What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 5, Episode 8 “Hammertime” (B-)

I opted right before I watched this episode to stop watching and reviewing “Covert Affairs” since it no longer held my attention, even a slow summer, in the midst of more intense dramas. I thought that this series, made for the summer, would be immune to the apparently decreasing affection I seem to have for USA shows lately (“Burn Notice” exempted), but I now do feel that I might not need to continue watching this show. While once I might have thought that things were neatly contained and this was a surprisingly decent comedic medical drama, I think there’s far too much going on right now for it to be appealing on a weekly basis. Jeremiah, for instance, didn’t even appear in this hour, and to have a solely Boris-focused episode immediately after HankMed got acquired is a faux pas. Hank not being able to treat patients in his home should now be irrelevant because he’ll have a state-of-the-art facility he can use. Divya’s pregnancy is really being dragged out, with her constantly coming face-to-face with parallels about family and love. This episode was bizarrely structured as a (tame) horror movie of sorts, with a highly unnecessary series of recalled flashbacks from Paige’s perspective about how they hatched their self-congratulatory plan to stage an auction just to get Milos’ attention. I do hope that Russell and Paige were well-compensated for the ruse, and I suppose it’s worthwhile to note that Milos’ homicidal tendencies all led back to a medical diagnosis.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 5, Episode 7 “Chock Full O’ Nuts” (B+)

All of this show’s plotlines are converging as Milos’ U.S. arrival grows ever nearer and nothing moves forward on Evan’s campaign while he encounters problems in his personal life. Everything involving Milos is very much in the background of the show and certainly this episode, but when Shelby casually mentioned that she got a call from Hungary, it completed changed the tone of the episode. Hopefully Paige’s carefully-catalogued auction will be effective enough to get Milos on a plane, but I suspect that there’s trouble in store for the Lawson brothers before that happens. It’s pretty monumental that HankMed has now officially been acquired, but this installment was much more about the process of getting there and the unexpected romantic entanglement between Shelby and Keller. It was good to see Josh Cooke, recently seen on “Dexter” and “Better With You,” as the spin instructor experiencing symptoms of his own, and to see Hank connect as he always does with someone he meets in some random situation. On the home front, Divya staging a violent choking fit in Jeremiah’s kitchen was probably ill-advised, but it’s nice to see that he’s trying to adapt to having other people in his life. Evan and Paige’s fight was pretty miserable, but it’s reassuring to see that Evan knows exactly how to atone for his mistakes. They’re one power couple who would be well-served to stay happy with each other because they seem to be connected to just about anyone in the Hamptons and could surely get a lot done together.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 5, Episode 6 “Can of Worms” (B+)

There’s nothing quite as dramatic as someone being impaled by an umbrella, even on a show with regularly-occurring outrageous cases as this one. It was a particularly poor coincidence for Evan in the middle of his campaign rally as his number one heckler was the victim, but, all in all, things turned out just fine. The eccentric Michael Chernus, who has appeared in “The Big C” and “Mercy,” among other projects, was a great choice to play Pat, who hilariously told Hank that he needed to finish his follow-up quickly so that he could continue making his inspired “Against the Lawson” stickers. Hank’s bantering with another Hamptonite was just as entertaining, and that was the trainer slash boyfriend who tried too hard to motivate his girlfriend, Skinny Minnie, and wanted to compete with Hank for who knew more about how to take care of her, medical degree aside. Playing the kindly Minnie was an actress known for playing a much pricklier personality, Mrs. Ari on “Entourage,” Perrey Reeves. Another gruff guest star, Bob Gunton, was nicer than usual as the General, who this time tried to encourage Evan to keep on going with his campaign even though Paige had actually wanted him to scare him out of the race. I’m glad that Paige spoke up to Evan and they found a happy medium, and it looks like Paige is now going to be rather directly involved in the latest Lawson family caper related to Boris and his duplicitous family members.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 5, Episode 5 “Vertigo” (B)

