What I’m Watching: Westworld

Westworld: Season 2, Episode 2 “Reunion” (B+)

Normally, I’m not so fond of missing certain characters for episodes at a time, especially after we saw Bernard and Charlotte for the majority of the season premiere. But there’s so much to be discovered here, and we’re also getting to understand how Westworld came about, getting its original funding and then evolving into something else. There were so many new faces in this episode worth noting, though I also realized that there’s someone who starred in season one that I now identified as Ben Barnes from “The Punisher,” portraying Logan, who apparently had quite the fall after William usurped him in the company. Peter Mullan made an impression as James Delos, Logan’s father and William’s father-in-law, and he’s all about the profitability and idea of this place rather than the emphasis on indulging personal fantasies. I was very pleased to see Zahn McClarnon, from “Longmire” and “Fargo,” as a host who came on the original sales pitch to Logan, and Jonathan Tucker, from “Justified” and “Parenthood,” as another host who Dolores killed then resurrected to join her cause. We also had a brief appearance by Giancarlo Esposito of “Breaking Bad” fame as a host able to command his entire army to commit suicide at Ford’s behest so that the older William would have to continue to try to solve the maze himself. Dolores explaining to Teddy that what they’re looking for is not a place but a weapon is mighty intriguing, and as usual, I’m on board but totally confused.

What I’m Watching: Wet Hot American Summer (Season Premiere)

Wet Hot American Summer: Season 2, Episode 1 “Reunion” (C+)

I guess this is technically a series premiere, since it’s considered the sequel to the 2001 movie whereas the first season of this series is actually a prequel. Yet I think it’s hard to separate the two and that they shouldn’t be considered separately. This opening installment was full of introductions, with everyone coming back to camp exactly when they said they would and being received by an enthusiastic shouting of their names in case anyone forgot. I’ll admit that I barely remember anything from the first season, and I decided to tune in to this premiere only because I invested so much time in watching the entire first season. This installment helped me realize that this just isn’t my humor, and while some of it is a tiny bit amusing, most of it just doesn’t click. I like the addition of Adam Scott as the replacement for Bradley Cooper, who repeatedly mentioned his nose job as an excuse for his completely different appearance. I also recognized Jai Courtney right away, who’s a fish out of water who I guess wanted to come join in on this ridiculous camp reunion. The adults are now at least playing adults rather than teenagers, yet Beth is still treating them all like they’re children, separating them by gender in bunks and threatening anyone who sneaks out with a promise to revoke night swim privileges. And just in case things weren’t ridiculous enough, there’s an underground bunker which seems to be some kind of spy site. I think this has been enough of this show for me.

What I’m Watching: Casual

Casual: Season 2, Episode 10 “Reunion” (B+)

It seems to me that one of the reasons that Alex isn’t okay with Sarah having moved in so suddenly and completely is that he isn’t actually trying to spend any time with her. If he gave the relationship a chance rather than freaking out about how fast it was all moving when he just wanted to entice her away from Jordan, things might have worked out. That said, she did seem oddly rigid on staying in a situation that only she decided was better for her than anything else while her family insisted that she was making a mistake leaving the respectable, successful Jordan for the mess that is Alex. The truth came out eventually, and Sarah’s words were harsh but deserved. Now I’m not sure what Alex will do, since texting Valerie from Laura’s phone was very manipulative and he only made things worse by blaming her for invading his home and breaking up his relationship with Emmy. Valerie’s time away with Jack really was like a honeymoon, but to have the magic end with him being out of town for a few weeks was truly lackluster. Laura is investing herself fully in this relationship with Spencer, watching sad movies about kids dying of cancer, something she probably thinks will help prepare her for his imminent death but surely can’t in fact do that. It’s going to be devastating to see her realize that, and I suspect she might go to Aubrey for comfort, a move that likely will be met with more hostility than support.

What I’m Watching: Ben and Kate (Thanksgiving Episode #2)

Ben and Kate: Season 1, Episode 8 “Reunion” (B+)

It’s no surprise that this hometown show would feature a Thanksgiving high school reunion which would directly involve Ben, Kate, and Tommy. Kate’s long-standing anger at her role competitor who nicknamed her “Junk Face” was entertaining, as was Will’s enthusiasm for having her compete, abruptly suggesting a sing-off as if it was the logical solution to any problem. Tommy’s grand entrance on roller skates was perfectly timed to create another “Junk Face” situation that was funny but didn’t take too much focus from the rest of the episode. That was devoted to the sham marriage between Ben and BJ, which makes sense on a lot of levels. Ben’s concern at her finding out and subsequent overwhelming desire to tell her was amusing, and I like that it all came out because BJ felt the need to call Kate a sister, prompting her to suspect that something was up. Ben’s reaction to BJ’s matter-of-fact explanation that it wasn’t actually a green card marriage was priceless, and BJ does a marvelous job of revealing life-altering facts like her Texas birthplace in completely casual ways. Maddie had a fun role in the events of the episode as well, most memorably in her suggestion to Tommy that he lose the afro. I enjoyed his deep concern with making a big entrance, something that I might have expected Ben to be equally invested in if he weren’t already so popular and he had less on his mind than revealing to his sister that he was married to her best friend.

What I’m Watching: Burn Notice

Burn Notice: Season 6, Episode 7 “Reunion” (B+)

This crew never seems to be able to focus on one thing, as Sam and Jesse are pulled away to help out Elsa’s son Evan while Michael and Fiona focus on tracking down a presumed-guilty Rebecca. It’s interesting to hear Evan profess the fact that this was his mess and Sam and Jesse didn’t need to be involved, since we know that it’s the furthest thing from the Michael Weston and Company philosophy to leave people to deal with their own messes. After taking their stolen loot on the road from those that had commissioned the sale, namely Richard Burgi’s angry loan shark, Sam and Michael did pull their usual distraction-heavy scenario, in which they called the other bad guys to come track down this set of bad guys, allowing them to escape unscathed. It’s great that Michael isn’t even phased when he receives a semi-frantic phone call from Sam about needing immediate assistance, and this crew is better at improvising than almost anything else. Rebecca’s simultaneous disappearance didn’t bode well as Michael and Fiona invaded the shop operated by Greg Pitts’ greedy donut-eater but then got their sting operation ruined by an overzealous hand-raising visitor. Rebecca coming by Michael’s loft to explain that she wasn’t the one who killed Nate – or Anson – sure suggests her innocence, but that just means that Michael now has a faceless new enemy to track down, with one family member no longer with him but the very useful and determined Fiona back by his side.