The Real Story: The Da Vinci Code is an interesting, if not dated topic, even when it aired back in 2013, but still interesting nevertheless as most Smithsonian productions are generally well produced.
Dating Game Killer was Investigation Discovery’s attempt into the made-for-TV route, perhaps seeing the success its sister company, Lifetime, were doing.
Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance is a Lifetime movie made to capitalize on the nation’s obsession with this royal couple and although I have no idea how much of this is factual, what is presented are charming performances from its leads.
Narcos: Season Three is a fine conclusion to a decent series featuring yet another great performance from Pedro Pascal. I’ve never was a huge fan of the series having watched it once it hit home video.
Her Stolen Past is actually an okay if not your run-of-the-mill Lifetime TV movie as I did like Shanice Banton in the lead role, but not much else really stands out.
Girls vs. Gangsters is the Chinese female version of The Hangover with even humor that’s not as funny (and to be fair, The Hangover is vastly overrated) and honestly was a chore to sit through. Just skip.
Both Wrapped Up in Christmas and Snowed-Inn Christmas are fine family fare movies produced to air on Lifetime as they attempt to compete with the Hallmark Channel for the cheesy holiday romance segment of the population.
A Very Merry Toy Store and Four Christmases and a Wedding is your standard holiday fare that one would see on the Hallmark Channel and given its successes, guess it’s no surprise to see Lifetime get in the act, steering away from the soap opera-like thrillers.
The Resident: The Complete Season One is a perfectly serviceable medical drama but as someone who isn’t the biggest fan of that genre of television, I wasn’t entirely invested in the soap opera-like plots and characters, though the acting isn’t half bad.
Madam Secretary: Season 4 is pretty much like any of the many other political shows (like Scandal or, going way back, The West Wing) with sort of a more fantasy element compared with real life, though the election certainly gave the writers a field day for some additional drama.
While I don’t really have a problem with CBS and their reboot of Hawaii Five-0 but MacGyver is one that really doesn’t work both in terms of its style and the performances, most notable Lucas Till who just doesn’t look quite right in the role.
Scooby-Doo and the Gourmet Ghost is a fun enough direct-to-video adventure from Mystery Inc. and even though the plot and culprit is as predictable as ever, still makes for a good way to spend an hour plus.
Truth or Dare is a really ridiculous game to make into a horror movie to begin with, but having it done twice is so dumb. That being said, and perhaps I’m grading on a curve comparing it to the other movie, I found this one passably entertaining.
NCIS: Season 15 is hardly the best in the long-running series nor the best written, but I still generally enjoyed the season and Maria Bello seems like a nice addition, though hopefully she’ll stick around beyond a couple of years.
Blue Bloods isn’t a show I routinely watch but when I do, it often features strong enough stories but carried through with sharp writing and characters you genuinely care about and actors giving it their all.