Category Archives: Television

TV Time: New Girl 3.02

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Title Nerd

Two-Sentence Summary After seeing Jess struggling to make friends among the teachers at her new school, Nick gives her some well-meaning but misguided advice about how to act cool. Meanwhile, Schmidt faces a problem when both Cece and Elizabeth show up at his office party, and Winston dreams of taking his frustrations with his relationship with Daisy out on her cat.

Favorite Line “I would have noticed you.” (Nick)

Episode M.V.P. “Nerd”was a great showcase for the men of New Girl. While Zooey Deschanel had plenty of comedy to work with (my personal favorite being her rendition of “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes while standing in a toilet), I didn’t really care for most of Jess’s storyline. I love Jess because she seems proud of who she is even when the rest of the world doesn’t seem to understand her quirks, and that confidence was completely missing from her character in this episode. Her characterization felt uneven, which I guess was kind of the point—but that doesn’t mean it appealed to my tastes (I hate “secondhand embarrassment” kind of comedy).

One of my problems with Jess’s characterization in this episode was that the comedy in her storyline was too broad and too cliché. We’ve seen it all before. The same could be said of Schmidt’s storyline—how many times have we seen the “two girlfriends, one room” situation in a sitcom? (Answer: Too many) However, Max Greenfield was able to inject a really surprising amount of genuine emotion into his reaction to the situation. The tears in his eyes at the end of the party made me actually believe that he doesn’t want to hurt either woman; he’s just going about this in a completely wrong way.

Lamorne Morris was once again a standout performer in this episode, making the craziest side plot work with his fantastic delivery. Who knew contemplating killing a cat could be so funny? My favorite moment was his ridiculous idea to let the cat decide how it wanted to die.

The real M.V.P. of this episode, though, was Nick Miller and, by extension, Jake Johnson. Nick went through a lot in this episode, and Johnson once again balanced so many facets of this character with ease. His desire to help Jess was incredibly endearing, even if it manifested itself in a disastrous way. Schmidt wasn’t wrong; Nick’s advice was awful, but it came from a genuine place of concern and care. That’s what I love about New Girl—all of these characters are messes, but their hearts are in the right place. And as soon as Schmidt opened Nick’s eyes to the fact that his advice was making Jess more like him—and not in a positive sense—Nick suddenly sprang into action in such a fantastic way. I loved seeing him try to deal with both Jess and Winston’s crises because flustered Nick is one of my favorite flavors of Nick Miller, but also because it showed how much this man has grown, letting more than a little responsible, “Chicago” Nick into the loft.

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TV Time: Castle 6.01

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Title Valkyrie

Two-Sentence Summary After accepting Castle’s marriage proposal and beginning her new life in Washington, Beckett faces the challenges of learning the ropes of a new job, adjusting to a new partner, and living without her fiancé. Her new life gets even more complicated when Castle begins poking his nose in one of her new cases, a robbery that turns out to be much more than it originally appeared and could have deadly consequences for Castle.

Favorite Line “Kate, I’m not proposing to you to keep you here or because I’m afraid I’m gonna lose you. I’m proposing because I can’t imagine my life without you. If that means when things get difficult we have to figure them out, then I’m willing to figure them out—assuming you’re willing to figure them out with me.” (Castle)

My Thoughts If there’s one lesson Castle has taught me over the years it’s that confidence is incredibly attractive. As much as Castle and Beckett have proved that time and again over five (and now six) seasons, the show as a whole also operates with an air of confidence—in its actors, its characters, and the story it wants to tell. “Valkyrie” was a season premiere that could be described as many things: entertaining, emotional, suspenseful, funny, warm, dramatic, and even frustrating (a cliffhanger already?!). However, I think the best word to describe it is confident. The relationship between Castle and Beckett, the pacing of the episode, and the cliffhanger of an ending all felt as if they were coming from a place of confidence—both within the show’s universe and within the very real universe of the network TV business.

