Out of Step Song Selection: Dancing with the Stars: Amy Purdy and Derek Hough’s sultry rumba was exquisite. However, the music selection (“Light My Fire”) didn’t compliment the tempo of the dance style. Hopefully she gets to re-dance it with a new song in the finals for their repeat dance.

Best Character Interaction: The Blacklist: A moment of truth between Red and Liz, led to a sad stand-off and a huge hurdle in their already tense relationship. As Red eloquently explained his cold decision making and even frostier actions, it seemed the unrepentant rogue wasn’t feeling any of the remorse that Liz attempted to evoke.

Leave it to James Spader to express inner conflict in a succinct optical expression of distress. It was subtle and telling, without saying too much and that is why Spader has made “The Blacklist” one of the must-see shows of the season.

On the Rebound: Arrow: While there was a lot of retreading; Oliver going incognito as he refused the mantle of selfless hero (again), Thea receiving an additional pep-talk over her morality and another time-draining flashback to the island. Things sort of rebounded as Diggle and Felicity were finally featured more prominently and the core trio's teamwork, took center stage. 

Best-Send Off: Vikings: The season finale was a culmination of season-long suspicions, tying up a riveting round of cat-and-mouse politics. Giving a spotlight to the mental cunning of the Vikings was a good move and yes, there was a collective sigh when certain characters’ true motives were revealed.

The Penultimate: The Tomorrow People: The nifty sci-fi freshman’s penultimate episode had the set-up to be incredible. Unfortunately, it ended up falling victim to heavy handed plot developments that felt contrived. Between Marla and Roger being unable to stop the obnoxious newbie Natalie (where the heck did she come from?), an out-of-character Russell betraying his friends for her and Cara easily brushing off John, the episode felt rather rushed to get to its destination.

All of that said, the closing cliffhanger was exhilarating and the excitement to see how things shake out in the finale, has it a fever pitch. It warrants reiterating that “The Tomorrow People” is one of the best shows on the CW and quite frankly, network TV. Hence, a second season pick-up is imperative. 

Surprising Expulsion: Revenge: The smarmy businessman who stole Victoria’s heart has bid "au revoir" to the universe of “Revenge” in a shockingly violent twist. Now the show can focus on the only dynamic that keeps the show worth watching, the sinister Conrad and Victoria’s volatile bond of verbal squabbling and irrepressible attraction. 

Boldest Move: Bates Motel: The shocking reveal in “The Box” confirmed the inevitable, as Norman’s descent into going “psycho” came to fruition a lot sooner than expected. Honestly, that was a revelation that could’ve easily been held out to the final season. It’s made Norman irredeemable too quickly and makes anyone who protects him, knowing his guilt, from here out, complicit in covering up for a far more disturbed individual.

The accidental deaths of horrible people has served as Norman’s motive operandi for most of the series and it has worked. So is it too soon to go there? Instinct says yes. Faith in the incredible writing team behind this series, hints the bold reveal shouldn’t be discounted, too hastily.

[Image by HBO]