1. The Boys Season 5 Ep. 1 & 2
94.0/100 – Prime Video – Next Ep. April 15 – 3 AM*
There are mixed opinions about the last season of The Boys, anticipation for how they are going to wrap-up some of the best created characters in a superhero project ever, and Episodes 1 & 2 did so, in our eyes at the Twilight Room, a fantastic job of setting up the stakes and the energy around this final season. Homelander, through the first two episodes has laid out this clear hatred for Billy as he becomes more and more deranged and dangerous. Perhaps the most important part of the premiere is the full‑circle moment for A‑Train’s character and the heartbreak his death brings to the final season. One of the show’s most beloved characters being killed off right away is a huge swing, but it underlines exactly why fans of The Boys keep coming back, they love the untraditional twists and moments that nobody on earth could predict. There are relationships that the show needs to focus more on, Hughie and how his story is going to change this season and make an impact on the final events particularly, is something the show hasn’t quite tapped into, but should, to make Season 5 one of the better of the show. It’s going to be tough to end this story with it becoming a bloodbath, but as a fan and a critic, a bloodbath is what we come to expect from The Boys, and as the season continues to shake out, our ratings will reflect if the chaos is brilliant or sloppy. For now, it’s on the brilliant side of that chaos.
2. Invincible Season 4 Episode 6
94/100 – Prime Video – Next Ep. April 15 – 4 AM*
Last week’s Invincible episode was one of, if not the best in the show’s history, and Episode 6 continues the momentum as Mark recovers on the planet from his fight with Conquest, and Nolan finally getting to be a father to Oliver for the first time. Again it’s a simple start to the episode, that goes from slow to all-out in minutes as Allen and the rest of the Space Coalition face an attack from the Viltrum Empire and Thragg. Emotional connection and redemption define the characters of Season 4, but these high-octane fights, and Nolan, Mark and Oliver’s return to the Coalition are what elevate it to the level of success our ratings reflect. The entire Coalition is now together and has seen a weakness in the Viltrum Empire, it is heading straight back into the fire, making these last two episodes some of the most highly-anticipated releases in animation history.
3. Daredevil Born Again Season 2 Ep. 4
88/100 – Disney + – Next Ep. April 14 – 9:00 PM*
Daredevil Born Again is the first of a three-show 2-day run of releases that fans have been waiting on for months, and with an introduction scene with Bullseye at his absolute most brutal and crazed, this episode delivers the best action of the season, so far. It’s the R‑rated fight scenes we look for, the brutal force of Fisk’s motives and the chaos of the boxing match that caps the episode, and the logical, morally honest version of Daredevil who’s always being thrown into jeopardy, all in one action‑packed hour. From all the early reactions to the season, and from all the indicators from this fantastic episode, the back-half of the season promises to be one of the best new products Marvel has released in quite some time.
4. The Pitt Season 2 Ep. 14
88/100 – HBO MAX – Next Ep. April 16 – 9 PM*
Once again, the back half of The Pitt Season 2 provides a new perspective on its already beloved central concept, focusing much more on how outside emotions and events affect how each of the main doctors are responding to their work inside the ER. It’s a much more character- and emotion-focused season that some people have criticized, and we at TwilightRoom have praised, a show that needs that level of careful build and tonal range if it’s going to last the test of time. Dr. Robbie is moving more and more to a point of no return that is pushing to a confrontation of his own trauma, in the final episode, that really seems to be leading to Dr. Al-Hashmi confrontation that ends the episode. There is certainly an opportunity for the show to be positive in its conclusion, or severely negative, and either way can really work. It’s just about how they handle these characters that have blown-up in popularity over the last year.
5. Rooster Ep. 6
86/100 – HBO MAX – Next Ep. April 19
– 10:00 PM*
Episode 5 of Rooster was a huge step in the right direction, finding its niche of comedy and story setting that really made its audience laugh, the way the show was promising it would. Episode 6 is a continuation of this momentum with even better comedic writing and plot that gives us this combination of student and teacher interaction, along with funny twists, and endearing moments, that define the general vibe of the show. Greg is hilarious in this episode, whether he is working, staying at home with his unlikely companion, or helping his daughter out with her extremely complicated marital issues, the comedy writing for his character by Carrel is top-tier here. It’s hard to say that Rooster is not cementing itself now as one of the best shot and smartest new comedies from HBO MAX, entering a niche of shows that audiences definitely need more intelligent entries from, like this one.