I loved that show picked up right where last season’s finale left off because it allowed the frustration some audience members (myself included) felt about Castle’s proposal to be addressed right away. The way the somber tone of the proposal melted into the excitement, humor, and warmth of their reactions to it speaks to the show’s ability to shift tones naturally and realistically. There was something so sweet about Nathan Fillion’s delivery of Castle’s confession that his proposal was the most serious thing he’s ever done. Castle has grown from a man “incapable of taking anything seriously” (Beckett’s description of him in the pilot) to this man, who is so serious about his commitment to Beckett that he’s in untested waters, even for a man who’s been married twice before. The character growth shown in that one line is incredible and felt so rewarding for those of us who’ve watched Castle develop and become a better man by being in the presence of a woman who takes so many things seriously.

The fact that the writers could turn the strange tone of the proposal into a moment of comedy proves that they understand both their characters and their audience. They knew what kind of reactions we all had to that proposal, and it was nice to see them echoed in Beckett’s reaction. It was also nice to see what could have been a cheesy or dramatic moment kept perfectly in-character with Beckett’s inability to answer right away and the banter that followed. It’s nice when a proposal scene is kept from being generic by adding little touches of unique character continuity, and one of the best things about this couple has always been their quick banter.

Fillion and Stana Katic were simply wonderful in that proposal scene. I loved the brief moment when we could feel Beckett’s fear that taking the job would make Castle take back the proposal, but what I loved even more was how quickly that fear was put to rest. Castle’s speech about the reason he proposed was filled with such genuine respect and adoration for Beckett, whose dedication to her work is what drew him to her in the first place. It wasn’t an overbearingly sweet moment; it was honest and reflected the very mature belief that marriage takes work but is ultimately worth the effort when you’re working with the right person. And that sense of genuine commitment was all Beckett needed to see to tell Castle that she wanted to marry him—all of him. By using both his real name and his pen name, Beckett showed that she knows and loves every part of him. You can’t separate Richard Edgar Castle from Richard Alexander Rogers, and Beckett loves both of those sides of him—the side he shares with the world and the side he shares with only those he loves the most. Both of their smiles when she accepts say so much—she’s so sure of this love and of their future, and he’s so happy that he’s able to give her that assurance.

That sense of certainty permeated their interactions throughout the rest of the episode. After the two-month time jump, we saw a couple who might be frustrated with their separation are confident in their relationship. It’s a side to them we’ve never really seen before. Last season was all about the honeymoon stage and the exploration of the ups and downs of a new relationship. This episode presented something different, a kind of mature stability that comes from knowing that both people in the relationship are fully committed to spending their lives together. It’s a good look on both of these characters because it’s something completely new for them both. Beckett has never been engaged; Castle has never been this serious about a relationship. They’re jumping in together, just like Beckett always wanted.

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The Best Thing I Saw on TV This Week (9/15 – 9/22)

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So it begins…

The fall 2013 television season got started with a bang this week, as both new and returning shows began making their way into our homes, hearts, and DVR queues. Tuesday alone gave us the hilarious Brooklyn Nine-Nine pilot, a terrific third-season premiere of New Girl, the return of The Mindy Project, and the midseason finale of Suits. And the real kickoff to this TV season occurred last night, as television’s elite gathered together for the Emmy Awards.

Yes, some parts of this year’s Emmy ceremony were disappointing (I’ll let you fill in your own snub here), boring (Elton John’s Liberace tribute), unappealing (sorry, Aubrey Plaza and Lena Dunham) or confusing (Was Carrie Underwood paying tribute to both the Kennedy assassination and the Beatles, even though one was in 1963 and the other in 1964?). But others were touching (Edie Falco and Robin Williams paying tribute to James Gandolfini and Jonathan Winters, respectively), pleasantly surprising (Merrit Wever!), entertaining (Hello, Nathan Fillion, so nice to hear you singing again.), and stunning (Anna Gunn).

