1. Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Ep. 12
94/100 – Crunchyroll – Season Complete
The last episode of Season 3 of Jujutsu Kaisen is bitter sweet, as the showrunners announced the second part of the season is not releasing, disheartening most fans, however the Season ends with Yuta taking on Kururoushi, Uro, and Ryu in a 3 v 1 battle that is not only famous in the manga, but is now famous as one of the best episodes in the show’s history. The discovery of Yuta’s copy cursed technique, with three more unique cursed technique sorcerers, is just a perfect atmosphere to set up the final battle of the beginning of the Culling Games and show just how powerful Yuta is. The animation is amazing and choreography to transfer the manga to animation here is most definitely the best execution of the season so far, leaving season 3 on a high note despite making its fans wait far longer than expected.
2. Paradise Season 2 Ep. 7
89/100 – Hulu – Next Ep. March 30 - 12 AM*
Xavier and Teri finally reunite after their Series-starting separation, and it’s as emotional as it is necessary for the plot to move forward. Link and his crew arrive at the bunker and meet with Redmond asking to see Alex, a term unfamiliar to the audience suggesting it may be a human, or something more mechanical and pivotal to the new climate of the world. While many of the episodes that shine from the Season so far are solo episodes that focus on one character’s story, Paradise adds an Episode 7 that begins to tie the storyline together a bit more and bounce between them, giving the show a Game of Thrones edit type of style. Season 2 has been absolutely brilliant and one of the best things on television and the Episode continues this trend as it pushes to a grand finale that promises to not disappoint.
3. The Pitt Season 2 Ep. 12
89/100 – HBO MAX – Next Ep. April 2 – 9 PM*
As The Pitt Season 2 moves towards the end of its shift, the storylines and characters’ emotions begin to be revealed more and more while the chaos of the AI attack seems to be settling down. Many of the early patients and plot lines of the season were very common and similar to Season 1, but as the end of the season progresses new ideas and important concepts for the inside of an ER, leading with mental health has made Season 2 an improvement on an already great first season, the last three episodes have a chance to cement The Pitt Season 2 as one of the best of the year.
4. Survivor Season 50 Ep. 5
88/100 – Hulu/Paramount+ – Next Ep. April 1 – 8 PM*
After a shockingly controversial episode last week, and very slow pace of elimination in the biggest season in Survivor history, Episode 5 returns with a double-elimination which sends the familiar faces back to tribal, along with a new tribe that unveils some new dynamics. While the first elimination of the episode lacked luster, the episode flowed nicely, and the second elimination was one of the most entertaining moments of the season so far with a Charlie vs Rizo showdown. There are many complaints about the confessional organization and I must say it was really nice to see Kamilla gets some screen time here along with Dee as I think some of the best female players of the show have been sidelined slightly so far by the edit. Nonetheless, Episode 5 was a great double-elimination and one of the best of the Season, so far.
5. Hell's Paradise Season 2 Ep. 12
86/100 – Crunchyroll – Next Ep. April 5 – 7:45 AM*
Episode 12 moves from the fights of each of our main characters and the Tengen to expanding as to how the group will move on from here and what the leader of the Tengen is trying to accomplish. As well, reinforcements corner each of the split-off groups, looking to punish them for grouping with the prisoners. It’s an exciting episode that certainly lacks the action of its last group of releases, but provides a hint as to where the show is leading, and introduces our known main characters to another promising and well designed group that seems to be leading towards more battle. It’s yet another great episode of anime to finish off the week for Hell’s Paradise.
6. Fire Force Season 3 Ep. 24
86/100 – Crunchyroll – Next Ep. April 3 – 10 AM*
Fire Force moves through its penultimate episode of its Series as Shinra becomes a god-like figure with the help of his brother and mother. It’s an episode that is heavily anticipated for manga readers, not for its fights or animation, but for its all- encompassing creation of the world for one of the best older generation anime in Soul Eater. I can’t say the episode is as high as some of the fights from the last few episodes, but it certainly is a spectator conclusion to the Series leading into its last episode, and another episode rating that will carry the show to a much higher level of success than its first two seasons. Shinra’s god-like animation is done to perfection here and the revamped Soul Eater universe looks outstanding, it’s a great example of the creativity in animation for new gen anime.
7. Company Retreat Ep. 4 & 5
84/100 – Prime Video – Next Ep. April 3 – 12:00 AM*
The show with the most unique comedy concept in television right now, returns last week with a great start, but in its Episode 4 & 5 it takes a giant step up. The two new episodes of the show play-off the fall back of Dougie’s mishap presentation by bringing a big company in to supervise their retreat and eventually purchase Rockin Grandmas. It’s a brilliant set-up for a comedic few episodes that just absolutely hits it out of the park here. The actors are just doing an outstanding job at involving Andrew in the show with their hilarious personas, seeing how far they can push this. These are the type of episodes that this show needs to produce to cement itself as one of the best current shows in television.