In this hour, we got some human drama and some other heightened drama as the show took a step away from Jeremiah and Divya’s non-romance and Hank’s nefarious plan to assist Boris in punishing Milos for his murderous act. Instead, Evan got to campaign in the sun without quite enough sunscreen to get signatures for the election, which proved especially difficult because of residency issues, lack of interest, and general happiness with the status quo. It’s just like him to find a source of inspiration as he was about to give up, and though it’s going to be a fierce uphill battle, I think he’s going to want to stick it out. Paige had a chance to demonstrate that she could be good at her job when her boss passed off an emotional assignment, but finding another valuable antique that made it so that Blythe didn’t have to sell the painting hardly seems like exemplary workmanship (great customer service, on the other hand). Blythe is an interesting character who it seems will have a larger role to play this season, interacting frequently with others in Evan’s life as well. Brad Beyer’s cop dad is also showing up regularly, and it’s a good thing since his condition appears to be worsening. The hostage situation on the boat was a bit jarring and unusual for this lighthearted show, but it was resolved quickly enough and more useful for the symptoms it showed in Don. Hank sure knows how to be there for a client and go above and beyond.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 5, Episode 4 “Pregnant Paws” (B+)

This episode was fun if a little awkward, mainly due to the way in which those at HankMed reacted to the news of Divya’s pregnancy. Hank and Evan were both predictably overbearing in very different ways, and it was interesting to Jeremiah as the sole voice of reason. His end-of-episode confession to Evan about being in love with Divya and how he realized that he needed to be there for her as a friend was touching, and I like the semi-friendship that Evan and Jeremiah have, which often includes items of a personal nature despite their mostly professional relationship. Jeremiah once again demonstrated his medical competence by helping the mysteriously ill DJ, played by Danny Pudi on “Community” in a less than memorable guest spot. Paige’s new job seems like a nightmare, and it’s good to see her persevere and work to impress her cruel new boss, played by Stephen Spinella, who, among other things, starred previously on “24” for a short time. Also returning for the episode was a familiar face who also happens to be a former HankMed employee, Dr. Van Dyke. It’s hard not to like Kyle Howard’s casual, sarcastic doctor, who thought that Divya telling him about her pregnancy was just an excuse and who seemed more than willing to relocate back to the Hamptons for another shot at local concierge medicine. Hank’s meting with Marisa suggests that the Boris plotline is far from dormant, and with Evan’s campaign coming up, there’s a lot on the horizon.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 5, Episode 3 “Lawson Translation” (B+)

There’s nothing like being able to jet off to Budapest on a whim while your business is being shut down because your brother and CFO never bothered to apply for a business license. Hank’s trip to Hungary was certainly eventful, mostly because of the shocking revelation – for him – that Boris is in fact still alive and well. It was interesting to leran that his duplicitous cousin Milos is experiencing the same symptoms, though it’s hard to know exactly what he’s telling the truth about since he’s lying through his teeth. I liked the casting of Callum Blue, who I remember well from “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” and “Smallville,” as Milos, and I hope we get to see him again. Dmitry getting killed was a shock, especially since he was cast as a shadowy villain recently only to be revealed to be Boris’ true friend and ally. Evan has found himself quite the nemesis in the vindictive Blythe, and deciding to run for village council is an excellent idea, even if it’s going to make him even more egomaniacal than ever. Divya and Jeremiah’s trip to Georgia was full of awkwardness, but it was nice to see Jeremiah explain his enthusiasm for sports and actually have a good time while he wasn’t pining for Divya with her having no clue that he’s in love with her. Telling him about her pregnancy was a terrific move considering he shifted immediately into supportive mode, and while it’s going to be tough for him to watch it play out, it’s better that he’s there for her as an endearing friend.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 5, Episode 2 “Blythe Spirits” (B)

This wasn’t a great episode, but I suppose it wasn’t that bad either. I never like when shows that aren’t supernatural in nature attempt to insert a character’s suspicion of the existence of a ghost or similar entity into the episode, which affects the tone drastically and can’t possibly end in a satisfying manner. In this case, it would have been good to see the very much alive Boris actually be in the house, but the fact that he isn’t a regular cast member anymore probably means that he won’t be stopping by anytime soon. Boris and Dmitry being half-brothers is rather intriguing, though that whole storyline tends to take such a backseat to everything else that it’s not wholly relevant. Divya lashing out at Paige for trying to be a friend was harsh, and I do wonder what, if anything, will happen in Savannah, since Divya still has little to no clue about how Jeremiah feels about her. Paige’s idea to throw a big party to get all of the neighbors to like them was smart, and I’m worried about Evan’s consistent inability to believe in his wife and her ability to solve problems just as well as he can. Blythe will likely continue to be a problem for Evan, but it looks like HankMed will have a new offer to consider that might make all that moot. I think HankMed would be extremely different under new management, but that their prospective buyer is sure to make a big impact on their business whether or not they succeed in acquiring them.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains (Season Premiere)

