Recurring Episodes: The Wire, Season 1, Episode 4: “Old Cases”

(Recurring Episodes is a regular feature taking an in-depth look each week at a single episode of television, placing it in the context of the larger TV landscape to show what works, what doesn’t, what’s important, and what’s entertaining about the shows of the new Golden Age of Television, and the series that served as influence on those shows. Learn more about Recurring Episodes here.) 

This week, Recurring Episodes takes on the third in HBO’s unimpeachable drama trilogy, The Wire, a show that many consider to be the finest complete series in television history, a novelistic, “Dickensian” achievement. Spoilers after the jump.

Recurring Episodes: Deadwood, Season One, Episode 4: “Here Was a Man”

(Recurring Episodes is a regular feature taking an in-depth look each week at a single episode of television, placing it in the context of the larger TV landscape to show what works, what doesn’t, what’s important, and what’s entertaining about the shows of the new Golden Age of Television, and the series that served as influence on those shows. Learn more about Recurring Episodes here.)

All right loopy cunts, limber-legged limp-dicked cocksuckers and hoopleheads, it’s time for Recurring Episodes to take on HBO’s foul-mouthed, dead-before-its-time foray into the Old West, Deadwood.

Recurring Episodes: The Sopranos, Season One, Episode Ten: “A Hit is a Hit”

(Recurring Episodes is a regular feature taking an in-depth look each week at a single episode of television, placing it in the context of the larger TV landscape to show what works, what doesn’t, what’s important, and what’s entertaining about the shows of the new Golden Age of Television, and the series that served as influence on those shows. Learn more about Recurring Episodes here.)

This edition of Recurring Episodes will take a slightly different approach, as it will examine one of the weakest episodes of one of television’s best shows, that is: the first foray of The Sopranos into the world of showbiz, “A Hit is a Hit.”

Recurring Episodes: Louie, Season Two, Episode One: “Pregnant”

Recurring Episodes is a regular feature taking an in-depth look each week at a single episode of television, placing it in the context of the larger TV landscape to show what works, what doesn’t, what’s important, and what’s entertaining about the shows of the new Golden Age of Television, and the series that served as influence on those shows. Learn more about Recurring Episodes here. 

Occasionally, it feels pointless to cover older television when something very special is happening right now. So, in a break with tradition, this installment of Recurring Episodes will take on an episode of television that hasn’t aged much at all—about a week, in fact—last week’s installment of FX’s Louie.

Recurring Episodes: 30 for 30, “June 17, 1994”

Recurring Episodes is a regular feature taking an in-depth look each week at a single episode of television, placing it in the context of the larger TV landscape to show what works, what doesn’t, what’s important, and what’s entertaining about the shows of the new Golden Age of Television, and the series that served as influence on those shows. Learn more about Recurring Episodes here. 

Today’s edition of Recurring Episodes will tackle ESPN’s 30th anniversary documentary film series, appropriately titled 30 for 30, with what is probably the most interesting and strangely compelling of its films (albeit a few days late, date-wise), “June 17, 1994.”

Recurring Episodes: Breaking Bad, Season Three on DVD

Recurring Episodes is a regular feature taking an in-depth look each week at a single episode of television, placing it in the context of the larger TV landscape to show what works, what doesn’t, what’s important, and what’s entertaining about the shows of the new Golden Age of Television, and the series that served as influence on those shows. Learn more about Recurring Episodes here. 

This special edition of Recurring Episodes will differ from the usual format a little bit. Instead of taking on a single episode of TV, this recap will cover the third season of what has to be the best show on television today (sorry, Mad Men), Breaking Bad, newly released on DVD, in advance of the fourth season’s July premiere. Spoilers beyond the jump.

Recurring Episodes: South Park, Season Nine, Episode Four: “Best Friends Forever”

Recurring Episodes is a regular feature taking an in-depth look each week at a single episode of television, placing it in the context of the larger TV landscape to show what works, what doesn’t, what’s important, and what’s entertaining about the shows of the new Golden Age of Television, and the series that served as influence on those shows. Learn more about Recurring Episodes here. 

Welcome to the seventh installment of Recurring Episodes. This week, one of the best episodes in the history of the foul-mouthed cartoon kids of South Park is the subject.

Too Big To Fail

Too Big To Fail is an important, triumphant political thriller, equal parts In The Loop, JFK, All The President’s Men and Glengarry Glen Ross.  It depicts some semblance of the 2008 financial crisis, the major and minor players filled out by a dreamboat cast of ace, recognizable character actors.  Events unfold in terse Wikipedia shorthand, yet the film is thorough enough that it improves upon repeat viewing.  It was directed by Curtis Hanson, the filmmaker responsible for the legendary L.A. Confidential and the very possibly superior Wonder Boys.  There will be many motion pictures about those bewildering days, but rather a lot of circumstances will have to align to produce a film so effective as this.  It deserves a considerable audience; it is available this minute on HBO On Demand.

Recurring Episodes: The Office, Season One, Episode Four: “Training”

Recurring Episodes is a regular feature taking an in-depth look each week at a single episode of television, placing it in the context of the larger TV landscape to show what works, what doesn’t, what’s important, and what’s entertaining about the shows of the new Golden Age of Television, and the series that served as influence on those shows. Learn more about Recurring Episodes here. 

Welcome to the sixth installment of Recurring Episodes. This week, the groundbreaking British sitcom The Office gets the Fully Reconditioned treatment.

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