This episode told us almost nothing of import or interest that couldn't have been surmised already. There's no meaningful character insights or development, and there's only one plot element introduced — the former partner whom he meets at the end. But 35 minutes of this premiere was pretty much wasted.

Ugh.
This was the weakest episode so far this season. I don't understand the praise.
Gordon's descent is a series of "what's the worst choice he can make? let's have him do that" episodes. It's painful how obviously he's getting in his own way.
Every line of Joe's dialogue is too on the nose.
Cameron's attitude is mostly…

No one noticed the review mentions "Ari" when it means "Eli"?

Sigh. First KIMMY SCHMIDT is problematic because Krakowski's character is an American Indian, and now THE GOOD WIFE is troublesome because it makes a comment about Palestinian ties to Hamas. Maybe the AV CLUB should be renamed the PC CLUB.

Am I the only one who got the vibe that Padma didn't like Kristen because she was competition for prettiest girl on camera? There was a cattiness to her commentary that seemed out of place.

Um. Dude. You're an idiot. You're not watching the show. You're wallowing in your preconceptions. It sucks that Kristen went home, but it only makes the show worse, not better, so why would the judges do that if they had nefarious ulterior motives?

I logged in to say exactly this. John does Ren's voice only at the very end. The beginning of the podcast features Chris' impressive memory of the Looney Tunes bullpen, and John K's stories about them (including a bizarre one featuring Bob Clampett.)

I logged in to say exactly this. John does Ren's voice only at the very end. The beginning of the podcast features Chris' impressive memory of the Looney Tunes bullpen, and John K's stories about them (including a bizarre one featuring Bob Clampett.)

That Romany Malco NERDIST was one of their better conversations. Sorry, AVClub reviewer, that it didn't stick to comedy-podcast fluff, and instead had the temerity to address things that matter, though in a very funny way.

I'm appalled that this is getting such a high grade. Clearly 10 minutes of engrossing television (at the end) makes up for 35 minutes of mediocre exposition, poor pacing, plodding dialogue, and wooden performances.

How on earth can you say you don't have a sense of Paul's cooking? Have you been paying attention? He's been the dominant chef? He's a flavor savant. A master of madness on the palate.

Wow. You know people around here don't really care when they let Zach's egregious error (it's Shanghai and Buenos Aires, not Shanghai and Madrid) slide.