This wretched year is almost in the rear-view mirror. Now we can take a moment to appreciate the television that got us through 2020 — and bid the execrable shows a hearty get-the-hell-out. This year also brought us a special viewing phenomenon: The Blurst shows of the year, a.k.a. the shows that other critics might dump on their "worst" lists, but that we at EW loved unapologetically.

Kristen's Picks:

10. Search Party (HBO Max)

Though it was shot in 2018, Search Party season 3 produced a tailor-made tale for this year of misinformation and flagged tweets: Facts are meaningless if you refuse to acknowledge them, and deception can be seductive, especially when it reinforces your worldview. Once an aimless, self-involved slacker, Dory Seif (Alia Shawkat) went on trial for murder and fought back by establishing a tyranny of truth — her version, and hers alone. In an era where fewer and fewer actor-producers seem willing to play someone truly unlikable, Shawkat went full, glorious psychopath, and this darkly comic curio was all the better for it.

9. Never Have I Ever (Netflix)

Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher’s teen comedy has the heart and wicked humor of a John Hughes film, but a cast that looks a lot more like an actual American high school. Newcomer Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is a marvel as Devi Vishwakumar, a 15-year-old girl beset by hormones and grief. The 10-episode series is anchored by a peerless ensemble of female actors — including Poorna Jagannathan as Devi’s exacting mom Nalini, Richa Moorjani as her beautiful cousin Kamala, and Niecy Nash as her nurturing therapist Dr. Ryan — and narrated by the angriest man alive, John McEnroe. Nothing about that juxtaposition makes sense, but just about everything in Never Have I Ever works.

8. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC)

This isn’t a wacky workplace comedy — it’s a show about love. Love of silly rhymes (see: Yarn Barn, “Pimento has Memento disease!”). Love of ludicrous wordplay (“Bullets Over Broadway was on TV. I came down with a big old Dianne Weist infection”). Love of finding creative ways to insult Kyra Sedgwick’s villainous (and now dead) Madeline Wuntch (thank you, writers, for the phrase “Korean toilet ghost”). And so much love for the fans that they’re still brainstorming new “title of your sex tape” jokes, seven years and 143 episodes later. (“I’m sorry, it just slipped out!”) Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a series created with and responsible for a lot of joy. Cop shows are at a crossroads, and however Brooklyn addresses the reckoning facing modern law enforcement, we can be sure they’ll handle it like everything else: With genuine care.

7. The Good Fight (CBS All Access)

It’s the 2020 premiere, “The Gang Deals with an Alternate Reality,” that catapults this solid but not spectacular season into top-10 territory. Only showrunners Robert and Michelle King, television’s best zeitgeist philosophers, could conjure a liberal viewer's fairy tale — Hillary Clinton wins in 2016! — and turn it into a believable nightmare of Trump-esque proportions. Christine Baranski reaches new heights of regal confusion as Diane Lockhart, and that ending! What a heart-swelling return to a heart-sinking truth. By the way, The Good Fight also figured out what really happened to Jeffrey Epstein this season. What have your shows done for you lately?

6. Better Things (FX)

Can a TV show feel like home? It can, and Pamela Adlon’s visionary portrait of middle-aged female personhood absolutely does. A lot happened to mom of three-slash-working actress Sam Fox (Adlon) in season 4 — most notably, she finally ditched the albatross known as her ex-husband (Matthew Glave) — but the many miracles of Better Things are not in the plot points but the moments. Sharing a pound of crawfish with a stranger in New Orleans; building an elaborate cage for the pet chinchilla her daughters brought home by surprise; and cooking — always cooking — in her cozy SoCal kitchen. Ribs, carbonara, eggs and bacon, asparagus doused with olive oil and garlic. Sam Fox is a sustainer and a survivor. Once again, Adlon has served us a feast for the eyes and the soul.

5. I Hate Suzie (HBO Max)

Dirty pics hacked out of a B-list celeb’s cell phone — from this tacky-tawdry premise comes a bloody brilliant exploration of modern womanhood. Blending narrative whimsy with painfully funny truths, co-creators Billie Piper (who also stars) and Lucy Prebble (Secret Diary of a Call Girl) tell a complex, conversational, and unique story without ever spelling things out for viewers. As Suzie Pickles, a child-star-turned-working actress, Piper all but vibrates with the strain of her character’s internal chaos. When she finally explodes, her anger is exquisite.

4. The Crown (Netflix)

An outsider (Emma Corrin’s Diana) joins the family and is promptly tossed into the royal threshing machine by Queen Elizabeth II (the flawless Olivia Colman) and the system she lives to uphold. Creator Peter Morgan uses Diana’s bittersweet evolution from teenager to the People’s Princess as a springboard to delve deep into the Windsor clan’s true birthright: Generational trauma. Whether it’s her sidelined sister (raise a toast to Helena Bonham Carter’s final turn as the broody, outspoken Princess Margaret) or the queen’s own children, almost everyone in Elizabeth’s orbit is dreadfully unhappy — none moreso than the mercurially miserable Prince Charles (Josh O’Connor, excellently hangdog). Throw in a virtuosic performance by Gillian Anderson as the Iron Lady, and this is The Crown’s most humane, poignant, and impeccably-rendered season yet.

3. The Vow (HBO)

A piercingly intimate look at the inner workings of the NXIVM organization, The Vow is all the more powerful because it doesn’t skip right to the sensational “sex cult” headlines. The world first heard about this “self-help” group run by Keith Raniere when he and Smallville star Allison Mack were arrested on sex trafficking charges in the spring of 2018, but the indoctrination of their many victims was an insidious, years-long process. “If they had said, ‘Hey, do you want to get Keith and Allison’s initials branded on your vagina?’ I definitely would have said no,’” notes NXIVM survivor and whistleblower Sarah Edmondson, who shares her story in The Vow along with fellow defectors Mark Vicente, Bonnie Piesse, and others. Combining archival footage with in-the-moment recordings, the 10-part docuseries plays like a real-time mindf---, as Raniere leads his followers from seduction to servitude.

2. Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

Jason Sudeikis’ titular coach — an American optimist in London — arrived just when we needed him most. Expanded from an NBC Sports promo into a lively and complete comedic universe, Ted Lasso delivered 10 hilarious episodes about team building, emotional intelligence, modern masculinity, and the unrelenting power of human decency. And premier league football? Sure. But only as it relates to integrity, stage musicals, and the beauty of effortless gratitude. (Danny Rojas!) Anchored by a stellar ensemble — special shout-outs to Brett Goldstein as AFC Richmond’s aging star Roy Kent, and Juno Temple as the team’s unofficial publicist, Keeley Jones — Ted Lasso provided copious laugh-and-cry comfort in a fraught year of anxiety. To quote the Coach himself: “Ain’t nobody in this room alone.”

