Ryan Phillippe as Bob Lee Swagger in ‘Shooter’ (Photo by: Dean Buscher/USA Network)USA Network’s unveiled the official trailers for season two of Mr. Robot and the first seasons of Shooter and Falling Water. The critically acclaimed award-winning Mr. Robot will return for its second season beginning on July 13, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT. Season one of the dramatic series Shooter, based on Stephen Hunter’s book and the 2007 feature film, will debut this summer. And season one of Falling Water starring David Ajala (Fast & Furious 6), Will Yun Lee (Hawaii 5-0), and Lizzie Brochere (American Horror Story: Asylum) will be part of USA Network’s fall primetime lineup.
Mr. Robot‘s second season stars Rami Malek reprising his role as cyber-engineer Elliot Alderson and Christian Slater. The series comes from writer/executive producer Sam Esmail (Comet), Steve Golin (True Detective), and Chad Hamilton (Breakup at a Wedding). Shooter stars Ryan Phillippe (Secrets and Lies) and Omar Epps (House) and “follows the courageous journey of Bob Lee Swagger, a highly-decorated ex-Marine sniper who is coaxed back into action after he learns about a plot to kill the President.” Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, and John Hlavin are executive producers, with Hlavin also writing the pilot. Ballers‘ Simon Cellan Jones directed the pilot.
Per USA Network, Falling Water “is the story of three unrelated people who slowly realize that they are dreaming separate parts of a single common dream. The deeper they dig, the more they come to realize that the visions found in their common dream just might hold the key to the fate of the world.” The Walking Dead‘s Gale Anne Hurd, Blake Masters (Brotherhood), and Henry Bromell (Homeland) executive produce.
Fox’s teaser trailer for The Rocky Horror Picture Show has debuted and if you’ve got a few minutes to kill, check out the reaction on YouTube to the official teaser. Let’s just say fans of Tim Curry (who is involved with Fox’s project as the Criminologist Narrator) and the original film aren’t exactly embracing this new take on the classic movie musical with open arms.
Set to air in October 2016, The Rocky Horror Picture Show stars Victoria Justice (Victorious) as Janet, Ryan McCartan (Liv and Maddie) as Brad, Laverne Cox as Frank-N-Furter, Staz Nair as Rocky Horror, Adam Lambert as Eddie, Reeve Carney as Riff Raff, Annaleigh Levan as Usherette, Christina Milian as Magenta, and Ben Vereen as Dr. Everett Scott.
Lou Adler, Gail Berman, and Kenny Ortega are executive producing, with Ortega also on board as director. The 2016 version is based on Jim Sharman and Richard O’Brien’s original screenplay with lyrics and music by Richard O’Brien.
The Plot: Sweethearts JANET (Justice) and BRAD (McCartan) stumble upon flirtatious mad scientist DR. FRANK-N-FURTER’s (Cox) bizarre abode during his annual Transylvanian science convention. The two-hour event also features Emmy Award nominee Tim Curry, the original Frank-N-Furter.
Watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show teaser trailer:
Fox is continuing the 24 franchise with the new series 24: Legacy focusing on new characters and an original storyline. 24: Legacy will only air a 12 episode first season instead of a full 24 episode season like the original series, but it will stick with 24‘s real-time format. Fox has given the series the prime spot behind the 2017 Super Bowl, setting a two night premiere for Sunday, February 5th and Monday, February 6th.
24 executive producers Howard Gordon, Brian Grazer, Manny Coto and Evan Katz reunite for 24: Legacy along with director Stephen Hopkins 24 star Kiefer Sutherland.
The Plot: The series chronicles an adrenaline-fueled race against the clock to stop a devastating terrorist attack on United States soil – in the same real-time format that has propelled this genre-defining series. 24: Legacy stars Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton), Miranda Otto (Homeland) and Jimmy Smits (Sons of Anarchy).
Fox just released all the details on their upcoming 2016-2017 primetime season which is set to include three new comedies and six new dramatic series. Among the new shows that will be attempting to catch on with viewers are The Exorcist, Lethal Weapon, and Son of Zorn, all of which will debut this fall. Joining the schedule in midseason will be 24: Legacy, Star, Pitch, APB, The Mick, and Making History. Event series Prison Break and Shots Fired will premiere in midseason as well the new reality programs My Kitchen Rules and Kicking & Screaming.
“Next season on FOX, we’ll have more original programming across our schedule than ever before,” said Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Fox Television Group Chairmen and CEOs. “We’ll use our strong established hits in the fall and SUPER BOWL LI in winter to launch a diverse slate of shows that are unmistakably FOX. We’re proud of our new series, directed and created by some of the most celebrated talent in the entertainment industry. And, we are pleased to be returning to our schedule many of our most beloved shows, including broadcast’s No. 1 series, Empire!”
Fox Fall 2016 Schedule:
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM GOTHAM
9:00-10:00 PM LUCIFER
TUESDAY
8:00-8:30 PM BROOKLYN NINE-NINE
8:30-9:00 PM NEW GIRL
9:00-10:00 PM SCREAM QUEENS
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM LETHAL WEAPON (new)
9:00-10:00 PM EMPIRE
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM ROSEWOOD
9:00-10:00 PM BONES
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM HELL’S KITCHEN
9:00-10:00 PM THE EXORCIST (new)
SATURDAY
7:00-10:30 PM FOX SPORTS SATURDAY: FOX COLLEGE FOOTBALL
SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 PM NFL ON FOX
7:30-8:00 PM THE OT / BOB’S BURGERS
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM SON OF ZORN (new)
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM THE LAST MAN ON EARTH
Fox Midseason 2016-2018 Schedule:
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM 24: LEGACY (new) / GOTHAM (spring)
9:00-10:00 PM APB (new) / LUCIFER (spring)
TUESDAY
8:00-8:30 PM NEW GIRL / BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (spring)
Widely regarded as the greatest horror movie ever made, “The Exorcist” broke box office records and terrified audiences around the world. Now, more than four decades after the Academy Award-nominated film, THE EXORCIST returns as a TV series. Directed by Rupert Wyatt (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”), THE EXORCIST is a propulsive psychological thriller following two very different priests tackling one family’s case of horrifying demonic possession. FATHER TOMAS ORTEGA (Alfonso Herrera, “Sense8,” “The Chosen”) is the new face of the Catholic Church: progressive, ambitious and compassionate. He runs a small but loyal parish in the suburbs of Chicago. He has no idea that his quiet life is about to change forever. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, another priest finds himself locked in a life-and-death struggle with evil. FATHER MARCUS BRENNAN (Ben Daniels, “Flesh and Bone,” “House of Cards”) is a modern-day Templar Knight, an orphan raised since childhood by the Vatican to wage war against its enemies. Father Marcus is everything Father Tomas is not: relentless, abrasive and utterly consumed by his sacred mission. Caught in the middle is the RANCE family, members of Tomas’ parish. On the surface, they’re a normal, suburban family, but all is not as it seems in this household. The patriarch, HENRY RANCE (guest star Alan Ruck, “Spin City,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”), is slowly but surely losing his mind. Eldest daughter KATHERINE (Brianne Howey, SCREAM QUEENS) has become a recluse who refuses to leave her room. Her younger sister, CASEY (Hannah Kasulka, “The Fosters”), thinks she’s hearing strange noises coming from inside the walls. And mother ANGELA (Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Geena Davis, “Commander in Chief,” “Thelma & Louise”) has been plagued by recurring nightmares, each more frightening than the last. Angela believes there is something in the house, a demonic presence, growing stronger by the day. Desperate, she begs Father Tomas for help, unwittingly setting the naïve young priest on a collision course with Father Marcus. Separately, each faces an insurmountable task, but together they become the only hope against an evil force that has been mobilizing for centuries.
