“Succession” is the best show on TV. Which makes it a particular pleasure to report that Season 3 lives up to that superlative.

Colman is exceptional in everything she does, so she’s not afraid to make the Elizabeth of Season 3 look, at times, distressingly irrelevant and frustratingly complacent. ... Like Colman, the new cast members assume their roles with elegance and ease. ... The return of “The Crown,” with its irresistible blend of heightened history and peek-behind-the-brocade-curtain drama, is a gloriously welcome gift, arriving just in time for the holidays.

Thanks to the stellar work of Vallee, Kelley and the top-flight cast, Big Little Lies, like its characters, delivers a high-sheen surface. But, unlike some self-consciously glum prestige TV dramas, Big Little Lies isn't afraid to be entertaining, mixing intimate, dark drama with sly social commentary. It's one of the best shows of this still-young year.

A pretty ingenious concept – a scripted series about people involved in making a dance-centered reality show – gives this series an enjoyable spring in its step. Sometimes funny, sometimes dramatic, the show benefits from a well-chosen cast.

The show skillfully moves from coming-of-age comedy to drama. This “Wonder Years” also does a fine job of telling the story from the point of view of a Black family, and honors their experiences.

Adapted from a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Elizabeth Strout, Olive Kitteridge is an extraordinary character study, featuring a brilliant performance by Frances McDormand.

From the lead roles to the ensemble, “Mrs. America” has a fabulous cast, and the writing gives them plenty to work with. Blanchett is totally in command as Schlafly. ... “Mrs. America” is one of the best shows so far this year, and it’s worth seeking out.

Painfully timely. It's also absolutely enraging, and completely riveting. ... The Handmaid's Tale isn't just the best original show Hulu has ever done. It's one of the most impressive series of the year.

If subsequent chapters in the 10-episode season stay at this high level, Fargo again looks like a contender for best TV series of the year.

Masters of Sex is better than ever.

Season 3 is an utterly confident mix of gritty comedy and affecting, underplayed drama.

In Season 3, the superb writing and performances make Transparent more satisfying than ever. If there's a standout, it's Light as Shelly, providing most of the comedy as Shelly works on her own one-woman show.

The female wrestlers are a splendid ensemble, both in their silly show, and in GLOW. But they’re always individuals. ... The 10 episodes in GLOW Season 2 go by so fast, they’ll leave you wanting more.

The Night Manager combines luxurious production with razor-sharp writing, and it's brought to life by a brilliant cast, headed by Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie.

Lonergan's gift for empathizing with characters while clearly seeing their flaws fills every scene with rich, unsentimental emotion. Lonergan's work is matched by director Hettie MacDonald, who, rather than leaning on handsome production design and costumes, makes the material feel immediate, and the characters' choices full of risk. ... The cast more than rises to the occasion.

Tambor's delicacy and sincerity as Maura are subtle and moving, though he never aims for sentimentality. The comedy and difficulty of what this all means for the Pfefferman family are beautifully balanced.

The “Parks and Recreation” special made the most of its brisk running time, packing in lovely moments for the characters, and gently delivering the message that we need to take care of our emotional and mental health as we quarantine during these anxious times.

Black-ish is one of the best new shows of the season.

One of TV’s best shows. In Season 2, “Succession” continues to demonstrate that unlikable characters can make for riveting TV. ... “Succession” is good, nasty fun.

It’s to the credit of White and the wonderfully well-chosen cast that we keep watching, even knowing that these guests are probably not going to find much self-awareness. ... The splendid cast is led by Bartlett, who makes Armond’s growing resentment a volatile partner to his put-a-smile-on-everything professional demeanor. Rothwell emerges as the heart and soul of the series. ... Coolidge is outstanding, as she makes Tanya’s stunted emotional life kind of sympathetic. Britton and Zahn are pitch-perfect as a couple with their own challenges.

Is it a long sit? Definitely. Are there moments when you wish the band would quit noodling around and amusing themselves by playing snippets of rock oldies or the Harry Lime theme from “The Third Man?” Absolutely. Will you feel impatient as you wait for more finished versions of such songs as “Get Back” to emerge? Sure. All that said, Jackson’s film is something special.

Documentary Now! is dazzlingly smart.... It's true that Documentary Now! is funnier if you're at least vaguely familiar with the movies that serve as the inspirations.

[The first 2] episodes are so solid and done with such polish, they're reason to think that Season 5 of Portlandia may be the best one yet.

Burns and his frequent collaborator, writer Geoffrey C. Ward, plunge into the elements that make The Roosevelts so engrossing, enlightening and entertaining. In a seemingly effortless balancing act, Burns and Ward do justice to the massive mark these three individuals left on the country's history, while also keeping a tight focus on their inner lives.

A true horror story, possibly the most successful horror story ever made for television, a medium hostile to sustaining belief in the unbelievable. The four-hour miniseries is a bit too long, and the ending doesn't live up to what has gone before, but this Stephen King story is gripping, fascinating, well-acted and superbly produced. [18 Nov 1990, p.5]

The Vietnam War is both the most powerful film Burns has produced, and the most despairing. ... By the end of the fascinating, sometimes wrenchingly hard to watch 18 hours, it's impossible to regard the Vietnam War as anything other than an agonizing failure, one that taught Americans to be cynical about a government that lied to them, sent Americans off to risk their lives, and made one costly bad decision after another.

With witty writing, a likable leading lady, and a terrific cast, iZombie is full of life, and one of the season's best new shows.

That willingness to embrace comedy and tragedy makes Barry something special. Hader, who also directed and co-wrote several episodes, is exceptionally good, making us care about Barry while also being horrified at what he's capable of. The cast is superb.