The CW’s The Flash season four episode two found Barry having a few issues with the new Flash suit Cisco created for him. The episode also found Barry and Iris hitting a speedbump in their relationship, and Cisco and Gypsy going on an actual date. Plus, fans got another brief look at a central character this season: The Thinker. Season four episode three will bring back in fan favorite Harry Wells and introduce a new interesting metahuman.
The Flash season four episode three is directed by Armen V. Kevorkian from a script by Sam Chalsen and Judalina Neira. Titled “Luck Be a Lady,” episode three will air October 24, 2017.
The season four cast includes Grant Gustin as Barry Allen/The Flash, Tom Cavanagh as Harrison Wells, Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow, Candice Patton as Iris West, Keiynan Lonsdale as Wally West/Kid Flash, Carlos Valdes as Cisco, and Jesse L Martin as Joe West.
The “Luck Be a Lady” Plot: DC COMICS’ CHARACTER HAZARD COMES TO PLAY IN CENTRAL CITY — Barry (Gustin) and the team are hit by a string of bad luck and realize it is the handiwork of a new meta, Becky (guest star Sugar-Lyn Beard) nicknamed Hazard, who has the ability to give others bad luck, while cashing in the benefits for herself. Meanwhile, Harry Wells (Cavanagh) returns to Earth-1 to give Wally (Lonsdale) a message from Jesse.
WGN America’s set a January 23, 2018 premiere date for the dramatic crime thriller, Bellevue, starring Anna Paquin (True Blood). The network also unveiled a new four-minute behind-the-scenes video along with four new posters for the series created by showrunners Jane Maggs (The Offering) and Adrienne Mitchell (Bomb Girls).
In addition to Paquin, Bellevue stars Shawn Doyle (House of Cards), Allen Leech (Downton Abbey), Madison Ferguson (The Stanley Dynamic), Sharon Taylor (Ghost Wars), Billy MacLellan (Defiance), Vincent Leclerc (Being Human), Janine Thériault (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Joe Cobden (Blindspot), Victoria Sanchez (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan), and Sadie O’Neil.
The eight-episode season one is executive produced by Paquin, Maggs, Mitchell, Janis Lundman, Michael Prupas, Morwyn Brebner, and Jesse Prupas.
The Plot: The gripping and eerie original series is set against the backdrop of a small town with big secrets. Twenty years ago, the murder of a young woman traumatized the community of “Bellevue.” Now, the killer is back. Or is he/she? When a high school hockey star, who is wrestling with his gender identity, goes missing and all signs point to foul play, Detective Annie Ryder (Paquin) must unravel all the pieces to this gripping mystery before her own life falls apart.
As the case pulls her further away from her family, she is also confronted by a mysterious person from her past with disturbing answers to lingering questions and a terrifying need to play mind games. Along the way, Annie must navigate a complicated relationship with her on-again, off-again ex, Eddie (Leech), and her boss on the force, Chief Peter Welland (Doyle).
Per the network: Earlier this year, WGN America announced that three more acquisitions would be joining its ‘Prime Crime’ lineup in 2018, including 100 Code, starring Dominic Monaghan (Lost) and the late Michael Nyqvist (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo); Shoot the Messenger starring Elyse Levesque (Orphan Black), Lyriq Bent (She’s Gotta Have It, The Book of Negroes), Lucas Bryant (Haven), and Alex Kingston (Doctor Who, ER); and season one of Pure, starring Ryan Robbins (Warcraft, Apollo 18), Alex Paxton-Beesley (The Strain), A.J. Buckley (CSI: NY), and Academy and Golden Globe Nominee Rosie Perez (Search Party, White Men Can’t Jump).
The U.S. premiere of Bellevue follows the series’ lauded debut on Canada’s CBC.
Lionsgate just released a new trailer for the dramatic film, Wonder, based on the bestselling book by R. J. Palacio. Adapted by Stephen Chbosky, Steven Conrad, and Jack Thorne, and directed by Chbosky, the cast includes Oscar winner Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Jacob Tremblay, Mandy Patinkin, Daveed Diggs, and Izabela Vidovic. Wonder‘s set to open in theaters on November 17, 2017.
The Plot: Based on the New York Times bestseller, Wonder tells the inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman. Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. As his family, his new classmates, and the larger community all struggle to find their compassion and acceptance, Auggie’s extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.