WRITER: Jeremy Slater
DIRECTOR: Rupert Wyatt
CAST: Alfonso Herrera as Father Tomas Ortega, Ben Daniels as Father Marcus Brennan, Geena Davis as Angela Rance, Brianne Howey as Katherine Rance, Hannah Kasulka as Casey Rance, Kurt Egyiawan as Brother Bennett
LETHAL WEAPON
Combining action and drama with friendship and humor, LETHAL WEAPON reboots the hit movie franchise, as it follows classic cop duo Riggs and Murtaugh, who are working a crime-ridden beat in modern-day Los Angeles. Grief-stricken after the loss of his young wife and unborn child, ex-Navy SEAL-turned-detective MARTIN RIGGS (Clayne Crawford, “Rectify”) moves to California to “start over” at the LAPD. He’s paired up with ROGER MURTAUGH (Emmy Award nominee Damon Wayans, Sr., “My Wife and Kids,” “In Living Color”), who’s just coming back to the job after a near-fatal heart attack. Riggs’ penchant for diving headfirst into the line of fire immediately clashes with Murtaugh’s prudent, by-the-book technique. It’s clear from the moment they meet, this partnership could be lethal. But during their first case together, Riggs drags Murtaugh on a high-speed chase culminating inside the Long Beach Grand Prix and into a seaport shootout with drug dealers – and despite his protests, the older cop feels more alive than he has in years. Meanwhile, Riggs gets a glimpse of why Murtaugh is so determined to get home safely at the end of each day – he’s got a family and a newborn baby of his own. By the time their investigation ends, Riggs realizes he may have found something worth living for – a partner and friend like Murtaugh. And even Murtaugh figures this arrangement might just work out after all. If only Riggs doesn’t get them killed first…
WRITER: Matt Miller
DIRECTOR: McG
CAST: Damon Wayans, Sr. as Roger Murtaugh, Clayne Crawford as Martin Riggs, Jordana Brewster as Dr. Maureen “Mo” Cahill, Kevin Rahm as Captain Brooks Avery, Keesha Sharp as Trish Murtaugh
Featuring the voice of Jason Sudeikis (THE LAST MAN ON EARTH, “Horrible Bosses,” “We’re the Millers”), SON OF ZORN is a new hybrid live-action/animated comedy about an animated warrior from a faraway island in the Pacific Ocean – where everything and everyone is animated – who returns to Orange County, CA, to win back his live-action ex-wife and teenage son. ZORN (Sudeikis), the Defender of Zephyria, Conqueror of the tribes of Agon, decapitator of the dark herdsmen of Grith, has fought in countless epic battles throughout his life, but may find the greatest challenge of all when travels back to suburbia to reconnect with his family. Once there, Zorn finds himself estranged from his son, ALANGULON or just “Alan” (Johnny Pemberton, “21 Jump Street”), a 17-year-old with a mellow, P.C. attitude; and Alan’s mother, Zorn’s ex-wife, EDIE (Cheryl Hines, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”), a former wild child now living the life of an upper middle class mom. Zorn’s efforts to win them back are complicated by the fact that Edie is now engaged to CRAIG (Tim Meadows, “Saturday Night Live”), an online psychology professor and a stable presence in their lives. Nevertheless, to be a good dad, Zorn commits to remaining in Orange County for the long haul, renting an apartment and even working in the exciting field of industrial soap sales under his boss, LINDA (Artemis Pebdani, “Scandal,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), who likes his passion, but just wants him to rein it in at the office. As he adjusts to life in the suburbs, Zorn is the classic fish out of water, navigating his way through fatherhood, divorce and a boring office job. Sure, as an overlord of pain, he defeated glombeasts, wolf-bats and bloodthirsty arachnobots, but now he’ll go toe-to-toe with a new set of enemies: meter maids, dress codes and the DMV.
WRITERS: Reed Agnew, Eli Jorne
DIRECTOR: Eric Appel
CAST: Jason Sudeikis as Zorn, Johnny Pemberton as Alan, Cheryl Hines as Edie, Tim Meadows as Craig, Artemis Pebdani as Linda
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
FOX is doing the Time Warp, with a brand-new production of the 1975 cult classic THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, set to air Fall 2016. A reimagining of the original movie, the two-hour event follows sweethearts JANET (Victoria Justice, “Victorious”) and BRAD (Ryan McCartan, “Liv & Maddie,” “Heathers the Musical”), who stumble upon DR. FRANK-N-FURTER’s (Emmy Award-nominated actress Laverne Cox, “Orange is the New Black”) bizarre abode. Frank-N-Furter, a sexually ambiguous, flirtatious mad-scientist, is holding an annual Transylvanian science convention to showcase the birth of ROCKY HORROR – a muscle-bound specimen created solely to fulfill Frank’s desires. Actor and singer Staz Nair (“Game of Thrones”) will star in the role. Also featured in the event are AMERICAN IDOL alum Adam Lambert as EDDIE, Reeve Carney (“Penny Dreadful,” “Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark”) as RIFF RAFF, Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford (“Sylvia,” “You Can’t Take It With You,” “Masters of Sex”) as COLUMBIA, Christina Milian (“Grandfathered”) as MAGENTA, Ivy Levan as USHERETTE, Tony Award winner Ben Vereen (“Pippin”) as DR. EVERETT SCOTT and Emmy Award nominee Tim Curry, the original Frank-N-Furter, as the show’s CRIMINOLOGIST NARRATOR. Celebrating 40 years of theatrical distribution – longer than any other film in history – “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is one of the most popular films of all time, and still plays in movie theaters around the world. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is executive-produced by Lou Adler (Grammy Award winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and executive producer of the original “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”), Gail Berman (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” former President of Fox Broadcasting) and Kenny Ortega (Emmy Award-winning director and choreographer, “High School Musical” franchise, “This Is It,” “Descendants,” “Hocus Pocus,” “Newsies”). THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is based upon the original screenplay by Jim Sharman and Richard O’Brien with lyrics and music by Richard O’Brien.
