looking Forward To:

The return of David Lee! Florick, Agos, Lockhart & Associates just got 100% more bitchy.

Parenthood, Season 6 Episode 11, “Let’s Go Home”

Amy McElroy

Parenthood s6e11 Let's Go Home

What I Loved:

Julia and Joel’s reconciliation. It was real–a mix of hot, secret sex and thoughtful discussion. In the diner scene, Julia took responsibility for being occasionally “hard to live with” and admitted she couldn’t promise that wouldn’t happen again. Despite that, she firmly insisted that Joel truly commit to not leaving her again. I also loved seeing Sarah soften to Hank’s proposal. Seeing him show up to put together Amber’s crib “nailed it.”

What Could Have Been Better:

I wish Adam would have walked away from the Luncheonette like he wanted. I had visions of a new partner coming in to help Crosby—a win-win.

What I’m Looking Forward To:

If you watched the previews, (IF NOT, SPOILER ALERT:) it appears Amber’s baby is coming. And I’m always looking forward to another Braverman family dinner and dance party. I hope we get one.

Girls, Season 4 Episode 1, “Iowa”

Shandle Blaha

Girls S4e1 Lena Dunham Adam Driver Iowa

What I loved:

ALL OF IT. I am such a fan girl of Girls, despite Hannah, and am so glad it’s back that I just word vomited all the things I loved.

– Adam in a biker jacket, yes, please can we have more of that? Call it a late Christmas present. Him being all broody and depressed, standing in the rain in his commercial? Swoon-worthy. I’d have no problem getting it up for him even if I were taking Torpica. We do deserve the sun Torpica, and in the Girls universe, Adam IS the sun.
– Marnie and her dirty, dirty kitchen sex with Desi.
– ALL the cameos: Shosh’s parents both being named Mel and her dad is played by Anthony Edwards! The ER fan in me swooned a bit at seeing him on TV again. Natasha Lyonne (Nikki from Orange Is The New Black) as Beedie’s daughter, Rickie, and her inability to say “unconscionable.” It’s hard word, ya’ll. Danny Strong a.k.a. Doyle from Gilmore Girls. I’m in the middle of my rewatch, and I had totally forgotten that he was Elijah’s ex. We already knew Marnie plays the victim well, pal. Catch up and stop being “gay and small.” RITA WILSON as Marnie’s mom with the brass knuckle phone case and carrying panties in her purse, being totally stage-mom and singing along? Amazing.
– Jazz brunch, but with much better music. Sorry, Marnie and Desi, I love to watch you get down and dirty, but your music reminds me of being carsick, too.
– Elijah! I do not like Hannah, but I want to steal almost every guy she dates. Everything out of his mouth this episode was pure gold. My favorite was him telling Marnie to not be a sissy bitch and to stop giving a fuck. 2015 has officially been dubbed “The Year of Not Giving a Fuck” in case you didn’t get that memo.
– Marnie showing up with coffee. She and Hannah sitting on the suitcase were adorable.

What could have been better:

Jessa. I love Jessa, but her attitude toward Hannah was pretty shitty. Hannah not waking Adam up to say goodbye, and Adam standing at the window staring as she drives off? There may have been a few tears. Come here, let me comfort you! Bring the leather jacket.

Best Lines:

Adam: “Taking the next step in a series of random steps.” It’s like a metaphor for life.

Rickie: “Every time I meet someone five or more years younger than me, they are a complete a**hole. Is it because you were told you were special one too many times and you believed it? Because when my generation and every generation before me were called special, we were smart enough to know it meant we were stupid, so it made us work that much harder to stop being stupid.” Generational entitlement is a tough lesson to learn.

Shosh: “I finished my degree. And now I’m just in the world, trying to get ‘er done.” Aren’t we all?

Girls, Season 4, Episode 2, “Triggering”

Girls S4E2 Triggering

What I loved:

Hannah’s freakout over the bat. I would have hidden under my covers and then gotten locked out too. Anyone else? Shosh and Jessa watching Scandal! I’m such a Shonda fangirl that I may have squealed. Then, Shosh not knowing how to accept a collect call. Millennial struggles are real. And of course ELIJAH!

What could have been better:

Hannah’s arrogance before she read her story in class, and then her classmates suggesting she has no sensitivity for abuse survivors. I wonder if that was added after her book controversy? Seems a bit too much like art imitating life for me.

What I’m looking forward to:

Elijah in Iowa! I want more. I hope he stays and defiles a few more “straight” corn boys.

Best Lines:

“No one is moving to Iowa, ever.” Sometimes, Marnie is wise.

“TMI is such an outdated concept. There is no such thing as too much information. This is the information age! We’re all just here to express ourselves, so it’s like to censor each other we’re no better than George W. Bush.”

Downton Abbey, Season 5 Episode 2

Shandle Blaha & Frances O’Brien

Downton Abbey Season 5 Episode 2

What we loved:

The dialogue in this episode was brilliant. So many great lines! Lord Grantham’s line “I find the whole idea a kind of thief of life. People waste hours huddled around a box listening to someone burbling inanities from somewhere else.” Hilariously ironic considering how many hours I’ve spent watching him on a box. Anna and Mary’s exchanges about Anna buying Mary a contraceptive device were brilliant. First, Anna cheekily telling Lady Mary that she better hope she never writes her memoirs when Mary said Tony would help her undress. Then later, her feminist thoughts about the pharmacist judging her for buying contraception. Anna: “But when I thought about it afterwards, it seemed unfair to punish me like that. Suppose I had eight children and didn’t want any more? Wouldn’t I have the right?” Mary: “I agree completely.” Anna: “I feel like going back and ordering a baker’s dozen.” Mary: “One’s enough for now.”

