What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail (Season Finale)

Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail: Season 3, Episode 10 “End of the Trail” (B+)

Watching a season finale without knowing whether a show will be returning for another iteration is always a bit anxiety-producing, though in the case of this series, these characters are definitely going away, even if the actors might return for another season or two. It’s good to know that two of the show’s stars, Geraldine Viswanathan and Karan Soni, acted together in the film “7 Days,” indicating that further collaborations even outside this series might be possible. This was a pretty solid finale, one that tied up all the plotlines while still keeping the intrigue up until the end regarding whether it was all going to turn out okay or not. Todd treating all of the sex he was watching people have in front of him like a Netflix menu was an entertaining idea, and Ezekiel nearly managed to extract Prudence without him noticing, but naturally that plan didn’t pan out so perfectly. Prudence exacting a very particular form of revenge at the end was extremely fitting. Trig wanting to be bad just for the hell of it was a notion that was quelled by her father finally telling her that he loved her, something that she had always wanted to hear. Ezekiel’s bride first wishing that he would go to the good part of hell and then inviting him and Prudence along was a sign of how endearing his intentions are, and I greatly enjoyed getting to watch Ezekiel and Prudence on their extremely rocky road towards a happy relationship. I think I liked this season as much as I liked season one, and I’m definitely on board for a season four and beyond.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Daniel Radcliffe and Geraldine Viswanathan

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail

Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail: Season 3, Episode 9 “Stranded” (B+)

For as much as she would hate to admit it, Trig actually has much more in common with her father than she knows. The boredom he and the Gunslinger felt when they went to the saloon that had been reformed and now trafficked in politeness was similar to how Trig couldn’t stand robbing people who were so willing to give up their wallets because they were weighing down their pockets anyway. We didn’t see much of the governor, played by Bobby Moynihan from “Mr. Mayor,” but he was also ousted rather rapidly by an opportunistic and very intelligent Trig, who propped Todd up as a candidate that was obviously meant to be a stand-in for Trump. Prudence’s efforts to appeal to the townspeople first for her rescue and then not to vote for her captor and tormentor were entirely ineffective, and that last moment with the town in ruins was awfully bleak. Things weren’t much better for the crew that didn’t manage to make it to Oregon before winter and who were arguing over which one of them they should eat to ensure the survival of the rest. Ezekiel’s attitude was grim, and the sight of him munching on a foot and then everyone devouring the bloody bones of their dead caravan member was surprisingly gruesome. I like that Benny was the one who tried to rally them not to give up hope, pretending to be God in what I can only imagine was meant to be a nod to season one where that was the role Steve Buscemi played.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail

Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail: Season 3, Episode 8 “Over the Mountain” (B+)

Gullibility is a big part of how this season has functioned, but that’s also because there exist many situations in real life where people don’t ask questions if the answers seem convenient enough. Ezekiel and Prudence spending hours doing bible study together was the perfect cover, and I love that, even after their affair was exposed, Todd couldn’t understand how they had time to have sex with all the bible studying that they were doing. Ezekiel believing that his straying from God was what had caused the misfortunes of the group, like the possessed boy and a single lightning strike killing their lead ox, didn’t lead to good things, like his horrible torture device that would take all pleasure out of being with Prudence and his spontaneous prayer that got overheard by everyone around him. As Benny put on an enlightened act and pretended to have been reformed, Trig knew that couldn’t be the case, and she was smart to prey on the most susceptible member of the party, Todd, who sent their wagon straight off a cliff while he rode off with the band of criminals and a captive Prudence. Even though Benny is with them, the Gunslinger seems to have chosen his side, and so presumably we’ll spend the final two episodes of this season chasing after Trig and trying to rescue Prudence, which should be able to put Ezekiel back in everyone’s good graces and allow them some sort of happily ever after, if this show is feeling sappy.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail

Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail: Season 3, Episode 7 “White Savior” (B)