DIRECTOR: Kenny Ortega
CAST: Laverne Cox as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Tim Curry as Criminologist Narrator, Victoria Justice as Janet Weiss, Ryan McCartan as Brad Majors, Reeve Carney as Riff Raff, Christina Milian as Magenta, Annaleigh Ashford as Columbia, Adam Lambert as Eddie, Staz Nair as Rocky Horror, Ben Vereen as Dr. Everett Scott, Ivy Levan as Usherette
24: LEGACY
The clock ticks again with 24: LEGACY, the next evolution of the Emmy Award-winning “24.” From Emmy Award-winning executive producer Howard Gordon (“Homeland,” “24: Live Another Day”), Academy Award- and Emmy Award-winning executive producer Brian Grazer (“A Beautiful Mind,” “24”), writers and executive producers Manny Coto and Evan Katz (“24,” “24: Live Another Day”), director and executive producer Stephen Hopkins (“24”) and executive producer and original series star Kiefer Sutherland, 24: LEGACY chronicles an adrenaline-fueled race against the clock to stop a devastating terrorist attack on United States soil – in the same real-time format that has propelled this genre-defining series. Six months ago in Yemen, an elite squad of U.S. Army Rangers, led by Sergeant ERIC CARTER (Corey Hawkins, “Straight Outta Compton”), killed terrorist leader Sheik Ibrahim Bin-Khalid. In the aftermath, Bin-Khalid’s followers declared a fatwah against Carter, his squad and their families, forcing them into federal witness protection. But a recent attempt on Carter’s own life makes it clear to him that his team is now exposed. To thwart further attacks, Carter enlists REBECCA INGRAM (Miranda Otto, “Homeland”), who quarterbacked the raid that killed Bin-Khalid. She’s a brilliant and ambitious intelligence officer who has stepped down from her post as National Director of CTU to support her husband, SENATOR JOHN DONOVAN (Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Jimmy Smits, “NYPD Blue,” “The West Wing”), in his campaign for President of the United States. Decades of sleepless nights and missed anniversaries landed her at the top. With the White House within their grasp, can she truly embrace a new role as First Lady? Or will her love of the action draw her back in? Together, in this fast-paced thrill ride, Carter and Ingram uncover a sophisticated terrorist network that will force them to ask: “Who can we trust?” As they battle Bin-Khalid’s devotees, they are forced to confront their own identities, families and pasts.
WRITERS: Manny Coto, Evan Katz
DIRECTOR: Stephen Hopkins
CAST: Corey Hawkins as Eric Carter, Miranda Otto as Rebecca Ingram, Jimmy Smits as Senator John Donovan, Teddy Sears as Keith Mullins, Dan Bucatinsky as Andy Shalowitz, Anna Diop as Nicole Carter, Ashley Thomas as Isaac Carter, Charlie Hofheimer as Ben Grimes, Coral Pena as Mariana Stiles, Sheila Vand as Nilaa
STAR
Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee Lee Daniels – creator and executive producer of broadcast’s No. 1 series, EMPIRE – partners with Tom Donaghy (“The Whole Truth”) to pull back the curtain on music’s gritty and dark reality in STAR. Featuring a soundtrack of original music and stunning music performances, STAR follows three talented singers, desperate for a new start and with ambitions of stardom, as they navigate the cut-throat music business on their road to success. Meet STAR (newcomer Jude Demorest), a tough-as-nails young woman, who came up in the foster care system and decides one day to take control of her destiny. Star tracks down her sister, SIMONE (newcomer Brittany O’Grady), and her Instagram bestie, ALEXANDRA (newcomer Ryan Destiny), and together, the trio journeys to Atlanta to become music superstars. Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award, Grammy Award and Golden Globe Award winner Queen Latifah (“Bessie,” “Bringing Down The House”) plays CARLOTTA, a surrogate mother to the young crew. Emmy Award nominee Benjamin Bratt (“24: Live Another Day,” “Law & Order”) rounds out the cast as JAHIL, a down-on-his-luck talent agent looking to revitalize his career, who’s taken a certain shining to Star. The series will also feature guest star and Grammy Award winner Lenny Kravitz (“Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” “The Hunger Games”). Reality soon dawns on the girls’ fantasies, and they start to learn that ambition often comes at a cost. And sometimes that cost is too high.
DIRECTOR: Lee Daniels
CAST: Queen Latifah as Carlotta Brown, Benjamin Bratt as Jahil Rivera, Jude Demorest as Star Davis, Ryan Destiny as Alexandra, Brittany O’Grady as Simone Davis
PITCH
From executive producers Dan Fogelman (“Cars,” “Crazy, Stupid, Love.”) and Rick Singer (“Younger,” “American Dad”), PITCH is the dramatic and inspirational story of a young pitcher who becomes the first woman to play Major League Baseball. A beautiful, tough and gifted athlete, GINNY BAKER (Kylie Bunbury, “Under The Dome”) is vaulted into instant fame when she’s called up by the San Diego Padres to make her Major League debut. Like any rookie, Ginny must prove herself to her teammates. Foremost among them is MIKE LAWSON (Mark-Paul Gosselaar, “Franklin & Bash,” “NYPD Blue”), the team’s ruggedly handsome star catcher. There’s instant chemistry between them, although neither dares admit it. After all, Mike is captain of the team and a few of his players don’t even want Ginny on the field. One of the players watching Ginny’s back is center fielder BLIP SANDERS (Mo McRae, “Sons of Anarchy”), an old friend from the minor leagues. Guiding her is her agent/confidante AMELIA SLATER (Ali Larter, “Legends,” “Heroes”). Amelia saw Ginny’s star potential early on and left her previous job as a Hollywood publicist to concentrate on the young phenom. Although groomed for this moment by her demanding father, BILL BAKER (guest star Michael Beach, “Sons of Anarchy”), the end of Ginny’s improbable journey is the beginning of an almost impossible one: representing her gender as she embarks on a successful baseball career under the glare of the white-hot media spotlight. It’s a goal hard enough for anyone to achieve – except this player is also a woman, who happens to be the most important historical figure in sports since Jackie Robinson. This season, Ginny Baker will be the other woman trying to break into one of the oldest, most exclusive men’s clubs in the country.
WRITERS: Dan Fogelman, Rick Singer
DIRECTOR: Paris Barclay
CAST: Kylie Bunbury as Ginny Baker, Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Mike Lawson, Ali Larter as Amelia Slater, Mark Consuelos as Oscar Arguella, Dan Lauria as Al Luongo, Mo McRae as Blip Sanders, Meagan Holder as Evelyn Sanders, Tim Jo as Eliot
APB
Police work isn’t rocket science. It’s harder. Inspired by true events, APB is a new police drama with a high-tech twist from executive producer/director Len Wiseman (LUCIFER, “Underworld”) and executive producer/writer Matt Nix (“Burn Notice”). Sky-high crime, officer-involved shootings, cover-ups and corruption: the over-extended and under-funded Chicago Police Department is spiraling out of control. Enter billionaire engineer GIDEON REEVES (Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominee Justin Kirk, “Tyrant,” “Weeds”). After his best friend is murdered in a botched attempted robbery, and the killer remains at large, Gideon demands justice. Putting up millions of dollars of his own money, he makes an unprecedented deal to take over the troubled 13th District – and reboot it as a private police force: better, faster and smarter than anything seen before. With cutting-edge technology created by Gideon himself, this eccentric yet brilliant outsider challenges the city’s police force to rethink everything about the way they fight crime. But the near-overnight transition to the city’s most advanced police district doesn’t sit well with all of its members. Gideon knows if he’s going to change anything, he needs an ally, whom he finds in OFFICER THERESA MURPHY (Natalie Martinez, “Kingdom,” “Under the Dome”), an ambitious, street-smart cop who is ready to embrace Gideon’s technological changes. With the help of Gideon’s gifted tech officer, ADA HAMILTON (Caitlin Stasey “Reign”), he and Murphy embark on a mission to turn the 13th District – including a skeptical SGT. NED CONRAD (Ernie Hudson, “Grace and Frankie,” “Ghostbusters”), and determined OFFICERS NICHOLAS BRANDT (Taylor Handley “Vegas,” “Southland”) and TASHA GOSS (Tamberla Perry “Boss”) – into a dedicated crime-fighting force of the 21st century.
