Arrow ends a goofy, over-the-top season in goofy, over-the-top fashion, as we knew it must
Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Wednesday, May 15. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Arrow (The CW, 8 p.m.): For a series that started out seeming like it might be fairly grim and gritty, this show sure has embraced the over-the-top comic book fun over the course of its first season. Tonight features the final battle against the “Dark Archer,” as well as a flashback to adventures on the island involving a dude, a bunch of missiles, and a potentially doomed jetliner. All of this screams crazy comics grandiosity, and Alasdair Wilkins, for one, wouldn’t have it any other way. He won’t rest until an airplane full of clowns is crashing right into the center of the Glades and only a dinosaur can stop it.
REGULAR COVERAGE
The Middle (ABC, 8 p.m.): Axl tries to persuade Sue to ditch a day of school, which sounds like a well-nigh impossible task to us, but, hey, if anybody’s going to have the charisma to pull it off, it’s Axl Heck. Will Harris was tempted to ditch this review to go bowling, but then he realized he only has two left.
Modern Family (ABC, 9 p.m.): Phil Dunphy owning an RV seems like a recipe for disaster to us, but we’re willing to bet that Ty Burrell behind the wheel of one of those things might make for an impressive comedic showcase for America’s favorite awkward dad. Donna Bowman fancies herself the RV Queen.
Supernatural (The CW, 9 p.m.): Castiel and Metatron take on the “bureaucracy of Heaven” in the season finale, which sounds pretty exciting until you realize that they win the battle by making sure to file all of the correct forms properly and in triplicate. Paperwork is Phil Dyess-Nugent’s downfall.
Nashville (ABC, 10 p.m.): We’re always down for Powers Boothe showing up and snarling a bit, and tonight promises plenty of that as he sides with Rayna against Teddy in a matter involving the girls. Todd VanDerWerff would never want to challenge Lamar to a dance fight in a dark alley, he’ll tell you what.
Psych (USA, 10 p.m.): Shawn and Gus go undercover at a radio station, because they’re really big WKRP In Cincinnati fans or maybe just want to do some NewsRadio cosplay. Kevin McFarland would give anything to go undercover at a radio station and reenact short-lived NBC sitcom Rhythm & Blues.
TV CLUB CLASSIC
TV Roundtable (12 p.m.): Donna Bowman reminds our panelists that My Boys was a thing that existed for four glorious seasons on basic cable. Our panelists remember that Johnny Galecki briefly played a character named “Trouty” on the show, then all pledge to name their firstborn children Trouty.
Slings & Arrows (1 p.m.): In last week’s episode, Lear hit a seemingly unavoidable snag, and all of Geoffrey’s dreams seemed to be on the verge of crumbling into dust. Will he manage to pull everything together in time for the show to go off without a hitch? Todd VanDerWerff has significant doubts.
WHAT ELSE IS ON
Kingdom Come (Showtime, 7 p.m.): Director Daniel Gillies wanted to make a movie called Broken Kingdom. Director Daniel Gillies needed $1 million to make that happen. So director Daniel Gillies had to find a way to raise that many funds. This documentary follows him around as he scrapes up the cash.
American Idol (Fox, 8 p.m.): We didn’t realize this, but the once mighty Idol is cutting its season a week short—where it normally would have ended next Tuesday and Wednesday—presumably so it needn’t go up against the finale of The Voice. Anyway, the performance finals air tonight, with results tomorrow.
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox, 9 p.m.): Here’s a friendly reminder that our own Oliver Sava is sitting out the audition episodes of this season, before jumping back in for the performance episodes. If you want to talk about this season’s auditions, you can do so in his review of last night’s season première.
C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS, 10 p.m.): Black Sabbath performs in this season finale, which features the lab rats investigating crimes with uneasy similarities to the sins in Dante’s Inferno. It seems an appropriate ending for the series’ 13th season, but don’t worry. The gang will be back for year 14.
The Fighter (FX, 8 p.m.): Christian Bale and Melissa Leo won Oscars for their performances in this rousing, entertaining boxing film, for which Amy Adams was also nominated. David O. Russell takes a story that could feel incredibly clichéd and turns it into something with an often comedic rhythm.
Hook (BBC America, 8 p.m.): You’re a crook, Captain Hook, is what we wish Robin Williams would sing in this misbegotten Spielberg film about a grown-up Peter Pan returning to Neverland to do battle with Dustin Hoffman’s Captain Hook and Bob Hoskins’ Smee. Julia Roberts plays Tinkerbell because why not?
Stanley Cup Playoff: Game 1: Red Wings at Blackhawks (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.): We’ve been talking to some Red Wings fans who think they might match up well against the Blackhawks, but we have our doubts. Then again, what the fuck do we know about hockey? Precisely nothing, that’s what.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Awkward. (Tuesday): Yes, the Fox comedies have ended their season, and Justified and other shows left a long time ago, but there’s still this bright, effervescent MTV comedy—that’s better than you’d expect for the network it’s on, we swear—and Myles McNutt’s reviews of it to carry you through the summer.