In a night filled with highs and lows, the biggest high happened at the very beginning of the ceremony, when Tina Fey and Amy Poehler proved once again that they can make literally anything funny—including twerking jokes and 3D glasses. Between that bit and the moment when they both climbed up the stairs in the most absurd manner possible (including Poehler rolling onto the stage), those two women provided not only the best moment of the Emmys but the best moment of the week from the world of TV.

What was the best thing you saw on TV this week? What are you most excited to see this week?

Nerdy Girl Predicts: The 2013 Emmy Awards

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Confession time: I don’t watch a lot of “critically acclaimed” television. My tastes aren’t exactly aligned with any years’ crop of Emmy nominees, but I was especially disappointed that some of my favorite shows and actors were overlooked this time around. However, I’m still going to attempt to predict how tomorrow night’s Emmy ceremony is going to go. I’m skipping the miniseries/TV movie categories because I have absolutely no knowledge of those nominees, but I hope my other picks (and the reasons behind them) might inspire you to fill out an Emmy ballot of your own.

DRAMA SERIES:
Breaking Bad, AMC
Downton Abbey, PBS
Homeland, Showtime
Game of Thrones, HBO
House of Cards, Netflix
Mad Men, AMC
My Pick: Breaking Bad. I could see House of Cards possibly playing the spoiler here (to call attention to the success Netflix is having with its original programming), but I really think the buzz around Breaking Bad is too high right now—and has been for the last year or so—for it to go unrecognized. I can’t believe it’s never won before, so I think its time has come.

LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES:
Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey, PBS
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad, AMC
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom, HBO
Jon Hamm, Mad Men, AMC
Damian Lewis, Homeland, Showtime
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards, Netflix
My Pick: Bryan Cranston. The Emmys like to stick with what they know, and what they know is that Cranston is a force to be reckoned with. Spacey shouldn’t be counted out here, but I can’t see this award going to someone other than Cranston until Breaking Bad is done (which means, yes, I am already picking him to win next year’s Emmy, too).

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES:
Connie Britton, Nashville, ABC
Claire Danes, Homeland, Showtime
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey, PBS
Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel, A&E
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men, AMC
Kerry Washington, Scandal, ABC
Robin Wright, House of Cards, Netflix
My Pick: Kerry Washington. This is a diverse category of fantastic leading ladies, but Washington has the kind of star power that Emmy voters love to call attention to. She’s the center of one of the most talked-about shows on television, and she turns in consistently great work, even with increasingly crazy storylines.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES:
Bobby Cannavale, Boardwalk Empire, HBO
Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad, AMC
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad, AMC
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey, PBS
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones, HBO
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland, Showtime
My Pick: Mandy Patinkin. Homeland is probably going to win at least one Emmy tomorrow night, and I think it’s going to go to the man who was overlooked for any recognition last season. Patinkin’s restrained performance grounds a show that is known for its emotional breakdowns, hysterics, and crazy plot twists. I don’t know much about the character dynamics on Homeland, but it seems to me that Patinkin’s Saul is the steadfast glue holding the show together when it’s at its craziest.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES:
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad, AMC
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey, PBS
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones, HBO
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife, CBS
Morena Baccarin, Homeland, Showtime
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men, AMC
My Pick: Anna Gunn. If I know nothing else about Breaking Bad, I know that Anna Gunn has turned in a performance that’s controversial, powerful, and polarizing. But there’s no denying that this woman has talent and has held her own opposite her commanding costars. Plus, she wrote this fantastic New York Times piece about her character, and that kind of love for the role she plays earns her big points in my book.

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Grading the (Mid)Season Finales 2013: Suits

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I know this episode of Suits wasn’t technically a season finale, but it feels right to treat it as such since it aired before such a long hiatus. 

