That Animal Rescue Show takes a low-key, realistic look at people who give their lives to animals that need help. In a sea of negativity in media, such a positive show is a welcome, refreshing change of pace.

The more enjoyable aspects of the special came during the bits that had nothing to do with Trump but everything to do with how weird 2020 is. ... Other sketches hit or missed as much due to the celebrity co-star’s willingness to throw him or herself into the character. So, much like SNL, then.

It’s like a nice light dessert after all the heavy fare the network offers. We love seeing and hearing from the intensely uncomfortable Wilson, and marvel at how his filmmaking instincts take him in very strange and interesting directions.

While the reenactments in Equal were distracting, we were enlightened by this examination of a piece of history we knew little about, and enjoyed what Porter brought to the project via a narration style only Porter could pull off.

Despite Kidman’s and Grant’s performances, we couldn’t muster up enough energy to care about anyone in The Undoing, at least not enough to spend six hours unraveling its central mystery. It’s certainly watchable, but having this show come so soon after BLL makes it feel like we’ve seen it all before.

Allan Scott and Scott Frank have done a fine job of adapting the long sought-after 1983 novel and exploring the phases of Beth Harmon’s life.

Clips along at an entertaining pace and turns an upsetting story into comic tragedy. You likely haven’t seen this saga told with such crisp clarity before.

The new version of Supermarket Sweep doesn’t try to dress up what’s essentially a pretty straightforward game show. Jones is an enthusiastic host, as you’d expect.

Based on Tennant’s performance alone, Des is a compelling watch. But Mays and Watkins put in solid performances, as well.

It plays fast and loose with history and political ideals, sure, but more than anything, it’s a fantasy – and a spooky one at that. La Révolution is indulgent, bloody, and mysterious. What more could you want?

It’s more creepy than scary and the first episode does nothing to make us want to watch and find more of those scares. ... Helstrom was slow-moving and dull, and is more interested in brooding dialogue than actual scares.

All five of the leads put in fine performances. ... But the show lacks focus, at least at the outset.

The fact that this group has such good chemistry with each other despite not being in the same room, and the fact that Gero and Gall are able to craft story arcs as we go through the pandemic is almost miraculous. We genuinely laughed many times through the three episodes NBC sent for review.

The episodes we watched did fine during the funny parts, not as fine during the serious ones. ... But what we appreciated was the sophisticated nature of the humor we saw in each 16-22-minute episode. ... It’s also refreshing to not hear those [“remember when we did this?”] lines, and just have stories about how the humans relate to each other has so utterly changed because of COVID. Let’s hope the rest of the episodes follow suit.

If you’re a West Wing fan, you’ll love this special. If you’re not, you won’t even go find this on HBO Max. And that’s what makes us wonder about if the special’s message will actually land with the people with whom they’re trying to communicate.

Ultimately it’s the characters who shine this season, and that hold the show together. The ensemble has hit its groove in Season 3, and everyone gets time in the spotlight. ... The first four episodes feel sleeker and breezier; lighter, like Burnham.

The Haunting Of Bly Manor is entertaining to watch even during the times it’s not trying to scare the audience, and that’s something that not many horror series can do.

It’s a show that embraces melodrama, yes, but it’s also full of heart; it perfectly balances soul with soapiness, turning these students into characters but also keeping their cores intact.

This series plays like a quickly-written nostalgia trip and nothing more.

Despite the presence of Graham and Mays, Code 404 just isn’t funny enough or interesting enough to spend any time watching.

There’s nothing that’s awful about Devils; it’s not eye-rollingly dumb and the performances are decent. It’s just that the first episode grinds along so slowly, you just wonder when the real story is going to kick in. It does, at the end, but by then you might be too bored to care.

Despite all our reservations, we’re recommending Gangs Of London because it feels like the story is going to be relatively straightforward, despite all the characters that will need to be addressed. At least that’s what we hope will happen.

If you were a fan of The Weakest Link in the early ’00s, you’ll like this version. But it suffers from the same issues the American version did back then: The show’s pacing is slow and repetitive, and the insults hurled by Lynch are more funny than truly intimidating or designed to tick off the contestants.

Slattery’s presence makes it a watchable mess.

The Comedy Store is looking like a pretty comprehensive history of stand-up comedy over the last 50 years, especially comedians who made their name on the west coast. The fact that it’s directed by someone who went through the grind himself makes it all the more intimate and surprising.

The Salisbury Poisonings should hold your interest, especially if you don’t know a lot about the case on which this show is based. But even if you do, the show’s concentration on the people affected instead of the investigation itself helps keep the story moving.