WRITER: Matt Nix
DIRECTOR: Len Wiseman
CAST: Justin Kirk as Gideon Reeves, Natalie Martinez as Theresa Murphy, Ernie Hudson as Sgt. Ned Conrad, Taylor Handley as Officer Nicholas Brandt, Caitlin Stasey as Ada Hamilton, Tamberla Perry as Officer Tasha Goss, Eric Winter as Scott Murphy
PRISON BREAK
PRISON BREAK is back and ready for its biggest escape yet. In the thrilling new event series PRISON BREAK, original series stars Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, Sarah Wayne Callies, Amaury Nolasco, Robert Knepper, Rockmond Dunbar and Paul Adelstein are reunited for an all-new adventure spanning the globe and featuring the signature thrills and cliffhangers that were hallmarks of the original series when it aired on FOX from 2005-2009. The original action drama centered on MICHAEL SCOFIELD (Miller, “The Loft”), a young man determined to save his convicted brother, LINCOLN BURROWS (Purcell, “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”), from death row by hatching an elaborate plan to escape from prison. In the all-new event series, filmed on location in Morocco, clues surface that suggest a previously thought-to-be-dead Michael may be alive. Lincoln and SARA (Sarah Wayne Callies, “Colony,” “The Walking Dead”), Michael’s wife until he was assumed dead, reunite to engineer the series’ biggest escape ever, as three of Fox River State Penitentiary’s most notorious escapees, SUCRE (Nolasco, “Telenovela”), T-BAG (Knepper, “Heroes”) and C-NOTE (Dunbar, “The Mentalist”), are pulled back into the action. “Prison Break” was an immediate critical and ratings hit when it premiered on FOX in the fall of 2005, garnering Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Television Series – Drama and Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama (Miller). The original producing team, including series creator Paul T. Scheuring, Neal Moritz, Marty Adelstein and Dawn Olmstead, will return to executive-produce the new series, with Scheuring serving as showrunner/writer.
WRITER: Paul T. Scheuring
DIRECTOR: Nelson McCormick
CAST: Wentworth Miller as Michael Scofield, Dominic Purcell as Lincoln Burrows, Sarah Wayne Callies as Sara Tancredi, Amaury Nolasco as Sucre, Robert Knepper as T-Bag, Rockmond Dunbar as C-Note, Mark Feuerstein as Jacob Anton Ness, Augustus Prew as Whip, Rick Yune as Ja, Inbar Lavi as Sheba, Paul Adelstein as Paul Kellerman
SHOTS FIRED
Examining the dangerous aftermath of racially charged shootings in a small Southern town, SHOTS FIRED is a dramatic new event series that is a “why done it?” and a “who done it?” From Gina Prince-Bythewood (“Beyond the Lights,” “The Secret Life of Bees,” “Love & Basketball”) and Reggie Rock Bythewood (“Beyond the Lights,” “Notorious”), the 10-hour event series is an explosive look at the criminal justice system. When an African-American police officer kills an unarmed white college student, a small town in North Carolina is turned upside-down. Before the town has a chance to grapple with this tragedy, the neglected murder of an African-American teen is brought to light, re-opening wounds that threaten to tear the town apart. Leading the Department of Justice’s inquiry into these shootings is seasoned investigator ASHE AKINO (Sanaa Lathan, “The Perfect Guy”) and a young Special Prosecutor, PRESTON TERRY (Stephan James, “Race,” “Selma”), both of whom are African-American. As they start to pull back the layers of both cases, they suspect a cover-up that may involve some of the state’s most powerful people, including fiercely political North Carolina Governor PATRICIA EAMONS (Academy-, Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress Helen Hunt, “As Good As It Gets,” “The Sessions”). She’s in a tough re-election fight, and the recent shootings in her state are making it even tougher. Meanwhile, real estate mogul and owner of a privatized prison ARLEN COX (Academy- and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss, “The Goodbye Girl,” “Jaws,” “Madoff”), is pulled into the case, as LT. ERIC BREELAND (Stephen Moyer, “The Bastard Executioner,” “True Blood”), a seasoned veteran in the town’s Sheriff’s Department, gets caught in the middle of the investigation. SHOTS FIRED tackles the racial divide from all perspectives. As Ashe and Preston navigate the media attention, public debate and social unrest that come with such volatile cases, they learn that everybody has a story, and that the truth is rarely black and white.
WRITERS/CREATORS: Gina Prince-Bythewood, Reggie Rock Bythewood
DIRECTOR: Gina Prince-Bythewood
CAST: Sanaa Lathan as Ashe Akino, Stephan James as Preston Terry, Helen Hunt as Governor Patricia Eamons, Richard Dreyfuss as Arlen Cox, Stephen Moyer as Lt. Eric Breeland, Tristan Wilds as Dep. Joshua Belk, Aisha Hinds as Pastor Janae James, Will Patton as Sheriff Daniel Platt, Conor Leslie as Sarah Ellis, Clare-Hope Ashitey as Kerry Belk, DeWanda Wise as Shameeka Campbell
THE MICK
THE MICK is a no-holds-barred single-camera comedy that gives new meaning to the phrase “dysfunctional family.” MACKENZIE aka “MICKEY” (Kaitlin Olson, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) is a brash, two-bit hustler from Rhode Island who has spent her entire life shirking any semblance of responsibility. Lacking any drive, but in constant search of the next easy payday, Mickey is not without her charms. She’s smart, she’s fun, and despite all appearances, her head’s always in the game. She just needs a big win. That win kinda, sorta comes true when, looking for a handout, Mickey visits her estranged sister and billionaire brother-in-law in Greenwich, CT, but gets more than she bargained for, as this absurdly rich couple flees the country to escape federal fraud charges. In a surprising turn of events, Mickey must assume guardianship of their three high-maintenance and ill-parented children: SABRINA (Sofia Black D’Elia, “The Messengers,” “Gossip Girl”), an ambitious, 18-going-on-30-year-old who is a worthy adversary to Mickey; CHIP (Thomas Barbusca, “The New Normal,” “Grey’s Anatomy”), 13, an arrogant, entitled neo-con-in-the-making with an extremely punchable face; and BEN (newcomer Jack Stanton), seven, an adorably fragile nerd. The life that Mickey has wanted for so long now is within her reach – the mansion, the convertible, the swimming pool, the walk-in closet full of designer clothes. But as Mickey is well aware, nothing in life is free. The price? Transforming these outrageously spoiled children into honest, hard-working, decent members of society – something this foul-mouthed, debaucherous and completely out-of-her-element woman knows absolutely nothing about. Being a mother was never in Mickey’s game plan, but these kids desperately need a parent. And as irresponsible as Mickey has been her entire life, she may discover that responsibility and motherhood aren’t the buzzkill she always thought they would be.