Title Stay

What Happens? After Scottie agrees to help Harvey fight Ava Hessington’s lawsuit, both of them face depositions at the hands of Ava’s new attorney—Travis Tanner. Jessica warns Scottie that these depositions will get very dirty very quickly, which is proven when Tanner brings up Harvey and Scottie’s history, including Scottie cheating on her fiancé with Harvey. Tanner’s personal attacks against Scottie become too much for Harvey to take, and we begin to see that the part of him that cares for her is becoming more and more outspoken. However, Tanner doesn’t just attack Scottie’s character; he accuses her of knowing about Stephen Huntley’s murders, which Huntley attests to in a sworn statement.

There’s one factor Tanner and Huntley didn’t take into account when thinking of this plan, though, and that’s Donna and her dedication to helping Scottie because she knows how much Scottie means to Harvey. Taking Mike along with her, she gets Stephen to confess to lying about Scottie’s involvement, which is recorded by prison cameras. After that, Tanner’s partnership with Ava quickly begins to unravel, ending with the oil magnate dropping her lawsuit and Harvey emerging victorious over Tanner once again. Harvey and Scottie celebrate the victory with dinner and a proposal from Harvey for Scottie to join the firm. She declines because she wants more than to just work with Harvey. When she presses him to say more than his usual “I care about you,” Harvey’s cool exterior finally shows some signs of warmth, and he tells her that he wants more than just a working relationship; he wants her in his life.

Louis and Mike also find themselves with relationship struggles in this episode. Louis fails to recognize Sheila’s desire to be exclusive until it seems to be too late, and Mike is struggling with giving Rachel the space she needs to make her decision about Stanford and Columbia. That decision is made more difficult when Jessica discovers Mike and Rachel’s relationship and decides to act before anything could happen to cause Robert Zane’s daughter to reveal Mike’s secret. She gives Mike an affidavit to give to Rachel to sign, stating that she knows Mike is a fraud, which means her career would be destroyed too if anyone were to find out about Mike. The only other choice, Mike tells Rachel, is to go to Stanford.

It becomes clear, though, that Rachel doesn’t want to go to Stanford, so she’ll sign the affidavit—on one condition. She demands that Jessica drop the firm’s “Harvard-only” requirement for her because she knows she’s already better than most of the Harvard-trained associates they have. It appears Jessica agrees because Mike and Rachel’s storyline ends with the revelation that she’s going to Columbia and staying by Mike’s side.

As for Louis’s relationship, he finds Sheila in the Harvard Law records room and tells her that he wants an exclusive relationship with her. Elated, she leaves the room to call her mother, telling him not to touch any of the files. Of course, Louis can’t help himself, and he finds Harvey’s file. His search for Mike’s file is stopped short by a startling revelation: There is no “Mike Ross” in the Harvard Law system.

Game-Changing Moment There were plenty of moments that could be considered game-changers down the line: Rachel choosing Columbia and Mike over Stanford and a fresh start; Harvey opening up and pursuing a relationship with Scottie; Jessica dropping the Harvard-only rule for Rachel…But the biggest twist came when Louis discovered that Mike’s file isn’t in the Harvard Law system. It sets up a new conflict for the second half of this season, and it brings another person into the web of Mike’s secret. We all knew Louis had to find out eventually, but I like that it was done in a way that still made you feel the suspense even though you knew what was going to happen.

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TV Time: New Girl 3.01

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It’s good to be back! To any new readers joining us for this season, welcome!

Title All In

Two-Sentence Summary After Cece’s near-wedding, Nick and Jess find themselves embarking on a new, “all in” relationship as they travel to Mexico to discover what they have with each other independent of Schmidt and Winston, who are back at the loft working through problems of their own (Schmidt’s inability to decide between Elizabeth and Cece and Winston’s difficulties with a jigsaw puzzle). However, after Nick gets arrested, he and Jess realize that they don’t need to be away from Schmidt and Winston to find out what they are; they’re all in whether they’re in Mexico or back at the loft.