Julia Roberts and Jacob Tremblay in ‘Wonder’ (Photo by Dale Robinette)
Warner Bros Pictures released the first official trailer for 12 Strong, based on the bestselling book Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton. The action drama is directed by Nicolai Fuglsig from a script by Ted Tally (The Silence of the Lambs) and Peter Craig (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Parts 1 & 2). The cast is led by Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon, with Michael Peña, Navid Negahban, Trevante Rhodes, Geoff Stults, Thad Luckinbill, Austin Stowell, Ben O’Toole, Austin Hebert, Kenneth Miller, Kenny Sheard, and Jack Kesy co-starring.
The supporting cast includes Laith Nakli, Fahim Fazli, Yousuf Azami, Said Taghmaoui, Elsa Pataky, William Fichtner, and Rob Riggle. The Alcon Entertainment, Black Label Media and Jerry Bruckheimer Films production was executive produced by Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Chad Oman, Mike Stenson, Ellen H. Schwartz, Garrett Grant, Yale Badik, and Val Hill. Jerry Bruckheimer, Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill and Thad Luckinbill produced.
The Plot:12 Strong is set in the harrowing days following 9/11 when a U.S. Special Forces team, led by their new Captain, Mitch Nelson (Hemsworth), is chosen to be the first U.S. troops sent into Afghanistan for an extremely dangerous mission. There, in the rugged mountains, they must convince Northern Alliance General Dostum (Negahban) to join forces with them to fight their common adversary: the Taliban and their Al Qaeda allies.
In addition to overcoming mutual distrust and a vast cultural divide, the Americans—accustomed to state-of-the-art warfare—must adopt the rudimentary tactics of the Afghani horse soldiers. But despite their uneasy bond, the new allies face overwhelming odds: outnumbered and outgunned by a ruthless enemy that does not take prisoners.
Chris Hemsworth as Captain Nelson in Jerry Bruckheimer Films’, Black Label Media’ and Alcon Entertainment’s war drama ’12 STRONG,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. (Photo by David James)
Pamela Adlon as Sam Fox, Olivia Edward Duke, Hannah Alligood as Frankie, and Mikey Madison as Max in ‘Better Things’ (Photo by Pamela Littky / FX)
FX announced they’ve renewed the adult comedy series Better Things for a third season. The Peabody-winning comedy was co-created by and stars Emmy nominee Pamela Adlon, with Adlon also directing the show’s second season. In addition, Adlon writes and executive produces with series co-creator Louis C.K.
“Better Things‘ success is testament to the creative genius of Pamela Adlon as a writer, director and actor,” said Eric Schrier, President of Original Programming, FX Networks and FX Productions. “It has been a joy for everyone at FX to support Pamela and see the critics and industry recognize this series as one of the very best shows on TV. Pamela and the enormously talented cast, producers and crew have our deepest appreciation.”
Season two airs on Thursdays at 10pm ET/PT. Season three will premiere in 2018.
The Plot:Better Things centers on Sam Fox (Adlon), a single, working actor with no filter raising her three daughters, Max (Mikey Madison), Frankie (Hannah Alligood) and Duke (Olivia Edward) in Los Angeles. She’s mom, dad, referee and the cops. Sam also watches out for her mother, Phil (Celia Imrie), an English expatriate who lives across the street. Sam is flawed and fierce with her love for her daughters, and her own mother as well, sometimes heaping the love on when she feels guilty. Sam’s just trying to earn a living, navigate her daughters’ lives, have fun with a friend or two and also — just maybe — squeeze in some private time once in a while.
The first official teaser trailer for Neon’s I, Tonya arrived featuring Margot Robbie as disgraced ice skater Tonya Harding. The nearly one minute trailer gives away nothing from the film, but does have a voice-over of Robbie as the ice skater who fell from grace after attacking a fellow competitor. Directed by Craig Gillespie, the cast also includes Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Julianne Nicholson, Paul Walter Hauser, and Bobby Cannavale.
I, Tonya will open in theaters on December 8, 2017.
The Plot: Based on the unbelievable but true events, I, Tonya is a darkly comedic tale of American figure skater, Tonya Harding, and one of the most sensational scandals in sports history. Though Harding was the first American woman to complete a triple axel in competition, her legacy was forever defined by her association with an infamous, ill-conceived, and even more poorly executed attack on fellow Olympic competitor Nancy Kerrigan.
Featuring Margot Robbie as the fiery Harding, a mustachioed Sebastian Stan as her impetuous ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, Allison Janney as her acid-tongued mother, LaVona Golden, and an original screenplay by Steven Rogers, Craig Gillespie’s I, Tonya is an absurd, irreverent, and piercing portrayal of Harding’s life and career in all of its unchecked––and checkered––glory.
Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) declares that the world needs to see the truth in the new trailer for Marvel’s The Punisher. Netflix used the new trailer to finally announce the series will premiere on November 17, 2017.
In addition to Bernthal, the season one cast includes Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Girls), Deborah Ann Woll (Marvel’s Daredevil, True Blood), Ben Barnes (Westworld), Amber Rose Revah (Emerald City,), Michael Nathanson (The Knick), Jaime Ray Newman (Bates Motel), Jason R Moore (A Lonely Place for Dying), Daniel Webber (11.22.63), and Paul Schulze (Nurse Jackie). Hannibal‘s Steve Lightfoot serves as showrunner and executive produces the comic book-inspired action series with Jim Chory (Marvel’s Daredevil, Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Marvel’s Luke Cage) and Marvel’s Head of Television Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Daredevil, Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Marvel’s Luke Cage).
The Plot: After exacting revenge on those responsible for the death of his wife and children, Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) uncovers a conspiracy that runs far deeper than New York’s criminal underworld. Now known throughout the city as The Punisher, he must discover the truth about injustices that affect more than his family alone.
Jon Bernthal stars in ‘Marvel’s The Punisher’ (Photo Credit: Jessica Miglio / Netflix)
Kiefer Sutherland in ‘Designated Survivor’ season 2 episode 4 (ABC/Ben Mark Holzberg)
“We have weathered so much together. We will weather this,” says Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) to his wife, Alex (Natascha McElhone), after learning about a new problem and possible scandal they’ll have to deal with in season two episode four of ABC’s political thriller, Designated Survivor.
As the episode begins, Agent Hannah Wells (Maggie Q) has called in her discovery of the dead body of Eric Little. She also brings John Forstell (Reed Diamond) up to speed on the case, and he tells her to bring Kendra Danes (Zoe McLellan), the White House legal counsel, in on the investigation. He believes they can trust her.
Meanwhile, there’s a blockade at the border of Mexico as tension mounts between the two countries. In an insane and unbelievable move, a Mexican trucker charges the blockade and in doing so gets shot and killed.
Over at the White House, President Kirkman wants to find a diplomatic solution to the problem. He puts his staff on it, telling them, “We know what we need to do here, people.” The truck driver union representative Paul Zalecky meets with the President and is not happy with President Kirkman’s soft handling of the situation. He later decides to go on television trying to undercut the President’s authority. Kirkman tells Emily (Italia Ricci) and Aaron (Adan Canto) to handle it and to continue to look for a diplomatic solution.
Hannah Wells meets with Kendra Dane who tells her she has to bring her findings to the First Lady and have her ask her mother if she did in fact accept a bribe to get her husband pushed up on the heart transplant list so many years ago. So, the two meet with Alex who’s both furious and insulted by the subject and by how Wells tricked her into helping provide the document that they’re investigating. Feeling foolish and bad, Wells and Kendra leave, apologizing to the First Lady.
Aaron tries to meet with Senator Flores but ends up getting his own cousin who’s working for the senator. Aaron tells his cousin this isn’t going to work and he needs to talk to the senator himself. Aaron goes to see Flores and even though she’s not a big fan of the trade deal Kirkman has come up with between the U.S. and Mexico, she says she will stand by the President because it is a step in the right direction. As Aaron is leaving, he lets the senator know he didn’t appreciate her sending his own cousin to meet with him on her behalf and that he’s not easily manipulated.
While all this is going on, it seems someone broke a vase that was a gift from China and there’s a young woman named Maya investigating to find out who broke it.
Just when it looks as though the White House is making some headway, the widow of the truck driver goes in front of the press telling them how much her husband loved America and struggled to provide for them. Kirkman sees a way to turn this whole thing around and tells his staff to have the widow brought to the White House.
In another part of the White House, Alex does ask her mom (Bonnie Bedelia) about the bribery allegations, and – surprise! – she admits to it because it saved her husband’s life. Alex is shocked and upset, asking why she never said anything before. Her mom claims there was never a point to it. Alex, getting upset, brings up that her husband is the President and her mother committed a felony. Her mom says it’s all in the past and if she had it to do over she would, saying, “Family comes first.”
The widow of the truck driver is getting ready to deliver her prepared short speech for the press when Kirkman notices her hands are shaking. He realizes what he’s doing and decides he can’t go through with it. He tells Seth (Kal Penn) he’s canceling the press event and for Seth to come up with a reason.
Kirkman has the widow taken to the ladies room so she can freshen up and then to the Oval Office where he asks her about her husband in private. She tells Kirkman her husband was a good man who loved his family, baseball, and tequila. He struggled to find work to provide for them and luckily was just recently hired by the trucking company. After the widow leaves, Kirkman tells Emily to get information on the trucking company her husband worked for because he has a hunch it will have the answer to their problems.
