.png)
This week’s TV Corner Notes dives into two very different kinds of chaos: one inside the halls of academia and the other inside a suburban Boston home with a foul-mouthed teddy bear. From the darkly obsessive satire of Vladimir to the crude but oddly heartfelt return of Ted, it’s a week where messy characters take center stage.
Welcome back to TV Corner Notes, where we break down the week’s biggest premieres, streaming drops, and standout series worth your time.
This week’s lineup covers a wide range of tones and genres. Netflix delivers the provocative academic satire Vladimir, anchored by a magnetic performance from Rachel Weisz as a professor whose life spirals into obsession. Meanwhile, on the comedy side, the prequel series Ted returns for a second season, proving that the foul-mouthed teddy bear voiced by Seth MacFarlane still has plenty of outrageous mischief left in him.
Add in a busy week of premieres and finales across the streaming landscape, and there’s no shortage of TV to keep up with.
Vladimir: A Dark, Messy Academic Satire
What happens when control unravels and desire crosses ethical boundaries in academia? Vladimir puts that uncomfortable question front and center, introducing a respected college professor whose career, marriage, and sense of self all begin to spiral as she becomes obsessed with a new colleague. Netflix’s Vladimir arrived March 5, inviting viewers into this tangled mess where personal and professional lines blur dangerously.
Based on the novel by Julia May Jonas, the eight-episode series leans heavily into dark comedy and academic satire. It’s stylish, uncomfortable at times, and anchored by a performance from Rachel Weisz that keeps the whole thing compelling, even when the story gets a little messy.
Weisz plays an unnamed tenured English professor at a small liberal arts college whose carefully controlled life begins to crack almost immediately.
Her husband, John (played by John Slattery), is suddenly facing a Title IX investigation after past affairs with students come to light. The scandal sends shockwaves through the campus and leaves their marriage hanging by a thread.
At the same time, she’s dealing with something else: a 15-year writer’s block that’s stalled her academic career and creative life.
So when a charismatic new professor named Vladimir Vladinski arrives on campus — played by Leo Woodall, she becomes completely fixated on him.
And that fixation quickly turns into obsession.
One of the show’s defining features is how often the main character talks directly to the audience.
The series uses fourth-wall breaks and elaborate fantasy sequences to show the “story” she’s building in her head about Vladimir and what their relationship could mean. This device, similar to the one in shows like Fleabag or House of Cards, gives the audience direct access to her inner narrative, making us feel complicit in her increasingly skewed perspective. But as the season progresses, it becomes clearer that her version of events doesn’t always match reality—which both deepens our empathy for her struggles and raises our skepticism about her judgment.
The result is a character who’s both funny and unsettling to watch. She’s witty, sharp, and self-aware — but also making increasingly reckless decisions.
From the first episode, the show hints that something dramatic is coming. That tension builds all season and finally explodes during a countryside retreat involving the professor and Vladimir. The story has teased a kidnapping element from the beginning, and the finale finally reveals how that situation plays out.
Without spoiling too much, it’s the moment where the fantasy she’s been constructing collides with the truth in a pretty uncomfortable way.
Vladimir is a show that might not resonate with everyone. It’s a bit messy, sometimes uncomfortable, and features a main character who isn’t always easy to like. Rachel Weisz gives a fantastic performance here. She skillfully balances being charming, funny, and a little unhinged, making her character captivating even when she’s making questionable decisions.
John Slattery adds a wonderful burst of personality to the role of her scandal-plagued husband, making his character truly memorable. Meanwhile, Leo Woodall's portrayal of Vladimir carries just enough mystery to keep viewers intrigued and guessing about his true intentions.
This show’s style sparks some lively debates among fans. The direct-to-camera narration, which has drawn comparisons to Fleabag, makes sense; it almost feels like we're nestled right inside the protagonist’s mind throughout. Many viewers appreciate this approach, enjoying the dark humor and brisk pace it brings. However, some find the constant narration a bit draining, noting that it can disrupt the immersion and reduce suspense by spelling out the character’s feelings rather than letting them unfold naturally. This tendency to over-explain sometimes takes away from the story’s natural flow.
The show offers more than just the obsession storyline; it’s also an exploration of broader ideas, such as power dynamics in academia, aging and desire, and the clash between generations on college campuses. The satire of academic culture is often sharp and insightful. However, some critics felt that the show’s perspective on post-#MeToo and “cancel culture” debates didn't feel as fresh as it might have seemed a few years ago.
Overall, I give this limited series a 7.5 out of 10. This score mainly reflects the show's strong performances, especially from Rachel Weisz, and its engaging, distinctive style. However, I also considered the way the story sometimes loses cohesion and momentum, which held it back from rating higher. By weighing both the acting and the overall storytelling, the 7.5 feels like a fair balance.
Ted Season 2: Still Crude, Still Funny, and a Bit More Heart
The foul-mouthed teddy bear is back for another round of bad decisions.
Season 2 of Ted, the prequel series to Ted and Ted 2, premiered on March 5 on Peacock. The eight-episode season continues the story of teenage John Bennett (Max Burkholder) and his best friend, a living teddy bear voiced by creator Seth MacFarlane, as they stumble through their senior year of high school in 1994 Boston.
If Season 1 was about establishing the characters, Season 2 loosens things up quite a bit. Instead of a semi-serialized story, the show leans more into a sitcom-style format, letting each episode focus on its own ridiculous situation.
And honestly, the show is better for it.
This season mostly follows John and Ted as they try to survive their final year of high school, which basically means getting into as much trouble as possible. That includes everything from weed-fueled misadventures to wildly misguided schemes to impress girls. The show never pretends these two are making good choices. In fact, that’s usually the whole joke. But sometimes the fallout feels surprisingly real—like in one episode where a harmless prank turns on John, leading to a brief suspension and genuine worry from his family about the direction his life is heading. These moments don’t drag down the comedy, but they do remind you there’s something at stake beneath all the chaos.