Favorite Line “Hey you guys…I’ve been doing a lot of thinking…Now I know everyone’s going through a lot, but I think it’s time for me to start a puzzle.” (Winston)

Episode M.V.P. Another season, another episode of New Girl where really any one of the “core four” actors could have been named its most valuable performer. The reason why this episode worked so well as a premiere was because it didn’t tinker too much with what made last season such a joy. It focused on pairs of characters that have been incredibly successful in the past: Nick/Jess and Schmidt/Winston. The former provided the majority of the episode’s heart, and the latter provided a lot of its humor.

I could single out Jake Johnson’s incredible nonverbal acting once again because I still melt every time Nick looks at Jess. And the way he delivered the line about her being the prettiest girl on the beach was wonderful because it was so matter-of-fact. It’s a simple fact for Nick that Jess is the prettiest girl wherever they happen to be, and that kind of sincerity is what makes him such a realistically romantic leading man. I could also single out Zooey Deschanel for her incredible ability to bring sanity to this crazy group of male characters without seeming like their mom. Like Johnson, Deschanel acts with a disarming kind of sincerity that makes all of her lines feel honest, even when they’re as crazy as “Nick is my bitch!” I could watch a whole show of Johnson and Deschanel laughing together and looking at each other because they capture the joy of falling in love better than any other actors on TV.

When talking about New Girl actors, you can’t forget Max Greenfield, who was once again brilliant, whether he was screaming at Winston or genuinely getting emotional at the idea of hurting either Cece or Elizabeth. But the real star of this episode, the one who made me joyfully exclaim “New Girl is back!” has to be Lamorne Morris. Winston always gets the craziest storylines, but somehow Morris always makes them hilarious—and this was no exception. “Puzzling Winston” is right up there with “Prank Sinatra” on my list of reasons to love New Girl. From the humming and the weirdly sexual attitude toward the puzzle to his hoodie-as-sweatpants wardrobe and stubbing his toe while walking in angry circles with Schmidt, Morris had me laughing until I cried throughout the episode. The scene where Winston and Schmidt carry on an entire nonverbal conversation behind Cece’s back was something I’ve seen 100 times on TV before, but I’ve never laughed as hard as I did this time. Winston is crazy—genuinely, hilariously crazy—but he’s also a good friend. And I hope this episode starts the Year of Winston—because Morris has earned it.

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The Best Thing I Saw on TV This Week (9/8 – 9/15)

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Sorry for the delay with this week’s post. How dare “real” work get in the way of talking about TV! 

Last week got off to a fun start with the return of the NFL, making all of our Sundays either a little more exciting or a little more heartbreaking every week. The fun kept coming with the finale of So You Think You Can Dance, and, while my favorite dancers (Aaron and Jasmine) lost the title of “America’s Favorite Dancers” to Fik-Shun and Amy, I’m still very happy that two deserving dancers won. Suits featured the return of Scottie, new drama for Mike and Rachel, and plenty of Litt-tastic moments. And even the reruns aired were enjoyable, especially Justin Timberlake’s fantastic Saturday Night Live episode.

Keeping with the theme of recent weeks, Suits was where I found my favorite TV moment of the week. This time, it wasn’t one particular moment; instead it was a series of scenes showing a more human, kind, and genuine Harvey Specter.

I initially disliked the idea of Scottie showing up at Harvey’s apartment to basically beg him to help her. However, I liked seeing Harvey agree to help because Scottie is on that very short list of people Harvey genuinely cares for. It might not have ended well, but seeing Harvey trust Scottie was a pleasant surprise and showed real growth for his character—until it all went to hell by the end of the episode.

In the “things that didn’t go to hell by the end of the episode” department, we have Harvey’s relationship with the one constant in his life, Donna. I loved the fact that this week’s episode opened with confirmation that Harvey wanted to celebrate with Donna at the end of “Endgame.” I also loved that his idea of celebrating involved doing things that would make Donna happy, like buying new handbags. Harvey was so thoughtful, warm, and downright sweet in this scene; I kept waiting for an ulterior motive to reveal itself, but it was nice to see that he really was acting purely from a desire to celebrate with Donna and make her happy.

