A Briefing With Michael

Over the years, my "Favourite TV Show" has been: 24 (00s), Voyager (90s), Wiseguy (80s) and Space: 1999 (70s). With Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Press Gang, Seinfeld & Friday Night Lights coming in 2nd at various times.

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My Thursday watchlist.

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“Star Trek: Enterprise” s3e11 (2003)

Leland Orser, Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

4th superb episode in a row!

Temporal Agent Daniels (Matt Winston), from the 31st Century, sends Archer and T'Pol to Earth in 2004 to locate and stop three Xindi from constructing a bioweapon!

Smart script.

I love the way this one was filmed. Michael Vejar really puts the camera in the middle of action, moving it rapidly around to cover as much of what's happening as possible. The interrogation scene is probably the best example.

10/10

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“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” s7e7 (1998)

Once More Unto the Breach, written by Ronald D. Moore.

John Colicos as Kor and J.G. Hertzler as Martok carry this episode. The conflict between them is as compelling as the action-packed mission behind enemy lines.

The space battle sequences are thrilling. Some of the best ever seen in Trek. (I pressed rewind a few times.)

The Quark-Erzi misunderstanding bit is okay. Forgettable filler.

9/10

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“Frasier” s10e21 (2003)

Phil McGraw, Harriet Sansom Harris.

An episode that, across the board, is trying way too hard. There are some laughs, and Harris is giving 100% (as always). But stuff like the choir at the end falls flat because (a) it was foreshadowed too heavily, (b) it's too contrived/unlikely to be funny.

I really enjoyed the Martin montage. (He's bored at work on the night shift.)

6/10

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“Veep” s4e2 (2015)

Michaela Watkins.

Some of the best scenes of the entire series are in this episode. Kent (Gary Cole) awkwardly telling Catherine (Sarah Sutherland) how unlikeable she is, Selina casually firing Jim (Zak Orth), Jonah outshining Dan in a meeting, and--the greatest of them all--a shouting match between Selina and Gary where absolutely no punches are pulled. One of the key moments between them.

10/10

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“Baretta” s2e15 (1976)

Val Avery, Gregory Rozakis.

Baretta arrests the man who murdered a doctor who, while drunk, killed his young son. Later, escaping custody, the same man goes after a drug dealer who preys on children. Thus forcing Baretta to protect someone he himself wants to nail.

Lots of conflict here, and Baretta's unwavering compassion for the killer shines through. It's contrived but it pulls no punches and, in the end, the drug dealer walks away free and clear. Sobering; bleak.

Spring 1976: ABC Wednesday after The Bionic Woman, before Starsky & Hutch. Against Cannon (CBS); Chico and the Man + The Dumplings (NBC).

8/10

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“Toma” s1e6 (1973)

Jan-Michael Vincent.

Smart; dark.

A sniper atop a tall building taking shots at the pedestrians. Nobody can get close. Toma (Tony Musante) grabs a rifle and acts like another sniper who wants to join the party!

Clever story by the great Roy Huggins. Very downbeat ending.

Fall 1973: ABC Thursdays before Kung Fu. Against The Waltons (CBS); The Flip Wilson Show (NBC).

9/10

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“Fish” s1e13 (1977)

David Yanez.

New kid arrives at the home, but he steals form Fish (Abe Vigoda) and Loomis (Todd Bridges).

There are a few chuckles but the episode fails to bring the warmth. It's trying to show us another side to tough guy Fish as he deals with these two little kids, but it doesn't connect the way it should.

Spring 1977: ABC Saturday after Blansky's Beauties, before Starsky & Hutch. Against The Bob Newhart Show (CBS); Emergency! (NBC).

5/10

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“Superstore” s6e3 (2020)

Floor supervisor elections; Garrett gives sex/love advice to young Tony.

Very funny episode shares the wealth. Gives everyone something to do.

Nice callback to the whole Garrett-Dina thing.

Loved the digs at politicians and their false promises. Show does this kind of thing really well.

9/10

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My Wednesday watchlist.

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“Daredevil” s4e7 (2025)

Better than the previous episode. This one was flawless.

Margarita Levieva was great and I loved how the conversation between Heather and Muse was intercut with the clues being put together elsewhere.

The fight was top notch superhero action.

The episode gave significant moments to Vanessa, to Daniel, and--of course--to Heather.

I still miss Foggy and Karen. Cherry and Kirsten are poor replacements.

10/10

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“Jessica Jones” s3e12 (2019)

A jam-packed episode that, at many times, feels like a season finale.

Most of it is Jessica working overtime to avoid the now-inevitable head-on conflict with Trish.

The scripting/plotting is clever and satisfying, even if the story is taking us to a place I really don't want to go...

10/10

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My Tuesday watchlist.

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“Malcolm in the Middle” s8e3 (2026)

An episode in which Bryan Cranston plays multiple versions of Hal (during Hal's vision quest). Cranston is absolutely on fire and the script is right there with him.

It must be said that both Justin Berfield and Frankie Muniz have also brought their A-game. Both performances are stellar and hilarious.

This show is a tonic.

10/10

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“Scrubs” s10e3 (2026)

Alan Blumenfeld.

Quality remains very high as this third episode puts focus on the JD-Elliot relationship.

I have mixed feeling about them being divorced. I get it. There's more storytelling potential this way, and it replicates the dynamic between Dr. Cox and his ex in the original series. I get it. I just don't like that they split up.

9/10

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My Sunday watchlist.

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“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” s3e6 (2025)

Wow. One of the all-time great Star Trek episodes. It puts Jim Kirk in charge of the USS Farragut after she is nearly destroyed by a massive enemy ship. Even better, the script puts Spock, Scotty, Uhura and Chapel right there with him for the duration.

The Enterprise, meanwhile, is also in dire straits. Key moments for Pike and La'an in particular as they lead a desperate attempt to expel powerful invaders.

But this is Kirk's episode. Several spine-tingling moments as he bonds with Spock and the others, and they adjust to his unique command style.

And that profound Pike-Kirk conversation at the end was peak Trek. This is what it was meant to be.

10/10