If We Controlled Your Remote… 1/15/20

Have you ever been at a loss as to what to watch? Too many shows to pick from? We’re here to give you our opinions on what we feel is worth watching. Check it out and then let us know in the comments below what you’re choosing for tonight!

Jenny’s Choice

I’m still not feeling great, but I did want to highlight the premiere of
68 Whiskey tonight on Paramount. This comes from Ron Howard’s Imagine Television Studios and follows a multicultural band of Army medics stationed in Afghanistan on a base nicknamed “The Orphanage.” Together, the medics navigate a dangerous and sometimes absurd world, relying on comradery, various vices and, occasionally, a profound sense of purpose to carry them through. I really like the cast – most especially Beth Riesgraf (Leverage, Lovestruck, Insatiable, Complications) & Derek Theler (Baby Daddy, Marvel’s New Warriors).

It also stars Sam Keeley, Jeremy Tardy (Dear White People, Marvel’s New Warriors), Gage Golightly (Red Oaks, Heartland, The End of the World As We Know It), Cristina Rodlo (Too Old to Die Young), Lamont Thompson (Hell on Earth), Nicholas Coombe (Imaginary Mary), Aaron Glenane (Snowpiercer), Artur Benson, Jade Albany (The Naked Director, The Right Stuff), Linc Hand, & Usman Ally (Lovestruck, On Becoming a God in Central Florida).

This should be a mix of intense drama and irreverent humor, which usually makes for good TV. And I like the premise of the Army medics stationed overseas. I wonder if this will be a bit like a more dramatic version of M.A.S.H. from the 70s, which was set during the Korean War. I didn’t watch that one – I was only born in 1976, and I never did watch reruns – but it was hugely popular. We’ll see if that similar premise goes over well now.

On tonight’s episode, “Buckley’s Goat,” Roback convinces Davis to join him in a get-rich-quick scheme, which lands them in serious trouble; Alvarez gets some upsetting news; Roback and Durkin continue their secret affair; Petrocelli finds a new friend in a lost goat.

Meet these new Army medics and see their temporary home of the Orphanage tonight on Paramount at 10/9c.

I’ll also be watching Chicago Med, The Goldbergs, Schooled, Chicago Fire, Criminal Minds, Guy’s Grocery Games, Modern Family, Single Parents, Chicago PD, S.W.A.T., & Stumptown.
 
Jump with us to see else we think you should watch.
 

Kyle’s Choice

Tonight, The Magicians returns to kick off its fifth season on Syfy. As the fourth season came to a close, the monster had taken Julia, but the group was able to rescue her. However, she was wounded in the process, and Penny had to make the tough decision to have Julia turned back human in order to save her, but it meant the loss of her magical powers. At the same time, Josh was returned to his human form but was left with some residual fish magics, and Margot got her eye back. Quentin and Josh sought out an old god, who told them how to eliminate the monster once and for all – by finding the seam between this universe and the anti-universe and trapping it in there. So, utilizing coordinated spell-casting from all the hedge witches around the world, the group was able to release the monster from Eliot’s body and trap it in a bottle. However, when Alice, Penny, and Quentin went to throw the bottle into the seam, things went wrong and Quentin sacrificed himself to save the others. Quentin went to the underworld, where he was greeted by the original Penny, who showed him his friends grieving over him with a group sing-along of “Take On Me.” He then showed Quentin what happened to his friends afterwards. The Librarian had stepped down and planned to put Alice in charge in her place; Eliot and Margo headed back to Fillory to reclaim their thrones but discovered that they were somehow 300 years in the future and that King Fen had been overthrown by the Dark King; and Julia was experiencing so much pain over the loss of Quentin that it caused her magical powers to return.

The fifth season picks up a month later as the group is still trying to come to terms with the loss of their friend Quentin. Alice has pretty much locked herself in her mother’s house, ignoring the library’s daily letters requesting her presence. Julia is also struggling, trying to figure out what good she could do with her newfound powers – something that would be worthy of losing Quentin in order to regain them. Meanwhile, magic has returned in full force, and due to this surge in magic, more and more students have discovered their powers and have been passing the Brakebills exam. The school has become overcrowded, and Dean Fogg has asked Penny to come back to the school to teach a new class of travelers. And in Fillory, Eliot and Margo try to figure out how to deal with the time shift, learn what happened to Fen and Josh, and find out who this Dark King is who seems to be ruling through fear.

I thought the fourth season finale could have made a perfect series finale, but after checking out tonight’s premiere, I’m really happy to have this show back. I missed its unique blend of humor, fantasy, and adventure, and I’m excited to see where the story will go this season – particularly with what’s going on in Fillory. It will also be interesting to see how the group dynamic changes without Quentin there – he was such a major part of the group and of the series since the beginning.

On tonight’s fifth season premiere, “Do Something Crazy,” Penny and Julia go stargazing; Eliot and Margo forget a sandwich.

Catch up with the gang tonight on Syfy at 10/9c.

I’ll also be watching/recording Modern Family, Single Parents, Stumptown, Almost Family, Party of Five, and 68 Whiskey.
 

Megan’s Choice

There has been a lot happening on Chicago PD lately, and I am loving the way things are playing out. Burgess decided to keep the baby, and Ruzek didn’t seem to know what to think of that news, but he did look slightly relieved. I’m all for Burgess keeping the baby, but the pessimistic side of me is concerned that she is going to lose the baby and become an emotional wreck. Hopefully I’m wrong. Whatever happens, one thing I am sure is that things are going to get messy for the team because Ruzek is bound to become super protective of Burgess, and she will be still trying to push herself to be normal. Secrets don’t last long with this Intelligence team, so it won’t be long before the team knows and we can see how everyone reacts. Should make for some interesting episodes to come.

On tonight’s episode, “43rd and Normal,” Ruzek and Burgess’s secret begins to have severe implications for their police work. A series of deadly acts of vandalism causes tensions to run high in the insular neighborhood of Canaryville. Atwater tries to reach out to his brother but only pushes him further away.

To see how the secret disrupts the team, tune in to NBC at 10/9c.

I’ll also be watching Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, Undercover Boss, Criminal Minds, 68 Whiskey, S.W.A.T., and Stumptown.