1. Better Call Saul (AMC)

All along, we’ve been asking the wrong question. How did Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) become Saul Goodman? We’re way past that now. The real mystery at the heart of Better Call Saul is this: Where does Kim Wexler go from here? The brilliant, perfectly-ponytailed lawyer (Rhea Seehorn, criminally Emmy-less) is now in the midst of her own transformation, from Jimmy’s moral compass to his invaluable, life-saving accomplice. Jimmy and Kim are the rarest of TV couples: They are pragmatic soulmates, realists in love and partners in life. As Better Call Saul heads into its final season, the fate of Kim Wexler — dazzling legal mind, thrill seeker, drug-lord silencer — brings new urgency to a saga that already ended, way back in 2013, with Breaking Bad. Whatever turn Kim takes in the end, she’ll always be Saul’s better half.

Darren's Picks:

10. Harley Quinn (DC Universe)

A cannonball of glorious bad taste fired by a dying streaming service, this nasty-sweet animated adventure ravishes the overexposed Gotham City mythology, reinvigorating the campy excess of bygone Bat-ages with gory dark comedy and an exuberant central gay will-they-or-won't-they. The first two seasons live on HBO Max now; greenlighting season 3 was the best thing HBO Max did in its first year.

9. Desus & Mero (Showtime)

What was the entertainment that got you through the early months of the pandemic? For awhile there, my household lived for our twice-a-week check-in with Daniel “Desus Nice” Baker and Joel “The Kid Mero” Martinez. Their ascendant tangent-prone chatfest became the outraged (and outrageously funny) masterpiece of the At-Home era. Icons took note. In 2020, David Letterman, Jon Stewart, Seth Meyers, and Eric Andre swung by to give the Bodega Boys their collective Late Night blessing — and Desus & Mero finished collecting democratic-candidate interviews just in time to snag our next President.

8. What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

The vampire mockumentary expanded its chamber of hilarious horrors in season 2, with witches, zombies, ghosts, a necromancer, a social media troll who’s also a literal troll, and — brrrr — a Staten Island Super Bowl party. I refuse to choose any undead favorites, since Kayvan Novak’s emotionally fragile Nandor, Natasia Demetriou’s daffily exhausted Nadja, Mark Proksch’s Dilbert-ish Colin Robinson, and Matt Berry’s ever-bloviating Laszlo would individually be the funniest characters on any other show. Special shoutout to Harvey Guillén, who’s transforming Guillermo into the best vampire slayer since Buffy.

7. We Are Who We Are (HBO)

An epic portrait of Gen Z fluidity amidst the ruins of America’s war against itself? Or a crazy-beautiful kids’-hookin-up romance with a great soundtrack and ludicrous clothes? I still don’t know if Luca Guadagnino’s eight-part series about an army base in Italy lived up to lofty political ambitions, but the director sure throws a hell of a party. Credit young stars Jordan Kristine Seamón and Jack Dylan Grazer for pouring out their hearts onscreen — and their climactic traincar Blood Orange karaoke was the year’s swooniest TV setpiece.

6. The Good Fight (CBS All Access)

In its fourth season, the hysterical Trump Derangement satire re-piloted itself toward trickier explorations of secret laws and class warfare. The serialized mystery was messy, and cut short by COVID. But I’ll always remember the restrained horror of Delroy Lindo’s final series-regular performance, when his noble egomaniac Adrian realizes how little his new corporate overlords care about his firm. “They don’t value our work, our employees, our history, or our culture,” he says. “They want us for our Black faces on their diversity reports.” Another savvy observation, from a show about brilliant people trapped in chaotic times.

5. I May Destroy You (HBO)

Part consent noir, part millennial satire, part let’s-fly-to-Italy good hang, all inquisition into contemporary sexual politics: Creator Michaela Coel turned her own assault horror into the apotheosis and antithesis of every young-cool-metropolitan sitcom. Coel’s a skyrocketing writer-actor destined to win all the awards — and don’t forget Weruche Opia’s secretly devastating performance as Terry, a devoted bestie balancing repressed shame and loving support with fear of what her best friend is becoming. The boldly surreal finale requires (and rewards) a dozen rewatches.

4. The Plot Against America (HBO)

A Jersey family who happens to be Jewish faces a president who happens to be fascist. Philip Roth’s alterna-'40s novel became a very 2020 tale of state-sponsored street violence and hatred gone viral. Co-creators David Simon and Ed Burns previously collaborated on Generation Kill and The freaking Wire, and they turned this humane miniseries into another quietly essential drama of communal unrest. It ends on a tense election night. For America — and America — that night never ends.

3. PEN15 (Hulu)

The best teen series ever? This Y2K throwback makes a convincing case. Co-creators Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle play 13-year-olds, a casting quirk that layers surreal absurdity and sweet sorrow onto familiar middle school antics. The seven episodes released in 2020 cover so much ground, with a greater focus on the supporting cast and a more complicated set of emotional problems troubling the lead duo. “Let’s be together forever, please?” young Maya begs Anna. Seventh grade is awful; their friendship is magic.

2. The Midnight Gospel (Netflix)

This soul-expanding cartoon odyssey from Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward blends stun-a-second visual WTFery (clown planet, zombie singalong, cat-operated spaceships, octopus sheriff!) with far-out philosophy. Co-creator Duncan Trussell voices Clancy, an interviewer in a spaced-out mega-future, who seeks answers to life’s biggest questions in the digital cosmos within his Universe Simulator. The impossible-to-explain premise wins for inadvertent topicality — Clancy’s a shut-in with nothing to do except existentially binge entertainment — and the conversational dialogue mostly remixes Trussell’s meandering podcast. The finale features the voice of his late mother, a resurrection worthy of the original Gospel. Netflix: Order season 2, please!

1. Better Call Saul (AMC)

When does a very good show become a great show? When does a very good actor become a great actor? Better Call Saul, season 5, episode 7, last scene: Saul Goodman announces himself. “I travel in worlds you can’t even imagine!” the crooked lawyer yells, rasp echoing through the Bernalillo County courthouse. “I’m like a god in human clothing! Lightning bolts shoot from my fingertips!” The joke is he’s never looked worse: A tiny man loudly explaining what a somebody he is. There’s so much to love about Saul — your critics agree! Take a moment, though, to marvel at Bob Odenkirk. Breaking Bad’s preening comic relief has become our national nightmare incarnate, an all-too-human monster drowning his soul (and his world) in a moral swamp of resentful egomania.