A little later, Kirkman has a short chat with his daughter, Penny (McKenna Grace), and tells her she needs to tell him the truth even if she’s afraid of getting into trouble. Penny admits to breaking his watch. Kirkman shows her a photo of the vase and asks if she broke it and she says no, just his watch and that she’s really sorry. Kirkman hugs Penny and tells her it’s all right and has her taken back to the residence.
Kendra informs Alex the FBI has issued a subpoena for Alex’s mom. Upset and having no other recourse, Alex finally brings in Tom on what’s going on. Tom is not shocked or upset by the news but instead is strong and supportive. He says with everything they’ve been through with the attack on the Capitol, conspiracies, and him getting shot, this is not that big of a concern and that it will be okay.
Kirkman meets with the owner of the trucking company who happens to be one of the advisors to the Mexican President. Kirkman tells him he knows he put the trucker up to charging the blockade and either he’s going to recommend to his superiors to sign off on the trade deal or Kirkman will make sure he’s charged with manslaughter. Needless to say, he advises for the deal.
To help finish the trade agreement, Kirkman reaches out to a very rich friend who has his own electric car business and asks him to hold off on automation and make those jobs available for both Mexico and America. His friend agrees because, as Kirkman puts it, “Your President is asking you to.”
Now back to the vase… It seems Lyor Boone (Paulo Costanzo) was caught on video running back and forth and accidentally knocking it over. He apologizes to Maya who says they can discuss the matter more over dinner.
The final scene has Wells going to confront Forstell about subpoenaing the First Lady’s mother. He reminds her that as the head of the FBI he has to see the investigation through no matter where that might lead them, and so does she.
Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 4 Review:
With a contrived opening scene of the Mexican trucker being shot while charging the border and a silly and pointless subplot about a broken vase, episode four titled “Equilibrium” continues the shift of the popular series from suspenseful political thriller to a political soap opera. Gone are the imminent threats against the nation and conspirators looking to take over. Instead, the series focuses on a crime committed over 20 years ago to save a family member that even Kirkman said is nothing compared to what they have already been through.
Here’s hoping the series quickly returns to the formula that made it so intriguing and exciting in season one – politics mixed with conspiracies and deadly threats from both within the country and outside as well.
The CW’s Supergirl season three episode three welcomes back Helen Slater as Eliza Danvers in an episode which finds Team Supergirl celebrating the upcoming wedding of Alex and Maggie. Directed by Dermott Downs from a script by Jessica Queller and Derek Simon, season three episode three titled “Far From the Tree” will air on October 23, 2017 at 8pm ET/PT.
The season three cast includes Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers/Supergirl, Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers, David Harewood as J’onn J’onzz, Jeremy Jordan as Winn Schott, Mehcad Brooks as James Olsen, Katie McGrath as Lena Luthor, Chris Wood as Mon-El of Daxam, and Odette Annable as Reign. The series is executive produced by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Sarah Schechter, Robert Rovner, and Jessica Queller.
The “Far From the Tree” Plot: CARLOS BERNARD (“24”) GUEST STARS — Eliza (guest star Helen Slater) throws Alex (Leigh) and Maggie (guest star Floriana Lima) a wedding shower, which causes Maggie to reach out to her estranged father (guest star Carlos Bernard). Supergirl (Benoist) joins J’onn (Harewood) on a personal mission.
CBS officially announced they’ve given Salvation a second season order. The dramatic series will return for 13 new episodes during the summer of 2018, according to the network. The series is executive produced by Liz Kruger, Craig Shapiro, Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Stuart Gillard, and Peter Lenkov.
Salvation season one premiered on July 12, 2017 and aired on Wednesdays at 9pm ET/PT. The cast of the first season included Santiago Cabrera (‘Darius Tanz’), Jennifer Finnigan (‘Grace Barrows’), Charlie Rowe (‘Liam Cole’), Jacqueline Byers (‘Jillian Hayes’), Rachel Drance (‘Zoe’), Shazi Raja (‘Amanda Neel’), and Ian Anthony Dale (‘Harris Edwards’).
The Plot:Salvation centers on Liam Cole, an MIT grad student, and Darius Tanz, a tech superstar, who bring Pentagon official Grace Barrows a staggering discovery – that an asteroid is just months away from colliding with Earth. Now with the added threat of nuclear war on the horizon, they work together with Secretary of Defense Harris Edwards to find a way to divert the asteroid, stop the war and save humanity before time runs out.