Royal Pains: Season 5, Episode 1 “Hankwatch” (B+)

Since we last checked in with the Hamptons, HankMed has certainly changed. Watching Divya dispel the legion of Hank substitutes was quite impressive, as was the code-violating medical center Evan built in his Boris-given home. Hank recovering and not being able to drive puts everyone else on edge but it also frames the show in a different way, since Hank is always the nonchalant, reasonable one who has to talk other people out of doing things they shouldn’t. Asking Jeremiah to write him a prescription crossed a major line, and it’s a sure sign that Hank is far from true recovery. Of course, HankMed has more than enough obstacles to prevent its productivity, starting with Divya’s pregnancy and the fact that an actress like Frances Conroy wouldn’t be wasted in a bit part and instead seems intent on taking down the kindly doctor who was nice enough to help her. Evan not wanting to move out is completely in keeping with the tradition of his relationship with both Hank and Paige, and it’s a good thing that he decided to move into the castle across the street to create some semblance of distance so that Paige won’t think that he’ll never leave his brother. Jeremiah’s Icelandic beard and online girlfriend make him look and seem different, but it’s clear that he’s not over Divya and that his feelings for her will continue to hamper his career, particularly now that she’s presumably pregnant with Rafa’s baby. While I’ve ditched other USA shows because they weren’t as gripping as other fare, I think this one has a good summer appeal that should keep it on my watch list in its fifth season.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains (Holiday Special)

Royal Pains: Season 4, Episodes 15 and 16 “Off-Season Greetings” (B+)

This two-hour episode was a nice holiday treat, offering a rare winter glimpse of our characters, who are otherwise only seen on television screens in Hamptons summer during wintertime. Evan and Paige’s wedding has been built up for so long that it’s only natural that things would go horribly awry, forcing Eddie to get ordained in ten minutes, something that I’m sure pleased the General greatly, and resulting in just ten attendees at the ceremony. There were plenty of major events going on at the same time, however, namely Divya’s preposterously impulsive decision to marry Rafa after she went to go see him in Las Vegas during Paige’s bachelorette party. Hank’s poor reaction to the news didn’t help, but, somehow, the newly happy couple worked it out perfectly, burning a piece of paper to negate their marriage and resetting their relationship clock to zero. Owen’s presence served mainly as an impetus for flashbacks, featuring Evan as a ruthless version of himself and Hank as a hapless groom-to-be who had a bad run-in with his ex-girlfriend during his engagement party. I’m glad that Hank didn’t end up trying to win back Winnie’s affection, opting instead to be happy with mending fences and earning her forgiveness. It would have been nice for him to reconnect romantically with Jill, but I suppose a flirtatious Skype date was fitting. Hank’s deteriorating medical condition is sure to reframe things in an interesting way when the show returns for its fifth season this summer, and the news that Boris is alive is hardly shocking since we didn’t actually see him die. It’s been a fun reunion, and I think I’ll definitely be in the mood for this show when summer rolls around.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains (Mid-Season Finale)

Royal Pains: Season 4, Episode 14 “Sand Legs” (B+)

There was always going to be something to undermine Hank’s seemingly perfect relationship with Harper, but I didn’t expect it to be him. His need to rush back to check on his patient, who ended up being fine, sealed the deal of doctoral unreliability for Harper, just as he was about to meet and impress her family. It’s strange since Evan is the Lawson brother who seems like he’d be more of a workaholic, but Hank’s passion for his patients is what gets him. It was interesting to see Evan recoil at the notion of taking someone on as a client due to his financial history, but he deserves a dramatic moment of his own every once in a while too. The news that Lou isn’t Paige’s mother was especially devastating both because it came from her and because it came just s Paige was finally connecting to her, but Evan managed to salvage her happiness by declaring their wedding imminent. I’m glad that it wasn’t a shotgun wedding since that would have been unrealistic, and instead we’ll be treated to a two-hour TV movie that chronicles a December wedding to close out the season in a few months. Divya hearing about Rafa’s home life was an unfortunate way for her relationship to take a nosedive, but it was Rafa’s poor choice of words in handling the confrontation that sealed the deal. Luckily, Dr. Sacani was able to provide appropriate comfort for her when she needed it most. With just one happy relationship continuing, it’s best that the show focuses on that, and maybe those whose romances have just ended can find their own happiness come December, a time that will likely not focus on the big explosion at the end of the episode but instead on those characters whose lives and livelihoods are still intact.