The Worst

3. Westworld (HBO)

The eeeeevil Frenchman. Computer god-spheres (plural). Constant re-deaths. And Aaron Paul as a terminally bland new hero? Everything went wrong when the quirky robo-Western rebooted itself into a bland tech-noir cheesefest. —DF

2. Space Force (Netflix)

The most cynical kind of TV-making: Start with a title; prop it up with big stars and buckets of money; hope that everything else — like a fully realized premise — falls into place. It didn’t. —KB

1. Quibi

Shame on any celebs — and, okay, media outlets — who fronted this 10-figure boutique YouTube nobody wanted. Reese, Kiefer, Chance, Lena, Liam, Chrissy: Money isn’t everything! Thankfully, Quibi was just a quick bite of nothing. —DF 

The Blurst: No apologies!

Emily in Paris (Netflix)

At EW, we don’t hate-watch, we’re just brave enough to admit it when shows we love are objectively ridiculous. This soapy trifle from Darren Star was the crème de la crème of 2020 escapism. (But there's no WAY we're gonna pronounce it Emily in Paree...) —KB

Double Shot at Love (MTV)

A silly Jersey Shore offshoot about boozy sex buffoons flirting around various Vegas pools. Filmed in 2019, it arrived on television like some unearthed relic from a lost world; indeed, a veritable Satyricon for the socially un-distant hedonism of the pre-pandemic world. For real, though: The romances — farewell, critical dignity — were extremely compelling. (Dear Vinny and Maria: You’re in love, you dopes!) —DF

For more on our Entertainers of the Year and Best & Worst of 2020, order the January issue of Entertainment Weekly or find it on newsstands beginning Dec. 18. Don’t forget to subscribe for more exclusive interviews and photos, only in EW.

Related content:

• 2020 was a Hell of a year
• EW reveals its 2020 Entertainers of the Year: Pedro Pascal, Sacha Baron Cohen, Kerry Washington, and more

• By Kristen Baldwin @@KristenGBaldwin
• By Darren Franich @DarrenFranich

This story originally appeared on: EW - Author:Kristen Baldwin

We all knew this day was coming, rose lovers — but this doesn’t mean it was easy to watch once it arrived. Yes, this week brought us an episode of The Bachelorette like no other, because… Chris! Harrison! Left! Us! Nothing against his temporary fill-in, JoJo Fletcher, but I found the experience of watching our Bachelor Nation overlord say (a temporary) goodbye to be very distressing.

Let’s recap!

The episode opens with former Bachelorette and perpetual fiancée JoJo arriving to share croissants and advice about televised husband-hunting with Tayshia. “You can’t overthink it,” JoJo says. “It is the hardest thing in the world to navigate.” Also hard to navigate:

“Normally, this is where I drop off the date card,” explains Harrison. “I’m going to step away for a few days. I’m going to bring my son to college… But I brought in a little help.” Noooo! Don’t leave us, Lord Harrison! No one drops off a date card like you do! She can’t POSSIBLY fill your “this is the final rose tonight” shoes! Oh, the humanity!

Fine, fine, you’re right. I’m overreacting. I’ll try to pull it together so we can discuss the first one-on-one date of the week, which goes to Zac. Even though Tayshia says she usually goes after guys who are “younger” than Zac (he’s 36), she’s still “intrigued” by him. Perhaps that’s why she chose this very intriguing individual to oversee today’s date.

“Today we’re doing a beautiful, fantasy wedding shoot,” gushes Franco, who is my new personal style icon. “I want it to be very special.” As fabulous as Franco makes this date activity sound, Zac can tell that Tayshia is “a little shook.” As we know, Tayshia was married before, and it did not work out. Does she really want to do another wedding shoot with someone who likely won’t end up being her husband? Probably not, but our Bachelorette is a team player. Start trying on those gowns, honey!

I mean, they are a good-looking couple. Tayshia definitely seems a little stressed during the first photoshoot, so Zac encourages her to laugh and joke as much as she needs to make it through. “This is so weird!” she squeals. A few outfit changes later, though, the Bachelorette starts to have a bit more fun.

Before we know it, we must say goodbye to Franco and his fantabulous wildlife shorts, purple loafers, and colorful neckerchief. Fare thee well, Franco! I hope they flew you to Pennsylvania for Matt’s season!

After the photoshoot, Tayshia informs Zac (I guess for the first time?) that she has been married before — and wouldn’t you know it? So has he! Zac doesn’t say much about it, though, other than that the marriage lasted for about a year. He clearly has something on his mind, but when Tayshia presses him, Zac says he’s only being quiet because he’s stunned by her beauty. Nice try, bro! You better be prepared to spill it ALL at dinner.

He is! That night, Zac tells Tayshia all about his upbringing in “an amazing home, with an amazing family,” only to discover one day in college that he had a brain tumor. He went into surgery the next morning, and that’s when he got introduced to pain meds and other addictive drugs. At 23, he got married, all the while hitting the booze and the pills hard. “I was hanging out with some sketchy people,” he admits. “I got arrested, a DUI, and my wife left me.” That launched Zac into a downward spiral. “I was hopeless,” he says.

When Zac tried to cash a check he stole from his dad, the teller called his dad and informed him that Zac really needed help. “She’s, like, my angel,” says Zac now of the teller who, it turns out, helped save his life. After spending four-and-a-half months in rehab, Zac is sober and serving on the board of the rehab facility. Dammit, I hate when this show makes me emotional! STOP IT, SHOW! Tayshia, meanwhile, is very thankful to Zac for Opening Up™. Of course, he gets the date rose. On to the rented Ferris Wheel!

Here’s hoping that Team Bachelorette hired licensed professionals to assemble and operate that thing and didn’t just leave it to the Bachelor Interns. (Also, Tayshia, if you literally have butterflies, you should probably see a doctor immediately.)

Group date! Okay, Spencer, Ivan, Ed, Blake, Brendan, Riley, Demar, Bennett, Ben, and Noah, the date card said “express yourself” — and these two are going to help you do it!

The guys are going to be painting these folks, I guess, with guidance from a pink-haired woman named Natalia. “Love is a lot like creating art,” says Natalia. “You have to really invest in yourself and be extremely open to the process.” The guys seem so relieved that they don’t have to get naked for this date (poor Blake still has PTSD from strip dodgeball!) that they don’t even seem that fazed about having to stare at two naked strangers.

It should come as no surprise to any of you that none of the guys can draw. Of all of the terrible drawings, I think Ivan’s is my favorite? I mean look at this!

And I love that the producers broke out the Black Box of Shame™ for cartoon junk. From the moment art class gets going, Bennett starts razzing Noah. First, he steals Noah’s seat next to Tayshia, and then he makes a not-so-veiled comment about “drama” in the background. Uh-oh… looks like Blake made a phallus out of his clay.