This episode really devoted its focus to Benny and the concept of the white savior, something he took as a positive thing rather than for the negative trope it’s always been, especially in media. His cluelessness is a big part of this show, and that’s why it worked well for him to march in and try to achieve things that the tribe wasn’t necessarily interested in and ultimately make it worse by failing to do so. Sheila might have had more fun with him if she didn’t find him so completely and intolerably irritating, and she nearly got him to simply walk away and not turn back, something that astounded the chief. Sheila’s admission of an enjoyment of scalping people made things a bit less serious, but I suppose I’ve never accused this show of being serious when it often devolves to immature humor in its mockery of how society functions and explains away its prejudices as just part of the way things are. While Benny wasn’t missed back at the camp, I did miss on a focus on the new hot couple who are eager to spend plenty of time together even though the circumstances of their close-quartered travel don’t quite allow for it. With just three episodes left in this particular anthology, I want to see what happens with Ezekiel and Prudence since I’m sure that both Daniel Radcliffe and Geraldine Viswanathan will go on to have great roles in the future, potentially even on this show, but I really like these two characters and would love to see them get whatever counts for a happy ending in this show’s universe.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail

Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail: Season 3, Episode 6 “Independence Rock” (B+)

I’m sure it was present in the first two seasons also, but I feel like I’m noticing a lot more allegory in the plotlines’ pointed relevance to modern times and issues. I enjoyed the fact that it was a love for July 4th and America in general that came between Ezekiel and his new bride, who were already having problems because he’s not quite as into praying as she is, a thought that wouldn’t have previously been conceivable for him. Just as Prudence pushed him first not to marry her and then convinced him to go through with it, she was there again trying to show him that he had to be himself, which he did, patriotic float and all. I didn’t expect that he and Prudence were going to actually realize and act on their feelings while his new marriage was still imploding, but I’m very happy to see it, since true romance isn’t something that typically happens on a mockery-centric show like this. Benny trying to compete with Trig to show everyone what a real outlaw was like didn’t go too well for him when he was about to blow up Uncle Sam, much to everyone’s horror, and I do enjoy the dynamic that this father and daughter have. The Gunslinger showing up to give Benny a hug rather than try to shoot or capture him because he doesn’t work on federal holidays was an entertaining moment, and I find their relationship very endearing too, made even better by the past parts the two actors have played on this show.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail

Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail: Season 3, Episode 5 “Meet the Noonans” (B+)

I enjoy the way that this show folds concepts into its episodes that make the world seem impossibly small and impossibly large at the same time, namely that Benny’s own daughter could rob them and that a giant religious convoy could show up from out of nowhere. I’m a big fan of Tim Meadows, who previously appeared in a season one episode of this show in a different role, and I had to go and watch his famous Chili’s meeting clip from “The Office” before I could write this review. I loved his reaction to the horrifying revelation from Prudence that Ezekiel often stayed up until nine thirty and his emphasis on the three feet and three inches of space to be left for God. The bachelor party with a “dresser” putting on more clothes was absolutely absurd but pretty funny too. It was good that Prudence spoke up to make sure that Ezekiel wasn’t forever trapped in a boring marriage, but then she had to go ahead and undo it all to get the wedding to happen in the end. That’s certainly not the end of the romance, and she’s going to regret that decision for a while. I was happy to see Quinta Brunson back as Benny’s very frustrated daughter Trig, who would probably get along well with Prudence given that she’s much more about organization and planning than her haphazard father. I liked the Gunslinger’s attempt to save himself by suggesting letting the captive go and then wondering aloud who said it.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail

Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail: Season 3, Episode 4 “What Happens in Branchwater” (B+)

Going off the trail to make a stop in a town that’s pretty much the era’s equivalent of modern-day Las Vegas hardly seemed like a good idea, but the big surprise in store was that it’s a much more PG-friendly, polite operation that no one looking for a bit of adventure wanted to distract themselves from the monotony of the journey. It was a fun chance, most of all, for Benny and the Gunslinger to bond over a yearning for the good old days where they could get a steak and keep their guns while in the saloon. This did remind me of a recent “Legends of Tomorrow” episode where there was a place like this which turned out to be controlled by an alien, but that obviously wasn’t the case here, just a man who allowed maturity and family to point him in a much better direction. The yearning they both felt for the game they used to play was entertaining, and I’m glad that, after the Gunslinger finished his count, they’re back to the hunt. Todd did a terrible job of gambling, which wasn’t surprising, while Prudence moved on to her next career aspiration by dressing up as a prostitute. The snake oil that wasn’t snake oil that Ezekiel drank gave him some courage he could very much use, but unfortunately it motivated him to make the wrong move on Prudence that is likely to quash any future hope of the two of them having a romance. Daniel Radcliffe surely had fun making this episode.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail

Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail: Season 3, Episode 3 “Hunting Party” (B+)

I’m loving the wealth of opportunities for different characters to interact with one another in this season, and this episode offered plenty of that. It’s unfortunate that Ezekiel took what Prudence said about him the way that Benny interpreted it rather than as the compliment she meant it as, and as a result he felt the need to prove his manliness by going along with them. Just as Prudence is the voice of reason, so too is Ezekiel, who pointed out that the buffalo were large, slow-moving targets that didn’t require much in the way of skill to accurately shoot. Bears, on the other hand, are a bit more menacing, and as painstakingly recounted in the episode-ending funeral, not everyone made it back alive. Prudence asking Benny to train her to be a bandit was an entertaining exercise, one that involved surprisingly few conclusions, namely that it’s a good idea to just start shooting, not that Benny was prepared to do that when he just suggested that they die when they were under siege. Prudence’s eagerness to redo her entrance and show just how much of a natural she was proved entertaining. I was also excited to see the Gunslinger again, whose joke about also being a bounty hunter went over poorly but who was very well-armed under that fur coat of his that he decided to still buy after Benny and Prudence got away. I expect we’ll see plenty of him again, though he’ll always be a step behind the somehow still-alive Benny.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail

Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail: Season 3, Episode 2 “Fording the River” (B+)

I do appreciate that, three years in, this show is still finding new ways to send up both history and modernity and keeping it relatively fresh. Todd deciding to take the nearby ferry so that he wouldn’t get wet and not even considering the fact that he might be able to take something heavy along with him so that the rest of the group didn’t have to literally leave someone behind to die was just the beginning of the absurdity, and I enjoyed that they met a couple of hipster tourists there who were all about taking pictures without actually doing any of the activities portrayed in them. Leave it to Prudence to notice that the woman kept saying “hashtag” and other modern expressions, something explained by her husband as insanity as a result of being kicked in the head by a horse (or was it a horseshoe?). I also liked that Prudence’s departure meant that they no longer wanted to swing, and that Todd was informed that he would have been watching at best had she stayed. Prudence pushing him into the water after she saved Ezekiel from drowning was a great moment, and everyone being surprised by how strong she was underlines the demeaning misconceptions about female ability in the era (and now). Benny trying to figure out what game Ezekiel was running as he was drowning was entertaining, as was his eagerness to show Ezekiel that he didn’t have any good nature in him, like saving someone from a fire just to then rob and shoot him. But they are starting to get along, and that’s fun to see.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail (Season Premiere)

Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail: Season 3, Episode 1 “Hittin’ the Trail” (B+)

I’ve missed this show, and I honestly had no idea it was coming back for a third season until I see a billboard for it while driving around LA. I like that, once again, there’s a potential romance in store for Daniel Radcliffe and Geraldine Viswanathan’s characters, though the stakes are different in that he’s an old-fashioned reverend and she’s a typically ahead-of-her-time woman surrounded by unbelievably dumb men, including a husband played by Jon Bass, who in season two portrayed her brother. I’m also so happy to see Karan Soni as the bounty hunter who was easily tricked into having his photo taken so that they could free Benny the Teen, especially since he and Viswanathan anchored a wonderful comedy that played at Tribeca called “7 Days” that I would highly recommend. As usual, Buscemi is perfectly cast, and I like that he’s back to the more prominent kind of role that he had in season one, and that it comes with attitude and personality, plus no remorse for having killed many men, women, and children, most of whom didn’t deserve to die, much to Ezekiel’s chagrin. I enjoyed the minimal parody of the current pandemic with Ezekiel’s acknowledgment that no one was actually staying six feet apart even with cholera rampant and his unfortunate use of the phrase “Put your hands up where the sun don’t shine.” I like that this season will be on the move and that they can constantly encounter new places and scenarios, and I’m excited to see what humor lies ahead.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Dark Ages (Season Finale)

Miracle Workers: Dark Ages: Season 2, Episode 10 “Moving Out: Part Two” (B+)

