It’s nearly spring where I live and I hope that it is nearly spring where you live too. But isn’t it strange how some shows have been in spring for months while others seem to be stuck in late January? I know the dictates of schedules are a stranged and ever changing things, but it’s taunting to see sunny Generic California Place flashed in my face weekly as well as disconcerting (and worrying!) to see characters still stuck in the murk and grey of late winter. Join us in March, guys, it’s plenty nice here!

Speaking of nice, here’s the nice things (and nitpicky and critical) things we thought about TV last week–tell us your thoughts in the comments!

Dennis

Greek: “Your Friends and Neighbors” and “The Big Easy Does It”
Tragically, I fell a week behind on Greek, and had to do a little catching up, watching the last two week’s of episodes, and “Your Friends and Neighbors” was too damn poignant for me not to mention. I liked how the show has gotten Casey, Ashleigh, and Cappie reflecting about the end of college, and what that mean for their friendships and relationships. Some solid college quotes to ponder from Joel (“Some people should be around your entire life, and others should make an appearance”) and Casey “We were freshman, our biggest concern was whether or not the dryer was eating our socks.”

The more recent episode of the show was also more depressing, but no less compelling as almost all the show’s established or budding relationships began to crumble. I like that Casey/Cappie, Rebecca/Evan, and Rusty/Catherine start to fall apart as much because of internal forces (Rebecca’s distrust of love, Cappie’s fear of graduation) than the people outside of it (Joel, Beaver and the random guy Rebecca made out with at the bar, Dana). Even if the characters aren’t presently happy, I’m pleased to have the Greek-ers for another upcoming season, even if that season will likely be its last.

Lost: “Dr. Linus”
For the first time all season, I didn’t watch Lost live (yes, some shows actually still demand live viewings over DVRs and Hulu), and since I missed this week’s Getting Lost deadline, I figured I’d mention it here. This is was definitely my favorite post-premiere episode of this season (didn’t hurt that it was Kate-free). I like when Lost remembers its history and there was a lot of it here: A Nikki and Paolo reference! Flash sideways Alex! (I’m still bummed they quickly killed her, Karl, and Danielle off in season 4). Flash sideways Arzt! Still, I wish sometimes the show wouldn’t be quite so blatant in its storytelling. Did we need Island Ben to have a diatribe about how he failed his daughter, so that we’d know how significant Sideways Ben helping Sideways Alex was? Lost viewers have watched the show obsessively enough to figure out the parallels, writer dudes. Also, I get it, the episode is titled “Dr. Linus,” so did they have to say that like 18 times in the episode? That’s a huge TV pet peeve of mine.

30 Rock: “Future Husband”

With Jack’s rotating wheel of love interests (Julianne Moore, Elizabeth Banks), 30 Rock is encroaching on Love Boat/Will & Grace celebrity surplus territory, but Michael Sheen is one guest star I can get behind. I don’t care how awkward of a “future husband” he is, Liz Lemon has to keep going on dates with him until their hitched. Until he plays Tony Blair for a third time in HBO’s The Special Relationship, I need to get my Sheen fix somewhere, and it might as well be here.

Damages: “You Haven’t Replaced Me”
It’s weird, Damages has gotten back almost entirely to its season 1 goodness but I always forget I watched this show by the time Roundtable time comes. This episode might’ve been my favorite of the season. The Patty/Ellen dynamic is one of my favorites of the show and it was on full display here. If season 1 was a sort of cat and mouse game between Patty and Ellen, then this season, it’s more mother lion and her ever-growing cub, and poor Alex, Patty’s new recruit appears to be the toy the two felines are swatting back and forth. I can’t imagine this season will end well for Alex, but knowing the show’s twisty nature, perhaps I shouldn’t underestimate the seemingly naive British newbie either.

Zoe

Modern Family: “Truth Be Told”
You know, I’m not sure about the wisdom of casting someone from the show you’re most often compared to, but I’m not a casting director and it’s always nice to see Kitty (and her…those).

Overall this episode was, like the last few, solid, but not amazing. It did, however, greatly impress me by having Mitchell’s quitting stick. I’m always pleased to see sitcom cliches ignored, and that one especially grates me, so it was nice to see the follow-through. However, it’d be even nice if Mitch and Cam were allowed to express affection towards each other. Maybe even kiss! I get why the network might be wary of this, but let’s face it, you have two dudes raising a kid together. People who are offended by gay kissing are already offended. How about throwing the rest of us a bone?

Psych: “Mr. Yin Presents”
Psych finales are usually the only time character ad plot take leaps forward, which it was why it was nice to have that congruent with a Hitchcock homage. And while they engaged in the usual over-explaining it was…relatively subtle and well done. I’m not thrilled about some of the plot points, like a recurring serial killer (it might surprise you to learn I have Thoughts about that) or the ultra-suddent break-up (I don’t care what the state of the relationship is–if someone you like saves your life and you just got back from a long trip, you at least do it before breaking up), but it all set the stage for fun times, slight forward character momentum, and, well, Vertigo references. I can get behind that.