8. Sentenced to be a Hero Ep. 12
83/100 – Crunchyroll – Season Complete
Sentenced to be a Hero finale finishes along with the confirmation of a new season and a real set-up for the next storyline. We get much more clarity on the main idea of the series as Kivia gets sentenced to be a Hero while imprisoned, as Xylo finds out while he was defending one part of the kingdom, the Twelfth Order was captured. It’s a great end to a surprise of the first season, with a unique established animation style and open-ended story that leaves so much room for world building.
9. Frieren Beyond Journey’s End Season 2 Ep. 10
83/100 – Crunchyroll – Season Complete
Frieren Beyond Journey’s End Season 2 finishes, in the same way it began, with a simple final episode that connects Stark Fern and Frieren to an old relationship that came about by Himmel and Frieren 200 years ago. It’s another quite simple adventure episode that makes its audience really wish a 10-episode season was not the creative decision here, as it created a sense of urgency in the season that makes the slower adventure-like premise much less effective. The animation of this season is undeniable, and perhaps even better than Season 1, and the one or two episodes that include some really awesome action that deliver some stunning moments amid the peace. The Finale Episode definitely does not sit at the top of the series’ best episodes but it certainly stays true to its premise and delivers exactly what was needed.
10. DTF St. Louis Ep. 5
83/100 – HBO MAX – Next Ep. April 5
– 9:00 PM*
DTF St. Louis had an Episode 4 that seemed to stall the plot and begin to stop adding anything new to the table, but a return to the full relationship between the love triangle of the show’s main characters focused around Floyd in episode 5 really returned the show to what it does great. It’s this deeply uncomfortable dark comedy mystery that bluntly presents this oddly structured relationship that is so bland in its conversations and events that it keeps your attention all the way through. After Episode 5, it is clear this show is not even close to being for everyone and may not be a monumental Sunday slot show for HBO but is certainly new and odd, and Episode 5 is the way the show needs to deliver.
11. Rooster Ep. 4
83/100 – HBO MAX – Next Ep. April 5
– 10:00 PM*
Rooster Episode 4 is another mixed-bag of really funny moments, interactions, and jokes that certainly fall flat, especially to the younger audiences. Steve Carrell is still brilliant here, but the interaction with his students, going around partying, and finding his confidence, while good for his character development, simply was not as funny as the show had hoped. Aside from that, every other character’s moments in this episode were great and the quality as a whole remains top-tier compared to the many other comedies out right now. Its tough to find the real audience for this one and I think the show is trying to find them as well, leading to the show falling in the middle ground of good and great, really needing a settled-in and focused final half of its premiere season to really succeed.
12. Something Very Bad is Going to Happen
82.7/100 – Netflix – Mini-Series Complete
Something Very Bad is Going to Happen is a new horror-thriller Netflix mini-series that very much could have phoned it in, and delivered a show that would sit a the top of the TV show ratings for about three days and then disappear into the abyss of streaming, but its truly takes a leap here providing a unique premise, mixed with a unique technical camera usage. It’s a story that takes a soon-to-be-married couple to the groom’s family cabin, but an incredibly odd family, local myth, and wild twist cause the bride to spiral out of control in a psychedelic horror plot that uses the camera as both a POV and a creative use of tension, that while not outstandingly brilliant is clearly higher quality than so many other shows of its kind. It’s a great one-night binge show for people looking to analyze a horror plot that is well acted and is equally as tension-building as it is intelligent, without too many plot holes involved.
13. Abbott Elementary Season 5 Ep. 17
82/100 – Hulu – Next Ep. April 1 – 8:30 PM*
Episode 17 sees Ava force the teachers to implement a no homework policy that changes the dynamics of the classroom and eventually leads Barbara to put her foot down. It’s a very basic Abbott Elementary episode that will always be funny but doesn’t exceed expectations, I have noticed a much higher focus on Melissa in the back-half of the season and I think it’s a very fun creative decision that feels new and promising for the Series.
14. My Hero Vigilantes Season 2 Ep. 12
82/100 – Crunchyroll – Next Ep. March 30 – 6 AM*
Episode 12 of My Hero Vigilantes places the center crisis of the season at the forefront, as the heroes are unable to stop the falling tower that Six caused to collapse, enlisting the help of All Might, providing a nice throwback sequence from one of the best characters in the story. We also get to see the full battle between Iwaro and Number Six, as they have a mentor mentee/ hero vs villain conversation that covers the best topic of the series and adds the most intrigue we have seen since the Erasherhead flashback. Nearing the end of another lackluster season of this spin off, My Hero delivers one of its best episodes yet.
