Kat Smalley
Steven Universe: Season 3, Episode 3 – “Same Old World”
How does an animated show deal with the reality of being a victim of war or a refugee? Of depression and PTSD? Through this kind of episode.
Steven Universe: Season 3, Episode 2 – “Gem Drill”
On its own, "Gem Drill" doesn't fail to charm; as a resolution to the series' long-running "Cluster arc", it's somewhat underwhelming.
Steven Universe: Season 3, Episode 1 – “Super Watermelon Island”
Despite lacking much narrative progression, "Super Watermelon Island" still has a lot of fun, beauty, and subtlety for the open-minded viewer.
The Magicians: Season 1, Episode 13 – “Have You Brought Me Little Cakes”
There isn't any better way to respond to this episode than with a angry, sustained "no".
The Magicians: Season 1, Episode 12 – “Thirty-Nine Graves”
Disjointed and sloppy writing make the first season's ostensible climax feel more like a narrative tug-of-war between two incompatible writers.
The Magicians: Season 1, Episode 11 – “Remedial Battle Magic”
A few missteps aren't enough to deny "Remedial Battle Magic" its crown as a clever, well-directed gem of an episode.
The Magicians: Season 1, Episode 10 – “Homecoming”
As a 45-minute information dump, "Homecoming" is apathetic enough to inspire neither admiration nor contempt.
The Magicians: Season 1, Episode 9 – “The Writing Room”
A quiet meditation on the inner life, "The Writing Room" succeeds in a way that no other episode of the season has so far.
The Magicians: Season 1, Episode 8 – “The Strangled Heart”
An absolute mess of an episode that manages to be simultaneously dull, poorly directed, and insulting.
The Magicians: Season 1, Episode 7 – “The Mayakovsky Circumstance”
The writers experiment with putting their characters in different roles this week, with interesting, if not exceptional results.
The Magicians: Season 1, Episode 6 – “Impractical Applications”
Falling back into bad habits, this episode is elevated nevertheless by a few shining performances and interesting touches.