TV Report Card of Fall 2013

Way back before the new tv season premiered, I made a list of some shows I looked forward to and some I was having my doubts about, both for new shows and returning favorites.  Here I wanted to take a look back at how some of these shows have fared this fall, plus add in a few new ones that have been caught on my personal radar or are generally buzzworthy right now.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
C 
C for consistently disappointing.  It has potential, but it frustratingly refuses to give audiences enough backstory or character personality for audiences to care about the stakes.  My standards for anything with the Whedon name on it is high, but even by normal standards it's not measuring up.  Give me characters I root for, give me real stakes, give me emotional depths. It's on the lower end of average as it stands right now.

How I Met Your Mother
B-  
I'm guessing a lot of people would want me to rate this much, much lower.  They have several understandable complaints, like the humor isn't what it used to be, or it feels dragged out and the season long wedding timeline makes it even more so, or similar complaints.  And they're right about humor but I still get a good number of laughs from most episodes, and it doesn't feel dragged out to me. I give it a B- because overall, it still has heart, which is why I fell in love with it in the first place: Barney just hugging Robin when he found out she was infertile, Barney's surprise for Robin, Marshall realizing he's never wanted to use a no questions asked with Lily, and every scene The Mother has been in.  This is why I'm still in, why even after bumpy episodes and even mostly bumpy seasons, this is still a show worth watching for me.

American Horror Story:
Splitscore: A+/C 
For what the show is and what an audience has learned to get out of it, the show is excellent.  Shocking every week with beautiful acting and cinematography and a compelling story that keeps you going WTF the whole hour long. When you accept it in this way, it's wonderful.  But as a general show?  I'm giving this a C because it's nonsense.  Characters do things that make no sense because it's just there for shock value and would look cool or gross or freaky.  One of these days, I will outline the parallels that show how AHS really is the Glee of the tv horror genre with characters being uncompromisingly stupid and storylines that come from nowhere and end in a place that makes even less sense. And let's face it, it's also kind of preachy.

Sleepy Hollow
A+
My favorite new gem, after a slightly shaky start, Sleepy Hollow has found its legs. I care about these characters so much already, because they have heart and backstory and personality and destiny they must face together (take note, S.H.I.E.L.D.) I'm not sure, at this point, that I'd change anything at all.

Back in The Game
B
My dear little show that couldn't.  Cancelled, but man I liked it.  It had heart and was cute and felt real, it was a nice break from all the raunchy, gritty, gutwrenching drama of television these days.  I could have grown old with you and those kids, BiTG. But viewers watched all that other gritty and raunchy stuff, and ABC just didn't give you the chance you needed to gain any ground.  At least they're airing all the episodes.

White Collar
A
Possibly more than any other show, I look forward to this the most each week.  Neal and Peter and their constant struggle to trust each other and solve crimes and grow is still compelling.  One step forward, two steps back for my favorite con. They have so much fun though, I don't even care if they tread over the same territory again and again, and they have just enough stakes to keep me engaged.

Legend of Korra
A-
Had an slow paced first half, but ended with a much appreciated bang, nice emotional moments, and a cameo by Uncle Iroh, who automatically bumps the entire season up a full letter grade.  Just wish I could have the new season now.

Bones
B-
A little stale.  Some nice comedy to get me through.  Pelant's end was anticlimactic, but the Booth and Bones wedding (with a nice callback to that Gravedigger note!) was sweet.  They've still got some juice to get them through the season.  Beyond that, I'm not sure we need another one (please, Bones, go out with pride, unlike CSI).

New Girl
B
Some people say that it's lost it's chemistry since Nick and Jess got together.  I disagree. And I've enjoyed the Coach addition. Schmidt could use some more strong storylines though. Overall, still very funny and sweet.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine
B
It's getting better.  Still finding itself, still needs to work on the main character of Jake and his general arrogance, but it's usually an enjoyable half hour.

Looking at this, it definitely seems like most of the shows I watch aren't doing too badly for the most part, but almost all of them could stand some improvement in various ways.