Tell-Tale TV Picks of the Week: The CW Dramas Return

This week on TV: Fitzsimmons was reunited on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., while Emma and Hook couldn’t make True Love’s Kiss work (twice) on Once Upon a Time. The CW kicked off it’s fall premieres, giving us a bunch of unanswered questions — WHO IS IN THE GRAVE, DAMNIT?! American Horror Story: Hotel also opened it’s doors for the first time.

What did you think of this week in TV? Here’s what our writers had to say:

Best moment

Christine: Sam telling Dean on Supernatural that things need to change, and that they have to stop making the same mistakes over and over again. It was probably some of the best acting Jared Padalecki has done in a long time, and it was also a moment of realization  that the brothers needed SO badly.

Lizzie: Hook/Emma try for TLK on Once Upon a Time. We didn’t just get to see one TLK attempt, but two! Neither of them worked, because letting go of  the darkness has to be a choice, but just the fact that they are both sure enough of their feelings (and of the other person’s feelings) to TRY says a lot about this relationship. Besides, third time’s the charm, right?

Jenn S: Brian Finch breaking down on Limitless. Jake McDorman played that scene so well and so powerfully. Throughout the entire episode, we got the chance to see a fun, goofy, intelligent Brian. And when he cried and hugged his knees to his chest, it was just such a moving display of how vulnerable he is.

Allison: I absolutely loved the FitzSimmons reunion and rescue mission on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Honestly, Fitz searching for Simmons has been the only enjoyable parts of this new season so far. The rest has been meh. I was yelling at my screen as Fitz and Simmons tried to grab hands while unbeknownst to them Coulson was pulling Fitz back. FitzSimmons owns my heart, and them and Ward are basically what is keeping me from giving up the show.

Samantha: When the entire team worked together on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to bring Jemma home. Fitz diving into the monolith to find her, Daisy holding it open with her powers, Mack and Bobbi holding onto the cable connected to Fitz; everything about this scene just fills my heart with “found-family trope” feelings.

Caralynn: The introduction of Lady Gaga’s character in the premiere of American Horror Story: Hotel. I got the shivers. It was so good. Plus they used a really old song that I absolutely love and hadn’t heard forever (“Tear You Apart” by She Wants Revenge), which fit the tone of the scene wonderfully. It was so perfectly AHS in style, I loved the whole thing.

Lyra: The sacrifice made by Amara’s father on Supernatural. I don’t know how this actor did it, but in a matter of minutes I was over the moon for him. I wanted to know everything about him and how he got to this place. (A spin off series where he meets the mother, we go through his hardships, and the eventual spiral to her death. I’d watch this Supernatural executives!) Then the truth was revealed, he came out of hiding to leave his baby girl with someone that could protect her because he couldn’t anymore. Tissues anyone?

Most shocking scene

Christine: Stefan breaking Damon out of a coffin in Brooklyn 3 years later on The Vampire Diaries?! What the heck happened there? Who’s chasing them?! I need answers, STAT.

Lizzie: I don’t understand why Henry had to leave, on The Flash. I really don’t. He just got out of jail. He finally gets a chance to be with his son. He’s been waiting for this for ages. And then he just …packs up and leaves? WHY? I didn’t know how life for Barry was going to be with two dads, but I was really excited to find out. And don’t get me started on how there was no need to tell Barry at the party. Wait a day. A week. How hard could that be?

Jenn: The reveal that Quentin has been working with Damien Darhk on Arrow. I honestly didn’t know who I was expecting to be his comrade (my money was on someone like Amanda Waller or Malcolm Merlyn), but it wasn’t Quentin. Runner-up in “most shocking scene” comes a few minutes later during the premiere with Oliver and Barry standing around someone’s grave. Whose is it?

Allison: Kate turning on Freddie on From Dusk Till Dawn. She definitely picked up a thing or two from Seth when they were on the run together. Out of everyone on the show, Kate’s definitely the only one who can cross Freddie and get away with it. Her reasoning makes sense, but I think she’s definitely going to regret it later down the line. The way Carlos and Scott were foaming at the mouth for that blood can’t be a good sign.

Samantha: Mellie walking out on Fitz at the end of this week’s Scandal. She’s fought for over six years to keep him by her side and he’s used her devotion to him against her over and over. She’s finally come to realize, he’s been playing her, and she doesn’t need him anymore. It was delightfully shocking to see her finally walk away.

Caralynn: I’m going to second Christine’s answer — that cliffhanger on the premiere of The Vampire Diaries was one of the best they’ve had in a long time. I’m dying to know who mystery assassin lady is, and what drove Damon to want to stay desiccated in that Brooklyn storage coffin until Elena woke up! Part of me is dreaming that Stefan’s unseen attacked was Katherine Pierce but I know that’s unlikely. A girl can dream, though!