Soulmates boasts a ton of great actors putting in fine performances, but you may want to look at the episode descriptions first before plowing forward. There are some that we think will be way more satisfying than others.

We’re not sold on The Walking Dead: World Beyond just yet, though we like Royale and the rest of the cast. We’re just not sure we care enough about the zombie apocalypse or these young characters to follow their journey.

Hawke’s titanic presence as John Brown makes The Good Lord Bird move along quickly and keeps its comedic undertones intact. The rest we can take or leave, but we’ll keep watching mainly because of the show’s star.

The spectacular cinematography on Tiny World is more than enough to tune in, but the storytelling and Paul Rudd’s narration support the cinematography well.

Just like the podcast that spawned it, your enjoyment of a particular episode of Song Exploder depends on how much you like the song being exploded. ... Here’s a sign of how much we liked Song Exploder: We just subscribed to the podcast and the Spotify playlist.

Ultimately, the opening foray into Monsterland isn’t quite exemplary, although it has its share of strong moments. Here’s hoping its thematic ambition, not its narrative sloppiness, is an indicator of episodes to come.

While Emily In Paris seems to be a bit of a lightweight series, Collins is a winner in the lead role, and Star is a pretty dependable storyteller, so we’re hoping for the best.

It might not be for everyone, but it’s hard to imagine who wouldn’t be charmed by the dulcet tones of beloved actors lulling you to a place of desperately needed tranquility.

The recreations on A Wilderness of Error are irritating, and it doesn’t really feel like it’s going to answer any questions or break new ground in the 50-year old MacDonald case.

I’m on the fence with The Comey Rule — it’s not revelatory, and mostly tells us what we already know. When it’s entertaining, it seems almost unintentional. But ultimately, it’s a curiosity watch that’ll compel you to stick with it through its entirety.

Devin and Bobby are archetypes, and archetypes stop being funny after awhile, because, as we’ve said many times, the best comedy comes from character, not jokes. The more interesting characters are the people around Devin and Bobby that are immersed in sneaker culture as more of a business, like Nori or Stuey.

It’s not a stretch to say that Tehran is certainly a good-looking, well-acted series. Sultan is excellent as the conflicted Tamar, and Toub, whom Americans have seen in Homeland and a ton of other shows, does a great job as Kamali.

Overall it feels like one of those shows that’s hard to judge from the first episode. What we’ve seen so far we like, but we don’t know enough about where the show is going to get excited over what’s next.

Even though we don’t know the case, we could see where the show was going, and were dreading spending the five additional episodes it was going to take to get there. ... Despite good performances from Fox, Addy and Graham, The Murders At White House Farm feels like it wants to tell a deeper story about these notorious murders from the ’80s but just can’t bring itself to do it.

While Agents of Chaos may not come to any concrete conclusions about Russian interference in the 2016 election, it makes a pretty damning case that the Russians definitely had some influence, and that US intelligence officials were slow on the uptake in fighting it.

Even with the lofty stories it’s woven throughout the years there’s nothing quite as ambitious, intense, or grand as Fargo Season 4. Whether or not that’s a good thing will depend on what draws you to Fargo in the first place.

We’re keeping our fingers crossed that Cosmos: Possible Worlds transcends its muddled first episode. But we’re wondering if the concept has reached its limit for now, and maybe we should wait another decade or two before seeing another version.

Filthy Rich isn’t exactly high art, but it’s satisfyingly soapy, with some decent performances and a couple of chuckles that show us that it’s not taking itself at all seriously.

We’re on board for the thrill of the trip and the stunning visuals we’ll see on Long Way Up, plus seeing McGregor and Boorman renew their friendship will be fun. But the privilege shown on this trip is staggering and detracts from our enjoyment of the show.

I was astonished by how much I liked Keeping Faith. Sometimes it feels like we’ve seen it all in the British crime drama genre, and it’s true, Keeping Faith does share a lot in common with some other shows. The good news, though, is that it’s specifically like Big Little Lies crossed with Broadchurch.

Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous so far seems more appealing to tween audiences, who won’t mind too much if it coasts on franchise fumes. Maybe it’ll reach its potential after another episode or two.

There’s lots about Departure that’s really silly, but Panjabi and Plummer carry the series into the realm of respectability.

This latest installment is a return to Archer’s raunchy, ridiculous form and it feels as cozy as crawling into your bed after a long car ride.

Like its international counterparts, Sing On! is light and fun and a show that you can easily binge if you just want to enjoy watching people singing for prizes.

Where the series shines is in the little details, especially when it discussed the lives of the other six crew members who died along with McAuliffe.