“It surprises nobody that he made a penis,” says Spencer. “He is constantly talking about sex.”

Bennett, meanwhile, makes a clay rendering of the three houses he and Tayshia will share once she marries his rich ass. “Hey Bennett,” Noah calls across the room. “You spell ‘privilege’ p-r-i-v-i-l-e-d-g-e,” right? Damn, that would have been such a sick burn — and a great callback to Bennett’s inability to spell the word “limousine” — if only Noah had spelled “privilege” correctly.

Tayshia is definitely not pleased about this petty rivalry between Bennett and Noah. Don’t they realize that the Bachelorette is looking for a grown-ass man?

The final art class exercise is a self-portrait, and the winner will receive extra time with Tayshia. All the guys try to out-vulnerable each other with their artistic efforts. Ivan’s portrait is drawn like a puzzle, with a missing “wife and kids” piece in the middle; Brendan crafts an empty picture frame and leaves a space for the love of his life next to him; Blake paints a turtledove, which represents monogamy and the stable life he never had growing up; and Riley’s blue-sky painting symbolizes his daydream of one day spending quality time with his wife and daughter.

When it’s Ben’s turn, though, he decides to ditch his self-portrait. “I forgot something,” he mumbles, before hurrying out of the room. When he returns, Ben is dressed in a La Quinta robe, and a La Quinta robe only. “I talk a big game, but it’s hard for me to express my emotions,” he says. “So figuratively and literally, I’m going to let my guard down.” You guessed it, rose lovers:

“This is me showing up for you,” Ben announces. “What you see is only just a small part of who I am. I’m so excited to share that with you.” (Also, can we please take a moment to appreciate the expression on Bennett’s face during Ben’s naked declaration?)

“I was not expecting that at all,” admits Tayshia, who is so overwhelmed by everything the guys shared with her, she needs to take a cry break backstage. “It’s a lot,” she sniffles. “This is what happens when you start dating real men.” Unfortunately for the guys, Tayshia loved all of their portraits so much that she simply cannot choose one winner. “I just want to hang out with all of you,” she says. The men all pretend to be fine with it, but I’m guessing Ben is bummed.

Why are some of these dudes showing up to the cocktail party in ratty shirts when Tayshia is serving evening glamour?

And don’t even get me started on Ed’s ripped jeans. Try harder, you doofuses! At least Riley, who steals Tayshia for the first one-on-one chat, is wearing a nicely tailored, collared button-down. When Riley was young, his parents got divorced, and he lived with his father — who apparently badmouthed his ex-wife in front of Riley. Though that initially drove a wedge between them, Riley says he and his mom were able to “talk some things out” later in life. The Bachelorette is pleased that Riley is “coming out of his shell,” but she also seems very into Brendan, as per usual.

Oh, hold up, we need to go live to the holding pen — it seems Bennett and Noah are fighting again. Mr. Harvard disses Noah for ruining last week’s rose ceremony, and then Mr. No-Mustache says he’s just about had it with Bennett’s “chirpy remarks.” Gah, get over it, you two! Can’t you see Ed is tired of your shenanigans?

Enough of that foolishness. During his one-on-one chat with Tayshia, Ben reveals that the reason he’s into fitness and nutrition now is because he had an eating disorder for 15 years. “I found out what girls were when I was 15, and I realized they don’t like the fat kid,” he says. “I stopped eating, started working out all the time, lost like 70 pounds, and had bulimia for 10 years when I was in my 20s.” Dang, Ben! Are you seriously going to make me emotional for the second time this episode? Ben says the only person who knew was his sister, whom he credits with saving his life. Oh man, something tells me Ben is going to get the date rose…

No surprise there. The evening does end on a bit of an unexpected note, though. After handing Ben the date rose, Tayshia makes an announcement: “Noah and Bennett, there’s something going on between you two, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it one way or another.” Oh, snap! Bennett is clearly shooketh to his core.

As soon as the Bachelorette leaves, Bennett and Noah go right back to sniping at each other. Noah points out all of the mean things Bennett has said to him (“you go on and on about how there’s no chance she’ll be with me”), while Bennett offers a non-apology for saying there was a “zero percent” chance Tayshia would pick Noah. Then he adds, “The behaviors that I have seen out of you have been juvenile.” Simmer down, boys — save it for your two-on-one.

But first: Eazy’s one-on-one date with Tayshia, also known as the most uncomfortable 13 minutes of the episode! No, the date isn’t particularly awkward by Bachelorette standards. What’s distressing about this involves the world off-screen, which some might call “the real world.” As I mentioned in a previous recap, last month a woman raised allegations of sexual misconduct against Eazy, and she reportedly spoke to the production company about them. Apparently, no charges were ever filed, an ABC investigation into the allegations was reportedly ruled "inconclusive," and Eazy — like everyone in America — is of course innocent until proven guilty. To my knowledge, he’s made no statement regarding these allegations, likely because he’s been on social media lockdown while filming the show.

Still… knowing all of this, it’s hard not to be very distracted while watching Eazy and Tayshia on their ghost hunting date. I’m not saying I know how the show should have handled this. Presumably, producers didn’t hear about these allegations until after the season had wrapped. Because Eazy wasn’t eliminated at a rose ceremony (more on that in a minute), it would’ve been hard for producers to edit around him until he was sent home. The dude got a one-on-one date — so producers would either have to cut the date completely and explain Eazy’s absence next week or leave the date in. The latter option is obviously easier, so I understand why the show chose it.

Anyhoo, quick date summary: Tayshia and Eazy walk around in the dark, exploring allegedly haunted spots on the La Quinta grounds with a thermal camera and a lantern. They scream and giggle and jump at noises both real and imagined. At dinner, Eazy makes this somewhat out-of-nowhere proclamation: “I honestly feel like I’m falling in love with you.” The feelings are not mutual, so Tayshia sends him home.

With that unpleasant bit of business over, let’s get to the grand finale! Harvard vs. The Artist Formerly Known as Pornstache! JoJo walks into the guys’ suite (she knocks first, of course) to let the men know how the Noah-Bennett rivalry is going to affect the night’s proceedings. But first, Noah has to give his stubble-stache a quick smooth-down in the mirror, which leads us to this perfect exchange:

JoJo [bemused]: “How does your hair look?”

Noah [over-eager]: “How does it look?”

JoJo [skeptical, already over it]: “I dunno.”

That was fun. Now for the breaking news: Tayshia’s sick of Noah and Bennett’s bickering, so she’s going to give one of them the boot tonight… before the official cocktail party begins. “The rest of you will be joining Tayshia later tonight,” says JoJo, before leaving Noah and Bennett to get ready for their mini two-on-one.

