[S01.E01: The Auditions]

I've never been that much of a Glee fan, but watching this pilot really illuminated what a high-wire act Ryan Murphy pulled off in that first season especially. This was trying to mimic so much of what Glee did, from the kick-snare soundtrack, to the shaky cam and quick zooms, and the ironic humor, but this just wasn't anywhere near as sharply written or directed. It really is Disney Channel Glee.

I liked some of the performances. Olivia Rodrigo has a very sweet and earnest presence as Nini, and the guy playing her jock boyfriend landed his jokes better than anyone else. I think of all the actors, he probably understood the tone of the show the best. I found Ricky kind of annoying and grating and that actor was probably the weakest of the bunch.

[B99 In The News]

I wonder when she made this decision? There was no hint of any kind she wanted to leave during the cancellation/renewal drama or when the entire cast went on a press blitz during Comic-Con.

[S02.E14: Super Bowl Sunday]

I thought the stuff with Jack would kill me, and it did (Mandy Moore....wow), but the stuff with Tess and Randall came out of nowhere and hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought it was really smart of them not to just make their big Super Bowl episode about Jack's death but to also reaffirm the credo of the show. 

[S02.E11: The Fifth Wheel]

I always knew Mandy Moore and Sterling K Brown were great, but Justin Hartley is really stepping it up and surprising me. Who knew there was real pathos under that chiseled face. All three were excellent tonight. 

[S02.E09: Chapter Nine: The Gate]

Can I just say how seriously impressive it is that the kids are not just as good as they were last season, but even better? I have watched too many movies/TV shows with adorable, precocious kids who give adorable, precocious performances only to lose their minds a couple of years later to awkwardness and self-consciousness as they go through puberty. It seems as soon as growth spurts start happening and voices start deepening, an alarming number of kid actors simply forget how to act (recent good example: Modern Family), and I was terrified it was going to happen to the kids on this show. I am stunned that not only has that not happened, but every single member of the kid cast has far surpassed their work in the last season. Brown, Wolfhard and Schnapp are turning in better dramatic turns than a lot of actors twice their age and I dare you to find a more funny, likeable performance than the one Matarazzo gave this season. Dustin did about twenty stupid things per episode this season and it's only by virtue of his charm that we're never annoyed with him for it. 

I hope all the kids get serious pay bumps when they go into renegotiation for their contracts next season, because they deserve every penny they can squeeze out of Netflix.

[S02.E08: Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer]

Oh man, the scene where Mike and Eleven reunite again is the moment of the entire season for me. The look in his eye, the look in her eye, the Eleven theme playing in the background...these kids are disgustingly, criminally talented.

[Me, Myself & I - General Discussion]

I find young Alex so bratty. I don't know if it's the actor's delivery or every episode being a variation of 'I want to do something but my new family won't let me!', but I'm finding it tiresome. The step-brother is much more fun as audience member to spend time with.

[S04.E02: First Day]

1 hour ago, Camera One said:

I thought this was a weak episode.  I missed the final third of last season, and I really don't like the whole Kenny Rogers Cattleman Ranch thing.  I didn't find it funny at all.

I don't think the kids aging is necessarily a problem.  I think it really depends on the writing, and this show's writing is inconsistent. 

I do agree with finding it hard to adjust to Eddie's sudden voice change and growth spurt this season.  Evan is still young enough for his usual subplots.  

To clarify, I don't have a problem with aging child actors (eg. I remained a fan of Saoirse Ronan all through her teenage years) - but these sitcom kids are so obviously cast for the cute factor that as they get older and the cute disappears, it becomes very painfully obvious none of them can act very well. Modern Family had the exact same problem when Luke, Manny and Alex started getting older. 

[S04.E02: First Day]

This is the first episode I've watched in about a year and the kids all looks so much older it was legitimately discombobulating to me the whole time. 

Sadly, I think I find the whole show less charming now that the boys have all gotten older. ABC sitcoms can only mine little-kid precociousness for so long.

[S05.E02: The Big House (2)]

Andy Samberg's one-man adaptation of The Lion King killed me. It was so random and hilarious. 

[S02.E02: A Manny-Splendored Thing]

As someone who grew up around alcoholics, Milo's performance as a relapsing drunk was painfully real to me. The twitchiness, the gulping, the shallow breathing and wandering eyes - all masterfully done.

Teenage Kate is a great little actress - she's got super expressive eyes and really held her own in that last scene with Jack.

[Me, Myself & I - General Discussion]

Anyone else find it inconceivable young Alex turns into old Alex? And I'm not talking about their looks either. Bobby Moynihan plays him so goofy and self-deprecating whereas there's a weird coldness and almost hostility coming from Jack Grazer's performance. I get that kid actors tend to be hit or miss, but Grazer is missing so much of the sweetness and warmth that's inherent in the older Alexes.