Season grade so far: B+
Season MVP: Ben Shenkman as Dr. Sacani

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 4, Episode 13 “Something Fishy This Way Comes” (B+)

This episode was full of romance, maternal mystery, and international intrigue. Hank is getting a lot out of both his personal and professional life, with Harper proving a more than fitting companion and Boris managing to earn both his trust and respect once again. Dmitry continues to be Hank’s most difficult patient, forcing him to come to unsafe territory and then pulling a gun on him, demanding that he leave the area rather than help Amir with his flesh-eating bacteria. Good guy that he is, Hank defiantly stayed on land and ran away to treat Amir, and it’s a good thing that Boris followed him, since I’m not sure anything else would have helped to re-secure that friendship. Hearing them talk about their experiences at camp was particularly entertaining and unexpected. It was nice to see Brooke Lyons in a less airheaded role than usual as a sleepy but impressive pharmaceutical rep after her turns in the “Sullivan and Son” pilot and as Peach on “2 Broke Girls.” It’s a wonder that Dr. Sacani is holding it together considering how much of a naïve jerk Divya is being, telling him that Talia was only flirting with him to get their business. Rosanna Arquette’s mother wannabe is likely not to do Paige any good, but she seems harmless enough for the moment, and, for once, Evan is focusing on the right thing and is there for her when she needs him most. Next week marks the mid-season finale, and I expect some sort of game-changer to impact HankMed.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 4, Episode 12 “Hurts Like a Mother” (B+)

She’s usually very private about her personal life, but Divya has now been transformed entirely and isn’t able to shut up for a minute about how much fun she’s having with Rafa. Letting it visibly affect her work and not be subtle about her affection – both verbal and physical – for him in front of Dr. Sacani are especially deplorable. Fortunately, Dr. Sacani is able to confine his feelings to daydreams and to brief conversations with Evan, who for once gets to be the perceptive one when usually he isn’t able to notice anything unrelated to him. Getting Paige to talk to her parents was a selfless gesture, and it’s just a shame that, rather predictably, her birth mother would have to arrive at just the moment where Paige was finally heading back to a good place, family-wise. Paige’s interaction with the patient helped her along as well, and it was fun to see Carrie Preston from “True Blood” and “The Good Wife” as the romance novelist uncertain of how to deal with her extremely intellectual daughter. It’s great to see Hank’s romance with Harper working out rather well, and to see an unexpectedly graphic – for this show, at least – scene of them reenacting a wild sex scene from Hank’s pleasure reading. Though it most definitely qualifies as a distraction, getting some action and finding the right partner seems to be doing more than one doctor on this show some good, providing them with some much-needed opportunity for rest and relaxation.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 4, Episode 11 “Dancing with the Devil” (B+)

This show has never had a shortage of doctors, and that’s proving to be an increasingly good thing. Dr. Sacani got in a great spotlight in this hour as he volunteered to take the night shift gathering spit samples from Ava the pop star, who tried too hard to get him to come out of his shell by taking him with her to a nightclub. He did well dancing for a moment, and even survived a panic attack in a phone booth, but it’s clear that he’s just not comfortable in crowded social situations. Fortunately, Hank is a nice guy and understands that, so the two make a great team. Ava was truly down-to-earth, and the notion of possum pie was equally horrifying to everyone sitting around the table. It’s wonderful to see Hank pursuing a relationship with Harper despite her best efforts to kill the romance, and after it fizzled a few episodes ago, things may finally be starting up again. Divya’s also in the middle of a fresh and fun romance, and aside from the fact that she really needs to start carrying around a change of clothes, it seems like she’s genuinely happy with the upper-romantic Rafa. Though the excitement likely won’t last, Paige being pleased with her tiny little dorm room was a welcome moment of happiness for a recently melancholy character. If there’s one thing that Evan is good at, of course, it’s being cheerfully supportive, something Paige can definitely use a lot of right now.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 4, Episode 10 “Who’s Your Daddy?” (B+)

