Matthew Gilbert

Despite Cohen's talent for submerging himself in his characters, "Da Ali G Show" is a spotty venture. [22 Feb 2003]

The bottom line is that the characters haven’t been magically healed between seasons, as they are on some shows; these folks are still wrestling with the same decisions, with old wounds, with one another, and, when all is said and done, with creating a perfect dining experience.

I’m having mixed feelings. .... The show remains highly watchable, and it mostly supports its status as a Sunday night ritual, where battles rage, dragons swoop and soar, white hair blows, and the palace drama stays at a solid boil. .... But the absence of Paddy Considine as King Viserys leaves a large hole, as he was one of only a few acting heavyweights in the mix. .... Matt Smith, who added so much sly ambiguity to the first season, is largely MIA, as his Daemon goes off on a side trip to a decaying castle.

“Presumed Innocent” — two episodes are currently available, with new episodes arriving on Wednesdays — remains a solid beach read of a whodunit. Apple TV+, which premiered the series on Wednesday, did not provide critics with the final episode, and I still don’t feel sure of who committed the crime — always a good sign.

I’m not sure the show, which was created by Carty-Williams, needs to bring us into therapy with Queenie; like the voiceover, it feels a bit like a cheat, a way to spell out her issues rather than simply show them. But it’s far from a deal-breaker. Brown carries the show with a strong realism and a quiet reactivity.

The acting in the Netflix miniseries “Eric” is knock-down-drag-out good. There’s anger, madness, fear, loss, and grief all over the script, and there’s a set of performers, most notably Benedict Cumberbatch, who are seriously up to the task. Emotion is discharged. It’s all in service of an unwieldy, overstuffed 1980s-set story line that’s too ambitious for its own good, alas — but still, there’s a lot to admire in these six fast-paced episodes.

One of the big problems with “Bodkin” is that it hardly adds up to much. All of the investigation goes to some absurd places, and I don’t think that was intentional. And there are plot holes galore along the way. The denouement, incomplete and hard to believe, may test your patience.

It remains a supernatural gem. The AMC series is as good as it was in season 1, as it continues to capture the despair, the anarchy, and the raw power of being immortal. .... And the acting is uniformly excellent.

It’s all sumptuous fun. The spectacular balls with the orchestrated pop songs and the old-old-old-school line-dancing continue to dazzle. The supporting characters, including Lady Danbury (the fabulous Adjoa Andoh), her newly returned brother Marcus (Daniel Francis), and mean girl Cressida (Jessica Madsen), continue to amuse.

“Hacks” remains thoroughly enjoyable. .... Their [Deborah and Ava's] evolved dynamic has helped to make season 3 a joy. The show has a new warmth, and something to root for.