With that, it’s nighttime, and Bennett and Noah are suited up, both confident that they’ll leave the pre-cocktail party meeting with a rose from Tayshia. “I crush life under pressure,” boasts Bennett. “Noah will realize that’s the truth as he flies home to Oklahoma.” Hmmm… perhaps he’s a little too confident? Or is that just what Team Bachelorette wants us to believe? And one more question: Why did we see Tayshia sitting with two margaritas and a chips-and-guac spread earlier? Was she just pre-partying hard on her own?

Producers make sure that Bennett and Noah arrive at the date several minutes before Tayshia, perhaps because they knew one of them was going to do or say something stupid before she showed up. And guess what? They were right!

Yep, Bennett arrives with a gift for Noah, which he proceeds to open himself. The first two items in the box are fine: A red bandana, signifying a conversation Bennett and Noah had about a ranch somewhere; and Bennett’s freshly-washed “mustache socks,” as a nod to Noah’s dear, departed facial hair. The last gift, though, is pure condescension: It’s a book called On Emotional Intelligence, from a series by the Harvard Business Review. “There are actually four components for emotional intelligence,” notes Bennett, who goes on to list them all. “I think you are deficient in three of those four.”

Noah is irked, but Bennett insists he’s not “talking down” to his rival. “I did not have emotional intelligence at your age,” he insists. Okay look, I’m sure that Bennett basically means well here, but if he can’t understand how obnoxious he sounds right now, his emotional intelligence is pretty “deficient” too.

Oh thank God, Tayshia’s finally here. Honey please, end this! “I like both of you,” she begins. “I’m over the pettiness of this drama that’s taking place, and I just want to get to the bottom of it.” Noah’s all, "Fine!  Bennett was mean to me after last week’s cocktail party! He said there was a 100 percent chance that I wouldn’t be with you! He said I was 14 years old!" Then Mr. Harvard immediately starts fact-checking Noah: “No, I said, ‘zero percent chance’” and “The comment was, ‘Can you imagine that you were arguing with a 14-year-old?’”

Tayshia has heard enough. “This sounds, honestly, like teenage boy drama, and the fact that I have to sit here and listen to you guys talk about this is ridiculous!” she huffs. The Bachelorette has some particularly harsh words for Bennett: “You realize that you are essentially questioning my integrity, right?” Wait… how? By saying he thinks Noah doesn’t deserve a rose from Tayshia? I don’t really get her reasoning.

Just as it looks like she was about to hand the date rose to Noah, the Bachelorette sees the present sitting on the table. “What’s in the box?” she asks. Dun-dun-DUNNNNN!

Dammit! I guess we’ll have to wait until next week to find out the “winner” of this little showdown. (Spoiler: There are no winners here.) Until then, rose lovers, I want to hear from you! How do you think JoJo is doing as host? Why won’t Bennett stop digging his own grave? And should we talk about Eazy… or never speak of it again? Post your thoughts below!

This story originally appeared on: EW - Author:Kristen Baldwin

If you haven't watched tonight's episode of The Bachelorette, I have some bad news. Joe Park — the 36-year-old anesthesiologist and adorably bad trash-talker from New York City — did not receive a rose from Tayshia. But Joe has won the hearts of Bachelor Nation with his beautiful spirit, sense of humor, and willingness to step into a ring with men one-and-a-half times his size. EW spoke to Joe about his Bachelorette "journey," the outpouring of love for him on Twitter, battling COVID-19 as a healthcare worker and a patient, and what he looks for in a woman. Yes, people, the man is still single! FIX THIS!

How did you wind up on The Bachelorette?
It was the height of the pandemic and quarantine in New York City, it was sometime in late spring, and actually somebody from the show reached out to me. They said, "Would you be interested in going on a popular television dating show?" Honestly, I'd been in my apartment for the past few months, pretty much in my 400 square-foot cell, and going to work. If COVID has taught us anything, it would be seize the moment and just take advantage of opportunities given to you. This is not something that I would normally have done, but at this junction I was like, 2020 is such a weird year, so... That's kind of how it happened.

When did you actually find out that Clare was the Bachelorette?
So the first phone call we had [with casting producers], it was made known. And apparently, it was the first time where the contestants or the cast members knew who the Bachelorette was beforehand, which honestly — I hadn't watched the show before and I thought that was kind of ridiculous. But in this case, we did know. [The producer] told us from the very beginning, and she said, you can look her up and if you're interested and you might want to pursue something, then you can keep going along with the process.

When Tayshia took over as the Bachelorette, did you know who she was when she first stepped into the room?
Uh, I had no idea who she was. She walked in and she really does have a vibrance about her that is undeniable — outside of the really bright [sequined] dress she was wearing that was like kind of blinding in and of itself. Outside of that, she really does have like this aura about her. I can't even put it into words, there's a je ne sais quoi, I don't know, but it's there. If I could drop another French phrase, there's a joie de vivre, a joy of life, that's undeniable.

As a healthcare worker, we know you've seen a lot of tragedy this year, but you'd never know it based on what we saw of you on The Bachelorette. People fell in love with you for your gentle spirit, your kindness, and your optimism. How do you hold on to your upbeat nature, especially now?
First of all, this whole thing — even the fact that I'm talking to you right now, and the fact that I lasted this long [on the show] — is a mystery to me. But I'll take it. I mean, I'm grateful for it and I appreciate it, but I'm like, what's happening right now?

I will say interestingly, it is precisely because of [what I've gone through], that I was that way. I don't want to get too dark, but during that time, it taught me so much about what's really important. I think all of us collectively realized, you know what's important? Being around friends, being around family, traveling, collectively experiencing things, shared experiences, like concerts and things like that. And what's not important are the things that you were stuck with in your house — except your TV. You couldn't live without your TV, right? We were stuck with all the things that we wanted, all the material things — but there's no, no happiness at all, or very little.

I would go to work, and it was obviously a very harrowing time in my life and in the lives of thousands, if not millions of other people, especially in New York City. Seeing so many people pass away during that time, it definitely gave me an appreciation for [life's] moments. I had COVID and I recovered from it. And I was thankful for that because I saw plenty of people in their 40s and a couple in their 30s who didn't do as well. My family was okay for the most part, and I was just so grateful.

So when I was able to go do the show, and just to be able to go to the desert and pursue love without masks, without seeing people around me sick in this war zone that the hospital was... [In New York], everyone was scared, and we saw the refrigerator trucks [for the bodies] outside. I mean, I don't want to paint this like super bleak picture, but that's what it was. And so when I got to the show, it was like, man, this is such a beautiful thing to be out here. I was just grateful, you know?