It was never going to be a smooth first meeting between Eddie and the General. Yet, despite all of Evan’s obsessing and worrying, it actually turned out much better than expected. The Lawson family’s Judaism wasn’t a problem as related to celebrating Christmas together as an extended family, and the ice was truly broken when the General revealed that he already knew that Eddie had been in prison. The news about the leaked photo came at a very inopportune time, and after much selfishness on Evan’s part, things finally started to take shape. The truth, however, was far more surprising, and Paige discovering that she was adopted is sure to affect her relationship both with her parents and with Evan as they prepare for their wedding and what’s sure to come next. Most importantly, Eddie earned his stripes by managing to cheer Paige up while she was miserable (before the adoption news). It was fun to see two great guest stars at the polo tournament, with Gary Cole of “The West Wing” and “The Good Wife,” among other work, portraying the older player suffering from an unknown ailment and Miriam Shor from “Swingtown” and “GCB” as the businesswoman determined to get the younger player into her underwear. After spending the episode avoiding David, Divya found some romance of her own with that particularly alluring polo player, something that’s likely to be a one-time thing but a sure sign for Divya that not all hope is lost and she may still have a shot at happiness.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 4, Episode 9 “Business and Pleasure” (B+)

This episode was entertaining more than anything else, with a bit of drama mixed in as related to Hank’s personal and business relationships. Evan’s fervent desire for the entire staff to enter the Ferrari raffle was amusing, though he definitely took it too far. Evelyn Larson winning was even more hilarious, and it’s good that Evan has Paige to keep him calm and reasonable when he gets out of control. It’s also convenient that Dr. Sacani happens to own a Ferrari, and that closing shot of Evan driving with a buttoned-up Dr. Sacani in the passenger seat was great. Dr. Sacani proved to be exceptionally capable in this emotion-involved case, mainly because it had a specific neurological explanation, and his quick thinking with the fire alarm helped to save the patient’s reputation. Evan was barking up the wrong tree with the undercover DEA agent, and it was nice to see her confide in Evan. It’s nice to see that a DEA operation on this kind of show is infinitely more relaxed and less deadly than on any other primetime series, with her medical condition serving as her only life-threatening problem. The initial meeting between Evan and Christina was heavily awkward, and things just got worse on a more serious note when Christina mentioned Boris’ itinerary and then Dmitry’s condition. Boris canning Christina and blaming Hank has led to a major falling out between Boris and Hank, the likes of which we haven’t seen before, and I don’t imagine it will lead anywhere positive.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 4, Episode 8 “Manimal” (B)

The widened HankMed staff means that there’s the potential for a whole lot to be going on in a given hour, and the most memorable HankMed staffer, Dr. Sacani, wasn’t even present in this episode. Truth be told, however, this installment was pretty over-the-top, with a diabetic dog, a rabbit-inspired drunken night, a scene involving doctors milking a cow to clean a tooth, and a final romantic scene not befitting Hank’s personality at all. It was jarring to see a facial hair-free Andy Milder, best known for playing Dean Hodes on “Weeds,” as the kind-hearted vet with a love for animals and a distaste for his ex-wife. The comparisons between his work and what Hank does were interesting, and decently accurate. Back at Shadow Pond, Hank managed the impossible – to get Dmitri to actually take care of himself, and it won him points with both Boris and Christina. After her forceful advances last week, he’s picked up some of that aggression and managed to give her one hell of a date on Boris’ tab. It will be intriguing to see what Evan and the rest of the staff thinks of that once it makes news. Dr. Van Dyke coming in drunk to work wasn’t entirely out of character, but crying over his dead rabbit didn’t exactly seem like him. Holding a rabbit funeral on the beach was an amusing if ridiculous ending to that strange saga, and I enjoyed watching everyone, especially concerned daughter Paige, scatter as the cop drove towards them.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 4, Episode 7 “Fools Russian” (B+)

Having Hank in a different place actually worked out pretty well in this installment that featured two notable guest stars and gave Dr. Sacani yet another opportunity to become more ingrained in the HankMed family. In the city, Hank had quite a time, treating Boris’ faked symptoms, getting romanced by a translator, and helping to set up a medical treatment for Mark Ivanir’s Dmitry, a crucial component of Boris’ impending deal. The fact that Christina is coming back to Shadow Pond means that Hank may be stretched thin both professionally and personally, which could be fun, and she’s not a doctor, which may make dating her less complicated, if not for Boris being their link. Ryan Hansen from “Party Down” make for a great millionaire space cadet, and it was most fun to see him and Evan bond over their love for all things space-related. Evan chewing Dr. Sacani out for being too blunt was harsh, but, as usual, Dr. Sacani managed to find an unconventional way to impress his boss. Paige’s involvement in HankMed thus far has been nothing but productive, and it’s really too bad that she and Evan won’t have the first wedding in space. Divya’s father not talking to her wasn’t much of a surprise, but it seems that they managed to get to a good place by the end of the episode. The fact that he didn’t try to commit suicide but still made Divya think he did suggests how much he cares about their relationship, and she was smart to be supportive but not to take sides in her parents’ marriage problems.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 4, Episode 6 “About Face” (B+)

