Top TV Shows Last Week (May 22th – 28th)
This week’s top TV shows were a pretty good bunch since it is near the tail of end most seasons.
Fair warning, spoilers, including some season ending twists are ahead, proceed at your discretion.
#1 – Arrow
Season 5 Episode 23 (Season Finale) – Lian Yu
Synopsis – The battle between Oliver and Adrian Chase culminates in a final epic battle on Lian Yu. After recent events, Oliver decides to recruit a group of unlikely allies — Slade, Nyssa, Merlyn, and Digger Harkness — to defeat Chase. However, Chase has his own army – Black Siren, Evelyn Sharp, and Talia al Ghul.
Thoughts – Highly regarded as the best episode of Arrow to date, this was indeed a great episode. Oliver (Stephen Amell) is faced with a choice – either save his team and his son’s mother, or his son. This episode might require multiple viewings since there are so many twists and turns along the way. Adrian Chase (Josh Segarra) was a refreshing villain, returning the show to its season one and two glory.
#2 – The Flash
Season 3 Episode 23 (Season Finale) – Finish Line
Synopsis – With nothing left to lose, Barry faces Savitar in a final showdown in the season 3 finale.
Thoughts – The episode starts with a shocking revelation, Iris isn’t actually dead. H.R. (Tom Cavanagh) had been one of my favorite iterations of Harrison Wells, and sacrificing his life so that Iris (Candice Patton) could live was the icing on the cake for his character arch. Speaking of ice, Savitar using Killer Frost (Danielle Panabaker) as a bargaining chip for Cisco (Carlos Valdes) altering the speed bazooka showed how little loyalties he holds for those around him, unlike Barry (Grant Gustin).
#3 – Supergirl
Season 2 Episode 22 (Season Finale) – Nevertheless, She Persisted
Synopsis – Supergirl challenges Rhea to battle to save National City. Meanwhile, Superman returns and Cat Grant offers Supergirl some sage advice.
Thoughts – I’m glad that they have introduced more types of Kryptonite, that was one of my favorite parts of Smallville. I really liked seeing every one of the protagonists including Mon-El (Chris Wood), Kal-El (Tyler Hoechlin), Martian Manhunter (David Harewood), and Miss Martian (Sharon Leal) take up the mantle of saving the city while Supergirl is engaged in trial by combat with Rhea (Teri Hatcher).
#4 – iZombie
Season 3 Episode 8 – Eat a Kinevel
Synopsis – Liv shares the brain of a former daredevil with her new boyfriend, and the experience brings them closer. Blaine is back to his old ways. Meanwhile, Ravi makes progress in his new research. Finally, a discovery is made that could put Major in grave danger.
Thoughts – One thing I loved about this episode is that the song “Fireball” as the victim, Finn Vincible (Robert Ri’chard), erupts in a ball of flame during a stunt gone wrong. This episode was a fair bit darker than the usual playful antics of the show. Blaine (David Anders)’s sub-plot of being dead set on getting revenge on his father is one of the best B plots in the series.
#5 – Gotham
Season 3 Episode 19 – Heroes Rise: All Will Be Judged
Synopsis – Temple Shaman reveals his hand to Bruce Wayne and sets up the next phase of training. Gordon and Bullock face danger as they come across a crystal owl that reveals the most coveted secrets of Gotham’s underworld. Meanwhile, Nygma and Penguin are forced to work together to get out of a tricky situation.
Thoughts – The return of Nathaniel Barnes (Michael Chiklis) as the Executioner! Alfred (Sean Pertwee) has some hard hitting moments with Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova) about where her loyalty towards Bruce (David Mazouz). Nygma (Cory Michael Smith) has been one of my favorite characters since the beginning of the series, and this episode is no exception.
#6 – Lucifer
Season 2 Episode 17 – Sympathy for the Goddess
Synopsis – When the man who had the final piece of the Flaming Sword is murdered and the piece goes missing, Mom joins Chloe and Lucifer on the case to track down the killer. But when Lucifer gets sidelined, Maze recruits him to help save Dr. Linda’s endangered career and confronts him about the secrets he’s been keeping.
Thoughts – I admit, I might be a little biased, due to the fact that I tend to like episodes where Lucifer is pivotal in the investigation, but in this episode his story line was more of a side plot. However Lucifer (Tom Ellis) comes to the realization that he is much more similar to his parents than he had wanted to believe. I really liked Maze (Lesley-Ann Brandt) this episode since she finally confronted Lucifer about going back to Heaven.
#7 – Brooklyn Nine Nine
Season 4 Episode 22 (Season Finale) – Crime & Punishment
Synopsis – Jake and Rosa are framed for a crime they didn’t commit, it’s up to the Nine-Nine to find a way to bust them out.
Thoughts – Unlike episode 21 of this season, this episode started off with the precinct helping with Jake (Andy Samberg) and Rosa (Stephanie Beatriz)’s defense. Actually most of the episode is the Nine Nine helping get Jake and Rosa out of trouble. Couple of twists and turns along the way and . . . well I guess you’ll have to watch to find out.
#8 – Brooklyn Nine Nine
Season 4 Episode 21 – The Bank Job
Synopsis – Jake and Rosa go undercover with the head of an elite task force to try to crack a massive bank-robbery case.
Thoughts – Gina (Chelsea Peretti) is also involved in her own drama with a Boyle cousin. The last three minutes really make the episode and are a great setup to the season finale. Some of my favorite moments of Brooklyn Nine Nine are in the precinct, but this episode didn’t really have any of those textbook Nine Nine moments.
What were your top TV shows this week? Let me know by tweeting me at @Peter_VanLoo or @BRollBanter.
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