The Americans- Season 1, Episode 1

Pilot- FX is trying to do what AMC has been doing for years with Mad Men: have a good original period drama. We tend to think the FX shows aren't as gripping as the AMC shows, even though they are technically good.

Pretty Little Liars- Season 3, Episode 17

own episode for $2 here ^

Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Inferno- We loved the opening sequence, Spencer's dream. It was sexy, creepy, sad, and full of shirtless Toby. Spencer has been staying away from her friends. We wouldn't be rushing to tell our best friends that we had such a serious lapse in judgment and choice of boyfriend either. It's not just devastating; it's embarrassing. Also, telling her friends makes it feel more real. Spencer would crack if it were any more real.

Emily's mom brings her a package from Nate's family. They sent it as an apology for the stalking and kidnapping. It's full of cards and things that Emily gave to Ali. Nate probably got it from Maya. We cut to Hanna's house and finally see Ashley Marin! We've missed her. Hanna's mom is sniffing around, asking questions, and wondering if "it" is happening again. It IS, Ashley! Get on that. Hanna tells her mom that Caleb is already interfering too much, and she doesn't need more help.

Big News- How I Met Your Mother

The show has been renewed for a ninth and final season, which means we will finally meet the mother.

Bunheads- Season 1, Episodes 13-14

I'll Be Your Meyer Lansky- This is the episode where Fanny and Michelle tried to get advice from a financial planner, and they drove him crazy. The good thing about this episode is that, although it featured Fanny, she wasn't annoying at all. In fact, since the hiatus, Fanny has been a lot more tolerable. Dare we say, even, likable? In small doses, Fanny is fine. Every other episode with her works for us.

We love that Godot is smart. If the younger guy is smarter than the older woman, it can work. Melanie was awesome with the violence this week. In real life, she would be psycho and cruel, but on TV, it's great. We should get to see Cozette dance more. In fact, more dancing from everyone, please. We got a good dance at the end of this one, which highlighted Sasha's emotional turmoil. Her mother is an idiot who shouldn't be a mother.

Episode grade: B+

The Astronaut and the Ballerina- It's hard to believe that there is a dance studio of any quality in this small town, let alone roller derby. Some NORMAL towns don't even have roller derby. We'll let it slide. What we won't let slide, however, is how annoying everyone was this week. The manic rants were at 100% this week. It was scene after scene after scene of loudness, monologues, and hammy acting.

The show needs to have about four manic scenes per episode, with quieter ones in between. It just needs to tone things down. You can't write every character like she's Lorelai Gilmore. Not loving Jordan as a character or Boo freaking out. They both seem unrealistic to the point that we're pulled out of the world of the show. We didn't like Michelle's brother at all. He wasn't funny. It was the actress's actual brother though. The actor wasn't bad. We blame the writing.

We heard a lot about their mother. Is she going to show up at some point? Probably. One of the freak-outs we liked was Ginny's mother, Claire, pouring punch on the bridal party and obsessing over her ex husband's wedding. Everything about that, down to the stalking, was pretty hilarious. Ginny needs to chill though, for real.

Episode grade: C+

The Good Wife- Season 4, episodes 11-13

Boom-De-Yah-Da- This was the episode where Louis Canning made Alicia stay at a hotel for a really long time and tried to have his client avoid her. The case was the one where the teen girl got bit by a mosquito. TR Knight showed up for the first time that week. Where has he been? We love him. Not loving his character so far though. He reminds us of Ryan on The Office. Total wunderkind douche.

Girls- Season 2, Episode 3

Bad Friend- The episode starts with Hannah trying to get a freelance writing gig with a website. Her new boss wants her to do a threesome with people she meets on Craigslist. Or coke. And write about it. Heck, we'd read that article. Especially the threesome thing. Jessa is having a yard sale on her front stoop.

Marnie suggests that Hannah visit her downstairs, drug addict neighbor to get some coke for her article. Marnie is the worst friend on TV, ever. She doesn't even try to talk Hannah out of this. She probably thinks that if Hannah dies, she'll never find out about Marnie's two thrusts with Hanna's gay roommate.  Hannah knocks on her neighbor's door. He seems nice, but he's wearing some Rastafarian-looking beanie, something you probably shouldn't do after college, if you're a guy and not a hipster. He mentions that he liked when Hannah named her wireless network "Madame Ovaries." Heh.