Although Harvey’s interactions with Donna were fantastic in “Endgame,” the best part of the episode came when he finally admitted to Louis that he respects his abilities as a lawyer. To see Louis finally recognized for his skill by the man he thought would always belittle him was a true joy to watch. Rick Hoffman played Louis’s reactions to perfection, and I couldn’t help but get a little choked up myself during this scene.

What Are You Watching?: Fall 2013 Edition

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It’s that wonderful time of year again—time for sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, football, and, of course, TV premieres! I can’t wait to curl up on my couch and reunite with my favorite characters in the coming weeks and also to discover new shows and characters to love as I choose from a list of intriguing pilots.

Which new show is going to make me laugh until I cry, like The Mindy Project did last season? Which characters are going to warm my heart the way Ben and Leslie did? Who’s going to sweep me off my feet like Jake Johnson? Which premiere is going to be as great a companion to a season finale as last season’s Castle premiere?

I don’t know the answers to any of those questions, and that’s the fun thing about premiere season. Everything is exciting, hopeful, and new. There’s a chance that this could be the season your favorite actor delivers an Emmy-winning performance, the season that your favorite couple takes the next step in their relationship, or the season that your favorite show becomes the show everyone is talking about.

In the spirit of the unofficial start of premiere season, I want to share my TV viewing schedule with all of you, including the dates for each season premiere. Any new shows I’m planning on checking out will be highlighted in pink.

MONDAYS
Dancing with the Stars (8 p.m. on ABC)
I always want to support shows that bring dance to a mainstream audience, and DWTS is such a fun, fluffy, feel-good show to come home to after the start of the workweek. This season, I’m most looking forward to seeing Elizabeth Berkley trade her Showgirls moves for the samba and seeing Valerie Harper continue to act as a symbol of hope and perseverance in the face of her devastating cancer diagnosis. – Season Premiere 9/16

Castle (10 p.m. on ABC)
Will Beckett say yes? And whatever her answer is, will she still move to Washington? These questions have been keeping us Castle fans up at night since May, and it’s finally time to discover the answers. After a fifth season that proved the “Moonlighting Curse” could be overcome with smart writing and great acting, I’m looking forward to a sixth season filled with even more relationship progression for one of my favorite TV couples. – Season Premiere 9/23

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Top 10 Performances from SYTYCD Season 10

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sytycd-group

Today is the finale of the 10th season of So You Think You Can Dance, so it seems fitting to wrap this season up with a countdown of my 10 favorite dances. I’m keeping this list to duets, but feel free to tell me your favorite solos and group routines in the comments!

10. Jasmine and Marko Jazz: Top 10 Perform (“Blurred Lines”)
I love routines that have a very defined sense of style, and that’s what this routine was all about. It needed to be a complicated mixture of staccato movements, fluid transitions, and charismatic stage presence—and Jasmine and Marko delivered like only they could, with great lines and the magnetism of born performers. This was the dance that made Jasmine my favorite performer this season. Not only did she hold her own against her All Star partner, she out-danced him with the classy kind of swagger that’s all her own.

9. Fik-Shun and Twitch Hip Hop: Top 4 Perform (“Hello Good Morning”)
This dance was a testament to what can happen when two of the best in their genre get together to perform. Both of these men have star power to burn, and it was so entertaining to watch them play off each other. They made this dance look easy, and, even more importantly, they made it look like so much fun.

8. Jasmine and Comfort Hip Hop: Top 4 Perform (“Run the World”)
This dance was all about the girl power. It featured two fierce women sharing the stage and elevating each other to new performance heights. Comfort was incredible in this routine, and her strength allowed Jasmine to reach inside of herself and bring out a ferocity we’d never seen from her before. This performance was Jasmine’s way of throwing down the gauntlet and showing just how much she deserves to win.

