Here’s what’s up in the world of television for Monday, March 3. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
Bates Motel (A&E, 9 p.m.): Remember when the last name “Farmiga” inspired excitement, not pity? Todd VanDerWerff doesn’t! Tonight, the Freudian Upbringing Of Norman Bates returns for a second season, with little Norman dealing with Miss Watson’s death in the series premiere. It’s not going to be pretty, but at least Todd will enjoy writing about it. (Maybe!)
ALSO NOTED
Almost Human (Fox, 8 p.m.): This show has struggled to find its voice, but tonight, it attempts to make the most of things with its first-season finale. We’re not that moved by the lyrical stylings of Karl Urban and Michael Ealy, but we are moved by the stylings of Kevin McFarland, who will offer us his thoughts on the show as a whole in his review.
The Following (Fox, 9 p.m.): The king is dead; long live the king. Now that David Sims has departed our warm embrace for another gig (and we’re not heartbroken about that at all), it’s time to pass the torch of The Following reviews to Sonia Saraiya, who we figure can handle them, as she is already largely insane anyway. We know there’s no way she can replace David in your hearts, but she’ll try to offer her own spin on the lovely yarn of gore, serial killers, and psychosexual horror that is one of Fox’s highest-rated dramas. Tonight, Ryan’s niece Max is kidnapped by a serial killer who skins his victims; Sonia hopes she can get through the rest of the episode without vomiting all over her review.
Archer (FX, 10 p.m.): Archer gets a rockstar (voiced by Kenny Loggins!) to perform at Lana’s baby shower. Sonia Saraiya asks: Is “Danger Zone” appropriate for an impending childbirth? There’s only one way to find out.
Teen Wolf (MTV, 10 p.m.): Did you know that the kid from Maid In Manhattan who plays Jennifer Lopez’s son is the lead in this MTV drama about Werewolves That Are Also Teens? We didn’t. But Phil Dyess-Nugent probably did. Tonight, Kira discovers her abilities, on a Very Special Episode of Teen Wolf.
REGULAR COVERAGE
Adventure Time (Cartoon Network, 7 p.m.):
Regular Show (Cartoon Network, 7:30 p.m.)
Switched At Birth (ABC Family, 8 p.m.)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (LOGO, 8 p.m.)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 8 p.m.)
Mom (CBS, 9:30 p.m.)
ELSEWHERE IN TV CLUB
Carrie Raisler wrote up teen-soap legend Dawson’s Creek for our 100 Episodes feature—a show that despite its ups and downs, defined a generation.
Dawson’s Creek’s signature hyper-articulate dialogue, metatextual references, and aforementioned preoccupation with sex combined to create a world in which everyone talked about sex like they were in a television show, and then remarked upon how they were talking like they were in a television show.