Primetime Smackdown, Monday 10/6

Gwen Reyes // Critic

Take a brain break from life and tune into the small screen tonight. The fall season is already underway, leaving you with questions as to what is worth your time and what is not. Let us help you with a few primetime* picks to get you started this Monday, October 6^th.

8 PM

GOTHAM (FOX)

“The Balloonman” – Detectives Gordon and Bullock track down a vigilante who is killing corrupt Gotham citizens by attaching them to weather balloons. Meanwhile, Oswald Cobblepot returns to Gotham and gets a new job close to an important figure in the underworld.

VS

THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)

“The Hook-Up Reverberation” – Raj’s honesty about his past comes back to haunt him after his girlfriend, Emily, is cold to Penny. Also, the guys consider becoming part-owners in Stuart’s comic book store.

Winner: GOTHAM, just for pure enjoyment. I’m all for comedies, but this new take on the superhero genre is utterly engrossing, sexy, and richly built. You can always catch BBT in syndication.

Honorable Mentions: DANCING WITH THE STARS (ABC), THE ORIGINALS (CW), THE VOICE (NBC), THE KNICK (repeat from 10/3, CINEMAX)

9PM

SLEEPY HOLLOW (FOX)

“Root of All Evil” – After a bank robbery turns violent, Abbie and Ichabod embark on a hunt for a mysterious silver coin that has more power than meets the eye. Meanwhile, Captain Frank Irving is put in a position where he must choose between his family and the greater good and the Mills’ sisterly bond is put to the utmost test.

VS

SCORPION (FOX)

“A Cyclone” – After Team Scorpion fails a military training mission, they are determined to prove their worth to Cabe and Homeland Security when a bomber threatens to take out the internet infrastructure of the entire Southwest.

Winner: Although CBS’s SCORPION is pretty ridiculous, it is an increasingly fun ride for tech lovers who aren’t, you know, upset when shows and movies are completely innacurate. If you can get past Katherine McPhee’s abysmal scene chewing then this might be the perfect pick for tonight. I feel awful going against Ichabod Crane, but SCORPION wins tonight. Maybe next week, SLEEPY HOLLOW.

Honorable Mentions: SUPERNATURAL (CW), HOMELAND (Repeat from 10/5, Showtime)

10 PM

THE BLACKLIST (NBC)

”Dr. James Covington” – When a man is found with his heart cut out, Agents Keen (Megan Boone) and Ressler (Diego Klattenhoff) team up with agent Samar Navabi (Mozhan Marno) to uncover the intricacies of Dr. Covington’s (guest star Ron Cephas Jones) black-market operation. Meanwhile, Red (James Spader) and his associate try to capitalize on a new opportunity in Indonesia, leaving Reddington in a vulnerable position. Harry Lennix and Amir Arison also stars.

VS

CASTLE (ABC)

“Montreal” – While the team investigates the murder of a toy company CEO, Castle uncovers a lead to his mysterious disappearance, launching him into a dangerous investigation of his own.

Winner: THE BLACKLIST. Sorry, Nathan Fillion, but while I’m calling the shots, James Spader will always win out. THE BLACKLIST remains one of the more clever procedural on air and Raymond Reddington will always and forever win me over. Let’s see what he’s got going this week.

Honorable Mentions: POV: THE ACT OF KILLING (PBS), NCIS: LOS ANGELES (CBS)

*all times are ET