There are scores of TV shows out there, with dozens of new episodes each week, not to mention everything you can find on Hulu Plus, Netflix streaming, and HBO Go. How’s a viewer to keep up? To help you sort through all that television has to offer, Flavorwire is compiling the five best moments on TV each week. This round, exciting developments on The Good Wife and Scandal, plus quality scenery-chewing from the one and only Frances Conroy.
Alicia Florrick Walks Out
In a move ballsy enough to inspire a full-on angry desk clearing, Alicia Florrick has left the firm where she’s spent almost the entirety of The Good Wife working case after case. Instead, she and Cary are striking out on their own, and they’re taking one of Lockhart/Gardner’s biggest clients with them. It’s all very risky and exciting and end of Mad Men Season 3-y, opening up all kinds of possibilities for this quietly amazing show to explore in the second half of its fifth season.
Fitzlivia Gets (Even More) Complicated
[Tremendous spoiler alert]
Gasp! The president shot down the plane that was carrying Olivia’s mom! FITZ KILLED MRS. POPE! Well played, Shonda. That should add excitement to this week’s other big Fitz development, wherein Mellie asks Olivia to be his campaign manager. Now she’s stuck between working for her ex-boyfriend and working for the competition, a Wendy Davis clone played by Lisa Kudrow. We imagine the whole murdered-her-mom thing would sway her towards the latter option if she ever found out. Which, of course, she will.
Frances Conroy Comes Back With a Bang
Last season, Ms. Conroy went ultra-dignified, playing the kindly, rational Angel of Death. For Coven, though, it’s screaming match time. This week’s installment introduced us to Myrtle Snow, a bitter and self-righteous member of the Witches’ Council who’s out for Fiona’s head on a silver platter. Unfortunately, she’s once again unable to pin the murder of another witch on the current Supreme, so she settles for throwing a tantrum whilst rocking a truly excellent coat. Sucks for Myrtle, but we’re not complaining.
The Pete Holmes Show Premiered
Following in Conan’s footsteps both figuratively and literally (the two talk shows are back to back), comedian Pete Holmes debuted in his new hosting gig this week. It’s got a few kinks to work out, but the TBS show is a worthy addition to the late-night arena. The interviews in particular are a refreshing break from the norm, focusing on comics and more offbeat formats than the typical new book and/or movie chat. The pajama-clad girl talk with Allison Williams is a gem.
Chalky and Dunn Come to Blows
And the ensuing fight scene, pitting the distracted head gangster of Atlantic City’s African-American community against his turncoat henchman, is a doozy. The brutal physicality of the two men wrestling each other on the floor is gripping, as is the good ten seconds when Dunn has Chalky in a chokehold. Just when we start to believe Boardwalk is willing to axe one of its strongest players, Daughter Maitland busts in and stabs Dunn in the back. Looks like Narcisse’s strategy of using her as a distraction backfired.