I must say, it’s a small TV world we live in where two shows can feature the same rare condition in the same week. This particular case of prosopagnosia proved far less deadly than it did on Monday’s episode of “Perception,” but it did cause Ashley Williams’ Sydney Bartlett a far deal of trouble in terms of keeping her club members happy. Reuniting Williams with her former “Good Morning, Miami” costar Mark Feuerstein wasn’t terribly exciting, but it’s worth mentioning. I loved Dr. Sacani’s efforts to be more like Hank, particularly his delivery of “Call me Jeremiah, how can I make you feel better today? It would be great to have him stick around for an extended stint in the Hamptons, and HankMed 3.0 seems to be functioning quite well, though I agree with Evan’s concern that Paige working for the company may not be the best idea. The apparent suicide attempt by Divya’s father is sure to shake her, and it’s likely that her mother will come back to be with him again and he’ll be able to forgive Divya for breaking her engagement. I’m so glad that Hank pursued Harper, but it’s a shame that he got paged by Boris at just the moment that could have been the start of something fabulous. The ending of the episode was considerably more serious than usual, and I hope that this latest mysterious adventure with Boris pays off in terms of a surprising revelation or new direction for the show.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 4, Episode 5 “You Give Love a Bad Name” (B+)

This episode had more than one fantastic female guest star showcased in a great role. Judy Greer is always lovely, and it was fun to see her in an energetic and buoyant part as a matchmaker with two hearts. Her positive spirit was wonderful, and she’s a perfect retainer client for Hank. I love her choice of a match for Hank as well in a fellow flirtatious doctor played by Kat Foster, who really is popping up everywhere this season as a love interest, here and on “Franklin and Bash” and “Weeds.” I hope she’ll be back again, though Hank has really only dated doctors on this show, first Jill and then Emily. I like the layout of HankMed 3.0, with an investor at the staff meetings and Dr. Sacani and Dr. Van Dyke getting time to interact. Dr. Sacani talking about how he lost all of his funding for his laboratory after his mentor’s death was rather depressing, but Ben Shenkman plays the part so well. Paige throwing herself into HankMed because she thought she didn’t have any talent was somewhat eerie, and it’s a relief that Evan was able to realize that something was wrong and to rectify the situation by inspiring her with confidence and compliments. Boris shooting a spy after he tried to escape adds a whole extra level of drama to this show that’s not usually present. I’m curious to see what Boris needs Hank’s help for, though I hope that it won’t be to the detriment of HankMed 3.0.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

Royal Pains: Season 4, Episode 4 “Dawn of the Med” (B+)

Jill’s departure seems entirely permanent, as the show continues without her in the opening credits, with Brooke D’Orsay’s Paige and Campbell Scott’s Boris taking her place officially. We haven’t seen Boris in a while, but now he’s back to shoot guns with Hank, terrify Eddie, and then shoot an intruder on his property just because he can, only to have Hank purport to be able to save him. That will be the centerpiece of next week’s episode; for now, it’s worthwhile to praise this hour for its strength in horror parody. Usually, shows that try for Halloween-themed episodes end up sacrificing plot and logic for the sake of laughs, but in this case, having the scientist grandfather be a bit creepy worked excellently, and Hank’s prank was particularly amusing for how seriously Evan took the situation. The zombie chase to find the man suffering from the same ailment as the professor was amusing yet not too lightly-handled. On the guest star front, it’s not hard to recognize Halley Feiffer from “Gentlemen Broncos” and “The Squid and the Whale” as the kindly granddaughter. Henry Winkler was also back once again as Eddie, and I enjoyed his ill-advised attempts to get jacket quotes from bizarre sources. He didn’t really do it, but it seems HankMed has been reunited. That reunion, however, comes at the same time as the threatened disbanding of another union, that of Divya’s parents, which, if nothing else, should lead to Divya’s reconciliation with her father, which should help her conclude her soul-searching.