If this truly is the last season of The X-Files--and star Gillian Anderson has said it is, at least for her--the Fox sci-fi conspiracy thriller is going out giving what fans want. Mostly. In this, its 11th season, the show brings back familiar faces, opens some new mysteries, solves others and gives plenty of reasons to ship FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Anderson)’s quirky relationship to the stars and back.

In broadcast TV terms, this is more “Night Gallery” than “Twilight Zone.” ... Weird City is built on one twisted foundation.

Longmire isn't a conventional show. The mystery tonight might be slight, but the pilot is a dusty little gem.

I’m pretty sure there was a Lifetime version of this story and the best part was it was over in two hours. Cardellini does the best she can, but the writing for her character and her motivations make no sense.

The scatological jokes run high, while some of the action sequences are worthy of a C-level thriller.

Hardy rocks the period clothing, strutting around in an open overcoat practically down to his ankles and a commanding stovepipe hat. With anyone else, this show would not be half as engrossing.

In its casting, Trial & Error gets every­thing right.

Copper spins somber stories of gold.

As vital as it is, political strategizing just isn’t that engaging to watch.

Will The Event turn out to be another "FlashForward" or the next "Lost"? I'm betting cautiously on the latter.

The fallout, partly because of the size of the sprawling cast, partly because of the tonal shifts, sometimes within the same scene, can be jarring. Orange nails the dramatic moments. It’s the comedy that ranges from banter to slapstick and back that feels out of place, especially as the rioting wears on.

The film jumps erratically across the years to show how Madoff’s arrest in 2008 for a $65 billion Ponzi scheme ruined his family, depicted here as much victims as those who trusted Madoff and lost their fortunes. Yet it’s as if you are watching the work of a first-time director who read about his craft off a flash card.

The show has acting and comedic talents.... The only problem? Too many people won’t “get” it. For those who do, however, it will be love at first sight.

The premise and the bloodletting, however, might be too much for some viewers. Santa Clarita Diet is an acquired taste.

The Girl ensures you'll never watch "The Birds" the same way again.

The remake of "Hawaii Five-0" is the best kind of throwback--to the buddy cop films of the 1980s. Think "Lethal Weapon" with a tropical twist.

Diplomacy by its nature doesn’t lend itself well to visual storytelling. Perhaps that’s why the show adds a conspiracy element.... Give props to Madam Secretary for the casting.

Unfortunately, Iron's not in every scene, and the 100-minute premiere, after a promising opening, becomes bogged down in political intrigue as his rivals scheme to remove the new pope.

The violence is stunning, shocking, messy and unexpected. Bateman, who also serves as executive producer, directed four episodes and is a master behind the camera. His work squeezes the suspense in any scene. The locations are both beautiful and sinister, and the show is superbly scored. Ozark will resonate with fans of “Breaking Bad,” although Walter White has little in common with Marty.

Perry proves to be adept at both the mirth and misery required by the role. Viewers, however, may be put off by a series that seems stuck like its patients in a gray zone between laughing and mourning.

While the documentary sometimes feel hurried, Pelosi has written a superior companion book of the same title that allows the newcomers to better share their stories.

There's some appealing energy and certainly adequate acting talent in "Just Shoot Me," but it lacks originality. [3 Mar 1997]

Nash is a great find, but Plum’s unrelenting self-loathing, communicated through too many voice-overs and the occasional meltdown (which, yes, the show reminds us with zero subtlety, is the result of years of mass media brainwashing and brutal cultural expectations) makes spending time with her such a downer.

Jack Ryan excels at pyrotechnics. Walls, trucks and people explode in spectacular arrays of destruction. Its fight choreography gets muddy, especially when Jack is tussling with some terrorist. ... The most charitable thing that can be said about Krasinski’s performance here is that he looks deeply, deeply tired.

The cast around Mulgrew is excellent. ... Mulgrew, however, drags it all down. Starfleet commanders are not supposed to be this dull, stiff and joyless. As a woman, she's all cardboard and mannish. [16 Jan 1995]

Those who long for a replacement for “How I Met Your Mother” (back when that show was good) might find a good match here.

To the credit of creator Christopher Keyser (“Party of Five”), the series plays with expectations. Relationships bloom and wither in surprising combinations. Unfortunately, the show lacks a pulse.

The best new sitcom of fall, CBS' 2 Broke Girls is rich in laughs and snappy performances.