The Mindy Project – “Magic Morgan”

Season Two, Episode Five

Grade: D

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Mindy and Casey break-up and what’s more appropriate than following that up with a break-up episode? Ugh, there are plenty of problems here. First, I never liked Casey (and I don’t think I’m the only one). Casey never felt more than a side character anyway, and even then he was more annoying that anything else. So when finally Mindy and Casey call it quits, it was one of the happier moments I’ve felt while watching this sitcom. Finally, Mindy can move on and we can all have more laughs when her and Danny interact! Yay!

Unfortunately, Mindy’s heart-broken and spends the beginning of the episode crying. That brings us to problem number two: A break-up episode is usually not very funny. This is supposed to be a comedy but because of all the downer moments with Mindy crying and then Mindy being a complete ass to Morgan, there were hardly any laughs. Sure, the frequent mention of Mindy’s FatSteps was funny, but honestly I find Mindy the least comical of all the characters on the show.

Now let’s bring up Morgan, who plays a major role in this episode because his name is in the title. He just went through a break-up as well, though no one seems to care. Morgan stops by Mindy’s place so they can mourn together, but drunken Mindy believes in the idea that whoever sleeps with Morgan will find their perfect match and get married soon after. This all makes for good comedy, but the tones change quickly when Mindy’s drunkenness wears off and she kicks Morgan out of her house. He then sues Mindy for sexual harassment and Mindy has two choices: to pay $200,000 or to go out on a date with Morgan.

As the lead character on her own show, Mindy should really be a lot less of a jerk than she is here. She fights everyone about the decision to go on a date with Morgan (really? she’d rather pay $200,000 than go out on a date with your co-worker whom she hired?), and on top of that, she’s a total ass on the date. This brings up another reason why this episode doesn’t work. If we’re supposed to feel bad for Mindy because of her recent break-up, don’t be a complete douche. We can’t sympathize with a character who’s acting like a complete bitch.

Predictably, in the end Morgan shows Mindy a good time and all is good again. I have to mention that Adam Pally is a nice addition to the show thus far and I hope he stays on the show permanently (which I’m skeptical about because of all the quick exits on this series). Also, seeing Glenn Howerton as the lawyer who Mindy hates was fun too. But what happened to all the supporting characters from last season? Does Mindy no longer speak to her friends? Does she no longer bump into Brendan?

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – “The Asset”

Season One, Episode Three

Grade: B

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Three episodes in and we more or less have the same structure. Something alerts S.H.I.E.L.D. and they rush over to save the day, with the help from the team and no superheroes because frankly it’s not really that dangerous yet. This week it’s something called Gravitonium, some element that can alter and control gravity, as shown in the opening scene where a billiards ball amount of it flipped an 18-wheeler. Pretty powerful stuff, eh?

We continue with the only possible romance plot (since Fitz and Simmonds seem, well, unable to concentrate on anything that isn’t science related) between Skye and Agent Ward, which is just so awkward because of their complete lack of chemistry. While I continue to enjoy Chloe Bennet’s light and fun touch on the hacktivist, Brett Dalton just seems too stiff as Ward. I know he’s supposed to be that macho super-agent type, but when he opens up and tells Skye he was beaten by his brother, the only reaction that got was me rolling my eyes.

Anyway, so Dr. Hall is kidnapped by the charismatic Ian Quinn, who has set up his lab in Malta and is completely protected from S.H.I.E.L.D.’s interference, that is unless they can get someone on the inside to disable their invisible force-field. Who else but Skye to the rescue! What the show continues to do well is put Skye right there in the front line while never being sure to where her allegiance stands, and being likeable all at the same time! She’s in contact with Rising Tide and then informs Quinn that S.H.I.E.L.D. is in her ear, but this was all according to plan to lower the force-field for Ward and Coulson to crash the party. I want to be able to trust Skye, but being unsure about her just makes the show better.

Eventually, we find out that it was Dr. Hall’s plan all along to work with the 12-foot structure containing a crap-load of Gravitonium so that he can implode it. But that would mean the death of many innocent people and Coulson is not okay with that. In total bad-ass mode, Coulson shoots the class he stands on and drops Dr. Hall into the Gravitonium, neutralizing it. Who needs superheroes with that sort of action?! Agent Coulson rules!

I’m no expert on Marvel comics, but apparently this should someday lead to the villain Graviton. Meanwhile, after everyone returns in one piece, Ming-Na finally comments to Coulson that she wants back on the field and in action. Another episode complete and another dangerous situation resolved.

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Last but not least:

 

• Fitz and Simmonds are still chatty, but to my surprise they haven’t over-stayed their welcome yet. The show is smart to keep them in small doses.
• Another comment about Coulson dying in the Avengers film. I wonder when they’ll explain that.
• Why didn’t Quinn just shoot Skye in the face when he had the chance? I guess because he’s a nice guy.

New Girl – “The Captain”

Season Three, Episode Four

Grade: B+

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I had my doubts because of where we left off last week. Schmidt’s world came crashing down on him when Cece and Elizabeth broke it off with him, but instead of doing anything logical, he put all the blame on Nick and Jess (which to be fair, it was their fault on how the secret came out, but I guess that’s beyond the point). But “The Captain” was a necessary episode to have Schmidt finally understand what he did wrong. At the same time (thanks to Schmidt), it allowed Jess and Nick to address one of their biggest obstacles in their relationship: communication.

After constant love making between the new couple, Schmidt puts his plan into play by pressuring Nick into his insecurities, which makes me unable to perform during his next sexual situation. When Nick runs away rather than talk to Jess about it, Schmidt swoops in and tells Jess about a sexual act that Nick loves to perform, “The Captain.” Yes, this is all ridiculous but the dynamic of the characters is back. Schmidt’s being a scheming douche, Nick is making weird faces when he’s uncomfortable and Jess is being gullible. All is right once again in New Girl world!

Except it backfires on Schmidt. Despite the brief argument, all of this finally forces Nick to express his feelings out loud and Jess loves it. Because of all the shenanigans, Nick and Jess are a closer couple than ever, and Schmidt is still single and alone. Even after Schmidt leaves a note for Cece, she’s already moved on and on another date. This does present the obvious question: If Schmidt is heartbroken over Cece more than Elizabeth, then why didn’t he just choose Cece to begin with?

Anyway, there is a C-plot that involves Winston trying to get his cat laid. Yeah, nothing important, just a typical Winston story-line. What’s worth noting is at the end, Nick is embracing his newly found openness that Jess basically tells him to shut up. Will this continue? And if it does, can this become the thread that puts Nick and Jess into serious jeopardy?

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Last but not least:

 

• It was good to finally see the roommates in an episode that takes place in the loft once again.
• Is that all we’re going to see of Hannah Simone every week? Because I am NOT okay with that!
• Zooey is in a bathrobe practically the entire episode. Awesome.
• How long with the Winston/Ferguson story arc run? Please kill it soon (the plot, not the cat).