One of your most amazing Bachelorette moments was on the wrestling date in episode 5. You and the guys were supposed to practice trash-talking each other, but instead you just loudly told Spencer that he was "a really nice guy" and complimented his eyes. I need to know everything about that moment. Is it just not in you to trash talk?
[Laughs] Not really, no. The older I get, the more I'm like, "Man, we're all in this together. We're all just trying to do the best we can." I didn't have it, I don't have that killer instinct anymore.

Also, Spencer in particular — people were like s---ing on Spencer before [when he arrived]. I had breakfast with Spencer the day after the Splash Ball date. The [wrestling date] wasn't that far removed from that date, and from what everyone had said about him. And I was just like, "Hey Spencer, you're a really misunderstood guy! You're a really nice guy!" I just wanted the world to know for the hell of it because that's what was in my brain. And, also, have you seen his eyes? The first time I saw his eyes up close, I was like, "Woah."

I need you to address some allegations from fans on Twitter, who say you are "too good for this world," "so pure," and "a sweet, unproblematic king." Your response?
Um, I'll be honest with you. In third grade, I definitely stole a piece of candy from a convenience store one time. I'm going to dry out that dirty laundry right there. My mom did scold me, and I think I'm a changed man after that. I did my time, I got grounded and I'm trying to live a pretty decent life thereafter. No, but every guy on this show is a stud. To a man, for the most part, they are really quality people.

In addition to the outpouring of love for you on Twitter, for example, people are calling for you to be the first ever Asian Bachelor. What are your thoughts about that?
The first thought when I saw that was like — I know Matt James is the Bachelor now, and I was like, man, I hope I'm not still single by 2022. I hope I'm in a committed relationship by then! I appreciate it, don't get me wrong. It's flattering. But it's like, jeeze, I'm not getting any younger. Again, if quarantine has taught us anything, it's that tomorrow's not guaranteed, and you really have to make the most of it now and take advantage of any opportunity that you're given. And also, there are much better options out there. In earnest, the first night, I was the third-shortest guy there! Body-wise, I was the lightest of all the guys there. It's flattering, but I hope I'm not single until then, if I'm honest with you.

If Bachelor in Paradise happens this summer, would you go?
I would say the same thing. Though I didn't unfortunately find love on this show, I realized that love is possible from this show. I think it's something you have to evaluate when [the opportunity] happens. It's hard to say now.

As of now you're still single?
Um, very single. That is correct. Thanks for reminding me, Kristen.

It says on your bio that your biggest turn-off is someone who litters. Did you ever date someone who litters?
No, I haven't, but I just like thought experiments. The thought experiment that I always pose to my friends is like, "Okay, you went on like four great dates with someone. You guys are vibing, your values are the same. You like the same music, everything's great. But then you guys go get some take-out, and as she's walking, she just takes a ball of trash and throws it over her shoulder and keeps walking. Is that reconcilable to you, for someone you want to like pursue a relationship with?" It gives people pause. And for me, I'm not sure if I could [stay in the relationship]. Like, what does that say about you? All of it, environmentalism, being thoughtful — there's more to it than just littering.

What are you looking for in a woman?
That's a great question. Kindness and gentleness is a quality [that's lacking] in this drama-filled world. There's this calmness that I think is missing, calmness and gentleness and kindness is something that I find rare. Where you can just be still for a little bit. And obviously, you have to be physically attracted to someone, that has to be there. I try to just have fun in conversations, because that's what [a relationship] is built on in general, you have to have fun with the person you're with. You can't just dive into, like, "So, do you want kids? Where do you want to live?" When I was watching the show, I was like, Jesus Christ, you guys dove so deep, so fast!

You mentioned earlier that you had COVID. When was that?
I had COVID in late March, early April... My hospital was probably the second-worst hit hospital in New York City. It was a red zone and it was everywhere. It was kind of the beginning stages. We had PPE, thankfully, but people weren't as fastidious with their PPE at that time. And there were hundreds and hundreds of patients that we treated with COVID.

What would you say to people who think it's okay to travel and have gatherings this Thanksgiving?
I think we're so close to a huge breakthrough with these vaccines. I think there are three candidates now. We've gone through so much together, we've struggled so much together, and we're going to get out of it together. We just have to hunker down a little bit more and just sacrifice the short-term for the long-term gain. Everybody wants to get together, but sacrifice is love, too. You should be proud that you are sacrificing for them and you're willing to do that for them. That's real. We'll get through it and let's just hunker down just for a little bit longer because it looks like there's a light at the end of this tunnel.

Without giving anything away, which of the remaining guys do think Tayshia is the most compatible with?
Imean, I fell in love with Brendan. They had a one-on-one and it seems like they had a great time. I think he's definitely a top dog. Outside of just being like a gorgeous human being, he's a great listener and he's very thoughtful. He's just somebody who you want to be around. He's really funny, he has that off-the-cuff, subtle humor.

Ivan is a great, great dude. Really smart, good heart. Obviously a stud also — I don't know if you've seen shirtless pictures of Ivan, but he's shredded. He has a great family, and he's got great family values. Both of those guys are as like nice and sweet in person as in the show. Honestly, those two guys, I pulled for them. Every time they got a rose at the rose ceremony, I smiled. After every rose ceremony, I'd be like, "All right, my guys made it."

Author:Kristen Baldwin - Source: EW

Happy Tuesday before Thanksgiving, rose lovers! Hope everyone stays safe (and at home) for the holiday weekend. Before we all adjourn to chow down on some turkey, let’s chew over this week’s episode of The Bachelorette. (I’m sorry, that was just terrible. Forgive me.)

It’s a tense morning at the La Quinta resort, as Ben and the other guys are still stewing over Noah’s “bold move” at the group date. And then Chris Harrison comes in to twist the knife just a little bit more. “You shaved the mustache, and you got the rose — on a date you weren’t even on!” he recaps. “So, lesson learned: Tayshia likes bold.”

To that end, the host announces that Bennett, Ivan, Blake, Riley, Demar, Kenny, and Zac are going to compete for an “unbelievable, intimate, romantic one-on-one date” by writing and performing an original love song for Tayshia. And don’t worry, producers have set them up with all the equipment that they need, including a tambourine, a ukulele, a xylophone, a flute, some kind of reed pipe situation, bongos… you get the idea. The guys all disperse to their corners and try to write something remotely usable. Bennett mutters to himself, listing words that rhyme with “house” (dude, maybe don’t go with “douse”), while Kenny the boy band manager gets right down to crafting some lyrics, including “Let’s put the bulls--- away and let’s spend the day ALONE!”