This season ended in exactly the way it should have, allowing its characters to only get slightly smaller in outsmarting the kingdom that wanted to kill them all. Eddie suggesting that the media always exaggerates these things and that, if things got really bad, they could always go down to his siege shelter was indicative of the absurd backwards logic that sometimes prompts people not to act until it’s much too late. I like that it was Eddie who, without knowing it, helped to save the day with the poisonous rock sprouts he had given Al earlier and which managed to convince the plague-hating Princess Vicki that it wasn’t even worth killing these peasants. Al being nominated to be the lone survivor was a good boost to her self-confidence, and she returned the favor right away by hatching a plan to save them. This was the most redeeming hour for Chauncley, who immediately suggested taking the peasants to his father’s armored pleasure yacht capable of holding a village. Cragner expressing the feeling of being completely happy with everything in his life demonstrated his disconnect with the plight of others to the degree of even getting Lord Vexler to abandon ship and come back to help. The final scene of Al calming Chauncley as they set off into the dark woods in search of Paris was great. This has been a fun season, and even though it wasn’t always so hilarious, it was entertaining, and I’d be up for a third iteration.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Daniel Radcliffe as Chauncley

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Dark Ages

Miracle Workers: Dark Ages: Season 2, Episode 9 “Moving Out: Part One” (B)

It was strange to see our two main characters not interact at all in this episode, especially after they experienced such an unfortunate and awkward split in the face of unspoken affection in the previous episode. There hasn’t been nearly as much of a focus on Eddie as the season has gone on, and we’ve barely seen him at work. Instead, he was trying to be all fancy, enlisting the help of his dimwitted son to convince Al that she shouldn’t leave for the intellectual haven of Paris because she could find all the culture she needed right at home. I’m not sure where Lower Mercford is supposed to be, but based on the accents, it’s unlikely that Paris could indeed be reached by wagon. Al’s romance imploded quite speedily when she ran back to save her family, and now she’ll likely turn to the prince for help, though in this case he’s actually on the side of the peasants because they’re part of his kingdom that now finds itself under siege. His arranged marriage wasn’t all that bad since they had a good amount in common, and he was certain that he didn’t have the plague (naturally, the wealthy get screened regularly, a potent analogy to the real-life pandemic and discretionary access to testing for those with means). She did understand when he said that he couldn’t marry her, but the urgency with which she called her soldiers to battle to slaughter everyone in the kingdom was a bit dramatic. We’ll see how it all shapes up in the finale.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Dark Ages

Miracle Workers: Dark Ages: Season 2, Episode 8 “First Date” (B)

I compared this season to “Galavant” in my review of the premiere, and this episode opening with a song about how awkward Al and Chauncley are made it feel very much like that. It was sweet – and uncomfortable – to watch as Chauncley struggled to identify their relationship, unsure of whether they should purchase the lovers’ special or two single tickets. I remember encountering the same debacle when the only options to send flowers on Valentine’s Day in high school were secret admirer, friend, or love, and I made the wrong choice to send the love ones to a crush who I thought knew my feelings (it didn’t end badly, but it was incredibly awkward). Fresh from defending the archaic laws of the royal court, Vexler did his best to help the poor prince clarify his feelings, which manifested as extreme jealousy and played out in cringe-worthy fashion, namely when Chauncley gave Al money to distract her from the newfound object of her affection. Al probably should have been able to read the situation better given that she’s much smarter than anyone else, but hopefully they’ll be able to get back to a good place and actualize their romance in the two remaining episodes. Eddie being slow to defend his new friend from discrimination wasn’t a home run, and the news being squawked by a madwoman also felt like an odd and irreverent choice. I did like that Al and Archibald bonded over their shared controversial opinion that the Earth revolves around the sun, and that Chauncley tried to be part of the conversation by pointing out that the moon also exists.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Dark Ages

Miracle Workers: Dark Ages: Season 2, Episode 7 “Day in Court” (B+)