6. Hacks Season 5 Ep. 1
84/100 – HBO MAX – Next Ep. April 16 – 9 PM*
Hacks is one of the most witty and well-written shows in the history of television and it returned for its fifth and final season, with Deborah and Ava returning to Vegas to fight the lawsuit that’s sidelined her from performing. It’s a set-up for that Vegas, comedy vibe, that the show has become so successful surrounding and likely the best concept to stick the landing for the show. Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder have consistently delivered spectacular performances and Episode 1 is no different, with a final 10-minutes that really pick up and deliver on the intrigue we are looking for. It’s a start that didn’t blow the audiences socks off, by any means, but one that is definitive of the its past success, and a return to the roots of the shows outstanding groundwork.
7. Wistoria Wand & Sword Season 2 Ep. 1
84/100 – Crunchyroll – Next Ep. April 19 – 12:30 AM*
Wistoria Wand & Sword was a shockingly underrated and well-animated Season 1 release from more than a year ago, that did a great job of balancing a slice‑of‑life, high‑school‑esque storyline with playful, magic‑driven battle scenes, elevated by the surprising fluidity of the animation. The main issue for me with Season 1 was its low stakes which is immediately fixed with a high-stakes demonic presence at the end of the New Year celebration. Episode 1 does a fantastic job of re‑establishing where we left these characters and immediately dropping a massive new threat in their laps; it’s a strong opener and the standout new anime episode of the week.
8. One Piece Ep. 1157
84/100 – Crunchyroll – Next Ep. April 17 – 7 AM*
One Piece consistently has been so outstanding for years now and as its animation and world-building continues to get better and better, it gets harder and harder to even rate my personal favorite anime media with anything else releasing. Personal bias aside, Episode 1157 does an amazing job showcasing the new animation style for the Elbaph arc with strong highlights of the big three Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji looking as amazing as ever. It’s a less impactful episode, as it primarily focused on Nami and Usopp running for their lives through a bizarre, Lego‑brick kingdom they’ve stumbled into, thus earning it a lower rating than usual for the show, but certainly a set-up for one of the most anticipated anime arcs in the history of animation.
9. Survivor Season 50 Ep. 7
84/100 – Hulu/Paramount+ – Next Ep. April 15 – 8 PM*
The more season 50 of Survivor progresses, the more the audience is split on its reception, judging creative decisions, and discussing drama behind alliances and emotions shown through confessionals and egos clashing. As this morality alliance with Jonathan and Coach continues to grow in their outspokenness, getting Dee out this episode, the fans become more split. But there is hope for everyone as fan favorites like Cirie, Rizo, Ozzy, Christian, Devens have great positions in the game, and the further we get, the more strategy will come into play. This season has hit a wall at this point, and its final episodes moving into the finale will be the defining moment to decide if the new ideas thrown into these huge seasons are a hit or just too much that pull away from what fans really love about the best reality show on TV.
10. Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord Ep. 1 & 2
83.0/100 – Disney + – Next Ep. April 13 – 12:00 AM*
The Premiere of the solo animated Darth Maul show was met with large praise, it gave Star Wars fans exactly what they had been asking for. Maul’s navigation back to the top of the dark world of the universe, and a display of his true power with the Force and his unique lightsaber. Episodes 1 & 2 begin the story of Maul’s search for an apprentice and set-up the world with new characters being introduced and establishing Maul’s goals of revenge. What it does best and what likely earns it high ratings from many outlets is its ability to provide fans with much needed animated displays of Maul’s power, capped by the now‑coveted hallway sequence that’s become a staple of the franchise. It’s high-octane, well-animated, and exactly what the audience wants, but for us at TwilightRoom, more about where Maul is going and more complex storytelling is needed to elevate the show from something good to something outstanding
11. Shrinking Season 3 Ep. 11
82/100 – Apple TV+ – Season Complete
Shrinking is clearly one of the most popular shows on television right now, and a season focused on letting-go and moving-on was promising to be perhaps the most dramatic season yet, but a bumpy road of some of the best episodes in the series and the worst episodes later in the season, made the finale crucial for us at the TwilightRoom to pinpoint Season 3’s success. The finale delivers a fairly solid end, showing both a resolution for Jimmy that is clearly earned, and long awaited, leaving him in a positive mindset, along with Gabby finally looking for marriage in her relationship. It’s a nice end to the season that clearly was not the best episode of the season but a slight step-up from the last two lackluster and over-emotional shows. In a new season of the show, we at TwilightRoom will look for some more nuance beyond just dramatics to make the viewing experience much less of a burden.
