Welcome back to Boomb Tube! Here, we will be catching you up on the week in comics TV, both through micro-reviews, as well as links to our full-length TV reviews. We also tend to review series that are dropped all at once weekly so there are a few ‘older’ shows mixed in for good measure. Are we missing your favorite show? Let us know in the comments!
Ahsoka – “Time to Fly” (S1E3, Disney+)
In case you missed it, read our full review by Brian Salvatore.
Futurama – “I Know What You Did Next Xmas” (S8/11E6, Hulu)
It’s already the week before Xmas, and Farnsworth decides to use his time machine to go back and prevent Robot Santa from becoming a homicidal maniac. But first, a big shout out to the late Coolio, who returns as Kwanzaabot, and receives a dedication at the end of this episode, which was very sweet. Now, as Farnsworth would say, uh hwuh? This truly bonkers episode sees Bender and Zoidberg, now all alone and resentful of everyone else spending the week safely with their families, decide to kidnap the Santa from the year before, only to wind up “electrocuting” him, and stuck with a massive body they struggle to dispose of.
It turns out a) Farnsworth was actually responsible for Santa being evil, and b) Zoidberg messed up, so the Santa variant they kidnapped was from the week ahead; also Santa’s fine, if disembodied, sending messages to Past Bender threatening to out him becoming friends with Zoidberg – uh hwuh indeed. To be honest, I found Bender and Zoidberg’s story a little plodding because I don’t really care if they’re friends or not, but the episode more than made up for it by showing how everyone else spends Xmas together, and prepares their own turducken (or turdolphin.) Oh, and a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shot confirmed Disenchantment takes place in Futurama’s future: what a cool way to mark that show’s end on Netflix last week. Wait, Cara Delevigne? What’s she doing in the credits- Christopher Chiu-Tabet
Good Omens – “The Ball” (S2E5, Amazon Prime)
In case you missed it, read our full review by Mel Lake.
Harley Quinn – “Il Buffone” (S4E8, Max)
You ever sit and wonder, “What did I just watch?” That explains my thoughts watching this week’s Harley Quinn episode. Harley and Ivy return from their Bill and Ted’s Malevolent Adventure to find Gotham and the world stuck in the Snyderverse. Lex Luthor has carried out some random ass plan to thicken the ozone, which blocks out the sun and sends everyone into a flippin’ tizzy. I don’t recall Lex wanting to do this, but here we are. I may have been distracted by his hair plugs and exploding calves.
The secondary plot follows Bane’s journey of unrequited love for Nora Fries. He goes to Italy and becomes a master pasta maker. Yeah, that’s what actually happens, and the payoff is just as unfulfilling. I was rooting for Bane last season when he found his love in the leather-clad Dom known as Betty. Now I have to sit through him, pining for a wasted pile of melted feelings, and it’s quite exhausting. Just bring back Betty, and let’s stop with the love-struck Bane. Nora isn’t worth it, man.- Carl Waldron
Heartstopper – “Truth/Dare” (S2E6, Netflix)
Charlie meets Nick’s father Stephane, who hasn’t seen his son in a while, and only really knows he plays rugby; it apparently doesn’t occur to him at all that Charlie might be his boyfriend. He has to leave abruptly, but promises to meet the following week during a business trip to England. The subsequent night and final day in Paris is much more positive, as Elle and Tao tell their roommates they kissed, and embrace their relationship, while Tara turns 16, and receives an apology and promise from Darcy to be a better girlfriend.
At her birthday party, James and Isaac kiss after the two step out, but Isaac reacts badly, leaving James confused. During a game of truth or dare, he admits he doesn’t have celebrity crushes, strongly indicating he’s asexual. When it’s Charlie’s turn, the questions become too uncomfortable, and Nick diverts attention by coming out to everyone; he also tells them it’s OK to share their secret. Darcy then breaks the spell by admitting she’s drunk too much, and is sick, eventually vomiting on a bed in Mr. Ajayi and Farouk’s room.
Continued belowNick and Charlie go back to their bedroom alone, where the two indirectly talk about how they’re not ready for sex; in contrast, Ajayi and Farouk wind up kissing and spending the night together as a result of Darcy’s mess. Darcy herself finally tells Tara she loves her, and despite the aftertaste on her lips, Tara kisses her: now that’s love. The episode closes with everyone on the bus back to England, where Charlie slowly remembers everyone knows about him and Nick now, and that nothing will ever be the same.
Song of the episode: “Bros” by Wolf Alice – Christopher Chiu-Tabet
Mech Cadets – “Ghosts” (S1E5, Netflix)
Tanaka and Maya go to intercept and kill the escaped Sharg, while Stanford is sent home, and the obnoxious Adam Williams is assigned as Buddy’s new pilot. Ava, who fills in for Max as Chief of the Engineering Corps while she recovers from a broken leg, is ordered to install a neural override mod in Buddy, so they’ll believe Adam is their pilot. She apparently tampers with it though, so Buddy winds up (r)ejecting Adam, and flies to the Yu household and garage to give Stanford a lift back to base. Wow: flying inside Buddy’s hand? Stanford’s pretty fearless.
We get a fair bit of insight into the Yu family, complete with Stanford speaking to his father via his ancestral shrine, and learn his parents were immigrants who had to start anew in America. Stanford gets a chance to clear up his motivations, stating for him, honoring his father’s memory is all about being able to protect people as a Robo pilot. Also, Frank takes bad romantic advice from Adam, setting up a generic romantic dinner for Maya, until Olivia intervenes; he winds up inviting her to a soccer match instead. The episode concludes with Ava sneaking around, spying on the Hero Force engineering team, only to be caught and confronted by an angry Olivia. – Christopher Chiu-Tabet
My Adventures with Superman – “Hearts of the Fathers” (S1E10, Adult Swim/Max)
In case you missed it, read our full review by Matthew Vincenty.
One Piece – “Romance Dawn” (S1E1, Netflix)
Stay tuned for our review of the series premiere by Robbie Pleasant tomorrow.
This is a reminder that we will have a review of Riverdale‘s series finale when Elias returns from holiday. We can’t have someone cover over 100 chapters and not cover the finale!