WRITERS: John Chernin, Dave Chernin
DIRECTOR: Randall Einhorn
CAST: Kaitlin Olson as Mackenzie, Sofia Black-D’Elia as Sabrina, Thomas Barbusca as Chip, Jack Stanton as Ben, Carla Jimenez as Alba, Susan Park as Liz
MAKING HISTORY
Produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (“Lego Movie,” “21 Jump Street”), and written by Julius “Goldy” Sharpe (“The Grinder,” FAMILY GUY), the new comedy MAKING HISTORY follows three friends from two different centuries as they try to balance the thrill of time travel with the mundane concerns of their present-day lives. Two shows in one, it’s both a rollicking historical adventure, and a contemporary comedy about love, friendship and trying to fit in to an increasingly complex and impersonal world. DAN CHAMBERS (Adam Pally, “The Mindy Project,” “Happy Endings”), a computer science professor at a small Massachusetts college, recently discovered time travel and has been transporting himself back to the 1700s to spend time with the colonial woman he’s fallen for. In the present, Dan is an unpopular nerd. But by claiming song lyrics, lines from movies and stand-up bits as his own in the 18th century, he’s absolutely hilarious – he gets the girl and makes friends. But Dan’s actions in the past are messing up the present. That woman he’s dating is not just any woman. She’s Paul Revere’s daughter, DEBORAH (Leighton Meester, “Gossip Girl”), and Dan’s meddling in the past causes her father to delay his famous ride, which may have altered the outcome of the entire American Revolution. To set matters right, Dan enlists the help of his colleague, CHRIS PARISH (Yassir Lester, “Girls,” “Key and Peele”), a brilliant, polished and popular history professor, who’s now given the incredible opportunity to actually live the history he teaches. Can Dan, Chris and Deborah save America as we know it? Can a woman from 1775 adapt to life in 2016? Can the three intrepid time travelers improve the past, help the helpless, fight for justice and get rich?
WRITER: Julius “Goldy” Sharpe
DIRECTOR: Jared Hess
CAST: Adam Pally as Dan, Leighton Meester as Deborah, Yassir Lester as Chris
KICKING & SCREAMING
KICKING & SCREAMING is a new competition series that teams 10 expert survivalists with pampered partners to face the toughest challenges of their lives. From executive producer Matt Kunitz (“Wipeout,” “Fear Factor”), in association with Lionsgate Television, and hosted by Hannah Simone (NEW GIRL), the series drops these unlikely duos into a tropical jungle in Fiji, where they must overcome dangerous animals, raging rivers, hunger and extreme weather. While these no-nonsense survivalists are accustomed to fending for themselves, there’s one thing for which none of their previous expeditions have prepared them: their nature-phobic partners, who think “glamping” is roughing it. To win the competition, and a cash prize of $500,000, the experts will have to drag their partners, KICKING & SCREAMING, to the finish line.
CREATORS: Matt Kunitz, David Shumsky, Mark Harris
HOST: Hannah Simone
MY KITCHEN RULES
The No. 1 show in Australia for five years running is coming to FOX. The unscripted cooking series will pit celebrity duos against each other as they cook and critique each other’s food, in Hollywood homes. The teams will take turns hosting intimate dinner parties with a menu designed to impress their rival competitors and two professional chef judges, Curtis Stone (“Top Chef Masters”) and Cat Cora (“Iron Chef America”). Celebrities featured on the series include Lance Bass, Brandy & Ray J, Andrew Dice Clay, Brandi Glanville and Naomi Judd. With escalating rounds of competition, the celebrity duo with the lowest score at the end of each round will be eliminated. The last two teams standing will battle it out in the final round for a pressure-cooker evening during which they will prepare and present their ultimate dining menu. In the end, only one team will survive the heat, the drama and the right to claim MY KITCHEN RULES.
CHEF JUDGES: Curtis Stone, Cat Cora
The NBC 2016-2017 primetime lineup will include the new drama series This Is Us starring Mandy Moore (Tangled, Because I Said So), Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes, Gilmore Girls), and Sterling K. Brown (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story). The This Is Us cast also includes Justin Hartley, Chrissy Metz, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan and Ron Cephas Jones. The series comes from Dan Fogelman (Galavant and Crazy, Stupid, Love) and reunites the writer of Tangled with the animated film’s female lead.
Fogelman is writing and executive producing, with Jess Rosenthal, Charlie Gogolak, director John Requa, and director Glenn Ficarra also executive producing.
The Plot: Sometimes life will surprise you. This refreshingly honest and provocative series follows a unique ensemble whose paths cross and their life stories intertwine in curious ways. We find several of them share the same birthday, and so much more than anyone would expect. From the writer and directors of Crazy, Stupid, Love comes a smart, modern dramedy that will challenge your everyday presumptions about the people you think you know.
NBC’s given the new drama series Timeless a prime timeslot after the popular singing competition series The Voice. Timeless, starring Matt Lanter, Abigail Spencer, Goran Visnjic, Paterson Joseph, Sakina Jaffrey and Claudia Doumit, will air on Mondays at 10pm ET/PT during the upcoming 2016-2017 season.
The series was created by Eric Kripke (Supernatural, Revolution) and Shawn Ryan (The Shield, The Get Down) and is executive produced by John Davis, John Fox, Marney Hochman, Kripke, and Ryan. Neil Marshall (The Descent, Game of Thrones) directs and executive produces, with Kripke and Ryan serving as writers.
‘Timeless’ Poster (Photo by: NBCUniversal)
The Timeless Plot:Timeless is an action-adventure series in which a mysterious criminal steals a secret state-of-the-art time machine, intent on destroying America as we know it by changing the past. Our only hope is an unexpected team: a scientist, soldier and history professor who must use the machine’s prototype to travel back in time to critical events. While they must make every effort not to affect the past themselves, they must also stay one step ahead of this dangerous fugitive. Can this handpicked team uncover the mystery behind it all and end his destruction before it’s too late?
Logan Lerman and Sarah Gadon in ‘Indignation’ (Photo Credit: Courtesy Roadside Attractions)
Roadside Attraction and Summit Entertainment unveiled the trailer for Indignation, based on the bestselling novel by Philip Roth. James Schamus adapted the book for the screen and made his feature film directorial debut with the drama that wowed audiences at the Sundance Film Festival and is already generating Oscar buzz. Logan Lerman (Fury, Noah) leads the cast that includes Sarah Gadon (11-22-63), Tracy Letts (Elvis & Nixon), Linda Emond, Danny Burstein, Ben Rosenfield, Pico Alexander, Philip Ettinger, and Noah Robbins. Indignation opens in theaters on July 29, 2016.
The Plot:Indignation takes place in 1951, as Marcus Messner (Logan Lerman), a brilliant working class Jewish boy from Newark, New Jersey, travels on scholarship to a small, conservative college in Ohio, thus exempting him from being drafted into the Korean War. But once there, Marcus’s growing infatuation with his beautiful classmate Olivia Hutton (Sarah Gadon), and his clashes with the college’s imposing Dean, Hawes Caudwell (Tracy Letts), put his and his family’s best laid plans to the ultimate test.
Michiel Huisman and Iain Glen in ‘Game of Thrones’ (Photo: Macall B. Polay/courtesy of HBO)
HBO’s Game of Thrones season six episode four included one stunning, mind-blowing scene after another. Episode four now springs to the top of the (short) list of this season’s episodes, with Daenerys once again walking through fire, Cersei and Jamie teaming up with an enemy to plot the defeat of a huge threat, and Sansa Stark completing her lengthy journey to Castle Black to finally reunite with Jon Snow. Sansa also proved she’s completely transformed from the spoiled child first introduced in season one to a powerful and determined woman. Littlefinger returned, Tyrion struck a deal with slave masters, Ramsay Bolton provided viewers with yet another reason to hate him, and Queen Margaery was finally allowed to meet with her brother in episode four airing on May 15, 2016 and titled ‘Book of the Stranger.’