7. Amy and Fik-Shun Viennese Waltz: Top 12 Perform (“A Thousand Years”)
Sometimes a SYTYCD routine moves you unexpectedly, and that’s what happened with this dance. It wasn’t technically perfect, but it was full of such genuine emotion. It took these two dancers far outside of their comfort zone, and the result was a beautiful display of a kind of innocent, sincere chemistry that put a smile on my face and happy tears in my eyes.

6. Aaron and Jasmine Hip Hop: Top 12 Perform (“Gold Rush”)
Jasmine and Aaron really sold this sexy, strong, and hard-hitting routine that was a perfect match for their partnership. This was the first routine where I really noticed just how fierce Jasmine could be, and I loved watching her inner diva take center stage. Jasmine sliding into a split on top of Aaron was probably the hottest move I saw on SYTYCD this season, and this whole routine balanced playful entertainment, pure dance ability, and grownup sex appeal better than any other this season.

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The Best Thing I Saw on TV This Week (9/1 – 9/8)

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This week in television gave us a fast-paced (for better or worse) performance finale of So You Think You Can Dance, an episode of Suits that brought Jessica and Harvey back together and saw the end of the “British Invasion” that took over the firm, and the triumphant return of the NFL (featuring a record-breaking performance from Peyton Manning on Thursday night). 

Although it was a lot of fun watching Manning (my fantasy football quarterback) throw for seven touchdowns, nothing I saw on TV this week got my heart rate going and my rooting interests kicked into high gear like the ending of Suits.

I loved watching Mike and Harvey joke about celebrating together after winning the case, but what I loved even more was the way everything we’ve learned this season about Harvey and Donna’s past made his question to Mike feel like something much bigger than just a way to tease him about Rachel:

Am I really the person you want to celebrate this big murder trial victory with?

As soon as Harvey asked Mike that question, I knew where he was going to end up when he got out of the elevator—or at least who he was going to end up with—and it made my heartbeat speed up with the best kind of hope. The way the scene was shot—with Harvey’s question coming right before we watch him walk with purpose out of the building and towards where Donna is waiting—left no question in my mind about who Harvey wanted to celebrate with…if only it was that simple.

But of course, because it’s Harvey and Donna, I knew their interaction was never going to be simple or straightforward (no matter how much I wanted him to just walk right up to her and kiss her). However, the scene between them was worth the giddy anticipation of the seconds before. It said so much without ever directly addressing their relationship, but it showed us that maybe there is hope for these two; maybe we’re not crazy for thinking they both wish they were in a place where they could just go back to her apartment and break out the whipped cream again.

Gabriel Macht and Sarah Rafferty’s chemistry in this scene was off the charts. There was so much longing between them, but it wasn’t full of angst. They were softer than usual, and you could feel the genuine affection that runs deeper than either character wants to admit. So it makes sense when Harvey offers her the car and chooses not to get in with her. When she thanks him, it hits him too close to his heart. It’s like he realizes in that moment just how much his actions during these last few episodes were taken—however subconsciously—because of what he feels for her. And that still scares him. So he chooses to walk away, but her smile as he does so says it all: She knows they both wish they could ride away together, but he’s never going to ask her to break her rule—especially not after what happened with Stephen. And that’s okay. All she wanted back in Season Two was to know that Harvey would fight for her, and he proved that over and over again during this case.

And as Harvey walks away, we can see how conflicted (and how lonely) he is. He’s happy to make Donna happy. But he’s worried, too, because this case made him realize just how much of a sway she holds over his emotions. He can try to walk it off and push it away, but this scene showed both of them—and the audience—that there’s always going to be something between these two characters that exists on a level much deeper (and filled with a lot more sexual tension) than just friendship. This scene made me feel hopeful as a fan of these characters and their relationship. It may lead to something big happening between them; it may lead nowhere. But the mere fact that these actors could make me feel so strongly and think so deeply about their characters is enough to make me a very happy viewer.

What was the best thing you saw on TV this week?