12. Euphoria Season 3 Ep. 1
81/100 – HBO MAX – Next Ep. April 19 – 9:00 PM*
There was never a time where there was not a discourse surrounding Sam Levinson’s work, and his most famous show in Euphoria. Seasons 1 & 2 are perhaps some of the most unique and monumental moments in television over the last 2 decades, and this story has so much to do and so much to say, every actor from this show has exploded in popularity and the world has waited to see if the magic and euphoric feel can return after 4 years away. Episode 1 does a lot wrong, splitting characters up, not pulling the audience into many of the storylines, but what it does well, and why it sits at this spot in the ranking and not lower, is its story for Rue. Zendaya is fantastic as Rue. She is absolutely stunning, and while cinematography has changed and story decisions have caused panic, it is so hard not to be entranced by her performance and character in this series. There are so many things that can occur in the next 7 episodes to make this season a success, middle-of-the road, or a gigantic flop, but if Euphoria Season 3 continues to provide us with a tantalizing story for Rue, it will be a success regardless in our eyes at TwilightRoom.
13. Abbott Elementary Season 5 Ep. 19
81/100 – Hulu – Next Ep. April 15 – 8:30 PM*
Talking about Abbott being as consistent as it is, Season 5 has delivered some of the higher end of its episode quality and jokes, and Episode 19 is a clearer example of the show’s floor. An episode that zeroes in on Gregory and Janine’s clash over vacation logistics, and on Jacob’s inability to see the problem until it’s threatening a breakup at the core of the show. It’s an episode that’s premise is, in all honesty, puzzling to me, but the comedy and the writing of the show is just so solid that even its worse concepts have a well-put-together 20-minute experience. Maybe the show will write this off in its upcoming episodes, but it’s to be seen if the light-hearted attitude of the show that everyone loves returns in full-force next episode.
14. Your Friends & Neighbors Season 2 Ep.2
80/100 – Apple TV+ – Next Ep. April 16
– 8:00 PM*
We see Coop move more towards turning his side hustle of robberies into a business to support his children, who seemingly aren’t too interested in having his financial support as they are his emotional support. Your Friends and Neighbors Episode 2 delivers another solid hour-long episode that does a great job introducing the rivalry of James Marsden’s Gatsby-esque character and Coop, along with how Sam, the show’s previous antagonist, will play into the upcoming events. There is not much to explain upon in this episode besides from quite a chaotic surprise party gone bad, but there is certainly room for Season 2 to be even better than an already highly-praised Season 1, according to TwilightRoom.
15. DTF St. Louis Ep. 7
79/100 – HBO MAX – Series Complete
One of the most bizarre, yet tantalizing shows of the year has finally come to an end, with the finale of DTF St.Louis revealing everything that happened on the night of Floyd’s death, connecting what happened to a bond between Floyd and Carol’s son, proving Jack’s innocence. There wasn’t too much left for this final episode to sum up, so the impact from the finale was not quite as intense and dark as we were hoping for, but it’s hard to say it wasn’t at least a solid final entry. Much of Carol’s story does feel unresolved and the relationships between the two detectives seems to be another point that while they had a full arc, could have been handled with a bit more clarity in the final episode, instead of the dark satirical comedy route the show took. The story as a whole is a unique one, and without the change in style and odd acting performances wouldn’t have been as successful as it was. Maybe, the finale didn’t live up to the expectations the first 6 episodes set for it, but nonetheless the show delivered as a new and interesting Sunday night watch that won’t be forgotten.
