I've been noticing this in a LOT of shows recently.

Remember, Trump said he could've "worked a deal" to prevent The Civil War?
Meaning, slavery was not a deal-breaker for him.

They'll push the ENTIRE MEDIA in front of a train!

Won't that just be the last scene of the last episode of the show?

He showed the teacher's union who's boss!

This show is garbage, but, dang, it sure LOOKS like a prestige drama!

I noticed that fresh new hairdo when she was with Nick, too!

I can't comment on THE LEFTOVERS yet, but you are exactly right about the marked decline since Ep 4 and the lazy music choices.

Well, I trusted the showrunner(s), too, for the first 4-5 episodes!
They were great!

YES YES YES and YES, sit next to me.

The previous two I enjoyed WHILE watching; it wa only afterwards, thinking about them, that I was dissatisfied.
Ep 8 JEZEBELS was the first time I wasn't buying it WHILE I was watching.

"and we're not anywhere near societal collapse."

I hope your real world is getting better, Scrawler!
I've been looking forward to your takes on HANDMAIDS and TWIN PEAKS!

At some point last night, I caught myself thinking, "It's turned into just another show…"

That that scene in the diner did NOT end with Commander Pryce offering Nick a blowjob was one of the least believable scenes of the season.
That closet queen was drooling all over him; I thought a point was going to be made about hypocrisy/religion and how class economics can push men into the same transactionality of…

I've been thinking, so much of the power of the book is that tension of not daring to re-act.
And questions that go unanswered.

May the road rise up to meet your wheels…

Not that I'm going anywhere…

I really thought Daria would be around longer.
I thought Phyllis would be around longer!

My favorite Mickey moment is when Valerie is singing I WILL SURVIVE and Mickey is in the booth DANCING AND GRINNING like she is THE GREATEST THING EVER and he is having the time of his life!!!!
Robert Michael Morris played Mickey with SUCH enthusiasm, sincerity and DIGNITY!