For our TV series volume 7 review, we sit down at the court battle of President Kirkman as his cabinet invoked the 25th Amendment in Designated Survivor, the tech week at Stanton High in Rise, and and also we meet a young JFK in the year 2018 as the crew brings him back to the present in Timeless.

#6 The Flash: Lose Yourself

Geek Rate: Thief Worthy (2 out of 5 stars)

The past few weeks on The Flash have been pretty entertaining but not exactly seismic when it comes to story progression. Last week, we got a fluffy but fun Cisco episode along with a look at the burgeoning friendship between Ralph Dibny and Barry Allen. While Cisco’s promotion to full-fledged Breacher isn’t explored at all this week, the bond between Flash and Elongated Man takes center stage. And yes, the DeVoe storyline certainly progresses.

(http://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/the-flash/272714/the-flash-season-4-episode-18-review-lose-yourself)

#5 Designated Survivor: The 25th Amendment

Geek Rate: Mortal Worthy (3 out of 5 stars)

So President Kirkman kicked out agent Hannah Wells. So not wise Mr. President. It’s the 25th amendment battle this week and Kirkman pulled it off, though we’re not convinced of the reasons why he won the case. It was just not so real. The mystery of the hacking is also dragging like it is turning messy and a bit tiring. But the characters that made the show fun to watch is there, highlighting their loyalty to Kirman.

It’s always a good feeling when you watched shows about characters battling irritating foes, not like those scenes in Marvel and DC movies, but more like a battle in a courtroom, using the mind than strength. We are approaching the series finale and here’s hoping that the Designated Survivor could pull this one off like Kirkman because we really want another season. This show deserves it.

 

#4 Bull: Never Saw the Sign

Geek Rate: Sun god Worthy (4 out of 5 stars)

There’s something mesmerizing about watching this show. This is not your usual show where you could pause it. Okay so maybe you can but you’ll just find yourself so immersed in it that before you know it the show’s over.

Bull doesn’t have the qualities critics are looking for before they hand out awards, but the way the whole team of Dr. Bull works in unraveling their clients’ stories, the way it was presented, deserves an award in itself, despite the fact that it is so not real, Dr. Bull’s technic we mean.

We’re just in EP 7 of season 1, but this EP, and the others that we watched so far shows why Bull is captivating.

#3 Legion: Chapter 12

Geek Rate: Sun god Worthy (4 out of 5 stars)

The battle against the Shadow King has steadily intensified over the course of Legion’s second season, but writers Noah Hawley and Nathaniel Halpern ditch that overarching plot in “Chapter 12.” David Haller is on a psychic voyage through his girlfriend’s memories in this character study of Sydney Barrett, and the specific focus makes for a story that is leaner than the usual Legion episode but has significantly more emotional depth. This is the shortest chapter of the season thus far, and with the exception of an interlude showing Division 3 dealing with the aftermath of the monk’s death, most of these 42 minutes are spent inside Syd’s head.

(http://www.vulture.com/2018/04/legion-recap-season-2-episode-4.html)

#2 Timeless: President Kennedy in 2018

Geek Rate: Sky god Worthy (5 out of 5 stars)

We did not see it coming. Bringing the 17-year-old John F. Kennedy, THE President Kennedy, in 2018 was risky. Wyatt and Rufus and Flynn should be reprimanded. Or not.  So in this episode, the young JFK flees the bunker and discovered that he was indeed in 2018, and not in his 1934 school compound. He hitches a ride with some college students, attend a house party and suffered his usual stomach pains. Of course along the way he learned how things changed, all those technologies and stuff, but also he learned about the so-called “Kennedy curse.”

The vulnerability and the realness of JFK’s portrayal in this episode were amazing. It showed the real JFK, a timid young man who was so surprised to know that he was destined to be something great.

It’s always cool to meet historical figures along the way, but to meet them in their younger years, to see their weakness and strengths, of what made them who they were, are truly an unforgettable experience, and that’s what this show gives us. Thank you Timeless.

#1 Rise: This Will God Willing Get Better

Geek Rate: Sky god Worthy (5 out of 5 stars)

This show is unbelievable. It seemed to have perfected all the right moves to veer it from being just another Glee version and an afternoon drama soap opera. For some reason we view this show as a dark story, placing it in the category of those sad stories out there. The texture (are we using the term right?) seemed to be gray like it’s always will rain, even if it is sunny. But it bodes well with the theme of the show.

This is not an exclusively sad story. But this is not a cheesy, ridiculously-out-of-touch-with-reality story, this is real life, mirrored on the screen: Sunny with a hint of rain in the corner, or rainy days with a promise of sunlight.

So it’s tech week (kill me now as they say) in the latest episode with a cool title “This Will God Willing Get Better” and of course, all the tech and non-tech related problems sprang up as the cast of Spring Awakening rehearses. Ticket sales are at an all-time low and Mr. Mazzu, the director, is contemplating killing the show. What with that and Robbie’s (the lead) subpar acting, what could go wrong?

We are team Maashous Evers on this show, and honestly, he deserves a stand-alone story. But we love the other characters too, especially, Ms. Tracey Wolfe, the assistant director who was previously offered the director job before being replaced by Mr. Mazzu. Also, Coach Strickland who is undergoing a conflict with his family, and Mr. Mazzu’s son Gordy, who is battling his alcohol problem. Heck, we like them all.

If we just have one criticism about it is that sometimes we could not connect with the show’s story seeing that we do not live in the same world the characters are living in, but the individual stories of the individual characters mirrored our own stories in some level. The raw portrayal of their struggles and their dreams connects to the audience and that’s where the strength of this show lies.