Here’s what’s happening in the world of television for Monday, February 22. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Snowpiercer (TNT, 9 p.m.): With much of the country still coping with the after-effects of Winter Storm Uri (here are some ways to help, if you can!), TNT’s wintry apocalyptic series might seem like an odd place to turn. But hey, sometimes it’s better to lean in, you know? Besides, this season’s focus on character development has paid off big time in recent weeks. Here’s Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya on last Monday’s episode:
“A Single Trade” is successful in tackling the trauma and grief that sometimes gets swept to the side when Snowpiercer becomes too meticulous about lining up its plot mechanics. As with last episode, there are a lot more zoomed-in character moments, ones that engage with the internal effects of war and class struggle. Audrey’s trauma—largely ignored or not understood by the other characters—provides the emotional backbone for the episode. But there are some other meaningful scenes, too, like Bess Till losing complete control of her emotions because she’s so overwhelmed with grief that she feels like she doesn’t even have an identity anymore. All that is a lot more interesting than Bess Till becoming a detective overnight. Till’s all over the place in this episode, lashing out at the Breachmen when they get in a fight with the Tailies, hooking up with a bartender at the Night Car party, and crying uncontrollably. But her mix of emotions and behaviors makes sense. She hasn’t had a moment’s pause since the war to really process what has been happening around her. Lots of passengers are grappling with who they really are.
Watch for Kayla’s recap this evening (and stay as safe and warm as you possibly can.)
Regular coverage
The Bachelor (ABC, 8 p.m.)
Wild card
Independent Lens, “Mr. SOUL!” (PBS, 10 p.m.): The PBS institution turns its focus to Soul!, the groundbreaking all-Black variety show, and Ellis Haizlip, the man who helped to shape it during its too-short run. Watch this trailer and just try to be bored. We dare you.
Beartown (HBO, 9 p.m., two-hour limited series premiere): We are fascinerade (Google tells us that’s “intrigued” in Swedish) by this HBO limited drama series, adapted from executive producer Fredrik Backman’s bestselling novel of the same name. The Swedish-language series focuses on a small community with dreams of stardom for its hometown hockey hero, but things quickly take a much darker turn. (This trailer includes depictions and discussions of violent sexual assault.)
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Worst Cooks in America: 21 February 2021 edition
We are getting close to the finale, so this week, we’re finally getting to breakfast.
Our game show competition includes traversing an obstacle course while carrying pancakes, which will then be stacked. It is as goofy as it sounds, but at least our contestants have to make the pancakes first.
The drama gets real (and my spouse laughed) when both stacks fell over midway through and they cut to the interview rooms where everyone is panicked about it. Blue takes it, though the stacks looked similarly tall.
For the skill drill, Blue is making an omelet, hash browns, and Texas toast, and Red is also making hash browns, with poached eggs, bacon, and toast. The Danger Zone is still the threat, for some reason.
We have some fire mishaps: a pan of just bourbon catches fire (surprise) and someone drops a pepper they are roasting on the stove, though that’s quickly recovered.
The breakfast choices are pretty nice, but people are overwhelming themselves early. With 45 minutes to work, and figuring out their own sequencing, they don’t really know when to start what, or how much time everything will take. At the 20 minute mark, two are worried they won’t get their eggs done. (I don’t think eggs should take 20 mjnutes)
Chef Anne demands a fruit salad shortly after half time. Chef Carla does the same, but demands juice mixtures. I can’t tell if the contestants are actually flustered by this, or if it’s television.
We come back from commercial: they are actually flustered. Okay.
The tasting looks pretty, though there are some flavor execution issues. The Chefs point out that there is no point in the danger zone, with only two people left per team, so it’s gone.
Our main dish challenge comes in the time of covid: instead of bringing family members to blind taste, they send videos with requests for special meals when they get home. There are a lot of tears, and some interesting food choices. I’m into it.
The main dish will be served family style, so they need to make 6 portions to share.
The cook seems fine, but there is a lot of stress as we approach plating. People are not considering that 6 plates might take more than 3 minutes to coordinate, and Anne has to remind her people a lot. It’s a little brutal to hear her yelling, as she’s never stuck with people who are this disorganized at the end of the season.
The judging is generous. The contestants love each other and are really kind to each other. The Chefs are…more appropriate for the kind of show this is.
There are a lot of jokes because the family members specifically made fun of their contestants for potentially serving raw and/or burned food to the chefs.
The finale judging is full of end-of-camp platitudes (and more tears).
Surprise! There is a whole extra week of the show, so nobody is going home. It feels kind of good, since this was very tough for family style cooking. I think I’m okay with this?
Hometowns tonight on The Bachelor, and I was surprised Rachael’s family members weren’t wearing their white robes in the promo footage. I guess they’re saving that for the actual episode.
Seems like a good time to check in with SnowpiercerNot according to your own review.
Hmmm I was going to, but I can imagine an American adaptation of Snowpiercer to forget a lot about class struggle and class rebellion.