Speechless Ends Yet Another Massively Underrated Season

The occasion of the third season finale of ABC’s excellent family sitcom Speechless is as good an occasion as any to holler to the heavens about how incredibly underrated this show has been for three years. It’s not just Minnie Driver’s towering comedic performance as a fiercely protective/stubborn mom, or the way the show has represented so well for special needs characters on TV. It’s also one of the most genuinely warm and loving shows about family on TV, without ever leaning on melodrama or “special” episodes. It’s long past time to pay attention to it.

The same could be said of Speechless’s sister series Fresh Off the Boat, which also ends its season tonight and also doesn’t get close to the credit it deserves. It’s a night of under-the-radar faves! Go enjoy them!

SEASON FINALE: In an episode titled “U-N-R-- Unrealistic,” the emotional high of J.J.’s high school graduation is complicated by some rough news from NYU. The season-long storyline of preparing J.J. to leave the nest and attain some degree of independence from his family has been a source of warm comedy and deep family emotions, so we can only imagine what season finale impact is in store. 8:30 PM ET on ABC

SERIES PREMIERE: It’s likely coincidental, but it feels appropriate that Netflix is premiering its new comedy series Special, from writer/creator/star Ryan O’Connell on the same day Speechless is ending its season. Special stars O’Connell in a based-on-his-own-story narrative of a 20something gay man with cerebral palsy trying to deal with being in the closet about both at the same time. Unique perspectives on modern gay life can’t be overvalued, and O’Connell’s particular perspective is strong and has already attracted a fiercely loyal audience. We’ll see if Special can live up to it. Streaming on Netflix

SEASON FINALE: Fresh Off the Boat, looks to end its season on a high note with an his episode that deals with the fallout of Eddie’s international incident in Taiwan, while youngest child Evan babysits Honey and Marvin’s kid. 8:00 PM ET on ABC

PREMIERE: Netflix’s bottomless well of content means there’s plenty of room for what they hope will be your next romantic comedy obsession. The Perfect Date looks to be chasing the same success as Netflix faves like Set It Up and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. It’s off to a good start, with Noah Centineo starring as a college hopeful who creates an app where he rents himself as the perfect stand-in boyfriend for any occasion. Streaming on Netflix

ALSO TONIGHT

• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon welcomes Ethan Hawke to take part in Jimmy’s usual mix of jokes and games. 11:30 PM ET on NBC
• If you’re looking to decompress from a frustrating week with one of the greatest movies of all time, Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb airs tonight. 8:00 PM ET on TCM
• Friday’s Game of Thrones marathon reaches season 5, which sees Tyrion find his way to Daenerys, Arya find her way to the Faceless Men, and Jon Snow finds his way to an epic battle with the White Walkers at Hardhome. SHAME on you if you miss it. 1:00 PM ET on HBO2

Joe Reid is the senior writer at Primetimer and co-host of the This Had Oscar Buzz podcast. His work has appeared in Decider, NPR, HuffPost, The Atlantic, Slate, Polygon, Vanity Fair, Vulture, The A.V. Club and more.