I liked this episode a lot because it managed its absurdity in a great way, framing its ridiculousness with a great overarching love story that I think actually eclipses the one from the first season. Chauncley was so worried when he walked into his father and spilled pudding on him that he was going to get thrashed, and instead the new therapy patient wanted to take a walk and do a puzzle with him, aware that he hadn’t been a warm parent up until then. Their bonding was going well until Chauncley saw an obvious trigger with an insult about the state of the kingdom, and any progress made was completely undone by the time he burned down his therapist’s house for charging him for the full hour and made it clear just how much he hated his son for doing what he did for Al. Fortunately, that didn’t stop him from intervening to try to help her, bringing all the books from the library to her home, and then sanctioning the marriage between the goat and Eddie to save his life. Coming to dinner to eat the vegetables still labeled as exhibits was a nice way to end what only Eddie thinks has been a relaxed past few weeks. Lord Vexler was having fun putting on a show in this episode, assembling a jury made up entirely of goat-herders, sucking up to the judge by giving him goat’s milk, and publishing a book allegedly written by the goat called “If I Ate It.” This show does enjoy hitting as many targets as possible.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Dark Ages

Miracle Workers: Dark Ages: Season 2, Episode 6 “Music Festival” (B+)

This episode was primarily about two things: friendship and romance. Al just wanted to spend time with a friend who she feels has other things going on, and Chauncley was determined to impress the girl he has eyes for and to not be like his father in the process. I’ve enjoyed watching Lolly Adefope on this show and “Shrill” simultaneously, and she really has the perfect delivery for the absurd versions of the professions we know well, like marketing executive, that represent devout beliefs that, upon the slightest bit of examination, should be seriously questioned. I wasn’t quite as into the no tongue jokes about Trish – probably because they were too reminiscent of similarly medieval but far more disturbing practices featured in “The Handmaid’s Tale” – but the overall message about Al being jealous about Maggie having other things going on in her life resounded. Fred Armisen was a humorous and fitting choice to play the musician so obsessed with his own creative process that he didn’t want to deliver on what he had been hired to do, and I like that Chauncley hulked out only when he realized that was what it would take for him to ensure Al’s happiness. His desire to help people, namely the peasants and Al, rather than to crush them like his father continues to do with his skull demonstration, is positive, and Lord Vexler seems to be realizing that the idiot he always had to babysit may be capable of much more good than he ever realized.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Dark Ages

Miracle Workers: Season 2, Episode 5 “Holiday” (B)

I’m always excited to see who gets cast in guest roles since it’s a great opportunity for engaging talent that might not otherwise be available for a regular gig. I’m not sure who I expected to be playing Uncle Bert, but the choice of Kevin Dunn was decent, even if he was much funnier in “Veep” and “Samantha Who.” This was definitely another instance of reflecting modern-day issues through medieval metaphors, with Al ultimately shutting down her rude and chauvinistic uncle with a truth that stung way too much, no longer considered trading barbs and more just being mean. Since Al continues to be the most intelligent and coherent person on this show, she of course was able to be the bigger person and apologize, especially after her affable father pretty much froze up in the face of conflict. The dim-witted Mikey really endures a lot because of his trust in other people, but at least he seems to enjoy himself. What I liked most about this episode was Chauncley’s eagerness to lighten up the tension in his family, having them move from stiff, formal handshakes to icebreakers, but that didn’t work so well, resulting in his father murdering all of his relatives. Fortunately, he was able to find the energy he needed, if not necessarily the proper teammates, to let off some steam and just have fun being with people for the sake of human interaction rather than needing to stand on ceremony and pretend to be having a good time.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Dark Ages

Miracle Workers: Dark Ages: Season 2, Episode 4 “Internship” (B)

Prince Chauncley is really trying to be one of the people, complaining about his rough week in the castle with disappointing bath salts with the peasants and accidentally setting someone’s wig on fire. Lord Vexler was smart to give him a job to keep him busy that just happened to help him learn something about humanity and kindness, though the effectiveness of the lesson was reduced somewhat by Vexler threatening Eddie with death if he gave the prince any negative feedback. Despite some unfortunate pyromaniac tendencies and his ill-fated bear alert task force, Chauncley did seem to enjoy his day of hard work, so genuinely happy to be addressed as a normal person and then even going so far as to use his own spoon to feed himself when he was back at the palace for dinner. If he’s not too bright, then Mikey is even less intelligent, instantly conned by the merry band gang because he was so desperate for friendship and trapped in an infinite loop of confusion about what’s actually valuable. Fortunately, Al was able to take some time out from her book club to help him exact a bit of revenge on the band for coming into their home and stealing all of their valuables. I suspect they’ll be back again in the future to create more trouble, but it’s also possible that the antics on this show will cover many different forms of stupidity in our present-day society mirrored back at us through this medieval lens.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Dark Ages