But what makes Season 2 work better than the first is how much more time it spends with the rest of the Bennett family.
One of the funniest episodes of the season is “Dungeons & Dealers.” The entire Bennett family ends up participating in a chaotic Dungeons & Dragons campaign, complete with a guest appearance from Brennan Lee Mulligan. The episode goes full nerd comedy and ends up being one of the most memorable of the season.
Then there’s the finale, “Fraudcast News.” The episode takes place after the verdict in the O. J. Simpson murder trial, and the family goes to absurd lengths to hide the news from their ultra-conservative father Matty, who is recovering from a heart attack.
Their solution? Recording fake newscasts to keep him in the dark.
It might have been ridiculous, but exactly the kind of ridiculous this show thrives on.
Season 2 really benefits from expanding the focus beyond just Ted and John. Susan Bennett (Alanna Ubach) has a much larger role this year, including a storyline where she clashes with Blaire over abortion and another where she almost faces jail time. Matty Bennett (Scott Grimes) also gains more depth as he deals with health issues and questions about his identity, including a brief, very awkward job at Dunkin'. Meanwhile, Blaire (Giorgia Whigham) remains the family’s moral center, even as the season explores some of her own emotional baggage, especially involving her abusive father.
None of this means the show suddenly got wholesome.
Season 2 feels more confident and well-rounded than the first, while still full of its signature outrageous humor. Adding more focus on the Bennett family gives the chaos a nice balance. If you enjoyed the first season or the movies, you'll probably find this one appealing. The comedy remains very Seth MacFarlane—crude and bold—and, interestingly, even more daring this time. Yet, it also brings a touch more warmth, especially through the family storylines, making it a more heartfelt experience overall.
One episode did stir up a little debate. Episode 5 uses AI technology to recreate Bill Clinton's likeness, which some viewers found clever, and others found a little uncomfortable. It’s not a huge part of the season, but it definitely got people talking.
But the season does provide a nice closure when John decides to start going to the gym and working out. This is what Seth MacFarlane has said: There are currently no plans for Season 3. The main issue is the cost of producing Ted himself; the CGI bear is expensive to animate. So for now, this might be the end of the show’s run.
Overall, I give season 2 of Ted an 8.5/10
What to Watch This Week
Before we wrap up, here’s a look at some of the biggest premieres, finales, and returning shows arriving this week across streaming and network television.
Monday, March 9
Sesame Street Volume 2 (Netflix, four-episode binge)
9/8c Top Chef Season 23 (Bravo)
9/8c The Ultimate Baking Championship (Food Network): Sixteen elite pastry chefs push their innovation and execution skills to the limit; Duff Goldman judges alongside a rotating panel of baking legendsl Jesse Palmer hosts.
Tuesday, March 10
One Piece Season 2 (Netflix, eight-episode binge)
9/8c Vanderpump Rules Season 12 Reunion, Part 2 of 2 (Bravo)
9/8c Wildcard Kitchen Season 3 finale (Food Network)
9/8c Fukushima: A Niclear Nightmare (HBO documentary): In March 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami that disbaled the cooling systems of three nuclear reactors, forcing Japan's leaders to confront the unimaginable prospect of evacuating Tokyo.
Wednesday, March 11
Age of Attraction (Netflix, five-episode premiere): Age is thrown out the window when singles search for their soulmates-but will the years come between them? NIck Viall and Natalie Joy host.
Scarpetta (Prime Video, eight-episode binge): Nicole Kidman stars a forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta, who returns to her hometown to invesstigate a grisly murder and must confront her fraught relationship with her sister (Jamie Lee Curtis).
Sunny Nights (Hulu, eight-episode binge): This darkly comedic Australian crime drama stars Will Forte as a strigt-laced American who teams up with his loose cannon sister (played by D'Arcy Carden) to set up a spray tan business in Sydeny.
8/7c Southern Charm Season 11 finale (Bravo)
9/8c Love is Blind: The Reunion (Netflix)
10:30/9:30c Hollywood Squares time slot premiere (CBS)
Thursday, March 12
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 4 (Hulu, 10-episode binge)
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1 finale (Paramount+)
Virgin River SEason 7 (Netflix, 10-episode binge)
11/10c The Graham Norton Show Season 33 finale (BBC America)
Friday, March 13
Dynasty: The Murdochs (Netflix, four-episode binge): Rupert Murdoch's children face off in a cutthroat succession battle for control of his vast media empire.
The Great Britist Baking Show: Juniors Season 8 (The Roku Channel, 15-epiosde binge)
Twisted Yoga (Apple TV, three-episode binge): A group of young yoga students fall under the influence of reclusive Romanian "guru" Gregorian Bivolaru, the spiritual leader of an international network of yoga studio specializing in tantric rituals.
8/7c Celebrity Jeopardy Season 4 (ABC)
8:30/7:30c Stumble Season 1 finale (NBC)
It's Dorothy (Peacock)
Saturday, March 14
The Madison (Paramount+, three-episode premiere): Michelle Pfeiffer and PAtrick J. Adams star in the Taylor Sheridan drama, a study of grief and human connection following a New York City family navigating life in Montana's Madison River valley.
That’s it for this week’s TV Corner Notes.
Whether you’re drawn to the sharp, uncomfortable satire of Vladimir, the outrageous humor of Ted, or one of the many new premieres arriving this week, there’s plenty on the schedule to keep TV fans busy.
As always, we’ll be back next week with more recaps, reviews, and a fresh look at what’s worth watching.
Until then, happy streaming!
Adam
No comments:
Post a Comment