What could have been better:

Mary calling Edith an idiot. Her cruelty toward her sister is getting old for me.

What we’re looking forward to:

Shandle: “Goodness! Granny has a past!” I can’t wait to see what is in the Dowager’s past. Frances: Seeing if Mary & Tony really “do it”! Haha. And what will happen next regarding their relationship (although I like that Blake guy better than Tony). Mary is definitely getting in the roarin’ 20s mode. Also, um, that police man showing up, saying he has a witness on the “murder” guy that did that to Anna? Eek….

Shit the Dowager Says: “I may be older than I was but I can still tell when a man is interested.”

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Downton Abbey, Season 5 Episode 3

Downton Abbey Season 5 Episode 3

What we loved:

Frances: Mary & Tony’s week of romantic bliss (a whole week!). I also loved that we got to find out about Cora’s past and what brought her to England. Jewish? Wow! Would’ve never guessed! And that bit of wisdom from Mrs. Hughes to Daisy: “Go as far in life as God and luck allow.”

Shandle: Yes! And I’m glad Cora is letting Baxter stay and that Barrow has nothing to hold over her head anymore. I also loved that Mary and the Dowager seemed to connect and understand each other in the end.

What could have been better:

Lord Grantham telling Cora he can’t believe an art expert wants her opinion. Shame on him. Yes, Bricker is obviously flirting, and Cora seems oblivious to it, but that was almost cruel. I was glad Cora put him in his place later, telling him he obviously doesn’t value her opinions. I did not like Carson being so heartless to Mrs. Patmore, either. Show some sympathy man!

What we’re looking forward to:

The story between the Dowager and this Russian Prince.

Shit the Dowager Says: “An unlucky friend is tiresome enough an unlucky acquaintance is intolerable.”
Untitled

Galavant, Season 1 Episodes 3 & 4, “Two Balls; Comedy Gold”

Nanea Hoffman

Galavant Season 1 Hugh Bonneville

What I Loved:

– “Jackass In A Can”
– Gareth telling bleep-filled knock-knock jokes to the king (“Good lord, Gareth, do you kiss my ring with that mouth?”)
– Hugh Bonneville (the Earl of Grantham himself) as a Peter Pillager the Pirate King. He’s a lord of the sea, just not of the actual sea.
– King Richard doing comedy (“If you have more children than teeth, you might be a peasant.”)

What Could Have Been Better:

Much as I enjoy Luke Youngblood, I thought the Sid-heavy storyline in “Two Balls” was not that engaging. I mean. It was engaging. Just not that much.

Best Lines:

“Oh, I wish you were my cousin so I could marry you!”
“I keep trying to tell everyone – I’m not just the guy that eats the raisins.”

Galavant, Season 1, Episodes 5 & 6, “Completely Mad . . . Alena; Dungeons and Dragon Lady”

Galavant Season 1 Weird Al

What I Loved:

-Weird Al and the singing monks!!!!! Yes! Multiple exclamation points! Just be glad I didn’t GO ALL CAPSLOCK.
– Galavant thanking the princess for making him a knight again. Rawr. Also, later the love is weird and dumb number. See: rawr.
– “If I Could Share My Life With You” by Daisy from Downton Abbey and weird kitchen guy.
– The term “leftover man mutton.” I must work that into a conversation this week.
– Ricky Gervais as Xanax the Magician! (Ricky G and Xanax are actually two of my favorite things in life.)

What Could Have Been Better:

No complaints this week. This Galavant Gal (we have to think of a better name for fans of this show) is happy.

What I’m Looking Forward To:

More hot stuff between Gal – he doesn’t love being called that – and Princess Isabella

Best Lines:

“I would wrap myself around you like a leather jacket made of love.”
“Xanax?”
“So much Xanax.”

Banshee, Season 3 Episode 2, “Snakes and Whatnot”

Nanea Hoffman

Banshee Season 3 Episode 2 Snakes And Whatnot

What I Loved:

– Carrie’s “morning special” in the diner courtesy of her psycho military squeeze. That was unsanitary, but hot.
– Deputy Swastika-Face. I know he has another name, but until he becomes more significant, which I hope he will, this is what I’m calling him.
– Rebecca doing the badass no-look execution. She is full on Amish Girl Gone Wild. Forget that Rumspringa nonsense. She is the real deal.
– Chayton’s voice. He’s all about that bass. No treble.
– Nola helping Carrie out after the wounded Duck Dynasty sexual harasser returns to avenge his wounded pride. My husband is hoping these ladies will kiss at some point.
– Sally the ghost from Being Human US is now a deputy on the Rez! Um. I thought she was the other kind of Indian. No?

What Could Have Been Better:

The ritual threesome of make believe Native American manhood or whatthefuckever. Even for a cartoony show like this, that was gratuitous. Could we just have hot sex and not make it have to be part of some weird ceremony? Kthx.

What I’m Looking Forward To:

Finding out who is holding the gun.

What are you watching this week?

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