The Recap:
Edd (Ben Crompton) questions Jon Snow (Kit Harington) about his intentions and Jon says he’s heading south. Edd’s understandably angry Jon is going to leave the Night’s Watch, but Jon says he pledged his life but because his brothers killed him, he’s now free of that vow. A horn sounds interrupting their discussion. The gate opens and in rides Sansa (Sophie Turner), Brienne (Gwendoline Christie), and Podrick (Daniel Portman). Sansa sees Jon for the first time in years and Jon approaches her slowly, then they quickly close the gap of the last few steps and embrace in a long and lengthy hug. Inside, they reminisce about food, Winterfell, and how they both wish they never would have left. Sansa admits she spent a lot of time thinking about what an ass she was to him as a child, and he tells her she was young. Still, he laughs and admits she was “occasionally awful.”
Sansa asks for Jon’s forgiveness and he gives it to her, even though he believes there’s nothing to forgive. She asks where he’s going and he says they’ll leave together because if he doesn’t watch over her Ned’s ghost will murder him. Sansa says the only place they can go is home, but Jon doesn’t think the Boltons will let that happen. This new, empowered Sansa says they’ll take it back from them and Jon reminds her he doesn’t have an army. Sansa asks about the Wildlings, knowing the Wildlings won’t be safe on this side of the Wall if the Boltons rule the North. And besides, they owe Jon their lives. He’s tired of fighting but Sansa says they have to fight for their home. If he won’t help her take back the North, she’ll do it herself. (I’m now #TeamSansa.)
Sir Davos (Liam Cunningham) asks Melisandre (Carice van Houten) where she’ll go and she says wherever Jon Snow wants her to go; she serves him now because he’s the Prince that was promised. He asks about Stannis and Melisandre says he was defeated. Just then Brienne comes up to fill Davos in on the battle. She reminds him they met previously when she was King’s Guard to Renly Baratheon. Staring daggers at Melisandre, Brienne says she loyally served him until he was killed with blood magic. She doesn’t forget or forgive and Stannis admitted to the dirty deed right before she executed him. With that, she walks away.
And now we finally get to catch up with Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) who arrives as Lord of the Vale Robin Arryn is practicing archery. He’s horrible. Lord Royce wants to know why Sansa is now married off to Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) and Littlefinger explains it was because they were set upon by people who obviously knew who he was transporting, hinting it was Royce who tipped Roose Bolton’s men off. Robin wants to throw Royce through the moon door but leaves it up to Littlefinger. Littlefinger thinks he deserves one more chance and Robin agrees. Littlefinger tells Robin Sansa has escaped Winterfell and is probably heading to Castle Black with the Boltons probably hot on her tail. Robin believes they should help her and Littlefinger tells Lord Royce to gather the knights of the Vale to join the battle. (It’s about damn time!)
Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) explains to Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) and Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) why he’s invited their enemies to Meereen to discuss Daenerys. The wealthy leaders backing the rebellion land and meet with Tyrion and Varys (Conleth Hill) and demand Daenerys leave Slavers Bay, and Tyrion says Daenerys won’t stay there forever because she’ll soon be heading west. An argument ensues about slavery and Tyrion says they don’t need slaves to make money. There aren’t slaves in Westeros and his family is rich. Tyrion proposes there will never be slavery in Meereen again, but the other cities will have seven years to abolish the practice. Slaveholders will be compensated at a fair price if they cut off their support of the Sons of the Harpy altogether. He brings in whores as a parting gift, telling them to give freedom a chance. Shortly thereafter, a group of men representing Meereen meet with Tyrion, Grey Worm, and Missandei and are upset the enemies have been brought into the city. They don’t trust Tyrion but do trust Grey Worm. Still, they’re upset they’ve made a deal with the slavers at all. Grey Worm says he’s not a politician but they should take any chance at peace. Missandei confirms she doesn’t trust their enemies but says, “We make peace with our enemies, not our friends,” quoting Tyrion. After the meeting, Grey Worm expresses his anger at being used, and both Grey Worm and Missandei are upset Tyrion’s allowing the other cities to have seven years to end slavery. Grey Worm explains the wealthy slavers look at him not as a man but as a weapon and they look at Missandei and see a whore. Tyrion says they’ll underestimate him and he’ll use that to his advantage but Grey Worm isn’t so sure that will be the ultimate outcome.
Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) and Daario Naharis (Michiel Huisman) is still tracking Dany, but Jorah is struggling to keep up. It doesn’t help that Daario is getting on Jorah’s nerves by talking about sleeping with Dany. Finally in position to see what’s going on, Jorah and Daario look out over the Dothraki settlement and Jorah knows Dany’s been taken to the place they take all of the widows of Khals. He tells Daario they need to leave their weapons behind (you can’t take them into the sacred city) and if they’re caught they can just say they’re traders. There are 100,000 Dothraki and they won’t be able to fight their way out anyway, and Daario reluctantly agrees, kissing his favorite knife before handing it over. As he does, he notices the greyscale on Jorah’s arm and says he’ll put the knife down himself.
It’s nighttime when they arrive in the city and their first encounter with the Dothraki doesn’t go well. The lie doesn’t work and a fistfight breaks out. Fortunately, Daario didn’t leave the knife he loves so much behind and stabs a Dothraki who’s strangling Jorah. They can’t leave a body behind with a stab wound so Daario smashes his head in to cover the method of killing.
Emilia Clarke and Souad Faress in ‘Game of Thrones’ (Photo by Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)
Meanwhile, the other widows are gossiping about Daenerys (Emilia Clarke). Some don’t believe a Khal should breed with a foreigner. She’s warned she can’t run from the Dothraki, but she says she never would. She’s allowed outside to relieve herself along with another young widow she’s made friends with. Daario and Jorah find her, but Dany says they’ll never make it out alive. She has a plan and needs their help. She asks the young widow not to betray her and she agrees.
Septa Unella escorts Margaery (Natalie Dormer) to the High Sparrow and she kneels before him. He asks what she would do if he allowed her out and she says she’d go to her brother, husband, and family. He says she’d be seeking out sin and talks about growing up as the son of a cobbler and how he spent dozens of hours working on a single pair. He used the money to try to attain the same lifestyle as someone highborn but eventually set out on the path to righteousness after one particularly wild night of wine and women. He left the lifestyle behind and never went back. High Sparrow asks for her hand and says he’ll lead her to her brother. He does, and Loris is in horrible condition. She tells him he has to stay strong, but he says he can’t. She tells him he’s the future of their house, but he just wants the pain and this punishment to stop. Margaery says she’s only been allowed to see him to help tear him down but if she does that, they win. He says let them – just make it stop.
The Grand Maester is meeting with King Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman) about the High Sparrow and won’t leave when Cersei (Lena Headey) tries to send him away. He only leaves when Tommen tells him he’s excused. Cersei wants to talk to her son about a few things, but Tommen warns her they have to be careful in dealing with the High Sparrow and they can’t antagonize him further. Cersei demands he look at her and think about what they did to her – the King’s own mother. Tommen understands she doesn’t like Margaery, but Cersei says that’s not important. Margaery must command respect because she’s a Queen, and the High Sparrow has no respect for Kings, Queens, or anyone in power. Tommen reveals he spoke to the High Sparrow but did so in full secrecy and isn’t supposed to talk about what was said but as he starts to talk, the scene cuts to Cersei and Jamie (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) breaking up the small council meeting. Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg) reminds Cersei and Jamie they should have figured out by now they’re not welcome or recognized as being in authority.