Miracle Workers: Dark Ages: Season 2, Episode 3 “Road Trip” (B+)

It’s very clear that the only two intelligent people on this show are Al and Lord Vexler, and neither of them get much credit for their manifestation of original and productive ideas. Vexler got in the king’s good graces when he suggested a tax workaround involving claiming the peasants as his dependents, and that set him up pretty well. Being forced to bring Chauncley along with him to sign the diplomatic treaty seemed like a real punishment, but unfortunately he misread the situation and thought that the bro bonding Chauncley did with Prince Ya-Shayn was unproductive rather than exactly what was needed. It was nice to see Chauncley grow a lot and take the blame for the failure of the treaty, even going so far as to praise Vexler’s handling of the situation so that it didn’t get worse, something that didn’t seem like it would work when the king asked for clarification on just what happened. I did enjoy the human party playlist, though the closing black-and-white bummer remix was quite creepy. Eddie bringing Al with him to the convention totally upended his feeling that he was a trailblazer in his industry, and his resistance to the notion of the hole was strong. Planting snakes in the holes of his previously loyal customers was devious, and fortunately the whole experience ended up as a way for him to learn more about how the holes can work and to expand his business to removing snakes from holes and all that.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers: Dark Ages

Miracle Workers: Dark Ages: Season 2, Episode 2 “Help Wanted” (B)

I almost forgot about this show’s regular time slot after seeing the first episode of the season at the Sundance Film Festival a few weeks ago, but fortunately I remembered just in time to post this review before episode three airs tomorrow night. I wasn’t entirely sure about the reframe of this show after its first season focus on God and his do-gooder minions, and there’s definitely an air of stupidity very prevalent in this new setup. I understand that the idea is to mock how stupid people can be, like Al giving the right scientific answer to a question only to be told that the true trivia response is something much more unbelievably inane that’s not even close to right. Getting a job as a doctor was a big score, but unfortunately she was too honest to turn that into the legitimate medicine it could have been, only managing to stop her totally incompetent boss from telling people to cut off and eat body parts to cure things like the common cold. I can tell this is going to be a cyclical and frustrating season, one filled with moments like Al being told that she made others jealous before getting relentlessly mocked just a short time later. Mikey was all too willing to give up his prized duck when Vexler suggested that Chauncley lie to him, and the idiotic prince grew just a little bit when he realized that he’d have to be the one to dealt with his guilt rather than ordering someone else to do it for him. Concluding that the best thing to do with his two coats was to carry one wasn’t quite the same accomplishment, but it’s minor progress. On the guest star front, I immediately recognized actor Jamie Demetriou from “Four Weddings and a Funeral” by his voice when he was interviewing Al about her big exposé.

What I’m Watching: Miracle Workers (Season Premiere)

Miracle Workers: Dark Ages: Season 2, Episode 1 “Graduation” (B)

I had the chance to screen this episode last week at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, my only sampling of television but a very worthwhile one. I liked the first season of this show because of its creative approach to the ideas of an “answered prayers” department in heaven that could only do very small things like blow a leaf. This second season is totally different, and I think that it’s definitely gotten a bit less sophisticated. That said, it was absolutely hilarious hearing from series creator Simon Rich and several members of the cast, and I can tell that they’re all about the parody, which should hopefully make this show somewhat funnier. Rich emphasized that it’s not a medieval comedy that’s supposed to mimic “Game of Thrones” but instead that setting which brings the light the issues of our time. Each character having a last name that explains their family profession, like Pervert or Shitshoveler, is clever, and I definitely like the performances by Steve Buscemi and Geraldine Viswanathan. Daniel Radcliffe seems to be having fun too as the hapless prince who has no idea what he’s in for, and I’m ready to get into what this season is offering. Alexandra helping her father to elongate the shoveler they use is the first productive act against their fate, and I hope for such similarly helpful and humorous workarounds in the near future. I’d like to see a little less outright stupidity, but I’m confident that this show can deliver, even if it’s in a way similar to that of “Galavant” in the past.