I'd be willing to listen to arguments that Buffy or Angel's second episodes are better, if people wanted to make them, but I'd definitely personally consider Train Job the best. I certainly think The Train Job is about a million times better an hour of television than 0-8-4.

I watch both shows (or I guess, use to watch both, now watch just one, since only one is left).

Fun fact: John Hodgman's role in the second fake clip show episode was originally written for Nathan Fillion, but Fillion's Castle schedule made him unable to accept. This is but the realization of something long destined, though he's found himself downgraded from therapist to janitor.

When Welcome to the Family gets canceled. So probably like a month.

Good for Scandal. I'm also pleased to see that Parenthood's ratings went up from last week. Someone at Fox is probably regretting Glee's two-season deal right about now.

CBS's Thursday is still very healthy. There's no way they aren't disappointed by the performances of Hostages, Mom and We Are Men though.

We should be worrying much less about the ratings drop for SHIELD's second episode than the artistic quality drop for its second episode.

I honestly do think TVbtN is even below average internet commenter standards though, which is saying something.

There's no real way to defend it creatively/artistically - in that respect, the shows should obviously be paired up - but I think the CW hopes, from a ratings/business perspective, that TVD's ratings will extend to The Originals, and spreading the shows to two nights will spread the ratings to the other shows on both…

I'll be so depressed if Incursion doesn't happen. I want DeKnight's writing back on TV, damn it!

I never would have believed you if you'd told me a month ago that I'd be enjoying Sleepy Hollow and Revolution season 2 more than Marvel's Agents of SHIELD.

It is a must watch - events in it play a major role in season 2 - and it is definitely designed to be watched between seasons 1 and 2. Many moments are intended to be "aha!" moments when we finally see how things snap into place for season 1 in a way that wouldn't work if watched in in-universe chronological order.

Ranking the second episodes of Whedon's shows:

Why are teenage boys on television without exception delighted (or, at the absolute most negative, nonplussed) to learn they're about to become fathers?

I imagine it will probably produce and air the rest of its season (Fox didn't cancel The Mob Doctor until the end of its season, and its ratings were even worse), but if the ratings start scraping 1.0 then come May no amount of critical acclaim will save it.

I mostly agree. I would probably rank this 18th or 17th (ahead of "Tricks and Treats," the only other episode I gave under an A- to) of the 18 episodes. Still like it more than most other TV, certainly, but it doesn't have the sparks of Freaks and Geeks at its very best. Neal's storyline is moving though.

It's possible they might do what 30 Rock did and give it a 13-episode, official, announced in advance final season.

I don't know… after this and Welcome to the Family are canceled, I can easily see NBC renewing Michael J. Fox and Parks & Rec (because even though both will have ratings of, like, 1.0 by May, it's all they have), then launching yet another new Thursday comedy block in fall 2014 with those two and two new shows… then…

I know TV antiheroes are all the rage these days, but I still find it immensely surreal and strange that a new show on the CW is now starring a character, Klaus, who we've literally seen murdering innocent people for fun. I mean, there's not even any caveat where he didn't have a soul then, or he only kills other bad…

I'll go so far as to say that "Victory" isn't just my favorite TV episode of 2013 but better than any movie I've seen in 2013 too.