The plot line with Emilia Clarke as Daenerys is anything but dragon, as both she and her flying reptiles begin to flex their muscles and stretch their wings. In tonight’s episode, that’s especially true.

2013

Apr

MAD MEN By David Bianculli

There’s a lot of instability, and insecurity, in tonight’s episode, after what happened last week. And tonight, Jessica Pare, as Megan, embodies that in an evening out with Don (Jon Hamm), while the firm deals with a very secretive client.

2013

Apr

CHEERS: THE COMPLETE SERIES By David Bianculli

The amazing spirit of Boston, in the wake of the capture of the second Marathon bombing suspect, is what made me think of this series at this moment. But at any time, the complete collection of this classic 1982-1993 NBC series is worth owning...

2013

Apr

SMASH By David Bianculli

It took almost two full seasons to get here, but it’s finally arrived: Opening night of Bombshell on Broadway. Now, at last, it’s all about the performance – and the after-party reception. And, of course, the critical reception. (I’ll reserve mine until I watch tonight’s episode. I’m critical of NBC, though, for banishing this series to Saturday nights.)

2013

Apr

DOCTOR WHO By David Bianculli

What a great season this series is having. Tonight’s new episode is called “Hide,” and it’s an old-fashioned ghost story, set in a dusty old mansion and featuring ethereal creatures who may – or may not – be old-fashioned ghosts. Matt Smith, as always, is utterly winning as the eleventh Doctor, and it’s not too early in the short reign of Jenna-Louise Coleman, as Clara, to declare her the best Doctor Who companion ever. Period.

2013

Apr

CALL ME CRAZY: A FIVE FILM By David Bianculli

Here’s an interesting film project: In this compilation, five different directors present short films touching upon some aspect of mental illness, with each short film featuring a different cast. Stars include Melissa Leo, Jennifer Hudson, Brittany Snow, Jason Ritter, Sarah Hyland and Octavia Spencer – but it’s the directors who really deserve notice. For this Lifetime project, the directors are Laura Dern, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bonnie Hunt, Ashley Judd and Sharon Maguire.

2013

Apr

FREAKS By David Bianculli

Tod Browning’s 1932 film is a mini-masterpiece – a movie so novel, so unsettling, and so all-out strange, it’s difficult to prepare viewers for it in advance. For a horror film, it has an amazing amount of compassion and heart. It also has some sequences that, once seen, will stay with you the rest of your days. And especially your nights. One of us! One of us!

2013

Apr

ORPHAN BLACK By David Bianculli

Tatiana Maslani, in this series, has the showiest acting role since Toni Collette in The United States of Tara, and – as a woman who discovers she is one of many identical yet different clones – already has portrayed a handful of different personas, with more to come. This series is having fun with this concept, but without slipping into camp. The drama level is high, partly because the acting level is, too. Give it/her/them a chance.

2013

Apr

FIVE DAYS IN APRIL: TV’S CAPTIVATING BOSTON BOMBING DRAMA By David Bianculli

Fifty years ago, 24-hour TV news was introduced when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. This week in Boston, the nation witnessed something smaller, yet similar…

2013

Apr

BOSTON TV IMAGES HIT A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO HOME By Eric Gould

In an interview on Fresh Air, Globalpost.com reporter Charles Sennott said, "Every time this happens, it's someone's hometown." He's right. This time, it happened in mine...

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