The concert begins, and… you know, it’s a tone-deaf nightmare. But the guys do their best. Zac’s song has a bit of a ‘50s rock vibe, and Kenny the boy band manager manages a quasi-pop tune. Then comes Blake, whose song has no actual melody — but he does use an accordion and a mandolin. Here’s how it sounds, in reaction shot form:

Not sure Bennett has any right to laugh at Blake because his white-boy rap is… Well, I’ll let Kenny describe it: “Watching Bennett rap, it’s — as expected — f---ing awkward.” But Bennett’s embarrassing performance is good news for Ivan! His rap (“I can see it now/ we can have a beautiful life/ you’re smart sexy and passionate/ and I can see you as my wife”) sounds like a Grammy-winning masterpiece in comparison. Though Demar offers some stiff competition with his original composition, “Mocha Latte,” Tayshia crowns Ivan the winner. “I would love for you to meet me at my suite tonight,” says the Bachelorette.

Just a reminder: Ivan is a 28-year-old aeronautical engineer who enjoys playing chess against himself. Is he too quiet and reserved for Tayshia? “He’s not the typical type of guy I may go for,” says the Bachelorette. “He’s shy at times.” Nothin’ wrong with shy, honey! And, the guy’s got a real job.

First up on Ivan and Tayshia’s romantic date night: A game of the floor is lava!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, rose lovers: I am here for these low-budge quarantine dates! Although producers do allow Tayshia and Ivan to order one of everything on the room service menu, so this date isn’t completely free. Plus, a game of Twister costs about $17 bucks.

Also, I love that The Bachelorette is now borrowing ideas from Bachelor Pad.

Tayshia and Ivan seem to be having a really fun time, with the Twister and the bocce ball and the room service. Ivan is Black and Filipino, and he’s surprised to hear that Tayshia’s never met someone with his background before, especially since she grew up in California. “This is like the capital of the world for Filipino people, outside of the Philippines,” he says. To be fair, Tayshia, who is Mexican and African American, tells us that “there aren’t many people like Ivan and I where I grew up. And so I haven’t really had a man my age that’s also of mixed descent to relate to.”

GOOD LORD! Look at the size of that sundae!!!!

Dammit, now I want ice cream.

Back at the holding pen, the guys are gathered for the reading of the next date card. I guess the song competition didn’t count for the group date, because Zac, Kenny, Demar, Bennett, Riley, and Blake are the names on the card. Noah is the first to pipe up, noting that he’s a little disappointed he’s not on this group date — even though he crashed the last group date and ended up with a rose. “Seems a little greedy, Noah,” sniffs Bennett. “Thank you for your input,” Noah smirks in response.

Boys! Boys! Knock it off. Ivan and Tayshia are talking about their families right now. Ivan’s dad is 73, Tayshia’s dad is not yet 50 (“My dad could be your dad’s dad!” marvels Ivan), and they each have younger siblings. And here’s where things get sad: Ivan’s younger brother took a “dark turn” into drugs and alcohol when Ivan went to college. “Eventually it caught up with him,” says Ivan. His little brother went to prison for four years, right after becoming a father. “When my niece was born, for the first two years of her life she couldn’t even touch her dad, it was literally through a glass screen,” says Ivan, tearing up. “To see my brother, like, having to put his hand up there to hers… It was just so tough.” Then, as now, Ivan works hard to be a “second dad” for his niece. “Oh my God, you’re going to make me cry!” says Tayshia, giving Ivan a hug. Great, now we’re ALL crying!

After watching his brother go through so much, Ivan says he won’t “pass judgment on anybody.” His brother confided in him about the “really dark times” he endured in prison, and now Ivan is even more attuned to the issue of police violence. “Especially with George Floyd, and that’s like police brutality,” he says. “That’s something that really hit home for me. You can only imagine how much wilder it could be in prison, right? My brother used to tell me stories about how these CO’s, correctional officers, would beat him up.” To this day, Ivan feels guilty that his first question was always, “What did you do?” But “it doesn’t matter. No matter what George Floyd did either way or what my brother did, these people have a job to do and they need to do it right. They can’t just be hurting people for no reason.”

What's that, rose lovers? You didn’t expect to see two people of color discussing entrenched bias in law enforcement when you turned on The Bachelorette? Neither did I! When Ivan asks Tayshia how the events of 2020 have affected her, she gets emotional. It’s hard for her to talk about being a Black woman in America today, and of course, I’m sure she’s feeling pressure as the Bachelor franchise’s second (!) Black lead. “I think being in Orange County, surrounded by a lot of people that don’t look like me… I’m realizing that I’ve been trying so hard my whole life to blend in because I knew I was different,” says Tayshia. “Hearing people yell, ‘Black lives matter,’ it hit me more than I realized, just because those are people in my backyard that I’ve been trying to prove for so long that I’m the same as them.”

What’s that, rose lovers? You didn’t expect to see two people of color discussing Black Lives Matter, the burden of perceived otherness, and systemic racism in modern American when you turned on The Bachelorette? Neither did I! “I appreciate you opening up to me about your family, and how this entire year has impacted you,” says Tayshia. “Because I really haven’t been able to talk to someone that really understands me.”

What a time to be alive. Do I even need to tell you that Ivan gets the rose?

Up next: The group date! The guys meet Tayshia outside on the lawn, where they’re soon joined by former Bachelorette Becca Kufrin and former Bachelor/Paradise contestant Sydney Lotuaco. The “ladies” announce the totally fun and not at all cheap date activity: Truth or Dare! Once divided into teams of two — Bennett and Demar, Kenny and Blake, Zac and Riley — the men are handed a map and sent to find various challenges around the property. First up:

Riley, bless him, downs an entire mason jar full of “Forbidden Love,” a.k.a. a refreshing blend of tomato, apple, banana, spinach, cow intestines, and water scorpion. Bennett and Demar, meanwhile, need to track down Bachelor Nation overlord Chris Harrison and ask him to autograph a part of their body “where the sun don’t shine.” But I’m gonna call foul here: This looks more like Demar’s upper thigh than his ass cheek.

Later, Zac shows up and bares his actual butt, so I hope Harrison washed his hands before going back to his lunch of crab legs and Veuve Clicquot.

Oh Lord, now Blake and Kenny have to “give us your best orgasm for one minute through the hotel phone.” I really, really don’t want to watch this. But duty calls, rose lovers.

Kenny’s awkward exclamations (e.g., “Oh, T! T! Don’t stop! Don’t stop!”) reverberate loudly throughout the La Quinta Resort grounds for everyone — including the guys who aren’t on the date — to hear. Blake goes next, and his cringe-worthy love noises are equally mortifying.