16. Imperfect Women Episode 5
79/100 – Apple TV+ – Next Ep. April 14 – 9 PM*
Episode 4 of Imperfect Women was so much better than its first three episodes due to its switch to following the story leading up to Nancy’s death, through her perspective, a much more layered character that delivered a much more intriguing story. Episode 5 continues this trend. Nancy starts up an affair with one of her best friend’s husbands on the heels of a possible divorce from her husband, who has been working on some shady business behind her back. It reveals as much as it’s an explanation of many of the main characters and suspects in her death, revealing their true colors and showing signs of who kills her, without giving it away. Don’t get me wrong the show is quite cheesy and the mystery is quite typical in design, but it’s a much better show from the perspective of Nancy, than it was from Elanor’s in the first 3 episodes, and here’s to hoping it stays that way for the rest of the series.
17. Dr. Stone Season 4 Ep. 26
78/100 –Crunchyroll – Next Ep. April 16 – 6 AM*
Dr. Stone was not one of the shows featured on our Twilight Forecast for April, but one I personally have been following since its first episode, and as Senku and his ever-growing group of companions move against their mysterious enemy on the moon, the show finally seems like its connecting to me as a viewer more than just some 20-minute math lesson. It’s quite a unique new generation anime that finally seems to have a premise and antagonist that has the merits and stakes that the show needs to elevate. After two episodes, there is promise but not stellar delivery, and we will be following closely to see how this arc shakes out.
18. Witch Hat Atelier Ep. 1 & 2
77.0/100 – Crunchyroll – Next Ep. April 13 – 7 AM*
The premiere to the new, and a two-time delayed anime, Witch Hat Atelier arrived at Crunchyroll with a 2-episode release that establishes both the emotional backing for the story, but also the basis for what’s to come. Coco grows up wanting to be a witch but is denied the chance, as she is told it’s a power attained from birth, but after Qifrey, a magic user arrives in her village, and she discovers magic is created from ink and pen, instead things all change. In a traumatic moment, Coco accidentally casts a spell that crystallizes her mother, and must go with Qifrey to learn magic and show him the whereabouts of another magic user in exchange for their mother’s life. Its a show that despite its emotional start seems to be a sweet magic-learning anime, with nice animation that hopefully carries some complexity, as the world expands, but sits pretty low on this list until it can really get its feet off the ground and lay out its intrigue.
19. Monarch Legacy of Monsters Season 2 Ep. 7
77/100 – Apple TV+ – Next Ep. April 15 – 10 PM*
Monarch Episode 7 is another timeline inception, having Lee talk to his younger self and play with the morality of his past mistakes and deciding whether he should use this opportunity to change them, or continue forward. It’s a character-driven episode, yet again, with a few fun, monster chase scenes, and a couple thrilling decisions, but yet again it’s not the path the show should have taken. To take budget this high, and a show as popular as this one, and feel like it’s playing safe, is what makes shows feel like a flop, and with three episodes left, something really needs to change.
20. That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime Season 4 Ep. 2
76/100 – Crunchyroll – Next Ep. April 17 – 7 AM*
As this gigantic season Of That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime begins, there is certainly concerns about how the show will manage the amount of characters and plotlines being expanded on. Episode 2 sees Rimuru flag a group called the Green Storm that’s exploiting the rules of his labyrinth. It’s a straightforward outing that reinforces the roster of bosses in the world he’s built, but it does play a bit like a nothing episode that drifts to the bottom of this week’s ranking for its inability to deliver anything really stand-out or of-note.
21. Temptation Island Season 2
62.3/100 – Netflix – Season Complete
Every once in a while we at the Twilight Room like to watch a drama-filled and pretty tough-to-watch at times, palate cleanser, and Temptation Island may be the most bizarre and extreme version of this we have ever checked out. A premise of a couple typically with one side much more interested in being thrown in a house with a bunch of models, arriving to test their connection through temptation apart. Its a really rough show to watch because the premise simply just does not do what the innocent idea of the concept thinks it does, it’s simply just a huge toxicity battle, that almost always ends in a break-up, anger, or a return to a constant cycle of bad relationships. I cannot say the show doesn’t draw you in, but I can say it is one of the weakest of those types of shows Netflix puts out, and will sit at the bottom of this list and perhaps the bottom of our list for every show released this year.