The conceit is executed well; we don’t feel manipulated by Barrett, Kelly and their writers deliberately hiding things or throwing us red herrings. But we’re not 100 percent engaged by Sam’s story, either. ... The performances of Law and Waterson, as well as the chemistry between Watson and Considine as the weirdly gruff and cheery Martins are keeping us interested.

Guadagnino concentrates so much on the teenagers that the adults might get the short end of the character stick. ... The first episode of We Are Who We Are takes its time to get to where it wants to go, but the ride is pleasant because we’re so intrigued by Fraser and his various relationships.

The drama (all eight episodes were provided for review) never seems to settle on whether this corrupt and eccentric woman is the hero or the villain of her own story, the aggressor or the victim. Watching Sarah Paulson navigate those extremes is chilling. ... These inconsistencies work together to make Nurse Ratched more terrifying in her unpredictability. ... But where Ratched really shines is through its stylized love of gore.

Coastal Elites offers enough talent, laughs, pathos and outright venting to warrant watching it.

When these situations are clearly forced for comedy reasons, we start to turn away from a show. However, Ryan has created a show for herself that fits her quite well, so as things go along her character might ease up into someone we’ll actually like.

Julie is full of great performances, peppy pop songs, and a solid storyline we’re excited to dig into.

Just in the first episode, the guest voices all stole the show, but there was definitely enough going on with Keef, Clovis and even Gunther to keep us watching. We just hope that as Keef gets more “woke,” his character becomes more well-rounded.

There’s a ton of stuff going on in the first episode of Power Book II: Ghost. But Power garnered big audiences because, despite being a bit soapy and unbelievable at times, it carried lots of fine performances and more than enough quality writing to overcome its flaws. That trend continues with the first sequel.

This is a marginal recommendation because we’re hoping The Sounds gets better as the mystery progresses. But in the slow first episode, not a lot happens, which makes us even more annoyed when information is purposely held back from viewers.

There is enough going on in Young Wallander, especially the immigration storyline, that will keep viewers watching. But we just wish Wallander himself was a more interesting character.

Transplant feels like two different shows: A gritty one about Bash’s experiences as a doctor in war-torn Syria, and how he brings his life experience to his job; and a standard medical drama with pretty people solving medical mysteries every week. And the two really don’t mix.

Love Fraud gets off to an interesting start, and only promises to get weirder and more interesting from there.

The new series is incredibly watchable, but flails when it comes to knowing what to focus on.

The issues Patel examines in the series are some pretty big ones, and he does a good job of taking these huge concepts down to a personal level while keeping the themes universal. ... As usual with these CNN-produced documentaries, the photography is top-notch and really brings you into the destination that’s being profiled, closer to the actual culture of the town than most travelogues are able to do.

Raised by Wolves has the potential to be the first great sci-fi show of the ’20s. Visually stunning, technically marvelous, and trippy as hell, it feels like both a callback to the golden era of sci-fi and a template for what the genre could be in this century. Raised by Wolves is a must-watch for sci-fi devotees and a return to early career form for Sir Ridley Scott.

None of the cast is interesting enough to want to follow, even after watching the first two episodes. It also doesn’t help to see rich people buying massive houses during a summer where none of us can go anywhere and many of us don’t have jobs anymore.

The fact that Raniere took what could be seen as a calculated, logical, scientific approach to his program fascinates us even more. When you hear him talk, he sounds less like a motivational speaker and more like a college professor or a wonky tech CEO. ... The Vow benefits from access to people like Vicente and Edmondson, plus lots of footage from various NXIVM organizational videos, meetings, and other insightful stuff.

Love In The Time Of Corona isn’t telling any stories that’ll blow you away, but the couples have understandable chemistry, and the production values are surprisingly high, given the restrictions the producers and crew were under.

It’s easy to dismiss Hoops as just curse-filled and crass. But the cast is great, and you start to root for Coach Hopkins and his team by the end of the first episode. It isn’t always funny, but it’s just funny enough and has enough heart to be a decent show.

High Score might not tell hardcore gamers anything they don’t know. But they, along with those of us who might’ve stopped at Spy Hunter or the Sega Genesis — and are susceptible to this type of colorful nostalgia — will binge all six episodes compulsively. Netflix knows a little something about flow, too.

We’re a bit concerned that the main characters in Dead Pixels aren’t going to rise above how pathetic they are in the first episode. But the episode was funny enough (despite the bleeps) that we have hope that these people will be shown to have a life beyond just an MMORPG.