Lyra: The Doctor sacrificing a person to understand how things worked with the Fisher King, in turn to save Clara. I’ve watched Doctor Who for a very long time, and this scene blew me away. He sacrificed the life of a beautiful and vibrant woman, who fangirled all over him, because he wanted to save his companion. It was selfish and revealed how codependent and toxic this relationship has become.

Storyline we could’ve done without

Christine: Jackson and April’s break-up is breaking my heart on Grey’s Anatomy. I really hope that he has a change of heart, and that they can find a way to make it work again, because Grey’s couples have been taking a hit lately.

Lizzie: Just about every storyline on Heroes Reborn. The show was a bit better last week, but this week it was a complete snoozefest. Four episodes in and I still don’t know what’s going on, what the stakes are, what these people are meant to do to stop it, AND, I have yet to see any of the original cast. So, basically, that’s four hours of my life that I’ve wasted. I’m note sure I have it in me to tune in next week.

Jenn: I personally could do without anything related to Rumple and Belle on Once Upon A Time. Thanks, but no thanks.

Allison: I don’t find Stevie’s romance with Harrison at all interesting, especially with the drug drama that came up on Madam Secretary. All it’s doing is creating unnecessary drama. Instead of doing something slightly amusing and trying to dispose of heroin in the White House without anyone knowing, there was a lecture. Let’s give Stevie something exciting to do, please.

Samantha: While I’m certainly intrigued by Jake’s visit to Papa Pope in this week’s Scandal, I feel like their plot line was too rushed, it left me more confused than excited.

Caralynn: I’m largely enjoying Scream Queens (there are issues but overall I think it’s hilarious) — that said, I think Grace and Pete’s wacky and mysterious crime-solving adventures subplot is the absolute lamest thing ever. Grace and her never-ending collection of pageboy caps bore me to tears. I keep waiting for her to either get killed off or do something interesting/unexpected but neither has happened.

Lyra: The Heretics and Lily taking Damon and Stefan’s home in their bargain to save Mystic Falls. Lily Salvatore, from The Vampire Diaries, frustrates me to no end. This last move firmly put me in the ‘I loathe her’ column. She doesn’t want anything to do with her flesh and blood but she’s ok living in their home? Nope. Can’t wait until we say bye to her and the Heretics.

Character of the week

Christine: Emma Swan on Once Upon a Time. Her transition between Savior and the Dark One is so fun to watch. She’s doing an incredible job as she switches personalities between Camelot and six weeks later, and it’s a joy because she’s just SO different in each role. It’s a welcome dynamic change for the show.

Lizzie: Oliver Queen, on Arrow. He’s come so far. Sooo far. I look at him in 4.01 and it’s hard for me to reconcile this man with the one we first met four years ago. And none of it feels forced, or cheap. Olive Queen fought for this. His journey was slow and maddening at times, but it was real. He deserves this. And what a joy it is to see him like this, what a joy it is to see Stephen Amell finally get a chance to play a lighter side of Oliver.

Jenn: Alex Parrish on Quantico. I love that she’s not just extremely intelligent and perceptive, but that she’s also emotional, too. It’s really easy for shows to make characters one or the other — either they’re smart or good friends — and it’s nice to see this show realizes that real women have all kinds of layers. She managed to outsmart the FBI at every turn. Plus, her hair and makeup somehow looked flawless while still on the run as a fugitive.

Allison: Sylvester on Scorpion. He was such a trooper. Out of everyone on Team Scorpion, Sylvester normally would have been the last choice for an undercover assignment in prison for obvious reasons. Sylvester is constantly afraid of most things that he is required to do on the job, but he survived prison and came out a badass. Then, he did a mating dance to declare his love for Megan. All in all, it was a good week for Sly.

Samantha: I honestly feel like it’s a tie between Abby Whelan on Scandal and Leo Fitz on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Abby has been working in Olivia’s shadow for 5 seasons and this week it feels like she’s finally gained enough respect from her peers to stand on her own and be trusted to do her job, the job she’s really really good at. I’m so proud of her. And Fitz marches into hell and back to get his best friend home and if that isn’t the bravest, most loving, selfless thing that happened on tv this week, then I don’t know what is.

Caralynn: I’m going to second Emma Swan on Once Upon a Time. I was a little worried going in that the whole Dark Swan character was going to be hokey, but Jennifer Morrison is killing it in this new role. Well, okay, it’s not technically a new role but it’s so different from Savior-Emma that it really feels that way. And you can so tell that Morrison is having a fantastic time with this change of pace, she is really into the whole evil thing. I especially love the Dark Emma/Imaginary Dark Rumple interactions.

Lyra: While I love Fitz and what he did in this week’s episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., my vote goes for Jemma Simmons.. She spent months on a desolate planet fighting for her life. We don’t know where she was or who resided there, but it scares the hell out of her and us. Jemma came back to her friends cut up and with nightmares that make her wake-up with a weapon at the ready. One can only imagine the things she had to do to  learn to survive.

Leave us your thoughts on this week in TV in a comment below. Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to seeing next week?