However, the siblings reveal Tommen’s been meeting with the High Sparrow about Margaery and Sir Loras and believe the High Sparrow’s done this on purpose to make them all bicker among themselves instead of seizing power back. The future of the Seven Kingdoms rests in the High Sparrow’s hands, and next up is a walk of atonement for Margaery where she’ll repent her sins just like Cersei was forced to do. Olenna won’t let that happen and Cersei agrees. Jamie wants Olenna to bring her army, the second largest in Westeros, into the city and rescue Margaery before the walk of atonement and take her back into crown custody. When the Tyrell armies come, the King’s Guard will stand down and take no action at all. Everything will be over before anything horrible can happen. Jamie and Cersei want the High Sparrow in custody (or preferably dead) and his followers destroyed. Civil war will break out if it doesn’t go as planned, but Olenna says many will die no matter what they do. “Better them than us.”
Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) sails home and his sister, Yara (Gemma Whelan), can’t believe he’s back. He says he escaped and she’s angry her men died trying to rescue him. She risked everything for him and he betrayed her. He apologizes and says Ramsay broke him into a thousand pieces and she tells him Ramsay sent one of those pieces (his penis) home to them. Theon only returned home because he has nowhere else to go, and his sister thinks he’s back because he heard their father died and so he believes he should rule the Ironborn. He doesn’t want to be king and she asks what he wants. He says, “You should rule the Iron Islands. Let me help you,” which is exactly what she wanted to hear.
Osha (Natalia Tena) is shown into Ramsay’s chamber where he’s calmly peeling an apple. He asks if his banners with a flayed man worry her, and she only asks if he eats them after. Ramsay chuckles and says, “No,” and she replies, “Then I’ve seen worse.” She says the Starks put her in chains and that’s why she served them, and she believes she’s owed money for taking care of Rickon. But Ramsay believes Rickon is now his and doesn’t need Osha anymore. She comes on to him and he seems to be into it, telling her she’s a much better talker than Theon Greyjoy. As she’s on his lap secretly reaching for a knife, he says Theon told him all about the Stark boys and who the woman was that helped them escape. She knows the gig’s up. He stabs her in the neck and she falls to the floor and bleeds out. He wipes the knife clean and calmly goes on peeling his apple with it.
Back at Castle Black, Sansa, Brienne, Tormund, and Jon Snow are enjoying a hearty meal, with Tormund making eyes at Brienne. Edd apologizes for the food and a letter arrives for the Lord Commander. It’s addressed to Jon Snow, telling him he’s a traitor for allowing the Wildlings past the Wall. The letter is signed by Ramsay Bolton and says Jon should come to Winterfell and that he has his brother locked up in the dungeon. He also says Rickon’s direwolf’s skin is covering the Winterfell floor and that he wants Sansa back. If he brings her back, the Bolton army won’t come to the Wall and slaughter the Wildlings living under Jon’s protection. He will skin them alive if Jon doesn’t…and then Jon stops reading, saying it’s more of the same. When he won’t continue, Sansa grabs the letter and reads, “You will watch as my soldiers take turns raping your sister. You will watch as my dogs devour your wild little brother. Then I will spoon your eyes from their sockets and let my dogs do the rest. Come and see.” It’s signed Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, and Sansa tells Jon that’s because Ramsay’s father is dead and that Ramsay killed him. Tormund wants to know how many men Ramsay has and Sansa believes it’s 5,000. Tormund says the Wildlings have 2,000. The rest are too old or just children and can’t fight. Sansa says Northern families will fight for Jon if he asks. They have to go back to Winterfell and save their home and their brother. Jon shakes his head in agreement.
Dany is brought in to learn her fate. She doesn’t have a voice in the vote but she speaks anyway. She calls them small men unfit to lead the Dothraki and declares herself fit to lead them instead. They laugh at her and threaten her with rape until the point where there is nothing left of her. She smiles and turns over the flaming lanterns, setting the khalasars on fire. She stands and silently watches them burn as they try the doors and find they’re locked in with her (thanks to Daario and Jorah). After they’ve burned, she emerges from the flames naked and unscathed. Exiting the building, she looks out over the Dothraki who have surrounded the temple. They bow at her feet. Jorah and Daario, who is completely in awe, approach slowly and kneel right in front of her.
Vive Les Frasers!! The sixth episode of Starz’s Outlander season two, Best Laid Schemes…, is a pivotal sequence of events. I like to think of it as a bridge episode in a way. So many explosive things will happen in 207 (benefits of being a book reader too). This series of events is certainly laying the cobblestones for the disasters and triumphs to come. So let’s get down to laying that path out for you.
We open, almost where we left off, with Jamie (Sam Heughan) contemplating the argument and decision to NOT duel with Captain Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies). Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) comes in still talking about the plans for the duel. Jamie has to tell him that the duel is off; he has sent word to recant the challenge. Murtagh is angered and asks why. Jamie asks that Murtagh trust him as to the reason and to leave it alone. This is a very natural course of things. In the book Murtagh never knows that Claire (Caitriona Balfe) is from the future, Jamie is the only Highlander who knows the whole story. Anyway… Murtagh bounds out of the room, grumbling all the way. Secrets in a household can be disastrous, and feel like betrayal. Never a good thing.
Claire went early to the L’ Hospital des Anges. She sees the Royal Executioner, Monsieur Forez (Niall Greig Fulton), and assists with a patient who has died. He goes through the enjoyable {insert sarcasm here} task of telling Claire what it means to do a successful drawn and quartered execution. Ghastly conversation, and for a woman so far along in pregnancy too. MEN! In the book, he does give these gruesome details, but it is at the Fraser home and to both Jamie and Claire.
Mother Hildegarde (Frances de la Tour) is not so out of the loop as you might think. If the trio are caught it is the exact description of what will happen to them. Claire understands this all too well and turns pale on the spot. The stress this woman is under will spell disaster, mark my words! But in the show he is in the hospital telling his art to distracting detail for a different reason.
The show’s point to this conversation is that the current victims are practitioners of the dark arts within the city. The King is on the hunt for heretics. Claire goes to Master Raymond (Dominique Pinon) after the Executioner suggests she go see him straight away. She gives Master Raymond the warning. He tries to brush it off but Claire presses her concerns with the point that the executioner is involved. He is very touched by her concern and does warn her that she has put herself at risk in the effort.
We next see Claire and Jamie sitting in front of the fire, Jamie absently rubbing Claire’s feet. I have to admit a sharp elbow went into my husband’s ribs at this. Jamie is looking absently off while doing his heavenly task for a very far along pregnant Claire. The way to a man’s heart might be his stomach, but the way to a woman’s heart is by her feet. A good foot massage…AAHHH heaven!
Jamie reveals what he was thinking, and it was about Claire asking for a life in their last argument about the duel. She was begging to save Frank, not Black Jack. Jamie tells her what most men would; she chose him of her own free will so he doesn’t really give the consideration to Frank directly like Claire does. He does admit that he wants to leave a place for Claire to flee to safety should it become necessary. Quite amazing he could think that far ahead in the heat of a passionate argument. He wants her to be able to go back to a man who will love her and take care of her and the baby. He exacts a promise from her. She has to promise to go back through those diabolical stones and to Frank should the time come. She promises but is very taken aback by the entire conversation. I’m sure Jamie was no less taken aback by her request for BJR’s life.