Fans of this genre of reality show will likely really get into the storylines presented here. We wish that Burnett and his producers concentrated on more non-American teams.

Ted Lasso has a feel-good vibe about it that overcomes the first episode’s lack of funny lines. And it helps that Sudeikis is amazingly likable and he’s hooked up with Lawrence, who always knows how to get the most out of his show’s characters.

This show is just as fun and irreverent as its title, but there’s actually more going on beneath that surface of snark.

Five Bedrooms won’t make you laugh out loud, but as you get to know the people who have bought into this massive mess of a house, you’ll likely start rooting for their ersatz family to function like a real one.

There’s a vague sense that we’re listening in on a group of people chatting about these issues over wine, beer and food in a fashion that feels above the fray and a bit disconnected. That was likely not Luna’s intention, but that’s how it comes off. ... Luna is a very curious dinner host, egging on the discussions on Pan y Circo with knowing and educated questions. We just hope that all the discussions are as passionate and animated as the one about femicide was.

The Other One takes a unique look at death and mourning, couched in a story about two families thrown together under extreme circumstances. The show’s warmth is established almost right away and will only get better.

The format has potential for great drama, but in this case both sides are underdeveloped. ... The first episode of We Hunt Together is less intriguing than its staggered timeline suggests it will be. We’re not expecting things to get any better from there.

If you didn’t watch Filthy Rich and you want to find out more details about the Epstein case, Surviving Jeffrey Epstein will give you all of the details you need to know, but mainly through the testimony of the girls (now women) that Epstein and Maxwell victimized.

We like Being Reuben because Reuben de Maid’s personality is so big that he compels you to watch. But his family is a lot of fun, too, which makes for a light, fun reality series that’s perfect for watching while folding laundry or making some “breakies.”

Lovecraft Country is a pulpy treat: sexy, scary, and featuring a poignant examination of some of the true horrors in American society.

The pieces are there for a really fun dark comedy. But things just may need time to come together.

Star Trek: Lower Decks is a hilarious look at the people who make Starfleet run and never get credit. And it’s the first Trek product since The Voyage Home to really do a good job skewering the franchise’s self-important streak.

Swan is appealing as Jenny, and we’re always happy when a procedural focuses as much on characters as it does on the case of the week. It’s a sign that Coroner will only get better.

The Swamp‘s biggest strength, its nuance, is potentially its weakness. Viewers are so accustomed to super biased storytelling when it comes from contemporary political docs that The Swamp‘s extremely sensitive portrayals of three controversial Republican politicians as people might actually upset some viewers.

The Fugitive is typical for what Quibi has given its (very few) viewers so far: A project that’s not well-thought out, especially for the streamer’s 7-10 minute episode format. Oh, and it’s bad too.

Immigration Nation packs a powerful punch, showing the people affected by the Trump administration’s immigration policy up close. But how you feel about the docuseries will depend on where you fall in the debate.

Fridge Wars has just enough of a twist to make the cooking competition format fun, and it seems like everyone is having fun trying to figure out how to make a dish from what’s in random people’s refirigerators.

Taskmaster is so funny, we wonder why it hasn’t come to the US sooner. And yes, we don’t count that Reggie Watts version.

Muppets Now gives us the purest Muppet content in a very long time. ... Muppets Now is the total spiritual successor to the groundbreaking and iconic ’70s Muppet Show. Truly, the variety show of yesteryear would be a playlist of totally bonkers YouTube vids today.

The Dog House: UK is a light and sweet diversion from all the cynical reality series out there. It would fit really well on Animal Planet, which is a high compliment for a show like this.

Frayed tells a funny and hopefully heartwarming story about a woman who has to re-adapt to the place she fled decades ago, and how her pasty and awkward kids might flourish there. It’s not a new concept, but it works here.

It demystifies our view of the competition, with all its ceremonial grandiosity, sweeping music and heart-tugging TV profiles. It takes our perception of these impenetrable sports heroes and turns it upside-down.

We don’t think the producers care one iota about seeing these contestants actually get better. They salivate at their deeply personal and traumatic stories and want to see them fight and kiss each other.

In My Skin provides some extra substance to the typical coming-of-age story, couched in mental illness and the desire of most teens to just fit in, even if they have to go to extreme measures to accomplish that goal.

If you want to watch a cringey but hilarious show about the music business, go find Dave, which is also on Hulu. Maxxx will just make you cringe.

Those of us who are weary of alpha-male coaches anchoring football docs may see this season of Last Chance U as a breath of fresh air (although some of Beam’s staff exudes some of that cuss-’em-out energy). But overall, this is just extraordinary nonfiction storytelling.