Underrated/Overrated

UNDERRATED

Doves: It was easy to lose track of this excellent Manchester band over the past 10 years, but luckily the new best-of compilation “The Places Between” gives everyone a chance to get reacquainted. It’s a bit of a mystery why Doves, still adored in Britain, stayed under the radar in the U.S. while Coldplay and Muse took off, because we’ll put Doves’ “Catch the Sun” and the magnificently catchy “Black and White Town” up against any rock song of the ‘00s.

The DVR as social filter: In addition to the obvious gains in efficient TV-watching these little wonders allow (seriously, get one ASAP), we’ve come to appreciate their many side benefits. For example, it might make us bad citizens, but it’s been delightful to zip through the many truth-bending political ads this month, to say nothing for the borderline-insulting products that come with any given sports telecast. If only real life had a fast-forward button.

OVERRATED

Children’s myths as horror movies: If it’s nearly Halloween, then the multiplexes must be filled with second-rate scare-fests tapping on primal fears. And while we appreciate that teenagers are the target market, since when did all those fears have to be inspired by childhood stories and superstitions? “Chain Letter” was the latest to follow in the footsteps of “Boogeyman,” “Bloody Mary” and the perplexingly Tooth Fairy-inspired “Darkness Falls,” and though such familiar faces are oddly comforting, isn’t there anything new to go bump in the night?

This season of ‘Mad Men’: We’ll miss Matthew Weiner’s coolly constructed creation every Sunday, but it’s disappointing how many of this past season’s developments ultimately amounted to so little. Without getting into spoilers, Don is still Don, Betty is still Betty, and apart from the always-intriguing corporate skulduggery on display, nearly everyone in a lot of ways is right where we left them at the end of last season. Time to “change the conversation,” Mr. Weiner.