Take Three: Hitmen

Hitmen: Season 1, Episode 3 “Woods” (B-)

This episode was a bit of an aimless misfire, in part because it got just as distracted by the surrounding woods as its main characters. I like the interactions between Fran and Jamie, but this all seemed a bit excessive. Once again we had a target who was intent on talking his way out of his fate, though his case wasn’t particularly compelling since he didn’t even deny what he had done, arguing instead that it shouldn’t have merited a death sentence. Jamie might indeed be a concerning choice as a mother given her tendency to neglect, say, the captives she’s about to kill, and testing out her abilities with an egg didn’t seem like the best or most effective trial. Fran, on the other hand, seemed like she was hallucinating, but instead she encountered a group of girls right out of “Troop Zero” (a very worthwhile comedy movie streaming on Amazon Prime). Somehow, things always seem to work themselves out in the nick of time with an episode-ending execution, and that was once again the case here with Fran about to tell Mr. K that they had lost him only to see him in front of them and have the opportunity to hit them with the van. In less expected news, Peacock has decided to renew this show for a second season, which is great. I’m glad I’ve continued watching and look forward to the back half of this first round, which will hopefully be a bit more like the first two episodes than this one.

What I’m Watching: Atlanta

Atlanta: Season 2, Episode 8 “Woods” (C)

I just don’t understand the purpose of some of this season’s episodes. This show is interesting enough for its portrayal of an up-and-coming artist who isn’t really into putting effort into what he does and getting excited about taking pictures with fans. For him to do that and to smile when someone came up and recognized him at the end of the ordeal that was this episode was big, but I found this half-hour to be just as aimless and peculiar as the one where Darius ended up at the scene of a murder-suicide, though less intriguing in general. It’s true that Earn is hardly the world’s most active manager, and some of what Ciara suggested Earn should be doing is fair. But she also revealed just how vain she is and how she is the type of person who is obsessed with her followers knowing what she does, famous for being famous rather than for actually doing anything. Leaving her at the pedicure to walk on his own was a bad idea, as what he thought were fans turned out to be muggers who he rather impressively fought off, resulting in him wandering through the woods being followed by an older man who just wants to talk and improve his life even though he has no interest whatsoever in being social. I’m sure there are some who are loving every episode of this show in year two, but with just three episodes left, I’m feeling pretty let down by this cultural phenomenon that’s already been cited as a frontrunner to win the Best Comedy Series Emmy. I’d much rather hear more about how Darius learned to cook pasta in a dream.