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, True Detective and Johnny Weir both turn some heads.
True Detective‘s Tracking Shot
The fangirling began as soon as the miniseries’ fourth episode ended, and justifiably so. Director Cary Fukunaga engineered six nonstop minutes of Matthew McConaughey tearing through a gunfight, filmed in a single continuous take. It’s a jaw-dropping technical achievement, and one of the few examples of a director leaving a distinctive stamp on a television series, rather than a writer or executive producer. Halfway through its first season, True Detective has already executed one of the more memorable television action sequences in recent memory.
Linda Cardellini Arrives on New Girl
She’s Jess’ sister! Fresh off her Serious Role as Don Draper’s latest mistress on Mad Men, the Freaks and Geeks star gets to flex her comedy chops again on the Fox sitcom. As Abby, she’s the apartment’s latest housemate, promising a substantive character arc rather than a novelty-cast guest-star stint. After Prince, what New Girl needs is some genuine fresh blood, not a famous face.
Pretty Little Liars Goes Noir
Thank God for television; how else would we know that popping an Adderall can magically transport you, your friends, and your entire affluent suburb into a black-and-white ’40s movie? Rosewood takes a trip back in time this week as Spencer trippily hallucinates her way through the latest twist in the ever-evolving mystery that is this show. Genre episodes are tons of fun, particularly on shows where we don’t necessarily expect them (looking at you, Community). A lovingly executed homage, “Shadow Play” is a delightful deviation from the teen soap’s typical fare.
Johnny Weir’s Outfits
Easily the most memorable part of Sochi thus far. My personal favorite was the hot pink, but the sequins are a close second. (Seriously, though: it’s wonderful to see an Olympic commentator assert some personality, particularly an out gay man in Russia.)
Netflix Celebrates Valentine’s in Style
Don’t pretend you’re celebrating V-Day any other way.