If We Controlled Your Remote… 2/8/17

Have you ever been at a loss as to what to watch? Too many shows to pick from? We’re here to give you our opinions on what we feel is worth watching. Check it out and then let us know in the comments below what you’re choosing for tonight!

Kyle’s Choice

Tonight, FX enters the world of Marvel Television with its new series, Legion, based on characters from the New Mutants comic. David Haller (Dan Stevens, Downton Abbey) has been confined to the Clockwork Psychiatric Hospital for the past 6 years, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He has been seeing and hearing things ever since he was a young boy and believes he may even have telekinetic abilities. He finds it difficult to tell the difference between what is real and what is not. When he’s not trying to convince those in charge that he’s ready to be released, David spends his days in the common room with best friend and fellow patient Lenny (Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation). That is, until he meets kindred spirit Syd Barrett (Rachel Keller, Fargo), a new patient with whom it’s love at first sight. Through flashbacks and interviews, we not only learn more about how David got to this point, but the series also sets up a much larger, more interesting mystery about what’s really going on in the present.

The series comes from writer/director Noah Hawley (Fargo) and has a very unique, stylized look and feel that reminded me of 60s spy film meets The Prisoner. Add to that a soundtrack that goes anywhere from unsettling string music to 60s rock music, and you’ve got a very interesting viewing experience. The premiere really builds the mystery and tension throughout, while also adding in a bit of humor here and there. I found myself constantly trying to put together the pieces, and just when I thought I had things figured out, there would be some new twist. But by the end of tonight’s premiere, I was completely sold on the series and can’t wait to see what happens next. It felt like I was watching the formation of a new X-Men team.

Dan Stevens is fantastic in this role – I didn’t even recognize him and was shocked at the end to see his name pop up in the credits. The rest of the cast also includes Jean Smart (Fargo), Mackenzie Gray (LoliRock), Katie Aselton (The League), Jeremie Harris, and Amber Midthunder.

On tonight’s extended-length premiere, “Chapter 1,” a troubled young man battling mental illness wonders if the visions he experiences are real following a strange encounter with a fellow patient.

See if David connects with reality tonight on FX at 10/9c.

I’ll also be watching/recording The Goldbergs, Speechless, Modern Family, black-ish, Match Game, Hunted, Criminal Minds, Arrow, The 100, Spy in the Wild: A Nature Miniseries, Workaholics, Jeff & Some Aliens, Man Seeking Woman, The Magicians, The Expanse, and Suits.
 
Jump with us to see else we think you should watch.
 

Megan’s Choice

I am sad that it’s the season finale of Code Black already, because it is by far one of my favorite dramas on television lately. Last week’s episode left us on the edge of our seats when the ER was put under quarantine because of an outbreak of a deadly disease. It was a horribly sad episode, and we had to watch Heather die while her friends stood by, unable to do anything for her. Now this week, we hope to find out if the rest of the team lives or dies.

On tonight’s episode, “Fallen Angels,” the doctors work with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to find an antidote to the deadly viral outbreak at Angels Memorial. Also, Leanne makes a life-changing decision, and Jesse welcomes a new batch of residents.

To find out if the team can make it through this outbreak, tune in to CBS at 10/9c.

I’ll also be watching Criminal Minds, Blindspot, Hunted, Lethal Weapon, Star, The Magicians, Match Game, and Chicago PD.
 

Jenny’s Choice

My husband and I have really been enjoying Hunted, the show where teams of two are told they have an hour to get packed and get on the run, and then they’ll be hunted like real fugitives by a group of former law enforcement, military, and the like. The goal is to escape capture for 28 days. If they can do that, they win $250,000. So far, we’ve seen one team make 18 days. I felt so bad when they were caught, but like all the others, it was mainly because of silly or stupid little mistakes. Another team (two cute, young, single guys) made it 12 days by staying totally off the grid. They basically just used their looks and charm on girls at the beach to find places to stay each night. It worked beautifully…until it didn’t. The trackers put out a “wanted” notice on dating apps, like Tinder, and unfortunately, the sister of one of the people they stayed a night with actually turned them in because there was some sort of reward given. (Which is my only real issue with the show. LOL)

I like this better than I thought I would when it first started, because when they started showing more than one team of fugitives at a time, I thought it would get confusing. But they do a good job of breaking it up so it’s easy to focus on one team at a time, and they only have a few times going at once. They don’t introduce a new team until one team has been captured. It’s fun to see what law enforcement can do to track them and even more fun to try to figure out what the fugitives can do to evade capture. I’ve got a couple of teams I’m really rooting for at this point, but I know there are a few teams left to begin, so I’m anxious to see more! One of the most interesting teams right now are Aarif Mirza and Immad Ahmed, Muslim friends. Given the political climate, I find it intriguing to have two men with their names and looks being “hunted” and having their names and faces on what amount to wanted posters. Wouldn’t that be dangerous, given that some people might “shoot first, read/think second” or whatever? I like Aarif and Immad, so I’m hoping they can get out of the situation they’re currently in, where the plan they had was caught on to really quickly by the trackers!

On tonight’s episode, “Fight, Flight or Freeze,” one fugitive team is forced to rethink their plans when a tropical storm impedes their escape, and Aarif and Immad try to keep up their energy while observing the daily sundown-to-sunrise fast during Ramadan.

See which teams do well and which teams fall tonight on CBS at 8/7c.

I’ll also be watching/DVRing Blindspot, Cutthroat Kitchen, The Goldbergs, Lethal Weapon, Cooks vs Cons, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Modern Family, Property Brothers, black-ish, Bakers vs Fakers, Match Game, Six, & Chicago PD.

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One Response to If We Controlled Your Remote… 2/8/17

  1. […] Tonight, FX enters the world of Marvel Television with its new series, Legion, based on characters from the New Mutants comic. David Haller (Dan Stevens, Downton Abbey) has been confined to the Clockwork Psychiatric Hospital for the past 6 years, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He has been seeing and hearing things ever since he was a young boy and believes he may even have telekinetic abilities. He finds it difficult to tell the difference between what is real and what is not. When he’s not trying to convince those in charge that he’s ready to be released, David spends his days in the common room with best friend and fellow patient Lenny (Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation). That is, until he meets kindred spirit Syd Barrett (Rachel Keller, Fargo), a new patient with whom it’s love at first sight. Through flashbacks and interviews, we not only learn more about how David got to this point, but the series also sets up a much larger, more interesting mystery about what’s really going on in the present… […]