The next morning, they continue on with the scheme (hence the title to the episode) of trying to thwart the shipment of wine for Charles Stewart (Andrew Gower). Poor Jamie gets to be a test dummy of sorts to Claire’s concoction to fake Small Pox. Claire proves her point about it being possible to fake the symptoms in the crew so the cargo could get destroyed again. Murtagh is still mad about all the intrigue, he likes a much more direct approach. Murtagh storms out and stalks the front courtyard. Jamie and Claire decide now is the time to tell him about her and the REAL reason for the situation they are in. Murtagh accepts the explanation but adds a nice little punch to the jaw for Jamie’s trouble. He says he should have trusted him from the start. There is that Godfather understanding for ye…lol.
The next morning, Jamie and Fergus (Romann Berrux) head out to infect the warehouse staff, covertly of course, with the herbs and things that Claire has cooked up. After getting them off on their journey Claire heads back inside to see Murtagh writing on a paper. Murtagh looks uneasy when he is caught by Claire. He shows her it was years that he was writing down. All the years of her life before coming to the past. They have an exchange about the future and what she knows. Murtagh asks, in an inadvertent way, about when they will die. She doesn’t know those particulars, but Murtagh gets that any knowledge of the future is a huge burden to bear. I love those little sensitive moments when Murtagh is compassionate and lets it show.
Jamie and Fergus accomplish their task of “infecting” the crew, more like afflicting the crew. They make it back to Paris successfully. Jamie is soon called to the brothel urgently by the Prince, and the dashing and dastardly Le Comte St. Germain (Stanley Weber) is there as well. They report the dreadful news of the men in St. Germain’s warehouse being stricken with an unknown illness. Okay, I have to say it. Is it NOT totally sexy when Stanley Weber shouts in French…ooo lala! Right, we don’t like him. Back to business…
They ask Jamie to take the cargo and transport it himself from the La Havre harbor. He is hesitant but agrees to the task. What else could he do? Now the scheme has to be to hijack the shipment during transport. Enter Murtagh and hired thugs. Murtagh is too funny, fussing about the French attire that he has to wear. So Suzette (Adrienne-Marie Zitt) offers to relieve him of his attire {giggle snort}. Jamie and Claire retire to their bed as well. Such a cute scene this is…. Jamie feels the baby move for the first time. He speaks directly to the baby and says that he canna wait to meet his wean.
The next evening Claire is at Louise de Rohan’s (Claire Sermonne) having dinner with her and a gaggle of ladies, gossiping…. naturally. Claire’s mind is on Jamie and Murtagh, they are actively involved in this highly risky move to hijack the shipment. Le Comte St. Germain is riding in the lead wagon, Jamie is riding in the second wagon. A masked Murtagh and hired highwaymen ambush the caravan and take the wine. St. Germain and Murtagh square off at pistol point.
Jamie knows he has to do something or Murtagh is likely to be shot right in the face. Jamie jumps to the front wagon and pushes St. Germain off the wagon to the ground. Murtagh fires making it look like Jamie saved his life. Jamie jumps on Murtagh and they play the part well. Murtagh finishes by knocking Jamie unconscious by pistol-whipping him. St. Germain buys the acting and later tells the Prince that Jamie saved his life. But the cargo is lost.
The scene turns back to the gaggle of ladies, and Claire finally gets a snoot full. She leaves the gathering and heads to the hospital. She starts to exhibit exhaustion and Mother Hildegarde forces her to stay the night at the hospital and rest. Mother notices that Claire is bleeding a bit. Fergus takes word to Jamie that Claire is staying the night at the hospital under the Mother’s care. Fergus does not tell him that she is bleeding, largely because he does not know this key fact.
In the book, Jamie is aware that Claire is placed on bed rest at this point because she did start to bleed a bit. In the show, he is not aware of this development. Jamie is still at the brothel with the Prince and St. Germain. St. Germain is rightly upset and taking much of his ire out on Jamie. The Prince calms him, amazingly enough, but the Prince is in great distress at this turn of events and what it means for his cause. Jamie tries to comfort him, but the Prince dissolves into tears.
Jamie finally gets home in the early hours of the morning. Jamie and Fergus sit down to breakfast after Fergus relays where Claire is. Suzette bursts in with distressful news that Prince Charles has raised a fuss at the brothel and refuses to pay his debt there. Jamie has to run back to the Prince’s side at the brothel to settle the situation before there is a need for the police. Fergus goes with him since Murtagh has been sent to Portugal to sell the wine that was just hijacked. Jamie goes to attend to the situation about the Prince and Fergus does a bit of exploring. He just so happens to step into the wrong room. He picks up a vile from the bedside table just in time to turn to see a man shut the door and the red coat hanging on the chair. NOT GOOD!!! You don’t see the man, but book readers know EXACTLY who that is and what happened in that room. Can you guess?
Claire returns home. The staff all give her concerned looks, but she does not notice this at first. She asks for Jamie and poor Suzette tries not to have to tell her. Claire sees his hand guard laying on the bed. Suzette has to admit that Jamie has gone to the woods and she spills the story of a fight at the brothel with an English Officer. Claire is actively in pain with the baby; she is clutching her stomach when she whispers that Jamie promised not to duel BJR. She forces Magnus (Robbie McIntosh) to take her to the woods where they are dueling. He does so, but Claire is in great distress about the duel and the baby. She gets to the site but knows she cannot cry out to Jamie or she could cost him his life. She has to stand and watch as her nightmare comes true: the duel between Jamie and Frank’s life through Jack Randall.
Claire tries to cry out when they pause and have a verbal exchange, but the pain in her stomach takes the words. Jamie stabs BJR right in the family jewels (Tulach Ard) just as Claire starts bleeding profusely and drops to the ground. She gets enough breath to cry out and Jamie sees her just as the police arrive to arrest the gathering. Claire tells Magnus to take her to the hospital and Mother Hildegarde, Jamie is taken away, and BJR is lying on the ground bleeding from his man sack and passes out. Could this be a more suspenseful place to stop the episode? I don’t think so!! I know what happens, but you will have to either read the book to catch up or watch the outcome next week.
Ryan Eggold as Tom Keen in ‘The Blacklist: Redemption’ (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
NBC has officially revealed the title along with new photos from The Blacklist spinoff, The Blacklist: Redemption. The network’s given a series order to the dramatic spinoff set to star Ryan Eggold reprising his role from The Blacklist as Tom Keen, Famke Janssen reprising her role as Susan Hargrave, Edi Gathegi back as Matias Solomon, and Tawny Cypress as Nez Rowan.
Jon Bokenkamp and John Eisendrath are on board as writers and executive producers, with John Fox and John Davis also executive producing. Michael Dinner (Justified) directs.
The Plot: In this thrilling new spinoff of NBC’s breakout hit series, undercover operative Tom Keen joins forces with Susan “Scottie” Hargrave (Famke Janssen), the brilliant and cunning chief of Grey Matters, a covert mercenary organization that solves problems governments don’t dare touch. While on the hunt for Liz’s attacker, Tom secretly discovered that Scottie is actually his biological mother. Now, as they team up to employ their unique skills and resources in a dangerous world of deadly criminals, Tom begins his own covert mission to find out more about his shadowy past.
Ryan Eggold as Tom Keen and Famke Janssen as Susan “Scottie” Hargrave in ‘The Blacklist: Redemption’ (Photo by Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
