Enlightened

“I didn’t want to be writing in reaction to genre; I wanted to write about life.” 

Sadly, this stretch of eight episodes will be the show’s last.

According to Buzzfeed’s Kate Aurthur, HBO has canceled the critically beloved but horribly rated Enlightened, opting not to give the show a third season.

The prayers of dozens are answered as Gilmore Girls comes to TV Club Classic. Also: The 500th Glee cover (only 500?) and another chance to be let down by Community. 

The past season of Enlightened shows the importance of secondary characters.

Don’t just stand there and do nothing while the powers that be threaten to destroy Enlightened. Also: Grampa Simpson gets ready to rumble and Elsbeth, Elsbeth, Elsbeth!

The HBO comedy has hit another level in its second season.

The stars are out—and liveblogging—to-night! Also: Movie channels don’t stop for movie awards. 

A season finale for law-abiding citizens. Also: TV Club’s Second Opinion Week begins.

When the Grammys face off with The Walking Dead, who will win—and what will be left of them? Also: Frank Fisticuffs comes to Brooklyn (?) and a spot of cricket at Downton. 

Some entertainment is optional. These five aren’t.

Put Holmes and Watson in, coach! (And other sports metaphors!) Also: Undaunted by ratings losses, PBS soldier on and—OH LOOK, PUPPIES! 

Netflix's House Of Cards is here, so you can watch all 13 episodes in one sitting, or watch them one at a time with our reviews. Also: Girls and Enlightened hit Saturday nights.

Thrill to the financial-solvency drama of Lockhart/Gardner! Also: Introducing Tina Belcher: Investigative Reporter and Lip Gallagher: Sexual Predator Predator.

AFC Championship Game eats Sunday night, spares its exact opposite: Enlightened. Also: Other Pats-Ravens alternatives, including murderous Storybrooke residents and some creepin’ from Adam Driver. 

One pushed 20 million viewers, one missed the 1 million mark, but they’re both “hits.”

Girls is back, which is either the best news or a warning to avoid HBO for 10 weeks. Also: Premières of other pay-cable shows that are just as divisive. (Oh, who are we kidding—nothing’s as divisive as Girls.) 

If you've been looking for a new animated comedy, we think you'll find one somewhere Out There. Also: The Packers play the 49ers, and Fringe returns for the next-to-last time.

Our TV Club staffers encourage each other to check out Peep Show, Shark Tank, Elementary, and even The Neighbors.

The A.V. Club’s weekly list.

Let’s try a thought experiment: If The Newsroom had aired on TNT, would it have gotten nearly as vicious of reviews as it did?

Lena Dunham’s much-contested series isn’t trying to fit into a male worldview, and some people are not okay with that. 

This week, a reader asks us about cases where the hero is the worst aspect of a film or TV series.

For some, online piracy makes sense. But waiting makes even more sense.

We pick the best shows of an extremely good year in television.