“Blake’s got some demons, dawg,” notes Eazy. “He needs to go to church!”

The final challenge is called “That Burning Sensation,” and it’s a simultaneous truth and dare. The men must eat a habanero chili pepper and then profess their feelings for Tayshia… ideally without vomiting. “We are proposing, with a puke bucket next to us,” explains Kenny.

One by one, the guys propose fake marriage to the Bachelorette. Bennett, who’s definitely sweating but doesn’t seem too fazed by the pepper, smoothly informs Tayshia that he knows she’s “going to be the best life-long partner I could ever ask for.” (“Bring it home!” cries Sydney, who’s looking on with Becca and swooning.) The Bachelorette LOVES Captain Harvard’s proposal. “Oh my Lord Jesus, yes!” she says, accepting the giant plastic ring.

Question: How many Bachelor Interns do you think had to get in the pool to position the two floaties for this establishing shot?

The cocktail party will double as the “truth” portion of the “truth or dare” challenge. Bennett launches right into his confession, explaining why he ended a previous engagement. “It’s a little tough to talk about,” he says. “I don’t remember a time when my parents were solid… Sometimes I think people get married and it’s for the wrong reasons. I was close [to getting married], and I knew it wasn’t right.” Bennett goes on to say that today, fake proposing to Tayshia, was a “massive pivot point” for him. Meaning, I guess, that he might be able to love again? Anyhow, the bougie duo seal their conversation with a kiss.

For Blake, Tayshia has this “truth” question: “What’s one thing your ex would warn me about?” Of course he’s all, Nothing! My exes love me! Nope! This is essentially the equivalent of answering the “What’s your worst quality” job interview question with, “I’m a perfectionist,” so zero points for Gryffindor. Other “truth” highlights: Riley says he won’t let his job get in the way of family; Kenny promises he won’t be “smart-assy” when he meets Tayshia’s parents; Demar reveals that his mom has been divorced twice, and he never wants to put his own family through that experience. And Zac… well, his one-on-one chat with Tayshia takes place in the hot tub, so it’s clear that this is the only truth she wants to hear from him:

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Now that Dancing with the Stars has wrapped up its inaugural pandemic run, ABC is putting its full promotional press behind The Bachelor. In a preview that ran during the Dancing finale, Bachelor Nation got an extended look at the end of Tayshia's season of The Bachelorette, plus brand new footage of their upcoming Bachelor, Matt James.

Shot in a "bubble" at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Pennsylvania, this season of The Bachelor features a diverse cast of "ladies" vying for the 28-year-old real estate broker. "He's tall, dark and handsome. What more could you want?" gushes one "lady" of Matt, while another says, "He's getting hotter. It's just like... yum, daddy." Matt is the first Black star of The Bachelor, and producers want us to know they really are an equal-opportunity objectifier. Behold, some gratuitous shower shots!

The promo also delivers multiple make-out moments (I counted eight smooches, though I'm pretty sure some of the women are shown more than once), and women snapping at each other for having "no class." (Pot, kettle, black, "ladies.") All of this drama leads to tears, tears, and more tears.

"I just have to hope that it's worth it," whimpers one tearful contestant. Oh honey, it will be — maybe not for you, but for those of us who get to watch this train wreck.

The Bachelor premieres Monday, Jan. 4 at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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Author:Kristen Baldwin - Source: EW

As far as concepts go, "waking up next to a dead body with no memory of the night before" is a solid, albeit not particularly groundbreaking, foundation to build a story upon. But a premise is not a story, which is why The Flight Attendant — a zippy, stylish limited series premiering Nov. 26 on HBO Max — never really achieves liftoff.

New York-based flight attendant Cassie Bowden (Kaley Cuoco) works for Imperial Airlines, demonstrating safety procedures by day and partying until the wee hours every night. Burlesque clubs in Germany, ice hotels in Norway, karaoke bars in Seoul — Cassie's been blackout drunk all over the globe. She meets a handsome businessman named Alex (Michiel Huisman) on a flight to Bangkok, and after they spend a rom-com perfect day and booze-filled night together, Cassie awakens to discover Alex's lifeless body beside her in bed. In a panic, she cleans up the scene and flees back to her hotel — the first of many foolish decisions. But there is no escape. Once she's on her way home, Alex continues to appear in Cassie's mind, questioning her choices and leading her through blurry, fragmented memories like some kind of charming, undead tour guide.

So is Cassie a killer or just a "crazy drunk flight attendant," as she would like the FBI agents tailing her (Merle Dandridge and Nolan Gerard Funk) to believe? With help from her best friend Annie (Zosia Mamet), who is conveniently a lawyer, and Annie's boyfriend Max (Deniz Akdeniz), who is conveniently a computer hacker, Cassie hopes to find out. Based on the first half of the season, there isn't much to suggest that Cassie is a murderer. She does have a troubled past — she began drinking as a child with her alcoholic father — but The Flight Attendant's glimpses into Cassie's deeper complexities are largely overshadowed by her frantic, increasingly silly efforts to find the mystery woman she met in Bangkok (Michelle Gomez) and piece together the events leading up to Alex's death. By the time Cassie and Max begin taping together shredded stolen flight manifests in episode 4, you may long for her boneheaded decision to crash Alex's wake in episode 3.

Filmed on location in Bangkok, Italy, and New York, The Flight Attendant looks great, from its animated pop-art opening credits to its quick-cut flashbacks and sleek split-screens. Heck, even Cassie's Imperial Airlines uniform is cute. Cuoco is phenomenal in the title role, keeping Cassie's many emotional plates spinning at manic speeds. She and Mamet have a wonderful comedic chemistry; the Girls star balances out Cuoco's whirlwind intensity with subtle, impeccably timed deadpan. Over in an odd B-plot, Rosie Perez delivers "middle-aged mom on the verge of a nervous breakdown" energy as Megan, Cassie's flight attendant friend who's also involved in some kind of Chinese corporate espionage.

HBO Max only made four of The Flight Attendant's eight episodes available for review, so it's possible the series, adapted from Chris Bohjalian's 2018 novel of the same name, is building to something great. But I have doubts. Midway through the season, there's a beautiful moment between Cassie and her uptight but loving brother Davey (the superb T.R. Knight), who no longer has the emotional strength to worry about his train-wreck sister's well-being. It's a brief but powerful exchange between two people who are hurting, and it packs a wealth of character development into a single conversation. A few scenes later, a body falls out of a window and lands at Cassie's feet. For this Flight, the plan seems to be madcappery over meaning. Grade: B-

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Author:Kristen Baldwin - Source: EW