15. Daredevil Born Again Season 2 Ep. 1
80/100 – Disney Plus – Next Ep. March 31 – 9:00 PM*
The premiere for Marvel’s hottest and most gritty show in Hell’s Kitchen is back with Charlie Cox’s Daredevil, and while Season 1 was a smash hit success with a wild twist premiere episode, Season 2’s premiere delivers a much more luke warm entry. The reintroduction of Fisk vs the new black-suited Daredevil is fun and Karen being back permanently sets up for a season that is sure to be another solid one for the franchise, however, nothing significant really happens and the episode as a whole feels much more like a set-up. With a slight twist at the end and some of the most ridiculous fan theories I have ever read floating around the internet, perhaps the next two episodes will pick up the pace but for now Daredevil Born Again sits surprisingly lower on this list.
16. Invincible Season 4 Episode 4
80/100 – Prime Video – Next Ep. April 1 – 4 AM*
After a smash hit start to season 4 of Invincible as both an update and a character development-focused start, Episode 4 returns with what feels heavily like a filler episode as Invincible is summoned down to Hell to take the throne back from the Magma Queen. It’s a fun episode that has comedy elements the show doesn’t have as much in its more serious episodes, but taking an entire 54 minutes episode when so many intriguing moments are occurring in the main storyline is just hard to justify for me. I can understand the need for more character development for Mark, but it feels quite untimely for a season that is already a much less action-packed. Still, the first four episodes of the season have set up some intriguing relationships and events that the back-half of the season promises to deliver on.
17. Monarch Legacy of Monsters Season 2 Ep. 5
79/100 – Apple TV+ – Next Ep. April 2 – 10 PM*
Monarch has been struggling in recent weeks with its battle between balancing the human character’s relationships and plots, and remaining a monster disaster series that draws its audience. Episode 5 is a much better balance of the two sides of this coin then the previous episode, with the death of one of its main characters, Hiroshi, due to an interaction with Titan X that seems to reveal some sort of hypnotic powers. Its not an episode that is going to change the trajectory of the season, back on to a track of an improvement from season 1, but it is certainly one that takes our main characters, and odd family relationship dynamics and blends them much better, with the premise that the show actually succeeds through.
18. Shrinking Season 3 Ep. 9
79/100 – Apple TV+ – Next Ep. March 31 – 9 PM*
Shrinking Episode 9 has many aspects that remain right where they need to be where Gabi is figuring out that her life does belong in trauma and working in the same Center she does today in one of her best character developments yet, with many of the other characters progressing as well. Unfortunately, in this episode, Jimmy shows absolutely no character development in his decision-making and the character design of his father is so sinister and generic that it leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth after this penultimate episode. It’s tough to rate this episode too low, but Jimmy simply has not had the proper character development that I feel as though he needs for the series to be moving along from problems raised on the very first episode, as well as him being thrown aside when it comes to being an actual therapist, as though he sucks at his job, it just doesn’t sit right with me.
19. Inside Season 3
77.1/100 – Netflix – Season Complete
Season 3 of Inside UK hosted by the Sidemen, bring a new cast of some of the most relevant and random contestants into their show, that seems to be settling in and finding what works and doesn’t work, but puts a group together here that just delivered more of a frustrating experience in my opinion than an entertaining one. Not only does the show highlight a group of men just utterly ganging up on all the women of the show, something not out of the ordinary but feeling extra targeted here, but also brings on a contestant, Alhan, that truly frustrates everyone, including the showrunners, as he is just incredibly rude throughout. The combination of Alhan and just a more uninteresting season in general is saved slightly with a more electric final episode that ends with a lot of fun games, but its a season that doesn’t necessarily knock the series off its hinges but certainly feels like the worst so far including the USA version.
20. Imperfect Women Episode 3
76/100 – Apple TV+ – Next Ep. March 31 – 9 PM*
After the beginning of the new Apple TV mini-series last week, Imperfect Women returns, to add more context to the mystery surrounding two best friends and their murdered third friend. We get more of a relationship development between Robert and Eleanor as more of Kelly’s past is becoming revealed, but as more traits are revealed about our characters, the more all of them are severely unlikable. I’m not the one to hate a show because its main character is unredeemable, but three episodes into Imperfect Women, every character feels unredeemable and as of right now I just can’t get behind it. Looking for an improvement or twist to add something new from this show in the upcoming weeks.
