The first two episodes of the new season highlight what makes Claws special, and at the same time, wonderfully unpretentious. Here's a show that makes the most of Nash, who is always great to watch.

The first four episodes do an eerily good job of making us wonder why Heidi can’t seem to recall her time at Homecoming, and just what the heck happened there. The sound design of Homecoming is intriguing, as you’d expect from a series based on a podcast. ... The cast also keeps "Homecoming" watchable, with skillful performances that keep a fine balance between drama and thriller, spiked with moments of weird humor.

Though the “Westworld” parallel applies to the affluent creeps-exploiting-the-poor in an amusement park narrative, “Brave New World” is much more rewarding to watch. Attention-getting scenes of good-looking people having orgies aside, “Brave New World” benefits from a dark wit -- which the grimly self-important “Westworld” has always lacked -- and which keeps it watchable.

Though not everything works equally well (Howle’s Allen Lafferty is saddled with too many exposition-heavy scenes), “Under the Banner of Heaven” is both frightening and fascinating.

Pose is way too entertaining to be considered an example of TV offering a diversity lesson.

As Michael Peterson, Colin Firth manages to make us think he’s guilty as hell one minute, and possibly innocent the next. Toni Collette is touching as Kathleen. And while many a series has caused eyes to glaze over when the plot shifts to younger characters, the dynamics among grown children in this extended family are consistently absorbing.

Jessica Jones could use a bit more wit, overall. But its messed-up, tough, brave heroine holds our interest every moment.

What “Allen v. Farrow” does most effectively is illustrate how what happened – or didn’t happen – can make us examine our own preconceived notions. As with the HBO documentary, “Leaving Neverland,” which explored allegations of sexual abuse leveled against the late Michael Jackson, “Allen v Farrow” makes you think about who you believe, what you believe, and why.

Scenes set in 1920s Berlin, apparent flashbacks that seem like they're aching to be their own show, but don't quite work in this one.... The further adventures of that family, in all their flawed glory, make Season 2 of Transparent a smart, sensual treat.

If the rest of the 13-episode Extant remains as compelling as its first episode, this will be the standout show of the summer season.

Master of None is a warmer, sweeter show than "Louie" often is, and it's less cynical than a raft of other comedies on TV and elsewhere.

At times endearingly old-fashioned (montages of whirling newspaper headlines), sometimes scatalogical (a time-machine toilet), occasionally blasphemous ("Turkey Jesus"), and totally irreverent (Odenkirk as "Pope Jonah Abromowitz.") The tone can get pointed (Cross as a filmmaker who's such an apologist for slavery he refuses to call it that, instead using the term, "helperism"), but the mood stays buoyant.

The history is mostly a familiar overview, but the straightforward narration, well delivered by actor Liev Schreiber, covers the big picture and some smaller, but intriguing, details.

“The Black Church” feels a bit rushed toward the end, as Gates tries to address the ongoing horrors of racial violence, police killings of unarmed Black men, and younger activists finding the Church doesn’t reflect their progressive views. But even with its flaws, “The Black Church” flows like a river, carrying viewers forward in the tradition of the glorious music that has been an essential element of worship for centuries.

Based on the first few episodes, Portlandia remains as odd, endearing, and Portland-made as ever.

For all its volatility and rough textures, after a few episodes, The Knick begins to draw you into its idiosyncratic rhythms.

With an appealing cast, a relatively fresh setting and smart jokes ("Every party in Silicon Valley ends up like a Hasidic wedding," i.e., the men and women are always separated), Silicon Valley is definitely worth your time investment.

Even when scenes border on getting mushy, as in the final moments of Stranger Things 2, the sentiment feels earned, not plastered on. Scary, witty and sweet, Stranger Things 2 just might give sequels a good name.

It’s all dazzling, if sometimes disorienting. After five episodes, it’s hard to know where “Lovecraft Country” is going. But even if it careens off the rails, the show has so much creativity and passion it’s a ride worth taking, wherever it leads.

With its signature mixture of tiny details providing texture and easy storytelling flow, Mad Men lures us back into its final season with all the confidence in the world.

The setting is convincingly snowy and wintry (it was filmed in Calgary, Canada), the writing is clever, and the actors are outstanding.

Quibbles aside, watching this superb cast working together remains a pleasure, and it makes Season 2 of Orange Is the New Black an irresistible summer viewing choice.

Lakshmi links her personal experience with the areas that she visits, which makes “Taste the Nation” feel both personal and universal.

The crime story has disturbing echoes of all too many series built around the murder of young women. What keeps “Mare of Easttown” watchable are the terrific actors, who make the most out of their characters, who are drawn with nuance and depth.

[Lady Diana Spencer (Emma Corrin)'s] transformation from the “Shy Di” young wife of Prince Charles (Josh O’Connor) to the desperately unhappy, but increasingly popular, Princess of Wales gives Season 4 a propulsive energy. Equally riveting are storylines involving Margaret Thatcher (played with clenched-jaw virtuosity by Gillian Anderson). ... If anything, Season 4 of “The Crown” suffers from an overabundance of plotlines that beg for more attention.

Downton Abbey Season 5 may cover some familiar ground, but its steps are so lively, the company so delightful, and the scenery so fine, it's a trip well worth taking.

But nobody should watch Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp for plot. Instead, just park the questioning part of your brain, sit back and revel in the silliness of these terrific performers fooling around.

Overall, the first four episodes of the Portlandia final season indicate that Armisen, Brownstein and the rest of the team intend to keep things bright as they prepare to turn out the lights.