Zimmer's potty-mouthed exec is the highlight of the show, a reason to watch all by itself.... At its best, UnREAL takes viewers on a wild trip, an all-access pass to an amusement park. But it's my third ride; I'm considering jumping off.

Magic.

Everlasting's new setup still allows Unreal to explore one of its fundamental themes in surprising new ways.

It's funny, it's brutal, it's truthful. And I absolutely love it.

So, thankfully, the Lifetime favorite went back to what it's best at for UnReal season 3: knotty questions about feminism and the entertainment industry.

Given the current climate of female empowerment in Hollywood and the rest of the world, it couldn't be a more perfect time for Serena to shake things up as the first woman calling the shots IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.

The show is back - and eager to leave the past behind.

One last point on this new season: I do enjoy how much its commentary on reviving Everlasting works as meta-commentary on UnREAL itself.

I am looking forward to a new showunner being able to re-steer this show. And still happy to see Quinn, Rachel, and especially Jay...UnREAL seems painfully aware of how last year went astray with a few meta comments.

UnReal purports to be about ambitious women, and when it approaches that theme with thoughtfulness, it can be witty, acute and entertaining all at once.

UnREAL's still in the oh God please phase of its own reboot, but these new episodes are encouraging. Everyone is back where they belong: ruining one another's lives, turning reality itself into a lie.

It helps that Zimmer and Appleby have always proven to be a compelling central pairing, with both stars on top of their game.

It's either the best or the worst thing in this golden age of television, which is exactly why you have to watch it.

Despite its third showrunner in as many seasons, UnREAL returns with its beguiling strengths and glaring weaknesses intact. It's still the same fascinating, frustrating series, but a whiff of recycled-ness has definitely settled in.

It was a nicely executed instance of letting the audience have its cake, eat it too, and then find out both slices were poisoned. But UnReal seems less in charge when it comes to matters of escalation and repetition.